Another week, another wave of massive injuries. Depth will play a major role in determining dynasty league champions this season. With multiple fantasy producers sidelined, dynasty managers have been forced to turn to their benches for production. It’s truly a “next man up” mentality in this year of attrition.
While much of the focus this week will be on the potential impacts of the Chris Godwin, Brandon Aiyuk, and Mike Evans injuries, several other developments significantly impacted the landscape of dynasty fantasy football.
Here are several players who gained and lost value in dynasty — along with a few deeper options to monitor.
Welcome to the Dynasty Market Report.
Stock Up
George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers, 23 Years Old
The switch to Russell Wilson proved to be exactly what we needed to see for Pickens. It is only one game, and we do not want to get ahead of ourselves, but this could be a perfect fit. In Wilson’s first start, Pickens was targeted 9 times, catching 5 of them for 111 yards and a TD. Pickens finished with the most receiving yards against the New York Jets this season. He had a 31% Target Share, and was Wilson’s 1st read on 40% of plays. This feels like the start of what could be a special rest-of-the-season outlook. There is hardly any teammate competition for targets, and simply put, the Steelers need Pickens to perform week in and week out if they are going to do any damage in the AFC.
Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 29 Years Old
Let’s take a moment to reflect on where Mayfield is in fantasy - not the weapons he will be without. Mayfield is currently leading the NFL in TD passes with 18 and has added 2 rushing scores. He arrived in Tampa Bay as an afterthought in both dynasty and in redraft, and is now on pace to finish as a QB1 for the second consecutive season. Mayfield is the QB2 overall in fantasy right now, trailing only Lamar Jackson.
It took him a while, but we are finally seeing the sort of production expected out of a former #1 overall pick. This is actually a great time to trade for Mayfield in dynasty. He is in year one of a three-year contract. Mayfield has job stability and a franchise that believes in him and will surround him with skill position talent. He will be tested over the next few weeks, and his production should decline, but I would not bet on a catastrophic result. Mayfield has finished as a top 7 scorer at the position for the last four games.
Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots, 23 Years Old
Maye’s second start was even better than his first. After throwing for two picks in Week 6, Maye had zero in Week 7. He continued to produce as a passer, with 276 yards and 2 TDs. Maye has produced in negative game scripts in back-to-back games — a harbinger of things to come for the rest of the season. Yes, it would be great if he had a stronger offensive line or better skill position players around him, but the fact that he is producing without either is extremely promising. Surrounding Maye with talent will be one of the offseason priorities in New England. If you have Maye on your dynasty roster, he has shown that he not only can play in this league, but produce for us in fantasy. A tough test awaits this week against The Jets. The 2024 rookie class promised results at the QB position and has delivered big time.
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns, 28 Years Old
I wrote about Njoku last week as a post-trade winner. Not only did he produce with a massive stat line (10 catches for 78 yards and a TD), but he tied a career-high with 14 targets. While I am certainly not celebrating an injury, if any team needed a change at the QB position, it is the Browns. Cleveland will turn to Jameis Winston, and the chance at a fresh start to the season. Nick Chubb’s return also bolsters the team’s weekly offensive output. Njoku will remain the focal point of the passing attack for the rest of the season. He will challenge for Top-5 TE numbers the rest of the way. Njoku makes for an exciting trade target if the manager rostering him in your league views this as a sell-high window. He is not done putting up big-time numbers this season.
Tank Bigsby, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars, 23 Years Old
Let’s get this out of the way: Bigsby is not a factor in the receiving game. He has only one catch this entire season. However, what Bigsby does well is run the football effectively. Travis Etienne’s season is trending in the wrong direction, along with his dynasty value. Meanwhile, Bigsby has stepped up and shattered all expectations after a nonexistent rookie season.
He finished Week 7 with 128 rushing yards and two touchdowns. This marked his third game in the last four with 90 or more rushing yards. Coincidentally, Jacksonville has won two of its last three games. Even in a part-time role, Bigsby ranks 15th in the NFL in rushing yardage and is tied for 8th in the league with four runs over 20 yards.
As for Bigsby’s receiving work (or lack thereof), I refuse to believe he can’t be utilized as a target out of the backfield. During his career at Auburn, he logged over 60 receptions, including a 30-catch season in 2022.
In theory, Bigsby could be an instant cash-out in dynasty — a player whose value has skyrocketed compared to his acquisition cost. However, I’d recommend waiting. Bigsby isn’t done producing. In fact, his performance may have earned him more opportunities moving forward, regardless of when Etienne returns.
Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 22 Years Old
Chris Godwin’s injury has thrust McMillan into the spotlight.
McMillan is the type of player who can not only step into the slot and win but also thrive. He led the Washington Huskies in receptions during the 2022 season alongside Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk. Although he dealt with injuries in 2023, he bounced back and was selected in the third round—a move that now looks extremely sharp by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He stood out during OTAs and training camp, earning praise from Baker Mayfield on multiple occasions. If the McMillan manager in your league thinks they are cashing out by trading him for a random future second-round pick, oblige them and make the deal. Godwin may have played his last snap as a Buccaneer, and McMillan could experience a Josh Downs (with Joe Flacco) (or better) ascension.
He will have target competition from Trey Palmer and Sterling Shepard, but McMillan has the highest ceiling to produce immediate fantasy production and the ability to gain considerable dynasty value.
Stock Down
Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions, 23 Years Old
What is going on with Sam LaPorta? This season has been truly bizarre. In 2023, LaPorta finished as the TE1 overall. He set a rookie record with 86 receptions on 120 targets, caught 10 touchdowns (the second-most all-time for a rookie), and recorded 889 receiving yards (fourth-most). He helped fantasy managers win leagues and vaulted to TE1 in most dynasty rankings. This past offseason, he was routinely selected as the TE1 overall in redraft.
However, this season has been an utter disappointment. LaPorta has been effectively phased out of the passing game — and, in most weeks, the offensive game plan altogether. Any hope of a post-bye week explosion has quickly evaporated. He caught a 52-yard touchdown pass in Detroit’s massive win over Dallas, but it came on a flea flicker. In fact, his production has declined post-bye week, with LaPorta catching just one pass in back-to-back games.
The problem lies with his targets. So far this season, he has only been targeted 17 times. LaPorta is below 10% in multiple key receiving metrics, including target share, first-read rate, and air yards share.
The Lions' running backs, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, have been highly productive. Amon-Ra St. Brown is, well, The Sun God. Jameson Williams has also emerged, leaving LaPorta effectively in the dust.
Unless he turns things around quickly, LaPorta will go down as one of the biggest fantasy football disappointments of the season at any position.
Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions, 23 Years Old
Speaking of Williams, he faces another off-field setback with a two-game suspension for PEDs. He is certainly not the first player to use PEDs, nor will he be the last to get caught, but this continues a frustrating trend for Williams' fantasy managers: missed time.
A torn ACL caused him to miss nearly all of his rookie season, followed by a gambling suspension in year two. On the field, however, Williams has been enjoying his best season as a pro, averaging 12.8 PPG with seven catches of over 20 yards. But this suspension is yet another setback for his dynasty managers. Even though it’s only two games, it’s a step in the wrong direction.
James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills, 25 Years Old
On a positive note, James Cook returned from his toe injury. However, things are trending downward for Cook and his dynasty managers. What initially looked like a second consecutive RB1 finish now appears to be settling somewhere in RB2 territory.
Complicating matters is the emergence of Ray Davis, who looks like he will cap Cook’s weekly ceiling. The rookie performed well enough in Cook’s absence to carve out a role that impacts Cook's production moving forward. For the first time this season, Cook was not targeted in the passing game, despite Josh Allen attempting a season-high 33 passes.
Not only is another running back emerging, but Amari Cooper’s arrival introduces additional competition for touches. Cooper could quickly rise to 2023 Stefon Diggs territory, further complicating Cook’s outlook.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco, 26 Years Old
Aiyuk’s season comes to a disappointing close.
He tore his ACL, ending a year in which he never seemed to get on track. He had only one game with more than 10 PPR points — a 147-yard breakout performance in Week 5. It has been a truly lost season for Aiyuk’s dynasty managers.
Now, there is a conundrum facing Aiyuk managers: hold him or move on? I am grappling with a few of these decisions myself. Holding a player in an IR spot throughout the season is easier said than done when championships are on the line. The decision largely depends on team context. Aiyuk is still a major talent with contract insulation, but he won't score another point for you this season.
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay, 28 Years Old
This one hurts — a lot. It hurts to write about, as I am sure it hurts to read. Godwin’s season comes to a close. Unlike Aiyuk, Godwin was exceptional. He finishes the season with a career-high 19.7 FPG. He will return in 2025, but with which team? Godwin will head to Free Agency with a lot of uncertainty for both himself and dynasty managers rostering him.
Dynasty managers just went from having the possible league winner to rostering a player who will not play another down this season and may never be a team’s #1 target again in his career. It's about as bad as it gets.
Watch List
Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns, 23 Years Old
Tillman is certainly one that dynasty managers will need to add if available and monitor this week. In Cleveland’s first game without Amari Cooper, Tillman played 80%+ snaps and was targeted 12 times. He caught 8 of them for 81 yards. He could be the Browns WR1 for the rest of the season. A second-year player out of Tennessee, The Browns selected Tillman in the 3rd round of the 2023 Draft.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Carolina Panthers, 21 Years Old
I could have included Sanders in the Stock Up category, but for now, I will include him here. The Rookie TE has been playing well and earning increased weekly usage. He has been targeted 13 times the past two weeks, and caught 11 of them. Sanders has been outperforming Xavier Legette.
Trey Palmer, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23 Years Old
Palmer should step into at least a portion of the Mike Evans role. A big play threat with speed, Palmer scored three TDs last season as a rookie. He spent some time in the same WR room as Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. at LSU before transferring to Nebraska.
Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers, 24 Years Old
With the loss of Aiyuk, Pearsall will have an immediate weekly role. He will compete for targets with Jauan Jennings, and if he beats him out, he will be an instant flex/WR3 in our lineups. The 2024 first-round pick was selected to be the de facto replacement for Deebo Samuel or Aiyuk, and now, he will have that very opportunity.
