Daily Fantasy Football October 5: DFS Stock Up, Stock Down

The ever-changing daily fantasy football landscape took more turns on Sunday, sending a few stocks up or down during Week 4 of the 2015 NFL season.

Some of the year's expected breakout stars are having trouble finding consistency, and high price tags are quickly becoming hindrances. A lack of production may soon eliminate a once-touted player from your DraftKings lineup.

On the other hand, a mid-tier player at each of quarterback, running back and tight end has demanded a little extra attention, providing a fresh bit of optimism in the cheaper salary range.

Hope doesn't always spring eternal for an individual player, but that doesn't mean you can't find it elsewhere.

Stock Up: Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

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Although the San Diego Chargers selected running back Melvin Gordon with their 2015 first-round pick, the offense still runs through quarterback Philip Rivers.

Gordon has only rushed for more than 51 yards once, while Rivers has thrown for at least 241 yards and a touchdown in each outing. Sunday, the $6,100 quarterback assembled his best game of the season, tallying 358 yards and three scores.

Not only will the veteran face a mediocre Pittsburgh Steelers defense next week, but Rivers' favorite target, Antonio Gates, also returns from a four-game suspension.

Additionally, Rivers is averaging 27.1 DFS points at home compared to 14.0 on the road; San Diego hosts Pittsburgh for Monday Night Football. The lack of a running game and recent trends suggest Rivers is primed for another big game.

Stock Down: Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders

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Latavius Murray was supposed to light up the box score against a Chicago Bears defense that had just lost Jared Allen. Well, that didn't happen.

The Oakland Raiders running back carried the ball 16 times but ended with only 49 rushing yards, including a long of eight. He added three receptions for 12 yards. Considering Murray cost $6,300, the return on investment was quite low.

To make matters worse, though, Oakland must deal with the Denver Broncos and their No. 1-ranked defense in Week 5. If the Raiders fall behind early, the running game will likely get set aside.

Murray should be a contrarian play, but he comes with a ton of risk at a hefty salary. That gamble probably isn't worth the price.

Stock Up: Duke Johnson, Cleveland Browns

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Entering Week 4, rookie running back Duke Johnson had 90 snaps compared to incumbent Cleveland Browns starter Isaiah Crowell, according to Pro Football Focus. However, Crowell had 49 touches to Johnson's 29 combined carries and receptions.

That changed on Sunday. Johnson showcased the versatility Browns coaches lauded during practices, finishing with 31 rushing yards on eight attempts as well as nine catches, 85 yards and a touchdown.

Johnson quickly became a reliable checkdown option, and he showed off route-running skills, too. On Johnson's 34-yard score, he toasted a linebacker and toe-tapped in the corner of the end zone.

The rookie cost a meager $3,100 but posted 26.6 points. Plus, per Marla Ridenour and Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, Cleveland head coach Mike Pettine said Johnson is "a big part of our plans moving forward."

Johnson is on track to become the inexpensive points-per-reception monster everyone loves for a lineup.

Stock Down: Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints

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Largely expected to become the breakout star of 2015, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks hasn't come close to the hype through four games.

Cooks' price has slowly dropped from $7,100 to $6,100, and it should only continue to fall. The second-year target managed just four catches for 25 yards on Sunday night, bringing his season total to 20 receptions, 215 yards and zero touchdowns.

In all seriousness, Willie Snead has been as notable a part of the Saints offense as Cooks. For New Orleans, that's fantastic. For your DFS lineup featuring Cooks, that's terrible.

His only saving grace at this point is a favorable Week 5 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Like Murray, Cooks is a contrarian play. But if he flops once again, daily fantasy participants can't say the signs weren't there.

Stock Up: Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills

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Defensive coordinators are smart people. Tyrod Taylor's early-season success was bound to hit a rough outing once opposing coaches had enough tape on the first-year starter, and the New York Giants started the trend on Sunday.

Nevertheless, Buffalo Bills tight end Charles Clay has clearly developed some chemistry with Taylor, who connected with Clay nine times for 111 yards.

At $3,300, the 26-year-old was a bargain for DraftKings lineups for the third straight week. He caught a touchdown in each of the two games prior.

Buffalo travels to battle the Tennessee Titans in Week 5, and their defense has surrendered 15.3 points per game to tight ends, per FF Toolbox. Clay should easily reach value in that matchup and allow you to allocate big money elsewhere.

Stock Down: T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts

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With or without Andrew Luck, 2015 hasn't been kind to speedy receiver T.Y. Hilton.

The Indianapolis Colts' No. 1 target continued an ugly trend in Week 4, going without a touchdown yet again. Hilton managed seven receptions for 67 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Now, he did receive a pair of targets in the red zone, so perhaps the breakthrough game is imminent. But for the $6,700 price tag Hilton demands, it's probably worth seeing him actually score before inserting him into a lineup.

The Houston Texans have only surrendered three touchdowns to opposing wideouts, and there's simply no guarantee Hilton will be the fourth.

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