Fantasy Football Stock Watch: Jaydon Blue Up, Tyreek Hill Down

While many tend to dismiss training camp and the preseason, it has an impact on the stock of players when it comes to fantasy football Average Draft Position (ADP). Roles are up for grabs and injuries can create opportunities. Here’s the stock watch for every NFL team with risers and fallers.

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Fantasy Football Stock Watch

Arizona Cardinals

📈It’s always James Conner getting the bulk of the carries when healthy, but there’s been talk about Trey Benson becoming more involved. Even Conner acknowledged it, saying Benson will play a lot this season. Conner is 30 and was given a two-year extension last year and coming off a career-high 236 carries. Benson had 69 touches over 13 games in his rookie year.

Atlanta Falcons

📉Darnell Mooney is expected to miss most of training camp with a shoulder injury. Mooney was the WR34 in points per game last season.

Baltimore Ravens

📈Keaton Mitchell said he was fully recovered from his awful knee injury in 2023. We believe you. In the first preseason game, Mitchell displayed his explosiveness with a 23-yard run and a 22-yard TD run to finish with 68 yards on 9 carries. In 2023, Mitchell had a six-game stretch where he rushed for 396 yards on 47 carries (8.4 yards per carry) with 2 touchdowns. Mitchell played two games last season, but didn’t look good. Mitchell is behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill, but would see touches if either misses time.

Buffalo Bills

📉Khalil Shakir is missing time with a high-ankle sprain. Head coach Sean McDermott said Shakir will be ready for Week 1, but players tend to struggle coming off high-ankle sprains. It could be a slow start for Shakir.

Carolina Panthers

📈Bryce Young had a strong finish to last season and ranked as the QB8 in fantasy points per game from Weeks 12-18. He averaged 25.4 rushing yards per game in that span and scored 5 rushing TDs in the last six games. Young looked good in the first preseason game, completing 4-for-6 for 58 yards with a TD. Young is a good backup QB if you wait on the position and a solid QB2 in superflex leagues if you don’t invest a lot on a second or third QB.

Chicago Bears

📈Colston Loveland has been a big mismatch at training camp. While the Bears have a lot of targets and the offense could start slowly with Caleb Williams learning a new scheme, Loveland was drafted 10th overall, which indicates Johnson has big plans for him.

Cincinnati Bengals

📈We already knew Chase Brown was the primary back so I’m not sure why he’s surging up draft boards. The release of Zack Moss shouldn’t have been a factor. From Weeks 9-17 last season, Brown averaged 23 touches and was the RB5 in points per game. In sharper leagues, the cost will be high. Brown has moved from the third round to the second in many leagues and it’s a good spot to draft him.

Cleveland Browns

📈Cedric Tillman will be the No. 2 wide receiver opposite Jerry Jeudy. Joe Flacco is the likely starter and that’s good for Tillman, who went off once Amari Cooper was traded last season. In four games, he had 40 targets and caught 24 for 302 yards with 3 TDs. He missed the end of the season due to a concussion. Tillman is a good pick in the double-digit rounds.

Dallas Cowboys

📈Jaydon Blue has been impressing in camp and getting some snaps with the first team. While he has a bone bruise on his heel, it’s not serious. Blue could play a big role, especially in the passing game. He’s a good target in the double-digit rounds.

Denver Broncos

📈RJ Harvey played with the first team in the opening preseason game and had seven carries for 25 yards and caught one of his two targets for four yards. J.K. Dobbins took five snaps on third downs. Harvey is a great fit for this system and could lose some snaps due to his pass blocking early in the season. Patience is needed with Harvey, but he’s explosive.

Detroit Lions

📈Jameson Williams has been getting hype all offseason. The coaches have been talking him up and new offensive coordinator John Morton has been aggressive taking more deep shots. Williams had 16 plays of 20+ yards with five over 50 yards.

Green Bay Packers

📉Jayden Reed missed the preseason opener with a foot injury, and was seen in a walking boot. Reed had a toe issue earlier in camp and then missed practice on Thursday with the foot injury. He’s dealing with a sprained foot and coach Matt LaFleur said, “potentially” when asked if Reed could miss Week 1.

Houston Texans

📉The news hasn’t been good for Joe Mixon. The running back is dealing with a foot injury and will be out for a while. Mixon is 29 and dependent on volume. He has averaged 4.1 yards per carry in his career. Mixon hasn’t been falling far enough in drafts. Pass on Mixon.

Indianapolis Colts

📈Rookie tight ends have made a quick adjustment to the NFL in recent seasons and put up some big fantasy numbers. Tyler Warren could be the next one. The Colts drafted him 14th overall and he’s lined up all over in training camp. Warren played all 20 snaps on the first three drives in the first preseason game and had 3 catches for 40 yards and had a fourth catch called back due to a penalty. While the QB play is questionable, Warren will be heavily involved and is a Top 10 TE.

Jacksonville Jaguars

🤔There will be value in the Jaguars’ backfield if the Liam Coen offense pops. The talk was Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby, fourth-round rookie Bhayshul Tuten, and seventh-round rookie LeQuint Allen could all be involved. In the first preseason game, Etienne played all of the snaps on the opening drive. Bigsby played on the next two drives with the backups. Tuten missed some time in training camp with a hamstring injury and didn’t play until late in the second quarter of the preseason opener.

Kansas City Chiefs

📉Hollywood Brown has been out of practice with an ankle injury. Brown missed most of last season due to shoulder surgery. The comments from offensive coordinator Matt Nagy indicate the frustration with Brown not being on the field. "Well, it's got to happen quickly when he gets back. I know, Hollywood (Brown) wants to be out here so, and he's not so to your point, you are missing out on that timing."

Las Vegas Raiders

📈Dont'e Thornton Jr. is battling for the third receiver spot. He started the first preseason game and played through the third drive. He’s a great athlete at 6-foot-5 and has speed. He averaged 19.5 yards per target last season at Tennessee.

Los Angeles Chargers

📉Najee Harris remains out due to a fireworks-related incident and has an eye injury. Details haven’t been revealed and Jim Harbaugh said there’s a chance Harris isn’t ready Week 1. The lack of clarity is concerning. I’ll be passing in drafts.

📉Justin Herbert is in a range of quarterbacks that are closely ranked. One tweak can push one of them up or down. Herbert moves down after the season-ending injury to left tackle Rashawn Slater due to a ruptured patellar tendon. Slater missed two games last season and Herbert was under more pressure in those games.

📉The addition of Keenan Allen tempers expectations for Tre Harris and Quentin Johnston. With Allen and Ladd McConkey, it will be difficult for Harris and Johnston to become reliable in fantasy.

Los Angeles Rams

📉Matthew Stafford has yet to practice due to an aggravated disk in his back. Rams coach Sean McVay said Stafford threw more than 60 passes in a workout on Saturday. Stafford was expected to participate in individual drills on Monday, but was ruled out when he didn't feel right. McVay said the Rams are being cautious with Stafford and he would be available to play if it were the regular season. Those with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are watching closely.

Miami Dolphins

📉The vibes aren’t good with Tyreek Hill. He’s dealing with an oblique injury and missing practice. The relationship with coach Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa is tenuous. Hill is 31 and coming off one of his worst seasons with 81 catches for 959 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Minnesota Vikings

📈Jordan Mason is going to play a big role in the offense. In sharp draft rooms, he’s going at a higher cost. He’s an absolute bargain on ESPN. Head coach Kevin O’Connell referred to Aaron Jones and Mason as 1A-1B. Jones turns 31 in December and is coming off a career-high 306 touches.

New England Patriots

🚀 One play in the preseason can cause excitement. TreVeyon Henderson is one example. If you’ve been drafting Henderson, this will only increase the price. On his first touch, Henderson took the kickoff 100 yards for a TD. Don’t be surprised if he creeps into the fourth round of fantasy drafts. Try the Fantasy Life Draft Champion to see where he lands.

New Orleans Saints

The main thing for the Saints is the quarterback battle. It’s down to rookie Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler, who started the first preseason game.

New York Giants

📈While Cam Skattebo is sidelined with a leg injury, it’s allowing Tyrone Tracy to take control of the backfield to begin the season. Tracy played in the preseason opener and had five touches on the opening drive with two receptions and converted a first down on fourth-and-1. Tracy had a fumbling issue last season and was ruled down before losing the ball against the Bills on Saturday. Skattebo could still play a role when he gets healthy and if the price drops, consider buying.

New York Jets

📈 Braelon Allen has received buzz all training camp. The Jets are going to be one of the most run-heavy teams in the NFL. Breece Hall is the lead back, but offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand comes from Detroit, where two backs were used. How can you not draft Allen at these prices?

Philadelphia Eagles

📈 There’s a battle for the backup running back spot behind Saquon Barkley between Will Shipley and AJ Dillon. I have been taking Shipley in all my drafts and believe it will be him. Shipley rushed seven times for 48 yards and caught his lone target for four yards. Shipley is a good pick late in drafts for running back depth on the bench.

Pittsburgh Steelers

🤔 The big question for fantasy is how the running backs are utilized. Kaleb Johnson rushed for 20 yards on eight carries and had one catch for six yards on Saturday. The rookie running back was drafted in the third round and averaged 6.4 yards per carry at Iowa. Johnson is expected to play the Najee Harris role, and Jaylen Warren will operate as the passing back.

San Francisco 49ers

📈Ricky Pearsall is getting every chance to be a primary target in the offense with Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk out of practice. Pearsall missed the start of his rookie season last year due to a gunshot wound in an attempted robbery. Pearsall flashed his ability in the final two games with 14 catches for 210 yards with 2 TDs. The first-round pick is a good target.

📉Brandon Aiyuk is coming off a torn ACL and MCL and is unlikely to be ready for Week 1. There’s no timeline for his return.

Seattle Seahawks

📈 Tory Horton has received hype all offseason and performed well in the first preseason game. The fifth-round pick caught three passes for 31 yards with a touchdown. The wide receiver is in a battle for the No. 3 receiver job with Marques Valdes-Scantling. Horton is a deeper league pick in rounds 18-20.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

🚀 Emeka Egbuka has received nothing but praise from coaches and teammates. The first-round pick is making plays and his highlights are littered across social media. I have been aggressively taking him above ADP. Chris Godwin could miss the beginning of the season and Egbuka will play early.

📉Speaking of Godwin, he’s becoming more risky coming off a dislocated ankle. While we draft for the season and not only the first few weeks, roster construction becomes critical in determining when to draft Godwin. Pairing Godwin with Jordan Addison, Rashee Rice or Brandon Aiyuk puts teams in a tough spot early in the season. More injuries will find your team. When Buccaneers GM Jason Licht was asked if Godwin will begin the season on IR, he said: “That we don’t know yet.” There’s still time for Godwin to be ready for Week 1, but it’s likely he could miss some games and start slowly.

Tennessee Titans

📉Tyjae Spears was supposed to be a bigger part of the offense last season, but he suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 and Tony Pollard became the main back. Spears also dealt with a hamstring injury and a concussion. When Pollard missed time, Spears excelled. Pollard remains the lead back, but coach Brian Callahan said it would be ideal to use them more evenly. Unfortunately, Spears suffered a high-ankle sprain on Saturday. It remains to be seen if Spears will be ready for Week 1. If he’s out, Pollard gets another big workload.

Washington Commanders

📈Jacory Croskey-Merritt has been getting a lot of hype in training camp and he started the first preseason game. While Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler are ahead of him, the physical, downhill style of Croskey-Merritt has made headlines in camp. He’s worth taking as a pick late in drafts to see if he can emerge during the regular season.

Fantasy Football Stock Watch: Jaydon Blue Up, Tyreek Hill Down