During the season, we have real-time numbers to base decisions on stock rising and falling for players. Heading into Week 1, all we have to go on is where players were ranked and the investment needed to get them on rosters. Some players seem to be rated too low for their potential, while others are asking for a lot of faith that they can reach their ceiling.
For this week only, fantasy football risers and fallers are based on their ADPs and preseason rankings.
Fantasy football risers
Arizona Cardinals TE Trey McBride – McBride was one of the fantasy breakout stars of 2023, especially in the second half when he caught five or more passes in eight of his last 10 games. However, he scored just three touchdowns. He is ranked behind only Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta and Mark Andrews – players known for both catch volume and touchdowns. Whoever ends up with McBride will need more TD production.
New York Giants WR Malik Nabers – There is no questioning that Nabers has all the skills to be a superstar, but he is rated as a high-end to mid-WR2 in 12-team leagues – a ranking higher than proven commodities like DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. Granted, he’s the only show in town (there likely won’t be another Giants receiver drafted), but the Nabers hype train is rolling hot.
Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco – Pacheco proved he can be the primary back in the Chiefs offense, but the hallmark of Andy Reid’s philosophy is that the only fantasy superstars are Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. The rest take turns. Pacheco is solidly in the RB1 category, which brings a lot of pressure to come up big consistently. He has the talent to be huge but will need to be more than a check-down receiver to excel.
New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave – In 31 career games, Olave has a pair of 1,000-yard seasons and has caught 159 passes. However, he has scored just nine touchdowns in 31 games. He is being drafted to be a WR1 in 10-team leagues and has Derek Carr as his quarterback (for now). He is clearly the go-to receiver in the offense, but he needs to add touchdowns to his consistent reception/yardage production to earn this spot.
Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson – Multiple injuries cut his rookie season down to just four games, yet he showed enough explosiveness in that brief time to be rated as a top-five fantasy quarterback heading into this season. There may be no bigger risk/reward player in fantasy this season with a limitless ceiling and huge expectations. Few individual players will impact the success or failure of fantasy teams more.
Fantasy football fallers
Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott – Elliott was one of the dominant fantasy players for the first six years of his career. The Cowboys made a business decision to get rid of him in 2023, but he’s back in Dallas. Rico Dowdle is the lead dog coming in, making Elliott little more than a speculative TD play most weeks. Furthermore, Dalvin Cook was added to the practice squad and could be added to the active roster at any time. It’s a touchdown potential vs. tread-less tire debate for Zeke.
Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams – It’s hard to imagine a guy with five 100-reception seasons in the last six years landing as a WR2 in 10-team leagues and barely cracking WR1 status in conventional 12-teamers – but it is happening more times than not. His QBs are brutal but still an improvement from last season. Adams wouldn’t mind leaving the Raiders but they need him. When it comes time to make a pick, more fantasy managers are letting him be someone else’s potential problem.
Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert – There was a time when Herbert was in the discussion of being the best young quarterback in the league. With a seismic change to the Chargers offense, Herbert is a QB2 who is fighting to go ahead of guys like Caleb Williams, Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence and Tua Tagovailoa. Will Jim Harbaugh stunt Herbert’s fantasy production? It sure looks like it.
Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp – In 2021, Kupp set the fantasy world on fire with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns. Injuries have limited him in the two years since, and his draft ADP has him as a WR3 in 10-team leagues and on the No. 2 edge in 12-team leagues. Taking Kupp is doing so expecting for him to miss time due to injury. That’s poison on draft night for a lot of people, and Kupp may fall on hard times if he once again struggles to stay on the field.
Kansas City Chiefs WR Marquise Brown – Little more than a month ago it looked like Brown had a real shot at returning WR3 offerings on a modest fantasy investment, but his stock has tumbled since. The veteran has been ruled out for Week 1 with a shoulder injury, all while rookie deep threat Xavier Worthy has held his own and Rashee Rice‘s looming suspension concerns continue to get punted down the road.
