RADIO
It’s been a weird start to the 2017 season. There have been several high-profile injuries already (possibly more as the week moves on) and some fantasy studs off to slow starts. Good fantasy owners are able to weather these tough weeks because they are so good at working the early season waiver wire and recognizing guys whose fast starts are more than just a one or two game abnormality.
Dynasty leagues can be much different, especially those with deeper rosters. Lots of owners will have already stashed a majority of contributing players, making it more difficult to grab someone after an early season injury. Even in deeper leagues, however, you can find a guy like Taylor Gabriel, who was floating around in one of my leagues in 2016 midway through the year. He ended up being a solid addition to help with bye weeks and injuries.
Now is the time to pounce on some under-the-radar players who may be off to fast starts and keep your fingers crossed you found one of the treasures in the 2017 season. Let's see who's trending up or down in the dynasty market for Week 3 of the 2017 season.
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#TrendingUp
Javorius Allen (RB, BAL)
John Harbaugh and the Ravens were not kidding when they committed to a more balanced offense for 2017. Kenneth Dixon was expected back after a four-game suspension to start the year, but tore his meniscus before training camp and will miss the season. Adding Danny Woodhead via free agency was a great move, but now he could miss five or more weeks with a hamstring injury. Terrance West was serviceable for the Ravens last year and was expecting a bigger role this year. Through all of this though, it appears Javorius Allen has arrived as the lead back in Baltimore. Allen only played six more snaps then West in Week 1, but was the featured back in Week 2, making an impact in the running game (14 rushes, 66 yards) and the passing game (five receptions, 35 yards and a touchdown.) West is banged up now as well, so expect Allen to offer solid RB2 value moving forward. The Baltimore defense will continue to dominate games and the offense will continue to control the game on the ground.
Chris Thompson (RB, WSH)
Rob Kelley was seemingly in for a huge season and was having an effective game against a tough Rams defense before suffering a rib injury. At first, it appeared he would miss significant time, but now it sounds like a week-to-week issue instead. Samaje Perine had a chance to step up after no work in the first game, but wasn’t effective with his carries. The back to own in Washington right now is Chris Thompson. He is going to be on the field for a majority of plays moving forward until Kelley is back. Thompson will be the third down back and may even see some increased workload as the season goes on as Washington looks to manage Kelley’s workload to prevent more injuries. Thompson ran for 77 yards on only three carries and added two touchdowns in Week 2. Tack on another 29 yards on three catches and you have a guy that will fill in nicely for Kelley owners or those that need the depth. Dynasty owners who have Kelley will want to have Thompson as well to handcuff him.
Devin Funchess (WR, CAR)
Funchess received a lot of attention this offseason as a prime breakout candidate heading into his third year. Ted Ginn Jr. moved on to New Orleans opening the door for Funchess to take over the WR2 spot, but he was not the second option for Cam Newton heading into the season. Funchess sees a rise in value after Week 2 not only due to his four receptions for 68 yards, but a crucial injury to Greg Olsen. After breaking a bone in his foot, Olsen will have surgery and be out six to eight weeks. There is a chance Christian McCaffrey will see an uptick in targets, but as long as Johnathan Stewart is starting, he will still be limited. The next reasonable choice will be Funchess. In the short term, the Panthers will face the Saints, Patriots and Lions over the next three weeks, which should offer solid upside. In the long term, Funchess as a chance to solidify himself as a go to weapon for Newton while Olsen is out.
#TrendingDown
Eric Decker (WR, TEN)
Before the season started, I said Eric Decker was going to take targets away from Delanie Walker. I thought the Decker signing was perfect for Tennessee. A slot guy that could help mentor first round pick Corey Davis and help Marcus Mariota continue to grow as a passer. So far, Decker has not lived up to the on-field hype. In a game where the Titans put up 37 points against the Jaguars, Decker didn’t do much to help. Rishard Matthews continues to be the go to receiver for Mariota with 14 targets over the first two games of the year, leading the team. Davis seems to be nursing a hamstring injury, which could help Decker in the coming weeks. 33-year-old Walker is showing no signs of slowing down and will continue to be a big part of this team in 2017. If you look at the long term value of Decker, there is a good chance he is not with the Titans in 2018. It’s hard to pick up or trade for an aging receiver with no guarantee where he will be playing next year. If you need some depth or bye week fill-ins, he could be worth a stash in deeper leagues. For now, don’t worry about adding him.
T.Y. Hilton (WR, IND)
The biggest question in Indianapolis continues to be when will Andrew Luck play? If Luck isn’t on the field, TY Hilton doesn’t need to be in your lineup. If you don’t have a choice, then don’t bench Hilton, but he’s only a streaming option right now. Even this weekend against a below average Browns team, I would not be interested in starting Hilton. Things could get better as Jacoby Brissett becomes more comfortable in the offense (keep in mind that he was traded right before the start of the season) but he has not shown he’s the type of quarterback that will drive the field and put up the numbers Hilton owners need and want. With only seven receptions and 106 yards through two games, there is only one way to go, and that’s up. The reason he’s #TrendingDown right now though, is because of Luck. If Luck returns, I’ll include Hilton in the first part of this article later. Dynasty owners, try to strike while Hilton owners are down and see if you can get a potential discount.
Duke Johnson Jr. (RB, CLE)
Playing with a rookie quarterback, especially one that is still early in his development stages, can be frustrating for the players around him. Isaiah Crowell owners know this, but those banking on Duke Johnson Jr. to help in PPR leagues are even more frustrated. Dynasty owners jumped on Johnson for a couple of reasons. Crowell could be gone after 2017 and Johnson would be the RB1 in Cleveland at that time. If he could add 10 or more carries to his current work in the passing game, he could become very valuable. Add on the fact that Hugh Jackson spent all offseason talking about using his running backs better. Well so far that doesn’t seem to be working out well. Johnson didn’t even receive one carry in week one. Right now, Johnson isn’t going to add much value with his carries, but he isn’t offering much upside with his receptions either. Five receptions through two games is not my idea of a PPR running back with upside. To make matters worse, the Browns have been trailing almost all season. That should be a prime spot for a back like Johnson. Browns fans, you want your team to start winning. Crowell owners want the Browns to start winning. Johnson fans do not want the Browns to start winning. Play from behind and dump the ball to Johnson.
