RADIO
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, and 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 risers and fallers heading into Week 14 of the NFL season.
Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive BOTH our full season NFL and NBA Premium Passes for free, a $119.99 value. Just email info@rotoballer.com with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium Passes.
Post-Week 13 Fantasy Football Risers
RISER - Thomas Rawls (RB, SEA)
As Marshawn Lynch dealt with injury troubles in what would ultimately be his final season last year, rookie running back Thomas Rawls emerged as a serious fantasy player. He would score five touchdowns and even record a 200-yard rushing game before ultimately going down with an injury. Following Lynch’s retirement, the 23-year-old was the frontrunner for the starting position, but once again went out with an injury.
Now, Rawls is finally back and after a couple of quiet outings, he finally reemerged as the star from last year on Sunday night against the Panthers. Rawls would record two touchdowns and 106 yards on 15 carries, posting his best game of the season. Although he briefly exited the game with concussion-like symptoms, he would return, avoiding any major injury. Of course, his health will always keep a certain group of prospective onlookers at bay, but with matchups against the Packers, Rams, and Niners awaiting, he appears poised for a strong season finish. Those who feature Rawls on their rosters could be looking at a game-changer with the playoffs coming soon.
RISER - Joe Flacco (QB, BAL)
Six weeks ago the Baltimore Ravens had just lost to the New York Jets, dropping their fourth straight to fall to 3-4 on the season. Quarterback Joe Flacco had five touchdowns and six interceptions, appearing to be headed for a disappointing season. Since then, however, the Ravens have won four of five and Flacco has been at the center of the revival. While the former Super Bowl MVP has thrown five interceptions, he’s tossed ten touchdowns and is one of the hottest quarterbacks at the moment.
This past week, he exploded for 381 yards and four touchdowns, both season highs, as the Ravens demolished the red-hot Miami Dolphins. While Baltimore has three of its remaining four games on the road, they come against opponents they have either had success against or who are struggling down the stretch. Even with Flacco having a trip to New England for Week 14, those who feature him should be confident in the veteran providing added production.
RISER - Ladarius Green (TE, PIT)
Ladarius Green was one of the stars of Pittsburgh’s convincing victory over the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon. The 26-year-old tight end, who was injured for the first two months of the season, had his biggest game as a Steeler. Green was targeted 11 times, making six catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. Although Jesse James has been the most productive Pittsburgh tight end this year, Green is quickly gaining ground as we head down the stretch.
Still available in a number of leagues, he should be strongly considered as a waiver wire target, especially by those seeking a replacement for Rob Gronkowski. With a potent, reliable quarterback throwing to him, Green is perfectly positioned to produce at an above-average fantasy football rate at his position.
Post-Week 13 Fantasy Football Fallers
FALLER: Greg Olsen (TE, CAR)
Keeping the topic focused on the tight end position, one of the very best in the league continues to experience a season to forget. While he may still record a third consecutive season of over 1,000 receiving yards, he’s only posted three touchdowns through three-quarters of the season. Olsen is just one of many Panthers who are suffering through setback seasons as the team limps to the end of a painfully disappointing year. While his targets haven’t fallen dramatically, his total yardage in the past six games has been a measly 210 yards, exactly 400 yards less than his total through the first six games of the season.
While Carolina doesn’t have any more daunting defenses on the schedule, this second half decline doesn’t appear to have an end in sight. Given how tight production can be at his position, Olsen should still be started by those who drafted him, but expected production should be lowered.
FALLER: Mike Wallace (WR, BAL)
While his quarterback’s stock is soaring, veteran wideout Mike Wallace’s recent performances have his stock free-falling. Despite matchups against the Browns, Bengals, and Dolphins the past couple of weeks, the 30-year-old has gone four games without a touchdown. His targets have seen season lows, and even though his catches have remained consistent, he simply isn’t putting up the numbers he was earlier.
Perhaps the biggest thing he has going for him is the lack of star receivers on the Baltimore roster, with 37-year-old Steve Smith and tight end Dennis Pitta well behind him in receiving yards. That may be the best reason to keep Wallace on fantasy football rosters, but with remaining games at a premium, starting him in the immediate future may simply be too big a gamble.
FALLER: Victor Cruz (WR, NYG)
While expectations weren’t exactly high for him this season, Victor Cruz’s 2016 has been a nightmare. The 30-year-old has only recorded one touchdown this season, and that came all the way back in the first game of the year. Additionally, he hasn’t caught more than one pass in a game since Week 7. The disappointing performances culminated this Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field, when he was targeted zero times in New York’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The performance was especially disappointing because he was targeted five times last week, giving prospective onlookers hope that a late-season renaissance was in the works. Now, Sunday’s game against the Cowboys appears to be Cruz’s last chance at making any impact this season. Unfortunately, that doesn’t appear to be the case, as Roger Lewis seems to have surpassed him in the depth charts, dropping him to fourth.
