Fantasy Football Stock Watch: Tevin Coleman Up, Todd Gurley Down
Tevin Coleman had four total touchdowns in the 49ers' lopsided win over the Panthers in Week 8.
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The NFL trade deadline has passed and there wasn't much of an impact for fantasy football teams. For some leagues, the fantasy trade deadline is looming. By examining a team's schedule in the weeks ahead, specifically the playoff matchups, you can take advantage of some underperforming players. Here is the Week 9 stock watch.
Stock Up
QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
Stafford has been one of the best values at quarterback. He has four games of at least three passing touchdowns and there could be more on the way with the Lions' struggling running game. Kerryon Johnson went down in Week 7 and was placed on injured reserve. In that game, Stafford passed for 364 yards with four touchdowns and one interception against the Vikings. Last week against the Giants, Stafford passed for 342 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. On third down, Stafford went 12-for-13 for 200 yards with two touchdowns. Stafford has 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in seven games and has been a top 10 quarterback in fantasy.
RB Tevin Coleman, San Francisco 49ers
Coleman couldn't be in a better spot. He's the lead back in a run-heavy offense behind a good offensive line and a running scheme that has a lot of success. Coleman is also getting most of the goal-line carries. He only needed 11 rushes and two receptions to produce 118 yards and score four touchdowns. Coleman has scored double-digit points in three of the last four games. He has six touchdowns and at least 13 touches in the last four games.
RB Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills
People have been patient, waiting for the payoff with the rookie, and it's coming. Singletary played 40 snaps compared to 17 for Frank Gore last week against the Eagles. The team did play from behind, but Singletary is more explosive. Gore had nine carries for 34 yards, while Singletary had three carries for 19 yards and four receptions for 30 yards with a touchdown on six targets. Singletary has reached double-digit points in PPR formats in three of four games. He has 20 carries for 172 yards, an average of 8.6 yards per rush, with a touchdown and nine catches for 58 yards with a touchdown.
RB Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Those with Jones used to complain whenever Jamaal Williams got touches. Back in Week 3, Williams played more snaps and had more touches than Jones after he had 27 touches in Week 2. The Packers' offense has been so good, both have value and Jones is getting most of the touches. Jones had 13 carries for 67 yards and caught seven passes for 159 yards with two touchdowns last week against the Chiefs. The offense is hitting its stride and the lack of quality wide receivers has helped Jones and Williams become more involved in the passing game.
WR Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals
Kirk came back from an ankle injury last week and immediately was targeted frequently. In a difficult matchup against the Saints, Kirk was targeted 11 times and caught eight passes for 79 yards and had a 19-yard rush. In five games, Kirk has at least eight targets in four. He has been targeted at least 11 times in three games. He has at least nine points in PPR formats in four of five games and will be seeing a lot of passes coming his way going forward.
Stock Down
RB Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams
Between an offensive line that isn't as good as recent seasons and the concern with Gurley's arthritic knee, it's not a surprise the numbers are down. Gurley isn't getting heavy workloads and the six touchdowns are masking some of his deficiencies. Gurley has rushed for 51 yards or fewer in five straight games. He isn't involved in the passing game like he used to be with 24 targets in seven games, and 11 came in one game. Gurley has one reception or fewer in four of seven games. Gurley played 51.6% of the snaps against the Bengals last week and there could be games down the stretch where the Rams limit his touches. If you can sell Gurley, do it.
RB Le'Veon Bell, New York Jets
The Jets' offensive line has struggled and even with Sam Darnold back the last few games, it hasn't helped Bell put up good numbers. Bell had a season-low 12 touches on Sunday against the Jaguars, rushing for 23 yards on nine carries and catching three passes for 12 yards. After catching 27 of 32 targets through the first four games, Bell only has 10 targets over the last three contests, catching five. In the first four games, Bell averaged 24.5 touches. Since Darnold returned, Bell is averaging 14.3 touches. Expect the volume to increase for Bell with the Jets facing one of the easiest schedules in the NFL over the next few weeks. The Jets will play the Dolphins, Giants, Redskins, Raiders, Bengals and Dolphins. Bell is a good buy low.
WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Fitzgerald needs volume to succeed. He's not going to break a long play and he's not scoring a lot of touchdowns. Fitzgerald had 24 targets over the first two games of the season and has five targets or fewer in three of the last five games. He tends to have a high floor, but he has disappeared in the last two games. He had one catch for 12 yards on three targets against the Giants and had two catches for eight yards on four targets against the Saints last week. With the 49ers ahead in two of the next three games, it likely won't get much better.
QB Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles' passing game has been struggling and the absence of deep threat DeSean Jackson hasn't helped. Wentz has passed for one touchdown or fewer and been held to 191 passing yards or fewer in three of the last four games. In four of the eight games, Wentz hasn't reached 200 passing yards. The Eagles play the Bears before a bye week and then face the Patriots, meaning he will be on a lot of benches.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers
Valdes-Scantling has had plenty of opportunities to step up with the Packers needing a wide receiver, and it hasn't happened. He played 62.3% of the snaps in Week 8, which was third among the Packers' wide receivers. He had two targets and caught one pass for four yards. While Valdes-Scantling had two catches for 133 yards with a touchdown the week before against the Raiders, he only had three targets and a 74-yard touchdown against a bad secondary, which won't happen often. He has 11 targets over the last four games and that was without Davante Adams, who could return in Week 9.
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