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As we get deeper into the season, we need to move past our preseason expectations. The guy you drafted in Round 2 may be droppable, and the guy you picked up off waivers could be a weekly starter for the rest of the year.
Week 9 Risers
QB Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Nix has looked much better over the last few weeks, and his fantasy production has matched it. Nix was the QB24 through the first five weeks. Over the last two, he's been the QB4. Nix ran for a big 62-yard score in Week 7, and the game seemed to slow down for him after that. With extra comfort on his surgically repaired ankle, Nix has thrown for 444 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions over the last two games. While the Cardinals' game may have been a soft get-right opportunity, he carried that momentum into a Week 8 win against a stout Chiefs defense. Nix has returned top-eight fantasy production in each of his first two NFL seasons. While Year 3 may have started bumpy, Nix is moving back into the QB1 conversation.
RB Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
While the Chiefs' offense struggled to get much done in their second straight loss, Johnson was the lone bright spot. His opportunities were limited: one carry and five targets. But he turned those limited opportunities into 143 yards and a score. He galloped through the Broncos' defense, broke tackles, and created plays out of nothing. On his lone rushing attempt, he was hit five yards deep in the backfield and spun and high-stepped his way through four attempted tackles. As a receiver, he caught all five of his targets, including a downfield ball he took to the house for a 73-yard score. Johnson led all FBS running backs in receptions last year, and he can maintain production as a receiver in this offense. If Ken Walker III misses any time, Johnson has league-winning upside. But even alongside Walker, there could be stand-alone value. Johnson is a massive riser coming out of Week 8 and should be rostered even in shallow leagues.
TE Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
Coming back from an ACL tear, Kraft had an understandably slow start to the season. He was the TE27 through Week 3. Since then, he's been the TE4 in fantasy, upping his per-game receiving output by 15 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Kraft is a dominant tight end and led all tight ends in fantasy points per game last year before his season-ending injury. As he gets more comfortable on his injured knee, he should return to form asa plug-and-play TE1. If one guy can crack the elite tier of tight ends soon, it's Kraft.
Week 9 Fallers
RB Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
In Week 8, Mike Washington Jr. out-snapped Jeanty 38 to 25. Washington handled 25 touches, and Jeanty just five. Jeanty has been a consistent faller this year, and his efficiency has cratered from his rookie season. His play hasn't improved, and the coaching staff took an expanded look at their rookie, Washington, this week. Could this be a warning shot to Jeanty? Could he respond with a strong week of practice and better play? Could Washington have usurped his role? No one really knows for sure, and we'll hope for more information after this week. But Jeanty's production has been driven by his volume, not his on-field play. Jeanty had been a weekly volume-based play, but that volume is no longer guaranteed.
RB Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
Hampton has ranked last in snaps among the Chargers' running back trio in three of their last four games. Any hopes that they'd figure some things out during the bye were quickly squashed when they came out running the same mistake-ridden, predictable offense. This Chargers offense is completely avoidable in fantasy. Justin Herbert isn't even returning value in two-quarterback and superflex leagues. No receiver or tight end has shown any consistency. And an unproductive backfield is split three ways, with Hampton getting the lowest-value touches of the bunch. Managers who invested a second-round pick in Hampton in fantasy drafts will reasonably want to see this out, but Hampton is benchable in all formats and even droppable in shallow ones.
WR Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
Worthy had a decent two-game stretch in Weeks 4 and 5, catching 11 of 14 targets for 143 yards. And that's the problem. Over seven games, Worthy has been decent in only two. He's been held to 25 or fewer yards in the other five. He's scored just one touchdown on the year. Worthy had a chance to establish a larger role while Rashee Rice was out. But Rice is back now, Worthy is even further down the pecking order, and he's droppable in shallow leagues.
Check out the most recent episode of The Footballguys Fantasy Football Show, where I'm joined by Bob Harris to discuss these risers, fallers, and more.
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