As we prepare for the 2016 fantasy football draft, it's important to know who's moving up in an organization and who's moving down. Free agent acquisitions, rookies, end of year performances and coaching changes are just a few things that can impact the outlook for an NFL player. We're going to cover some of the high profile ups and downs within each of the 32 NFL teams. This list is alphabetical if you're interested in just a handful of teams however, I highly recommend you preview all 32 as you never know what you'll encounter during the 2016 fantasy football draft. Starting with the second year back that has seized the cow bell role in the desert, which is the perfect segue into our first team, the Arizona Cardinals.
Arizona Cardinals
Moving Up
- David Johnson has emerged as the “cow bell” entering his second season after averaging 150 total yards, rushing for 5.0 YPC, and producing five touchdowns between Weeks 13-16.
Moving Down
- Andre Ellington accumulated 2,078 total yards in 2013-2014, but manufactured 437 in 10 games last season. Now, he will operate under a collapsed ceiling, as a change of pace back behind David Johnson.
Atlanta Falcons
Moving Up
- Devonta Freeman's numbers skyrocketed, as he generated 1,634 total yards, while leading all backs with 14 touchdowns. Replicating that production will be difficult, but he will be a popular first round pick.
Moving Down
- Tevin Coleman was selected before Freeman in 2015 fantasy drafts, but that won’t transpire this summer. Freeman’s statistical explosion, coupled with Coleman’s unexceptional performances, have reduced Coleman’s value.
Baltimore Ravens
Moving Up
- Ben Watson should begin the year as Baltimore’s TE1 after surging to career highs in receptions (74) and yards (825). Crockett Gilmore and Maxx Williams could poach his targets as the season progresses.
Moving Down
- Justin Forsett was the NFL's fifth leading rusher in 2014. But he missed six games with a broken arm, gained just 641 yards, and must compete with Buck Allen and Kenneth Dixon for touches.
Buffalo Bills
Moving Up
- Sammy Watkins was exceptional during Weeks 12-17, collecting 35 receptions, averaging 113 YPG, and scoring six times. That propelled him to 1,047 yards, nine touchdowns, and the threshold of WR1 status.
Moving Down
- LeSean McCoy's injuries limited him to 203 carries, 895 yards and three rushing touchdowns. With Karlos Williams looming as an ongoing threat to pilfer touches, his days as a 300-carry workhorse have ended.
Carolina Panthers
Moving Up
- Kelvin Benjamin - In 2014, Benjamin garnered the sixth most targets (146), assembled 1,008 yards, and scored nine times. No Panther wideout supplanted him as Cam Newton’s WR1 during his 2015 absence.
Moving Down
- Ted Ginn - Kelvin Benjamin’s return to the lineup, coupled with Greg Olsen’s extensive role, make it highly unlikely that Ginn can duplicate the career high 10 touchdowns that he attained last season.
Chicago Bears
Moving Up
- Kevin White - After being selected seventh overall in the 2015 NFL draft, a stress fracture in his leg kept White sidelined throughout the season. Now, he is primed to thrive as Chicago's WR2.
Moving Down
- Marquess Wilson - His 59% snap count led all Bear receivers, but was a byproduct of Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White and Eddie Royal missing a combined 30 contests. His opportunities will be drastically reduced.
Cincinnati Bengals
Moving Up
- Tyler Eifert - After managing just two touchdowns in his first two seasons, Eifert collected 13 in 13 games to lead all tight ends in 2015. He will accrue coveted red zone targets once again.
Moving Down
- Jeremy Hill averaged 5.1 YPC, and exceeded 100 yards five times in 2014. But his YPC plunged to 3.6 last season, and he failed to reach 100 yards in all 16 contests.
Cleveland Browns
Moving Up
- Gary Barnidge - After amassing 44 receptions, 603 yards and three touchdowns from 2008-2014, Barnidge erupted for 79 catches, 1,043 yards and nine scores last season. He'll remain a vital component in the new offense.
Moving Down
- Andrew Hawkins - After achieving career bests with 63 receptions for 824 yards in 2014, concussions limited Hawkins to 27 catches for 276 yards. Health concerns, and a deficient Cleveland offense have obliterated his value.
Dallas Cowboys
Moving Up
- Ezekial Elliott is the most intriguing option, since no veterans have ascending stock. His presence crushes the value of incumbent backs, while Tony Romo and Dez Bryant return from injury ravaged seasons.
Moving Down
- Tony Romo - At age 36, he reemerges after multiple collarbone fractures. There is no reason to select Romo anywhere near last year's ADP of 79, considering the sizable number of options at quarterback.
Denver Broncos
Moving Up
- Ronnie Hillman - While C.J. Anderson has displayed superior talent, Hillman solidified his place in Denver's RB rotation after attaining career highs in yardage (863), and touchdowns (seven), then securing a new contract.
Moving Down
- Demaryius Thomas - accumulated 4,483 yards, and collected 35 touchdowns from 2012-2014. But his yardage dropped by 300+ yards, he scored just six times, and is no longer worthy of a first round pick.
Detroit Lions
Moving Up
- Marvin Jones -Jones established new career highs in targets (103), receptions (65) and yardage (816) last season, and now vaults into an expanded role as a reliable weapon for Matthew Stafford.
Moving Down
- While Ameer Abdullah’s ADP was 48 in 2015, that won’t be replicated. Stevan Ridley has joined Theo Riddick and Zac Zenner as the triad of threats to consistently pilfer Abdullah’s touches.
Green Bay Packers
Moving Up
- Jeff Janis was barely utilized last year, even though Green Bay’s 23rd ranked offense desperately needed playmakers. His role should expand, making him worthy of a late round flier.
Moving Down
- Eddie Lacy was a first round pick after generating 3,001 total yards and 24 touchdowns in 2013-2014. But after manufacturing just 946 total yards and scoring five times, his stock has dropped significantly.
Houston Texans
Moving Up
- DeAndre Hopkins flourished despite the glaring inadequacies of his quarterbacks, by finishing third with 1,521 yards, and seventh with 11 touchdowns. As a result, he firmly cemented his spot among the elite WRs.
Moving Down
- Jaelen Strong appeared destined to secure Houston’s WR2 slot this season. But his arrest in February, and the additions of Will Fuller and Braxton Miller, have negatively impacted his value.
Indianapolis Colts
Moving Up
- Donte Moncrief secured Indy’s WR2 slot by doubling both his reception and touchdown totals from 2014 to 2015. The return of a healthy Andrew Luck will help Moncrief’s numbers progress even further.
Moving Down
- Frank Gore rushed for 967 yards, but required the NFL’s fifth highest number of carries to accomplish that (260). At age 33, the heavy workload will not be replicated, and his production will decline.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Moving Up
- Allen Robinson deserves consideration as a first round draft pick, after tying for the NFL lead with 14 touchdowns, finishing sixth with 1,400 yards, and generating a league best 31 receptions of 20+ yards.
Moving Down
- T.J. Yeldon - Only five backs registered more carries than Chris Ivory, who finished fifth overall with 1,070 yards. His presence is an ominous development for Yeldon, who faces an unavoidable workload reduction.
Kansas City Chiefs
Moving Up
- Jeremy Maclin - After collecting a career-high 87 receptions, and nearly attaining 1,100 yards, Maclin proved that he will remain a dependable option for owners. Even with the ultra-cautious Alex Smith as his quarterback.
Moving Down
- Jamaal Charles remains highly productive but he is 29 years old with a resume that contains numerous injuries. As a result, the former top five pick will be available in Round 2 this summer.
Los Angeles Rams
Moving Up
- Todd Gurley - Working within a 32nd ranked Ram offense that was otherwise devoid of talent, Gurley generated 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games. He will be the first back chosen in many drafts.
Moving Down
- Brian Quick - His promising 2014 season was cut short by injury. Then, any existing value was eliminated when he caught 15 fewer passes, and accumulated 273 less yards, despite playing six more games in 2015.
Miami Dolphins
Moving Up
- DeVante Parker - He caught 22 passes for 445 yards in the final six games of his rookie year, and should become consistently productive as he ascends into a starting role for Miami.
Moving Down
- Jordan Cameron - Since collecting 80 receptions for 917 yards and seven touchdowns in 2013, Cameron has failed to reach those totals in the past two seasons combined. He now clings precariously to fantasy relevance.
Minnesota Vikings
Moving Up
- Stefon Diggs didn't see the field until Week 4, yet still led the Vikings in targets, yardage and receptions. His numbers will grow, although his ceiling is impacted by Teddy Bridgewater's limitations.
Moving Down
- Teddy Bridgewater can't be taken seriously as a fantasy option after finishing 32nd among all quarterbacks with a 202 YPG average, and 26th with an anemic 14 touchdowns, despite performing in 16 games.
New England Patriots
Moving Up
- Dion Lewis - Bill Belichick’s game specific strategies create peril for owners. However, Lewis should earn a recurring role after generating 622 total yards and four touchdowns in just seven games before tearing his ACL.
Moving Down
- Martellus Bennett - He led all tight ends in receptions during 2014. But Bennett’s numbers deteriorated significantly last season, and rising moodiness hastened his departure from Chicago. His role will now fluctuate on a weekly basis.
New Orleans Saints
Moving Up
- Coby Fleener - After spending nearly all of his first four seasons sharing snaps with Dwayne Allen, Fleener will generate new career highs working within the tight end friendly offense of Sean Payton.
Moving Down
- C. J. Spiller - The allure of performing in the Saints’ potent attack hoisted Spiller to an ADP of 60 in 2015. But after manufacturing 351 total yards, he is barely worth a late round selection.
New York Giants
Moving Up
- Eli Manning begins his third season operating within a system that helped him amass 8,846 yards, and generate 65 touchdowns during his highly productive 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Moving Down
- Larry Donnell missed eight games due to a neck injury, and his output was underwhelming when he did perform. Donnell also failed to reach 40 yards in any contest, and scored just twice.
New York Jets
Moving Up
- Brandon Marshall - In 2014, Marshall was 59th among receivers with 721 yards. But he rebounded sizably by finishing fourth with 1,502 yards, and tying for the league lead with a career high 14 touchdowns.
Moving Down
- Khiry Robinson - He was a viable option in 2014 while Mark Ingram was sidelined. Then, Tim Hightower’s rebirth made him expendable in New Orleans. Now, he is buried on the Jets’ depth chart.
Oakland Raiders
Moving Up
- Derek Carr's improvement as a second-year signal caller was both massive and measurable. His touchdown to interception ratio soared from 21:12 to 32:13, while his yardage total rose from 3,270 to 3,987.
Moving Down
- Andre Holmes - He led the Raiders in receiving yards during 2014, then plummeted to eighth last season. His snap count also dropped from 69% to 33%, which further underscores his diminishing role.
Philadelphia Eagles
Moving Up
- Zach Ertz - His snap count rose nearly 20%, which helped him establish career bests in targets, yardage, and receptions. He also signed a five-year extension, and will be highly involved in Doug Pederson’s offense.
Moving Down
- Nelson Agholor was a fifth round selection last summer, then proceeded to catch 23 passes for 283 yards. Those results will improve, but owners should exercise patience before drafting him.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Moving Up
- Ladarius Green has never exceeded 63 targets during his initial four seasons, but that will be surpassed with ease this year. He possesses the size and athleticism to excel in Pittsburgh.
Moving Down
- Ben Roethlisberger - While he remains a QB1, there are reasons to avoid over-drafting him. Multiple injuries sidelined him repeatedly, and contributed to his 21:16 touchdown to interception ratio. Martavis Bryant’s suspension presents another concern.
San Diego Chargers
Moving Up
- Keenan Allen accumulated 67 receptions, 725 yards, and four touchdowns through eight games, before a lacerated kidney ended his season. Still, the 24-year old’s exceptional production reestablished him as a coveted option.
Moving Down
- Melvin Gordon - He was a fourth round pick in fantasy drafts one year ago, but finished 29th in rushing yards, and failed to score. His output should improve, but his value has diminished considerably.
San Francisco 49ers
Moving Up
- Carlos Hyde - The 49ers may not possess the personnel to adeptly execute Chip Kelly’s offense. However, Hyde should secure a mammoth workload, as there is no legitimate threat to steal his touches.
Moving Down
- Skepticism surrounding Torrey Smith's $40 million contract was justified, and the precipitous drop in touchdowns from 11 to four confirms how truncated his ceiling will be. Particularly given shortcomings at quarterback.
Seattle Seahawks
Moving Up
- Tyler Lockett - Doug Baldwin will attract more attention after tying for the NFL lead with 14 receiving touchdowns. That will increase Lockett’s opportunities to unleash his big play ability against less proficient defenders.
Moving Down
- Jimmy Graham - After amassing 4,396 yards and 46 touchdowns from 2011-2014, Graham assembled 605 yards and two scores before a torn patellar tendon ended his season. A full statistical resurgence won’t occur in 2016.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Moving Up
- Jameis Winston - He finished 11th with 4,042 passing yards, 16th with 22 passing touchdowns, and second with six scores on the ground. Expect more passing touchdowns, and an emergence onto more fantasy rosters.
Moving Down
- Vincent Jackson - After generating 1,000+ yards six times from 2008-2014, and at least 70 receptions from 2012-2014, he caught 33 passes for 543 yards during 2015. Draft him only as a late round flier.
Tennessee Titans
Moving Up
- Dorial Green-Beckham - He received just 66 targets, and played on 56% of Tennessee’s offensive snaps, which undermined his massive potential to generate fantasy points. But Green-Beckham’s opportunities and production should both rise dramatically.
Moving Down
- DeMarco Murray - Murray’s abbreviated tenure in Philadelphia was disastrous, as 2014’s rushing leader gained 1,143 fewer yards, and scored seven less touchdowns. The addition of Derrick Henry will send his avergae draft position in the 2016 fantasy football draft plummeting even further.
Washington Redskins
Moving Up
- Jordan Reed - Reed should be one of the first three tight ends drafted this summer, after finishing second at his position with 87 receptions, and tying for second with 11 touchdowns.
Moving Down
- Vernon Davis - After whiffing on his opportunity to reemerge as a TE1 with Denver, Davis finished with 395 yards, no touchdowns, and several critical drops. Now, fantasy relevance is also beyond his grasp.
