Seahawks-Patriots Fantasy Stock Watch: Who Rose, Who Fell After Week 1
Week 1 has officially begun, which means fantasy managers can finally get back to what we do best: wildly overreacting to one football game.
We’re not ready to declare anyone a league winner (or send anyone to the waiver wire) just yet. But after one game, a few fantasy stocks are already moving.
📈 Stock Up
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks
The Alpha Has Arrived
If you spent a top-five pick on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, congratulations. You got exactly what you paid for.
JSN looked every bit the undisputed No. 1 receiver in Seattle, commanding a massive 11 targets and turning them into 8 catches for 122 yards and a game-tying 45-yard touchdown from Drew Lock.
That’s not a fluky stat line built on one big play. That’s alpha-level volume.
And perhaps most importantly for those of us who place our happiness squarely on the shoulders of professional athletes we’ve never met, the quarterback situation doesn’t appear capable of changing Smith-Njigba’s role. Whether it’s Sam Darnold or Drew Lock under center, JSN is going to get fed.
If there was any lingering question about who owns this passing game, we can probably put that one to bed.
PigSkinFantasy verdict: Stock way up. Start him every week.
Drew Lock, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Superflex Savior
Drew Lock wasn’t supposed to be the story coming out of this game. Then Sam Darnold went down, and Lock stepped in and played exceptionally well.
Lock finished with a 113.3 passer rating and delivered the game-tying touchdown to Smith-Njigba when Seattle needed it most.
Nobody should be rushing to make Lock their QB1 in a standard league, but if you’re playing in Superflex, 2QB, or deeper formats you should absolutely be paying attention.
If Darnold misses time, Lock immediately becomes one of the top waiver-wire priorities at the quarterback position. No, we’re not telling you to drop your starting quarterback for Drew Lock. But Superflex managers should absolutely be checking the waiver wire.
PigSkinFantasy verdict: Stock up. Keep an eye on him, especially in Superflex.
Jadarian Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Fifth-Round Investment Paying Off
Okay, Jadarian Price. You have our attention. Price carried the ball 10 times for 52 yards, averaging an impressive 5.2 yards per carry, while also adding two receptions for six yards.
More importantly, he looked explosive and appeared to outplay George Holani, who finished with 8 carries for 29 yards. That’s enough to get our attention.
We’re not crowning Price after 10 carries, but he looked like Seattle’s best back. That’s enough to make him a player worth holding, and potentially starting if his role grows.
For those who grabbed him in the early fifth round, the investment is already looking pretty good. Ten carries don’t make a breakout. They do make us Price-curious.
PigSkinFantasy verdict: Stock up. He’s earned a longer look.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
Volume Is Still King
Here’s where things get interesting. Rhamondre Stevenson wasn’t particularly efficient, rushing 18 times for 51 yards, a pedestrian 2.8 yards per carry. But fantasy football isn’t a yards-per-carry contest.
With TreVeyon Henderson inactive, Stevenson dominated the workload and was heavily involved as a receiver, catching 5 passes for 44 yards on 6 targets.
Stevenson managed only 2.8 yards per carry, but who cares? He got 23 touches, including five catches for 44 yards. With Henderson inactive, this was his backfield. If that workload continues, Stevenson doesn’t need to be especially efficient to be useful in fantasy.
The efficiency needs to improve, but the workload is exactly what we want to see. As long as Stevenson continues to dominate the backfield opportunities, he maintains a strong fantasy floor.
PigSkinFantasy verdict: Stock up despite the ugly rushing numbers. Volume wins.
📉 Stock Down
Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Injury Watch
Darnold’s fantasy day lasted about as long as it took to get comfortable on the couch. He went down on Seattle’s opening series with a right hip injury and was quickly ruled out.
The early indications were that Darnold avoided a hip fracture, but watch this situation closely.
The injury doesn’t necessarily mean Darnold is going to miss significant time, but until we know more, if you drafted him, you need a contingency plan. And fortunately, Seattle appears to have one.
PigSkinFantasy verdict: Stock down because of the injury. Monitor closely and have a backup plan.
Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
Proceed With Caution
For three quarters, the Maye start didn’t look so bad, and Pigskin Fantasy’s advice to SIT’EM looked a little sus… Then came the fourth quarter.
Maye threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter and was sacked three times, turning what could have been a solid performance into a nightmare.
He did provide some rushing production, carrying the ball 7 times for 47 yards, but his 178 passing yards and turnover issues make him a difficult player to trust until he shows he can avoid these types of collapses.
We’re not giving up on Maye. The 47 rushing yards are a reminder of why his fantasy ceiling remains so enticing, right? But three fourth-quarter picks are hard to overlook
PigSkinFantasy verdict: Stock down. Think twice before putting him into your lineup until he gets the turnovers under control.
A.J. Brown, WR, New England Patriots
Injury Watch
This was a rough night for A.J. Brown. The three catches for 26 yards were bad. The ankle injury was worse.
Brown is obviously not someone you’re simply benching because of one bad game, but his practice participation and injury status need to be monitored closely.
PigSkinFantasy verdict: Stock down. The ankle is the story now.
Romeo Doubs, WR, New England Patriots
Complete Ghost
Sometimes a player has a bad game. Sometimes a player simply disappears.
Romeo Doubs chose Option B.
Despite preseason buzz surrounding his ability to beat zone coverage, Doubs finished with zero catches on three targets. That’s not exactly the debut anyone was hoping for.
One game isn’t enough to write him off, but it’s certainly enough to hesitate on FLEXing him. Until Doubs demonstrates that he’s going to consistently see meaningful targets, leave him on the bench.
PigSkinFantasy verdict: Stock down. Don’t start him until he gives us a reason to.