Daily Fantasy Football September 12: DFS Stock Up, Stock Down

That fuzzy feeling you have isn't because it's the weekend. It means that NFL football has finally returned, and is hitting the ground running in Week 1.

The opening game of the season has already taken place as the New England Patriots topped the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-21 on Thursday Night Football, but an action-packed Sunday and a double-header Monday night still await. The matchups are flooded with favorable matchups featuring players whose stock is rising considerably.

Gearing up for a huge season of daily fantasy football on DraftKings, Week 1 is set to start with a bang as the site is putting on a number of big-money contests—including the $10 million Millionaire Maker challenge. But whether you're competing in those huge contests or a simple head-to-head battle, heed the following advice on players to look toward or steer away from.

Let's break down some of the risers and fallers heading into the opening weekend.

Stock Up: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants ($7,400)

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There's a massive four-year, $84 million extension signed days before the season, a frustrated offense full of talent trying to make amends for last season and a favorable Week 1 matchup. Not much to dislike about Eli Manning's chances for a breakout opening weekend.

Not only do the Dallas Cowboys struggle mightily in the secondary and already lost impact corner Orlando Scandrick for the season, but they also couldn't contain Manning last season. In two divisional meetings, Manning threw for six touchdowns against Dallas.

Victor Cruz may be out for Week 1, but Manning still has one of the game's greatest wideouts in Odell Beckham Jr. to throw to. Throw in Reuben Randle and Dwayne Harris against one of the league's worst secondaries, and Manning should put up elite numbers.

Stock Down: Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego Chargers ($5,500)

It was all smiles for Melvin Gordon when the San Diego Chargers drafted him in the first round and effectively handed off the backfield to him, but it doesn't figure to be a smooth transition into the regular season in Week 1.

Gordon and his Chargers face the Detroit Lions, one of the most formidable defensive fronts in the league. Even without Ndamukong Suh, the Lions filled his void with Haloti Ngata. Detroit also ranked impeccably high against opposing running backs in fantasy last year, allowing the third-least points per game in ESPN leagues. 

Refer to the above video by Bleacher Report NFL analyst Matt Miller, who labeled Gordon as the biggest disappointment of the entire preseason. "Gordon hasn't shown that hit-the-hole speed that he had at Wisconsin, so there are some concerns. Was he a product of the system in that Badgers scheme?"

The rookie averaged just 2.3 yards per carry in the preseason. A pass-happy group, expect the Chargers to give Danny Woodhead a majority of the snaps and have more daily fantasy relevance.

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

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After finishing 2014 on a tear and asserting his role as a primary playmaker in Arizona, Cardinals receiver John Brown is set to blow up early on in his sophomore campaign.

Brown still may lose some targets to Larry Fitzgerald in the Cardinals offense, but he's a No. 2 option at worst with a recent injury. Michael Floyd is progressing from fractured fingers in the preseason, but was limited in practice Thursday and is questionable for Sunday. 

Not that Brown wouldn't be relevant even if Floyd were playing. Sunday's opponent, the New Orleans Saints, ranked 24th against opposing receivers last year via DraftKings and will struggle to match Brown's speed on the edge.

Stock Down: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Arizona Cardinals ($2,800)

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The injury troubles that plagued Jermaine Gresham during the end of his Cincinnati Bengals career have followed him to Arizona, leading to caution surrounding the tight end's inclusion in lineups for Week 1.

Gresham didn't feature during training camp thanks to a back surgery, and he's only been featuring on a limited basis in practice as recently as Thursday. Players still taking it slow heading into the Thursday before a game typically don't fare well in terms of even being active for Sunday.

For all of the Saints' defensive deficiencies, they did well in defending tight ends, allowing the seventh-least points in DraftKings last year. Gresham is only $2,800 but still the second-highest rated tight end in the Cardinals-Saints contest.

He's got the potential for breakout performances when he's healthy, but that doesn't seem to be the case entering Week 1.

Stock Up: Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins ($5,600)

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There's no longer an injury exodus around him that makes him the lone option, but that should only open things up even more for Jarvis Landry to explode in the Miami Dolphins offense.

Greg Jennings and Kenny Stills are good to go in what will be their Dolphins debuts, and DeVante Parker's status has been upgraded to probable after taking part in practice this week. But all three of those players are inching their way into this offense, while Landry's role is set in stone.

Ryan Tannehill is poised for another season full of improvements, and expect him to lean on a player that was targeted 111 times last year—and caught 84 of them. Against a Washington Redskins defense that is still hapless in the secondary entering 2015, Landry should carve them up.

Stock Down: Torrey Smith, WR, San Francisco 49ers ($5,900)

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Perhaps Torrey Smith will define his role as more than just a deep-ball receiver in San Francisco with the 49ers, but until their passing game shows some life, he's to be shied away from.

Smith caught 11 touchdowns last year and figures to be one of the 49ers' top receivers this season, which is why his salary is so inflated heading into Week 1. But against a Minnesota Vikings defense that held receivers to the sixth-lowest points per matchup in DraftKings last season, it's not a wise call to look his way.

Colin Kaepernick and the Niners offense produced just 19 touchdowns last season, so don't expect Smith's receiving numbers to do anything other than decrease in this offense.

Stock Up: Malcolm "Duke" Johnson, RB, Cleveland Browns ($3,000)

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Taking a wait-and-see approach isn't really an option in daily fantasy. For that reason, Malcolm "Duke" Johnson should be a minimum-priced player looked toward for lineup makers searching for such value.

Johnson had been sidelined for the past two weeks, but returned this week after clearing concussion protocol days before the season opener. He's already being lauded as a primary option for the Browns offense, as head coach Mike Pettine told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer "no reason to think (Johnson) won't have a significant role in the game."

There isn't much to go from in terms of previous numbers with Johnson being a rookie, but the fact that Isaiah Crowell is the only other option leaves him open for plenty of touches. The Jets' defensive front is to be feared, but could get stretched out by Johnson and Crowell's speed.

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