Daily Fantasy Football September 9: DFS Stock Up, Stock Down

The daily fantasy football stock market is alive and well ahead of Week 1. 

Whether it's injuries, surprise cuts, favorable or unfavorable matchups or something else, stock fluctuations by the hour are something owners must keep an eye on if they are to see a return on their investment.

While owners have the option of waiting until Sunday to catch up, there's a Thursday showdown between the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers to consider. It's also placing a lot of stress on decisions when one could analyze the stock market one step at a time each day of the week.

Within, let's tackle the latest notable changes on the stock market, both good and bad. Doing so will help reveal the lineup changes owners should make to find success.

Stock Up: Tevin Coleman, RB, Atlanta Falcons ($4,800)

David Goldman/Associated Press

Look, it's no secret rookies are always a gamble in fantasy football, but running back might be the safest to roll the dice on given the nature of the position—take the handoff and run.

As most owners know, opportunity equals production at the position, so it's what makes Atlanta Falcons' third-round pick Tevin Coleman so attractive at this price now that D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution revealed he'd get the start on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Long considered a breakout candidate, Coleman is a talented runner who posted 2,036 yards and 15 touchdowns one season ago at Indiana. Now he suits up Monday behind a line that ranked among the top half of the league in terms of run blocking at Pro Football Focus last season, with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and others soaking up the attention.

While the Eagles look talented on paper with names such as Fletcher Cox and Kiko Alonso in the fold, the defense allowed the 11th-most points on average (25.35) to running backs one year ago at RotoGrinders.com.

With Devonta Freeman still battling hamstring issues that originated a month ago, Coleman isn't a back to pass up at this price considering he's surrounded by iffy committee backs such as C.J. Spiller ($4,900) and Giovani Bernard ($4,700).

Stock Down: Joseph Randle, RB, Dallas Cowboys ($5,900)

Gus Ruelas/Associated Press

In the realm of fake football, the ripple effect of DeMarco Murray's departure from the Dallas Cowboys continues to resonate.

Joseph Randle looks like the starter, but it's a deceiving situation. Owners know the name Darren McFadden behind him, and Lance Dunbar has surely hurt them in the past with solid rotational play.

Now add in the fact the team just traded for former Seattle Seahawks back Christine Michael. Granted, Michael might not be active, but it looks like a clear sign the Cowboys aren't sold on a single workhorse this year.

Randle posted more than 10 points twice last season in backup duty but lost two fumbles on just 51 attempts. Evan Silva of Rotoworld.com is one of many not sold on Randle as an every-down starter, according to this tweet: "Joseph Randle is so good the #Cowboys deemed him worthy of 4 snaps in their 2 playoff games & he's now getting outplayed by Darren McFadden."

Granted, Randle gets a favorable matchup against a New York Giants team that allowed the ninth-most points to backs on average at RotoGrinders, but it's evened out by the fact the Cowboys ranked as the eighth-worst run-blocking line at PFF, and this looks like a serious committee.

In short, it's a situation owners will want to avoid for a few weeks, especially at this price when someone such as Mark Ingram hangs around at $5,800 and Justin Forsett is just a tad more expensive at $6,200.

Stock Up: Rueben Randle, WR, New York Giants ($5,100)

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Rueben Randle looks like a solid option before even taking into account the situation around him.

Last year, the LSU product posted a career-high 938 yards and scored three times, capping off the season with 28.2 points in Week 16 and another 24.8 in Week 17.

It was a positive trend making this a worthwhile price, but even more so with the chance Victor Cruz won't be able to suit up for Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. It still doesn't sound like he's practicing, and Dan Graziano of ESPN provided quite the reality check: "Giants’ first three games are in a span of 12 days. If Victor Cruz can’t practice this week, he might not [be] back before Week 4."

Unless Cruz makes a shocking, fast return, Randle will be the No. 2 option on the offense behind Odell Beckham Jr. in a game looking like a shootout with a Cowboys team that allowed more than 32 points per game to wideouts a year ago.

It's a new year, sure, but keep in mind the Cowboys just lost starting corner Orlando Scandrick for the season, which will have a notable impact on the entire unit.

Randle looks ready for a continuation of his strong end-of-season finish a year ago.

Stock Down: Tre Mason, RB, St. Louis Rams ($5,000)

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

It's time to pump the brakes on the Tre Mason chatter.

Mason looked like the starter in St. Louis with hyped rookie back Todd Gurley still recovering from ACL surgery. It would have been a sly play at a good cost, but now Mason himself looks questionable for the Rams' opener against the Seattle Seahawks.

ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner recorded the news: "Rams coach Jeff Fisher says on his weekly radio show that RB Tre Mason (hamstring) will probably be a game-time decision this week."

In other words, it might be Benny Cunningham-Isaiah Pead time in St. Louis.

Last year, Mason averaged 4.3 yards per carry with 765 yards and four scores, good for five trips to double-digit territory along with a ridiculous 40.4-point explosion in Week 13. Keep in mind it was all the more impressive considering the Rams were the fourth-worst blocking team on the ground last year at PFF.

With an unknown, down-to-the-wire status and a tough matchup against Seattle, though, owners in this price range are better off looking at a Rashad Jennings ($5,100) or the aforementioned Coleman.

Stock Up: T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars ($5,500)

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

It's go time for rookie T.J. Yeldon with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The 36th pick in this year's draft and the owner of 3,322 yards and 37 scores in college hasn't seen much hype just yet, but he should with the revelation he's the Week 1 starter on the depth chart.

The Associated Press' Mark Long revealed the news: "Jaguars RB T.J. Yeldon listed as starter over Denard Robinson on Week 1 depth chart." 

So much for Denard Robinson, Toby Gerhart and Bernard Pierce having much of a fantasy impact out of the gates. Yeldon now has a chance to keep the starting job for himself and take savvy owners along for the ride.

Once healthy, Yeldon made his debut as the every-down back in Jacksonville in Week 3 of the preseason and rushed eight times for 10 yards and a score and added one catch for 12 yards.

Don't worry about the numbers—the important takeaway is usage, as Yeldon was in on most third downs and took over the goal-line work even when Robinson started a drive. He's the definition of an every-down back going into a home contest against a Carolina Panthers team that ranked in the green last year by allowing an average of 23.98 points to the position at RotoGrinders.

It's easy to shy away from potential committees, but this one just doesn't have a similar feel.

Stock Down: Bishop Sankey, RB, Tennessee Titans ($4,300)

Ed Zurga/Associated Press

Forget Bishop Sankey in Tennessee as a viable sleeper option.

While impressive rookie David Cobb is on his way to short-term injured reserve, per Jim Wyatt of the team's site, it's not a reason to go all-in on Sankey.

For one, the team went out and traded for Terrance West. It's a move Wyatt considers quite important, as he noted on Twitter: "The #Titans liked Terrance West coming out of the draft. He gives the team a solid runner, and with Cobb out first 1/2 season he's needed."

Two, coach Ken Whisenhunt has been open about the fact his backfield will be a committee approach, per ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky on Twitter: "Whiz: RB distribution of carries will depend on the plan for that game and that week." 

This isn't a new revelation. Dexter McCluster has acted as the third-down back for most of the preseason, and the bigger Antonio Andrews hawked a goal-line touchdown in the team's third preseason game.

Last year, Sankey only posted four double-digit performances while averaging 3.7 yards per carry with two scores on 152 totes. Now he faces a road encounter against Tampa Bay, and while the Buccaneers allowed 26.59 points to the position on average a year ago, the likelihood Sankey loses production to other backs seems strong. He's one to avoid, especially when owners can spend $200 more and scoop up one of his opponents, Doug Martin.

Stock Up: John Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals ($4,500)

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

John Brown of the Arizona Cardinals was a nice surprise last year, going for double digits five times despite having Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd in front of him on the depth chart. Two of those performances went for more than 20 points.

Now a sophomore, Brown looks ready to act as one of the league's better deep threats once again, especially in Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints.

Floyd is hurt and still missing practice, per Kent Somers of AZCentral.com. Even if he does play, Brown shouldn't have any issues finding space against a defense that gave up the eighth-most points to wideouts last year and just lost top corner Keenan Lewis to injury.

At home, Brown might have a bigger role than usual thanks to injury and go against reserves thanks to the same thing. What's not to like? 

---

DraftKings is giving away over $10 million during Week 1 of the NFL season. Use this knowledge to help you win some of that cash. The biggest first-place prize ever at $2 million will be awarded. Play now for FREE at DraftKings.com. 

Pricing information and scoring data obtained from DraftKings.com. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus unless otherwise specified.