Football Stock Market is a weekly article during the NFL season that examines players you should buy, hold, or sell in your fantasy league.
Stock traders play the market for profit as do fantasy football participants. For those of you that were absolutely killed by Stevan Ridley, Zach Sudfeld, David Wilson, Lamar Miller, and Mike Wallace, rest assured that you're not alone.
Fantasy football roster pariahs are a part of the journey, and the journey can be a bit bumpy as the many know all too well. But hold fast and you may endure the trip with the proper portfolio moves. Opening week has come and gone, fantasy football shareholders, so let's put the assets up for sale and prepare to invest in the fantasy football immediate future.
Buy
Leonard Hankerson, WR, Washington Redskins
Surprise surprise! A PPF Fantasy breakout candidate and third-year wide receiver for the Washington Redskins took a solid half of football before deciding to get in on the fantasy action. In fact, all but one of Hankerson's targets came in the fourth quarter. Hankerson played 56.4 percent of the offensive snaps, although Josh Morgan actually started the game opposite Pierre Garçon.
Hankerson outperformed Morgan in play counts, routes, targets, and fantasy output. Sure, much of Hankerson's final output was garbage-time stats, but it's worth noting that the breakout candidate dropped only one pass and ended Week 1 ranked behind only A.J. Green, Anquan Boldin, and Victor Cruz in fantasy points per snap. Add that head coach Mike Shanahan mentioned that Hankerson “needs some playing time” and it's a buying bonanza on No. 85.
Recommendation: Buy
Cecil Shorts, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
The bad news for fantasy owners of Cecil Shorts is that the Jacksonville Jaguars offense was absolutely horrendous. The good news for those same owners is that Blaine Gabbert has been sidelined for this week's matchup versus the Oakland Raiders. Seven of the Jaguars 10 possessions, through three quarters, ended as three-and-out drives, which could be described as worse than anemic.
Shorts managed to draw only a single target in each of the first three quarters, but late in the day with the game out of hand, the Jacksonville wide receiver managed eight targets, catching three for 40 yards. In 2012, QB Chad Henne, while filling in for Gabbert, averaged just under 10 targets per game in Shorts' direction. The Oakland Raiders allowed two passing touchdowns via airmail versus the Colts, leaving Shorts poised for a touchdown opportunity.
Recommendation: Buy
David Wilson, RB, New York Giants
New York Giants running back David Wilson had an abysmal Week 1 versus the Dallas Cowboys. I recommended buying this player last week, and I iterate executing the same action yet again on the Giants running back. The kid has a very high ceiling, and I believe we have seen Wilson's floor. Wilson's negative fantasy point total had owners fuming, but this kid will likely bounce back, and as long as he holds onto the ball, he will stay on the field. He is much more explosive than back-up Da'Rel Scott.
After spelling fumbling-and-bumbling Wilson, Scott ran 21 pass routes due to playing from behind. If Week 1 is any sign of things to come, then the Giants could be playing from behind in this week's Manning Bowl III, and assuming Wilson can stay on the field, he could be in for a huge receiving game out of the backfield. There is a good chance some owners would be willing to cut bait with Wilson for a little more than pocket lint. If so then grab him.
Recommendation: Buy cheap if you can. Hold if you currently own.
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