ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly from training camp through Super Bowl with answers to a new question being posted Thursday morning. How the guest experts responded when we asked them: Whose fantasy stock has increased or decreased the most this postseason?
ALAN SATTERLEE
Dan Herron's fantasy stock has definitely taken a sharp increase up as he's helped lead the Colts to two playoff wins -- and he is the number one fantasy scorer in all of the playoffs thus far. Herron had 141 total yards against Cincinnati -- the most by a Colts' running back in three years -- and then he followed that up with 31 touches against Denver. He has shown he can do it all -- get the tough yard, break a long one, pass block and catch. He is the Colts' 2015 starter until proven otherwise. Even if they draft a running back, Herron is the veteran and has done enough to be given first chance and open as the starter. The only scenario where he doesn't start for the Colts next season is if the Colts make a play for an upper-echelon back in free agency. Most down -- continuing his swift downward fall from the highest of highs is Peyton Manning. Sadly, he looks completely shot. Manning needs just 1-2 games too to be the first player to crack 70,000.
Satterlee is Co-Owner and Chief Editor/COO of FantasyFootballWarehouse.com. FFW features comprehensive profiles for all the major 2013 skill-position rookies, its Trading Spaces series, the team Deep Dives, the Speed Bump competition plus draft strategies, rankings, projections and more. FFW runs in tandem with its dynasty site DynastyFootballWarehouse.com.
MIKE NAZAREK
People will be wondering for quite a while if QB Peyton Manning's quad injury was the real reason why his play declined so much in the final games of this past season. Were his inaccurate passes on Sunday's game a QB just getting old or something more related to his injury? We may never know the truth, but his poor finish could push him down several rounds in fantasy drafts next summer should he not retire.
Nazarek is the CEO of Fantasy Football Mastermind Inc. His company offers a preseason draft guide, customizable cheat sheets, a multi-use fantasy drafting program including auction values, weekly in-season fantasy newsletters, injury reports and free NFL news (updated daily) at its web site. He has been playing fantasy football since 1988 and is a four-peat champion of the SI.com Experts Fantasy League, a nationally published writer in several fantasy magazines and a former columnist for SI.com. For more info go to www.ffmastermind.com. Nazarek can be reached via email at miken@ffmastermind.com.
DAVID DOREY
No doubt Peyton Manning no longer occupies the height of his position after his playoff loss to the Colts. If he returns next year – which is a big if – he’ll be a mid-second tier quarterback because the fear is he won’t help you late in the year when you need him most. And as goes Peyton, so goes all the Denver receivers.
Dorey is the co-founder and lead NFL analyst for The Huddle and author of Fantasy Football: The Next Level. He has projected and predicted every NFL game and player performance since 1997 and has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, radio and television.
IAN ALLAN
I think of the rookie receivers, Davante Adams, Donte Moncrief and Philly Brown. Adams is getting comfortable in Green Bay’s offense, closing the gap between him and their big two guys (Jordy Nelson and Cobb). Adams has had a lot of dud games this year (under 20 yards in a lot of games) but he might not be too far behind those big guys next year. Moncrief, meanwhile, is fast becoming the No. 2 wide receiver for the Colts. He potentially could be a top-20 wide receiver next year. He’s just a lot more fast and athletic than Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks. Brown made a nice impact for the Panthers in the final month of the season and into the postseason. I don’t see him putting up big numbers, but I think he’ll be their second-best wide receiver next year (behind Kelvin Benjamin). Brown seems to be a lot faster and more dynamic than Jerricho Cotchery.
Allan is the senior writer for Fantasy Football Index. He's been in that role since 1987, generating most of the player rankings and analysis for that publication. His work can be seen in Fantasy Football Index magazine, and also at www.fantasyindex.com.
SAM HENDRICKS
Dez Bryant was most disappointing. 3 catches each game-48 yards and 38 yards respectively. An average of 7.3 fantasy points in a PPR format. Will this decrease his stock? No! I do not put too much faith in playoff performances. Luck has been strong in 2 games but then again he was strong all season long. Just enjoy the playoffs and leave the 2015 rankings until April.
Hendricks is the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook, Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Basics, all available at ExtraPointPress.com, at all major bookstores, and at Amazon and BN.com. He is a 20-plus year fantasy football veteran who regularly participates in the National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) and finished 7th and 16th overall (out of 228 competitors) in the 2008 and 2009 Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC). Follow him at his web site, www.ffguidebook.com.
SCOTT SACHS
Andrew Luck definitely is on the cusp of being an elite QB. He is athletic and usually intelligent with the ball. His play elevates his teammates in both sides of the ball. Indy's stable of pass catchers is pretty strong, but not excellent; RBs good, not great. Yet, Luck choreographs them all and the Colts are 1 game away from the big dance, improbably beating the favored Broncos in Denver. After Aaron Rodgers, a case could be made for Luck as No. 2 overall QB next year.
With 2 perfect seasons to his credit, Scott Sachs runs Perfect Season Fantasy Football, featuring LIVE Talk & Text consulting, advice, and opinions. Serving as one of the "Experts" for Fantasy Football Index, was 2011 wire-to-wire winner in Mock Auction Draft League. Also, was named winner of the 2012 Fantasy Football Index Expert's Poll! In 2013 Fantasy Index Leagues, finished No. 2 in Mock Auction, No. 3 in Draft.
ANDY RICHARDSON
I am intrigued by youngsters Dan Herron and Donte Moncrief, who should be big pieces of Indianapolis' offense next year. I was also really impressed with C.J. Anderson last week, breaking tackles and making a couple of big plays on fourth down -- a conversion and a near miss that certainly wasn't his fault. I'm not optimistic about Peyton Manning coming back, but think he could be fine next year anyway. That was a big-time touchdown grab by Jermaine Kearse last week, as well; guess I won't be cutting him in dynasty. Lastly, I wonder if Danny Amendola will have value in New England next year after all. As for players going the other way, well, Trent Richardson already had no value and doesn't need to be mentioned. But I am wondering if Davante Adams' strong game will have Green Bay thinking it can let Randall Cobb go. Amendola's performance last week may be a negative for Julian Edelman's future in New England.
Richardson has been a contributor and editor to the Fantasy Football Index magazine and www.fantasyindex.com since 2002. His responsibilities include team defense and IDP projections and various site features, and he has run the magazine's annual experts draft and auction leagues since their inception. He previews all the NFL games on Saturdays and writes a wrap-up column on Mondays during the NFL season.