Sell Low
Chase Brown (RB-CIN) - How bad is it getting for Brown? Samaje Perine is now getting almost half of the snaps in the backfield. It happened in Jake Browning's last game, and again when Joe Flacco took over. Perine is a more formidable back in pass protection, and it makes sense for his veteran presence to be on the field more when the team has to slant even more pass-heavy because the line can't open any holes for the running game. Brown isn't creating any explosive plays, and he and Perine have split the meager two running back red zone opportunities over the last two weeks. He will serve as a warning against drafting running backs whose upside is more situation-based than talent-based in the future. However, he could be a buy-low opportunity in dynasty leagues for teams that are out of contention this year.
Justin Fields (QB-NYJ) - Fields' game in Week 6 was the worst one he has had since his first game as a starting quarterback in the NFL. That paints a bleak picture of his development. Garrett Wilson is out, likely for multiple weeks. The team could trade away their best offensive player other than Wilson in upcoming weeks. This offense was already crashing and burning, now we could get that delayed obliteration of the rubble that thrilled us in action movies, but will leave holding a worthless fantasy commodity in superflex leagues if we still have Fields after this week.
Kyler Murray (QB-ARI) - It's hard to argue that Murray doesn't hold back the Cardinals' pass offense after watching Jacoby Brissett throw for over 300 yards (and throw a touchdown to Trey McBride!) even though Marvin Harrison Jr. left the game in the first half with a concussion. Murray's contract means that he'll likely keep starting for Arizona for another year or two. But he isn't even putting up spike games for fantasy anymore, and a foot issue this year is a ticking time bomb for a running quarterback. It's time to cash out in SuperFlex.
Mark Andrews (TE-BAL) - Andrews could come out of the bye in a smaller passing game role with Isaiah Likely healthy now. He could even be the subject of trade rumors again if the Ravens lose to Chicago. Andrews isn't really influencing the outcome of games anymore, and his value will swirl down the drain sooner or later. See if you can get anything for him in tight-end-premium leagues.
Buy Low
Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell (RB-PIT) - The Steelers' offensive line is improving, and the team is in the market for an upgrade at wide receiver. Pittsburgh has faced some tough defenses - Seattle, Cleveland, Minnesota - and they are getting to an easier part of their schedule, including two games with the Bengals in the next five weeks. The synergy between Aaron Rodgers and Arthur Smith is creating more scoring opportunities for an offense that was downright discouraging to watch for years. Both of these backs are weekly flex plays, and they can become RB1 plays if either one misses time, as Kenneth Gainwell showed in Week 5.
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB-NE), Kyle Williams (WR-NE) - Stevenson did little for fantasy in Week 6, but in perhaps the more important development, the Patriots committed to him as the lead back and did not increase TreVeyon Henderson's role from his baseline 30-35% of the snaps share of the backfield to date. Drake Maye is elevating this offense. Stevenson has better chemistry with Maye in the passing game, and he'll be the one who is more likely to get the goal-line opportunities that could come in bunches the way this season is going. Williams is a forgotten man in the offense and might be seen as a disappointment in dynasty, but the Patriots' four-man wide receiver committee is getting the job done. Maye's breakout season should actually increase Williams' value even though many dynasty players probably don't see it that way.
Bryce Young (QB-CAR), Jalen Coker (WR-CAR) - Young looks like a quarterback who is regaining his confidence a la 2024 post-bye Young. He is making plays from unstable pockets and outside of structure. He has a real #1 receiver, and he's about to gain a dangerous slot receiver who can be a vertical threat and convert the layup targets to keep the offense on schedule. The line should get Austin Corbett back soon to boot. Young could get back into the low QB1 ranks. Coker is inheriting a role that Adam Thielen turned into borderline WR1 production in PPR leagues once Young bounced back last year. Be willing to overpay for him in dynasty.
Derrick Henry (RB-BAL) - The Ravens turned to Henry as a life preserver for a drowning team, and he was up to the task. They could have gone into the half with a lead over the Rams if they had just gone back to Henry after he got the ball to the one. Instead, they went to Mark Andrews on two straight unsuccessful tush push plays, and then the Rams keyed on Henry and stopped him on fourth down. If Henry had scored in addition to going over 100 yards in a Ravens win without Lamar Jackson, we would have said "He's back!" Going into the bye after a slump had many questioning whether he was in decline. Well, he's back! Buy during the bye if you can.
Breece Hall (RB-NYJ) - Trading for Hall is a swing that will either yield a home run or a strikeout. If he is dealt to the Chiefs and becomes the focal point of the running game in one of the best offenses in the league, look out. We might end up learning that the Jets offense was bringing him down even more than we thought, a la Saquon Barkley. If the Jets don't trade him, he'll languish in boom/bust RB2 territory and go into a very uncertain free agent market off of an uneven year. A bet on the talent seems to be called for here.
Woody Marks (RB-HOU) - Marks was the toast of the fantasy world for a week, and then a quiet game in a romp over an emasculated Ravens team made him yesterday's news. Marks still got more snaps than Nick Chubb in that game. The Texans are going to have games (like maybe Monday night at Seattle) where they will pass more than they did against the Ravens. Marks can still have spike weeks, and we all know Nick Chubb's recent injury history. Marks isn't worth as much as it felt like after Week 5, but he's worth more than it feels like after Week 6.
Isiah Pacheco (RB-KC) - Pacheco curiously got promoted to a 77% snap share in Week 5, by far his highest of the season. He also got four red zone opportunities to zero for Kareem Hunt, who scored twice in Week 4. The Chiefs could trade for a running back, but they also might be giving Pacheco a chance to show that he's the answer to the run game woes. The addition of Rashee Rice should lighten boxes, and Pacheco could get a lot of second-half run against a weary Raiders defense in a blowout. The payoff if Pacheco returns to the lead back role he started 2024 in is worth the small investment to land him, especially if Kansas City acquires their starting back via trade.
Jerry Jeudy (WR-CLE), Isaiah Bond (WR-CLE) - The Browns offense is so bad right now that neither one of their starting wide receivers is even a consideration to start in the flex in redraft leagues. Dillon Gabriel ain't it. The organization just made Shedeur Sanders the backup quarterback, and they know that opens the door to him starting - soon if Gabriel doesn't get it in gear. Sanders is a much more aggressive passer than Gabriel, and he can revive some of the value that is withering on the vine.
Carson Wentz (QB-MIN) - Wentz is healthier than JJ McCarthy coming out of the bye, and he should start against a banged-up Eagles defense that just gave up 35 points to Jaxson Dart with his offensive line getting healthier. Kevin O'Connell is talking about "building McCarthy's foundation back up", which isn't the way you talk about an entrenched starting quarterback. Wentz is much cheaper than he should be in superflex leagues right now.
Alec Pierce (WR-IND) - Pierce is back from his concussion and ready to pick up where he left off, when he had racked up four catches for 67 yards with more than a quarter left to go against Tennessee. Josh Downs and Ashton Dulin are likely out this week, and Adonai Mitchell is in the doghouse. If Pierce gets all of the downfield targets that were split between him and Mitchell before his head injury, he will graduate to high ceiling WR3/Flex. We know this offense is one of the best in the league now, but Pierce's value doesn't reflect that.
Buy High
Kayshon Boutte (WR-NE) - Since Boutte has had some big games with Drake Maye, only to go quiet for fantasy, most people are writing off his big Week 6 as another fluke. Don't. Boutte just turned 23 in May, which means he's in the same place in his physical development as some of the receivers that were drafted this year. He is playing more snaps than any other Patriots receiver, and he clearly has downfield chemistry with Maye. In both redraft and dynasty, Boutte's potential value is being vastly underestimated.
Rico Dowdle (RB-CAR) - Dowdle had a two-game stretch for the ages. Chuba Hubbard is back, but this will likely be more of a 50-50 committee instead of the two-drives-for-Hubbard, one-drive-for-Dowdle system they started with. This shows you where the momentum is in this backfield. Forget that Dowdle was undrafted and lightly regarded in free agency. Try to buy while some still view his breakout as a possible fluke.
Jaxson Dart (QB-NYG) - How good has Dart been since taking over as the starter? He has turned the Giants into trade deadline buyers for a wide receiver, potentially a quality starting wide receiver. Dart led the Giants' offense to a 35-point game that seemed to demoralize the Eagles' defense, and his #1 wide receiver was Wan'Dale Robinson. Imagine what he can do if the Giants get Chris Olave. And then next season, when Malik Nabers is back. The arrow is pointing up for Dart, who is transcending his surroundings and exorcising the organizational malaise for the Giants.
Kendrick Bourne (WR-SF) - The fantasy community has barely raised an eyebrow at Bourne posting back-to-back 142-yard games. It is being chalked up to some secret magic chemistry with Mac Jones or a lack of viable options in the passing game. Bourne has the momentum in this passing game, and who is to say whether George Kittle or Ricky Pearsall can stay healthy? Jauan Jennings is "healthy" if "healthy" is playing with five broken ribs. He has already had calf, shoulder, and ankle injuries this year, on top of that. There are a lot of ways that Bourne can remain central in this passing game, and there's no reason that he can't produce with Brock Purdy, who might even represent an upgrade at quarterback if he can stay healthy.
Jayden Daniels (QB-WAS) - Daniels put up a strong QB1 fantasy line against the Bears, and he did it with a gimpy Deebo Samuel Sr. as his #1 receiver. Samuel and Terry McLaurin should get healthier and contribute more in the passing game soon. The Washington pass offense could get rolling soon with Kansas City, Seattle, Detroit, and Miami up in potential high-scoring games after a probable shootout with the Cowboys this week.
Sell High
Josh Allen (QB-BUF) - Allen and the Bills' offense were positively underwhelming against the Falcons. Give credit to the Falcons' defense, which has looked like one of the best in the league when they play the way they did Monday night. Allen didn't have Dalton Kincaid because of a nagging knee issue and lost Joshua Palmer, who had two catches for 60 yards on only six snaps on his way to a possible breakout game. Keon Coleman isn't turning into the player the Bills envisioned when they took him in the early second round last year (yet), and Khalil Shakir can't carry a passing game. Allen has faced some poor defenses so far this year - Baltimore, the Jets, Miami, and New Orleans in the four-game winning streak to start the season, when the team scored at least 30 points in every game. Against the Patriots in Week 5, the team only managed 20 points and then 14 against Atlanta. After the bye, they get an improving Carolina defense, their nemesis Kansas City, Miami, and then Tampa, Houston, and Pittsburgh in a stretch that might be bumpy. Allen also plays at Foxboro, at Cleveland, and at home against Philadelphia in the fantasy playoffs in three potential weather games. He has not been a top 10 fantasy quarterback in the five-week stretch since his massive comeback game against the Ravens to open the season. See if you can get out of Allen as your QB1 in redraft for a .75 on the dollar price if you can during his bye.
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