5 players trending up

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RB - Brashard Smith (KC)

Mentioned in: Be a Week Early on Picking Up Brashard Smith for Your Fantasy Football Roster

• Brashard Smith is showing a clear upward trend in usage for the Chiefs, with his snaps increasing from 5 to 7 to 18 over recent weeks, while his touches have grown from 1 to 2 to 7. His Utilization Score has also seen steady growth from 8 to 10 to 38, indicating an expanding role in the offense.

• The Chiefs appear to be aligned with increasing Smith's involvement, especially given the current lack of explosiveness in their backfield. Both Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are struggling with efficiency, described as looking like they're 'trudging through 2.5 feet of snow' when carrying the ball.

• While Smith's current usage might seem modest, the article suggests he could be a strategic early pickup before a potential breakout. The recommendation is to acquire him for $1 now rather than waiting until his role expands and having to spend $100 later, though it's noted this play might require some patience.

• Our take: Sounds a lot like how people were talking about Woody Marks a few weeks ago. The upside and opportunity are there for the taking.

RB - Emanuel Wilson (GB)

Mentioned in: Dynasty Waivers of the Future: Week 5

• Emanuel Wilson has carved out a significant role in Green Bay's run-heavy offense, which ranks fifth overall in the NFL in rushing attempts. In Week 4 against the Cowboys, Wilson contributed meaningfully with eight carries for 44 yards and three catches while running 12 routes.

• While Josh Jacobs remains the clear lead back with 80 carries to Wilson's 15 and 64 routes to Wilson's 18, Wilson appears to have secured the backup running back role in Green Bay. His involvement in both the running and passing game (demonstrated by his route participation) suggests a well-rounded skill set.

• Wilson's dynasty value is trending upward as he establishes himself as a high-value handcuff in a fantasy-friendly offense. His roster percentage has actually declined from 49% to 40% since Week 1, creating a potential buying opportunity before his value increases.

• Our take: Every time I watch the Packers, this guy looks good. He’ll never get a full opportunity with Jacobs around, but he feels like one of the better handcuffs out there. I don’t think he gets enough credit because of all the hype MarShawn Lloyd has received in the past.

WR - Chris Olave (NOR)

Mentioned in: Players to Buy Low & Sell High in Week 5 (Fantasy Football)

• Chris Olave is averaging over 10 targets per game and leads the Saints in both air yards and red zone looks, despite having a relatively quiet statistical output. His current position as second in the NFL in targets (41), trailing only Puka Nacua, suggests significant potential for increased production.

• The Saints' winless record is actually working in Olave's favor from a fantasy perspective, as it's leading to more pass-heavy game scripts and consistent volume. He's maintaining a high target share despite the team's overall offensive struggles, making him an attractive buy-low candidate.

• Multiple experts identify Olave as a prime trade target heading into Week 5, particularly with favorable matchups coming against the Giants, Patriots, and Bears. His manager might be frustrated by the lack of explosive production, creating an ideal trade window where he could be acquired for a mid-tier running back like Isiah Pacheco or a receiver in Jordan Addison's tier.

• Our take: This article was written from a redraft perspective, but I feel like Olave has been flying under my radar in dynasty, too. I wrote him off because of the concussion history, and that’s obviously still a risk, but it could be worth it at the right price for a contender if you have some depth to cushion any potential injuries.

WR - Quentin Johnston (LAC)

Mentioned in: Podcast: Risers and Fallers for Fantasy Football in NFL Week 4! Dynasty Fantasy Football Podcast - Ep. 710

• Quentin Johnston is currently the WR4 overall through four weeks, commanding a 25% target share and 38% air yard share.

• Despite lingering doubts about his ball skills, the Chargers’ offense has made him the clear priority over Ladd McConkey, feeding him targets and even goal-line looks.

• Keenan Allen still has red zone involvement, but Johnston looks like the rising star in the offense.

• Analysts compared him to a ‘third-year breakout’ throwback, noting missed buy-low opportunities and admitting he’s one of the biggest risers of the season.

• Our take: The more I read about QJ, the less this feels like a fluke. He’s a very hard player to value right now. I’d be afraid to trade for him because I’d be worried he turns back into the year 1-2 guy. I want to buy, but I think with the way he’s playing right now, it’d most likely require an overpay.

WR - Jaylen Waddle (MIA)

🎁 2-FOR-1 SPECIAL:

Mentioned in: Podcast: Jaylen Wadde's Dynasty Value Will RISE After Devastating Injury To Tyreek Hill | Week 4 Takeaways!

• Jaylen Waddle’s dynasty stock jumps with Tyreek Hill out; hosts project him back around WR24-25 territory with an expected 8-9 targets weekly as Miami’s new alpha.

• Caveat: many of Waddle’s prior spikes came with defenses tilted toward Tyreek Hill — this is a prove-it moment as the unquestioned No. 1; not a piece they’d overpay “120 cents on the dollar” to acquire.

Mentioned in: Fantasy Football: Assessing the injury fallout from top wide receivers Tyreek Hill, Malik Nabers and more

• With Hill's injury, Waddle could see a significant role change in the Dolphins' offense. The article suggests he could take over the 'gimmes' that Hill typically received, though in Week 4 he still lined up as an outside receiver on 96.3% of his snaps in the second half.

• Waddle has proven he can perform without Hill, as evidenced by his 142-yard, one-touchdown performance on a 37% target share against the Jets in Week 15 of the 2023 season, his only game without Hill since the veteran joined Miami.

• If Waddle receives the suggested role change, the article projects him as a potential top-15 fantasy option at the position for the rest of the season. His current contract with the Dolphins runs through 2029, making him a key piece of their long-term plans.

• Our take: I’m more on the side of this is his “prove-it moment.” To be clear, I think he’s got the talent to be a top-15 WR, but this MIA offense has looked out of whack at times dating back to last year. He’s one of my most owned players this year — I’m cautiously optimistic.

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