While most of us love football, keeping track of every single preseason performance can be difficult and rankings only tell part of the story without an explanation. Of course, it’s only natural that guys like Kevin White and Kareem Hunt will move up the rankings due to injury so you don’t need us to tell you why.

Instead,  we reached out to our featured experts below and asked them to explain who his rising and falling down their draft boards based on preseason performance.

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Q1. With the bulk of the preseason finished, who is rising the most on your draft rankings?

DeVante Parker (WR – MIA)
“This has got to be Parker, as he’s someone we heard a lot of buzz about this offseason, saying he’d changed his lifestyle, dedicating it to football. Though it should have been already, it’s good to hear the young man figured it out. He apparently changed his diet and everything. The same coaching staff that threw shade at him for not being dedicated last year are now praising his work ethic. It just so happens that Jay Cutler was added to the team, and is someone who isn’t afraid to throw the ball up to Parker in order to win 50/50 situations. There were glimpses last year, when Parker had five games with 79 or more yards, despite seeing more than seven targets just three times. It’s also noteworthy that the Dolphins have not tried to extend Jarvis Landry, who is a free agent after this season, insinuating a change of the guard at WR1.”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)

“We know the talent is there, and I think Jay Cutler has the right skill set to bring out the best in third-year receiver, DeVante Parker.”
– Michael Beller (Sports Illustrated)

Dalvin Cook (RB – MIN)
“With a poor showing at the combine, coupled with character concerns and a lengthy injury history, Dalvin Cook had the look of a risky pick at his 8th round June ADP. After a summer where he has flashed feature-back potential, Cook has seen his ADP skyrocket to the third round. Even at his current price tag, Cook has the potential to be a value, as he could very well find himself playing all three down after he showed off his pass-catching ability this preseason, hauling in four receptions in his first game, and having distanced himself from Latavius Murray for early-down work, making him a low-end RB1.”
– Matthew Hill (DataForce Fantasy Football)

“I did not have Dalvin Cook as high as I should have before the start of the preseason. He showed me why he was such a highly touted player coming out of college. Cook made plays as a runner and a receiver during the preseason. He is a three-down back that likely was the first running back off the board if not for off-the-field issues. I think he has the potential to be a top-10 fantasy back his rookie season and will be the top rookie in all of football this year.”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)

Jordan Matthews (WR – BUF)
“The player who has come up the most in my rankings is probably Jordan Matthews. Going from a situation in Philadelphia where he was going to be the number two behind a target hog in Alshon Jeffery, to being the top target in Buffalo has him inside my top 25 PPR WRs. Especially now that Anquan Boldin is retired, Matthews has very little competition for targets with the Bills.”
– Anthony Amico (RotoViz)

Bilal Powell (RB – NYJ)
“Even though his team is going to be a dumpster fire this season, I would still go dumpster diving for Powell. He’s currently being drafted as the 27th RB off the board right now, but he finished as the RB15 last season. He’s going to have an even bigger year this year. Powell averaged 138 yards from scrimmage in the last 4 games of ’16. The Jets have no-names at every other skill position. They’ll rely heavily on Powell & Forte to move the ball this year – and Powell is the younger of the two with a much higher ceiling.”
– Addison Witt (Fantasy Team Advice)

Ameer Abdullah (RB – DET)
“The guy I keep sliding up the draft boards is Ameer Abdullah. The worry here is injuries, but as we have seen this preseason that risk is high with everybody. The fact is, Abdullah is a three down threat and proved that in Week 3 of the preseason racking up 99 yards (60 rushing, 39 passing). This guy is being drafted as a flex player in most leagues, but can easily be an RB2.”
– Joe Bond (Fantasy Six Pack)

Ted Ginn (WR – NO)
“Ginn has skyrocketed up my list over the past three weeks from WR76 to WR44. I am currently taking him in the 10th round in the same neighborhood as Adam Thielen, Terrance West, Dak Prescott, and Jack Doyle. While he isn’t the most complete wide receiver, it has become apparent that he will be starting in two-WR sets with Drew Brees and across from the likely double-teamed Michael Thomas. Ginn finished as a top 25 wideout just two seasons ago despite playing in a marginal offense. Granted, he will disappear from a handful of games this season, but the volume and touchdown upside is there for him to far exceed his ADP.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

Q2. With the bulk of the preseason finished, who is falling the most in your draft rankings?

Eddie Lacy (RB – SEA)
“Lacy has fallen a ton in my rankings. I have always been a C.J. Prosise believer, so I didn’t necessarily think Lacy would have a monster year with Seattle. However, the battle for early-down carries has come to include not just Thomas Rawls, but rookie Chris Carson as well. It is becoming less and less likely that Lacy holds a significant role in this offense, even if Prosise struggles to stay healthy. Lacy is outside of my top 45 PPR RBs.”
– Anthony Amico (RotoViz)

“It wasn’t ever going to be a feel-good moment when you drafted Eddie Lacy while playing behind the worst offensive line in football, but it’s come to the point where you have to wonder whether or not you’d draft him at all. Not only was Thomas Rawls starting over him to start the preseason, but Chris Carson was also someone who started getting reps with the starters. This is not to mention last year’s favorite C.J. Prosise, who should be healthy when the season starts. Between the weight issues, offensive line issues, and now competition issues, Lacy has slid down my draft board.”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)

T.Y. Hilton (WR – IND)
“If you are still in denial about the severity of Andrew Luck’s throwing shoulder, it’s time to face reality. Luck hasn’t practiced with the Colts since last season – the same length as a full-term pregnancy. The QB options behind Luck leave much to be desired. Hilton isn’t much of a red zone threat either. He relies on target volume, and that simply won’t be there with a non-Luck QB, or a less than 100% Luck. In addition, Donte Moncrief is healthy again. The last season Moncrief and Hilton were both healthy, Hilton finished as the WR22. He’s currently being drafted as the 12th off the board.”
– Addison Witt (Fantasy Team Advice)

Paul Perkins (RB – NYG)
“Talk of Paul Perkins being a feature back made him a trendy sleeper in early drafts. While it does appear that Perkins will be getting the first crack on the Giants carries, Perkins will be conceding passing down work to a healthy Shane Vereen. Orleans Darkwa is also expected to be in the mix for early down and goal line carries. More troubling for Perkins owners is that he has had little room to run this preseason. Between New York’s offensive line woes and the likelihood of the Giants employing a full-blown committee, Perkins has been plummeting down my rankings this summer.”
– Matthew Hill (DataForce Fantasy Football)

Leonard Fournette (RB – JAC)
“I was never high on Leonard Fournette to begin with, and I keep moving him down my rankings. Simply put, I don’t trust anyone in an offense captained by Blake Bortles.”
– Michael Beller (Sports Illustrated)

Samaje Perine (RB – WAS)
“Perine was a favorite sleeper RB of mine, along with many others after the NFL Draft. The thought of him overtaking Fat Rob was not hard after we saw how unimpressive Kelly was last season. Instead, Perine has had struggles running the ball with ball control issues and trouble with pass protection this preseason. He is not somebody I’m targeting in drafts. I suspect he will get drafted in all my leagues, but wind up on the waiver wire by Week 3.”
– Joe Bond (Fantasy Six Pack)

DeAndre Hopkins (WR – HOU)
“At the start of the preseason, I was a DeAndre Hopkins truther. I thought this was someone far too talented to slip out of the 2nd round, but now, I won’t touch him until the mid-fourth, more than a full round after his ADP. Not only did Hopkins finish #37 last year among wide receivers (below Brandon LaFell, by the way), but the Texans did nothing to improve their offense. Tom Savage is the worst starting quarterback in football and Watson doesn’t look like he will be much help either if he takes over the job. Hopkins is still plenty talented, but I’m not convinced he has what it takes to leap from WR #37 to his ADP at WR #13 as a part of this dreadful offense.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

Kenny Britt (WR – CLE)
“Britt hasn’t gotten a whole lot of action during the preseason and I’m not sure his skill set is a good one for starter DeShone Kizer. Britt is more of a downfield threat, which isn’t good with a rookie quarterback starting. I just have a hard time seeing Britt do much this season in this offense. Corey Coleman is the receiver I want to own in Cleveland this year. Britt will not repeat last season.”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)

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Thank you to the experts for naming their risers and fallers. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter if you’re not already doing so and check out our latest podcast below for more great advice.

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