Rookie Stock Watch: Week 17 – Dynasty League Football

Every dynasty manager experiences rookie fever in the offseason. It’s easy to project that the incoming class is full of future Hall of Famers and focus only on the positive side of each prospect. But once they step onto the field in the NFL, everything changes. We expect their upward projection to be immediately true from week one and patience may quickly run out as managers undergo a change in mindset. That’s why it’s important to manage your expectations and pay attention to what’s really important.

So, which newcomers showed signs of life and which were truly disappointing? In this new series, I’ll give you three newbies whose stocks are rising and three that have experienced a downturn in the past two weeks, as well as one name to watch. Welcome to the Rookie Stock Watch for week seventeen.

Stock on: Ashton Jeanty, RB LV

Jeanty reminded everyone why he was possibly considered the best player in this year’s draft. It’s been a rookie season to forget, and yet another proof of why a stud running back should be the last piece you add to your offense, but Jeanty showed his ability to make big plays of his own as he finished with 188 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns en route to an overall RB3 finish. Jeanty has struggled behind arguably the worst offensive line in football, which is by no means a surprise.

Entering 2026, the Raiders need to make a change at QB, while also making multiple changes at the OL. If they can improve the line through free agency (normally the best place to do that), Jeanty could enter 2026 as a top option in fantasy football, which is even more exciting if you manage to acquire a top talent on the cheap following a disappointing rookie year.

Stock down: Emeka Egbuka, WR TB