Read and React: Players Ascending and Descending in NFFC Drafts

The NFFC (National Fantasy Football Championships) has some of the sharpest minds in fantasy football competing against each other every year, and their ADP (Average Draft Position) can provide insights into the latest trends in the market. Knowing the market prices for each player can help you make sound decisions when you're on the clock in your drafts. Let's take a look at the biggest movement in the last week in NFFC Drafts. The players highlighted below have ascended and descended for the week of August 20th-27th.  

Estimated read time: 10-15 minutes 

Ascenders

• Kyren Williams | RB | Los Angeles Rams

• Up 13 spots to ADP 280 

Kyren Williams gained a lot of steam in NFFC by moving up 13 spots in ADP since last week, even without appearing in a single preseason game for the Rams. The second-year back has stayed healthy in camp, training behind presumed starter Cam Akers. Williams' ascension correlated with The Athletic's Jordan Rodrigue's observations of the Rams backfield and how he fits in. Rodrigue shared her thoughts about how Williams could complement Akers by giving the team a reliable pass catcher in third down and trailing situations. Williams is a natural receiver and can provide valuable PPR points as a check-down target for quarterback Matthew Stafford when the pocket collapses. If Rodrigue is accurate in her assessment, it could put a damper on the three-down role Akers managers envisioned. Given the nature of the position, it's not unrealistic to believe Los Angeles could give Williams a chance to start at some point this season.   

Coming out of Notre Dame in 2021, Williams gained a reputation as a player who can contribute right away in the passing game. An undersized prospect at 5'9'' and 194 pounds, Williams excelled as a pass blocker and a mismatch for slower linebackers. The Rams selected him in the fifth round of the NFL Draft and figured to be a complementary back to Akers and sub in on passing downs. His development derailed when he suffered a foot injury that kept him out for summer workouts and camp activities. Williams worked his way back into the active roster for the season opener only to suffer a high-ankle sprain on a kickoff return. Williams appeared in just ten games for the rest of the season and turned 35 carries into 139 yards while catching nine of his 11 targets for 75 yards. Williams is a player to keep an eye on as we get closer to the start of the season and is worthy of a late-round flyer in bestball formats. 

• Deuce Vaughn | RB | Dallas Cowboys

• Up 17 spots to ADP 232

For the second consecutive week, Deuce Vaughn appears on this list of ascenders in NFFC Drafts after gaining 17 spots in ADP. Just three weeks ago, Vaughn was undraftable in most formats at 261 overall in NFFC. The sixth-round rookie has experienced quite a turnaround in the fantasy community and jumped up to 232 overall this week. At 5'5'' and 180 pounds, Vaughn was the subject of punchlines in viral videos on social media as camp opened in July. Now a lock to make the final roster, he has a legit chance to carve out a role in a run-balanced offense under new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.    

The Cowboys opened camp with an open competition to backup recently promoted Tony Pollard. Dallas gave opportunities to unestablished backs Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis, and Vaughn to make a name for themselves. Vaughn separated himself with electric runs in each of the two preseason games against Jacksonville and Seattle. Vaughn displayed his elusiveness with the ball and an ability to contribute as a pass catcher that caught the eyes of many NFFC managers. Only Davis appeared in the third preseason game against Las Vegas, which may signal we might see a mix of Dowdle and Vaughn in the RB2 role. Both players may factor in Dallas' season, as Pollard has never played an entire season in his four-year career. Pollard is just seven months removed from a fractured fibula in his left leg during the Cowboys' recent playoff loss to San Francisco last year. If Vaughn can continue to display his skills can translate into the NFL, then fantasy managers can have a steal in the later rounds. He's not Barry Sanders, but he can offer PPR value like a healthy Tarik Cohen, Darren Sproles, or J.D. McKissic eventually. We're talking about an RB3/Flex value for a guy taken in the double-digit rounds in fantasy drafts. How far can Vaughn climb ADP before Week 1? Stay tuned.     

• Luke Musgrave | TE | Green Bay

• Up 13 spots to ADP 234

In any other draft class, Luke Musgrave would've been a first-round pick in the NFL Draft last April. The infusion of elite collegiate talent featured stars Michael Mayer, Dalton Kincaid, and Sam LaPorta. Mayer, Kincaid, and LaPorta each gained their own steam this preseason with their respective teams, but Musgrave remained under the radar until recently. The second-round pick moved up 13 spots in ADP and has become a popular late-round pick for NFFC managers looking for upside in the most ambiguous position in fantasy football.  

At 6'6'' 253 pounds, Musgrave gives the Packers a desirable combination of size, speed, and pass-catching prowess. Musgrave is locked in as the opening-day starter with an inexperienced group of players in Jordan Love, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed. How will Love distribute targets among the young pass catchers? Can Musgrave's speed translate into a deep threat in the NFL? His ADP is still low enough to take a late-round shot to find out. Musgrave should be on your radar, especially if you missed out on those top-tier tight ends earlier in your drafts. 

Descenders

• Mike Gesicki | TE | New England

• Down eight spots to ADP 185

Last season, Mike Gesicki had a disappointing year with the Dolphins and fantasy managers who were looking for value late in drafts. He turned in a career-low in targets (52), catches (32), receiving yards (362) and five touchdowns. It became evident Gesicki never fit in with head coach Mike McDaniel's offense. Entering his age-27 season, the Patriots signed the sure-handed tight end to play in Bill O'Brien's offense. According to Patriots.com's Evan Lazar, O'Brien will feature an offense that will use mainly 12-personnel (1 RB, 2WR, 2TE) in New England. Paired with veteran Hunter Henry, Gesicki was a popular sleeper pick early in bestball drafts, as he potentially would play more on the outside with Henry's reputation as the better blocker. 

Gesicki suffered a setback and dislocated his shoulder in a drill in August, and the injury has kept him sidelined for most of the preseason and workouts. Gesicki returned to practice recently with a red non-contact jersey, and his availability for Week 1 is still in question. Will the presence of Henry limit his fantasy ceiling? How will he fit in with the Patriots offense? Gesicki is still a reliable receiver in the passing game when healthy. He has only recorded seven drops in five seasons as a pro. NFFC managers are opting for younger tight ends like the ones mentioned above. Gesicki is now down to 185 overall with the likes of Irv Smith and Dawson Knox. Maybe it's time to pivot as well.  

• New York Jets Running Backs

Last week, Israel Abanikanda was highlighted as a descender in NFFC Drafts, mainly due to the addition of Dalvin Cook. Abanikanda fell another 12 spots this week and 20 spots in the last two weeks to 260 overall. However, it appears the rookie back isn't the only player affected by Cook's signing. The entire backfield in New York has experienced a dip in ADP, starting with presumed lead back Cook. The veteran fell six spots and saw Dameon Pierce and Javonte Williams leap him in ADP. Cook lost the most spots by any player currently in the top 100 in ADP.

Are NFFC managers looking elsewhere due to the ambiguity in the Jets backfield this close to the regular season? New York has a strong defense under head coach Robert Saleh and a still-elite Aaron Rodgers running the show. Breece Hall also fell three spots, as he continues to recover from his knee surgery, while Michael Carter continues his fall with a crowded backfield. At what point is one of these running backs worth the discount and will experience a market correction? 

• Michael Pittman Jr. | WR | Indianapolis

• Down four spots to ADP 67

Jonathan Taylor isn't the only member of the Colts looking for a contract extension in Indianapolis. Michael Pittman Jr. is entering the final year of his rookie contract after setting career highs in receptions (99), receiving yards (925) and touchdowns (4). With Taylor still at odds with management and rookie Anthony Richardson named the opening-day starting quarterback, Pittman Jr. continues to trend downward in ADP. Pittman Jr. has lost six spots since the start of preseason and four spots in the last week. 

Pittman Jr. is the unquestioned WR1 in Indianapolis and has produced even with inconsistent play from his quarterbacks. When the Colts play host to Jacksonville on Sept 10th, Pittman Jr. would have started every year in his career with a different quarterback. In 2020, The Colts began with veteran Philip Rivers followed by Carson Wentz in 2021. The Colts were talking Super Bowl aspirations this time last year with former MVP Matt Ryan and Richardson this season. Usually, injury history scares experienced managers away, but Pittman Jr. has proved to be very durable in the NFL career. He has only missed five games in his three seasons in Indianapolis. NFFC managers have moved Rachaad White and Tyler Lockett ahead of Pittman. Starting a rookie quarterback could have its ups and downs, should we be taking the lead by NFFC managers and not buying a ticket on that ride?

Follow Michael Chasco on X @ChascoFCF