Dynasty Risers and Fallers Week 8 | Market Movers Report 3

by Steve Smith · Dynasty Leagues

This is the Dynasty Risers and Fallers Week 8 Report! We’ve entered the second half of the 2023 fantasy football regular season. By now, we should have a good read on our dynasty teams. Take advantage of the market trends and use PlayerProfiler’s advanced stats and metrics to secure a championship or build a future contender.

Report No. 3 covers notable dynasty risers and fallers since Week 5.

Stock Trending Up

Lamar Jackson – QB Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson put together an impressive performance against the Lions in Week 7. He threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns, adding 36 yards and a score with his legs. He finished the week as QB2 in fantasy, which was his fifth top 10 QB finish this year.

Through seven games, Jackson owns a career-best True Completion Percentage (75.9-percent, No. 5) with a True Passer Rating of 102.1 (No. 7). Despite his rushing numbers being slightly down from previous seasons, he still averages a league-best 51.9 yards per game (No. 1).  Jackson is producing a solid 21.4 Fantasy Points Per Game (FPPG), which is good for QB5. The Ravens’ signal-caller gains 20.43 Lifetime Value points and two spots to ascend to QB4 in dynasty. If Jackson isn’t on your dynasty team, expect to pay a hefty price to acquire him.

Alvin Kamara – RB New Orleans Saints

Since returning from suspension, Alvin Kamara has done nothing but produce fantasy points. In four games played, he has finished no worse than RB10 with his best outing coming in Week 7 (29.3 fantasy points, RB2). The veteran has an 80-percent Opportunity Share (No. 5). Additionally, despite missing the first three games of the season, Kamara leads all RBs with 39 Targets (No. 1).

On the year, Kamara has 35 receptions (No. 1) for 177 receiving yards (No. 7). Kamara has rushed for 261 yards (No. 32). He is averaging 21.7 FPPG (RB3). Kamara earns 18.12 Lifetime Value points to move seven spots to RB19. Based on his 24.4-percent (No. 1) Target Share alone, the 28-year-old makes for a great asset on contending dynasty teams. However, rebuilders may want to cash out.

Puka Nacua – WR Los Angeles Rams

Cooper Kupp is back in action and Puka Nacua continues to produce. The breakout rookie has quickly ascended from pick No. 177 in last April’s draft to No. 3 on the NFL receiving leaderboard. In fantasy football circles he is currently the WR7 producing 20.8 FPPG.

In Week 7, Puka earned 12 Targets, catching eight for 154 yards (23.4 fantasy points, WR5). This marks the fifth top 12 fantasy performance of his young career. In Kupp’s first game back, Nacua went for 71 yards and a score on seven receptions (20.1 fantasy points, WR11). Puka entered the season as WR93 in dynasty. Over the last two weeks, the rookie gained another 41.70 Lifetime Value points and moved up six more spots to move to WR8 in the dynasty rankings.

Trey McBride – TE Arizona Cardinals

With Zach Ertz placed on Injured Reserve, it’s wheel-up for second-year TE Trey McBride. Regardless of Ertz’s injury, McBride was already starting to emerge over the 32-year-old. McBride ran 43 routes over the last two games, which is just two less than the first five games combined (45).

Since Week 5, McBride has earned more Targets, translating to his two most productive games of 2023 (TE11 in Week 6, TE19 in Week 7). He shows promising metrics such as a Yards Per Route Run mark of 1.93 (No. 3) and a Target Separation of 2.24 (TE10). The return of Kyler Murray will undoubtedly improve the 6.5 (No. 31) Target Accuracy of 6.5. The 2021 John Mackey Award winner (College football’s most outstanding tight end) earns 14.23 Lifetime Value points and climbs 12 spots to TE17 on PlayerProfiler’s always up-to-date dynasty rankings.

More notable players with stocks trending up:

Gardner Minshew – QB Indianapolis Colts: +9.32 Lifetime Value points and +7 spots to QB28

Javonte Williams – RB Denver Broncos: +16.47 Lifetime Value points and +4 spots to RB20

A.J. Brown – WR Philadelphia Eagles: +25.66 Lifetime Value points and +2 spots to WR3

Dalton Kincaid – TE Buffalo Bills: +14.74 Lifetime Value points and +1 spot to TE7

Stock Trending Down

Anthony Richardson – QB Indianapolis Colts

Anthony Richardson underwent successful surgery on his throwing shoulder and will be sidelined for the remainder of 2023. The 2023 No. 4-overall selection ends his rookie campaign with 577 passing yards (6.9 yards per attempt) and three TDs. He rushed for 136 yards (34.0 per game, No. 5) and four scores. Albeit this is a small sample size, but his Fantasy Points Per Dropback mark of 0.81 (No. 1) is impressive.

In four starts, Richardson averaged 18.4 Fantasy Points Per Game (QB11), leaving two of those contests early due to injury. He had an Accuracy Rating of 6.5 (No. 13) with a True Completion Percentage of 64.1-percent. He threw a single interception. Injuries hampered Richardson’s promising rookie season, and hopefully, lessons will be learned to mitigate future risk.  The 21-year-old loses 18.28 Lifetime Value points and three spots to slip to TE11 in the dynasty rankings. A buy window is open, but he may come cheaper as time goes on.

Dameon Pierce – RB Houston Texans

It’s been a forgettable start to the season for sophomore runner, Dameon Pierce. With 97 carries (No. 9) through six games, he has produced just 281 yards (No. 27) and one TD (No. 37). He has a pedestrian True Yards Per Carry rate of 2.9 (No. 65). This amounts to a mediocre 8.6 FPPG (RB37), which is a significant drop off from his rookie season output (12.8 FPPG, RB20).

In Week 7, Pierce saw his lowest Snap Share (32.3-percent) since Week 1 of 2022, but still managed to match Devin Singletary (who played on 54.8-percent of snaps) in carries. The Texans’ run game has struggled. They are bottom five in the NFL. A negative Run Blocking Rating of -4.9 (No. 64) hasn’t helped. Pierce loses a position leading 46.41 Lifetime Value points and drops 11 spots to fall to RB29. The Texans’ offense is ascending. Pierce’s value is at a low.

Jaylen Waddle – WR Miami Dolphins

It’s Tyreek Hill‘s world and Jaylen Waddle is living in it. The third year wideout is averaging 59.8 receiving yards per game compared to Hill’s eye-popping 128.9. On top of this, the explosive Dolphins lead the NFL in rushing yards. Fantasy managers expected WR1 numbers from Waddle this season, so it’s safe to say that it’s been disappointing.

Waddle is currently seeing a 25.9-percent Target Rate (No. 20), and averaging 13.0 FPPG (WR29), so he’s far from being labeled as a total bust. He has struggled with injuries this season. Waddle loses 24.70 Lifetime Value points and drops two spots to WR10. Recency bias is real. If Waddle can be obtained at a discount, then strongly consider buying. Better days and more endzone waddles are in store for the talented 24-year-old.

Cole Kmet – TE Chicago Bears

Cole Kmet had a nice run in Week 4 and Week 5 but has disappeared in fantasy football since then. After posting just nine yards on two receptions (three Targets) in Week 6 (2.9 fantasy points, TE30), Kmet went untargeted in Week 7 against the Raiders (a +0.1 match-up for TEs). Kmet still saw the field on 88.4-percent of snaps.

On the season, Kmet has 25 receptions (No. 10) for 240 yards (No. 12) and three TDs (No. 3). However, the inconsistent Targets, and now a Bears offense led by Tyson Bagent, bring uncertainty. It could be a rollercoaster ride with Kmet this season. The 24-year-old loses 8.83 Lifetime Value points and three spots to slide to TE14 in dynasty.

More notable players with stocks trending down:

Jimmy Garoppolo – QB Las Vegas Raiders: -11.85 Lifetime Value points and -9 spots to QB28

Kendre Miller – RB New Orleans Saints: -16.08 Lifetime Value points and -3 spots to RB28

Jerry Jeudy – WR Denver Broncos: -38.39 Lifetime Value points and -15 spots to WR46

Hunter Henry – TE New England Patriots: -7.04 Lifetime Value points and -6 spots to TE21