The twelfth Sunday of the NFL season featured a historic outing by Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs, noteworthy comeback victories by the determined Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys, a quasi-impressive beginning debut by Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders and, as sadly at all times appears the case, a number of accidents that ought to have an effect on many fantasy managers, together with Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield (shoulder), New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara (knee) and Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins (concussion).
4 groups served their bye this Week 12 (Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders), however none do that coming Thanksgiving week, which incorporates a trio of video games on Thursday and one other in Philadelphia on Friday afternoon. Nonetheless, bye weeks aren’t full! The ultimate 4 groups serve their bye in Week 14 (New England Patriots, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers), which matches the primary playoff spherical for a lot of managers. Thus, this week’s free agent report contains Week 14 choices. It is the playoffs. Plan for them this week, if doable.
Every Monday, earlier than the present NFL weekend ends, we’ll establish gamers out there in at the very least 50% of ESPN normal leagues worthy of your consideration, from normal codecs to deeper choices. The NFL is a weekly league, and participant valuation and roles seldom stay stagnant. It doesn’t matter the way you purchase gamers on your fantasy rosters, simply that you just purchase them!
Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals (47% rostered in ESPN leagues): Brissett was featured final week, and we should accomplish that once more after he registered one other top-10 efficiency in Week 12. Brissett scored 18.48 factors Sunday, his worst outing in six probabilities. That is nonetheless wonderful! We like Brissett for Week 13 towards the compromised Buccaneers, however not as a lot for Week 14 towards the NFC-leading Los Angeles Rams.
Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (47.2%): Him once more? Yep! Darnold bounced again from horrific fantasy outings in Weeks 10 and 11 to attain a helpful 17.66 factors towards the Tennessee Titans. Up subsequent are the Minnesota Vikings after which, in Week 14, the Atlanta Falcons. It is a cheap two-week stretch for a fill-in fantasy quarterback who has the very best vast receiver within the league, as Jaxon Smith-Njigba tendencies towards 2,000 receiving yards.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
-
Giants fill-in Jameis Winston (3.1%) led all Sunday passers with 32.24 factors, and whereas rookie star Jaxson Dart could return from his concussion this week, the Giants are off in Week 14 and will/ought to give him extra time to heal. The Giants don’t make the playoffs. Winston stays able to large performances at any time, towards any foe, even versus the Patriots subsequent Monday night time.
-
Titans rookie Cam Ward (5.2%) scored 23.94 factors in Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks, eclipsing his season finest by greater than 10 factors. Ward nonetheless is not dependable for fantasy, however we acknowledge there may be upside right here for this week towards the Jacksonville Jaguars. Then, the Titans should take care of Myles Garrett and the Browns in Week 14, which isn’t as engaging.
-
Dolphins lefty Tua Tagovailoa (12.8%) tossed nary a move in Week 12, serving the bye week, however this week he faces the New Orleans Saints after which, in Week 14, the New York Jets. As with Darnold, a fantasy supervisor might do worse over a two-week span. So many quarterbacks are available in ESPN leagues, however Darnold and Tagovailoa deserve consideration forward of, amongst others, Houston Texans starter C.J. Stroud (41.1%), Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders (5.2%) and, if wanted to start out for an injured Baker Mayfield, the Buccaneers’ Teddy Bridgewater (0.1%).
Working again
Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders (8.8%): We do not sometimes advocate gamers towards the Broncos, however Rodriguez certain appeared just like the staff’s starter previous to the bye week, and never rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt (60%). Even Austin Ekeler (18.3), who went on injured reserve means again in Week 3, is extra rostered than Rodriguez. That’s simply foolish. Count on quantity for Rodriguez towards Denver, after he rushed 15 instances in Week 11, and scored touchdowns in Weeks 9 and 10. The Commanders face the Vikings in Week 14.
Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints (1.8%): Neal, a sixth-round selection from Kansas, was pressed into early obligation when Kamara (knee) left Sunday’s sport. Neal scored a reliable 11.1 factors in aid, with a lot of the harm approaching his 5 receptions for 43 yards. The Saints utilized TE Taysom Hill (1.2%) for extra quantity, however he turned 10 carries into solely 17 yards, so we might go along with Neal first. We lack readability on Kamara’s scenario, however Neal could get an opportunity to shine this week towards the Dolphins, and every week later towards the Buccaneers.
Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals (40.2%): Somebody should run the soccer for Arizona this week towards the Buccaneers, and whereas we have now touted potential starter Trey Benson (55.7%) getting back from his knee harm a number of instances just lately on this house, who is aware of when he’ll formally return. It might be Knight and Michael Carter (11.3%) once more this week and past.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
-
There is not a lot so as to add at working again, so it is a good factor no groups are on bye in Week 13. Chiefs backup Kareem Hunt (59.9%) and Pittsburgh Steelers backup Kenneth Gainwell (57.2%) are over the 50% line, however every ought to be extra well-liked than they’re. Hunt scored 20 factors on Sunday, and we nonetheless await readability on whether or not Isiah Pacheco (knee) will play this Thursday afternoon towards the Cowboys. Gainwell has scored a whopping 47.7 factors for the previous two video games, along with his 13 receptions in that span a giant cause why, and the Steelers face the Buffalo Payments. Add these gamers for Week 13 and past.
Large receiver
Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans (11.9%): Dike scored 21.4 factors in Sunday’s loss to the closely favored Seahawks, tallying an electrical punt return landing after which scoring a receiving landing within the remaining minute. Dike has reached 16 fantasy factors in three of 5 video games, and Ward seems to be making strides. No one will confuse the Titans’ offense for, nicely, any productive one, however Ward and Dike ought to produce competent figures in Week 13 towards the Jaguars, and if the Titans can maintain the move rush, maybe the next week versus the Browns.
John Metchie III, New York Jets (0.5%): Metchie scored 18.5 factors in Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, catching six of seven targets for 65 yards and a landing. That is the second consecutive sport during which Metchie, who caught 4 passes over seven video games with the Philadelphia Eagles earlier than touchdown with the Jets for Week 10, scored a landing. He appears to be like just like the featured receiver together with former Indianapolis Colts choice Adonai Mitchell (2.8%). For now, go along with Metchie the subsequent fortnight towards the Falcons and Dolphins.
Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans (23.3%): Higgins has caught landing passes in three of 5 video games, and from two quarterbacks, as he emerges as an affordable flex choice. The schedule is not favorable over the subsequent two weeks for highway video games with the Colts and Chiefs, and we do not know who might be throwing the soccer, however Higgins ought to be extra well-liked. Teammate Christian Kirk (10.6%) additionally scored a landing in Week 12, however Higgins has the intense future within the brief and long run.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
-
The Bengals performed Week 12 with out star Ja’Marr Chase (suspension) after which late within the loss to the Patriots, they misplaced Tee Higgins (concussion). This could drive his absence in Week 13, because the Bengals play on Thursday night time. Andrei Iosivas (11.2%) caught 4 passes for 61 yards Sunday, whereas Mitchell Tinsley (0.2%) scored a landing on his two receptions. It’s definitely doable Joe Burrow, more likely to return to motion Thursday, appears to be like their means on Thanksgiving. Go along with Iosivas first, and keep in mind, there isn’t any assure Higgins returns for Week 14, both.
-
Inexperienced Bay Packers starter Christian Watson (48.8%) scored a disappointing 9.9 factors on Sunday towards the Vikings, however we like him for Week 13 and 14 towards the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. In spite of everything, the Lions simply permitted 30.6 factors to the Giants’ Wan’Dale Robinson, and the Bears are one of many best groups to acquire WR fantasy factors towards. Watson boasts landing upside for these contests.
-
Equally, we just like the upside of Bears rookie Luther Burden III (7.5%) for video games towards the Eagles and Packers. Burden has but to really escape, with three receptions in every of the previous three weeks, however he makes large performs when known as upon, and thus makes for a good, deep-league flex.
-
Cardinals slot choice Greg Dortch (6.1%) has scored 35.4 factors over the previous two video games, as Brissett continues throwing the soccer sans Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix). Michael Wilson is the goal hog, however the diminutive Dortch has scored touchdowns in consecutive weeks.
Tight finish
Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears (35%): Loveland scored 14.9 factors in Sunday’s win over the Steelers, which included his third landing of his rookie season. Loveland has been a fantasy issue over the previous 5 weeks, averaging higher than 12 yards per catch every week. The Bears play the Eagles this Friday afternoon.
Brenton Unusual, Jacksonville Jaguars (10.9%): Unusual, out since Week 5 with a hip harm, scored 14.3 factors (a top-five determine amongst tight ends this week) in his return towards the Cardinals, and he comes advisable for Week 13 towards the Titans and even the next week towards the Colts. A wholesome Unusual will see targets, and he totaled 93 receiving yards Sunday.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
-
Evan Engram (42.4%) and his mates served a Week 12 bye, and so they play the Sunday night time sport this week in Washington. Engram hasn’t helped fantasy managers a lot this season, however the Commanders allow loads of fantasy factors to tight ends, although not fairly essentially the most.
-
It might be a little bit of a stretch to depend on Ravens backup TE Isaiah Doubtless (7.6%) simply because his staff performs the Bengals, who’ve been traditionally horrible towards tight ends this season. Starter Mark Andrews ought to have a great sport, and maybe Doubtless will attain double-digit fantasy factors for the primary time this season. For these questioning, the Bengals play the Payments in Week 14, so if Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) can return to well being by then, he’s a chief fantasy pickup!
Protection
-
The Colts D/ST (46%) is safely among the many prime 10 in fantasy scoring this season, but as a result of so many managers moved on for the Week 11 bye week, this unit stays out there in lots of leagues. Go get the Colts. They play the Texans and Jaguars over the subsequent two weeks.
-
For Week 13, the San Francisco 49ers D/ST (20%) ought to produce a number of turnovers towards the Browns and their rookie QB, whereas the Atlanta Falcons D/ST (36.4%) will get to face the Jets.
-
In the meantime, the Dolphins D/ST (2.3%) hasn’t helped many fantasy managers, however this unit does have 18 fantasy factors over its previous two video games, towards the Payments and Commanders. The Dolphins host the Saints in Week 13, then play the Jets in Week 14. That will work properly for fantasy.
