Risers and Fallers Week 2: Quarterbacks

In Part One of the Risers and Fallers list for Week 2, I will be discussing the quarterbacks who have increased and decreased their values following Week 1 on the 2014 NFL season and whether you should Buy, Sell or Hold them.

Risers

Matt Ryan, ATL:

It looks like the Matt Ryan from two seasons ago is back, and he looks better than ever. Even without his redzone BFF Tony Gonzalez, Ryan has more than enough options to help his offense succeed this season. Paired with a defense that is just good enough to let the Falcons eek out high scoring games, Ryan boasts a rare blend of high floor mixed with astronomical upside that fantasy owners covet from their QB slot. Add in a healthy Julio Jones (who still managed six catches for 116 yards in blanketed coverage) and Roddy White, Devin Hester, Harry Douglas and four solid, albeit unspectacular, options in the running game, Ryan will keep the offense churning at a high level all season long. BUY

Russell Wilson, SEA:

Just like Matt Ryan, Wilson has the rare high floor/higher upside fantasy owners covet. Wilson’s decision making is elite, he rarely turns the ball over, and routinely chips in rushing stats with the always effective read-option. With the league’s best defense supporting him, Wilson will be playing with a lead for most of 2014, allowing him to take his chances when they present themselves without having to force his throws. BUY

EJ Manuel, BUF:

Well that was unexpected. After his horrid preseason and all the hoopla surrounding the backup quarterback position in Buffalo, all signs pointed to a dismal showing for Manuel against an improving Bears D. Manuel has temporarily silenced his critics by going 16-22 for 173 yards and a score while adding 19 yards and another score on the ground en route to a victory over a very hyped Bears team. I do not expect this efficiency to continue, but if he somehow manages to maintain this level of production in the early going, Manuel has intriguing upside in two-quarterback leagues as a QB2/bye week filler. HOLD

Top 3 Most Added (Yahoo):

Jake Locker, TEN

Carson Palmer, ARI

Geno Smith, NYJ

Fallers

Tony Romo, DAL:

Perhaps Romo shouldn’t have taken all that time off in the offseason to rest, huh? His timing with his receivers not named Dez was horrific. He forced throws into traffic, got picked off three times (should have been four if not for the jump ball heroics of Dwayne Harris) and under-threw his targets on multiple occasions. With the Cowboys “defense”, Romo may have more opportunities to throw out of necessity, but he will also continue to force the ball and turn the ball over a lot more than he has in the past. Hopefully this is just a Week 1 outlier, but until his play improves, Romo is nothing more than a QB2 in my book. HOLD

Alex Smith, KC:

The Chiefs offense as a whole looked like last season never existed. With only two members of the offensive line returning from last season and Dwayne Bowe out on suspension, memories of Andy Reid’s offensive juggernaut a year ago vanished immediately. Alex Smith was downright putrid on Sunday with his three picks (seven all of last season) and he failed to establish his two most talented weapons all game long. Jamaal Charles only touched the ball 11 times and Travis Kelce was barely included in the offensive game plan, which made Smith force the ball to his other below average receiving options for the majority of the day. With Derrick Johnson and Mike DeVito going down on the defensive side of the ball, the defense could struggle mightily, forcing Smith to play catch up a lot more often than he did last season. He’s simply not that kind of quarterback as he has found the most success managing the game behind a strong rushing attack and solid D. He was only a mid level QB2 last season with everything going right, what does that make him with everything going wrong? SELL

Robert Griffin III, WSH:

RGIII looked like a less mobile version of the aforementioned Alex Smith on Sunday. He dinked and he dunked his way to a decent 267 yards through the air; however, he only managed TWO yards on the ground in three tries to go along with no scores and a fumble lost. RGIII’s value in the past came from his ability to gain yardage in chunks by air and by land while adding multiple scores per game and limiting turnovers. The risk averse version of the franchise quarterback in our nation’s capital should be riding the pine behind Kirk Cousins if he doesn't improve quickly. SELL