Biggest Risers and Fallers Post Week 2 | Dynasty Fantasy Football Podcast Ep. 907

This episode of the Dynasty Nerds Podcast is a live, injury-heavy risers-and-fallers show for Week 2, built around the argument that the 2026 season is producing an unusually violent reshuffling of dynasty values — especially at quarterback and in backfields — and that the incoming 2027 rookie class already looks strong enough to justify punting current assets rather than overpaying to compete through the chaos.

The arguments

Jayden Daniels' second elbow dislocation could be a de facto season-ender even without surgery. Garrett and Rich walked through the injury history (a Week 7 bye-week surgery decision last year, four weeks missed) and argued that if Daniels doesn't get surgery this time, the joint is now unstable and likely to recur — comparing it to a chronic cheek-biting injury. Both hosts said if they were the team, they'd take the surgery and shut him down, treat 2026 as a lost year, and use likely high draft capital to fix the offensive line, which they blamed for actively sabotaging Daniels (two friendly-fire blocking injuries on the same drive).

Caleb Williams' hamstring, combined with the Bears' broader offensive collapse, makes this a buy-low or hold window depending on your competitive window. Rich and Garrett noted Chicago cratered from 59 points to 3, and that with Williams out, the receiver room (Loveland, Burden, Doune, Raymond) has been incoherent — Loveland under 10% target share, Raymond leading targets. Garrett's framing: if you're rebuilding and already hold Daniels or Williams, this is a value-add, not a crisis, since it accelerates losing seasons and premium picks.

For teams needing a stopgap quarterback, Deshaun Watson and Daniel Jones are the value plays, not a marquee name. Rich argued Watson (scoring over 15 PPG with improved weapons and rushing) is worth a late third-round pick as a cheap bridge, while Garrett called Daniel Jones one of his favorite third-quarterback buys — cheap, unloved, and productive again after a strong Week 2. Both agreed nobody should be paying real draft capital (more than a second) for a true QB1 replacement right now; CJ Stroud and Bryce Young were named as players nobody will discount.

Denver's backfield hierarchy is becoming clearer, and Rich sees RJ Harvey as the passing-game lead back once healthy, with Jonah Coleman as a legitimate but unproven complementary piece. Rich pointed to Harvey's draft capital and pass-catching profile as the long-term dynasty answer, while Pete argued Coleman's all-around skill set (he ran 80% of snaps late in Week 2 and scored) makes him the back Sean Payton trusts in more situations. Neither host was ready to start either in fantasy lineups yet, and both flagged JK Dobbins' hamstring as a multi-week issue that clears the runway.

Justin Herbert is a legitimate buy-low target, but only at a price that reflects how bad the Chargers have looked and how brutal the schedule ahead is. Rich and Garrett agreed the offense (14 points in each of two losses, a brutal red-zone fumble) looks broken schematically, not just poorly played, and pinned real blame on both Herbert's execution and a game plan seemingly designed for different personnel (Tyreek Hill routes run by Ladd McConkey). Garrett said he'd buy Herbert for a single first-round pick if positioned as a true contender, but cautioned the Chargers' upcoming slate (Broncos, Chiefs, Rams among others) means the buy window may need to wait past Week 6 rather than acting now.

Bryce Young has legitimately outplayed his reputation over a nine-game sample and is now a real trade target, sparking the show's one direct disagreement. Pete cited Young averaging 19.62 points per game over that stretch (fourth overall) and pushed him into legitimate-starter territory; Rich agreed he's improved every year and would pay a late 2027 first if needed at quarterback. But when asked whether they'd trade Baker Mayfield straight up for Young, Rich said yes for the youth and momentum, while Garrett said no, valuing Mayfield's guaranteed contract security over Young's hot streak, and wants to see Young's results against a tougher four-game stretch (Eagles, Bucs, Packers, Broncos) before fully committing.

Denzel Boston has been the standout rookie receiver of the class through two weeks, reinforcing the hosts' broader skepticism of 40-yard-dash hype. Garrett and Rich detailed his back-to-back long touchdown catches (59 and 46 yards), team-leading route share, and contested-catch ability, calling him possibly the most valuable rookie receiver they've tracked early. They flagged the caveat that much of his production is concentrated in a couple of explosive plays, but both said his role, quarterback situation, and touchdown rate make him a clear stock-up over classmates like Kaleb Johnson-era hype names.

What it means for your roster

• Hold, don't panic-sell Jayden Daniels or Caleb Williams if you're rebuilding — both hosts view a lost 2026 season as accelerating your draft-capital timeline, not destroying long-term value.
• Target Deshaun Watson (roughly a late third-round pick) or Daniel Jones (cheap, low buy-in) as bridge QB2/QB3 options if you're a contender suddenly missing your starter; don't pay more than a second-round pick for any stopgap.
• Buy Justin Herbert only if the price reflects the current freefall — a single first was floated, but wait until after his brutal upcoming schedule (Broncos/Chiefs/Rams-heavy) resolves before pulling the trigger.
• Consider a Baker Mayfield-for-Bryce Young swap if you're a win-now team wanting to get younger, per Rich; Garrett would decline, preferring Mayfield's contract security — treat this as a close, situational call, not a slam dunk either way.
• Add RJ Harvey (once healthy) as the passing-down lead back in Denver, with Jonah Coleman as a speculative stash, not a lineup piece yet.
• Move Matthew Golden and Denzel Boston up in dynasty rankings — Rich would pay a mid-2027 second for Golden given his target share in a run-game-starved offense, and Boston is being framed as a top rookie-class asset after two explosive weeks.