Fantasy Football Risers and Fallers - Week 9

Whether due to their own play, the play of others, or injuries, players' stock increases and decreases on a weekly basis. Perhaps more than any other, the NFL is a league that experiences ups and downs at a rapid pace. With only 16 games, there’s little room for error and seemingly endless opportunities for improvement. The same goes for fantasy football; managing rosters effectively is key to winning that championship.

Throughout the season, players get hot and see an increased role while others struggle and fight to stay relevant. Experienced fantasy players know this happens every year. In this weekly column, we’ll showcase those who have taken important steps forward and those who have taken steps back.

These are the key risers and fallers heading into Week 9 of the NFL season. Dynasty owners, check out our separate Dynasty Risers/Fallers segment as well.

Week 9 Risers

Stefon Diggs (WR, MIN)

After a couple down weeks, including a Jarvis Landry-esque 33 yards on 15 targets, Stefon Diggs responded in a big way on Sunday night. Diggs commanded 11 targets, catching 10 for 119 yards and a touchdown. Just because Diggs is nowhere near as talented as Adam Thielen doesn't mean that Diggs still isn't one of the 10-15 best WRs in the NFL. Thielen overshadows Diggs, but Diggs is a legit high WR2, possibly low WR1 in a pass-heavy offense.

Kendrick Bourne (WR, SF)

With Marquise Goodwin relegated to deep-man only and Pierre Garcon injured/at risk of being traded, Kendrick Bourne got the start and saw a season-high 10 targets. He put up a respectable 7-71 line on those targets and could emerge into a weekly PPR WR3 if things break right.

Jalen Richard (RB, OAK)

I think it is safe to say we have an answer to how the Oakland backfield will play out, post Marshawn Lynch. Doug Martin will handle the early down and goal line work, while Jalen Richard will be the pass-catchingt back. The Raiders are one of the worst teams in football. They will be facing negative game script quite frequently. That means a whole lot of Richard. He caught all eight of his targets last week and should be a safe, high floor, low ceiling RB2 in PPR. He's everything Theo Riddick drafters thought they were getting.

Josh Adams (RB, PHI)

This is highly speculative for a number of reasons. Doug Pederson does not commit to one back. Darren Sproles could suddenly return at any moment. Week 8 could've just been an anomaly. However, one thing is abundantly clear - Josh Adams is the most talented RB on the Eagles and it's not particularly close. Adams led the Eagles in rushing last week with 61 yards on nine carries and he looked good doing it. Just give me a 50% opportunity share. That's all I ask Doug.

Jack Doyle (TE, IND)

From the waiver wire to an every week TE1. It happened that quickly with Jack Doyle. He appeared to be nowhere near returning last week and then, all of a sudden, he's not even on the injury report. Doyle showed up and immediately sent Eric Ebron to the bench. Doyle posted 70 yards on six of seven targets and a touchdown. In a season where we are TE starved, Doyle is a must-own.

Week 9 Fallers

Drew Brees (QB, NO)

Make no mistake, Drew Brees is still Drew Brees. He is a top-five real-life QB and fully capable of putting the team on his back. But, just like last year, that will only happen when it has to happen. The Saints' plan to pound the ball and win on the ground that they executed last year has returned. Brees has spent the last five weeks being a problem for fantasy owners. In Week 4, he wasn't even a QB2. In Week 5, he had a very strong 27 points against the Redskins. In Week 6, he was on bye. In Week 7, he managed just 16 points at Baltimore. And in Week 8, he hit rock bottom with another single-digit effort and just 120 passing yards in a game where the Saints' offense scored 23 points. Brees can probably be trusted in a projected shootout with the Rams this week, but he's become dependent on matchup to the extent that the opponent has to be a team that can force the Saints to throw.

Kenny Golladay (WR, DET)

After posting double-digit fantasy points in each of his first five games, Kenny Golladay has now busted in back to back games, with an Amari Cooper like 49 yards on three receptions total. His value is undoubtedly dropping, especially after Marvin Jones exploded for two touchdowns last week. This actually presents a nice buying opportunity. Babytron is the future in Detroit and, without question, the best receiver on the team. Brighter days are ahead.

*Update: This was written before Golden Tate was traded to the Lions. Despite him being a faller, I was already optimistic about his prospects and considered him a buy low. That window turned out to be very small as any dip in value he may have experienced due to a couple down games was nullified by Tate's departure, which solidifies Golladay as the clear WR1 on the Lions and a higher target share.

Chris Thompson (RB, WAS)

The season started with Chris Thompson looking like he was picking up right where he left off when his season was cut short last year due to an injury. Then, he cooled off, got hurt, and came back ice cold. Thompson touched the ball just five times last week and looks to be entirely game script dependent. There will be games ahead where CT is needed and he will boom, but this is Adrian Peterson's backfield and the Redskins would prefer to just pound the ball with AP. Thompson is veering ever so carefully towards the drop list.

Carlos Hyde (RB, JAX)

My initial thought was that Carlos Hyde's move to Jacksonville would, at worst, be a lateral move for his value. It was not. Far from it. Hyde is dead in Jacksonville. He still played well behind T.J. Yeldon and it would appear that Leonard Fournette's return would spell the end of Hyde playing at all. Even when (yes, when) Fournette goes down again, there's no reason to think Hyde will be able to produce anything worthwhile in fantasy. He is not someone you need to hold through the bye.

Rob Gronkowski (TE, NE)

Once considered the biggest edge you can have in fantasy football, Rob Gronkowski has devolved into "just a guy." Gronk. Jordan Reed. Evan Engram. Vance McDonald. Jared Cook. They're all the same. The idea was that as long as you had Gronk, Travis Kelce, or Zach Ertz, you had a leg up on your opponents. That only applies to Kelce and Ertz now. Gronk hasn't scored since Week 1 and hasn't caught more than four passes in five of his last six games. You're still starting him every week, but no longer do you look across the line, see Gronk, and cower in fear.

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