Rising

Derek Carr, OAK
What happened to Derek Carr during Oakland’s bye week? In two games since, he has come out on fire, throwing for 622 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. Most recently, he threw for 333 yards and four scores against the Jets - one of the best defenses in the NFL. Overall, Carr has 15 touchdowns in 2015 with only three interceptions. In six full games played (he left early in Week 1), Carr has been a top 12 quarterback four times and a top six quarterback thrice. He’s been a spectacular streaming option this year, and he’s getting close to graduating to weekly starter status.

Jay Cutler, CHI
A weirdly under the radar fantasy run in recent weeks has been happening with Jay Cutler. Generally disregarded most weeks, he has been a QB15 or better in each of his last four games (QB9, QB14, QB15, and QB14). In those four games, he has six passing touchdowns (plus one rushing score) and just three interceptions. He hasn’t been incredible by any means, but a top 12 games and three more near QB1 performances in recent weeks has made Cutler a surprisingly safe source of fantasy points. You may have better options in standard leagues week to week, but Cutler definitely won’t hurt you if forced into action on your team.

Currently the No. 14 fantasy QB, Aaron Rodgers has played more like a QB2 than a QB1 in 2015.

Falling

Aaron Rodgers, GB
When you drafted Aaron Rodgers with one of your early round picks, this is not what you signed up for. He kicked off the year hot, throwing ten touchdowns in the first three games, but only has five touchdowns in his last four games. In those four games, his best finish in any week is 11th at quarterback, and has been 17th or worse in the other three. Rodgers has thrown for over 255 yards only once this year. His owners might be in for at least one more frustrating week with a game at Carolina on the horizon, but at this point, you probably have to ride out the storm.

Andy Dalton, CIN
Week 8’s game in Pittsburgh served as a reminder for Andy Dalton owners: “Bad Andy” is still out there. Throwing for 231 yards, one touchdown and two interception against an average Steelers defense was a demoralizing blow to those who came to trust Dalton. I’m not saying we should just disregard how strong his first six weeks were; Dalton is still a weekly starter in most leagues. It’s just not time to lump Dalton into the elites of the fantasy game (though with the way Rodgers and Andrew Luck are going this year, maybe Tom Brady is the only who can be labeled “elite.”)

Running Back

Rising

Todd Gurley, STL
In a very short amount of time, Todd Gurley has gone from injured rookie to the best running back in fantasy football. Here are his yardage totals in his four games as an NFL starter: 146, 159, 128 and 133. Incredible. If his yardage didn’t already indicate that he’s a workhorse, his carry total should: he has at least 19 in all four of those games. After missing out on the end zone early, he’s added scoring to his repertoire as well, piling up three in the last two weeks. I don’t think there’s a running back I’d rather own right now than Gurley (except maybe Devonta Freeman, though it’s close).

DeAngelo Williams, PIT
It’s sad putting a player on this list as a result of another player’s injury, but Le’Veon Bell being out for the year sends DeAngelo Williams’ stock soaring. He established that he’s the guy when he took over and ran for 71 yards on nine carries in Week 8. In the first two weeks, while Bell was suspended, Williams was a stud: 41 carries, 204 yards, three touchdowns. Barring a surprise loss of job or an injury, Williams will be a weekly fantasy starter for the rest of the season.

Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson, DEN
In a surprising turn, Week 8 makes me like both members of the Broncos’ backfield more than I did before. Ronnie Hillman is definitely the leader right now, as he has 19 and 20 carries in each of the last two games. In Week 6, he ran for 111 yards. In Week 8, he scored two touchdowns. The bigger story in Week 8, however, was C.J. Anderson finally showing why people loved him in the preseason: 14 carries, 101 yards and a score. I have to believe Denver loved the results in Week 8 as much as fantasy owners did, and their roles will remain similar going forward. Assuming they do, and Anderson’s outburst was a sign of things to come, Hillman and Anderson will both be earning spots in fantasy lineups.

Falling

Giovani Bernard, CIN
In a turn that doesn’t make a lot of sense based on how they were playing, it seems that Jeremy Hill has reclaimed the role of top back in the Bengals offense from Giovani Bernard. Week 8 against Pittsburgh was the second straight game in which Hill had the majority of touches out of the Cincinnati backfield. In fact, Bernard was practically forgotten, getting only three touches versus 16 for Hill. Based on earlier results, you have to keep Bernard around in case the pendulum swings in his direction again, but it’s tough to use him in lineups until that swing arrives.

Chris Ivory, NYJ
For two games this year, Chris Ivory was the hottest back going in the NFL, carrying the ball 49 times for 312 yards against Miami and Washington. In two games since, however, Ivory has only managed 58 yards on 32 carries. He has been rumored to be dealing with some leg issues, but was supposedly fine entering his Week 8 game against Oakland in which he carried the ball 15 times for 17 yards. Things might continue to get worse for Ivory in the coming weeks, as Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith are both injured. With a third string quarterback taking the snaps, defenses will be able to zero in on Ivory, making it even tougher for him to relive the glory days of early October.

Wide Receiver

Rising

Brandin Cooks, NO
After a disappointing start to 2015, Brandin Cooks is finally beginning to live up to his 3rd round draft status. In three of the last four games, Cooks has at least five catches and at least 81 yards. Over those same four games, he has three touchdowns. He still hasn’t exploded like many hoped entering the season, but he has at least become a reliable weekly starter, especially in leagues that have reception scoring. If Cooks can continue his recent upward trend, that explosion could come at the perfect time for owners with the fantasy playoffs in their sights.

Michael Floyd, ARI
A summer finger injury hampered Michael Floyd to start the year, as he was averaging less than two catches per game over the first five weeks. A combination of a return to full health for Floyd and injury issues for fellow receiver John Brown has allowed Floyd to gain some momentum over the last three games. In those three, he’s averaging four receptions, has gained at least 50 yards in each, and peaked in Week 8 when he went off for 106 yards. On top of that, he’s found the end zone in three straight. When Brown returns to health, I think Floyd is still the third wheel of their receivers, but I also believe Arizona can sustain all three in fantasy.

Nate Washington, HOU
DeAndre Hopkins has been stealing the show in Houston, but Nate Washington is doing his best to make it a two-man act. While Hopkins headlines, Washington is expertly playing a supporting role: over the last two weeks, he has 13 catches for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Overall in 2015, Washington has played five games, gaining at least 63 yards in four of them. Houston has done nothing on the ground this year, Arian Foster or no Arian Foster, so it has led to a lot of throwing. With no other true competition outside of Hopkins for targets, Washington can certainly keep his end of the DeAndre and Nate Show going for the foreseeable future.

Falling

Randall Cobb, GB
Joining Aaron Rodgers in Club Disappointment is teammate Randall Cobb. Over his last four, Cobb is averaging just four receptions and 33 receiving yards per game. Cobb has been bothered by his shoulder all season, though he wasn’t even listed on the Packers injury report last week. If he’s truly over the injury, it seems like it should only be a matter of time before Cobb finally breaks out of his slump. Sadly for Cobb owners, a meeting with the Panthers and cornerback Josh Norman in Week 9 means that breakout might still be a couple weeks away.

Mike Wallace, MIN
Earlier in the season, Mike Wallace was doing some solid work for Minnesota. Before the team’s bye week, he was averaging five catches per game for just under 60 yards. Not sensational, but very much on the radar for teams with deeper lineups. Since the bye, however, Wallace has almost completely disappeared, averaging two catches and under 20 yards, capped off with a zero-catch Week 8. It is not a coincidence that Wallace’s collapse is coupled with Stefon Diggs taking off; the Vikings offense isn’t built to support multiple wide receivers, so as long as Diggs is going strong, there’s no room for Wallace. He can be dropped in most fantasy leagues.

Travis Benjamin, CLE
Is the early season magic wearing off for Travis Benjamin? He started the year with four touchdowns in the first three games, but has none since Week 3. In the last two games, Benjamin has a grand total of seven receptions for 73 yards. I’m not suggesting we write him off, but it would be nice to see him have a bounce back game sooner rather than later after his recent dip in production.

Tight End

Rising

Ben Watson, NO
One huge performance from Benjamin Watson (10 catches for 127 yards in Week 6) could easily be considered a fluke, as he’s never really been known as a big-time receiving tight end. Adding another monster game (nine receptions for 147 yards) just two weeks later means we absolutely have to start paying attention. Over the summer, many fantasy owners put their faith in Josh Hill as the Jimmy Graham replacement in New Orleans. It looks like they had the right logic, just the wrong tight end. I’m not ready to call Watson a top end tight end like the Graham of old, but he can be considered a low-end TE1 for the rest of the year.

Heath Miller, PIT
It’s wild how much the fortunes of the Steelers’ receivers depend on the presence of Ben Roethlisberger. Everyone already knows about the ups and downs of Antonio Brown this season, but did you notice the splits for Heath Miller? In two full games with Roethlisberger to start the year, Miller caught 10 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. In five games from the game Roethlisberger got injured until his last game out (Weeks 3-7), Miller caught a grand total of seven passes for 69 yards. In Big Ben’s first game back, Miller had 10 receptions for 105 yards. Miller just can’t live without his favorite quarterback. Assuming Roethlisberger stays healthy the rest of the way, Miller can be considered a strong bye week fill-in and a weekly starter in deeper leagues.

Falling

Jason Witten, DAL
Down in Dallas, Jason Witten is going through similar tribulations as Miller. Witten needs Tony Romo back, and fast. In his last four games, Witten is averaging just under 45 yards receiving per game. In those games, he has finished 14th, 22nd, 9th and 31st at tight end in standard scoring. A guy who has been a weekly fantasy starter for years will do just fine on your bench until the real Cowboys starting quarterback re-enters the equation in a few weeks.

Martellus Bennett, CHI
Martellus Bennett is in a weird spot in Chicago. He seems primed and ready to be a big time fantasy player, as he’s getting targeted rather heavily (10 per game over his last four games), but it’s not translating. Bennett was the number one tight end in Week 4, yet he has no other top 16 finishes at the position since Week 1. It’s tough to be a fan of a tight end who can’t turn great opportunity into great results, but it’s also tricky to give up on a tight end who is getting targeted so heavily. If Bennett is your weekly starter, it feels like a case where you might have to ride it out and hope the targets start turning into points.