NFL Barometer: Dalton's on the Prowl

RISING

Karlos Williams, RB, BUF

LeSean McCoy (hamstring) will reportedly sit out Buffalo's Week 4 game. If so, then the Bills will turn to Williams as their lead runner in a matchup against the Giants. It's an obvious occasion to enthusiastically fire up Williams in fantasy lineups -- the rookie fifth-round pick from Florida State has dominated in his first three games, turning 24 carries into 186 yards (7.8 YPC) and three touchdowns while catching two passes for 16 yards.

Andy Dalton, QB, CIN

As someone who has routinely bashed Dalton over the years, it feels more than a little strange to write this, but Dalton has been extremely good in the first three weeks. After completing 20-of-32 passes for 383 yards, three touchdowns and an interception while running for a fourth touchdown on the road against Baltimore on Sunday, Dalton is up to 866 passing yards (9.4 YPA) and nine total touchdowns (eight passing). That YPA will see a drastic drop in the near future, but it's encouraging to see Dalton dominate on the road against the Ravens, a setting where he normally struggles. When you combine Dalton's early 2015 showings with the fact that he has twice reached the 30-touchdown mark in his career, it looks like he has a chance to finish 2015 as a QB1.

Lance Dunbar, RB, DAL

Dunbar's role as an actual runner in the Dallas offense basically doesn't exist -- he has just two carries for 13 yards so far in 2015 -- but his presence as a receiver in the Dallas offense has been enormous. After catching 10 passes for 100 yards against Atlanta on Sunday, Dunbar has 21 catches for 215 yards in three games. That's PPR gold in the flex spot. It's difficult to recall a running back who so singularly derives his production from the passing game, making it fair to wonder if Dunbar's numbers are an unsustainable aberration. His pace of 112 receptions is almost impossible to sustain, yet the lack of comparable targets in the Dallas passing game should ensure some sort of significant role for Dunbar.

Peyton Manning, QB, DEN

Manning's dismal Week 1 showing against the Ravens -- more specifically, the lack of throwing velocity Manning displayed -- made a convincing impression that the 39-year-old quarterback's skillset had completely evaporated in the offseason. Since then, however, the Broncos have accommodated Manning's limitations by running more shotgun offense, allowing Manning to offset his deteriorating arm strength with the ability to better diagnose coverages both pre- and post-snap. Manning's throws are still rather ugly, but his superb anticipation and field vision remain intact, and he's posted 580 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions the last two weeks after throwing for 175 yards and an interception in Week 1.

FALLING

Jeremy Hill, RB, CIN

Heading into the season Hill was generally rated as an RB1 value you could get at a bargain price in drafts, as the second-year, second-round pick out of LSU finished his 2014 rookie year as one of the league's most productive running backs, outshining fellow former second-round pick Giovani Bernard in the process. Hill's theoretical fantasy value largely hinged on the condition that Bernard remain a peripheral rather than central component of the Cincinnati offense, but if the last two weeks are any indication, that condition will not be met. Not only has Hill struggled this year, running for 123 yards (3.0 YPC) and two touchdowns while losing two fumbles, but he's also seen his snap count hit rock bottom the last two weeks while Bernard thrived and earned a bigger role. Hill played just 20 snaps two weeks ago and 26 against Baltimore on Sunday, while Bernard played 45 and 51 snaps, respectively. Hill is still expected to start and has the clear short-yardage role locked up, but Bernard appears poised to claim more production in the Cincinnati backfield than most projected this year.

DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL

A hamstring injury sidelined Murray against the Jets on Sunday, giving owners a proper goose egg after only figuratively providing no value in the first two weeks. In Murray's place, Ryan Mathews impressed with running for 108 yards on 25 carries and catching two passes for 20 yards and a touchdown. Murray will obviously be the lead runner for Philadelphia when he returns to full health, but Mathews might have forced his way into a bigger role than most anticipated.

Davante Adams, WR, GB

Adams should still have his day as a solid WR2 value before the 2015 season ends, but the short term is still blurry. Adams aggravated his ankle injury against the Chiefs on Monday, leaving the game, and as has been the case all year, James Jones thrived at Adams' expense. This theme seems to be gaining traction rather than losing it, as after totaling five receptions for 80 yards and three touchdowns in the first two weeks, Jones went off for seven catches for 139 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs on Monday.

Tevin Coleman, RB, ATL

Coleman should regain his role as the starting running back for Atlanta once his rib injury becomes manageable, but Devonta Freeman's rather surprising breakout performance against Dallas on Sunday likely earned him greater prominence at Coleman's expense. Fluky or not, 193 yards and three touchdowns from scrimmage tends to earn favor for a running back.