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
Tua Tagovailoa, QB (Miami Dolphins) Week 8 DraftKings Price $6,200; Week 9 DraftKings Price $6,700
The Dolphins signal caller lit up the Detroit Lions through the air in week eight. He finished 29-36 for 382 yards and three scores.
A pair of dynamic, lightning-quick wideouts in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle provide Tagovailoa with incredible playmaking options. He is currently seventh in fantasy points per game at the quarterback position.
He faces a Chicago Bears defense that just gave up 49 points to the Cowboys, but season-long has been difficult on opposing quarterbacks. Tagovailoa has the third-lowest Opponent Plus/Minus on the slate.
Austin Ekeler, RB (Los Angeles Chargers) Week 8 DraftKings Price $8,300; Week 9 DraftKings Price $8,800
With struggles at the top of the pre-season running back fantasy favorites, Ekeler has ascended to the top of the salary chart by a full $1,000 on this week’s main slate. And for good reason.
Ekeler may only have 380 rushing yards on the year, but he leads all running backs with 61 targets and 53 receptions. His eight touchdowns are third at the position behind only Nick Chubb and the surprising Jamaal Williams.
Despite his salary increase, Ekeler has positive Plus/Minus ratings in all but one start this season and has scored over 30 fantasy points in three of his last four games. He is an elite option this week against the Falcons.
Jaylen Waddle, WR (Miami Dolphins) Week 8 DraftKings Price $6,700; Week 9 DraftKings Price $7,400
Expectations were mixed for the second-year Alabama wideout with Tyreek Hill joining the Dolphins’ receiving corps in 2022.
Waddle hasn’t missed a beat when Tua Tagovailoa has been at the helm. He is fifth in total fantasy points among wide receivers, behind his first-place teammate Hill.
He has reached his highest salary threshold of the season and is now among the upper-tier at the position. Defenses cannot afford to focus their attention on Waddle with Hill across the formation. Expect continued success for fantasy lineups this week.
Kyle Pitts, TE (Atlanta Falcons) Week 8 DraftKings Price $4,000; Week 9 DraftKings Price $4,500
Finally! Pitts was a beneficiary of increased pass attempts from Marcus Mariota in week eight in an entertaining shootout with Carolina. Pitts scored his second touchdown of the season and caught five of nine targets for 80 yards.
Talent is not an issue for Pitts, but the lack of passing attempts from the Atlanta offense has prevented him from turning in productive weeks for fantasy lineups.
Pitts’ salary is still well below his potential, and the Falcons should need to throw again this Sunday against the Chargers. You could do worse at the tight end position than taking a shot on Pitts for a repeat performance.
Notable NFL DFS Price Decreases
Derek Carr, QB (Las Vegas Raiders) Week 8 DraftKings Price $5,900; Week 9 DraftKings Price $5,400
Carr is coming off his worst fantasy performance since week 15 of the 2020 season. He managed just 101 passing yards on 15 completions with an interception as the Raiders were blanked against the Saints.
Through seven games, Carr has finished in the top 10 in fantasy points in just one week. He is behind the likes of Andy Dalton, Taylor Heinecke, and even Joe Flacco in fantasy points per game this season, despite adding all-pro receiver Davante Adams to the offense.
This Raiders team has badly underperformed in 2022. Until we see signs of a turnaround, Carr is only a contrarian play moving forward.
D’Andre Swift, RB (Detroit Lions) Week 8 DraftKings Price $6,800; Week 9 DraftKings Price $6,400
The Lions offense has stalled out in the last three games averaging just 11 points a game. Swift missed three games with multiple injuries and returned last week to earn 10 total touches. He did catch a touchdown to save his fantasy day.
Swift is still not 100%, and the Lions have openly discussed continuing to limit his opportunities. We saw his potential in Week 1, where he tallied 175 total yards and 29.5 fantasy points on 18 touches.
His ceiling will be limited until his workload returns to normal. With Jamaal Williams having a career year in his stead, the Lions may be willing to slowly reintroduce him back to full opportunities.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR (Indianapolis Colts) Week 8 DraftKings Price $7,200; Week 9 DraftKings Price $6,800
Week 1 of the Sam Ehlinger experience in Indianapolis had mixed reviews against the Commanders on Sunday. He did post a 73.9% completion rate but threw for just 201 yards with zero scores.
Pittman Jr. caught seven of his nine targets for 53 yards on the day. Through seven games with Matt Ryan and Ehlinger behind center, Pittman Jr. is recording his lowest yards per reception of his career (10.4) and has just one touchdown.
The Colts offense is sputtering, with Jonathan Taylor disappointing in the backfield and the quarterback uncertainty. Pittman Jr. is still one of the more talented receivers in the league, but this offense may not be able to support him being a top fantasy option.
Tyler Higbee, TE (Los Angeles Rams) Week 8 DraftKings Price $4,200; Week 9 DraftKings Price $3,700
After a solid start to the season, Higbee has cooled off with just three catches for eight yards in the last two games combined.
Higbee scored double-digit fantasy points every game from weeks two through five but has since dropped down the salary chart to his lowest point of the season.
If you believe the Rams can get things together against Tampa Bay this week, Higbee may be an interesting bargain option. He has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate for tight ends.
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