Eric Karabell is a senior writer for fantasy baseball, football and basketball at ESPN. Eric is a charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame and author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments".
Four weeks of the season are complete, and many fantasy teams are sputtering along and in dire need of some help. Perhaps trades are available, but if you do not ask, then you might not know. Here at the "rest of season" rankings department, we always consider the future, by position and overall, and perhaps true fantasy improvement is merely a trade or two away. Changes to these rankings happen each week, and as is our new norm, we combine the rankings with the Stock Watch, so let us get to it!
QB Stock Up
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: His offense still needs some practice in the red zone, for sure, but Rodgers threw all over Philadelphia, and the way his running game looks, there might be many more throws in the near future.
Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: It is a trap. I feel like it's a trap, but I moved Winston up anyway, because he just embarrassed the Los Angeles Rams defense, and maybe, just maybe, this time is different. We know he has talent, and even as he ignores his talented tight end, the numbers are there with a pair of potential top-10 wide receivers. How soon will I regret this? Before November, probably.
Kyle Allen, Carolina Panthers: His performance in Houston was not statistically awesome, thanks to nary a touchdown and three fumbles, but he won the game, and there is apparently little sign of Cam Newton returning to the starting role. That, my friends, is all it takes sometimes for those in two-QB formats.
QB Stock Down
Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears: Trubisky did little statistically before taking advantage of Washington in Week 3, and I was hardly confident in him being a top-20 fantasy QB. Now that his non-throwing shoulder is a mess and he figures to miss several weeks, it's official. You do not want his backup, Chase Daniel.
Case Keenum, Washington Redskins: Yeah, after the Giants went to their rookie, it seemed a matter of time before their NFC East cohorts made the move as well, but this one came only due to a Keenum foot injury. Dwayne Haskins looked awful in relief, however, unlike Daniel Jones. Regardless, Keenum is not in a position to succeed with this awful offense, and while I liked Haskins quite a bit this summer, that is no longer the case. This team is a mess. This is a recording.
RB Stock Up
Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars: We still await his first touchdown of the young season, but Fournette looked great against the Broncos, reaching 225 rushing yards on 29 carries, each impressive. He has also torn off long runs -- 81 yards at Denver, 69 yards versus the Titans -- in consecutive weeks. This is what we saw as a rookie, but perhaps with more catches, he might deserve top-10 status soon.
Frank Gore, Buffalo Bills: You might not regard him as flex viable, but Gore, who surpassed 15,000 rushing yards for his career on Sunday, is averaging 85 rushing yards over the past three games and has scored two touchdowns. The Bills want to run the football. Gore and Philadelphia Eagles running back Jordan Howard, who scored three touchdowns in Week 4, will not pile on the catches, but they can still aid a PPR squad, and they are underrated based on roster figures.
Darrel Williams, Kansas City Chiefs: Not to be confused with Damien Williams, but in this offense, anyone can thrive when healthy. Damien Williams has missed a couple of games with a knee problem, but he should remain rostered. Darrel Williams scored two touchdowns in Week 4. I do not believe the Chiefs have a third running back named Williams, but perhaps the Packers will trade them Jamaal.
Kenyan Drake, Miami Dolphins: It seems unlikely that any Dolphins running back can thrive in this offense with these quarterbacks, with this, um, mess. Drake needs a trade.
WR Stock Up
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants: Daniel Jones is going to make mistakes because most rookies do, but his receivers can flourish. Shepard has 18 targets split evenly the past two games, and the fact that he has earned three rushing attempts in that time -- turning them into 44 yards -- is a differentiator. The return of once-suspended Golden Tate could help Shepard too.
Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals: I am a fan, and the numbers and volume have been there, but he suffered an ankle injury late in Sunday's loss and could miss a few games.
Dede Westbrook, Jacksonville Jaguars: I found it strange back in August how everyone was so sure Westbrook would be the breakout receiver on this team. Perhaps he still will be, but DJ Chark, in Year 2 out of LSU, has more than double the receiving yards of Westbrook and three of the five receiving TDs by WRs for this offense.
TE Stock Up
Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks: After doing little in Week 1, Dissly has scored four touchdowns in the past three games, with real targets and 50 or more receiving yards each game. It does not take much to become a top-10 tight end in this fantasy world, and Dissly is there.
TE Stock Down
Vance McDonald, Pittsburgh Steelers: A shoulder injury cost him Week 4, which was no surprise after the acquisition of Nick Vannett from Dissly's team portended his absence. Remember, many of us liked McDonald back in August, but that was with a 5,000-passing-yards veteran QB, not a rookie, albeit one who was mighty effective on short passes Monday night against a winless team. It's OK to move on from McDonald.
