Four player fantasy stock that is on the rise
Fantasy football season is heating up as the NFL season will kick off on September 8th. Drafts are beginning to ramp up for fantasy football managers across the country and there are four players who’s fantasy stock is starting to rise. ADP is starting to fluctuate with reports from training camp and impressions being made in the preseason. Here are four players that have seen their stock rising in fantasy football:
Fantasy Stock Risers–Saquon Barkley, Running Back
Saquon Barkley will go into his fourth year with the New York Giants with a new head coach and a new look offense. Mike Kafka, the offensive coordinator for the Giants, will look to revamp a New York offense that ranked at the bottom of the league in total offense. Without Jason Garrett calling the plays, the Giants should vastly improve.
The new look Giants offense was put on display in their first preseason game last week against the New England Patriots. The former Penn State product had four carries for 13 yards and caught a pass for eight yards.
The reports coming out of Giants camp is that Barkley is starting to feel like his true-self again. The Giants’ offensive line appears to be strengthening on that front and that will be beneficial for Barkley’s production coming out of the backfield.
Fantasy managers do have concern with the health of Barkley. He has missed time in each season that he has been in the NFL so far. In 2019, he missed three weeks with an ankle injury and in 2020 he tore his ACL. The injury bug followed Barkley into the 2021 season as he had to miss the majority of the season. Barkley has yet to play a full season since 2018, where he won Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The 25-year old running back led the league in 2018 in scrimmage yards with 2,028 and scored 15 total touchdowns. He has shown he has to potential as a top-five back in fantasy football.
Barkley has all of the makings to be a must-draft running back in half-PPR and PPR leagues. His ADP currently has him going in the second round (19) and fantasy managers should grab him if he’s available. There are certainly injury concerns with the former Penn State product, but the sheer volume that Barkley will get can set you apart from your friends. There are not many running backs in the league that has the definition of a “featured back”.
Fantasy Stock Risers–Rashod Bateman, Wide Receiver
The Ravens will be expecting big things from second-year reciever, Rashod Bateman. With the departure of Marquise Brown there is room for Bateman to take over as the WR 1 for Baltimore. Brown racked up 91 receptions for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns. There is over 20% target share that will become up for grabs for the receiving core. It is without question that Lamar Jackson’s favorite target on offense is Mark Andrews, but Bateman is becoming a close second.
The former Minnesota product missed a majority of the 2021 season due to injury. The numbers failed to show the production he brought to the Ravens’ offense, but he passed the eye test whenever he saw action on the field. Baltimore’s offense suffered through injuries last season with injuries to Bateman, Lamar Jackson and the bulk of their running back group.
Bateman will be healthy going into the 2022 season as he has recovered from his groin injury that he suffered last season. He currently sits as the most reliable wide receiver in Baltimore’s offense and will be in for a breakout year. The competition behind Bateman is not enticing enough for fantasy managers to strive away from the second-year reciever. Devin Duvernay, James Proche and Tylan Wallace will be the ones competing for the WR2 and WR3 duties on Baltimore’s offense.
The former Minnesota product will benefit with having a healthy Lamar Jackson back under center. As long as Baltimore can stay healthy, this offense has proven that they can be one of the league’s best. Add that along with the positive reports coming out of camp surrounding Bateman, Baltimore should have a bounce back year in the AFC North.
Fantasy managers shouldn’t hesitate considering drafting Bateman in the middle rounds. He is going to be the WR1 on a Ravens offense that will have a healthy Lamar Jackson running the show. There is massive opportunity for the young wide receiver. He has tremendous upside with the sheer volume that he will get this season.
Fantasy Stock Risers–Dameon Pierce, Running Back
Pierce had an impressive showing in the Houston Texans’ preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints this past weekend. He had five carries for 49 yards, averaging 9.8 yards per carry. His first run that he had with Houston went for 20 yards. The Texans running attack has been terrible the past few years, but they may have found their secret ingredient.
The former Florida product showed his explosiveness out of the backfield against the Saints defense. Marlon Mack was expected to take RB1 duties in Houston after signing a one-year contract back in early April. Rex Burkhead is the other running back in discussion, but he had a disappointing 2021 campaign. The Texans may be looking to cut ties with the 32-year old running back. If that were to happen, that would open the door for Pierce to elevate in the Texans’ backfield.
Even if the Texans stick with Burkhead, the chances of Pierce taking over the RB1 duties in this backfield have skyrocketed with his performance his training camp and in the preseason.
The 22-year old running back currently goes as the RB45, or 126th overall, in fantasy football leagues. Running backs are valuable in the fantasy world. Taking a shot at a potential RB1 candidate in the late rounds could make a big difference. The value of landing pierce in the late round of the draft can set the difference between your leaguemmates.
There is a chance that he can carve a role in the early down of Houston’s offense. He is involved with a running back committee with Mack and Burkhead. Both running backs have shown signs of regression. Mack doesn’t’ seem to have the same explosiveness since his injury and Burkhead had a disappointing season in 2021. In the past the Texans have featured veteran running backs. Houston should unleash Pierce’s capabilities and not make the same mistake Dan Mullen did at Florida.
Fantasy Football Riser–Albert Okwuegbunam, Tight End
The Denver Broncos offense got a makeover in the offseason with the addition of Russell Wilson at quarterback. In the trade with Seattle, Denver shipped tight end Noah Fant to Seattle opening the door for Okwuegbunam to become the TE1.
Last year, Fant hauled in 15 red zone targets, producing 11 receptions for 91 yards and four touchdowns. The Denver offense in 2022 with the young talent that they have and the addition of Wilson will elevate this offense a ‘mile high’. The presence of Wilson will only increase Okwuegbunam production in the red zone.
The third-year tight end out of Missouri will enter the 2022 season for the potential to have a breakout season, in terms of fantasy. Tight ends are a premium in fantasy football. We know the top two must drafts are Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews.
The injury of Tim Patrick will open up target share that will be up for grabs among the Broncos receiving core and Okwuegbunam. The Missouri product has 44 career catches, but he has shown that he is an athletic beast. Okwuegbunam is currently going as the TE17 in PPR fantasy drafts. Fantasy managers should not hesitate to take the 24-year old tight end in the late rounds.
📸 Credit: Sports Illustrated
📸 Credit: Russell Street Report
Tyler Eschette - Sports Scramble/ Olde City Sports Network
