Once mid-August hits, take your eyes off the NFL at your own risk. One play, tweet, or report causes massive player movements, and markets react instantly.

Two quick drafting tips while we’re on the topic. First, even the sharpest sites only refresh average draft position (ADP) every few days. When something cataclysmic happens, dare to ignore ADP—there’s a great chance at least one of your 11 leaguemates plans to do the same.

Second, up-to-date pieces like this prepare you as well as anything leading up to draft day—but nothing replaces refreshing news before and even at the table. Don’t be the GM burning picks on players sent to the IR earlier in the day.

*All Auction/AAV change data per NFFC ... you can view our in-house recommended Auction Values based on our player rankings here.

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Average Fantasy Football Auction Value Risers

The following three players (plus a bonus!) saw their average auction value (AAV) rise at least $4 over the last 10 days.

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, NE

• 📈: $17 to $24 = +$7

There’s no stopping what cannot be stopped when it comes to the helium on Patriots’ rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson. New England’s second-round pick out of Ohio State has played five times (!) the first-team preseason snaps as any other backfield counterpart, scoring TDs in both exhibition games. Truly electric stuff already.

As if Henderson’s AAV wasn’t already strapped to a fantasy rocketship, incumbent RB Rhamondre Stevenson popped up with an undisclosed injury being described as “not too serious.” Yeah, right. If you plan on rostering Henderson, come prepared—set aside anywhere between $27 and $30.

Tony Pollard, RB, TEN

• 📈: $8 to $12 = +$4

Few things stick a bee in my fantasy bonnet more than the public catching up on my favorite offseason targets. When Tennessee’s backup RB Tyjae Spears hit the tent with a dreaded high ankle sprain last week, you could almost hear Tony Pollard’s AAV rise instantly. 

Having already identified Pollard as an early value and foundational dead-zone standout, watching the Titans' RB fly up boards ripped at my insides. Regardless, at a current $12 average cost, there’s still room for the former first-round fantasy pick to profit.

Check out this fun stat—of all starting RBs (with 200+ touches), Pollard finished first in yards after contact per attempt (3.40) but last in yards before contact per attempt (0.80). Marked offseason improvements at QB and O-line in Music City could turn that second stat on its head and be this year’s skeleton key.

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, CAR

• 📈: $21 to $25 = +$4

What do you get when you mix first-round draft capital with sexy internet gifs and nonstop drumbeats for the missing link in an ascending offense? Our answer’s the coolest name in fantasy football, Tetairoa McMillan.

From the moment he entered the building, Carolina’s big-bodied eighth overall pick garnered praise from coaches and teammates alike. Two games into the preseason, McMillan’s earned a ridiculous 40.0% target/route with the first team, flashing that talent ceiling on tape—and the rest was history. 

I’m not bidding scared—even at the new elevated $25 AAV, I’d still roll with McMillan over comparably priced WRs Tyreek Hill for $26 or Marvin Harrison for $28.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, WAS

BONUS: Despite no official up-to-date auction data out on him yet, Commanders’ backup RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt is riding the express elevator up. With rumors swirling that Washington could part ways with Brian Robinson, the seventh-rounder took off in price, going as high as pick 100 in the eighth round yesterday!

While the part of me drafting Croskey-Merritt all summer in the 19th round feels great right now, the redraft me—not so much. Especially without verified news of a roster move, the current price is patently insane. Buy the dip on Brian Robinson if anything.

Minimum Fantasy Football Auction Values Risers

The following three players saw their minimum auction value (think of this like the floor cost in auction drafts) rise at least $4 over the last 10 days.

Kenneth Walker, RB, SEA

• 📈: $18 to $23 = +$5

Every time Klint Kubiak puts his running scheme on display, Kenneth Walker’s AAV shoots up—and he hasn’t even played yet! Walker did return to practice this week, lending credence to any assumptions we’re witnessing a bubble-wrap situation more than anything.

Seattle’s easily the league's best run game through two weeks of exhibition play, leading the NFL in rush yards per game, yards/carry, yards before contact per attempt, explosive rush rate, and touchdowns. The upside for a healthy season from Walker’s apparent—worth spending up to $28 for RB1 potential.

Matthew Golden, WR, GB

• 📈: $2 to $7 = +$5

Most of the Tetairoa McMillan arguments above apply equally to Green Bay’s Matthew Golden (except he’s a lot cheaper). Face it, legendary levels of camp hype with first-round draft capital will eventually portend market bullishness.

Attribute Golden’s recent price spike to injuries in the Packers’ wide receiver room. Jayden Reed (foot) is in a boot and could “potentially” miss Week 1. Oof. Even with a new AAV bordering on $10, that’s still a discount for access to nearly every dropback on Green Bay’s offense.

Kyren Williams, RB, LAR

• 📈: $24 to $28 = +$4

Money talking in Los Angeles?!? Well, I’ll be …

The Rams just guaranteed Kyren Williams $23M over three years, all but extinguishing calls (from me) for an early Jarquez Hunter takeover. I don’t pay premiums for volume backs in general, but this whole Matthew Stafford Ammortal Chamber thing sealed the deal for me—I fold.

Sign me up for any of Omarion Hampton, Kenneth Walker, or TreVeyon Henderson in the half-tier below Williams—and save a few bucks in the meantime.

Fallers In Average Fantasy Football Auction Values
 

The following three players’ average auction value sank $3 or more over the last 10 days.

Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA

• 📉: $31 to $26 = -$5

(Audible sigh) Tyreek’s being Tyreek, and it’s becoming impossible to find reasons to spend up on anything tied to Miami. What if the Dolphins are just bad now? You could argue Mike McDaniel’s Fins struggled to a -0.05EPA/play (5.2 yards), and just lost the most productive player in that system. 

It’s not wrong to want to see something cool from Hill just once before buying back in. Would you really rather draft him over Tetairoa McMillan or Xavier Worthy, given the obvious baggage right now? Couldn't be me …

Jameson Williams, WR, DET

• 📉: $22 to $18 = -$4

I’ve been out on Jameson Williams this whole time (ducks), and the thinking’s simple. In one of the league’s most prolific offenses, Williams still managed to haul in six passes just once all season. Once. Kyle Pitts made seven grabs twice … just sayin’. 

Anyway, life’s about flexibility … and money. Once we get up to $18 or less, it’s time for even the hardest-headed (hi) bidder to reverse course. Detroit’s too good a contextual environment to pass up on Williams’ four separate top-10 weekly finishes last year.

Ashton Jeanty, RB, LV

• 📉: $43 to $40 = -$3

Oh baby—finally a player I love on the downslide. We can only pray the recent drop in Ashton Jeanty’s AAV comes in response to the rookie’s preseason 3.2 yards/carry. Any preseason reaction here’s an overreaction …

Listen, the black and silver cleaned house this offseason, beyond the roster. I know we’re not used to it, but it appears adults finally took charge in Las Vegas. Expect rational Raiders coaching for the first time in forever, and auto-smash Jeanty in the ~$40 range (or second round of snakes).

Players To Enter The Fantasy Football Auction Drafting Pool Last 10 Days

• Cole Kmet, TE, CHI
• Efton Chism, WR, NE
• Isaac TeSlaa, WR, DET
• Isaiah Bond, WR, CLE
• Jaxson Dart, QB, NYG
• JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, KC
• KaVontae Turpin, WR, DAL
• Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR, MIA
• Shedeur Sanders, QB, CLE
   

While none of the new additions cracked my own personal redraft list, I thought it was useful to know which players emerged into the pool. Most represent last-round longshot stabs, likely to get cut before Week 2. But hey, you never know.

Keep one eyeball on Lions’ rookie standout WR Isaac TeSla. Detroit needs an answer at WR3, Dan Campbell sacrificed a lot to draft him, and those pass routes have fantasy value.

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