Dynasty Roundtable: Biggest Midseason Risers and Fallers

Question of the Week

We are at the midway point of the fantasy regular season.

Who are your biggest Dynasty risers and fallers for 2026?

Biggest Risers

Ken Walker III, Kansas City

Song - Midway through the fantasy regular season, my biggest dynasty riser is Ken Walker III. It has to be, right? Once mired in a committee backfield in Seattle, Walker is now an elite workhorse back in Kansas City. In fact, he's the fourth-highest-scoring player at any position in fantasy points per game (PPG) through seven weeks, behind only Jahmyr Gibbs, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Josh Allen. On top of that, Walker may have just played his toughest game of the year against his old team, the Seahawks. He has a very favorable strength of schedule from here on out, including a flailing Chargers defense in Week 17's fantasy championship.

Matthew Golden, Green Bay

Haseley - Matthew Golden has been one of this year's more noticeable breakouts. Over seven games, he has 36 catches for 540 yards and 3 touchdowns, while seeing a healthy target share in a pass-heavy Packers offense under Jordan Love. At 23, that combination of youth, volume, and production is driving the dynasty surge. His trade value has jumped hard over the last month as people start viewing him as a legitimate long-term WR2 rather than just a complementary piece next to Christian Watson. The drops and conversion rate have been mild red flags, but the overall dynasty path looks strong for a young second-year receiver in a good situation.

Jalen Coker Carolina

Spala - There are two ways to look at this question: The largest riser in total rankings or the most meaningful. A wide receiver like Caleb Douglas could have risen the most total spots, while a wide receiver like Matthew Golden could be the most meaningful; going from WR36 to start the season up to at least WR19 is meaningful. Jeff Haseley noted Golden’s situation, and I would like to add Jalen Coker as a meaningful riser. He started the season around WR45-50 and is now our WR32. He has played five games this season, totaling 33 receptions for 453 yards and three touchdowns. Coker may not become a WR1 in Carolina alongside Tetairoa McMillan, but he is still a valuable asset. He has solidified his dynasty outlook with a desired floor and upside.

Parker Washington, Jacksonville

Blaylock - I agree with my colleagues Jeff and Corey that Matthew Golden's third-year breakout—he's the fantasy WR9 in PPR scoring—is the biggest riser so far this season, but he's been discussed. Instead, I'll focus on Washington, who was my preseason WR37. Washington had a slow rise before his second-half breakout last season. He averaged 4.4 PPR points per game in 2023, his rookie season, and improved slightly to 5.9 points per game in 2024. Through the first eight weeks of 2025, he was averaging 7.2 points per game, respectable but hardly indicative of stardom. Then he took off. From Week 9 on, he averaged nearly 15 points a game, making him the fantasy WR11 for that span. I thought that was a fluke, and he wouldn't be able to repeat it. He has. He's among the league leaders in yards per route run (2.58), target share (24 percent), and air-yard share (39 percent) among wide receivers who have run at least 100 routes. The 24-year-old former sixth-round pick is in the final year of his rookie contract and will be a free agent after the season. He reportedly turned down an extension worth around $25 million a year before the season started, but I expect the Jaguars will sign him to keep the budding superstar in Duval.

Michael Mayer, Las Vegas 

Montgomery - I’ve said it before, and I'll say it again: Michael Mayer will have standalone value within this Raiders offense. The returns are already there; Mayer is well on his way to his best season yet in every statistical category. He has 1/3 of his career targets in just seven games this season, with Brock Bowers playing all but two. He has an 80% snap share and is involved in the offense because of the lack of depth at receiver. He may not be the team’s starting tight end on paper, but Mayer is productive at the position, has flex value for the rest of the season, and should be treated as such, not as a “backup” tight end.

Biggest Fallers