If you are reading this, congratulations to your dynasty team. You are either prepping for a championship match that will define your entire year, or you’re already out, bitterly scrolling through stats to figure out exactly who owes you an apology for ruining your season. Welcome to the dynasty life. It’s a cruel, unforgiving game where “wait until next year” is less of a comforting phrase and more of a threat.
We are staring down the barrel of the offseason, but before we get there, we have to address the chaos of Week 17. Some players decided to wake up and earn their paychecks just in time for the fantasy playoffs, while others, looking at you, C.J. Stroud, decided to pack it in early. Let’s cut through the noise and look at the actual 2025 dynasty fantasy football risers and fallers heading into the final stretch.
Dynasty Risers: The Late-Season Heroes We Didn’t Deserve
Tyler Shough (QB, New Orleans Saints)
Is it time to have an uncomfortable conversation about the Saints? Because Tyler Shough is making it really hard to ignore him. While everyone was busy burying New Orleans, Shough quietly decided to become a fantasy asset. He has topped 17 fantasy points in five of his last six games. Read that again. That is the consistency you aren’t getting from “elite” names right now. He’s completing 65% of his passes, throwing touchdowns, and actually using his legs. Leading the Saints to three straight wins isn’t just good for the team; it’s keeping his dynasty stock alive. If you grabbed him off waivers, you look like a genius.
Chris Olave (WR, New Orleans Saints)
Speaking of the Saints, Chris Olave finally decided to join the party. After a season that felt like a long, painful sigh, Olave exploded for 36.8 fantasy points, crossing the 1,000-yard mark. It’s amazing what happens when a quarterback actually looks your way, right? He’s back to WR8 in PPG. If you panic-sold him mid-season, I hope you got a good return, because he just reminded everyone why he’s a dynasty cornerstone.
Parker Washington (WR, Jacksonville Jaguars)
Where did this come from? Parker Washington just had the game of his life: six catches, 145 yards, and a touchdown. That’s 26.5 fantasy points for a guy most people left on the waiver wire. But here’s the kicker: this isn’t a total fluke. Since Week 9, Washington has been the WR22 in PPG. With the Jaguars turning into a pass-happy offense recently, Washington is looking less like a dart throw and more like a legitimate flex option for 2025.
Tyjae Spears (RB, Tennessee Titans)
Finally. It took long enough, but Tyjae Spears is seeing the volume we’ve been screaming for. His opportunity share skyrocketed to 46% in Week 16. He’s catching passes, he’s getting touches, and he looks explosive. If the Titans are smart (a big “if”), they lean into this heading into next year.
Dynasty Fallers: The Guys Killing Your Dreams
C.J. Stroud (QB, Houston Texans)
I don’t want to hear the excuses anymore. C.J. Stroud has been a disaster for fantasy managers down the stretch. Throwing for 187 yards and a single touchdown in a critical week? That is unacceptable. He’s looking unreliable, hesitant, and frankly, unstartable in 1QB leagues. We crowned him too early. The regression hit like a freight train, and if you’re relying on him for a championship, you’re probably losing.
Bucky Irving (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Efficiency matters, folks. Bucky Irving ran the ball 19 times for 71 yards, which sounds fine until you realize he got zero targets and watched Sean Tucker vulture the goal-line work. A running back who doesn’t catch passes and doesn’t score touchdowns is a roster clogger. In his last four games, Irving has barely made a dent in the passing game. Without that floor, his dynasty value is taking a massive hit.
Khalil Shakir (WR, Buffalo Bills)
The Buffalo receiver room is a mess, and Shakir is drowning in it. Sure, he can have a big game, but are you willing to bet your season on it? His floor is subterranean. With the Bills leaning on the run and rotating WRs like they’re trying to hit a step count, Shakir is becoming a headache you don’t need.
The Verdict on 2025 Value
The landscape shifts fast. A month ago, Stroud was a dynasty darling, and Shough was an afterthought. Now? The script has flipped. As we head into 2025, pay attention to usage, not just names. Opportunity is the only currency that matters in this game. If you aren’t aggressively churning the bottom of your roster for guys like Parker Washington or Kenneth Gainwell right now, you aren’t playing to win; you’re playing to not lose. And in a dynasty, that’s the same thing.
