Fantasy Football Week 1: Risers, Fallers and Top Trade Candidates

Hey now, who told you it was too early in the season to scour the waiver wire or try to wheel and deal as the season approaches?

If you play fantasy football, you know you'll find yourself basically becoming an NFL general manager—meaning, you'll find yourself up at 2:30 a.m. deciding which players to claim, reading blurbs about certain players, discussing trades or, hey, maybe reading this article. Who knows? You may even be awake when waivers process at, like, 4:00 a.m. (depending on your time zone).

Even before Week 1 of the fantasy season, you're monitoring whose values are going up or down, who's playing, who's out, who could be out and who's injured. You're reading medical journals to understand the severity of certain injuries (hopefully not, but you never know) and looking at ADP charts thinking, "who the heck drafted (insert player name here) that early?"

Because this information is so pertinent, and you know you just cannot start your fantasy football season without it, here are three risers, three fallers and three trade candidates to get you going heading into the season.

Which, by the way, is less than 48 hours away (from the time this piece drops)!

Riser: Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans

Bob Levey/Associated Press

Unless you've been without television, cell phone, radio, laptop or any other electronic device, you should know that Houston Texans running back Arian Foster "could" return to game action in just four weeks (according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter).

Now, if you want to talk about a riser, let's take a trip back in time to—oh, I don't know, August 5. Why August 5, you say? Well, on that very day, it was reported that Arian Foster would undergo groin surgery.

Then, on the very next day (August 6), Dr. Bert Mandelbaum said that Arian Foster "should be back in full form in two to three months," according to the Houston Chronicle.

If you head on over to fantasyfootballcalculator.com and graph out Arian Foster's ADP, around the time this report came out, Foster was being drafted right around 6.01, and even dropped as low as 6.09. Upon the news he "could" be back in four weeks? He's shot up to the beginning of the fourth round (in 12-team PPR leagues).

When Arian Foster returns, there will be injury concerns, but trust me, he'll be fine, and hopefully you can benefit from a once-low ADP.

Faller: Joseph Randle, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Like I said about Houston Texans running back Arian Foster, unless you've been without television, cell ph—OK, you get it, and you probably know Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle is in a bit of "fantasy-value trouble."

Why? Well, the Dallas Cowboys acquired the messiah of all running backs—former Seattle Seahawks running back Christine Michael, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Now, the Cowboys running back situation has been pretty much insane since now-Philadelphia Eagles running back DeMarco Murray departed, but adding Christine Michael just makes it that much more complicated.

We're not even 100 percent sure Randle will be the starter—or how fellow Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden will be used, or what Lance Dubar's role will be or if Christine Michael will just look at all three of them and just say, "Bruh, don't even waste your time. I got this."

One thing is for certain, however, and that is that he is falling in drafts. I mean, we're talking about a guy who, according to fantasyfootballcalculator.com, was once going at the tail end of the third round and has become a borderline sixth-round pick. That says a lot considering how quirky the running back position can get after the top-tier guys are off the board.

Don't totally fret, however, Randle owners. We still really have no idea what will happen. But hey, if you want, go to Vegas and test your luck. Who knows? It could carry over to this...right?

Riser: DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Rookie wide receivers are fun, aren't they?

The saga that is Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver DeVante Parker is interesting.

About two weeks ago (August 26), it was reported that the team wasn't sure if Parker would play in Week 1 due to a foot injury, according to Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post.

Then on September 7, the mystery was solved—Parker is expected to play in the season opener, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Now, I know Miami has a plethora of weapons, but let's not fool ourselves—Parker is the true "No. 1" wide receiver in Miami. I can say with absolute confidence that I am in no way, shape or form worried about fellow Miami Dolphins wide receiver Greg Jennings stealing Parker's job away despite him being listed starting opposite another great Miami Dolphins wide receiver in Jarvis Landry.

If Parker is healthy, he has just as much of a shot to finish as a top producing rookie wide receiver as anyone. Let's just look at the obvious—his team and his quarterback.

Parker is trending upward since the news he would play, going from being drafted at the end of the 11th round to the beginning of the 10th, according to fantasyfootballcalculator.com. I can assure you, it will keep rising.

Parker is the real deal.

Faller: Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

Don Wright/Associated Press

If you've been following my work, you may think I'm a hater of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. While I have beat up a bit on him lately, it's not his fault—his supporting cast after Carolina Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL is pedestrian at best.

Now, I'll try to keep this one short, sweet and to the point and prevent myself from regurgitating a lot of the same things I've been saying.

Hey, wait a minute—I'm not the only one who's not high on Cam. Just look how his ADP has been dropping! From 7.09 to 10.12 in 12-team, points-per-reception leagues.

So, like international music sensation Sam Smith said in one of his songs, "You say I'm crazy—'cause you don't think I know what you've done." (I'm of course referring to you drafting him later, too).

I apologize for the terrible joke. Give me a hard time in the comments, please.

But while you're giving me a hard time, accept the fact that Cam Newton isn't going to be a top quarterback option this season.

Riser: Eddie Royal, WR, Chicago Bears

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Finally! The good people of the fantasy football world are realizing just how darn good Chicago Bears wide receiver Eddie Royal is.

Over the last two seasons, Royal has scored 15 touchdowns. Of course, that came during his stint with the San Diego Chargers, but it shows just how valuable of an asset and how much of a weapon out of the slot he is.

According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, fellow Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is "progressing well" and there is "hope" he will be ready for Week 1. If not, Royal should be the primary beneficiary of that. But besides Week 1, Royal will be a very valuable points-per-reception option, as he should catch a number of balls and score a healthy amount of touchdowns.

In 15 games last season, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler attempted 561 passes and completed 66 percent of those, which was just as good as Royal's quarterback last season—San Diego Chargers' own Philip Rivers.

In essence, if Cutler continues to sling it, Royal should benefit.

By the way, good on you guys for recognizing Royal's value (especially in points-per-reception leagues). His ADP has skyrocketed from 13.08 to 8.01 from August 10 until now.

Faller: Brandon LaFell, WR, New England Patriots

Focus On Sport/Getty Images

Unfortunately for fantasy owners and New England Patriots fans, New England Patriots wide receiver Brandon LaFell was put on the physically unable to perform list on September 5, according to ESPN's Field Yates.

Now, I know it's easy to label LaFell as a "faller" since he's out for a number of games, but just looking at how productive he was last season and the fact that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been reinstated following Deflategate, it's a devastating blow.

Because of LaFell's lingering injury, he was being drafted at the beginning of the ninth round, but he has fallen in to the 12th.

Stash him, as he should be on the other side of this slideshow later in the year.

Trade Candidates

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Stevie Johnson, WR, San Diego Chargers

Go out and get this guy. After a season of being underutilized with the San Francisco 49ers, the former 1,000-yard receiver should see similar success joining the San Diego Chargers.

Now, it's been well documented how much I love Stevie Johnson, but this guy will definitely take over where former Charger, now Chicago Bears wide receiver Eddie Royal left off—scoring touchdowns. Go get him.

Projections: 75 receptions, 1,050 receiving yards, seven touchdowns

Pierre Garcon, WR, Washington Redskins

I know what you're thinking, and I get it. Why in the world should you go out and acquire a Washington Redskins player. They've been in the media a ton, and the never-ending saga that is one of the Redskins quarterbacks, Robert Griffin III seemingly won't end. However, under the other Redskins quarterback—you know, Kirk Cousins—Pierre Garcon produced.

During the stint in which Cousins was quarterback (Weeks 2-7), Garcon caught two of his three touchdowns, and he had a season-high 11 receptions in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

With Cousins getting the reins for the whole season (presumably), he could prove to a very steady wide receiver option.

Projections: 70 receptions, 925 receiving yards, six touchdowns

Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Unlike the other two guys listed above, you should trade rookie wide receiver Tyler Lockett.

Not only is his ADP getting out of control, but the hype train is very much a real thing. Recently, I talked about Lockett, so I won't try to regurgitate what I've already said, but the notion that he'll take over the (now Detroit Lions wide receiver) Golden Tate role and that production isn't a great argument.

Why? Because, well, it wasn't that great, and it also didn't include the Seattle Seahawks' new tight end—Jimmy Graham. In fact, during his time with Seattle, Tate averaged just over 41 receptions, approximately 550 yards and just under four touchdowns during the regular season.

Again, don't want to regurgitate, but I cannot stress how you need to not buy into the hype. If you do own him, trade him to someone who buys into it. Get someone who will help you this season.

Projections: 25 receptions, 375 yards, two touchdowns

Follow Richard on Twitter @RichardJanvrin