This article is part of our NFL Barometer series.
Injuries, breakout performances and two notable trades have really spiced up the NFL world over the last week-plus, altering the fortunes of multiple players. With so much to discuss, let's jump right into who's trending in what direction going into Week 9.
RISING
Quarterback
Deshaun Watson, Texans- Watson makes a triumphant return to this space after initially appearing back on Sept. 13, as a 402-yard explosion against the Seahawks in Seattle certainly warrants him another mention. Watson has done nothing but ascend since taking over as a full-time starter in Week 2, and he's racked up 18 touchdowns over the last five games. He continues to boast some of the most impressive rushing upside of any quarterback as well, as he's averaging 7.5 yards per tote. With an average of 26.1 fantasy points per game in standard scoring formats, he's currently an elite option at the position and appears immune to the struggles that typically befall a rookie.
Drew Stanton, Cardinals- We won't kid ourselves into believing that a 33-year-old journeyman is going to bring much upside to your fantasy roster, but with a multi-week starting stint in front of him at a minimum, he'll certainly make for a stopgap for those desperate at quarterback in deeper formats. Stanton threw for 1,711 yards and generated a 7:5 TD:INT in nine games back in 2014, his most extensive action over nine-plus NFL seasons. He'll at least have some talent to work with in his receiving corps, and
Injuries, breakout performances and two notable trades have really spiced up the NFL world over the last week-plus, altering the fortunes of multiple players. With so much to discuss, let's jump right into who's trending in what direction going into Week 9.
RISING
Quarterback
Deshaun Watson, Texans- Watson makes a triumphant return to this space after initially appearing back on Sept. 13, as a 402-yard explosion against the Seahawks in Seattle certainly warrants him another mention. Watson has done nothing but ascend since taking over as a full-time starter in Week 2, and he's racked up 18 touchdowns over the last five games. He continues to boast some of the most impressive rushing upside of any quarterback as well, as he's averaging 7.5 yards per tote. With an average of 26.1 fantasy points per game in standard scoring formats, he's currently an elite option at the position and appears immune to the struggles that typically befall a rookie.
Drew Stanton, Cardinals- We won't kid ourselves into believing that a 33-year-old journeyman is going to bring much upside to your fantasy roster, but with a multi-week starting stint in front of him at a minimum, he'll certainly make for a stopgap for those desperate at quarterback in deeper formats. Stanton threw for 1,711 yards and generated a 7:5 TD:INT in nine games back in 2014, his most extensive action over nine-plus NFL seasons. He'll at least have some talent to work with in his receiving corps, and the Cardinals will also try to take pressure off him with the backfield duo of Adrian Peterson and Andre Ellington, the latter who could be in for heavy work as an outlet option that gives Stanton some easy completions.
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers- Garoppolo is a last-minute entrant into this category following his cross-country trade Monday night. It may not be in Week 9, but Garoppolo is naturally expected to take the reins of the 49ers offense in short order after the team gave up its 2018 second-round pick to pry him from the Patriots. There's not an extensive NFL body of work when it comes to the fourth-year signal caller, but the bulk of what does exist – 502 passing yards and a 4:0 TD:INT in two starts to open last season – provides plenty of reason to believe he'll be an upgrade over rookie C.J. Beathard, whose potentially bright future doesn't seem quite ready to launch just yet.
Running Back
Alex Collins, Ravens- Collins made an appearance in this spot earlier in the season when he flashed with a pair of nine-carry, 82-yard efforts. He returns after the desirable double whammy of a career-best Week 8 performance and an endorsement from his head coach came to pass over the last few days. Collins ripped off 113 yards on just 18 carries against the Dolphins last Thursday night, and Ravens head man John Harbaugh commented Monday that he expects his second-year back to get more opportunities moving forward. Collins boasts five of Baltimore's 15 plays of 20 or more yards this season, and with the passing game positively pedestrian under Joe Flacco, he figures to see a robust and consistent workload moving forward.
LeSean McCoy, Bills- McCoy made an appearance in the Keeping An Eye On section last week after scoring his first two touchdowns of the season against the Buccaneers. At the time, I commented that while the scoring breakout was certainly a welcome sight, he was still averaging an atypical 3.4 yards per tote. The former Pro Bowler took a big step toward rectifying that lagging part of his stat line against the Raiders in Week 9, rushing for 151 yards on a season-high 27 carries (5.6 yards per rush) and ripping off a season-best 48-yard scamper that culminated in the end zone. That sealed McCoy's first 100-yard effort since the opener and gave him three scores over the last two games, while also lending credence to the notion that he appears to only be getting stronger as the season unfolds.
Darren McFadden / Alfred Morris, Cowboys- The Cowboys' backfield duo is an example of another inclusion prompted by Monday events. The temporary restraining order that had allowed Elliott to play the last two games was rescinded by the federal judge in his case Monday, and although he still has a slim legal path to buying himself more time, the consensus appears to be that the odds are stacked against him. If that holds true, McFadden and Morris will undoubtedly take up the bulk of the backfield work, with the exact division of labor to be determined. McFadden showed plenty while rushing for 1,089 yards and three touchdowns and averaging 4.6 yards per tote over 16 games in 2015, so there's some upside to be had if he takes on a 15-18 carry lead-back role.
Wide Receiver
Mohamed Sanu, Falcons- Sanu has 12 catches on 17 targets over the last two games, compiling 139 receiving yards over that span. He remains on pace to exceed the career high of 59 receptions he established in his first Falcons campaign last season and seems to have a more consistent role in new coordinator Steve Sarkisian's system, one that's allowed him to improve his average fantasy points per game in standard scoring from 6.0 to 7.1 and boost his PPR figure from 9.9 to 11.8.
DeAndre Hopkins, Texans- Hopkins' numbers last season – 78/954/4 – would have been adequate for many receivers, but they were disappointing for a player who'd racked up 111 catches for 1,521 yards and 11 scores a year prior. Watson's emergence has breathed new life into Hopkins, and never was that more evident than in his eight-reception, 224-yard day against the Seahawks last Sunday. He's essentially had just one down game this season (two receptions, 19 yards and a touchdown in Week 6) and has at least seven catches in four of his five other contests. Given Watson's rapid development and ability to keep plays alive with his mobility, the durable Hopkins looks primed for the second 100-grab season of his career.
Will Fuller, Texans- Along the same lines, the speedy Fuller appears be hitting his stride after a late start to his season due to a preseason collarbone injury. He's also boasting a level of touchdown efficiency that, while unsustainable, is certainly rewarding fantasy owners handsomely for the moment. Fuller has found the end zone in each of his first four games, including on multiple occasions in three of those contests. The flurry of scores has resulted in seven touchdowns over just 13 catches, a jaw-dropping pace for the second-year speedster. He just added his first 100-yard game to his resume and is seeing a solid and steady target share (between five and eight in three of his four games) alongside Hopkins.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers- Schuster resurfaces in this space after being featured just three weeks ago due to both his Week 8 performance and recent developments. The rookie's seven-catch, 193-yard performance on Sunday Night Football, a tally that was highlighted by a 97-yard touchdown, served notice that he plans to take full advantage of the opportunity afforded him by Martavis Bryant's demotion. His targets hit double digits for the first time against the Lions, a potential harbinger of the type of volume he could see over the second half of the season.
Tight End
Jared Cook, Raiders- When Cook was in our Keeping An Eye On column last week, I mentioned that he'd have to back up a six-catch, 107-yard effort in Week 7 with at least a solid Week 8 before I put more stock in him. While nothing spectacular, a four-reception, 57-yard tally in a tough defensive matchup at Buffalo does the trick and gives the veteran a solid 10-catch haul over the last two weeks. Cook has typically been very durable over the majority of his career (five 16-game seasons) and seems to have the trust of quarterback Derek Carr as a third option behind Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.
Jimmy Graham, Seahawks- Graham sported the Falling tag a few weeks back, but a nose for the end zone over the last three weeks (despite some maddening drops) puts him on the right side of the ledger for the moment. While his hands have been less than trustworthy at times, Graham has held on to the ball enough to rack up all four of his scores this season over the last trio of contests. His other totals over that span – 13 catches for 127 yards – aren't anything to write home about, but they were notably preceded by 11 receptions for 133 yards in Weeks 3-4.
Jack Doyle, Colts- Doyle's trajectory is pointing firmly upward again after a massive 12-reception, 121-yard effort versus the Bengals on Sunday, bringing his line for Weeks 6-8 to an impressive 25/217/2. The emerging 27-year-old had prompted some doubts after amassing just 33 yards in Weeks 3-4, but with Jacoby Brissett potentially in for a season-long run as the starter and averaging just 6.0 yards per attempt, Doyle should continue to serve as a focal point of the passing attack.
KEEPING AN EYE ON
Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs- Monster Monday night follows mediocre previous two weeks.
Dion Sims / Adam Shaheen, TE, Bears- Zach Miller's catastrophic knee injury opens up opportunity for both players.
Paul Richardson, WR, Seahawks- Six-catch, 105-yard Week 8 effort provides reason for optimism, but needs to prove it for multiple weeks.
Jamison Crowder, WR, Redskins- Nine-catch, 123-yard tally came out of nowhere after just six catches for 36 yards previous three games.
Ted Ginn, WR, Saints- Has 13 catches for 175 yards in last three weeks, but target share still unsteady.
Andre Ellington, RB, Cardinals- Could have significant passing-game role in Drew Stanton-led offense.
LeGarette Blount / Wendell Smallwood, RB, Eagles- Tuesday morning trade of Jay Ajayi to Philly puts the entire backfield's fantasy fortunes in doubt.
Pierre Garcon / Marquise Goodwin, WR, 49ers- Receiving corps gets collective upgrade with arrival of Garoppolo.
FALLING
Quarterback
C.J. Beathard, 49ers- Beathard's stint as a starter, currently at three games, could well be over due to the Monday trade that brought former Patriots second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo out west. The rookie didn't look completely lost over his audition – throwing for 480 yards in Weeks 6 and 7 – but he managed to complete just 47.2 percent of his passes while throwing for just 167 yards and two interceptions against the Eagles in Week 8. He also flashed some impressive upside on the ground (84 yards rushing in three contests) and looks like he could have a solid NFL future, but the Niners apparently felt an upgrade behind center was necessary for the time being.
Jameis Winston, Buccaneers- Winston's sprained shoulder might be an ongoing issue if his Week 8 effort and subsequent reports are any indication. In addition to throwing for just 210 yards and tossing a pair of picks against the Panthers, Winston apparently also aggravated the sprained AC joint in his throwing arm on an early fourth-quarter hit. It remains to be seen if Sunday's pedestrian line was partly a byproduct of that development, and if the injury will continue to hamper his effectiveness going forward.
Cam Newton, Panthers- Newton was no great shakes in that same contest either, and his subpar numbers extended a mediocre stretch to three games. The former MVP has 2:6 TD:INT over that span while seeing his passing yards progressively dwindle to Sunday's season-low total of 154. Newton has battled a shoulder ailment throughout the season as well, and while he's encouragingly gotten back to running the ball over the last three games (31 carries, 165 yards, one touchdown), his pedestrian production through the air is capping his overall upside.
Trevor Siemian, Broncos- Siemian appeared to have righted the ship in Week 6 with a 376-yard outburst versus the Giants in a losing cause, but he's struggled over the subsequent pair of contests. The third-year quarterback sports a 2:6 TD:INT over the last three weeks overall and completed a season-low 52.8 percent of his throws Monday night against the Chiefs while throwing for under 200 yards for the second time this season. There's already reports of a possible switch to Paxton Lynch (shoulder) if things don't improve soon.
Running Back
Giovani Bernard, Bengals- Gio has become the forgotten man in the Bengals backfield while rookie Joe Mixon and Jeremy Hill soak up the majority of work, tallying just 25 rushes through seven games and seeing his typically robust role in the passing game increasingly shrink. Bernard has just three catches over the last three weeks, a stretch that includes a Week 8 blanking in that area. With such little involvement in the one aspect of his game that's always been a constant, Bernard's fantasy value has taken a notable tumble.
Charles Sims, Buccaneers- Speaking of neglected pass-catching backs, Sims is officially in the same boat after having gotten shut out altogether in Week 8. That development was preceded by another zero-carry afternoon in Week 6 against the Cardinals and a two-tote tally versus the Bills in Week 7. Although it looked like his season might be coming around when he compiled nine receptions in Weeks 5-6, his subsequent downturn over the following pair of contests have dampened his prospects.
Samaje Perine, Redskins- With Robert Kelley healthy and Chris Thompson serving as an ideal complement, Perine has not made an appearance on the stat sheet over the last two games. He didn't offer much in the way of fantasy production even when he was healthy, and his outlook is even dimmer for the time being.
Wide Receiver
Donte Moncrief, Colts- Consistency has never been a hallmark of Moncrief's game, and having the inconsistent Jacoby Brissett behind center probably isn't helping his cause this season. Moncrief has just two receptions in the last two games, with both having come in Week 7 against the Jaguars. With Brissett struggling to find success downfield, the speedy receiver's potential appears fairly limited at present.
Martavis Bryant, Steelers- Bryant makes a return to this category due to recent developments. After totaling just eight receptions for 51 yards in Weeks 5-7, Bryant was demoted to scout-team work during Week 8 prep and was inactive versus the Lions on Sunday night. Subsequent comments by head coach Mike Tomlin that he doesn't see Bryant helping the team over the second half of the season only serve to confirm his grim fantasy outlook.
Tight End
Ed Dickson, Panthers- The journeyman tight end has come back down to earth after an earlier two-week stint where he posted eight receptions for 237 yards. He's managed a much more modest 78-yard tally over the following three contests combined, and although he's seeing a consistent target share, the majority are coming relatively close to the line of scrimmage. A potential Week 12 return for Greg Olsen (foot) would only serve to push Dickson firmly back to the No. 2 role he's ideally suited for.
Eric Ebron, Lions- Ebron's five-catch, 42-yard, one-touchdown day in Week 2 versus the Giants serves as the high point of his season thus far, as he's managed no more than two receptions in any other contest. While he compiled a season-high 58 yards Sunday night versus the Steelers, the bulk of it came on a 44-yard catch, and he also has four single-digit yardage tallies and a lone touchdown on the season.
