Preseason Week 3 Stock up Stock Down Buyer Beware

By Jen Ryan

Who knew the preseason could be as crazy as it has been so far? Former second-round draft pick Dorial-Green Beckham was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, Dion Lewis underwent a second knee surgery, and Dak Prescott’s bust in Canton is already in the works, according to the internet. In addition to that, there are other players’ who’s stock is up, down, and who we should tread lightly with.

Stock Up

Zach Sudfeld, New York Jets
The tight end formerly known as “Baby Gronk” is catching some steam. Sudfeld has been reportedly putting together a highlight real this summer and has been outplaying Jace Amaro in preseason games. In Week 2, Amaro had more targets but it was Sudfeld who had more receptions, yards and the touchdown. Sudfeld is on my radar as a tight end sleeper this season and it would not surprise me in the least if he surpassed Amaro on the depth chart.

Jeremy Langford, Chicago Bears
There may be no more controversial running back this summer than Langford. His ADP has been in question since drafts opened up and people genuinely either love him or hate him. There was even talk over the course of training camp of the Bears taking a committee approach at the position. I am now questioning that sort of talk, as Langford has resembled a bell cow while running with the ones over the past two weeks. His ADP seems to be more justifiable and he is someone I will be paying close attention to this week.

C.J. Spiller, New Orleans Saints
I feel terrible even mentioning Spiller as someone who’s stock is up because of the fool’s gold he has been since leaving the Buffalo Bills and Chan Gailey, but I am (possibly foolishly) coming back around on him. His usage on the ground and in the air has me thinking it may finally be time to reconsider any salty feelings I still have lingering towards Spiller. I view him as a late-round target that has standalone value independent of Mark Ingram.

Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
Eddie Lacy is still being drafted in the third round. There is no running back going in the third with more upside to finish as a top, if not the top, running back in 2016. He will be a steal for anyone who has drafted him. He seems to have returned to form, and have you seen those arms? My nickname “Shreddie Lacy” was mentioned on the NFL Fantasy podcast by Marcas Grant last week and the nickname was dropped on the Red Zone Network. My point is, fat Eddie is dead and he is back on track for another 1,000 yard season.

Kenny Stills, Miami Dolphins
This is an incredibly small sample to work off of, but Stills has turned a total of five preseason targets into four receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns. He has solidified himself as the deep threat and is making more noise for himself than his teammate DeVante Parker. One is being drafted in the mid-rounds and the other often goes undrafted. I have a feeling Stills will make it into more than one GPP lineup for me this season.

Stock Down

C.J. Prosise, Seattle Seahawks
It feels a bit unfair to mention Prosise, who is set to make his debut tomorrow night, but it is hard not to with the way Christine Michael has been lighting it up. That’s right, the C-Mike hype train is back and both Prosise and Collins should be on notice. Collins has taken preseason snaps and has the edge, but Prosise’s stock is certainly down and he will have to show the Seahawks a few reasons why he should make the roster tomorrow night.
Reggie Bush, Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills recently released Karlos Williams. Jonathan Williams will be suspended for Buffalo’s first four games. Bush had an inside track to lock down the backup job and possibly see some pass-catching work. He had one carry last week and fumbled it away. With Bush’s age and injury history, he is essentially handing the backup job, at least for the first four weeks, to Mike Gillislee.

Wendell Smallwood, Philadelphia Eagles
It has made me chuckle all summer to see the rookie Smallwood being drafted in the 16th round and Kenjon Barber going undrafted. Smallwood has yet to touch the field this preseason and Barber has done more than enough to clearly edge Smallwood out. Smallwood does appear to be over his quad injury but he will have his work cut out for him if he wants to supplant Barber for the #2 job.

Sammie Coates, Pittsburgh Steelers
Coates is another player who’s ADP (9th round!) that blows my mind. I wrote up Darrius Heyward-Bey as a player who’s stock is on the rise last week and now I am taking it a step further in pegging Coates as someone who is slipping, especially because of his ridiculously inflated ADP. I had an issue with Coates before Steelers’ beat reporter Ed Bouchette reported that Eli Rodgers is the front runner for the WR3/slot role. That news, Coates ADP, and Rogers usage last week has me waving the red flag and pushing Coates further up on my “do not draft” list.

Robert Aguayo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I am ashamed to be mentioning a kicker here, but it is hard not to talk about arguably the most talked about player this preseason. College football’s most accurate kicker in history is consistently shanking kicks, and it is becoming disturbing. His short professional career is abysmal so far and I am starting to think it is our fault. We, the writers and critics, have pushed this poor kid to the edge. We should all leave him alone and hope that he kicks a 55+ yard game-winner this week.

Buyer Beware

Denver Quarterbacks
Last week I warned caution with the Tennessee Titans backfield. I did not set out to include a whole team’s position again this week but Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian have left me with no choice. Both of these quarterbacks have had ample opportunity to pull away from the other, yet neither have. To quote Sanchez, he “squandered” the opportunity. This could be Paxton Lynch’s team sooner than later, and I have a feeling we will not be seeing the same quarterback under center in Denver for 16 games.