Daily Fantasy Football September 14: DFS Stock Up, Stock Down

The first Sunday of the 2015 NFL season showcased a few players raising their daily fantasy football draft stock, but not everyone was so lucky.

While rookie running back Ameer Abdullah backed up the hype, one of the NFL's leading fantasy scorers in 2014 and a highly touted wideout both encountered slow starts that could be a sign of things to come.

Playing time, role changes, offensive schemes and matchups greatly affected the performance and future outlook of six players, and the factors will influence whether DraftKings' Week 2 prices are worth the money.

Stock Up: Danny Woodhead, San Diego Chargers

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Using San Diego Chargers rookie running back Melvin Gordon was already risky enough, but Danny Woodhead's performance further suggested he's the better option.

The shifty back logged 12 carries and received seven targets, the second-most on the team. Woodhead finished with 62 total yards and two touchdowns—a stellar 22.2 points at only $3,700.

Plus, Woodhead received a strong majority of red-zone snaps, and that was even before Gordon lost a fumble.

San Diego is comfortable with Woodhead at any position on the field. Another strong outing should make you confident he'll accumulate double-digit points at a valuable (read: cheap) price.

Stock Down: Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

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At $8,200, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning must produce gaudy numbers to be worth a spot.

But that didn't happen against the Baltimore Ravens, who limited the veteran to 175 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. Manning had trouble locating open receivers downfield, relying on checkdowns and screens for much of the team's yardage.

Sunday was only the second time through Manning's 54 games—including the playoffs—with the Broncos that his longest completion was less than 20 yards.

Plus, excluding the 28-second kneel-down drive, Denver and the new-look Gary Kubiak offense racked up 36 minutes and 49 seconds of possession. That works out to three minutes and 40 seconds per possession, which is a 70-second increase from 2014.

In other words, Denver isn't pushing the ball downfield, Manning is working with two fewer drives per game and his fantasy output isn't higher than several cheaper quarterbacks.

The Broncos might be a better team this year, but that doesn't mean Manning is a top-tier fantasy choice—especially in DFS.

Stock Up: Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals

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Tyler Eifert's projected breakout season is off to a wonderful start.

The third-year tight end amassed nine receptions, 104 yards and two touchdowns, garnering a game-high 12 targets. Priced at an unsuspecting $3,500, Eifert shredded the Oakland Raiders for 31.4 points on DraftKings.

Most importantly, Eifert contributed at a high level without the Cincinnati Bengals standouts being misused. Jeremy Hill registered 19 carries and scored twice from inside the 5-yard line, while A.J. Green had eight targets and even dropped a touchdown.

It would be wise to carefully assess matchups before tabbing Eifert, but in Week 2 he'll challenge the San Diego Chargers, who allowed team-bests of four catches, 53 yards and one touchdown to Eric Ebron of the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Stock Down: Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers

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Since DraftKings had set Week 1 prices well in advance, Davante Adams' $4,400 value seemed like a steal once Jordy Nelson was unfortunately lost for the season due to an ACL tear.

However, the Green Bay Packers' second-year wideout had a pedestrian outing that reflected his original status as a No. 3 receiver. Adams tallied four catches for 59 yards, which—while a respectable day—was well below the expectation.

Newly signed James Jones reeled in a pair of touchdowns, and Randall Cobb grabbed one score. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not connect with Adams inside the 15-yard line.

Perhaps some might consider Adams' average start a good thing—at least temporarily—as his price may remain on the low end. But it might be worth considering different receivers until Adams is a regular red-zone option.

Stock Up: Ameer Abdullah, Detroit Lions

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Several daily fantasy players may have erred on side of caution with the hyped-up rookie stuck in a timeshare, but Abdullah shined in his NFL debut for the Lions.

The Nebraska product amassed 50 yards on seven carries and 44 yards on four receptions, reaching the end zone once. His 19.4 points well outpaced the $4,000 price.

But that's not the most important part of Abdullah's day. Although seven carries doesn't sound like an overly appealing number, starting running back Joique Bell only had six. Abdullah indeed won't be limited to third-down duties.

Detroit's next four opponents each boast strong defensive fronts, so it wouldn't be surprising if Abdullah earned double-digit points for a few weeks.

Stock Down: Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

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Though Odell Beckham Jr. was the second-most expensive wide receiver for Week 1, the $9,200 choice certainly didn't live up to that billing.

The New York Giants offense looked inept throughout the contest, which relegated Beckham to quick-hitting routes. He managed just five receptions for 44 yards.

Beckham made a couple of clutch catches for New York, but clutch doesn't matter in fantasy football.

Additionally, since the Giants struggled to establish a running game, the Dallas Cowboys were able to roll a safety over the top and effectively double-cover OBJ. In all likelihood, that shortcoming won't be a unique occurrence for New York in 2015.

Beckham raced to the top of fantasy football scoring leaderboards last season, but a player who demands nearly one-tenth of the salary cap simply can't finish with single-digit points.

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Follow Bleacher Report CFB and DFS writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.