RADIO
There were some dramatic shifts in fantasy value in Week 10 after surprising breakout performances, especially at the quarterback position. 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, and 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 fantasy risers and fallers heading into Week 11 of the NFL season. Dynasty owners, check out our separate Dynasty Risers/Fallers segment each week as well.
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Week 11 Risers
"Bad" Quarterbacks
Case Keenum, C.J. Beathard, and Deshone Kizer. What do they all have in common? Well, besides being perceived as "bad" quarterbacks, they were all high end QB1s in Week 10. Keenum, Beathard, and Kizer finished as QB3, QB4, and QB5, respectively. They all posted multi-touchdown games and got very close to their season highs in passing yards. The guys we typically consider elite QB1s were more low-end QB1s while the forgotten guys paced the field at the position.
Robert Woods (WR, LAR)
This one was an easy call. Robert Woods is still young, but he's by no means green. Woods has been in the league since 2013 but has never been much of a fantasy factor. He's found a home in Los Angeles with 2017 Coach of the Year Sean McVay (if he doesn't win it, it's a travesty). Woods is on pace to shatter his career highs in every available receiving statistic. He was the overall WR1 last week with eight catches on 10 targets for a career high 171 yards and two touchdowns. In a season where there's little separating WR1s from WR2s or even WR3s, Woods is trying to shatter that glass ceiling.
Rex Burkhead and Dion Lewis (RB, NE)
With Mike Gillislee finally a healthy scratch due to being bad at football, Rex Burkhead and Dion Lewis got a chance to shine...and shine they did. Lewis led the team with 14 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown. He added a kick return touchdown as well. Burkhead led all Patriots RBs in snaps and while he only rushed for 36 yards on a season high 10 carries, he also caught all three of his targets for 27 yards and a touchdown. It wasn't just the production for Lewis and Burkhead that was encouraging, it was the deliberate play design to get each of them the ball. It's pretty clear they're the two most talented backs on the team. Burkhead even added a blocked punt for good measure. Both guys are earning themselves more snaps going forward.
Jimmy Graham (TE, SEA)
I still think Jimmy Graham looks slow and lumbering on the field. However, I cannot deny his red zone prowess. Russell Wilson is finally using Graham properly. He's a massive human that can't be covered one on one near the end zone. Throw him the ball and let him go get it. That just keeps happening. Graham scored two more times last week, giving him six touchdowns in his last six games after failing to score for the first four weeks. Graham's season high in yardage is only 72, but he's getting it done with receptions and scores. He's now posted double digit fantasy points in every game since Week 3. Touchdowns are supposed to be unpredictable, but Graham is trying to prove otherwise.
Week 11 Fallers
Tyrod Taylor (QB, BUF)
It would have been apropos to have "good" quarterbacks here, but the truth is the good QBs didn't fail. It was more that the "bad" QBs succeeded. Tyrod Taylor is not a good QB nor did he succeed. The Saints defense is certainly an improved unit, but to post just 3.94 fantasy points against it is unfathomable. Taylor couldn't even take advantage of a whole half of garbage time. He bottomed out when he was replaced by Nate Peterman, who actually outscored Taylor despite playing about half a quarter.
Marvin Jones (WR, DET)
As is the trend for WRs in 2017, no one can be trusted. Marvin Jones spent four consecutive weeks earning the trust of fantasy owners. He posted PPR totals of 11.4, 21.6, 18.8, and 27.9. That's 25% of a season's worth of production. Sure enough, he lulled us into a false sense of security and then pulled the rug out from beneath. After three consecutive weeks of 11, 11, and 14 targets, Jones saw all of two targets last week, catching just one ball for 22 yards in a game where the Lions scored 38 points. Matt Stafford did only complete 17 passes on just 26 attempts, but he threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns. Anyone looking at the score and Stafford's stat line had to expect more from Jones.
Devonta Freeman (RB, ATL)
You hate to kick a guy when he's down, but that's exactly what happened to Devonta Freeman last week. He was already shaping up to be a huge bust relative to his ADP. Freeman has been a viable fantasy starter all season, but certainly not the mid RB1 he was advertised as (not by me though - I had him as a borderline RB1/high RB2). Freeman had posted just two 20+ fantasy point weeks and hadn't carried the ball more than 12 times since week 4, which was also the last time he scored a touchdown. Then on Sunday he was concussed after just three rushing yards. It was his second concussion of the season and Adam Schefter already reported that Freeman could be looking at a lengthy absence. The problem for Freeman is when he returns, it may not be to a starting role as Tevin Coleman thrived in Freeman's absence, largely because Coleman is more talented than Freeman. If Coleman continues to produce at a high level in a feature back role, Freeman will return on the wrong side of the timeshare.
Hunter Henry (TE, LAC)
We are now through 10 weeks of the season and Hunter Henry has yet to post a single elite fantasy week. He's been a useful TE1 five times with a season high of 15 fantasy points in week 2. He's been completely useless four times, twice posting a goose egg. Henry's last three weeks look like this: 3.1, bye, 1.7. He's caught three of four targets for 18 yards over his last two games. Philip Rivers is done. He just doesn't have it anymore and everyone is suffering. Henry has the talent to be an elite TE in this league, but it's pretty clear the consistency is not arriving in 2017.
