The NFL trade deadline came and went on Tuesday with little fanfare in the fantasy world -- Kenyan Drake? Um, awesome? -- but for fantasy managers, time still remains to reshape rosters. For ESPN standard leagues, the trade deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 20 at noon ET. Do better than trading for Kenyan Drake.
Regardless, time for the updated rest-of-season rankings as we head into Week 9. Yep, more than half the season is complete and November figures to decide playoff races. Whether you are unbeaten so far or sputtering to win half your games, make those roster upgrades, whether of the free agency variety or via trades. As always, we combine the rankings with a little Stock Watch as well. Enjoy!
QB Stock Up
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: It is only a modest bump up, past injured Matt Ryan and into the top five of fantasy quarterbacks, but Rodgers essentially starts his own second tier. The first-tier options offer more upside, even the injured Patrick Mahomes, who could return this week or next. Rodgers has been winning games in real life all season, but his top fantasy efforts have come only in the past fortnight, with 70 PPR points against Oakland and Kansas City, despite no Davante Adams. It is quite the feat.
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers: Lest you think Newton is past his prime, note that he was easily among the top-10 quarterbacks in fantasy last season thanks to competent passing work and more than 500 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Yes, his Lisfranc injury could affect production in the latter categories, but his return seems imminent, and fantasy managers should reacquaint themselves with someone who has been a top-five fantasy quarterback in five of the past seven seasons.
Drew Lock, Denver Broncos: Joe Flacco investors should have known better, frankly. Flacco in Denver was never going to work out, even if he stayed healthy, which he did not. Lock is hardly a lock for success, but the second-round pick from Missouri should see the field in November while Brandon Allen tries to do his Kyle Allen fill-in impersonation. I would say avoid Denver quarterbacks -- as I did in August -- but Lock has the size and arm strength to matter, somewhat like Daniel Jones.
QB Stock Down
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: I would not call this some rookie wall the top NFL draft pick has hit, but road games at the Giants and New Orleans -- very different defenses there -- have gone poorly from a statistical aspect, and the unbeaten 49ers are up twice in the next three weeks. Like most rookies, Murray has been rather inconsistent, and it seems noteworthy that he has thrown a touchdown pass in only three of eight games, and he has not run effectively of late. He remains a dynasty keeper, but injuries surrounding him are taking a toll, too. The odd Drake acquisition from Miami likely indicates David Johnson and Chase Edmonds will miss more games, but perhaps this is good for fantasy managers who might not have benched them with 49ers games approaching. Johnson and Edmonds drop in these rankings and Drake moves up thanks to the immediate opportunity, but you cannot presume big numbers against San Francisco.
RB Stock Up
Tevin Coleman, San Francisco 49ers: Well, nothing against Jimmy Garoppolo, but the 49ers are not unbeaten because their quarterback is producing monster numbers. Coleman produced monster numbers on Sunday, scoring four touchdowns -- three rushing -- and the schedule works both ways here. The Cardinals are up twice in the next three weeks. Ball-control running and strong defense, right? It works if you are lucky enough to have both of them. Coleman is a clear RB2 now and Matt Breida still matters, but you can also part with him if you need help elsewhere.
Latavius Murray, New Orleans Saints: The bye week beckons and perhaps Alvin Kamara recovers in fine fashion for a lovely November schedule featuring two games with the brutal Falcons and another with the Buccaneers. But Murray sure appears to deserve a larger slice of the touches than he secured in September, when bitter fantasy investors moved on. He could remain a flex option.
Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills: The rookie earned a mere seven touches in Sunday's loss, but it is quite clear he has skills that deserve far more, and with a friendly upcoming schedule -- Washington, Cleveland, Miami -- perhaps the Bills ease up on mercurial Frank Gore and let Singletary emerge. From a fantasy aspect, it is worth rostering Singletary to find out.
RB Stock Down
Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions: This RB2 was underperforming to start with, as he rushed for 50 yards -- not exactly a top achievement -- in one of six games and was barely utilized in the passing game, and now his season is likely over with a knee injury. (He might return in mid-December, if you care.) Fantasy managers who kept playing him also keep scrambling for his replacement(s), but Ty Johnson was not the prime choice, as newcomer Tra Carson -- dumped by the Packers a few weeks ago -- saw half the team's rushing attempts. Perhaps it is best that all simply avoid the Lions running game.
Chris Thompson, Washington Redskins: A talented receiver out of the backfield, but one who simply cannot stay healthy. Thompson could return soon, but why would anyone in fantasy want to rely on him? OK, so every backfield has value but ... do they? Thompson is averaging a shade better than 10 PPR points per game -- more impressive since he has done so with nary a touchdown -- but even if he plays this week, with him it is rarely a guarantee for the next one.
WR Stock Up
Tyrell Williams, Oakland Raiders: A foot injury cost him a few games and myriad ranking spots, but Williams returned Sunday and scored a touchdown for the fifth time, achieving one in each game he has played. Not bad. Of course, there is some bad; Williams has caught exactly three passes in each of his past three games, so we would like more volume and yards -- he averages only 60 per game -- before exalting him to safe WR3 status, but he matters.
Emmanuel Sanders, San Francisco 49ers: He caught a Garoppolo touchdown pass in his first game with the team, but the strength of this offense is hardly its passing game. Still, he tops the wide receiver hierarchy on this team and he should make things a bit easier for tight end George Kittle as well.
A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals: Normally I would be rather pessimistic about this former top-10 fantasy receiver returning from ankle surgery and making a major impact -- in the NFL world and ours -- for a winless team right away, but Green is so talented, apparently motivated and his numbers last season were better than most realize. The Bengals are on bye this week, but roster Green ahead of his likely Week 10 return.
WR Stock Down
Brandin Cooks/Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams: This is how bands break up in the music world, when a trio on seemingly equal footing becomes a one-man show with the lead singer getting all the attention, or something like that. We all love Cooper Kupp and his ranking here shows it, but he -- quarterback Jared Goff, actually -- is simply not sharing the wide receiver love. Even if Cooks had not left Sunday's London game early with a concussion, a double-digit PPR performance seemed unlikely; he last got there in Week 4. Woods has gotten there three times all season. These are no longer WR3 options and you can move on.
Josh Gordon, New England Patriots: Not to keep piling on when a man is down, but Gordon is hurt and expected to be released by the Patriots soon. Another franchise will surely take a chance and fantasy managers will eagerly jump from far and wide to blindly invest, only to be disappointed yet again. Sorry to be negative, but if the unbeaten Patriots move on, honestly, what do you expect? Gordon leaves these rankings, and I regret ranking him near WR2 range earlier this season. Do I/we ever learn?
TE Stock Up
Ryan Griffin, New York Jets: The former longtime Texan scored a pair of touchdowns for the Jets on Sunday and while he could quickly fall from favor if Chris Herndon ever returns -- this is the week, some say! -- who knows when that will be. The Dolphins, the Giants and Redskins are up next for slingin' Sam Darnold, so this offense figures to produce more and the tight end(s) could matter.
TE Stock Down
Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles: A fourth-round choice in myriad ESPN average live drafts, Ertz is on pace for 42 fewer receptions, 315 fewer yards and six fewer touchdowns than last season, as the team's passing game continues to stagnate. Not that some of this is a surprise, as Ertz ranked near the top of my "Do Not Draft" list. This hardly means one should drop Ertz, the No. 7 tight end in PPR scoring this season, but you certainly do not have to leave him active if you have a better option, which you might.