Fantasy Football Dynasty

Dynasty Risers and Fallers

By Kevin English 2:00pm EDT 9/27/23

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Dynasty Fantasy Football Risers (9-21 through 9-27)

These players have moved up the Draft Sharks dynasty rankings over the last week. Check back each week as we list the fantasy-relevant changes.

C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans

Despite O-line injuries, Stroud’s adjusted well to the pro game. He’s sitting on 7.5 YPA and a 74.6% adjusted completion rate. Tank Dell and Nico Collins look like long-term assets.

Devon Achane, RB, Dolphins

You can’t overreact to one game. But Achane’s speed and burst vs. Denver matched his Texas A&M tape. With Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel in peak form, Achane’s surrounded by the perfect cast.

Cam Akers, RB, Vikings

Minnesota took a no-risk flier on Akers. There’s no guarantee he’ll take over the No. 1 (or No. 2) role in 2023, but his value certainly bounced a bit following the trade.

Tank Dell, WR, Texans

Dell’s separation skills popped in college, and they’ve already flashed in the pros. His snaps, routes, and targets are all trending up.

Marvin Mims, WR, Broncos

Mims utilization figures to improve eventually. The rookie has earned more work, with 7.22 yards per route run and 195 yards on only 7 receptions. Mims added a 99-yard kickoff return score in Week 3.

Josh Palmer, WR, Chargers

Mike Williams’ ACL tear prompts the move-up for Palmer, although it’s not a significant one. Palmer has played ahead of Round 1 WR Quentin Johnston, but we’d be surprised if that arrangement stuck all season.

Dynasty Fantasy Football Fallers (9-21 through 9-27)

These players have moved down the Draft Sharks dynasty rankings over the last week:

Najee Harris, RB, Steelers

Another week, another quiet game from Harris. He’s splitting snaps with Jaylen Warren and showing little in the way of explosiveness.

Derrick Henry, RB, Titans 

Henry’s underlying metrics suggest he’s fallen off a bit. But the arrival of Tyjae Spears has also allowed this staff to give Henry extra rest – especially on passing downs. The veteran turns 30 in January.

Mike Williams, WR, Chargers 

Williams went down with a torn ACL in Week 3. He’ll have a shot to return for Week 1 of 2024, but he’ll do so at almost 30.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Titans

Ryan Tannehill’s struggles have limited Hopkins’ effectiveness. Through three weeks, he's the PPR WR47. The 31-year-old might be catching passes from a rookie QB in 2024.

Rashod Bateman, WR, Ravens

Bateman’s now battling a hamstring injury. He hasn’t flashed in new OC Todd Monken’s offense even when healthy. Zay Flowers remains Baltimore’s go-to WR.

Dalton Schultz, TE, Texans

As noted above, Stroud’s started hot in Houston. Schultz, though, hasn’t benefited. After signing for $6 million guaranteed, the former Cowboy owns just 7 catches. Among 32 TEs with 10+ targets, he ranks last in yards per route run (0.43) and last in Pro Football Focus receiving grade.

Dynasty Fantasy Football Risers (9-14 through 9-20)

Brian Robinson, RB, Commanders

Robinson ranks as the PPR RB4 through two games. He’s even seeing more passing-down work than Antonio Gibson, edging him in routes (47-42) and targets (11-5). Clearly, new OC Eric Bieniemy has taken a liking to the second-year back.

Kyren Williams, RB, Rams

Williams (and another Ram listed below) garnered a mention post- Week 1. Cam Akers’ Week 2 deactivation (and likely trade/release) only solidifies Williams’ near-term value.

Roschon Johnson, RB, Bears

We’ll see if Chicago’s offense can get anywhere close to league average, but Johnson has a real shot to work his way into the lead role at some point in 2023. The Bears made D’Onta Foreman a healthy scratch on Sunday.

Jerome Ford, RB, Browns 

Ford slides into the RB1 role following Nick Chubb’s season-ending knee injury. HC Kevin Stefanski recently called Ford the “featured back,” although we might eventually see a split with the newly-signed Kareem Hunt.

Puka Nacua, WR, Rams 

Nacua’s 15 catches from Week 2 marked a rookie WR record. His 25 total catches over the first two weeks also set a rookie record. Perhaps most shocking: Nacua is on pace for a silly 213-2261 line. Those are true fantasy numbers -- but Nacua is still creeping into WR3 range.

Nico Collins, WR, Texans

Here’s your PPR WR6 through two weeks. He’s benefited from a pass-happy Texans squad, but more importantly for the road ahead – we’re already seeing encouraging signs from rookie QB C.J. Stroud. Now we’ll see if this O-line can return some injured pieces.

Dynasty Fantasy Football Fallers (9-14 through 9-20)

These players have moved down the Draft Sharks dynasty rankings over the last week:

Justin Fields, QB, Bears

Fields continues to invite pressure at an alarming rate. He’s taken ten sacks (and fumbled three times) through two games. At this rate, we can't pencil him in as the 2024 starter.

Kenny Pickett, QB, Steelers

You can point to a pair of tough matchups: San Francisco and Cleveland. But Pickett (and OC Matt Canada) haven’t given much reason for optimism.

Nick Chubb, RB, Browns

Seeing Chubb go down on Monday night was a total gut punch. There’s a chance we don’t see him on an NFL field again, but we’ll be tracking his rehab and pulling for a complete recovery.

Kadarius Toney, WR, Chiefs

Toney had another unforced error in Week 2 (a fumble). Then, mid-week, he popped up on the injury report with a toe sprain. Add it to his laundry list of injuries.

Trey McBride, TE, Cardinals

We’re not throwing in the towel here. McBride is only 24 (in November), after all. Still, it’s discouraging to see Zach Ertz – fresh off an ACL rehab – dominate TE work early on. Through two games, he's out-targeted McBride 18-5.

Dynasty Fantasy Football Risers (Sept. 7-13)

Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams 

Williams dominated backfield snaps (65%) and routes (74%) in the opener. The 23-year-old looks like a solid bet for 12+ touches a game going forward.

Joshua Kelley, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Kelley won the No. 2 job out of training camp. Then in he took 16 carries for 91 yards and a score in the opener, while Austin Ekeler picked up an ankle injury.

Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Flowers easily led the Ravens with 10 targets in Week 1. Baltimore clearly has plans to get him in catch-and-run situations. J.K. Dobbins' injury brings the potential to lower rushing efficiency and push more work to the passing game.

Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams 

Despite 2 drops, Nacua showed out in this NFL debut (10-119-0). But what’s his role when Cooper Kupp returns? (He’s eligible to come off IR for Week 5.) Kupp is also signed through 2026.

Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs 

Rice ran only 12 routes in the opener but saw 5 targets in the limited run. He added his first career TD. The Chiefs are bound to get more from Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney going forward. And Travis Kelce could return as soon as Sunday. But Rice, a Round 2 pick, has the skill set to emerge as a deep-league contributor in 2023.

Tutu Atwell, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Cooper Kupp’s eventual return might crush Atwell’s future production. But he got our attention in the opener vs. Seattle (6-119 on a 21% target share). The 24-year-old (with high-end speed) isn’t someone to give up on.

Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts

As he did in college, Downs showed the ability to separate quickly in the opener. He finished second on the team in targets (7) and was featured in 3-WR sets. The Round 3 pick could soon be a bye-week replacement in deep PPR leagues.

Dynasty Fantasy Football Fallers (9-7 through 9-13)

These players have moved down the Draft Sharks dynasty rankings over the last week:

Cam Akers, RB, Los Angeles Rams

Kyren Williams looked like the Rams’ best RB in Week 1, whether you look at total yards, yards per carry, yards after contact per attempt, or targets. The only good news is that the Rams' offense looked strong overall, despite no Cooper Kupp and an unproven O-line.

Dalvin Cook, RB, New York Jets

Breece Hall performed well in the opener (10-127). Plus, the loss of Aaron Rodgers lowers the scoring ceiling on this unit.

Rashaad Penny, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles made Penny a Week 1 healthy scratch. His career rushing efficiency remains strong, but this was a tough start for the 27-year-old.

Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers 

Johnson will miss about four weeks with a hamstring injury. We also saw Kenny Pickett take a major step back in Week 1, at least compared to his preseason play.

Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

This was a small nudge down. But Kirk’s Week 1 usage might be troublesome for the road ahead. He saw just a 9.4% target share, hurt by the team primarily playing Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones in 2-WR sets.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, New England Patriots

The Pats limited JuJu’s Week 1 snaps. Was it due to a knee issue that could linger all season? WRs coach Ross Douglas said it was more about personnel packages for the game. Either explanation is bad for JuJu. His 27 routes and 7 targets matched the totals of rookie WR Demario Douglas.

Allen Lazard, WR, New York Jets

Lazard’s 2023 and 2024 fantasy value was supposed to be propped up by Aaron Rodgers. Even if Rodgers returns from a torn Achilles in 2024, Lazard isn’t a guy we’re clinging to.

Greg Dulcich, TE, Denver Broncos 

We still love the talent here. But after struggling with hamstring trouble in 2022, Dulcich has already re-injured the same body part. 

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