5 players trending up

Including Bryce Young, Woody Marks, and more.

September 23, 2025

Yooo!

72.2% of you voted for a $25 Survivor Pool yesterday, so I went ahead and created one on Splash Sports.

I’m in another Survivor League on Splash Sports with 9,384 entrants. It’s my first time ever using their platform, and I’ve been loving it. They really take care of everything.

Here are the quick details on the Survivor contest (you can read all the details on the site/app, too):

  • $25 entry (all payments are processed through Splash Sports)

  • Entry deadline is Sun, Oct 5 at 1:00 PM (Sunday, Week 5)

  • Double pick weeks starting Week 12

  • 2-entry max

If you’re new to Splash Sports, be sure you use this referral code — S3EWK2 — and you’ll get $10 in credit, too.

*Disclaimer: This $25 survivor pool is hosted on Splash Sports and is subject to their Official Rules and Terms of Service. Must be 18+ (or 21+ where required) and located in a jurisdiction where participation is legal. Please play responsibly. For entertainment purposes only.

Now, let’s get to today’s 5 players who are trending up!

Giddy up.

QB - Bryce Young (CAR)

  • While Bryce Young's Week 3 performance was modest with just 121 yards passing, he managed to salvage his fantasy day (11.6 points) with a rushing touchdown. This demonstrates his ability to contribute fantasy points even when the passing game isn't clicking.

  • Young has an extremely quarterback-friendly schedule ahead, with his next seven games against teams that are predominantly in the top 12 of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks this season. This favorable stretch includes matchups with the Patriots, Dolphins, Cowboys, Jets, Bills, Packers, and Saints.

  • The Panthers have shown they're willing to let Young throw at high volume when needed, as evidenced by his 55-pass attempt game in Week 2 against the Cardinals where he threw for 328 yards and three touchdowns. This suggests significant streaming upside for Young during his upcoming favorable schedule, particularly once bye weeks begin.

  • Our take: This could be interesting for both buyers and sellers depending on how you look at it. If you’re buying Bryce, now’s the time with the easy upcoming schedule. If you want to sell, his value might increase if he performs well during this stretch.

RB - Woody Marks (HOU)

  • Woody Marks has shown steady progression in Houston's offense, with his snap share increasing from 12.3% in Week 1 to 28.3% in Week 2, and then jumping significantly to 49% in Week 3. This increased involvement has come at the expense of other backs, with Dare Ogunbowale failing to register a snap and Dameon Pierce being a healthy scratch for two consecutive weeks.

  • In Week 3, Marks achieved season highs in attempts (six) and rushing yards (27), while maintaining an efficient 4.5 yards per attempt. He also ran 16 routes, positioning himself as the Texans' primary receiving back, building on his collegiate success where he averaged 21 routes per game and maintained a 2.02% target rate according to PFF.

  • The article suggests Marks' role should continue to expand in upcoming matchups, as he's demonstrated both rushing ability and receiving prowess. His increasing snap share and versatility make him a valuable addition in fantasy leagues, particularly given the unsettled nature of Houston's backfield due to Joe Mixon's foot injury.

  • Our take: The Texans offense isn’t too exciting behind their poor offensive line, but the opportunity is there for Marks to carve out a meaningful role. I love him as a low-cost longer-term stash.

WR - Michael Pittman Jr. (IND)

  • Michael Pittman Jr. reeled in six catches for 73 yards and a touchdown on six targets, reasserting himself as the Colts’ top wideout.

  • After splitting lead-target duties with Josh Downs in prior weeks, Pittman again showed strong chemistry with Daniel Jones, who has been playing better than expected.

  • Pittman narrowly missed touchdowns in all three games this season, showing his upside could be even higher than his current solid returns.

  • Our take: Pittman is one of those players I was down on to start this season (I was a much bigger fan of Downs). His recent play and connection with Jones are making me question that stance. I don’t think I’m at the point where I’d seek him out in a trade, though.

WR - Troy Franklin (DEN)

  • Troy Franklin has seen a significant increase in playing time, jumping from a 59.2% snap share in Week 1 to 82.8% in Week 2, showing the team's growing confidence in his abilities. His early-season performance was impressive, with a 21.4% target share, 2.61 yards per route run, and a substantial 41.8% air-yard share.

  • Despite a quieter Week 3 with only eight receiving yards, Franklin maintained a high snap count at 79% and secured a 16% target share. The article suggests this down performance was more due to the Chargers' strong secondary than any concerns about Franklin's abilities.

  • Looking ahead, Franklin's outlook appears promising with favorable matchups against the Bengals and potentially against Brandon Stephens in Week 6, though he faces a challenging Eagles defense in Week 5. The article strongly recommends immediate acquisition of Franklin from the waiver wire, suggesting high confidence in his future production.

  • Our take: I want to see him stack a few more solid performances before I’d trust him in my lineup. It seems like he could develop into a solid FLEX option in the right matchups. 

TE - Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE)

  • Fannin's playing time has shown consistent growth, and in the most recent week he nearly matched David Njoku in both snaps played and routes run, demonstrating his increasing role in the offense. Through three games, he has accumulated 18 targets, showing his integral role in the Browns' passing game.

  • Despite not yet scoring a touchdown this season, Fannin has proven to be a reliable target by recording at least three receptions in every game. His consistency in the passing game has translated to fantasy production, with two games scoring 7.0 or more half-PPR points.

  • The article positions Fannin as a high-end TE2 with significant potential for growth. His value could increase further if his role continues to expand or if Njoku is potentially traded at the deadline, making him an attractive stash candidate for fantasy managers.

  • Our take: I drafted Fannin in a few leagues with no expectations for this season. But I’ve already activated him off my taxi squad in one league because of the Kittle injury and his solid play. If Njoku gets traded, a legit TE1 breakout could happen. 

🤝 Want the latest insight on a player not featured here? Reply to this email with the player you’re interested in, and I’ll send you the newest insight we have on that player + our take on the situation.

Yesterday’s poll results:

🥇 Best subscriber comment: “You had me at "Would you want to join a..."”

Our take: Don’t tell me you skipped over the intro? :)

Today’s poll:

Where should Bryce Young be ranked in dynasty?

(Vote to see live results)

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That’s all for today!

See ya pizza,

Joe

P.S. In case you missed it, catch up on our most recent newsletters below:

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