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
Trevor Lawrence, QB (Jacksonville Jaguars) Week 14 DraftKings Price $5,700; Week 15 DraftKings Price $6,000
Lawrence is showing signs of improvement in year two in Jacksonville after a tumultuous rookie season. He posted his best fantasy performance of the season on Sunday against the Titans with 368 yards and four total touchdowns.
In the last four weeks, Lawrence has scored 20+ DraftKings points three times, rising to eighth in quarterback fantasy points on the season. His QB Rating has improved from 71.9 to 95.4 this season, and his touchdown to interception ratio has risen from 12-17 to 20-6.
He will be challenged this week with a difficult matchup against the Cowboys’ pass rush. Dallas has given up the second-lowest passing yards this season and the third-lowest total points.
James Conner, RB (Arizona Cardinals) Week 14 DraftKings Price $6,400; Week 15 DraftKings Price $6,900
Despite the challenges in Arizona continuing to mount with Kyler Murray‘s injury, Conner has been a bright spot over the last five games. He earned 15 carries and six catches against the Patriots on Monday night and crossed over 100 total yards with a touchdown run.
Conner has quietly finished in the top five fantasy running backs in three of his last four games, with five touchdowns in that span.
Expect Arizona to rely on Conner even more with Colt McCoy under center against a difficult Broncos defense this week. This game could get pretty ugly if Russell Wilson also misses, or even if he doesn’t.
Tyler Lockett, WR (Seattle Seahawks) Week 14 DraftKings Price $6,500; Week 15 DraftKings Price $6,800
The streak continues for Lockett as he scored in his sixth straight game against the Panthers.
Traditionally a hot and cold fantasy producer, Lockett has turned into one of the most consistent receivers in the league this season with Geno Smith throwing him the ball. He has just two games of less than 10 DraftKings points and a positive Plus/Minus in all but four games this season.
Lockett still remains a high-upside play with two 30+ DraftKings point games but has ironed out some of those previous terribly bad weeks. His streak will be tested this week against a 49ers defense that has not allowed more than 17 points on its six-game win streak.
Evan Engram, TE (Jacksonville Jaguars) Week 14 DraftKings Price $3,300; Week 15 DraftKings Price $3,800
Engram had one of the biggest tight end performances of the season on Sunday as he hauled in 11 catches on 15 targets for 162 yards and two touchdowns.
He had more catches last week than the total of his receptions over the previous four games. Normally, the best advice is to refrain from chasing points, but it’s hard to ignore 15 targets at a bleak tight end position.
Trevor Lawrence seems to be finding his groove, and the Jaguars will likely need to throw the ball against the Cowboys this week. Engram is worth a look as a value play.
Notable NFL DFS Price Decreases
Dak Prescott, QB (Dallas Cowboys) Week 14 DraftKings Price $6,500; Week 15 DraftKings Price $6,200
The Cowboys are having another strong regular season with eyes toward a deep playoff run, but Prescott’s fantasy point totals have remained lackluster.
In the eight games Prescott has played this season, he has seven negative Plus/Minus performances and has not topped 21 DraftKings points. He has not eclipsed 300 yards passing in 2022 and his respectable rushing stats from his first four years in the NFL have all but disappeared.
Prescott has plenty of weapons in CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Tony Pollard, and Ezekiel Elliott. This week, those weapons should get plenty of opportunities as the Jaguars give up the highest Opponent Plus/Minus to quarterbacks in the league. Take advantage of this price drop in a potential shootout.
Jonathan Taylor, RB (Indianapolis Colts) Week 14 DraftKings Price $7,700; Week 15 DraftKings Price $7,200
Taylor has been nothing short of a disappointment this season for fantasy owners that expected a repeat performance of his incredible 2021 season.
The touchdowns simply have not been there for Taylor this year. He totaled 20 touchdowns last season for the Carson Wentz-led Colts and has just four this season alongside Matt Ryan and Sam Ehlinger.
All that said, things are looking up for Taylor. He continues to get 20+ touches every week and has scored in three of his last four games. This price drop may be a buying opportunity as the Colts take on a Vikings team that has allowed over 400 yards each of the last four games.
Mike Evans, WR (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) Week 14 DraftKings Price $6,400; Week 15 DraftKings Price $6,200
The short Tom Brady era in Tampa Bay may be coming to a conclusion, despite a potential playoff berth in a weak division. At this point, Evans may be happy to have another quarterback throwing him passes.
Brady was forcing targets to Evans in the middle of the season with a three-game stretch of 37 total targets, but even with that workload, he could not score more than 18 DraftKings points. Over the last five games, Evans has a high of 59 receiving yards, and he has not sniffed the end zone since week four against the Chiefs.
Evans has not finished amongst the top 30 wide receivers in fantasy production since week eight. It’s hard to have any positive expectations moving forward.
Mark Andrews, TE (Baltimore Ravens) Week 14 DraftKings Price $6,500; Week 15 DraftKings Price $5,700
After a great start to the season, Andrews has not returned to top-tier fantasy production for his elevated price tag.
Andrews scored five times in the first six weeks, but hasn’t found the end zone since week six. Since then, he has a high of 63 receiving yards and 12.3 DraftKings points.
The quarterback situation in Baltimore certainly has an impact on Andrews’ fantasy potential. If the Ravens have to go to Tyler Huntley or Anthony Brown again this week, expect a full running attack.
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