Daily Fantasy Football October 26: DFS Stock Up, Stock Down
Week 7 of the NFL brought plenty of exciting moments, and daily fantasy football stocks headed up and down throughout a wild day of action.
Three stars who recently hadn't tallied many points reminded us of the reasons they're among the best in the league, but two top-tier players and a trendy name didn't produce as expected.
It's certainly not the right time to finalize a lineup, but it's never too early to start researching and locating the players you'd like to build around on your DraftKings team in Week 8.
While each player's performance on Sunday was the most important element in compiling the list, upcoming matchups were also a factor.
Stock Up: Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins
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This whole interim coach thing is working out for the Miami Dolphins.
Dan Campbell has brought a more aggressive mentality to the team, and Lamar Miller is the primary beneficiary of the attitude adjustment.
In Week 6, Miller recorded 113 yards and notched his first touchdown. On Sunday, the fourth-year runner exploded for 236 total yards and two scores, tallying a ridiculous 41.6 DFS points while carrying only a $4,600 price tag.
Most importantly, though, Miller didn't log a single touch in the second half, so he'll enter the Thursday night matchup with the New England Patriots well-rested.
Stock Down: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
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Matt Ryan is a relatively consistent asset for season-long leagues, but the Atlanta Falcons quarterback has yet to assemble a breakout game worthy of DFS attention.
Now, it's not necessarily all Ryan's fault. A previous injury to Julio Jones hampered Ryan's effectiveness, while Devonta Freeman's emergence cut down on touchdown opportunities. The Falcons are better, but that doesn't mean Ryan's stats are.
Following a 251-yard, one-touchdown, two-interception outing on Sunday, he's still only thrown for multiple scores three times and reached the 300-yard bonus once during seven appearances.
It's not a poor decision to use Ryan against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that's allowed more than 20 points per game to quarterbacks, but don't be surprised if the Falcons runners continue vulturing touchdowns after Ryan moves Atlanta down the field.
Stock Up: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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After missing a couple of games because of a hamstring injury, Mike Evans has returned to his dominant form.
The second-year wideout shredded the Washington football team for eight receptions, 164 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. Additionally, Evans led the Bucs with 12 targets, while the next-closest receiver had just four.
Atlanta's standout cornerback, Desmond Trufant, will challenge Evans, but the Texas A&M product grabbed 11 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown in two games against the Falcons last season.
In Week 7, Evans had just a $6,400 salary. If that number doesn't rise significantly, he's an excellent No. 2 option in your lineup.
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Stock Down: LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots
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Not only was LeGarrette Blount a trendy option because of recent performances, but also because New England's starting running back, Dion Lewis, was sidelined on Sunday.
Well, putting the physical runner in a lineup didn't work out so well. New England relied heavily on Tom Brady and the aerial attack, calling 54 passes compared to just nine runs.
Blount, who registered 270 total yards and five touchdowns over the last three outings, carried the ball three times and managed negative-three yards.
Next up for the Patriots is a Dolphins defense that has allowed a meager 3.1 yards per rushing attempt over the last two weeks. Blount isn't a great option in Week 8.
Stock Up: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
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Rob Gronkowski's $8,100 price tag didn't suggest it, but the Patriots tight end hadn't been a productive DFS option in recent weeks.
However, after managing just seven catches, 117 yards and one touchdown in his previous two outings, Gronk smashed the New York Jets for 11 receptions, 108 yards and a score.
As discussed on the previous slide, Miami's defense has contained opposing running backs lately. That means more targets for Gronkowski, who is a matchup nightmare anyway.
Plus, per FF Toolbox, the Dolphins entered Sunday giving up the seventh-most fantasy points to tight ends. Thursday nights love running backs, but the Patriots love passing, and Brady loves Gronk.
Stock Down: Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants
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Odell Beckham Jr. had a chance to repeat his unbelievable catch from 2014 on Sunday, but the New York Giants star couldn't quite reel it in.
It was exemplary of OBJ's day, since the Dallas Cowboys limited him to season-low marks of four receptions and 35 yards. Beckham didn't score a touchdown, either.
Now, the sky isn't falling on the second-year wideout. Beckham's saving grace could be an upcoming matchup with a New Orleans Saints secondary that allowed two long touchdowns to T.Y. Hilton of the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7.
However, with an inaccurate quarterback in Eli Manning throwing passes and an $8,700 price, Beckham is a risky and expensive play.
Enter the DraftKings $1.25M Play-Action Contest this weekend. Use Promo Code BLEACHER REPORT when you sign up.
Follow Bleacher Report CFB and DFS writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.
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