Each week, Footballguys staff members will share the big movers in their respective Dynasty Rankings. Since the contributors will rotate, please check in weekly. The focus of this article will be on the “why” more than the movement itself. Dynasty Rankings are fluid and we hope that sharing the rationale will help you in your quest to create dynasties with all your teams. The diversity of rankings will result in a variety of opinions weekly.
Quarterbacks
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Carson Wentz – While Wentz does have some big games, the luster is wearing off with several BAD games this season. We moved him outside of the Top 5 at the position because the production has been far from elite. The game against the Patriots was the tipping point. No, he did not have the full complement of receivers but some of those throws were awful. The loss to the Seahawks Sunday, it was more of the same. Moments of greatness without the sustaining power to lead the Eagles to scoring drives when needed.
Jared Goff – Goff is another who takes a tumble down the rankings. This season has been inconceivably worse than fantasy owners could imagine. Maybe, defenses are catching on to the McVay offense which propped Goff up a season ago. The Rams seem like a much different team than the one that made it to the Super Bowl a few months ago.
Derek Carr – Carr has been improved this season. There have been highs and lows, but he has the Raiders in the playoff chase with lacking weapons. Imagine his season with a receiver the caliber of Antonio Brown still on the team. The loss to the Jets was not his best game – given he was yanked for Mike Glennon – but let’s consider Oakland is 6-5 and tied with Pittsburgh for the last playoff spot.
Ryan Tannehill – It is becoming increasingly apparent that quarterback was the issue for the Titans. While Tannehill is far from a star, he has led Tennessee to a 4-1 record in his five starts. He is QB3 in points per game since Week 8.
Running Backs
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David Johnson/Kenyan Drake – After the trade for Drake, fantasy players were unsure which Cardinals back to invest in. It is now apparent that the newcomer is the apple of the coach’s eye while the veteran is on the outside looking in. We expect Johnson to be playing elsewhere in 2020. Johnson is ill-fit with the new Arizona coaching staff may provide a solid buy opportunity.
LeVeon Bell – While Bell is talented, the is coming faster than many realize. He has lost a step and is unable to consistently pick up yards after contact. The poor Jets offensive line is not helping matters, but Bell is not the type of back to invest in for dynasty.
Josh Jacobs – The rookie has been impressive. He has carried the Oakland offense, allowing Carr to throw from advantageous situations. Jacobs is one of the few backs with a guaranteed workload week to week. When he has a poor outing, like the one Sunday against New York, the Raiders are unable to move the ball with any regularity.
Wide Receivers
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Courtland Sutton – The trading of Emmanuel Sanders has allowed Sutton to emerge as the WR1 in Denver, and he has not disappointed. Still very young, Sutton is a cornerstone for the future of the Broncos.
Deebo Samuel – Samuel has come into his own the past few weeks. His touchdown on Sunday night showed off the athleticism 49ers fans hoped after the draft. While his role may vary week-to-week as Emmanuel Sanders gets fully healthy, San Francisco – and fantasy owners – have a long-term starter.
Tyler Lockett – Lockett is excelling this year once again. He quietly toils in the Pacific Northwest – like his quarterback – in relative anonymity. Most fans underappreciate how dominant this pair has been. It is now reflected in the rankings.
JuJu Smith-Schuster – This has been a disaster season for Smith-Schuster. First, he gets a sizable quarterback downgrade from Ben Roethlisberger to Mason Rudolph. This was after Antonio Brown was traded and expectations were sky-high. While we are still advocating acquiring the young receiver, this year has proven that he is unable to be a dominant receiver in a bad situation, unlike Hopkins for many years.
Terry McLaurin – The 12 targets in the victory over Detroit was a good sign. Dwayne Haskins only attempted 29 passes. He is out of synch with college teammate Haskins, but the rapport is improving. The bump in targets shows a willingness by both the rookie passer and the coaching staff to get their best offensive player the ball. He is a definite buy for the coming offseason as the Washington quarterback play will improve.
Jakobi Meyers – The undrafted rookie shined with Phillip Dorsett and Mohamed Sanu sidelined. Yes, he dropped a couple of passes in the inclimate weather but came through with several clutch catches in the second half. He will be dropped by many dynasty players this offseason but is a solid, long-term stash given his potential shown in the preseason and when given the chance.
Tight Ends
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Eric Ebron – Ebron has slowly fallen down the rankings as the season progressed. Going on injured reserve is a fitting ending to a disappointing season. He reportedly needs surgery on both ankles. Jack Doyle now has a chance to shine in a more prominent role. Plus, Mo Alie-Cox will finally get his chance. Keep an eye on the tight end usage coming off the disappointing Thursday night loss to Houston with the extra time to get things right.
Chris Herndon – Between the suspension and injuries, Herndon missed most of the 2019 season and is now on injured reserve. While brimming with talent, Herndon has yet to be able to turn his talent into production on the field. Ryan Griffin’s emergence will not help his 2020 role, either.
Trey Burton – Burton’s season ended mercifully with a calf injury. The Bears offense has been atrocious this season which has not helped Burton. While he falls in the rankings, the veteran is a buy-low candidate for the offseason as he still is not fully healed from the core injury suffered before the season.
Irv Smith – The Vikings have used more two-tight end sets with Adam Thielen out of the lineup with a hamstring injury. Smith has responded and flashed big-time upside with blocking ability and athleticism. He will be difficult to keep off the field.
Jacob Hollister – The Seahawks sure know how to find prospects at the tight end position. After a productive Will Dissly went down with an Achilles injury, they targeted Hollister, who has been outstanding. He was wide open for a touchdown, but Russell Wilson uncharacteristically missed him in the endzone.
Ryan Griffin – With Herndon out (see above), Griffin has seized the starting job and become one of Sam Darnold’s favorite receivers. At this pace, Griffin might be the favorite for the starting gig in 2020. He has become a redzone favorite of Darnold.
If you would like to review our most recent Dynasty rankings, here is a link.