As the NFL regular season rapidly approaches and depth charts become clearer, players rise and fall in Underdog Fantasy best ball drafts. The following analysis looks at risers and fallers at from August 1 through August 19.
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Underdog Fantasy Best Ball Risers and Fallers Since August 1
Wide Receivers
Rookies and second-year wideouts are featured prominently on the risers table. Kansas City's, Denver's and Big Blue's wideouts are also well-represented on the table. Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have been on the field with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce in the preseason, and Justyn Ross earned two targets on his two routes with Mahomes and Kelce in Kansas City's second preseason game.
Chiefs WR snap count after 2 drives
Marquez Valdes-Scantling 7
Skyy Moore 6
Justin Watson 5
Rashee Rice 4Out of 9 plays
- Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) August 13, 2023
Kansas City snaps with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce pic.twitter.com/wS4lyWQDaF
- Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) August 20, 2023
Sadly, Tim Patrick suffered a season-ending injury for the second consecutive season. As a result, Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims face less competition for playing time.
Tank Dell has risen the most of any player since August 1. He had a dazzling performance in Houston's first preseason game, and drafters took notice. It's unwise to overreact to a preseason box score. Still, Dell's usage was encouraging. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), the 5-foot-8 wideout played 21 passing snaps but aligned in the slot for only four of them. So, Houston isn't pigeonholing their diminutive rookie wideout as a slot-only type. He'll probably start the year behind Nico Collins, Robert Woods and John Metchie on the depth chart but could overtake any of them if he plays well and proves he can handle playing on the perimeter in the NFL.
Injuries were likely the driving force for the falls of Kupp, Garrett Wilson, Treylon Burks, Kadarius Toney, Rashod Bateman and Rashid Shaheed. Out of that group, only Burks (LCL sprain) and Toney (knee surgery for a torn meniscus) seem to be in danger of missing Week 1.
Jameson Williams was also injured. He suffered a hamstring injury that cut short his preseason. However, his fall might also be a product of an underwhelming preseason contest. Williams is set to miss the start of the season with a six-game suspension, and the injury and lack of preseason reps are more drawbacks for his 2023 outlook.
Rondale Moore has played 14 passing snaps in the preseason, aligning in the slot for 12 of them. If he's a slot-only wideout, he won't be on the field in two-wideout sets for the Cardinals. And with a forthcoming rising tight end appearing poised for a return, Arizona might use more two-tight-end alignments earlier in the year than initially anticipated.
Adam Thielen and Jonathan Mingo are attached to a falling quarterback. Thus, it makes sense they're dropping along with their rookie signal-caller.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
