Like any healthy market, price fluctuations are expected for players in daily fantasy football. 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
Daniel Jones, QB (New York Giants) Week 7 DraftKings Price $5,100; Week 8 DraftKings Price $5,800
What a start for the New York Giants under new head coach Brian Daboll. Jones has been solid as a dual-threat quarterback despite a litany of injuries to his wide receivers.
Jones is currently ninth in fantasy points per game at the position. He is averaging less than 200 yards passing per game, but is third in the league with 343 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns as a quarterback. He is also minimizing turnovers with just two interceptions and two lost fumbles through seven games.
As long as he continues to protect the football and utilize his legs, Jones is a viable fantasy option.
Alvin Kamara, RB (New Orleans Saints) Week 7 DraftKings Price $6,900; Week 8 DraftKings Price $7,100
After a slow start to 2022, Kamara has found some success in the last three weeks scoring over 17 points in each game. He has caught at least six passes and earned at least 18 touches during that span.
The Saints continue to mix up personnel with Taysom Hill packages and a variety of skill position players coming on and off the field. This week’s price jump comes against a Raiders defense that is bottom third in the league in both points and yards allowed per game.
Kamara has yet to find the end zone this season which has put a cap on his fantasy totals. Count on a high workload this week for Kamara, but touchdowns are still just an unexpected cherry on top.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR (Arizona Cardinals) Week 7 DraftKings Price $6,200; Week 8 DraftKings Price $7,400
Welcome back to the lineup. Hopkins looked fresh against the Saints on Thursday night with 10 catches for 103 yards.
With Marquise Brown‘s injury, Hopkins is once again the alpha receiver for the Cardinals and should be hyper-targeted for the remainder of the season. If Rondale Moore and newly-acquired Robby Anderson can take a little bit of the secondary’s attention, Hopkins should be a top-tier fantasy producer.
The Vikings are allowing the fifth-most passing yards per game this season but have been stingier toward the end zone. Expect another big performance in your lineups this week for Hopkins in a high-scoring game.
George Kittle, TE (San Francisco 49ers) Week 7 DraftKings Price $5,300; Week 8 DraftKings Price $5,700
Kittle has ascended back toward elite tight end status in the past two weeks with a combined 19 targets and 14 catches for 181 yards and a touchdown.
With few consistent producers at the position and both Mark Andrews and Travis Kelce off the main slate, Kittle is the highest-priced tight end on the slate. Unfortunately for Kittle, the Rams also have the lowest Opposing Plus/Minus rating against the position on the slate.
Something has to give in this matchup. Kittle should have the highest floor at the position, but this may not be a high-upside week.
Notable NFL DFS Price Decreases
Matthew Stafford, QB (Los Angeles Rams) Week 7 DraftKings Price $6,200; Week 8 DraftKings Price $6,000
Pickings are slim for down-trending quarterbacks on the main slate this week, but Stafford continues to drop in price with the Rams’ early-season disappointment and a rough matchup against the 49ers this week.
After finishing 11th in fantasy points per game last season, Stafford is currently 30th this year at the quarterback position. He has thrown just six touchdown passes in his first six games combined with eight interceptions.
The Rams continue to search for the right mix of skill players on the field with Cam Akers‘ turmoil and the receiving corps trying to find a rhythm without Robert Woods and Odell Beckham Jr. on the roster.
Better days should be ahead for Stafford, but this week may not be the time to buy low. The 49ers have the second-lowest Opposing Plus/Minus rating against quarterbacks on the slate.
Najee Harris, RB (Pittsburgh Steelers) Week 7 DraftKings Price $5,900; Week 8 DraftKings Price $5,700
In 2021, Harris amassed 1200 yards on 307 attempts with a 3.9 yards/attempt. The hope for 2022 was that yards per attempt rate to rise and his fantasy dependency on high volume to change.
That hope is long gone through seven weeks. Harris is rushing for just 3.3 yards per attempt this season with three total touchdowns. The 24-year-old is in a difficult situation with a rookie quarterback and struggling offensive line, but he has not impressed as a ball carrier this year.
Could this be the price bottom for Harris? He is the 20th most expensive running back on the main slate this week. Even with his struggles, that feels awfully low for a running back getting 15-20 touches a game.
Garrett Wilson, WR (New York Jets) Week 7 DraftKings Price $4,500; Week 8 DraftKings Price $4,200
The Jets are off to a hot start, but Wilson and the passing game have cooled off with Zach Wilson returning to the huddle.
The rookie wideout burst onto the scene with 33 targets and 18 catches through the first three weeks, much of it with Joe Flacco under center. Since then, Wilson has just 20 targets and 10 catches in the last four games.
The bigger problem…the Jets are winning. The running game and ball-control offense have worked over the team’s four-game winning streak. The season-ending injury to rookie standout Breece Hall may lead to more passing plays, but until we see more usage, Wilson is only a dart throw in fantasy lineups.
Kyle Pitts, TE (Atlanta Falcons) Week 7 DraftKings Price $4,300; Week 8 DraftKings Price $4,000
Pitts continues to sink lower in fantasy rankings, despite his incredible talent and athleticism on the field. Through seven games, Pitts has just 16 catches on 30 targets and a lone score.
Even in a negative game script early in the first quarter, the Falcons refused to allow Marcus Mariota to throw the ball. He completed just eight passes on 13 attempts for 124 yards.
Amazingly, Atlanta currently sits tied atop the NFC South standings and there is little evidence that anything will change with the offensive philosophy. Pitts is collateral damage in this run-first strategy and should be off fantasy lineups until something changes.
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