The Hot Sheet looks at which top players are excelling and which ones are struggling on a week-to-week basis. Following the latest on-field trends can make our weekly lineup decisions easier, while allowing dynasty players to always understand the current value of players around the league.
The value of the players mentioned on the Hot List is rising, thanks to their performance on the field. On the other hand, Cold List players are struggling, and losing dynasty value as a result.
Hot List:
1) DeAndre Hopkins, WR HOU
Past Four Weekly Fantasy Finishes:
Week 11- WR13
Week 12- WR11
Week 13- WR17
Week 14- WR1
Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins was lighting up the fantasy football world early in the season, having locked in with rookie QB Deshaun Watson to form a dynamic duo. Of course, Watson would suffer a season-ending injury and that had many concerned that Hopkins’ fantasy scoring would take a major hit. That hasn’t been the case. Even with backup QBs Tom Savage and now T.J. Yates, Hopkins has continued to dominate. That is at least partially due to volume, as he is second in the league in targets behind only WR Antonio Brown. When Yates came in last week, he locked on to Hopkins and the pair lit up the scoreboard to the delight of fantasy players. Based on his age, quarterback situation and weekly consistency, it is time to consider Hopkins as the top overall dynasty asset.
2) Kenyan Drake, RB MIA
Past Four Weekly Fantasy Finishes:
Week 11- RB59
Week 12- RB23
Week 13- RB6
Week 14- RB9
The Dolphins were heavily criticized when they dealt RB Jay Ajayi, leaving them with veteran RB Damien Williams and unproven RB Kenyan Drake to many their backfield. As most NFL teams do, they played it safe after the trade, relying on the safe vet Williams, but once he suffered an injury, they had to turn to Drake. All he’s done is turn in three consecutive top 24 RB weeks, including back-to-back top ten games. The Dolphins offense has leaned heavily on Drake and he’s been a contributor in the passing game, as well. This team may have just found the answer at the running back position, which is good news considering they have many other needs.
3) Alex Collins, RB BAL
Past Four Weekly Fantasy Finishes:
Week 11- RB11
Week 12- RB14
Week 13- RB5
Week 14- RB8
Another team whose backfield situation has been seemingly settled is the Baltimore Ravens. Entering the season with a crowded committee, the Ravens were forced to make some moves when RB Kenneth Dixon was lost for the year and veteran RB Danny Woodhead suffered a Week One injury. They stashed former Seahawks RB Alex Collins and after several weeks, gave him a shot. He’s turned into a dominant workhorse back and is only in his second year in the league. Collins’ dynasty value is quickly shooting up and he has to be considered the favorite to be Baltimore’s 2018 starting back.
4) Cooper Kupp, WR LAR
Past Four Weekly Fantasy Finishes:
Week 11- WR38
Week 12- WR10
Week 13- WR28
Week 14- WR8
The Rams have been missing veteran breakout WR Robert Woods, who has missed the past three weeks. Fortunately, rookie WR Cooper Kupp has picked up the slack, posting weekly finishes of WR10, WR28 and WR8 over that time. The rapport between Kupp and QB Jared Goff continues to be evident. Kupp leads all rookie receivers in targets, receptions, receiving yardage and fantasy points, currently ranking as a low-end WR2 for fantasy players. There was some concern about how quickly Kupp would be able to make the transition from his FCS level college to the NF, but he has put all of those doubts to rest, establishing his dynasty value along the way.
5) Jamaal Williams, RB GB
Past Four Weekly Fantasy Finishes:
Week 11- RB20
Week 12- RB2
Week 13- RB8
Week 14- RB3
The Green Bay Packers backfield merry-go-round has been much discussed this off-season, but may have finally come to a stop with rookie Jamaal Williams leading the way. Williams has taken advantage of injuries to RBs Ty Montgomery and Aaron Jones and overcome his own injury woes to carry the offense in recent weeks. With three consecutive top eight fantasy performances, Williams looks like a back that can carry fantasy teams to a championship. Despite his strong play of late, there is still the ongoing debate of which Packers back is the one to own for the long-term in dynasty leagues. I have been a believer in Jones, but it is hard to doubt what we’ve seen from Williams recently. I expect to see a committee in 2018, headed by the surprisingly versatile Williams.
Other players considered: Jarvis Landry, Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, Russell Wilson, Dede Westbrook, Carson Wentz, Todd Gurley, Philip Rivers, Keenan Allen, Hunter Henry, Adam Shaheen, Case Keenum, Adam Thielen, Devin Funchess, Davante Adams, Isaiah Crowell, LeSean McCoy, Golden Tate, Eric Ebron, Jimmy Garoppolo, Marquise Goodwin
Cold List:
1) Amari Cooper, WR OAK
Past Four Weekly Fantasy Finishes:
Week Nine- WR35
Week 11- WR33
Week 12- WR49
Week 14- WR N/A
It has been a season to forget for Raiders WR Amari Cooper. After a solid start to the season with multiple red zone targets and a WR12 finish in the season-opener. Since then though, Cooper has only finished inside the top 30 fantasy receivers once, his fluky WR1 game against the Chiefs in Week Seven. To make matters worse, Cooper has been dealing with multiple injuries recently, including a concussion and nasty ankle injury that will reportedly keep him out of the lineup again in Week 15. As a result of all of this, Cooper’s dynasty value has taken a hit. He’s no longer considered a top 12 overall player, as he has been for the past two years. In fact, he’s probably not even among the top 12 dynasty receivers at this point.
2) Ameer Abdullah, RB DET
Past Four Weekly Fantasy Finishes:
Week Nine- RB21
Week 10- RB19
Week 11- RB25
Week 12- RB39
The numbers above don’t tell the true story for Lions RB Ameer Abdullah. After missing some time with a neck injury, Abdullah was reportedly demoted from his starting position and was a healthy scratch in Week 14. Abdullah has been a perennial disappointment, often dealing with injuries and simply disappointing when he’s been healthy. The team must know they can’t go into another season with him as their top option. If RB Theo Riddick continues to play well in the final few games, there may not even be a place for Abdullah on this roster.
3) Stefon Diggs, WR MIN
Past Four Weekly Fantasy Finishes:
Week 11- WR51
Week 12- WR28
Week 13- WR57
Week 14- WR32
After the first month of the season, Vikings WR Stefon Diggs was the WR1 in fantasy leagues. Since that time though, he’s only the WR54 and hasn’t 15 fantasy receivers since Week Three. As he usually does, Diggs missed some time with minor injuries, but for the most part, he’s simply been the second option behind WR Adam Thielen. Since Week Four, Diggs has been held under 80 yards in every contest and has one total touchdown in the past eight games. His upside will allow him to maintain some strong dynasty value, but that has steadily fallen since the opening month.
4) Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE NYJ
Past Four Weekly Fantasy Finishes:
Week 11- TE8
Week 12- TE27
Week 13- TE47
Week 14- TE52
After returning from a league-imposed two-game suspension, TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins quickly established himself as a factor in the Jets struggling offense. From Weeks Three through Eight, ASJ was the TE7 and was quickly gaining value, considering he is still a young player. Around that point, the Jets offense became more explosive, making use of WRs Robby Anderson and Jermaine Kearse, leaving little for Seferian-Jenkins. Since Week Nine, ASJ is only the TE31. He still has age on his side though, so he has a change to recover some of that inconsistent dynasty value.
5) Christian McCaffrey, RB CAR
Past Four Weekly Fantasy Finishes:
Week 10- RB5
Week 12- RB22
Week 13- RB17
Week 14- RB37
Panthers rookie RB Christian McCaffrey has been a value asset this year in PPR leagues. Essentially a wide receiver playing under the RB label, McCaffrey leads all running backs in targets and is among the top four in receptions, receiving yardage and receiving touchdowns. Since the Panthers late Week 10 bye, McCaffrey’s role has decreased, leading to a trio of weekly finishes outside of the top 15, including last week’s clunker (RB37.) Due to his limited role and production as a runner, McCaffrey will always be an easy target for critics doubting his long-term fantasy value.
Other players considered: DeVante Parker, Martavis Bryant, Jeremy Maclin, LeGarrette Blount, Sammy Watkins, Marcus Mariota, DeMarco Murray, Corey Davis, Bilal Powell, Samaje Perine, Kirk Cousins, Josh Doctson, Tyler Kroft, Jacoby Brissett, Doug Martin, George Kittle, Lamar Miller, Evan Engram, Derek Carr, Matt Ryan, Willie Snead, Mike Evans
