10 Fantasy Football Fallers: Chris Godwin, Jonathan Taylor Sliding in Recent Weeks

These days, there's no shortage of fantasy football information out there.

Whether you're reading up on the latest tight-end regression candidates, sifting through the FanDuel Research staff mock draft, or taking part in mocks yourself, there's a lot to digest.

Eventually, you may have a good grasp on what you want to do in drafts, but what about what everyone else wants to do?

Having a feel for the general consensus is crucial to leaving drafts with as much value as possible. Checking out current average draft position (ADP) data helps, but it's equally important to know where players are trending.

Using Fantasy Football Calculator, let's look at 10 names whose ADPs have fallen since training camp began on July 18th.

10 Fantasy Football Fallers

Russell Wilson, Quarterback, Denver Broncos

Fell from 11.01 (121st overall) to 12.02 (134th)

Not even a coaching change for the Denver Broncos seems to have drafters excited about Russell Wilson.

After Wilson averaged the fewest Net Expected Points (NEP) per play of his career in 2022, it will take a lot for fantasy managers to trust him again -- especially with most standard leagues starting only one quarterback per team.

Even with positive reports from training camp, Wilson's ADP is at QB17 and is unlikely to jump any of the names ahead of him. If anything, we could continue to see Russ fall considering the high-upside guys like Anthony Richardson and Kyler Murray behind him.

Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Los Angeles Rams

Fell from 13.02 (146th) to 13.12 (156th)

Despite Matthew Stafford finishing as the QB5 just two seasons ago, he's not generating much buzz in early drafts.

In fact, he finds himself falling into the latter half of the 13th round.

While a healthy year for Stafford and star receiver Cooper Kupp will undoubtedly lead to a better fantasy season than last year's disaster, the public isn't very excited about the 35-year-old.

Considering 2021 was his first top-12 finish since 2017, it makes sense. Unlike Wilson, Stafford is unlikely to fall much further -- if only because, at QB21, there isn't much further to fall.

Jonathan Taylor, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts

Fell from 1.05 (5th) to 2.09 (21st)

Star players and preseason holdouts.

It's a tale as old as time.

Last year's consensus 1.01, Jonathan Taylor, is the latest star to have a contract dispute disrupt his fantasy stock. Taylor already had some question marks after an injury-plagued RB34 finish to last season, and this only adds fuel to the fire.

For some, this contract situation offers an opportunity to get Taylor at a discount. For others, this is a situation to steer clear from.

Regardless, as long as his situation with the Indianapolis Colts remains up in the air, JT will continue to slide down drafts.

Josh Jacobs, Running Back, Las Vegas Raiders

Fell from 1.10 (10th) to 2.07 (19th)

Josh Jacobs' situation is similar to Taylor's. Jacobs is in the midst of a holdout -- though, unlike Taylor, he enjoyed a wildly successful 2022 campaign.

While the Raiders are hopeful Jacobs will return soon, they've since added Damien Williams and Darwin Thompson to shore up their backfield.

Still, Jacobs' slide will surely stop once his contract situation is resolved, and as a result, he could be a huge value in early drafts as long as he returns for Week 1.

Travis Etienne, Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars

Fell from 2.08 (20th) to 3.05 (29th)

Unlike the other two running backs sliding down draft boards, Travis Etienne's ADP drop has nothing to do with a contract situation.

The third-year back was one of the hottest names in fantasy prior to the 2023 NFL draft. Entering his prime, all signs were pointing up for Etienne as the RB1 in an up-and-coming offense.

However, the Jacksonville Jaguars' selection of Tank Bigsby in the third round has put a damper on Etienne's fantasy stock. Days after Jaguars' offensive coordinator Press Taylor said "the guy making plays is gonna get carries," Bigsby impressed in his preseason debut.

This is a situation to monitor. The more Tank gets hyped up through the preseason, the further Etienne will fall in drafts.

Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Chargers

Fell from 5.09 (57th) to 6.02 (62nd)

After finishing as the WR32 last season, 28-year-old Mike Williams finds himself slipping in drafts.

That's likely due to his combination of age and injury history. Williams missed four games and the playoffs last year and has dealt with nagging injuries throughout his career. Combined with his age and the Los Angeles Chargers' first-round selection of receiver Quentin Johnston, fantasy drafters are souring on Mike Williams as we get closer to the season.

Chris Godwin, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Fell from 5.06 (54th) to 6.07 (67th)

Chris Godwin is an incredibly talented wide receiver, but he's missed multiple games in each of the last four seasons and is now going from Tom Brady to... well, this:

Consequently, he's sliding down drafts, and unless one of Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask look better in the preseason, Godwin will likely keep falling.

Michael Pittman, Wide Receiver, Indianapolis Colts

Fell from 5.12 (60th) to 7.02 (74th)

Michael Pittman Jr. was a disappointment in fantasy last season, finishing as the WR23 after going as the WR10 in drafts.

While he's still young enough to achieve that top-tier potential many envisioned for him last season, the Colts' quarterback situation is likely scaring fantasy managers off Pittman this preseason.

Anthony Richardson throwing an interception on his first preseason possession won't help Pittman's ADP, but if the uber-talented rookie begins to show signs of life, Pittman could be a major value.

George Kittle, Tight End, San Francisco 49ers

Fell from 4.09 (45th) to 6.02 (62nd)

Like Godwin, George Kittle has missed multiple games in four consecutive seasons, and his quarterback situation is up in the air.

While there is little doubt that the San Francisco 49ers will have a better offense than the Bucs will, San Francisco has more mouths to feed than Tampa Bay, which makes Kittle and a few other Niners tough to stomach at their ADPs. Kittle also has some TD-regression concerns.

With Kittle already missing time this preseason, he's falling down drafts -- though, he's still one of the first tight ends off the board.

Kyle Pitts, Tight End, Atlanta Falcons

Fell from 5.04 (52nd) to 7.02 (74th)

Kyle Pitts had one of the most disappointing campaigns in fantasy last year, finishing as the TE33 after being drafted as the TE3.

Though he remains just 22 years old, the third-year pro is firmly in the "prove it" stage with most fantasy managers. That's reflected in his ADP, which continues to drop ahead of the season.

Takeaways

• There isn't much movement at quarterback -- especially at the top. If anything, we could see them rise as the season inches closer and more casual leagues draft.
• Running back has held tight outside of some backs with dicey contract situations. Continue to monitor established backs who have rookies behind them.
• The top of the wide receiver position is rock-sold, but we're seeing quite a few fallers in the middle rounds. Most of these fit the same mold: aging pass catchers with iffy quarterback situations and/or injury concerns.
• Outside of Kelce, all of the top 12 tight ends have fallen. This says less about specific players and more about the position as a whole -- early drafters aren't taking the risk when players at more reliable positions are still on the board.

While you wait for Week 1's daily fantasy football slates to lock, you can get in on some best-ball fantasy football drafts on FanDuel, as well. Just draft your team and watch the points pile up throughout the season.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.