Preseason is the time where fantasy owners get a taste of what’s to come once the games start mattering, and as a result, opinions can run wild with a few good or bad performances. So here, I’ve decided to compile a list of players who are trending upward or downward due to overarching storylines from the summer.
Fantasy football draft strategy: Preseason Week 2 tight end stock report
Preseason can provide a roller coaster effect on the average draft positions of tight ends for fantasy owners. We break down the fantasy implications that Week 2 of the preseason provided.
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Keep in mind, this is about who is rising or falling, so if you don't see a name like Rob Gronkowski in the "Trending Up" section, it's because he's already made it to the top. Let's have a look:
Trending Up
The Kelvin Benjamin injury will hurt the passing game significantly, but the two main beneficiaries of Benjamin's absence are rookie Devin Funchess and veteran tight end Greg Olsen. Olsen isn't flashy by any means, but is as reliable as it gets, which can't be overstated at a position that's routinely been in the fantasy dumpster. Olsen finished fourth overall at the position in standard leagues in 2014, and is a candidate to see his six-touchdown total spike upwards with fewer mouths to feed in the Panthers' offense.
There is a multitude of weapons for Andy Dalton and his coaching staff to utilize, which has made Tyler Eifert something of an under-the-radar fantasy pick so far. But with Jermaine Gresham out of town and sterling reports coming from the Bengals practice facility, the Eifert hype train is full-steam ahead. Eifert is currently being selected in the 11th round, which is a three-round spike since July 26, and has now put himself in the low-end TE1 conversation.
Martellus Bennett, Chicago Bears
Like Olsen, Martellus Bennett's targets could also benefit from the injury of a teammate, as No. 7 overall pick Kevin White will miss significant time after undergoing leg surgery. Though Marc Trestman and his productive playcalling left the Windy City for Baltimore, the Bears' offense remains a capable one despite Jay Cutler's streakiness. Bennett should challenge Matt Forte for targets behind Alshon Jeffery, and could be unwisely forgotten about by opposing defenses in the red zone while they have their hands full with the big-bodied No. 1 wide receiver.
Trending Down
Well, he’s injured, so that’s an obvious reason to downgrade Zach Ertz in the middle of the summer, although there’s a chance he could recover from groin surgery in time for the regular season opener. Fantasy owners have been conservative in response to this news, as his average draft position has fallen three rounds from eighth to 11th since July 26. That’s an absolute bargain for a position that every fantasy owner could use help in, even if Ertz misses the first few weeks of the season.
Fantasy owners wanted to believe so badly that a new fantasy name could emerge in wake of Jimmy Graham's departure, but those expecting it to be Josh Hill may have jumped the gun. Though the Saints' offense remains a prolific one, there simply may be too many preferences ahead of Hill.
The big bodies of Brandon Coleman and Marques Colston could monopolize the targets in the corner of the end zone, while Brandin Cooks' shiftiness also remains a viable weapon in the red zone. But perhaps the most damning evidence of all is that in the Saints' second preseason game, Hill accounted for just four snaps with the first-team offense while veteran Benjamin Watson had 18. No thanks.
