Fantasy football buy low, sell high: 10 NFL risers and fallers for Week 16

If you've survived and advanced to the semifinal round of the fantasy football playoffs, you've probably done so on the backs of your star performers. But what happens this coming week if they just have an average game?

You may need help from some underappreciated contributors who are just now coming into their own. On the other hand, players you may have thought would be cornerstones of a championship roster could be starting to fade. Winning a fantasy league title may hinge on your ability to tell the difference.

Here are some players who are trending upward (or downward) as a result of their performances in Week 15:

Fantasy football players to buy for Week 16

RB Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys: For the third consecutive week Dowdle set a new career high in rushing yardage. The South Carolina alum went for 149 rushing yards on 25 carries against the Carolina Panthers, his third consecutive 100-yard effort. How unlikely that Dowdle is winning people fantasy championships.

RB Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns: Ford is expected to be the workhorse the rest of the way, as Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 15. With little in the way of backfield competition, Ford should be a solid RB2 in most leagues.

WR Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers: The rookie out of Holy Cross posted his first-career 100-yard day against the Cowboys in Week 15. Carolina hasn’t won many games, but Coker is worth a look down the stretch.

TE Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans: Okonkwo posted eight receptions on 10 targets in Week 15 – both career highs. In fact, his previous season high was four grabs. He has three or more catches in each of the past three games, emerging as a decent option in PPR formats.

QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams: Stafford struggled in the rain Thursday in San Francisco, but he still has multiple touchdown strikes in four of the past five outings. In fact, Stafford has 10 TDs and no interceptions over that five-game span.

Fantasy football players to sell for Week 16

RB Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs: Pacheco split the carries with Kareem Hunt in Week 15 at Cleveland, and his average yards per carry has decreased in each of his three games since returning from a long-term injury.

WR Marvin Harrison, Jr., Arizona Cardinals: Harrison appears to have hit the proverbial rookie wall. He has just six receptions for 81 yards in the past two games, and he hasn’t posted more than 60 yards in each of the previous six outings.

TE Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Otton was the go-to receiver when Mike Evans was sidelined, but now he is a tertiary receiving option behind Evans and the emerging Jalen McMillan.

QB Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts: Richardson has misfired on more passes than he has completed in eight of his nine full games. He just continues to be inaccurate and mistake-prone, and his only endearing quality is his ability make things happen with his legs.

RB Gus Edwards, Los Angeles Chargers: The Gus Bus might be parked at this rate. He averaged just 2.9 yards per attempt in Week 15 against the Buccaneers, posting 23 yards on eight carries. The game started getting out of hand, so the Chargers got away from the run, not that it was working that well anyway.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Week 16: NFL players whose stock is rising, falling