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. Experienced fantasy players know it happens every year.

A player gets hot and sees an increased role, while others struggle and fight to stay relevant. Here we’ll showcase those who have taken important steps forward and those who have taken steps back. Here are the risers and fallers following week three of the 2016-17 NFL season.

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Post-Week 4 Fantasy Football Risers

RISER -  Matt Ryan (QB, ATL)

“Matty Ice” appears to be back, doesn’t he? The 31-year-old quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons certainly impressed last week, but just like his first two games of the season, the performance came against lesser defenses. This week, however, he faced off with the vaunted Carolina Panthers defense and absolutely crushed the NFC champions. Ryan completed 28 passes for a whopping 503 yards and four touchdowns. Sure, it happened at the Georgia Dome, but this performance is the perfect way for Ryan to conclude the first quarter of the 2016 season.

He’s clearly a number one quarterback at this point, even if he’s now off to face the Broncos and the Seahawks on the road. That may be the only reason to keep him on your bench the next two weeks, but Ryan is clearly in fine form and should warrant serious consideration as a top quarterback.

 

RISER - John Brown (WR, AZ)

Although he suffers from the crowded wide receiver unit of the Arizona Cardinals, John Brown made more strides this week against the Los Angeles Rams. The Pittsburgh State alum was targeted a combined seven times through the first two games, recording just 22 yards on two catches. Last week, however, he busted out for six catches and 70 yards, and this week he took it up another level, making 10 catches for 144 yards. These past two weeks have dramatically improved Brown’s season and have been more than a pleasant surprise for his owners.

Of course, the extent of his newfound value depends on Carson Palmer’s health, at least in the immediate future. The Cardinals’ starting quarterback was knocked out of the game and was in concussion protocol afterwards. Should he be unable to start next week, Brown could be destined for the bench against the San Francisco 49ers.

 

RISER - Frank Gore (RB, IND)

At the ripe old age of 33, Frank Gore continues to remain a relevant fantasy running back in 2016. The 12-year veteran has been steadily improving with each passing week, rewarding owners with solid numbers. This week, taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium, Gore carried the ball for 68 yards, running for a touchdown while making five receptions for 27 yards. This was the third time in four games that he’s caught for double-digit yardage, and his performances have placed him second behind Andrew Luck for fantasy points in Indianapolis.

In Week 5, Gore and the Colts will take on the Chicago Bears, who feature one of the weaker defenses in the entire league. Gore should clearly be starting with his form and the upcoming opponent.

 

Post-Week 4 Fantasy Football Fallers

FALLER - Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, NYJ)

How many of you thought Ryan Fitzpatrick was a solid choice for backup quarterback this season? It’s hard not to blame you for the choice, considering he was coming off a season that saw him post career highs in touchdowns and passing yards. This year, Fitzpatrick stumbled out of the gate, throwing for two touchdowns and an interception against the Cincinnati Bengals in a home loss. His best performance of the season followed in Week 2 against the Bills, as he threw for a season-high 374 yards. In Week 3, however, he had the worst game of his career, getting picked off a whopping six times and completing 20 passes for a season-low 188 yards. This past weekend he fared slightly better, but still managed to get picked off three more times, jumping way out in front for the lead league in interceptions at 10.

If you haven’t dropped Fitzpatrick at this point, why exactly is he worth holding on to? He appears to clearly be regressing and could be benched soon. The 33-year-old is not good enough to be a QB2 at this point.

 

FALLER - Amari Cooper (WR, OAK)

Unlike some of our aforementioned risers of the week, former Alabama standout Amari Cooper’s numbers have been on a steady decline this year. His Week 1 performance saw him make six receptions for 137 yards in Oakland’s wild victory over the Saints. Since then, however, his targets and catches have been on a downward slope, culminating with his five-reception, 48-yard performance against the Ravens this week. Cooper was considered one of the top wideouts heading into this season, envisioned as WR1 with plenty of upside. A quarter of the way into the season, however, that hasn’t been the case.

While he remains a mandatory starter, Cooper may not be the wide receiver that can single-handedly win your weekly matchup. His fantasy owners should pay close attention to his upcoming game against the Chargers. If he doesn’t respond here, you could be looking at a fantasy bust of sorts.

 

FALLER - Odell Beckham Jr (WR, NYG)

Three years into his professional career, there’s no denying that Odell Beckham Jr has outstanding talent. Becoming one of the very best waiver wire pickups of the 2014 season, he’s been a top 10 player on fantasy football draft boards the past two seasons. Unfortunately for Beckham and his owners, the wideout has demonstrated a lack of composure on the field and it’s beginning to affect his performances. This past Monday, the 23-year-old managed just three catches for a career-low 23 yards, extending his streak of games without a touchdown to five. While he still leads the Giants in receptions and receiving yards, the touchdown category looms large, especially considering he was a top five fantasy pick.

It might be time to start wondering if his attitude has turned off his coaches and quarterback, thus affecting his ability to find the end zone. Nevertheless, Beckham should continue to be started with the hope that a rock bottom performance in Week 4 is what finally allows him to figure it out and once again become the electric superstar we know him to be.