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".
While scoring is up across the NFL and the NFC East continues to surprise in historic ways, health continues to play a major role in fantasy football, and in newer ways. Oh sure, injuries are always a factor, and so far this season myriad top options at wide receiver have been impacted as well as a few key running backs, but now the COVID-19 virus has become a very real factor affecting both the real and fantasy games.
What can a fantasy manager do? Well, pay attention to the news, especially on Sunday mornings, hope for the best, and make the best decisions that you can. Stuff happens. It always has and always will. Here is the latest stuff, with the rest-of-season rankings and stock watch updates to help you make those calls.
QB Stock Up
Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers:Joe Burrow got kudos for becoming the first rookie quarterback to reach 300 passing yards in three consecutive contests, but Herbert missed that same achievement by only a mere 10 yards in Week 4! Yeah, both are so good and should carry fantasy managers for years. Herbert moves into QB2 territory for standard formats and, by the way, the bye weeks are here.
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers: It would be foolish to exclaim that Jimmy G. will carry fantasy managers, but the 49ers lost to the winless Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night and fill-in passer Nick Mullens certainly played a key role in that result. Third-stringer C.J. Beathard had to handle the final drive after an awful Mullen interception. Garoppolo should return soon and become a matchup option for desperate fantasy managers.
QB Stock Down
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins: Just when the numbers dictated that so many of us would have recommended the underrated Fitzpatrick, the news comes down that the Dolphins, predictably losing games, plan to soon push the 37-year-old aside to give rookie Tua Tagovailoa some run. Fitzpatrick is a better fantasy option than a real-life one, I guess, as he has delivered three consecutive games with 21-plus fantasy points and ranks 10th among quarterbacks in season-long scoring -- ahead of Matt Ryan, Deshaun Watson and myriad others. Hey, fantasy managers do not make the rules.
Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts: The Colts are good but the quarterback is playing just a minimal role in the team's success, still searching for his first 15-point fantasy game. OK, so the Colts have not exactly played Super Bowl contenders, but perhaps that's the point. Rivers ranks 28th in fantasy through four weeks -- after Sam Darnold and Dwayne Haskins Jr.! -- and he is dragging WR T.Y. Hilton down with him.
RB Stock Up
Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns: The Nick Chubb injury drove this value change and, while Hunt could still share backfield touches with surprising D'Ernest Johnson and perhaps others, we already have a universe with barely enough RB1 options. Hunt gets a spot in the club while Chubb, whose knee injury could keep him sidelined into mid-November, moves way down. That said, you should try to keep him rostered for later.
Antonio Gibson, Washington: Not a whole lot is going right for this football team, and a quarterback change to Kyle Allen (the NFC East is obviously winnable) is a possibility. Still, Gibson has touchdowns in three consecutive games and more touches are likely pending. Gibson caught 16 yards worth of passes over the first three weeks, and then he increased that paltry number to 82 more in Week 4.
Damien Harris, New England Patriots: Monday night did not go so well for the Patriots, but Harris broke off a 41-yard run on his way to 100 yards. With Sony Michel on injured reserve (and underwhelming to start with), Harris could repeat this performance and keep the starting role. However, it is noteworthy that, as with Michel, Harris is apparently no factor in the passing game. By the way, welcome back, James White.
RB Stock Down
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers: His hamstring and knee injuries appear to be less severe than what Chubb is dealing with, so while Ekeler drops in the rankings, his absence should be shorter. Rookie Joshua Kelley struggled on Sunday and likely shares touches with Justin Jackson, who was no better. Perhaps the Chargers turn to Herbert to carry the offense.
Mark Ingram II, Baltimore Ravens: He found the end zone for the second time in four games but this is not the same player as last season, when Ingram crossed the 1,000-yard mark in rushing yards and scored 15 touchdowns. He lacks both the volume and the success. Then again, it appears that no Ravens running back is worth relying on for fantasy. Rookie J.K. Dobbins gets few chances. Gus Edwards? Not really. Keep Ingram rostered and expect Dobbins to emerge in time, but these are bench options for now.
WR Stock Up
DJ Chark Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars: Welcome back! Chark missed Week 3 with upper-body maladies and returned with 29.5 PPR points, reminding us how well he performed during the 2019 campaign. Remember, Chark topped 1,000 receiving yards last season and scored eight times. He can do it again. In Gardner Minshew II we trust!
Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills: Perhaps all Josh Allen needed to become a top passer was an accomplished wide receiver such as Diggs in his huddle. OK, so nothing is that simple. Allen had weapons last season but now he has stunningly emerged as an MVP candidate. Meanwhile, Diggs moves into WR1 territory and, thanks to the health of others (specifically the re-injured Julio Jones and the battered Tampa Bay options), he might even stay there.
WR Stock Down
Marvin Jones Jr., Detroit Lions: He caught one pass in Week 4 against the Saints, but even when Kenny Golladay was out of the lineup it is not as if Jones was producing big numbers. He has 12 catches all season. With the Lions serving a Week 5 bye week, it makes sense to use his roster spot on immediate aid. After all, when it comes to wide receiver and so many injured options at the top, many of us seem to need the roster versatility.
A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals: Green led my "bust" lists because of durability concerns, as in he missed all of last season and quite a bit of previous ones with injuries. With Burrow emerging, it figured that Green would at least produce WR3 numbers when healthy. Instead, he keeps on playing but has only 14 catches at 3.6 yards per target. Go figure. Move on.
TE Stock Up
Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys: In a passing game where the quarterback averages more than 400 yards per game, myriad weapons can thrive. Blake Jarwin was supposed to be the team's top tight end but an injury ended his season. Schultz, with touchdowns in two of three games and ample targets, is closing in on TE1 territory.
Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers: Who? Were you watching on Monday night when Aaron Rodgers found him for a trio of touchdown passes? Tonyan now leads the position with five of them. Sure, that TD rate is obviously unsustainable and if you add him, you must wait a week since the Packers serve their bye in Week 5. Still, at this position, with a mere four options in the current top 100, Tonyan moves all the way up into potential TE1 territory.
TE Stock Down
Noah Fant, Denver Broncos: One of my 2020 sleepers who was performing quite nicely, Fant is averaging five receptions per game and is a clear goal-zone presence, but an ankle injury forced his premature exit in Week 4 and the Broncos expect him to miss several games. All the other Denver tight ends combined have caught just four passes, so look at other teams for fill-in help.
