Like any healthy market, price fluctuations are expected for players in daily fantasy football (NFL DFS). Exploring those fluctuations can often reveal bargain players to target after down weeks or players that are rising too high in price above future expectations.
Each week, we will analyze one player at each position that has notably increased and decreased in price.
Notable NFL DFS Price Increases
Bo Nix, QB (Denver Broncos) Week 5 DraftKings Price $5,000; Week 6 DraftKings Price $5,400
The rookie quarterback seems to be making improvements both as an NFL signal caller and fantasy performer. Bo Nix tallied his first top-10 fantasy week at the position last Sunday with 206 passing yards and three total touchdowns.
Nix recorded his best completion rate (70%) and QB Rating (117.2) of the season as running back Javonte Williams surprisingly led Denver with 50 receiving yards. The Broncos are still looking for an alpha receiver to emerge among the likes of Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims, and others.
The price increase is notable with the Broncos facing a difficult Chargers defense and a striking low expected point total. It may be best to wait for a better matchup before buying into Nix as a starting option.
Chuba Hubbard., RB (Washington Commanders) Week 5 DraftKings Price $6,100; Week 6 DraftKings Price $6,300
Yes, the Carolina Panthers have been a dumpster fire this season, but Chuba Hubbard is one of the few bright spots on the roster this season. He has now finished inside the top-12 fantasy running backs each of the last three weeks with at least 17 touches in each game.
Hubbard’s rushing attempts slumped to 13 in Week 5, but he still managed to amass 97 yards on the ground with a score. He’s averaged at least 5.4 yards/attempt over this impressive three-game stretch with one Bryce Young outing and two Andy Dalton starts included.
With the Panthers in constant catch-up mode, Hubbard remains part of the passing game with at least four catches each of the last four weeks. That shouldn’t change against the Falcons this week, making Hubbard a strong lineup option.
Now available: our NFL DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.
Jalen Tolbert, WR (Dallas Cowboys) Week 5 DraftKings Price $4,200; Week 6 DraftKings Price $5,000
Third-year wideout Jalen Tolbert has shown some flashes with the Cowboys in the past but may now be in the mix for an expanded workload with Brandin Cooks‘ injury and defenses focusing on stopping Ceedee Lamb. Tolbert cracked double-digit targets for the first time in his career on Sunday and hauled in seven catches for 87 yards and a score.
The Cowboys will need to throw the ball against the Lions this weekend in an expected shootout. Even if his 24% target rate is not sustainable, the matchup should give Tolbert plenty of opportunities for another solid fantasy output.
Tucker Kraft, TE (Green Bay Packers) Week 5 DraftKings Price $3,500; Week 6 DraftKings Price $4,800
It’s doubtful that many fantasy players had Tucker Kraft on their bingo card to be a top-5 tight end through five weeks, but that is the case. He topped the fantasy totals at the position in Week 5 after a second-place finish in Week 4.
Kraft caught four of five targets for 88 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams. His 22.0 yards/catch was boosted by a 66-yard rumble. He has earned 14 targets with Jordan Love in the huddle over the last two games and saw 100% of the tight end target share last week.
Consistent production is difficult to find at the tight end position, even amongst the so-called elite options like Mark Andrews and Travis Kelce. Kraft’s huge price hike is certainly warranted based on his productions, but patience may be a virtue, in this case, to ensure his opportunity spike is not a two-week mirage.
Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with Sleeper promo code LABS1 for a $100 deposit match.
Notable NFL DFS Price Decreases
Deshaun Watson, QB (Cleveland Browns) Week 5 DraftKings Price $5,300; Week 6 DraftKings Price $5,100
A quarterback change may be in the cards at some point in Cleveland after another disastrous performance by Deshaun Watson on Sunday against the Commanders. He finished with 15-28 passing for 125 yards and a score.
Despite his athleticism and previous running prowess with the Texans, Watson has not shown that mobility with the Browns. He was sacked seven times on Sunday and rushed three times for 14 yards. He has yet to top 200 passing yards this season and is 24th in quarterback fantasy points.
Hopes were up for fantasy players that Watson would eventually revert back to his old form when he led the NFL in passing yards in Houston. That hope seems to be squashed and the new hope is that Jameis Winston gets a look as the starting option in Cleveland.
Bijan Robinson, RB (Atlanta Falcons) Week 5 DraftKings Price $7,100; Week 6 DraftKings Price $6,600
The talented second-year tailback has not seen bell cow workloads so far in 2024. A top-end lineup option on the salary chart, Bijan Robinson has dipped out of the elite tier without a weekly fantasy finish better than 17th at the position.
Robinson had 15 touches in Week 5 after a season-low 11 opportunities in Week 4. He still earned 67% of the rushing attempts last Thursday, but Tyler Allgeier still has a prominent role in the backfield. More concerning is Robinson’s usage in the red zone. He’s amassed one touchdown run on just nine red-zone carries this season.
The Falcons travel to Carolina this Sunday for a divisional matchup with the Panthers. The game script could certainly lean in Robinson’s favor if Atlanta can take an early lead. This could be a get-right game at a discounted price.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR (Tennessee Titans) Week 5 DraftKings Price $5,300; Week 6 DraftKings Price $5,100
The veteran wideout still can find separation in the secondary, but he’s tied to a struggling Will Levis in a sub-par Tennessee offense. In his 11th season, DeAndre Hopkins only recorded multiple catches in two of the team’s first four games.
The Titans eclipsed the 20-point mark for the first time in Week 4 against the Dolphins, but that turned into just two catches for 31 yards for Hopkins. He managed three top-10 weekly finishes for wide receivers in 2023, but those may now be blips on the radar for his fantasy output with the Titans.
Sam LaPorta, TE (Detroit Lions) Week 5 DraftKings Price $5,700; Week 6 DraftKings Price $5,500
The tight end position has been disappointing across the board this season, but Sam LaPorta may be the most unexpected dud after an incredible rookie season.
Heralded as the number one tight end in many fantasy formats, LaPorta has yet to top 53 receiving yards or four catches in a game. He also has not caught a touchdown pass. In 2023, he finished in the top 10 for fantasy tight ends in five of the last seven weeks of the season.
Expectations are certainly lower for LaPorta in the current version of the Lions offense with Jameson Williams emerging in the offense as another mouth to feed for Jared Goff, in addition to two quality running backs and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
