RADIO
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 14 of the NFL season.
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Week 14 Risers
Carson Wentz (QB, MIA)
Nothing like a trip to Miami to get a guy back on track. Carson Wentz couldn't lead the Eagles to victory, but he did post his best fantasy outing of the season with 25.4 points. It is not just Wentz's performance that has him on the rise; it's the upcoming schedule. Wentz gets the Giants and Redskins in the first two weeks of the fantasy playoffs. For as bad as Wentz has played this season, he could play a huge factor in getting your team to the championship.
Jack Doyle (TE, IND)
With Eric Ebron on IR, Jack Doyle played 94% of the offensive snaps last week and finished as the overall TE2 with 19.3 fantasy points. Doyle saw a team high 11 targets and is setup to smash once again with a date against the Bucs' porous pass defense. Doyle is no longer a streaming option - he is an every week TE1.
Devante Parker (WR, MIA)
I don't even know if I should take the L on DeVante Parker. He should've been flushed out of the league by now. How often does a failed first round pick not only get this many chances, but actually break through? I'll tell you. Never. Parker is a true unicorn in that regard. It is unfortunate, yet justified that it took almost an entire season to believe in Parker. The athletic ability was always there. He's finally putting it together on the field. Parker has reached double digit fantasy points in very single game since Week 4 and capped off the fantasy regular season with an overall WR1 performance. The Jets, Giants, and Bengals are on tap for the fantasy players. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Parker could very well be a league winner.
Courtland Sutton (WR, DEN)
The quarterback just doesn't matter for Courtland Sutton. The man catches everything. Sutton has already emerged as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He has caught a touchdown pass from three different quarterbacks this season. His five targets last week were a season low, but the Chargers are a solid pass defense and an overall incompetent team that doesn't force opponents to have to throw. The Broncos' next two opponents, the Texans and Chiefs, will force Drew Lock to throw a lot. Sutton is the alpha and he is an elite starting option.
Derrius Guice (RB, WAS)
The most obvious riser of the week is Derrius Guice. He still only touched the ball 12 times, but Guice showcased the talent that made him such a sought after prospect. He torched the Panthers' bottom of the barrel run defense for 129 yards on just 10 carries. The schedule isn't great with matchups at Green Bay and against Philly in Weeks 14 and 15, but Week 16 is setup for greatness against the Giants. Either way, Guice has already established himself as an every week RB2. The question now is how much damage he does to his 2020 draft value with this end of the year run?
Raheem Mostert (RB, SF)
Even with Matt Breida likely to return next week, Raheem Mostert has vaulted himself into flex consideration. Mostert's play combined with Tevin Coleman's ineptitude resulted in Mostert playing 74% of the snaps last week, a team high at the running back position. Mostert straight up sent Coleman to the bench. It is hard to imagine Kyle Shanahan going back to Coleman next week, which means, at worst, Mostert is the second act in a committee with Breida, who is always a risk to exit with an injury.
Week 14 Fallers
Sam Darnold (QB, NYJ)
Just when you think good Sam Darnold is here to stay, bad Sam Darnold reemerges. Darnold looked clueless against a bad Bengals Defense. He failed to throw a touchdown, which resulted in his worst fantasy performance outside of his stinker against the Patriots. The home date with Miami this week is tantalizing, but he flopped against them the last time. After Miami, you can drop him as games against the Ravens and Steelers are hard fades.
Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay (WRs, DET)
It seems counter-intuitive to slam Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay after they both had excellent days on Thanksgiving, but let's be realistic here. David Blough is a problem. Golladay still had just five targets and Jones just six. The Vikings and Bucs are nice matchups over the next two weeks, but what can we really expect from a third string quarterback? Absent fluky splash plays, these two may disappoint when you need them most.
Tevin Coleman (RB, SF)
See: Mostert, Raheem
Aaron Jones (RB, GB)
Touchdown regression doesn't always happen immediately, but with Aaron Jones, it was bound to happen eventually. To make matters worse, Jones is still splitting snaps almost evenly with Jamaal Williams. Last week, it was 58%-42%. Jones has failed to reach double digits in three of his last four games with the lone outlier being against the Panthers' awful run defense. The Redskins are not an imposing matchup, but Jones isn't seeing volume. He needs to score and he very well might, but he's not the every week RB1 he looked like earlier in the season.
Sony Michel (RB, NE)
I can't imagine anyone is still starting him. Sony Michel looks as bad running the ball as he does in the box score. Michel hasn't scored since Week 7 so I don't even need to tell you the last time he broke double digit fantasy points. Of his 12 games played, only four of them have even been useful. Michel is a bad football player who rarely sees the field unless there is significant positive game script and even then, he hasn't produced. With the Chiefs up next week, Michel isn't even an RB4.
