Like any healthy market, price fluctuations are expected for players in daily fantasy football. Exploring those fluctuations can often reveal bargain players to target after down weeks or players that are rising too high in price above future expectations.
Each week, we will analyze one player at each position that has notably increased and decreased in price.
Notable NFL DFS Price Increases
Justin Fields, QB (Chicago Bears) Week 10 DraftKings Price $6,500; Week 11 DraftKings Price $7,600
With his second $1,000+ salary jump in a row, Fields is now fourth on the main slate for quarterback salary…and that may not be high enough.
The Ohio State product posted his second straight 40+ DraftKings point game on Sunday in a thrilling shootout with the Lions. He completed just 12 passes for 167 yards and two scores through the air, but his running ability provides a true fantasy football cheat code. Fields ran for 147 yards and two more touchdowns. Fields is sixth in the league in rushing…including all running backs.
The Bears defense traded away two of its best players before the trade deadline and doesn’t seem to have answers to stop anyone. Expect Fields to continue his fantasy breakout this week against the Falcons as he is called upon to put up points.
Jonathan Taylor, RB (Indianapolis Colts) Week 10 DraftKings Price $7,500; Week 11 DraftKings Price $7,800
The new Colts regime, with Jeff Saturday as the new head coach, is 1-0 with a win against the Raiders last week. In doing so, they returned to the preseason plan of starting Matt Ryan and running Taylor.
Taylor had 22 rushes, his highest total since week one, for 147 yards and a touchdown. He finished with his highest fantasy total since week one and no longer has Nyheim Hines in the backfield with him.
Last week may have been a turning point for this offense that does not seem to be excited about the Sam Ehlinger experience over the last couple of weeks. Saturday will be coaching for a job, and Taylor is the guy that may get him there. Expect him to receive a heavy workload moving forward.
CeeDee Lamb, WR (Dallas Cowboys) Week 10 DraftKings Price $7,000; Week 11 DraftKings Price $7,500
Lamb had the best fantasy day of his three-year career last week with 11 receptions on 15 targets for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
One of the most consistent fantasy producers at the position, Lamb has finished between 15 and 23 fantasy points in DraftKings scoring each of the previous eight weeks. His explosive performance looks appetizing, but the record indicates it may be an outlier.
The Cowboys have a showdown with the surprising Minnesota Vikings this week. This will be a good test to see if Lamb’s target totals can remain above double digits. Otherwise, his price tag may be too inflated for his regular returns.
Dalton Schultz, TE (Dallas Cowboys) Week 10 DraftKings Price $3,800; Week 11 DraftKings Price $4,300
Schultz missed four games due to injury but seems to be finding his rhythm with Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense since his return. He has three straight positive Plus/Minus performances with at least five targets in each.
The tight end position can be a crapshoot once you get below the elite options in Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, and George Kittle. Schultz is in the next tier and seems to be gaining steam.
The Vikings give up the highest Opposing Plus/Minus rating to tight ends on the main slate. Even with the price hike, Schultz is an interesting option for lineups choosing to forego the elites at the position.
Notable NFL DFS Price Decreases
Russell Wilson, QB (Denver Broncos) Week 10 DraftKings Price $5,900; Week 11 DraftKings Price $5,800
The quarterback market remained fairly stable this week without any significant salary drops. Wilson only ticked down $100 this week but has dropped $1,400 since the start of the season.
Expectations were sky-high for Wilson with his new Denver skill players Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Javonte Williams. Through 10 weeks, those expectations are hovering around ground level, and injuries are not pointing to an exciting future. Williams is out for the season, and Jeudy is now sidelined as well.
Wilson is well below his career averages with just seven touchdowns so far this season and has by far the lowest QB Rating of his career. If there was a week for a rebound, it would be this Sunday against the Raiders. Las Vegas allows +2.0 Opposing Plus/Minus to quarterbacks.
Cordarrelle Patterson, RB (Atlanta Falcons) Week 10 DraftKings Price $6,400; Week 11 DraftKings Price $6,200
The versatile running back put up a stinker last week against the Panthers in his second game back from injury. He had a season-low six touches for just 20 total yards and 3.0 fantasy points.
His usage was confusing last week, but more confusing has been his lack of targets throughout the entire season. The now tailback, who was converted from wide receiver and kick returner, hasn’t seen more than one target in a game since week one.
He broke out for fantasy owners last season due to his reception totals but does not seem to be getting the same opportunities in 2022. His touchdown potential is still there, but Patterson’s floor has dropped significantly along with his targets.
Tee Higgins, WR (Cincinnati Bengals) Week 9 DraftKings Price $7,300; Week 11 DraftKings Price $7,100
The Bengals offense has rebounded from a slow start this season, but Higgins has yet to explode. He has just one 20+ DraftKings fantasy point game on the season, it came in week four against the Dolphins.
With Ja’Marr Chase sidelined for the past two weeks, Higgins’ targets and production have remained stagnant. He has four straight negative Plus/Minus games and has not topped 15 points in any of them.
Joe Burrow spreads the ball around to his skill players, and running back Joe Mixon has earned a higher workload with his recent performance. Higgins is a high-floor option for lineups but may not have elite upside.
Dawson Knox, TE (Buffalo Bills) Week 10 DraftKings Price $3,300; Week 11 DraftKings Price $3,200
Josh Allen and the Bills continue to put up points and yardage, but the hopes that Knox might take a step forward in target share have not been realized.
Knox hasn’t topped four receptions or 57 yards in a game this season. With just two touchdowns on the year, he does not hold a lot of fantasy upside, even at his diminished salary.
There are better lottery ticket tight end options this week than Knox.
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