NFL Week 3 Fantasy Football Trade Value Chart (2021): Risers, Fallers, Injury Notes

This trade value chart probably looks different than other charts you’re used to seeing. Most other analysts take their rest of the season rankings, apply arbitrary numbers to each player based on rank order, and call it a day.

METHODOLOGY

I used a value-based drafting Excel tool to create the initial pre-Week 1 values for this chart. Since then, I have made changes based on the results from the first two weeks, FantasyPros Rest of the Season ECR, The Wolf’s Rest of Season Rankings, and my expected fantasy points analysis.

For a more detailed explanation of the calculations, please click here. The tool calculates values based on a 12-team, full PPR league.

WEEK 2 RISERS AND FALLERS

Week 2 Stock Watch

📈Kupp, Sutton, DJMoore, Mike W, CPat, Tony Pollard, Marquise B, Carr, Ekeler, JWhite, MCarter, MPittman, BCooks, Rondale, Deebo, Lockett

📉CEH, AK41, MDavis, Amari & Dak (slight), Woods, Viska, Robby A, AB, AJB & Tanny, Callaway& Jameis, Kittle

Missing any?

— Wolf of Roto Street (@RotoStreetWolf) September 20, 2021

For a more detailed breakdown of specific risers and fallers, I recommend listening to The Wolf’s breakdown here.

RISERS

• Derrick Henry exploded for 35-182-3 on the ground, and a career-high 6 catches for 55 yards. If he can keep up his current receiving role, his ceiling increases significantly.
• Cooper Kupp has clearly emerged as the top target for the Rams offense, leading the team with 16 catches on 21 targets for 271 yards and 3 TDs on the season. He now belongs in the same tier as Keenan Allen, Justin Jefferson, DK Metcalf, and AJ Brown.
• Courtland Sutton was excellent in his first game after Jerry Jeudy‘s injury, just like I predicted last week. However, even I wasn’t expecting him to be leading the NFL in air yards after Week 2. Sutton’s monster 9 catch, 159-yard performance in Week 2 is a great sign of things to come.
• Mike Williams has 15 catches on 22 targets for 173 yards and 2 TDs on the season. Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi has given him the “X WR role,” and he has risen significantly from his pre-draft cost.

FALLERS

• Clyde Edwards-Helaire laid an egg on Sunday Night Football, finishing with no targets, 46 rushing yards, and a crucial lost fumble that cost Kansas City the game. I’m not totally ready to give up on him, but he’ll need to carve out a bigger passing game role to return value.
• Antonio Brown only caught one pass for 17 yards in Week 2. I warned last week that while Brown will have some big games, his weekly target share will be tough to predict.
• Robby Anderson has only seen 9 targets through two games and is clearly behind DJ Moore and Christian McCaffrey in the passing hierarchy. He is looking like a fantasy bust in 2021.
• Laviska Shenault somehow finished Week 2 with -3 yards on 7 targets. He’ll look to bounce back from a poor performance and shoulder injury in Week 3.
• Marquez Callaway hasn’t surpassed 15 yards in either game this year and has very little fantasy value at this point.

WEEK 2 INJURY NOTES

For a more detailed injury breakdown, check out CJay’s Trainer’s Room article coming out on Wednesday and this comprehensive video breakdown by Dr. Jesse Morse. I am writing this on Monday night and tried to take the following injuries into account, but stay tuned for updates throughout the week.

QUARTERBACKS

Baker Mayfield, Carson Wentz, Tua Tagovailoa, Tyrod Taylor, Derek Carr

Tyrod Taylor is unlikely to play in Week 3 and could miss a month with his hamstring injury. Wentz seems likely to miss Week 3 with sprains to both ankles. Tua, Mayfield, and Carr appear likely to start Week 3 according to Morse. Backups Davis Mills (HOU) and Jacob Eason (IND) should be rostered in deeper Superflex leagues.

RUNNING BACKS

Darrell Henderson, Elijah Mitchell, Trey Sermon

The Rams are hopeful that Henderson can play through a rib cartilage injury in Week 3, but nothing is guaranteed yet. Henderson would have been a riser this week after playing nearly 100% of the snaps pre-injury, but make sure to monitor his situation going forward. Mitchell suffered a stinger and should be fine for Week 3 according to Morse. We are still waiting on the details of Sermon’s head injury.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Diontae Johnson, Laviska Shenault, Jarvis Landry, Amari Cooper

Diontae Johnson and Jarvis Landry each suffered knee injuries in Week 2. Landry is likely to miss time with an MCL sprain. Diontae’s injury is still unknown, but he could fall significantly from his current value if he misses significant time. Cooper suffered a rib injury and Shenault suffered a shoulder injury, but I only downgraded them slightly because both seem likely to play in Week 3.

Check back next Tuesday for updated player values and a breakdown of risers and fallers. Reach out on Twitter @RSJ_Jackson with any questions!