Fantasy sizzlers, fizzlers: DeMarco Murray has huge bounce-back season
These players saw their fantasy football values increase or decrease the most over the course of the 2016 season:
Sizzlers
RB DeMarco Murray, Tennessee Titans: On the heels of a hugely disappointing 2015 in Philadelphia when he averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry, Murray rejuvenated his career in the Titans’ “exotic smashmouth” offense. With a nose for the goal line (12 total touchdowns), he should be an RB1 next season.
QB Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins: He proved his 2015 season wasn’t a fluke as he completed 67% of his throws and obliterated the franchise record for passing yards (4,630 through 15 games), despite dealing with a constant stream of injuries among his receiving corps.
RB Melvin Gordon, San Diego Chargers: As a highly touted rookie last season, Gordon rushed for a disappointing 641 yards and did not score a single touchdown. Until suffering a knee injury in Week 14, he was one of this season’s best bargains, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards and finding the end zone 12 times.
QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: Fellow rookie Ezekiel Elliott was expected to be a focal point of the offense, with Prescott learning the ropes behind Tony Romo. But once Romo went down, Prescott took charge by making big plays and limiting mistakes (20 TDs, 4 interceptions through 14 weeks). He should enter 2017 as the starter.
RB Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears: It was tough for fantasy drafters to get a read on the Bears backfield, but once Jeremy Langford missed time with an injured ankle, the rookie fifth-rounder took charge. Howard posted six games with over 100 yards rushing and proved to be an effective receiver out of the backfield, too.
Fizzlers
RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings: The consensus first-rounder in fantasy drafts has managed just 72 rushing yards and no touchdowns. The Vikings offensive line struggled to open holes for all of their running backs this season and a torn meniscus along the way did not help matters for Peterson. Fantasy owners have to wonder next season if he has anything left in the tank.
RB Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs: Charles had injury issues coming into the season, but most fantasy owners considered him a bargain late in the second round. With 12 rushes for 40 yards in 2016, those same fantasy owners are now wishing they ignored him completely.
RB Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers: He played in five games, managing 360 yards rushing and did not score a touchdown before having major surgery on his ankle. Lacy is set to be a free agent this offseason and with his injury, coupled with his propensity for showing up to camp out of shape, he may never be in as good a situation for his fantasy value as he was this year.
WR Brandon Marshall, New York Jets: Marshall led the league in touchdowns and was a top-five receiver in 2015, but he’s just barely among this year’s top 50, scoring just three TDs. Poor quarterback play and the loss of fellow wideout Eric Decker contributed to his decline, but Marshall's best days seem to be far behind him.
WR Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers: A lot more was expected from Cobb in such a prolific passing offense. He was hobbled by injuries but his yards per game average (40.7) was his lowest since his rookie season in 2011 and with Davante Adams playing well, Cobb should see his draft stock slide in 2017.
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans: Another top receiver hampered by issues at quarterback, Hopkins may have been this year’s biggest non-injury bust. Catching just 50% of his targets, he suffered huge declines in receptions (71, vs. 111 in 2015), yardage (831 vs. 1,521) and especially touchdowns (4 vs. 11) to ruin many fantasy owners’ seasons.