Week 6 Stock Watch
Stock Up
QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
There are only two quarterbacks with at least 300 yards in every game this season. One of them should come as no surprise with reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, but the other is indeed Falcons passer Matt Ryan. Though Ryan has yet to eclipse the 400-yard mark, we don’t want to get greedy, so we’ll ride that 300-yard bonus to the bank every week. He didn’t throw any touchdowns in Week 4, but in Weeks 1, 2, 3, and 5, he had multiple scores, giving him 11 on the year. With matchups against the Cardinals, Rams, and Seahawks in the next three weeks, Ryan will be in high-scoring bouts, which should yield more 300-yard, multi-TD games.
RBs Matt Breida & Tevin Coleman, San Francisco 49ers
Coming off a bye in Week 5, both Breida and Coleman balled out against the Browns. Breida had his best game, scoring two touchdowns while running for 114 yards. Tevin Coleman was out with an ankle injury since Week 1 but returned in a big way running for 97 yards and a score. The 49ers offense is built around their rushing attack, and with both Breida and Coleman now healthy, expect a heavy dose of this tandem, especially in the next three weeks as they take on weaker run defenses in the Rams, Redskins, and Panthers.
WR Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
After missing Weeks 3 and 4 with a knee injury, Gallup returned to the field in Week 5 and put together a stellar performance against the Packers. He was targeted a whopping 14 times and caught seven passes for 113 yards and a score. The Cowboys have a cupcake schedule for the next five games with the Jets, Eagles, Giants, Vikings, and Lions.
TE Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons
For some reason, Hooper is not getting enough respect this season. He’s caught at least six passes in all but one game, and though he’s only scored in one outing, his yardage has certainly made up for his as he’s sitting at 363 on the year, an average of 72 yards per game. Hooper’s target share is at 14.3%, which is second on the team behind only Julio Jones (16.2%).
Stock Down
QB Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles
With just one game of over 300 yards (way back in Week 1 against the Redskins), Wentz hasn’t surpassed the 200-yard mark in back-to-back weeks. He’s doing fine in the TD to INT ratio department (10:2), but his yardage is severely lacking. There are ten quarterbacks with ten or more touchdowns, Wentz is ninth out of 10 in the yardage department (1,152), only Jacoby Brissett has less (1,062).
RB LeSean McCoy, Kansas City Chiefs
McCoy had productive outings in Week 3 and 4 but came crashing down to earth in Week 5 after fumbling and not seeing much action after the turnover. McCoy had zero rushing attempts and only two catches against the Colts. With Damien Williams back, McCoy is no longer the lead dog in the Chiefs backfield.
WR A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals
Not listing Green on the stock down report because of his injury because if that were the case, he’d be on this list every week. Instead, I’m listing him for his unwillingness to return from injury. Green is reportedly frustrated about his contract situation and apparently could return to action but is not rushing back anytime soon. If he’s traded out of the Cincy dumpster fire, perhaps he could be on the opposite part of this article. But until then, don’t expect much out of Green.
TE Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans
The aging veteran has fallen victim to the younger, faster, more athletic receivers on his team. While AJ Brown and Corey Davis have put together solid performances the last two weeks, the 35-year-old tight end has just two catches for 14 yards in his previous two games. For those mathematically challenged like myself, according to my calculator, that’s an eye-popping average of one catch for seven yards. Walker was once the only viable option in the Titans passing attack, but now it seems he’s been completely forgotten.
