Welcome to Risers and Fallers, a Top Fantasy Football featured article where we discuss how player values are changing around the league. Please keep in mind there are two types of value in fantasy sports. General value and trade value. If I list a player as a Riser, this means his general value has increased. A riser has increased value from where he was originally drafted. I will also talk about a player's trade value though, which can be deceptive. If a player who is consistently average breaks out for a great game, his trade value might have increased because people might think he's better than he actually is. Free Fantasy Football Start Sit Advice is now available.
Risers
Devin Hester WR CHI |
Strong Buy ( all leagues )
The Bears didn't have much to get excited about on the offensive side of the ball on Sunday, except for the prospects of Hester being something more than a spectacular punt returner. His stats were tasty on Sunday ( 4 targets, 4 receptions, 1 TD, 90 ReYds ) and more importantly, he looked like the go-to guy for Cutler. Remember, Cutler helped carve up two of the top WR last year in Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall. Not only will Hester be a great play all year long but Earl Bennett will also be catching lots of passes. Ignore that Hester was only targeted 4 times on Sunday. Cutler threw 4 picks and the offense didn't get many chances to get going. When Cutler figures things out, he will bring out the beast in Hester. Buy relatively low while you still can. |
Mark Sanchez QB NYJ |
Strong Buy ( 12+ team leagues or leagues that start 2 QB )
During the preseason I saw something very special in Mark Sanchez. He might not have the arm that Stafford possesses but he surely has the intangibles needed to be a QB in the NFL. On Sunday, Sanchez erased any minuscule doubt I had about him being a successful QB in the league. I'm ready to jump on the Sanchez bandwagon and ride it to the edge of the earth. He's probably a free agent in your league unless it is incredibly deep. If you lost McNabb or you're starting Pennington, Bulger, Eli Manning, Roethlisberger or Favre, you need to pick up Sanchez. If When Sanchez has another good game, you'll be happy you did. |
Marion Barber RB DAL |
Strong Buy ( all leagues )
It looks like Marion the Barbarian has returned. Last year he had the dreaded turf toe injury which severely limited his explosiveness, but now he's punishing defenders just like he used to. He might have only got 14 carries, but he had a very Barber-like 5.6 ypc and a TD. He should see more work in the future with Felix Jones out nursing a bruised thigh. Remember, Barber is a great receiver also and should start to find his place in the passing game in weeks to come. I'd buy on Barber like he was second round value at the moment. |
Cadillac Williams RB TB |
Strong Buy ( all leagues ) A little bit ago I mentioned how Cadillac Williams was at the top of the depth charts in Tampa Bay. Last Sunday we were shown why the team has given him the keys to the offense. It only took him 13 carries to get 97 yards and a touchdown. At this point I don't care if he is getting 10 carries per game stolen from Derrick Ward, Williams will be a fantasy stud all year. He may be already owned in your league but if he isn't snatch him up ASAP. If he is owned, try buying low for him while you still can. |
Devery Henderson WR NO | Strong Buy ( all leagues )
Why should I even try to convince you to pick up someone who was targeted 8 times by Drew Brees and ended up with over 100 yards and a TD? The Saints will have one of the most potent offenses in the league and you want any piece of the pie you can get. Add him in any league and start him as a flex player with confidence. Robert Meachem is also a great add if you don't get Henderson. |
Fallers
LaDainian Tomlinson RB SD |
Strong Sell ( all leagues ) Call it "abandoning ship" or whatever else you may, but I hated what I saw from LT on Monday Night Football against the Raiders. LT has completely owned the Raiders in the past but he looked ordinary against them last night. He still managed a respectable 4.2 ypc but he rolled his ankle during the game and was taken out for Darren Sproles who was electrifying if you ask me. The Chargers will want to keep LT fresh come playoff time so expect a "pitch count" for LT, especially come playoff time. If you can snag first or second round value for LT, I'd do it in a heartbeat. |
Larry Johnson RB KC |
Hold
Let's face it, the Kansas City offense looked incredibly inept last weekend. The team rushed for a combined 29 yards on 17 attempts. Larry Johnson looks like a shell of his former self. Don't drop or try to deal Johnson just yet, because you won't get anything for him. There is always the outside chance he will return to form, or at least 75% of what he used to be. If he can't get anything going by about week 4 though, I'd drop him and grab either Jamaal Charles or whoever else is the flavor of the week. |
DeAngelo Williams RB CAR |
Hold
I knew it. I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! DeAngelo is starting to fall from the cloud he was perched so high and mighty on last year. And boy, is he falling fast. Sure, he played the Philly defense that is very stingy against rushers but he only ran for 2.6 ypc. Also, Jon Stewart looked healthy enough to take a fair amount of carries from D-Will. Don't sell low on D-Will because he might break loose again later on like last year but it's starting to look like D-Will was a flash in the pan to me. Maybe he will prove me wrong in weeks to come though. (Ok, maybe I'm being a little too rough on D-Will, but I refuse to believe he is one of the best RB in the league. You will see what I mean soon enough, I promise) |
Kurt Warner QB ARI |
Moderate Buy ( 10+ team leagues ) Kurt Warner was definitely underwhelming on Sunday with only one touchdown pass and two picks, but the whole Arizona offense just looked like a mess. Warner didn't have the luxury to sit back and survey the field like he did last year because his protection was just terrible. The three sacks he took scare me a little bit but the fact of the matter is that if Warner stays healthy all year he will be a top QB. If you think he can stay healthy, try dropping an offer to your local Warner owner in your league and see if he's interested in dealing him for some pocket change. |
Willie Parker RB PIT |
Moderate Buy ( all leagues )
I refuse to believe that Fast Willie is done. I just refuse! I just feel like he's been the unluckiest RB in the league in the past year. Last year he battled injury, had to fight for his starting job and ended up performing poorly. This year he still had to battle for his starting job and after a nod of confidence from Tomlin, he still performed like a dud. Who did he play though? The Tennessee Titans! I think the Parker is in for a big rebound, and now is the perfect time to buy him dirt cheap. Some people are considering dropping Parker, which is ridiculous. He's going to get his carries and he will manage to be fantasy relevant in the least. Try offering some low-end fantasy starters for him and see if you can snag him. |
No Change
Julius Jones RB SEA |
Strong Sell ( all leagues ) With the performance Jones had last Sunday, I'm hearing whispers of a Renaissance year for Julius like his brother did last year. This is ridiculous. Sure, last year was a bust year for him because the team had problems all over, but Jones has a lot of negatives about his career in recent years. He was dropped by the Cowboys because he couldn't get anything going for them in 2007 and then last year he was in the middle of a major running-back-by-committee situation. He is averaging 161 carries a year for the past two years and has Edge James breathing down his neck currently. Let me put it this way: If you can find someone who wants to buy into his success you should SELL SELL SELL! |
Steve Slaton RB HOU | Strong Buy ( all leagues )
Steve Slaton might have put the idea in your head that he was a one-hit wonder last year after his terrible first game. Get those ideas out of your head right now. Steve Slaton is one of the biggest weapons in that offense and poised for a rebound game soon. It might not come against Tennessee, but it will eventually come. I'm predicting a rough start until week 4 at home against Oakland. You may want to try and send an offer to your league's Slaton owner to give him the message you are interested, but wait until week 3 to really start wheeling and dealing. |