Trending Wide Receivers and Running Backs- Week 6

The NFL continues to prove it’s a week-to-week league, and nothing can be taken for granted. With that type of fluidity, understanding the fabric of trending players is vastly important.

Entering week six of the season, teams are beginning to show their true colors leaving great significance to how players respond. Game plans have always been the driver in potential player outputs, and this week’s edition of trending players shows it with clarity.

Trending Up

Aaron Jones (GB)

For the most part, we have been on the fence regarding the Packers Aaron Jones simply due to his injury history. While we never questioned the ability he possessed, the usage has been sporadic at best leaving much to be desired. After last week’s showcase and offensive explosion, we can no longer ignore the elite level talent he truly is.  

Aside from his injuries, the issue at hand will remain volume in this offense but we are extremely encouraged with the prospects. Head Coach Matt LaFleur may finally be the individual to place trust on his running back moving forward. Believing he can no longer be locked in restraints and should be the constant in this offense, we could see a weekly heavy dose of Jones. Either way, Jones is trending up in a very big way and should be viewed as high-end potential every week.   

John Brown (BUF)

While we completely understand the Buffalo Bills are on the bye week, the speedy pass catcher from Western New York deserves this placement. Though it’s true that his statistical achievements haven’t seen the likes of top tier talent as of yet, the target share remains and the potential for big play opportunity is here.

Outside of the first week of the season, Brown hasn’t mustered a touchdown or found his way to over 100-yards receiving, so why is he a highly tending player at this point? - the upcoming schedule! Over the course of the next five weeks, the Bills play Miami, Philadelphia, Washington, Cleveland, and Miami once again. All these clubs have one thing in common, grave difficulty in defending the pass.

If Brown isn’t on your roster at this moment, we fully recommend proposing a trade for his services as the statistics should be plentiful. Tending up in a very big way is an understatement for Brown.    

Tevin Coleman (SF)

Heading back to the offseason, our affinity for the former Falcon, now 49er – Tevin Coleman is picking up steam once again. While his season was halted to start to an injured ankle, Coleman found his way back to the good books on Monday Night Football with triumph.

Clearly, playing with Coach Kyle Shanahan and holding a keen familiarity with his systems, the 49ers are simply scratching the surface in what they can achieve. There is no question that this offense will continue to use a multi-back approach in hopes to gain the advantage on the opposition. Coleman if healthy, should be a weekly fantasy earner with sound potential. Never wavering in our belief of the man, his trends are moving up. 

Zay Jones (OAK)

Some will scoff at this evaluation, but hear me out before you cast judgement. With recent news that the Buffalo Bills have traded Zay Jones to Oakland for draft pick compensation, the prospects of him finding his way back into the light is very real. To be clear, the talent is here with Jones and you simply have to look back to the domination from his college days. Jones was heavily scouted by NFL departments knowing that a four year career in East Carolina came with it 399 receptions. In his senior campaign back in 2016, Jones mustered a whopping 158 catches for 1746 yards, and eight touchdowns, need we say more?

However, adjusting to the pro game has been nothing short of abysmal and we completely understand the negative notion that it may never transpire. It’s our contention the Bills miss-used his talents as he’s most comfortable in the slot. Holding an outside position with Buffalo clearly didn’t bring out the best in this young receiver. Needless to say, we still have faith in Jones and believe a change of scenery could do him wonders. Trend up is a statement we use with caution, but still moving up our board.      

Trending Down

David Montgomery (CHI)

At this point of the season, utter disappointment is the only statement we can use to describe the Bears run game and rookie David Montgomery. Though it’s clear the attempts to provide him ball with greater frequency has been on the agenda of Coach Matt Nagy, the production hasn’t been enough to warrant positive outlooks.

Heading back to last week’s contest across the pond in England, Montgomery found new lows in holding his lowest tallies since week one. His average yards per carry has been a disaster thus far, and the dysfunction of this offense only highlights that further. While we still believe in his talents, we place a great deal of blame on play calling, usage, and the inadequacies of this offensive line. The Bears bye-week has come at the most appropriate time as Montgomery is trending down through the floor.  

Odell Beckham Jr (CLE)

We are never afraid to show elite players on a trending down list, and this week shows the complete debacle that is the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately for Odell Beckham Jr, he has come along for the ride and his stat sheet is taking a massive hit. Outside of his week two performance in his return to New York verse the Jets, Beckham hasn’t been able to generate much of anything teamed with the inconsistent play of Baker Mayfield.

What could be more telling in this situation, back in week four where the Browns put up a healthy 40-points on the Ravens, Beckham was again an afterthought in the game plan securing a mere two receptions for 20 yards. No one will ever question the ability and talent from Beckham, but the team dynamic is forcing our hand to preach the negatives. Obviously Beckham can breakout on any given Sunday, but right now, his trends are moving below the standard.    

Nelson Agholor (PHI)

It appears that the Eagles Nelson Agholor has found his place with this club, and the role is vastly unfavorable. While the talent remains, the Eagles haven’t used Agholor much outside of covering for injuries to the receiving core. Sitting on a contract year, we would’ve thought the fortitude of high-end production would be at the forefront. More wrong we couldn’t have been.

The baffling aspect to this evaluation rests with the injury to Desean Jackson. Jackson has been held in the medical room with an abdominal injury for the last several weeks and the targets haven’t transferred over to his teammate Agholor whatsoever. These last two contests have shown a greater plan to establish the run game, which has dropped the valve of this receiver to the tune of four targets going for one reception. Until further notice, the trend has fallen off a cliff with no indication of returning. 

LeSean McCoy (KC)

The mantra for running backs moving past the age of 30-years old brings with it undesirable perceptions. After being released by the Buffalo Bills and latching on with the high-octane Kansas City Chiefs, our thoughts instantly went toward a revival of LeSean McCoy. While the season to start hasn’t been horrible, some trends we notice provide great fear for the future.

McCoy clearly still has the ability to breakout in contests with his elusive ability and speed, but the usage in this offense is rather concerning. Coach Andy Reid has mixed up the touches from the backfield so far this season, but from what transpired a week ago, faith in volume isn’t here. McCoy fumbled the ball last week and never saw the field again in a very tight match-up. This cant necessarily be enough to warrant a down trend, but trusting the usage moving forward is as good as a dart throw.

This trend is more cautionary rather than moving down, but it’s enough to keep tabs on.