Dynasty Risers & Fallers For Week 3 | Dynasty Fantasy Football Podcast Ep. 912
Garret and Pete run through Week 3's biggest dynasty risers and fallers, arguing that Drake Maye's brutal start is a screaming buy-low window while Brian Thomas Jr. and Jadarian Price have genuinely regressed in value. They also cover a wave of significant injuries (De'Von Achane, Baker Mayfield, Braelon Allen, Justin Jefferson, Travis Etienne) and flag Tyler Shough, Kenyon Sadiq, and Ollie Gordon as buy-low/sell-high risers respectively.
This Week 3 risers/fallers episode from Dynasty Nerds finds Garrett and Pete wrestling with a league that made no sense — bad teams winning, contenders collapsing — and using that chaos to argue for buying several talented players whose value has cratered rather than panicking with the field. The throughline: process over recency bias, especially at quarterback and with rookie tight ends.
The arguments
Jadarian Price has dropped from a slam-dunk breakout to a genuine buy-low, but the hosts split on urgency. Pete, historically the biggest Price believer, moved him down hardest after back-to-back fumbling games raised real red flags he'd hoped were fixed post-Notre Dame, and he now says he's not confident Price beats out Emmanuel Wilson/Ollie Wilson types for volume. Garrett countered that Price is playing the same good football he saw on tape and that the doghouse/fumble narrative is exactly the kind of overreaction that creates cheap buying windows — he'd now take Price over Cam Skattebo, Kaleb Johnson, Judkins, and Swift, with only Tet McMillan (Tootin) as a closer call.
Drake May's brutal start (1 TD, 9 INTs, 57.0 rating through four games) is a screaming buy-low, not a reason to bail. Garrett went on an extended rant comparing May to Drew Brees's rough 2007 start, arguing no young QB with May's talent and 2024 playoff pedigree has simply "become bad" this fast without injury, and that locker-room turmoil under Vrabel is a real confounding factor. Pete agreed, ranking May as his QB3 and saying he'd trade for him straight-up against any QB not named Caleb Williams or Josh Allen — both hosts would take May over Trevor Lawrence, Burrow, Lamar, Mahomes, and Hurts in a change-of-scenery scenario.
Brian Thomas Jr. has fallen further than either host anticipated, and neither is buying yet. Garrett, who had previously sold BTJ near his peak, admitted he's now on the wrong side of the BTJ trade and compared him to a DJ Chark-type vertical specialist whose role has evaporated — he has under 100 total yards through three games. Both hosts agreed the 2024 WR class has cratered league-wide, and while Garrett would take Marvin Harrison Jr. over BTJ in an "ugly-off" (mostly betting on a Cardinals trade), neither is calling BTJ a buy at current price.
Devon Achane's likely season-ending injury (possible ACL/meniscus) is devastating, and only rebuilders should touch the return. The hosts agreed this is a real long-term loss, not short-term, and that any target price has to account for Achane already being on the older side for a runner (turning 25, then 26 next season) despite his four-year, $64M extension securing his role whenever he returns. Garrett floated a Kyren Williams swap as the kind of one-for-one that makes sense for a team just trying to lose points now, while Pete said a mid-2027 first is roughly fair value from a rebuilding team banking on a fast turnaround.
Ollie Gordon's ascension to Miami's lead-back role is real but should be sold immediately, not held. Garrett was explicit that being a riser doesn't mean buy — he'd happily deal Gordon for a high second-round pick because Gordon (2.4 YPC on 17 carries) isn't better than what Achane was already struggling to be as a receiving-down threat, and Jalen Wright's role adds more muddiness. Pete agreed this isn't a league-winning opportunity like a true bellcow injury replacement (contrasted with an Emmitt Johnson-type scenario), just a decent volume play in a mediocre offense.
Kenyon Sadiq's athletic tools are translating into real usage, making him the top riser with long-term TE1 upside. Pete called Sadiq's diving touchdown grab one of the best catches of the week and argued Sadiq has more raw physical talent than Brock Bowers, pointing to eight targets and rising usage even before Garrett Wilson's absence factored in. Garrett, who wasn't sold on Sadiq as a prospect, is now convinced enough that he'd rather have him than his own held tight ends in hypothetical trades, though he stopped short of moving off Kyle Pitts or Sam LaPorta for him.
What it means for your roster
- Buy Drake May aggressively if you can get him for any starting QB outside Caleb Williams/Josh Allen — both hosts would make that trade even without extra compensation, and welcome sweeteners on top.
- Target Jadarian Price as a buy-low, especially against panicked owners selling off recent ADP that had him above Skattebo, Judkins, Kaleb Johnson, and Swift; don't overpay if you need immediate production.
- Sell Ollie Gordon now for a high 2nd-round pick — his ROS ceiling is capped as a low-efficiency early-down back, and Achane's eventual return (or Jalen Wright's role) further muddies his path.
- Value Devon Achane in trades at roughly a mid-2027 first-round pick if rebuilding; a Kyren Williams swap also fits for teams wanting points off the board now.
- Hold, don't chase, Brian Thomas Jr. — both hosts have soured and aren't buying the dip yet; Marvin Harrison Jr. is the preferred name in that tier if forced to choose.
- Kenyon Sadiq is a keep/buy for dynasty tight end depth — he's entering the report's "team-changing tight end" tier discussion, and his price should reflect real breakout signals, not just opportunity from injuries around him.
“I am buying every single panicked Drake May share that I can possibly buy.” — Garret
Players in this episode
↓ Suffered a likely long-term knee injury (possible ACL/meniscus) that will cost him most or all of the season; hosts say only rebuilders should target him and even then only for a mid-2027 first at most.
↑ Despite a brutal statistical start (9 INT-level performance level), hosts see this as an elite buy-low window given his 2024 breakout and playoff run; they'd trade for him over all QBs except Caleb Williams and Josh Allen.
→ Suffered an ankle injury of unknown severity (unclear if high or low ankle sprain) that opened the door for Jordan Addison's big game.
↓ Dealing with a recurring groin issue possibly grade two (3-6 weeks), meaning he may not return until close to fantasy playoffs; hosts say there's no actionable trade angle here.
→ In a head-to-head comparison, hosts prefer him over Jadarian Price currently, though his exact injury status was unclear (possibly overblown sideline issue like Garrett Wilson's).
→ Listed as an 'almost faller' at 0-3, but hosts aren't panicking since the whole Chargers offense is struggling, not just him specifically.
↑ Hosts speculate he could be the first overall pick in the next draft (college prospect), noting Vegas may be pricing itself out of the sweepstakes by winning games; Miami/Tampa Bay/Tennessee floated as landing spots.
↓ Hamstring injury in a messy Jaguars backfield situation where journeyman CJ Donaldson got goal-line work over him and Kamara-type backs.
→ Still no double-digit fantasy game but looked more involved and the offense is flowing better, so hosts feel less concerned than the raw numbers suggest.
→ Fumbling issues and failure to overtake Emanuel Wilson/Kalani in the backfield make Garret cautious, but Pete now views him as a buy-low since talent remains and price has dropped below Judkins/Swift/Tootin tiers.
→ Left a game with a rib injury after appearing to have trouble breathing on the sideline.
→ In an 'ugly-off' vs Brian Thomas Jr., Garret picks him to be better rest of season mainly because he thinks Harrison is more likely to be traded to a better situation.
↓ Dislocated thumb will keep him out multiple weeks with a brutal upcoming schedule (Packers, Cowboys, Steelers, Panthers), raising concern the Bucs could spiral toward a high draft pick.
↓ Usage has cratered and hosts say they're no longer even buying low, comparing his fall to DJ Chark's decline; his 2024 rookie class hype has completely reversed.
↑ Garret says he's finally bought in given the Saints' fast-paced offense and Shough's mobility/production, ranking him ahead of Sam Darnold, Jared Goff (for Pete), and Bryce Young in trade value.
↑ Stepped into the WR1 role with Justin Jefferson out and looked explosive; hosts think Kyler Murray-Addison chemistry (once healthy) makes him a legit riser.
↑ Made a highlight diving TD catch and is seeing rising usage (8 targets) with the Jets; hosts call him a top riser with elite athletic upside who could reach a team-changing tight end tier.
↓ Mentioned as having fallen so far in value that he's no longer even trending as a faller — he's just permanently low now.
→ Gets more opportunity after Breece Hall's injury, but Breece just signed a new deal and remains the long-term lead back, so this is viewed as a short-term bump only.
↓ Becomes the presumptive lead back after Achane's ACL injury, but hosts say he's not talented enough to be a league-winner and recommend selling him now for a high 2nd-round pick.