Another week in the fantasy football salt mines is behind us, and the landscape is littered with the usual carnage in dynasty. Some players are soaring, giving their dynasty managers the kind of smug satisfaction that makes this game worth playing. Others? Well, they’re crashing and burning so spectacularly that you have to wonder if they’re actively trying to tank your season.
Let’s cut through the noise. The spreadsheets and algorithms can only tell you so much. This is where the eye test, a healthy dose of cynicism, and a little bit of gut feeling come into play. It’s time to talk about who’s for real and who’s just a flash in the pan.
Dynasty Risers: Are These Guys Legit?
Every week, a few unexpected heroes emerge from the chaos. The big question for dynasty managers is whether to buy in or sell high.
TreVeyon Henderson (RB – NE): Let’s start with the obvious. With Rhamondre Stevenson sidelined, Henderson looked like a world-beater, gashing the defense for 147 yards and two scores. The Patriots’ backfield is notoriously fickle, but talent like this is hard to ignore. The problem? He’s already popped up on the injury report. Bill Belichick’s ghost is probably laughing somewhere. Henderson has the explosion to be a league-winner, but counting on a Patriots running back is a fool’s errand. He’s a riser, sure, but with a massive asterisk.
Jaxson Dart (QB – NYG): The Giants’ offense has been a punchline for years, but suddenly Jaxson Dart is putting up QB3 numbers. With his legs and a surprisingly competent arm, he’s injected life into a dormant franchise. Is this sustainable? Probably not to this degree. But in a dynasty league, a young quarterback who can run is gold. He’s gone from a taxi squad afterthought to a legitimate starting option.
Tez Johnson (WR – TB): When opportunity knocks, some guys answer. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin nursing injuries, the rookie Tez Johnson has been a touchdown machine, finding the end zone four times in the last month. He’s small, but he’s feisty and has a nose for the paint. Once the veterans return, he’ll likely fade back into obscurity. But for now, he’s a riser whose value is peaking. If you can flip him for a more established asset, now’s the time.
Dynasty Fallers: Time to Hit the Panic Button?
Now for the fun part: the players who are making you question all your life choices. These guys are plummeting in value, and it’s time to decide if you’re going down with the ship.
Justin Fields (QB – NYJ): What is there even to say? 54 passing yards. It’s an absolute clown show in New York. The Jets have managed to ruin yet another promising talent. Fields’ value is in the toilet, and it’s hard to see a way out as long as he’s wearing green. If you’re holding onto him in a dynasty league, you’re not just hoping for a comeback; you’re praying for a miracle or a trade. He’s a super-faller.
Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ): See above. Wilson is a phenomenal talent trapped in quarterback hell. Now he’s dealing with a knee sprain that will sideline him for weeks. He’s still a top-tier asset based on pure skill, but his situation is so toxic it’s dragging his value through the mud. You can’t sell him now because his value is at an all-time low, but rostering him is pure agony.
Christian Kirk (WR – HOU): Remember when Kirk was the reliable veteran presence in Houston? That seems like a lifetime ago. With a snap share of just 55% and being outplayed by backups, Kirk is becoming an afterthought. His fantasy production has fallen off a cliff. In dynasty, this is a massive red flag. He’s looking less like a dependable WR2 and more like a guy who’s about to be phased out. It might be time to cut bait before his value completely evaporates.
Josh Jacobs (GB – RB): Jacobs has gone from a rushing champion to a roster clogger. He’s ranked as a top-20 player for the rest of the season by some, but his on-field production says otherwise. He looks slow, indecisive, and is part of a Packers offense that can’t seem to get out of its own way. Is he playing through an injury, or has he just lost a step? Either way, he’s a massive faller whose name value is the only thing keeping him relevant.
Fantasy football is a brutal game. One week you’re on top of the world, the next you’re staring at a roster full of has-beens and never-weres. The key to long-term dynasty success is knowing when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em. Don’t get sentimental—make the ruthless moves now before it’s too late.
The Brutal Dynasty Calculus
This isn’t a redraft. You can’t just chalk it up to bad luck and try again next year. In dynasty, every injury, every dip in production, has long-term consequences. Holding onto a falling asset like Josh Jacobs or Christian Kirk out of misplaced loyalty is how you end up in a perpetual rebuild.
The smart managers are the ruthless ones. They’re selling Justin Fields for whatever they can get. They’re buying low on guys like Tyler Allgeier before the rest of the league catches on. They’re scouring the waiver wire for the next Tez Johnson.
So take a hard look at your roster. Be honest. Who is dragging you down? Who is a walking injury risk? Sentimentality is a one-way ticket to the fantasy football graveyard. Make the tough cuts, pull the trigger on the ruthless trades, and don’t look back. In the cutthroat world of dynasty, only the sharks survive.
