X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Fantasy Football Risers and Fallers - Kenny Stills, Brandin Cooks, David Montgomery

Fantasy football risers and fallers heading into Week 8 of the NFL season including Kenny Stills, Brandin Cooks, David Montgomery. Jason Katz looks at changing fantasy values.

Whether due to their own play, the play of others, or injuries, players' stock increases and decreases on a weekly basis. 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; managing rosters effectively is key to winning that championship.

Throughout the season, players get hot and see 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 key risers and fallers heading into Week 8 of the NFL season.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Week 8 Risers

Aaron Rodgers (QB, GB)

One week does not a QB1 make, but Aaron Rodgers vaulted himself back into the top five with one massive performance. Rodgers threw for 429 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for a sixth. After posting QB2 numbers for five out of six years to start the season, Rodgers reminded everyone that he still has this in his range of outcomes. Rodgers was legitimately trending towards not being a must hold in favor of streaming options. Streamers can't do what Rodgers just did. Rodgers is back as a locked in QB1 and has a really favorable matchup at Kansas City this week before the schedule turns on him.

Michael Thomas (WR, NO)

It seems strange that Michael Thomas would be included here because he's an obvious elite WR1, but I wanted to talk about him. Thomas is not just an elite WR1, he is the only elite WR1. Thomas is to wide receiver what Christian McCaffrey is to running back. For someone who had such a low floor last season, Thomas has done his best 2018 Davante Adams impression, scoring 16 ppr points in every game this season. He is the only wide receiver in all of football that you can truly rely on for high end production every week. That makes him the most valuable asset at the position; the far and away WR1. Treat him accordingly.

Kenny Stills (WR, HOU)

This one is part player, part situation. Being in an offense with Deshaun Watson obviously helps, but the team has a crowded receiving corps. It got a little less crowded last week with always hurt Will Fuller getting hurt. Fuller has a hamstring strain that will likely cost him a couple of weeks minimum. Kenny Stills stepped in and played 94% of the snaps, the second most behind DeAndre Hopkins. He was a splash play specialist with 105 receiving yards on just four receptions. Stills is the unquestioned WR2 for the Texans and setup to be fantasy WR3 for as long as Fuller is out.

Chase Edmonds (RB, ARI)

The overall RB1 from Week 7 was none other than Cardinals' backup running back, Chase Edmonds. One of the biggest criticisms of drafting handcuffs is that even in the rare instance where we definitively know who the backup is, it is unlikely the backup can replicate the production of the starter. Edmonds is a true handcuff in the sense that without David Johnson, Edmonds will handle 90% of the work and Edmonds is talented to the point where he is 95% of Johnson. Edmonds proved that last week in his 126 yard, three touchdown evisceration of the Giants. The Cardinals have been working out some running backs and you get the idea that DJ isn't coming back anytime soon. Edmonds is a locked in RB1 every time DJ sits. Two of the next four are against the 49ers, which isn't ideal, but Edmonds' volume and the Cardinals' high paced offense make Edmonds a must start.

 

Week 8 Fallers

The Entire Kansas City Chiefs Offense

I won't belabor this too long. Patrick Mahomes dislocated his kneecap and will likely be out through the Chiefs' Week 12 bye, returning in Week 13. With Mahomes all but done until the fantasy playoffs, it's an obvious downgrade for all of the players relying on him and the prolific nature of this offense to produce. Tyreek Hill goes from elite WR1 to high WR2. Travis Kelce remains as a middling, non-difference making TE1. LeSean McCoy's touchdown upside decreases as he becomes a middling RB3. Every other Chief is droppable.

Brandin Cooks (WR, LAR)

If you can't pop against Atlanta, it's over for you. Well, it's over for Brandin Cooks. He has just one touchdown on the season and has now scored single digit fantasy points in four of seven games. Jared Goff only plays well in good matchups, which limits the opportunities Cooks has to produce and even in good matchups, as we've seen, Cooks is far from a lock. He was drafted as a high WR2. He is nothing more than a random WR3 like so many other receivers.

Larry Fitzgerald (WR, ARI)

I am hesitant to knock a player for what he does in a game where his team only throws the ball 21 times, but Larry Fitzgerald is looking a bit slower out there and he just isn't producing. Fitz only saw three targets last week. He hasn't scored since Week 3. His ceiling is pretty much 6-70, which isn't terrible, but it's not making much of a difference. He does appear to be suffering from Christian Kirk's absence. Combine that with the schedule really turning on the Cardinals with a game at New Orleans and then two out of three against San Francisco coming up and Fitz is just another random WR3, like Cooks and so many other receivers.

David Montgomery (RB, CHI)

Fantasy owners weren't (or shouldn't have been) starting David Montgomery for a while now. If you still were, well, stop. Montgomery completely bottomed out last week, falling behind Tarik Cohen in snap share (55%-46%) and carrying the ball just two times. It is hard to blame Matt Nagy for moving away from the slow, ineffective plodder. Montgomery has barely reached double digit fantasy points three times this season and he fell into the end zone to get there in two of them. It would not surprise me to see Mike Davis active in the coming weeks as the Bears try and get a spark at running back from a player that has more NFL experience and has learned how to overcome his athletic deficiencies.

More Weekly Lineup Prep




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Quinshon Judkins

Signs Fully Guaranteed Deal with Cleveland
EDM

Derek Ryan Retires From Hockey
Connor Zary

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Flames
Carey Price

Canadiens Trade Carey Price to Sharks
Quentin Johnston

Scores Twice in Brazil
Justin Herbert

Spectacular in Win Over Chiefs
Marquise Brown

Sees Absurd Target Share Friday
Bobby Witt Jr.

Dealing With Back Spasms
Bobby Witt Jr.

Exits Early on Friday
Xavier Worthy

Injures Shoulder Early in Brazil, Questionable to Return
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Placed on Injured List With Quad Strain
Tyler Glasnow

Scratched on Friday With Back Tightness
Jayden Reed

Questionable to Play in Season Opener
Christian McCaffrey

Listed as Questionable for Season Opener With Calf Issue
Tyreek Hill

Cleared for Week 1
Rasmus Hojgaard

Finishes Tied For Second at Omega European Masters
Tyrrell Hatton

Finishes Tied for 32nd at LIV Indianapolis
Matt Fitzpatrick

Finishes Fifth at Omega European Masters
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied For Second in 2025 FedEx Cup Standings
Xander Schauffele

Finishes 42nd in 2025 FedEx Cup Standings
Tyler Glasnow

Scratched From Friday's Start for Undisclosed Reasons
Christian Kirk

Ruled Out for Week 1
Shohei Ohtani

Returning to the Mound on Friday
Kyle Finnegan

Lands on Injured List With Adductor Strain
Aaron Judge

Returns to Right Field on Friday
De'Von Achane

Without Injury Designation Heading Into Week 1
Christian McCaffrey

Seen Working on Side Field During Friday's Practice
Malik Nabers

Cleared to Play on Sunday
Willson Contreras

' Suspension Reduced, to Start Serving it on Friday
Kodai Senga

Mets Send Kodai Senga to Triple-A to Get Right
Chris Godwin

Officially Ruled Out for Week 1
Malik Nabers

' Reps Limited Friday Due to "Tight" Back
Caio Borralho

Set For A Title Eliminator Bout
Nassourdine Imavov

Looks To Earn A Title Shot
Mauricio Ruffy

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Set For UFC Paris Co-Main Event
Modestas Bukauskas

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Paul Craig

In Dire Need Of Victory
Mason Jones

Set for Main-Card Bout
Bolaji Oki

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Rhys McKee

Set To Open Up UFC Paris Main Card
Axel Sola

Alex Sola Set To Make His UFC Debut
Saquon Barkley

Scores Touchdown in Low-Yardage Outing
Jalen Hurts

Rushes for Two Touchdowns on Thursday
Javonte Williams

Salvages Inefficient Outing With Two Touchdowns
CeeDee Lamb

110-Yard Game Marred by Four Drops
Will Shipley

Questionable to Return on Thursday Night
Pablo López

Pablo Lopez Expected to Return on Friday
Micah Parsons

Expected to Play in Week 1
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Exits With Knee Contusions
Christian McCaffrey

Listed as Limited With Calf Injury
Will Smith

Unlikely to Play This Weekend
Shohei Ohtani

to Pitch on Monday
Jon Rahm

Looks to Prove His Importance on European Ryder Cup Team
Tommy Fleetwood

Among Leaders of European Ryder Cup Team
Brandon Sproat

to Start for Mets on Sunday
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Close to Triple-Double Versus Serbia
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Fills Box Score Against Turkey
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Shakes Off Minor Injury
E.J. Liddell

Inks Two-Way Deal With Nets
NBA

Ben Simmons Reportedly Considering Retirement
P.J. Washington

Agrees to Four-Year, $90 Million Extension
Mike Trout

Plans to Return on Thursday
Will Smith

X-Rays Negative on Will Smith's Hand
Will Smith

Exits With Hand Contusion
Jackson Chourio

in Lineup Wednesday Despite Hamstring Cramps
Sepp Straka

Gets Captain's Pick to Join Team Europe
Christian Yelich

Dealing With Soreness in Lower Back
PGA

Victor Hovland to Make Third Ryder Cup Appearance for Team Europe
J.J. Spaun

Set to Represent Team USA for First Time at Bethpage
Russell Henley

Makes First Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Harris English

Named to Ryder Cup Team for Second Time
Kyle Finnegan

Dealing With Groin Issue
Justin Thomas

Making Fourth Ryder Cup Team Appearance at Bethpage
Ben Griffin

Making First Career Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Bryson DeChambeau

Set to be Part of Team USA at Bethpage
Santi Aldama

Bags Double-Double in Losing Effort
Guerschon Yabusele

Erupts for 36 Points Against Poland
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Leads Slovenia Into Next Round at EuroBasket
San Antonio Spurs

Stanley Umude Signs Training Camp Deal With Spurs
Reece Beekman

Joins Magic for Training Camp
Justin Minaya

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Magic
Alexandre Sarr

to Miss Rest of EuroBasket
Jared McCain

"On Pace" for Training Camp
Luke Hughes

Devils Optimistic About Signing Luke Hughes
Martin Fehérváry

Martin Fehervary on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Dylan Holloway

Good to Go for Start of Season
Josh Morrissey

Fully Healthy for Start of Season
Dennis Hildeby

Signs Three-Year Extension With Maple Leafs
Franz Wagner

Collects Double-Double in Blowout Win
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Achieves Rare Numbers at EuroBasket
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Dominates Against Sweden
Kristaps Porzingis

Finding Form at EuroBasket
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Suffers Minor Injury at EuroBasket
Victor Wembanyama

Looking "Quite Stellar"
Denny Hamlin

Ends Eventful Day at Darlington in Seventh Place
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Almost Earns a Top-Five Finish at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek

has His Best 2025 Performance at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Has An Underwhelming Performance At Darlington
Josh Berry

Crashes Early and Suffers A Playoff Setback at Darlington
Giannis Antetokounmpo

"Staying in Milwaukee"
Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening-Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop May Have Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Impresses at Southern 500
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP