Stock Performers 2019 week 5

Welcome to the stock report Week 4 edition. Even though there are many great performances and several mediocre performances, the player's stock usually remains the same. Patrick Mahomes is always going to be in the top echelon while Mitchell Trubisky is going to trend toward the bottom. What will be discussed in this and future articles are those players that are rapidly moving up or down based on the athlete's weekly performance. In doing so, hopefully, this will bring more clarity to those on the radar for waiver wire choices, those that need to be bypassed, traded for, or denied.

STOCK UP

Aaron Rodgers-QB-GB

Aaron Rodgers was at his most active throwing 53 times and completing 34 passes for 422 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 46 yards, Rodgers only had seven in three games. Rodgers' touchdown passes went to Jimmy Graham and Geronimo Allison. His biggest blunder came at the goal line trying to force-feed Marquez Valdes-Scantling the ball, but a tipped ball by defensive back Craig James and linebacker Nigel Bradham intercepted the pass. Davante Adams was a huge factor as well. Adams caught ten passes for 180-yards before going down with a turf toe injury.

Jameis Winston-QB-TB

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense has been explosive over the last few weeks, and Jameis Winston is reaping the benefits. Winston now has thrown for a combined 685 yards and seven touchdown passes over his previous two games. In the victory over the Rams, Winston completed 28 of 41 passes for 385 passes with four scores and one interception. The pick-six was his lone mistake as he hit Chris Godwin (12-172-2) and Mike Evans (7-89-1) repeatedly in breaking the back of a tough Rams secondary. The momentum should continue as the Buccaneers face the Saints next week.

Nick Chubb-RB-CLE

As much as Baker Mayfield has been bad, Nick Chubb has been excellent. Last week Chubb rushed for 165-yards on 20 carries with three touchdowns. Chubb also showed his chops in catching the ball by adding three for 18 yards. It was the second half against Baltimore that padded Chubb's statistics. His first two touchdowns came from 14 and two yards out in the third quarter before busting out an 88-yard score in the fourth. Dontrell Hilliard took one away from Chubb or the second-year back could have had four total. All against a ferocious Baltimore Ravens defense.

Leonard Fournette-RB-JAX

Leonard Fournette has not been a stalwart on the ground. Mostly due to his lack of carries, even though his touches have seen him go over 20 in the last two contests. Jacksonville decided to throw everything out the window and let the bruising running back eat 29 times which Fournette converted into 225 yards. Fournette's first game that he rushed over 66 yards; however, he still has not scored a touchdown this season. Fournette couldn't find much room in the first half, as he gained just 35-yards on eight carries.

Chris Godwin-WR-TB

Last week it was Mike Evans with the huge week; this time, Chris Godwin got involved in the momentum that is the Buccaneers offense. Godwin caught 12 of 14 targets for 172 yards and two scores in the victory over the Rams. Godwin came into the game with a hip injury, but that didn't hamper his production. Godwin's touchdowns came from three and nine yards away. In the first four games, Godwin has 33 targets and demonstrating that the Buccaneers share two number one receivers.

Robert Woods-WR-LAR

Robert Woods was looking for this type of game. Woods did have a solid Week one where he caught eight balls for 70 yards, but against Tampa Bay he went for 164 yards, bringing in 13 of 15 targets. The catches and yards were tops on the team. Woods day was a significant improvement over the last two weeks posting five receptions for 73 yards. Woods is still on the waitlist for touchdowns though.

Austin Hooper-TE-ATL

Outside of Julio Jones, its been the Austin Hooper show. The tight end leads the team in receptions (28), second in yards (307), and tied with Calvin Ridley for second in touchdowns (2) and second in targets (33). Hooper should be considered in the top-five of tight ends if not right behind Travis Kelce. Against the Titans, Hooper caught nine balls on 11 targets for 130 yards. Hooper has captured nearly 82 percent of his targets since the beginning of the 2018 season. Hooper will face a dominating defense on tight ends in the Houston Texans this week, can he continue his progress against a team that has allowed just 81 yards and ten receptions in four games this year.

Will Dissly-TE-SEA

The second-year tight end Will Dissly only played in four games last season and picked up eight catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns. In 2019, Dissly has been targeted 22 times and has caught 19 passes for 181 yards and four touchdowns. That's precisely 27-337-6 in only eight games. Dissly continued his touchdown streak against the weak Arizona Cardinals defense bringing in seven catches for 57 yards and a score. Dissly has scored four touchdowns in four total games, and now in three straight contests.

STOCK DOWN

Matt Ryan-QB-ATL

Matt Ryan has been treading water this season. In Week 1 he was shutout until the fourth quarter but ended up throwing two touchdowns. Ryan was much better against Philadelphia and Indianapolis by throwing six touchdowns but still had four interceptions. The good news in Week 4 against Tennessee is that he didn't throw an interception, the bad news is that he didn't throw a touchdown pass either. On 53 attempts he completed 35 for 397 yards. Ryan was sacked twice and fumbled once losing it to defensive end Jurrell Casey. There have been no problems with his passing yards at 331 per game nor his eight touchdowns. However, those six interceptions is a negative on his game. Ryan will now face the Houston Texans.

Sony Michel-RB-NE

It has not been a successful four games for Sony Michel. It might be getting to a time where there are better options to start over him in your fantasy leagues. Up to week four, he had two miserable games in weeks one and three. Against the Steelers, Michel ran 14 yards on 15 carries. Against the Jets, it was barely better as Michel gained 11 yards on nine carries and a score. That's is 35-yards on 24 carries or a horrid 1.45 yards per carry average. In week two, Michel had his best game against the Dolphins, but who doesn't play well against Miami. Michel put up 83-yards on 21 carries but scored his first touchdown of the year. In Week 4 against the Bills, it was another battle. Michel had 17 carries for 63 yards and did not receive a target in the passing game. Even though the Patriots run a multiple-back offense, Michel has been the clear front runner. He should turn it around against a porous defense in Washington.

Alvin Kamara-RB-NO

The Saints offense has struggled without Drew Brees, and that is no surprise. Alvin Kamara's performance has been disappointing when you look over his ground game. On 59 attempts he has gained 280 yards and a touchdown, which is an exceptional 4.7 yards per carry. However, outside his explosive output against the Seahawks (16-69-1; 9-92-1), Kamara has not scored a touchdown and has not hit the century mark. In Week 1 against Houston, Kamara did catch seven balls for 72 yards, but only four in his other two games. Maybe he can be more explosive against Tampa Bay?

DeAndre Hopkins-WR-HOU

It is quite surprising how quiet DeAndre Hopkins has been over the last three weeks. Hopkins looked to be the number one receiver off the board this season, and in Week 1 it appeared as though Hopkins would fulfill that promise (8-111-2). Unfortunately, Hopkins has looked like a number two receiver for fantasy teams since then. Hopkins is only bringing down 49.3 receiving yards per game with no touchdowns over that span. Hopkins is not getting his usual targets. Over the last three weeks, he is getting on average eight, when he was getting eleven the previous season. Hopkins should be more explosive against the Falcons next week.

O.J. Howard-TE-TB

O.J. Howard is entering bench or streaming territory. Howard has not caught more than four passes or gone over 66-yards this season. Howard was completely missing in action in Week 2 against the Panthers. On the season, getting Howard is participating in 89 percent of the snaps, so he is on the field, just not the targets. In 2019, Howard has 12 targets and has caught ten. Bruce Arians does not utilize his tight end in offenses, and it is killing Howard's volume.

Kyle Rudolph-TE-MIN

Just like O.J. Howard, Kyle Rudolph is in an offensive scheme that uses him as a blocking tight end rather than a receiver. Rudolph has been on 84 percent of the offensive snaps but has just five catches for 32 yards on seven targets with no touchdowns. It may be challenging to release Rudolph because he has been a reliable producer in fantasy leagues, but in this offense, there isn't much room for just one receiver as either Adam Thielen (13-179-2), Stefon Diggs (13-209-1), and Dalvin Cook (15-114-0) or a total of 41-502-3 lead the Vikings in receiving. Keenan Allen (48), Cooper Kupp (46), and Michael Thomas (42) all outproduce those targets by themselves.