Perhaps more than any other, the NFL is a league that experiences ups and downs at a rapid pace. With only 16 games, there’s little room for error and seemingly endless opportunities for improvement. The same goes for fantasy football, and managing rosters effectively to win that championship.

Throughout the season, players get hot and sees an increased role while others struggle and fight to stay relevant. Experienced fantasy players know this happens every year. In this weekly column, we’ll showcase those who have taken important steps forward and those who have taken steps back.

These are the risers and fallers heading into Week Eight of the NFL season.

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 8 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB - CUTS

 

Post-Week 7 Fantasy Football Risers

RISER - Jay Ajayi (RB, MIA)

I think it might be safe to assume that Jay Ajayi himself didn’t see this coming. The 23-year-old running back, who was expected to be Miami’s starter this season before Arian Foster arrived, is starting in the latter’s absence due to injury. After not seeing action at all in Week 1, the London-born youngster produced very little results through the ensuing five weeks, scoring respectable fantasy numbers in two weeks that saw him find the end zone.

In his last two games, however, he’s provided extraordinary results. After rushing for 204 yards and two touchdowns last week against the Steelers, Ajayi eclipsed the 200-yard barrier again this week against the Bills, going for 214 and another touchdown. He became just the fourth player in NFL history to go for 200 rushing yards in consecutive weeks, joining Earl Campbell, Ricky Williams and O.J. Simpson. Still available in a handful of leagues, Ajayi is a hot waiver wire option with matchups against the Chargers and Niners on the horizon.

 

RISER - Davante Adams (WR, GB)

Even with the returning Jordy Nelson and the reliable Randall Cobb as members of Green Bay’s receiving unit, 23-year-old Davante Adams has emerged as the most successful fantasy football wideout on the team. Adams already has more touchdown receptions this year (5) than in his first two professional seasons combined, but that’s only the beginning of his workload increase.

In Green Bay’s Week 7 victory over the Chicago Bears, Aaron Rodgers targeted him a whopping 16 times, which was more targets than any wideout saw during the week. He went on to make 13 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns. While this may be an anomaly, Adams has been targeted at least seven times in four of six games this season, meaning he’s more than likely to factor in his team’s games week in and week out. If Aaron Rodgers has recuperated from his early woes, Adams could be well on his way to becoming one of the biggest revelations of the season.

 

RISER - Jack Doyle (TE, IND)

Once again, the tight end position is one of the most unpredictable in the fantasy football universe. While there are just a handful of continually dependable players at the position, new waiver wire options seem to pop up just about every week. Heading into the 2016 NFL season, Dwayne Allen appeared ready to take over as the headlining tight end in Indianapolis, following the departure of Coby Fleener. Allen has dealt with injuries, however, and it’s been Jack Doyle that’s emerged as Andrew Luck’s favorite TE.

Right from Week 1, when he outplayed Allen, the 26-year-old has been the more active tight end on the team. After two weak performances in Weeks 4 and 5, Doyle has bounced back nicely the past two weeks, scoring touchdowns in each game. During the Colts’ Week 7 victory over the Tennessee Titans, he was targeted a season-high 10 times for a season-high 78 yards. Doyle doesn’t promise consistent numbers of that magnitude, but with matchups against teams that struggle in defending tight ends awaiting, he may end up being a gem at his position.

 

Post-Week 6 Fantasy Football Fallers

FALLER - Todd Gurley (RB, LA)

Expected to be a possible top five fantasy player in 2016, Los Angeles running back Todd Gurley has been an utter disappointment for those who took him with a first round pick. He currently ranks outside the top 15 at his position this season, getting upended by unexpected backs that include Isiah Crowell, Spencer Ware and Christine Michael. Gurley has failed to record 100 rushing yards in a game thus far, despite a schedule that has seen him play against weak rushing defenses that include the Giants, Niners and Detroit Lions.

His three touchdowns have also been a massive disappointment, and there’s no guarantee that the 22-year-old will get going any time soon. The biggest factor in Gurley’s struggles is arguably the weakness of his surrounding offense. The Rams currently rank right near the bottom in yards gained before contact, and the running back is right at the forefront of this struggle. Those who drafted Gurley are pretty much stuck with him, unless they find a trading partner willing to exchange a more effective back in hopes that he turns it around.

 

FALLER - Jeremy Maclin (WR, KC)

We always knew that Jeremy Maclin wouldn’t post staggering numbers as part of Alex Smith’s offense with the Kansas City Chiefs. Still, he was respectable last year, posting another 1000-yard season to go with eight touchdowns. Six games into the 2016 season, however, his numbers are on pace to finish lower than last year. Maclin is averaging nearly 20 yards less per game than last year, and has only managed one single touchdown. Perhaps the biggest reason for this decline is Kansas City’s newfound stability at the running back position.

After Jamaal Charles went down for the season early last year, the team bounced between Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West in the backfield. This year, however, Ware has taken a major step forward, even with Charles returning for some light action. With Alex Smith at quarterback, a major passing game was never going to be realistic and that has absolutely come to fruition now. Maclin should be benched presently, with a return to consistent results being in doubt the rest of the way.

 

FALLER - Allen Robinson (WR, JAX)

Easily a bigger disappointment than the aforementioned Maclin is Allen Robinson, the 23-year-old star wide receiver of the Jacksonville Jaguars. After leading the league in touchdown receptions with 14 last year, along with finishing top ten in targets and receiving yards, the Detroit native has been a gigantic letdown this season. While his three touchdowns lead the Jaguars, he’s third in receiving yards and second in receptions on the team.

In terms of league leaders, he doesn’t rank near the top 25 in those categories. It can be argued that Robinson’s failures are reflected on the Jacksonville team and offense as a whole, as the team has stumbled out to a 2-4 record. Like Todd Gurley, Robinson will be hard to trade and to cut, meaning those who drafted him are now stuck with him. Having already faced the likes of Chicago, Oakland and San Diego, strength of opposing defense can’t be argued.