Introduction
The sports card market continues to deliver strong results in September 2026, with this week’s biggest movers spanning both baseball and football. The start of the NFL season has brought renewed attention to young football stars, while several MLB players are seeing even stronger momentum as the regular season moves toward the postseason.
Player performance continues to be one of the biggest catalysts for short-term card-market movement. Breakout performances, major league call-ups, MVP conversations, and early-season football production are all creating fresh demand from collectors.
This week's list features five players whose cards are making significant moves, highlighted by Pete Crow-Armstrong's remarkable market surge and strong performances from several emerging stars. Let's break down the Top 5 Sports Cards Heating Up by Sports Card Investor based on recent Market Movers data.
Sports Card Market Pulse
The overall sports card market experienced a small decline over the past week, but the broader market remains firmly in positive territory.
SCI 500 Index Performance:
- Down 0.3% over the last 7 days
- Up more than 5% over the last 30 days
- Up more than 56% since January 1st, 2026
Although the SCI 500 Index dipped slightly over the past seven days, its longer-term performance remains impressive. The index continues to show substantial gains over both the past month and the year-to-date period.
The current market is being influenced by several major developments across the sports world, including the beginning of the NFL season, MLB playoff races, major league call-ups, and rising attention around potential award candidates.
These developments are creating opportunities for significant movement across both modern rookie cards and prospect cards.
The Top 5 Sports Cards Heating Up
5. Jeremiah Smith
Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State opens this week's list at number five after producing an impressive start to the college football season.
Considered one of the top wide receivers in college football, Smith has quickly established himself as one of the players to watch. Through two games, he has recorded 16 catches for 315 yards and three touchdowns.
His early-season performance has also impacted the Heisman Trophy market. Smith entered the season with odds of 15-to-1 to win the award, but those odds have shortened to 7-to-1.
With Ohio State still scheduled to face Indiana, USC, and Michigan later in the season, Smith has several high-profile opportunities ahead of him.
Key Card Movements:
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2025 Prizm Draft Picks Silver (Raw): $15 → around $20
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2025 Prizm Draft Picks Red Ice (Raw): $14 → a little bit over $21
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2025 Prizm Draft Picks Red /399 (Raw): $45 → $47
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2025 Prizm Draft Picks Black Color Blast SSP (Raw): $500 → $535
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2025 Prizm Draft Picks Black Color Blast SSP (PSA 10): $1,130 → $1,450
Smith's production and growing national attention are already showing up in the prices of his most popular cards.
4. Josue De Paula
Josue De Paula of the Los Angeles Dodgers takes the fourth position after receiving his opportunity in the major leagues.
De Paula was the top prospect in the Dodgers farm system and ranked as the No. 6 prospect in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline.
The Dodgers called him up following Shohei Ohtani's placement on the injured list. Before reaching the majors, De Paula was putting together a powerful season in Double-A, producing 27 home runs, 104 RBIs, and a .948 OPS.
He also hit a home run after joining the Dodgers, immediately adding another highlight to his major league arrival.
Major Card Trends:
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2023 Bowman Chrome Prospects 1st (Raw): $2-3 → $5
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2023 Bowman Chrome Prospects 1st (PSA 10): up from $72 → $104
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2023 Bowman Mega Box Chrome Prospects 1st (Raw): $6-7 → $10-13
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2023 Bowman Mega Box Chrome Prospects 1st (PSA 10): $77-84 → $110–116
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2026 Bowman Patchwork SSP (Raw): $60 → $115
De Paula's combination of prospect pedigree, power, and a major league opportunity has quickly increased attention around his baseball cards.
3. Spencer Jones
Spencer Jones of the New York Yankees continues climbing the hobby's radar after a strong stretch since returning to the major leagues.
Jones was the Yankees' No. 3 prospect last year and has now received significant major league playing time. Since being recalled on July 26, he has hit .279 with seven home runs and an .833 OPS.
His production has come at an important point in the Yankees' season, particularly with injuries affecting the roster. That has created additional attention around Jones as a potential contributor down the stretch.
Collectors are responding with increased demand across several of his Bowman cards.
Notable Price Trends:
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2023 Bowman Chrome Prospects 1st (PSA 10): under $50 → $65
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2023 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto 1st (PSA 10): $463 → $725
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2023 Bowman Mega Box Chrome Prospects 1st (PSA 10): $48 → $100
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2023 Bowman Sapphire Edition Chrome Prospects 1st (PSA 10): $70 → $150
Jones' recent production has created noticeable momentum across his prospect and autograph cards.
2. Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears claims the number two spot after an impressive opening week to the 2026 NFL season.
Williams was the first quarterback selected in the 2024 NFL Draft and is now entering his third season. His Week 1 performance provided an immediate boost of excitement around his market. Williams completed 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns in Chicago's opening game.
The Bears also produced a huge offensive performance, with Williams leading the offense and working alongside head coach Ben Johnson.
Key Card Movements:
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2024 Donruss Downtown SSP Rookie (Raw): under $850 → $1,375
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2024 Prizm Silver Rookie (PSA 10): $1,326 → $1,700
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2024 Topps Now Draft Base (PSA 10): $55 → $85
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2025 Absolute Kaboom Horizontal SSP (PSA 10): up from $3,100 → $$3,750
The immediate response in Williams' card prices shows how quickly a strong NFL performance can affect demand for a young quarterback's market.
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong
Pete Crow-Armstrong takes the number one position after another major surge in his sports card market. The Chicago Cubs outfielder has consistently appeared among the market's biggest movers in recent weeks, and his latest stretch has pushed his cards even higher.
Crow-Armstrong has emerged as the National League MVP favorite, while also moving toward a potential 40-home-run, 40-stolen-base season. He had already surpassed 40 home runs and was approaching 40 stolen bases.
That combination of production and award attention has created significant demand for his cards.
Major Card Trends:
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2020 Bowman Draft Chrome 1st (PSA 10): up from $250 → $300–500
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2020 Bowman Draft Chrome Refractor 1st (PSA 10): up from $426 → $750–800
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2024 Topps Home Field Advantage SSP Rookie (PSA 10): up 5% over the last month, sold at $1,700 recently
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2024 Topps Chrome Helix SSP (PSA 10): up from $1,500 → $$3,000
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2024 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs (PSA 10): up from $1,538 → $$2,550
The attention extends well beyond lower-priced cards. A Pete Crow-Armstrong rookie debut patch autograph was also being auctioned through Golden Auctions, with bidding already exceeding $200,000.
Crow-Armstrong's combination of elite production, MVP attention, and the possibility of reaching the 40-40 milestone has made his cards some of the hottest in the sports card market.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How is the sports card market performing in September 2026?
The SCI 500 Index is down 0.3% over the last seven days but remains up more than 5% over the last 30 days and more than 56% year-to-date.
2. Which players are driving the biggest card-market moves this week?
The biggest movers featured this week include Pete Crow-Armstrong, Caleb Williams, Spencer Jones, Josue De Paula, and Jeremiah Smith.
3. Why are Jeremiah Smith cards gaining attention?
Smith has recorded 16 catches for 315 yards and three touchdowns through two games. His Heisman Trophy odds have also moved from 15-to-1 before the season to 7-to-1.
4. What is driving Josue De Paula's baseball card market?
De Paula received a major league call-up after producing 27 home runs, 104 RBIs, and a .948 OPS in Double-A. His promotion to the Dodgers and early major league impact have increased collector attention.
5. Why are Caleb Williams rookie cards rising?
Williams opened the season with 269 passing yards and two touchdowns while completing 21 of 29 passes. Several of his cards subsequently recorded higher recent sales.
6. Why are Spencer Jones cards heating up?
Jones has hit .279 with seven home runs and an .833 OPS since his July 26 recall. His recent production has coincided with increases across several of his Bowman cards.
7. What is driving Pete Crow-Armstrong's card prices?
Crow-Armstrong's pursuit of a potential 40-home-run, 40-stolen-base season and his growing MVP attention are major factors behind the increased demand for his cards.
Conclusion
This week's biggest sports card movers demonstrate how quickly player performance can influence collector demand.
Jeremiah Smith is building momentum through an impressive start to his college football season, while Josue De Paula and Spencer Jones are benefiting from strong performances and increased opportunities at the major league level.
Caleb Williams has also generated significant movement following his impressive Week 1 performance with the Chicago Bears, with several premium rookie cards recording higher recent sales.
But once again, Pete Crow-Armstrong sits at the top of the list. His pursuit of a potential 40-40 season, combined with growing MVP attention, has pushed multiple Bowman and Topps cards sharply higher.
Meanwhile, the broader sports card market remains strong despite a modest weekly decline. The SCI 500 Index is still up more than 56% since the beginning of 2026, highlighting the strength of the market over the longer term.
With the NFL season underway and the MLB postseason approaching, collectors will be watching closely to see which players can maintain their momentum and which cards could become the next major movers.
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