With most fantasy drafts just days away, rankings are constantly changing. From players who surprised us in training camp to those who disappointed with their preseason performances, there are plenty of notable movements to watch. Below are some examples of players who moved up or down in the Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) this week.
The rise and fall of fantasy football players
Trending fantasy football players
Will Revis (QB – TEN) | Current ECR: QB23
It's fair to say Will Revis is undervalued going into the 2023 NFL season. He was a potential top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft but fell out of the first round. The Titans moved up in the rankings to acquire him, but he was expected to start his NFL career off the bench, playing behind Titans starter Ryan Tannehill, who won two division titles during his time at Tennessee.
But things changed quickly for Revis and the Titans. Revis didn't play his first game until less than halfway through the 2023 season. He ended up playing in nine games, throwing for 1,808 yards and eight touchdowns and running for another 185 yards and one score. From Week 8 through Week 15, Revis was a top-20 quarterback in fantasy scoring.
Revis' fantasy prospects were already looking up after spending the entire offseason preparing. But the Titans helped him out a lot. The biggest pressure was on the offensive line, and the Titans signed center Lloyd Cushenberry. Then they signed running back Tony Pollard to complement prospect Tyjay Spears in the backfield. They then signed receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, which, along with DeAndre Hopkins, gave Revis a good, if not great, receiver corps. And if the first preseason game is any indication, Revis could be in for a big year. He led touchdown drives on both series he played in and scored the Titans' first touchdown on a goal-line sneak.
Tennessee may not have initially intended for Revis to be their starting quarterback in 2024, but he's there now and the Titans have done all they can to give him a good supporting cast. If Revis can develop, there's no reason why he shouldn't be a bottom-line QB1 in fantasy leagues.
Sam Darnold (QB – MIN) | Current ECR: QB32
Sam Darnold is the quintessential journeyman, playing for his fourth NFL team in seven seasons. The No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft, Darnold proved less than a franchise quarterback before his time in New York was over. But he has bounced around as a backup/placeholder who can keep teams afloat. Minnesota, for example, signed him to a one-year, $10 million deal to replace Kirk Cousins. A few weeks later, Darnold's role changed to mentorship after the Vikings selected JJ McCarthy with their first-round pick.
Darnold was originally scheduled to start the season before McCarthy was deemed ready, but shortly after the preseason began, it was announced that McCarthy would miss the entire 2024 season with a torn meniscus, making Darnold the starter.
What kind of games can we expect from Darnold throughout the year? Let's start with the Vikings situation. Last season, after Cousins' injury, three quarterbacks started: Jalen Hall, Joshua Dobbs, and Nick Mullens. They combined for over 2,300 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. For the entire season, they threw 4,600 yards and 24 touchdowns (with 28 interceptions), which is a respectable number. Still, from a fantasy perspective, this is not the worst performance, and Darnold is better than any quarterback who started for the Vikings last season. He will definitely be in the top 20 fantasy quarterbacks.
Fantasy football players on the decline
Marshawn Lloyd (RB – GB) | Current ECR: RB50
Marshawn Lloyd was an early rookie running back darling and a target for zero RB strategists. Drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he was immediately expected to be the primary backup to newly signed Josh Jacobs, replacing veteran AJ Dillon. This was an enviable position, not only because the Packers frequently use multiple running backs under head coach Matt LaFleur, but also because Jacobs is coming off a season in which he missed a month with an injury and is a year older. Lloyd started training camp well, impressing coaches and media alike, which only improved his rising fantasy stock.
Then the injuries started. He missed a few days of camp because of a hip injury. Then he hurt his hamstring in the Packers' preseason opener. Combine that and Lloyd is missing valuable time if he wants to earn the favor of the powers that be. Add to that the return of Dillon, someone the Packers know and trust, and things are looking bad for Lloyd.
Jahan Dotson (WR – WAS) | Current ECR: WR61
Jahan Dotson has had a disappointing start to his career: The 16th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has only managed 1,000 yards receiving over the past two seasons and hasn't finished in the top 40 among receivers in fantasy scoring.
But there was hope his reputation would improve with the additions Washington made this offseason. First, it hired Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator. Then it drafted Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels as its franchise quarterback. Between the two, Dotson was thought to be one of the biggest beneficiaries.
Unfortunately, Dotson doesn't appear to be progressing. New head coach Dan Quinn recently said the Commanders don't have a WR2 (Dotson's role), and Dotson played through the first half of the first preseason game, a role typically given to a backup or a player on the roster bubble. While it's unlikely that Dotson will lose his roster spot, it's becoming clear that he won't be as involved in the offense as previously thought.
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