NFL Fantasy Football News & Info 2021/2022 🏈

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Fantasy football last-minute pickups for Week 9: Boston Scott is in play​

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Each week of the NFL season, we will identify fantasy football waiver wire pickups specifically for those of you looking for streaming options in deeper formats (including IDP leagues). These are players available in a majority of ESPN Fantasy leagues (or close) who have enticing matchups in the week ahead that make them worthy of consideration for your lineups.

While you might notice some overlap with Field Yates' pickup column that publishes on Mondays, an important distinction is that the options mentioned in this column are focused solely on this week's matchup and not the players' values for the remainder of the season.

Quarterback​

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins vs. Texans (54.1%)

In spite of ups and downs for the Dolphins, Brian Flores continues to publicly support Tagovailoa. Since Week 6, the second-year quarterback has averaged 23.8 fantasy points per game. Even after a tough performance against the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa should have a much better showing this week against a Texans defense that has been a fantasy bonanza for quarterbacks for quite a while now. Matthew Stafford, Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz, Mac Jones and Josh Allen have averaged 21.38 points per game against Houston over the last five games.

Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears vs. Texans (18.7%)

In terms of total completions, Fields' last two games were his best. Fields has thrown touchdown passes in three of his last four games. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 175 yards in Week 8. In addition, Fields carried the ball 10 times for 103 yards in his best fantasy point performance (27.1) of his young career. With the Bears providing him more opportunities as a rusher, he makes for an attractive streaming option this week against the Steelers. Over the last five games, Pittsburgh's defense has allowed Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith, Teddy Bridgewater, Aaron Rodgers and Joe Burrow to average 18.7 points per game. The rookie could surpass that mark in Week 9.

Running back​

Mark Ingram II, RB, New Orleans vs. Falcons (23.9%)

Last Friday, Ingram signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract extension with the Saints, and his familiarity with New Orleans' offensive scheme allowed him to play a change-up role against the Buccaneers. Ingram rushed six times (one in the red zone) for 27 yards and added two receptions for 25 yards. From the time Sean Payton took over the Saints in 2006, the team has relied heavily on its running backs, so looking at former Saints back Latavius Murray may provide the best harbinger of Ingram's opportunity; between 2019 and 2020, Murray had an average of 11.6 opportunities per game. Ingram should be able to provide fantasy managers with flex/RB3 value this week against a Falcons defense that allows the seventh-most points per game to running backs.

Boston Scott, RB, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chargers (54.2%)

As a result of Miles Sanders' ankle injury, the Eagles placed him on injured reserve on Friday. Last week against the Lions, Kenneth Gainwell was expected to see a steady amount of touches. The optimism slowly dwindled with reports that Jordan Howard practiced with the Eagles' starters and then Scott's strong performance on Sunday. He rushed 12 times for 60 yards and two touchdowns against Detroit, playing 45% of the snaps. With the Chargers allowing the fifth-most points per game to running backs, Scott is on the RB3/flex radar with upside against a vulnerable Chargers defense that allowed Damien Harris to turn 23 rushing attempts into 80 yards and a touchdown last week.

Wide receiver​

Gabriel Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills at Jaguars (3.0%)

Last week, Davis caught four of five targets for 29 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins. He tied his season-high in targets (5) as the Bills used more four-wide receiver sets. In terms of passing yards (276.3) and attempts (39.3), Buffalo ranks sixth in both categories. With the Jacksonville Jaguars allowing the seventh most points per game to receivers, Davis should see a similar volume of targets this week.

Tight end​

Tyler Conklin, TE, Minnesota Vikings at Ravens (43.9%)

Conklin has averaged five targets per game over Minnesota's last four games. Essentially, he's operating as the Vikings' third receiving option averaging 7.8 points per game. In this week's matchup, Conklin faces a Baltimore Ravens defense that has allowed some impressive fantasy performances in recent weeks from C.J. Uzomah (24.1), Jared Cook (12.5), Mo Alie-Cox (8) and Noah Fant (16.6).

Josiah Deguara, TE, Green Bay Packers at Chiefs (0.2% rostered)

Robert Tonyan suffered an ACL injury last week and is out for the season. He had 28 targets, 18 receptions and 204 receiving yards through eight games and Deguara will be expected to fill the void. He will face a Chiefs defense that has given up the second most points to tight ends. On Monday Night Football against the Giants, this defense allowed two touchdowns to Evan Engram and Kyle Rudolph, and we all know how proficient Aaron Rodgers is in the red zone.

Defense/special teams​

Green Bay Packers at Chiefs (29.6%)

This season, the Chiefs have turned the football over 19 times and have allowed Patrick Mahomes to be sacked 16 times. As a result of Kansas City's franchise quarterback's pressing, disastrous results have occurred at times. Mahomes and the Chiefs face a Packers defense that is coming off of a two-sack, three-takeaway game against the Cardinals. If you need a streamer this week, you can depend on the Packers.

Miami Dolphins vs. Texans (20.9%)

The Dolphins' defense will take on a Texans offense that ranks 31st in total yards (281.1) and points scored (30.1). Miami's pass rush should shine regardless of whether Davis Mills or Tyrod Taylor is under center.

Las Vegas Raiders at Giants (20.6%)

This week, the Raiders' pass rush should pose problems for the Giants' offensive line. The DST20 is currently averaging 5.9 points per game, but has a good chance to surpass that against the Giants this week.

Kicker​

Jake Elliott, K, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chargers (1.7% rostered)

On Sunday, Elliott made all three of his field-goal attempts and added five extra points. With the Chargers' defense allowing the fifth most points (9) to kickers per game, this momentum should continue.

Individual Defensive Players (IDP)​

Defensive Line


Zach Allen, DT, Arizona Cardinals at 49ers (0.8% rostered)

Allen is in a unique position to step up for the Cardinals now that J.J. Watt is out for the season. Last week he played a season-high 78% of snaps and had a sack in each game over the last two weeks.

Linebacker

Baron Browning, DT, Denver Broncos at Cowboys (4.5% rostered)

It appears that Browning has been appointed the Broncos' LB1. His eight tackles, including one for a loss, showed his talent and ability last week.

Defensive Back

Brandon Jones, S, Miami Dolphins vs. Texans (1.3% rostered)

Last week, Jones rushed the passer a career-high 18 times while playing 96% of the snaps against the Texans. This is exactly what IDP owners want from their defensive back.

 

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Fantasy football Week 9 shadow report: Key WR/CB matchups​

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By using our play-by-play data, we're able to identify defensive schemes and where each wide receiver and cornerback lines up on each play. By tracking these WR/CB matchups, including potential shadow situations, we can offer the best projections, rankings, sit/start decisions and fantasy advice each week. Fantasy football is a weekly game, so knowing the matchups can also help you make the best waiver wire pickups.

Down below are the receivers with the best and worst matchups this week, as well as the corresponding fantasy impact.

To view the primary defenders the top three wide receivers for each team will see this weekend, be sure to check out our weekly WR vs. CB cheat sheet.

Note that, unless otherwise noted, references to where teams rank in statistical categories adjusts to a per-game basis in order to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.

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Advantageous matchups​

Rams' Van Jefferson, Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods vs. Titans' Janoris Jenkins, Greg Mabin, Elijah Molden, Chris Jackson and Breon Borders

The Titans may get Kristian Fulton back from IR soon, but in the meantime, it's been a major struggle and/or rotation at cornerback behind Jenkins. Third-round rookie Molden seems to have found himself a home in the slot, but he's allowed a ton of production and Tennessee has, in turn, allowed the most fantasy points to the slot both this season and over the past month. Mabin was playing on the perimeter opposite Jenkins, but was benched late against the Colts last week. Tennessee has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to right perimeter receivers (Jenkins side), but the most to left perimeter receivers (Mabin and friends' side). Woods aligns on Jenkins side more than any other Rams' receiver, but he'll still see the other Titans' corners roughly 60% of the time. Woods, Jefferson (76% perimeter) and Kupp (66% slot) can all be upgraded against the defense allowing the most targets, receptions, receiving yards, end zone targets and fantasy points to wide receivers this season.

Dolphins' DeVante Parker vs. Texans' Vernon Hargreaves III and Terrance Mitchell

Houston's cornerback woes have continued, as they benched Desmond King for disciplinary reasons and plugged Hargreaves back in as an every-down player last week. The Texans have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points over expected to wide receivers, but the splits are notable here, as they've allowed the fourth most to the perimeter and sixth fewest to the slot. That means Jaylen Waddle (66%) has the tough matchup against Tavierre Thomas this week, leaving Parker (86% perimeter) in a good spot outside against Hargreaves and Mitchell. Both outside corners have been heavily targeted and struggled in coverage this season. Upgrade Parker and Waddle still belongs in lineups, but it could be a quieter day than usual.

Bills' Stefon Diggs vs. Jaguars' Shaquill Griffin (shadow)
Bills' Cole Beasley vs. Jaguars' Rudy Ford (slot)
Bills' Emmanuel Sanders vs. Jaguars' Tyson Campbell

Buffalo's wide receivers combined for 48.9 fantasy points in a good spot against Miami last week and are set up with another great matchup this week. The Jaguars have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wideouts (most over expected), including the seventh most to the perimeter and 12th most to the slot. Jacksonville has allowed 39-plus fantasy points to the opposing wide receiver unit in six of its seven games this season. The struggling defense is allowing 9.9 yards per target (second highest) and a 76% catch rate (highest) to wide receivers. Griffin has shadowed Ja'Marr Chase, AJ Brown and DK Metcalf (last week) already this season, so he's a decent bet to travel with Diggs (80% perimeter) this week. Griffin has been solid, but this isn't an overly concerning matchup considering the Jaguars' defensive troubles. Beasley will see a lot of Ford, a converted safety who replaced Tre Herndon as the slot/nickel corner last week. That's a good matchup for Beasley. Sanders will be a strong rebound candidate against the rookie Campbell, who has allowed a massive 0.50 fantasy points per coverage snap.

Texans' Brandin Cooks vs. Dolphins' Xavien Howard (shadow)
Texans' Danny Amendola vs. Dolphins' Nik Needham (slot)
Texans' Nico Collins vs. Dolphins' Byron Jones

The Dolphins have allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season (most over the past month and fourth-most over expected), as well as the most to the perimeter and seventh most to the slot. Miami's cornerback room is too talented to be struggling the way it is, which almost makes you think that there's some selection bias in play here. Perhaps there is to some extent, but the unit has allowed 46-plus fantasy points to the opposing WR room in four of its past six games, including 48.9 points to Buffalo in Week 8. Howard has shadowed Stefon Diggs (twice), Henry Ruggs III and Antonio Brown this season, so he's a reasonable bet to follow the explosive Cooks around the field this week. Jones has shadowed Nelson Agholor, Emmanuel Sanders (twice), Darren Waller and Mike Evans, so he figures to travel with 6-foot-4 Collins. In terms of salary and raw talent, this is a tough matchup for Houston, but in terms of 2021 production, it favors the Texans. Cooks got back on track in Week 8 and could have Tyrod Taylor back this week. He can be upgraded. Collins and Amendola aren't seeing enough work to warrant lineup consideration.

Other notable upgrades:

• Falcons' Russell Gage vs. Saints' Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Paulson Adebo
• Ravens' Rashod Bateman, Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins vs. Vikings' Cameron Dantzler, Mackensie Alexander and Bashaud Breeland
• Jets' Elijah Moore, Jamison Crowder and Corey Davis vs. Colts' Xavier Rhodes, Kenny Moore II and Rock Ya-Sin
• Colts' Zach Pascal vs. Jets' Michael Carter II (slot)
• Steelers' James Washington vs. Bears' Duke Shelley (slot)

Tough matchups​

Chargers' Mike Williams vs. Eagles' Darius Slay (shadow)

The Eagles continue to show well against wide receivers, having allowed the third-fewest fantasy points (sixth fewest over expected), including the fewest to the perimeter and seventh fewest to the slot. They've allowed the fewest receptions (on the fewest targets) and the third fewest receiving yards to the position and only six wideouts have reached 10 fantasy points against them. We've also seen instances of shadowing over the past month, as Slay has followed DJ Moore, Mike Evans and Henry Ruggs, leaving Steven Nelson to handle Robby Anderson, Antonio Brown and Bryan Edwards. This week, Slay seems like a good bet to follow Williams, as he aligns outside 83% of the time, whereas Keenan Allen works the slot on 63% of his routes. Neither Slay, nor Nelson travel to the slot at all, so Allen will primarily see Avonte Maddox in this one. Lower expectations for Williams and Allen, though both, of course, belong in lineups.

Eagles' DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins and Jalen Reagor vs. Chargers' Asante Samuel Jr., Chris Harris Jr. and Michael Davis

Same as the Eagles, the Chargers have been terrific against wide receivers this season. Los Angeles has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the position straight up and over expected, as well as the sixth fewest to the perimeter and third fewest to the slot. The Chargers rank no lower than fifth in targets, receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, end zone targets, YPR and YPT allowed to wideouts. They've allowed two wide receivers to clear 12.5 fantasy points and none have reached 17.5. That's all bad news for Philadelphia's already unproductive wide receiver room. Smith (91% perimeter) will see Davis (who will likely follow Dallas Goedert the one or two times he aligns out wide) and Samuel on most of his routes. Reagor (83%) will also see Davis and Samuel if he plays, but he was injured in Week 8 and could be out. If he's sidelined, Watkins will kick outside, leaving Greg Ward to man the slot against Harris. Regardless, the Eagles' wide receivers should be downgraded significantly.

Jaguars' Laviska Shenault Jr., Jamal Agnew and Marvin Jones Jr. vs. Bills' Tre'Davious White, Taron Johnson and Levi Wallace

100% of the WR units the Bills' have faced this season have scored fewer fantasy points than their average in other games. No other defense can make that claim. Buffalo's dominance of the position has included allowing the fewest fantasy points overall and over expected, as well as the second fewest to the perimeter. The Bills have also allowed the second-fewest receiving yards, fewest touchdowns (2), lowest yards per target (5.6) and second-lowest catch rate (58%) to the position. The 16.6 fantasy points put up by Mecole Hardman against the Bills in Week 5 was the most they've surrendered to a wide receiver this season. All that being said, Jacksonville's wide receiver room is in a tough spot this week. Jones (72% perimeter) is in a tough spot regardless, but he's also in jeopardy of being shadowed by White. Shenault is playing opposite Jones since DJ Chark's injury and should be downgraded. Agnew (75% slot) led the team with 11 targets last week, but will be tough to count on against Taron Johnson.

Panthers' DJ Moore vs. Patriots' J.C. Jackson (shadow)

As noted last week, the Patriots have a reputation for containing the opposing team's top target, and they did it again in Week 8, holding Mike Williams to 19 yards on five targets. They had similar results earlier in the season; DeVante Parker (12.1 fantasy points), Corey Davis (2.8), Marquez Callaway (14.1), Mike Evans (14.5), Brandin Cooks (5.3), Amari Cooper (10.5) and Davis x2 (14.7) were all held below 15.0 fantasy points against New England, though CeeDee Lamb (36.1), Keenan Allen (19.7) and Chris Moore (21.9) did come through with big games. This week, New England figures to prioritize Moore, and he's a strong bet for Jackson shadow coverage. Jackson has already traveled with Mike Evans (7-75-0), Parker (4-81-0) and Cooks (3-23-0) this season. He aligns outside 86% of the time, which matches up with Williams' 82% rate. Jackson has been heavily targeted this season (23% of his coverage snaps), but he's been solid, so this is a tougher matchup than usual for Moore. Robby Anderson is hard to trust this season, but he's in a good spot against Jalen Mills this week.

Broncos' Courtland Sutton vs. Cowboys' Trevon Diggs


The NFL's interception leader, Diggs has already shadowed Mike Evans, Keenan Allen, DJ Moore and Kenny Golladay on their perimeter routes (and occasionally in the slot) this season. That puts Dallas' top corner on track to follow Sutton, who aligns outside 87% of the time. Diggs has been targeted on 21% of his coverage snaps (a bit above average) and Dallas is allowing the eight-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the 11th most to the perimeter. That said, this isn't as poor a matchup as some others, though it's certainly harder than usual for Sutton. Jerry Jeudy, by the way, has aligned in the slot 83% of the time this season and, while Jourdan Lewis isn't an overly intimidating matchup, Dallas has allowed the fewest fantasy points to the slot this season. It figures to be a quieter day than usual for Denver's wideouts barring a garbage time explosion.

Other notable downgrades:

• Patriots' Nelson Agholor, Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne vs. Panthers' Donte Jackson, A.J. Bouye and Stephon Gilmore
• Giants' Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard and Kadarius Toney vs. Raiders' Casey Hayward, Nate Hobbs and Brandon Facyson
• Titans' Chester Rogers vs. Rams' Jalen Ramsey (slot)

Other potential shadow scenarios​

If Falcons' Calvin Ridley makes a surprising return to the field this week, he can expect shadow coverage courtesy of Marshon Lattimore. Lattimore has been terrific this season and has already successfully shadowed Davante Adams (5-56-0 receiving line), Terry McLaurin (4-46-0), DK Metcalf (2-96-1) and Mike Evans (2-48-1). Lattimore has only shadowed Ridley once (Week 13 last season) and Ridley posted a healthy 5-108-0 receiving line on 10 targets in the game. Despite that strong showing, we'd still need to downgrade Ridley this week considering how well Lattimore has played in shadow situations this season.

 

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Fantasy football waiver wire for NFL Week 10: Jordan Howard is this week's must-add​

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Halfway there.

We are now halfway through the 2021 NFL regular season and even further along in your fantasy season. It always seems to fly by.

Week 9 of the 2021 NFL season was a reminder of how much things can change during the course of the week. When the games concluded on Sunday night of Week 8, none of us anticipated that the following 72 hours would bring a blitz of news involving several high-profile stars.

Monday morning included news that Derrick Henry would be out for possibly the rest of the season, and by Wednesday, Aaron Rodgers had landed on the COVID-19 list and the days of Odell Beckham Jr. with the Browns began to feel numbered.

We don't expect many weeks like that in any season -- it was an atypically unpredictable few days -- but it was a bit of a reminder that even fantasy-roster management is an all-week exercise.

As always, that roster management starts with the waiver wire. Here is the ESPN Fantasy Football Week 10 waiver adds of note.

Note: All players below are available in over 50% of leagues on ESPN.com.

Week 10 byes: Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, Houston Texans



Jordan Howard, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (8.1%): When Miles Sanders went down with an ankle injury, we presumed it would Kenneth Gainwell taking over in a larger role. That wasn't the case, as both Howard and Boston Scott rushed for two touchdowns in Week 8. And then it was Howard -- the veteran on the practice squad -- who looked best in Week 9, rushing for 71 yards on 17 carries and finding the end zone. Sanders is out for at least one more week and Howard would seemingly have the chance to lead the way in terms of carries once again. He's a must-add.

Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers (45.6%): Aiyuk's curiously slow start to the season didn't make much sense, but it was clear that he had lost the trust of head coach Kyle Shanahan. He appears to have turned the corner in recent weeks and had six catches for 89 yards and a touchdown in Week 9. Aiyuk has star-level traits and can be a game-changer for the 49ers' offense. Frustrated managers dropped him after that slow start, but be sure to rectify that right away.

Tim Patrick, WR, Denver Broncos (24.7%): I'd prefer not to keep writing about Patrick on the waiver wire as frequently as I have so far this season, but he has been so, so, so good for the Broncos, and that continued in Week 9. He had 85 yards on four catches and a beautiful long-distance touchdown to help Denver to its rout over the Cowboys. I've long felt that "underrated" is one of the most overused terms in sports, but Patrick qualifies as one of the league's most underrated amongst wideouts. Add him!

Elijah Moore, WR, New York Jets (15.3%): The catches have piled up lately for Moore, as the rookie is looking like the player who was amongst the best on the field during the Jets' training camp. He has 13 catches over the past two games and found the end zone twice in Week 9, setting a career high with seven catches and 84 yards in the process. While the Jets' offense has been up-and-down this season, throwing has been popular recently, as Mike White and Josh Johnson have thrown for more than 400 and 300 yards passing in a game, respectively. Zach Wilson should be back soon and Moore should be amongst his preferred targets. He's a smart bench stash.

Carlos Hyde, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (25.0%): With James Robinson unavailable in Week 9, it was the Carlos Hyde show for the Jaguars' backfield. He handled 21 of 22 total touches for Jaguars backs this past Sunday, albeit in an inefficient fantasy effort (fewer than seven fantasy points). While it sure sounds like Robinson has a chance to return this weekend, Hyde is an important add for anyone that has a running-back-depth need, as he should remain busy for this team until Robinson returns.

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots (6.1%): The best showing of Stevenson's young NFL career came in Week 9, as he totaled over 100 yards on 12 opportunities. Stevenson is a capable receiver and a shifty and powerful runner who plays in an offense that is unafraid to lean heavily on the run. Both he and Damien Harris left the game early for the Patriots because of head injuries, but if Stevenson were to be available this week and Harris were not, he'd have the opportunity to be a top-20 or so consideration. He's got a bright future.


Ty Johnson, RB, New York Jets (20.5%): The Jets have found their featured back in Michael Carter, but Johnson has been on a bit of a hot streak himself: He has double-digit fantasy points in three straight games and has been showing up as a pass-catcher in those outings. The Jets figure to be in the right game script (playing from behind) to keep those passing-game opportunities up for Johnson, and he'll earn a handful or more of carries per game as well. Those combine to make Johnson a worthwhile deeper-league add.

Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Cleveland Browns (4.6%): The Browns have moved on from Odell Beckham, Jr. and while he had not been a consistent fantasy factor for their offense, his absence does create a void. In the first game without OBJ, Donovan Peoples-Jones stepped up with a pair of catches for 86 yards and a touchdown in Week 9. He was trendy preseason sleeper after a strong training camp and should be considered in deeper leagues -- he's a fun player to watch.

Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona Cardinals (0.1%): With Chase Edmonds set to miss some time after spraining his ankle in Week 9, per Adam Schefter, James Conner -- who is rostered in 96% of ESPN+ leagues but was started in only 26% of them -- should be a very busy man in the Arizona backfield. But Benjamin could have a role as well, as he handled nine carries in Week 9 and found the end zone. This is a deeper-league add only, but if Benjamin gets to play close to 40% of the snaps in a very good offense, that would be enough to validate his addition to your roster.

 

[Wagerallsports]

First look at fantasy football for NFL Week 10: Russell Wilson ready to return?​

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We can feel relatively secure that the Los Angeles Rams will feature MVP candidate Matthew Stafford as their starting quarterback for the Week 10 Monday night road game against the San Francisco 49ers. What will the other NFC West teams be doing at quarterback this coming week? Well, that is a good question! The other three division clubs have very different situations going on at quarterback right now and fantasy managers really should be very interested in the latest news.

We start with the Seattle Seahawks. Russell Wilson last played in Week 5, missing three games after surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his right middle finger. The team recently cleared him to throw a football again and his return seems imminent. Geno Smith won one of the team's three games in the interim, but Wilson's return would be a clear boon to a struggling offense. Fantasy managers would love to have Wilson back and the high-upside, statistical relevance of wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett as well. The Seahawks play the Green Bay Packers in Week 10.

Arizona Cardinals starter Kyler Murray missed the first game of his career on Sunday, but longtime backup Colt McCoy guided the club to a resounding road win over the 49ers. Murray nursed a left ankle sprain last week but remained a game-day call on playing. He had company on the sidelines as star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring) and A.J. Green (COVID-19/reserve) missed the win as well, and running back Chase Edmonds (ankle) left early. The Cardinals host the slumping Carolina Panthers in Week 10.

Then there are the 49ers, losers of all four of their home games this season and on the outside looking in for NFC playoff contention. They host Stafford's Rams on prime time Monday Night Football and it may be Jimmy Garoppolo starting again, but he has hardly thrived this season with his eight touchdown passes in seven games. Sure, Garoppolo boasts consecutive 300-yard passing games but the 49ers really need a more dynamic quarterback leading things. They actually have one sitting around in rookie Trey Lance, the No. 3 pick in the draft. Is it finally Lance time?

The 49ers continue to claim Garoppolo is the starter, but Sunday's loss to a shorthanded Cardinals team was a rather ugly one. Lance started Week 5 against the Cardinals -- when Garoppolo was hurt -- and while the offense produced only one touchdown (a Deebo Samuel run) in the 17-10 loss, Lance acquitted himself well, with 192 passing yards and another 89 rushing yards. That combination certainly works for fantasy managers who see Lance as replicating the mighty statistical feats of Philadelphia Eagles starter Jalen Hurts. Lance has recovered from a knee injury. We shall see if the 49ers turn the offense over to him and if they do, get excited in fantasy.

Other QB situations to monitor

Of course, this being the NFL and so much revolving around the quarterback, there are some other franchises lacking clarity at the position as we enter Week 10, including the aforementioned Packers, as you may have heard over the past week. Jordan Love made his first NFL start Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs and, predictably, he struggled. Love threw for 190 yards but completed only six of 14 targets to awesome wide receiver Davante Adams, who scored 10.2 PPR points. Aaron Rodgers sat out the game after a positive COVID-19 test, and he may or not may return for Week 10.

Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins may have starting QB Tua Tagavailoa (finger) as they face the Baltimore Ravens on short rest this Thursday night. Backup Jacoby Brissett played competently enough in the 17-9 win over the pitiful Houston Texans, but he scored only 8.46 PPR points. Tagavailoa is obviously an upgrade. New York Jets rookie Zach Wilson also can return from his knee injury for Week 10 against what figures to be an angry Buffalo Bills club after their stunning loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

As for other injury situations that do not involve quarterbacks, the Jaguars (and fantasy managers!) hope to get running back James Robinson back from his heel injury. Robinson sat out the big win over the Bills with Carlos Hyde handling a full workload in his stead. In addition, the Washington football team should get tight end Logan Thomas back after he missed four games with a hamstring injury. Thomas scored two touchdowns in September and should be a TE1 in fantasy upon his return. We discuss the myriad New York Giants dealing with injury every week, but not this one, for they serve their bye in Week 10!

Battle for AFC West supremacy


The Las Vegas Raiders, the lone AFC West team to lose in Week 9, get their first look at the rival Kansas City Chiefs. They may have newly signed wide receiver DeSean Jackson in the lineup. Jackson disappointed fantasy managers in his brief tenure with the Los Angeles Rams, catching only eight passes, but they went for a lofty 221 yards (27.6 yards per catch). Jackson remains a serious deep threat the Raiders now lack, as they have a wide-open situation at the position. Only two Raiders reached 50 receiving yards in Week 9, neither a wide receiver (TE Darren Waller, RB Kenyan Drake). Jackson might actually be a decent fit, though fantasy managers seem likely to ignore him.

(Oh, by the way, just throwing this in here, an NFL team seems likely to sign former Cleveland Browns disappointment Odell Beckham Jr. any day now, and fantasy managers will be interested because, as with Jackson, they knows his name and myriad past achievements. Beckham may be more valuable in fantasy than Jackson is, but ultimately, do not get too excited in fantasy. Moving on.)

As for Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, he did not resume his awesome statistical prowess in Week 9. The Chiefs topped the Packers but held Mahomes to a season-low 122 yards and his three-week average for fantasy points is a disappointing 10.7. That is not a QB1, or even a QB2. We know how great Mahomes, who entered Week 9 as the No. 6 quarterback in PPR points this season, can be, but it may be time for fantasy managers to lower their expectations the remainder of 2021. Mahomes has really feasted on the Raiders in his career, averaging 313 passing yards in his six matchups, with 15 touchdowns against three interceptions. We shall see if the old Mahomes returns for this one.

 

[Wagerallsports]

Fantasy football highs and lows from NFL Week 9: What to make of Josh Allen's struggles​

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Week 9 of the fantasy football season featured a little bit of everything, from Christian McCaffrey returning to the field and exceeding 100 yards from scrimmage to Josh Allen and a number of high-profile quarterbacks having rough days.

What should we make of it all? Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analysis.

Concerns with Josh Allen?



In an absolute stunner of an upset, easily the biggest of Week 9 and perhaps of the entire 2021 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated Allen and the Bills, 9-6, holding the quarterback to a mere 9.56 fantasy points. It was Allen's worst point total in a single game since he scored 0.20 in Week 17 of 2019 (a game in which he played just six snaps), his worst in a game he played fully since he scored 8.72 in Week 4 of that same 2019 season and his sixth-worst in any of his 51 career NFL starts. Of note in that same game, Josh Allen -- the Jaguars defender, that is -- had a sack, interception and fumble recovery of the Bills quarterback of the same name, resulting in a significantly larger fantasy point total of the two: 30.5, if you're using the IDP (individual defensive players) scoring system we do for our weekly rankings. This wasn't a damning performance by the quarterback, but it's something to acknowledge, given that he has a handful of tricky matchups ahead, including both of his games against the Patriots -- they have held him to three of his nine worst single-game fantasy point totals -- as well as one against the Saints in Week 12. -- Cockcroft

Tristan, Josh Allen threw 47 passes on Sunday -- in a 9-6 loss. The lack of a meaningful running game in Buffalo is a real issue; so is the pass protection. And both were exposed today by a Jacksonville team with a lower-tier roster. I would look for more play-action throws with Allen moving forward, plus a dedicated effort to create a more viable run-game element within this offense. Both should be viewed as positives to generating consistent production at the quarterback position. -- Bowen

Christian McCaffrey plays well in return

In his first game back since Week 3, McCaffrey only played 47% of the offensive snaps in the Week 9 loss to the Patriots. However, he still totaled 18 touches and put up 14.6 PPR points (with 52 yards rushing and 54 receiving). While we want to see more volume moving forward for CMC in the pass game (4-of-5 targets on Sunday), I fully expect his usage to climb, which includes his deployment as a receiving target. He'll be a top-five running back for me next week with a matchup versus the Cardinals defense. -- Bowen

All James Conner does is score touchdowns

Say hello to your one-man machine from the Sunday games, as Conner scored a league-leading and career-best 40.3 PPR fantasy points. Conner's three touchdowns at least temporarily gave him the league lead with 11, one more than Derrick Henry and Cooper Kupp (10 apiece), with all of those coming in the past seven weeks alone. Much of the reason for Conner's big day was the early injury departure of Chase Edmonds, and if Edmonds is forced to miss additional time, Conner would certainly benefit. He saw a season-high five targets, after all, finally involved in that facet of the game and much closer to the receiving usage he had during his Steelers days. But even if Edmonds is fine and returns to their timeshare, Conner has established himself as this team's short-yardage back, meaning he's the ultimate touchdown vulture. That role alone makes him a viable RB2 when the matchup is right, and while Week 10 doesn't offer an elite matchup (Panthers), Week 11 does: the Seattle Seahawks. -- Cockcroft

Nick Chubb back to full speed

After missing Weeks 6 and 7 with a calf injury and registering only 7.9 PPR points in the Week 8 loss to the Steelers, Chubb dropped a season-high 30.3 PPR points on the Bengals in the Week 9 win. And I think the 70-yard touchdown run on Sunday tells us that Chubb is playing at top speed. He shifted gears on that run, attacking open daylight to split the top of the secondary. With a Week 10 matchup against the Patriots defense, Chubb should be viewed as a mid-tier RB1, with top-five upside in non-PPR formats. -- Bowen

Hunter Renfrow remains consistent

Renfrow posted 17.9 PPR points in the Week 9 loss to the Giants, and he's now scored at least 10 PPR points in seven of his eight games this season. If you need a WR3 in deeper leagues, one with PPR upside, then take a look at Renfrow. We know how the Raiders scheme for Renfrow (especially in critical down-and-distance situations): bunch sets and motion/movement to get him free access off the ball there. The route running is clean, too. Renfrow can win underneath one-on-ones. And the upcoming schedule -- with games versus the Chiefs, Bengals and Cowboys -- sets Renfrow up for pretty favorable matchups. -- Bowen

Quick hitters​

Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers: After back-to-back subpar games for Herbert, the Chargers quarterback posted 31.6 fantasy points in the Week 9 win over the Eagles. It was another volume throwing day for Herbert, as he was 32-of-37 passing against the zone-heavy Philly defense. Plus, he picked up a score on the ground too, off a second-reaction play inside the low red zone. Given the Chargers' inability to create efficiency in their own run game, Herbert has now thrown at least 35 passes in every start this season. And I don't see how that changes with this offense moving forward. -- Bowen

George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers: In an otherwise disappointing performance by the 49ers, Kittle's return to the lineup was a positive, as he scored a team-leading 20.1 PPR fantasy points. Though his 73% snap share fell considerably short of the near 100% he typically plays when fully healthy, he saw eight targets for a 21% share and even got a goal-line look that he converted for a 6-yard touchdown. Whether Jimmy Garoppolo or Trey Lance is under center in the coming weeks could have an influence on Kittle's numbers -- Lance's inexperience could cause more weekly volatility, for one -- but there's no reason to expect any less usage than this. His bye is in the rearview and he has a pretty decent remaining schedule, so there's every reason to believe he's back as a top-three tight end. -- Cockcroft

Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: After posting three consecutive 20-point fantasy performances, Burrow put forth a stinker in Week 9, scoring only 7.38 points in what was an above-average matchup against the Browns. Only once in his 19 career NFL starts has he scored fewer points, recording 4.32 in Week 5 of 2020, and his streak of multi-touchdown performances to begin the season is now over. It's possible that Burrow, who is still working his way back from a knee reconstruction, has reached the perfect time for his bye-week breather, which arrives in Week 10, so this isn't a game from which to panic. He remains a borderline, yet matchups-dependent, top-10 fantasy quarterback. -- Cockcroft

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens: It wasn't always the prettiest of games, one that was slow-starting statistically for the mobile quarterback, but Jackson continued his rushing-oriented tear through the record books in Week 9. His 30.64 fantasy points represented the 11th game of 30-plus in his young career, moving him into the all-time top 10 at his position. This was his 12th career 100-yard rushing performance (postseason included), breaking a tie he previously shared with Michael Vick. -- Cockcroft

Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals: His 28.0 PPR fantasy points represented a season high and his fourth-best total in 59 career NFL games, not to mention gave him a third week of 25-plus points in his past four. Recent ankle problems haven't seemed to hamper Mixon at all, as he even broke off a 21-yard second-quarter run in which his maximum speed exceeded 20 mph, and he now gets a bye week's rest to recharge. Mixon will get the Raiders, a great matchup, in his return to the field in Week 11, and his Week 13 assignment against the Chargers is another solid one, too. -- Cockcroft

Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos: I love the running style with the rookie. He's downhill. The physical element is there, too. And we saw that in the Broncos' Week 9 win over the Cowboys, with Williams rushing for 111 yards on 17 carries. However, we also know the drill with the Broncos backfield. Melvin Gordon finished with 23 total touches in this one, which keeps Williams as a flex option only. -- Bowen

Tim Patrick, WR, Denver Broncos: Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy seem to get almost all of the press among Broncos wide receivers, but once the dust settled on this laugher of a victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Patrick was their offensive standout, scoring 18.5 PPR fantasy points on five targets. The big catch was a 44-yard touchdown score on a second-quarter deep ball, and all four of his receptions went for at least 11 yards. Still, Jeudy earned more targets (8) and Teddy Bridgewater continued to spread the ball around, keeping Patrick's share to a mere 20%, so be careful not to read too much into it. For example, cornerback Darius Slay and the Eagles are up next. Jeudy is the one who traditionally runs his routes out of the slot, a spot where Slay rarely aligns, so Patrick's next matchup appears suboptimal, and he then has a bye. There are some matchups in the final six weeks, however, that might elevate him into WR3 territory (@KC, Week 13; DET, Week 14; CIN, Week 15). -- Cockcroft

Marquise Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens: With 20.6 PPR points in the Week 9 win over the Vikings, Brown has now scored 19 or more points in six of his game eight games this season. Look, we know that Brown can stretch defenses vertically. And the Ravens will scheme him up, too. But don't forget about the volume here, as Brown has now seen 12 or more targets in his last two games. Screens, crossers, intermediate throws. Catch and run. Up next for Brown? The Dolphins defense. I'll take him as a WR2 in that one. -- Bowen

Olamide Zaccheaus, WR, Atlanta Falcons: Among Week 9's many "where did that come from" performances was Zaccheaus' career-best 20.8 PPR fantasy point showing. While it came on only three targets, note that two of them were red-zone looks and the third was a 49-yard catch on a deep throw, and Calvin Ridley's absence has opened up opportunity in the passing game. Tuck the name away if you're in a larger league and need to exploit matchups. -- Cockcroft

 

[Wagerallsports]

Fantasy football flex and superflex rankings for Week 10​

ESPN PLUS

Welcome to Week 10 and the latest edition of the fantasy football superflex rankings, combining the best of the running backs, wide receivers, tight ends and quarterbacks into one tidy package of 150 names to aid in your decision-making. Four NFL teams are on bye this week (Bears, Bengals, Giants, Texans). Injury situations still cloud all positions, so keep up with the news before Sunday! Good luck in Week 10 and beyond!

1. Josh Allen, QB, Bills: First single-digit fantasy performance comes against the Jaguars, but now come the Jets. Yep, there is a difference.
2. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens: On his way to 1,000 rushing yards for the third consecutive season. Amazing.
3. Tom Brady, QB, Buccaneers
4. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts: Can easily make the case for him as fantasy's top running back.
5. Cooper Kupp, WR, Rams: Totally rooting for him to get to 2,000 receiving yards. He is on pace for 1,812 yards.
6. Davante Adams, WR, Packers
7. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys: Late-game touchdowns in blowout loss aids fantasy managers. He should be fine.
8. Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams: He is not the fantasy MVP, but in real life, sure, it makes sense.



9. Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers
10. Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals: Ankle injury could keep him out again, but do not worry -- Colt McCoy is awesome, too.
11. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
12. Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles: Brady is the only QB with more fantasy points. Think about that for a second. Road game in Denver might not be fun, though.
13. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Panthers: Ample volume in return from injury. Honestly, just stay healthy, fella. That is all we need.
14. Najee Harris, RB, Steelers
15. Austin Ekeler, RB, Chargers: Would you believe he has 70 rushing yards in only one game? On pace for 72 receptions, though.
16. Dalvin Cook, RB, Vikings
17. Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints
18. Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs
19. Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks: Back from a finger injury and gets a road game at Lambeau. Should be fun!
20. Derek Carr, QB, Raiders
21. Carson Wentz, QB, Colts: Six consecutive games with multiple touchdown passes gets noticed. Can make case for QB1 status.
22. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
23. Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings
24. Diontae Johnson, WR, Steelers
25. Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, Falcons: Third among running backs in receptions. Only single-digit PPR performance came in Week 1. Trust him.
26. James Conner, RB, Cardinals: Trust him, too, as he sails toward 20 touchdowns!
27. Aaron Jones, RB, Packers
28. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
29. D'Andre Swift, RB, Lions: Back from bye and, we presume, ready to handle bigger workload, if they let him.
30. Leonard Fournette, RB, Buccaneers
31. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Broncos
32. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
33. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Titans: AFC's top seed is winning for reasons other than QB, though Tannehill does have three rushing touchdowns in four weeks.
34. Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers: He is second in the NFL in receiving yards. Yes, even with his QB play.
35. Stefon Diggs, WR, Bills
36. DK Metcalf, WR, Seahawks: Yes! Wilson is back! (Sorry, Geno.)
37. Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers
38. Darrell Henderson Jr., RB, Rams
39. James Robinson, RB, Jaguars: Heel injury cost him Week 9, but he is expected back and with full workload this week.
40. Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers: He has the same numbers as Metcalf. Only Kupp has more receiving scores.
41. Chris Godwin, WR, Buccaneers
42. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington
43. A.J. Brown, WR, Titans
44. Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs
45. DJ Moore, WR, Panthers: You might find it strange we like him just as much with the backup QB starting, but have you seen the starting QB play?
46. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Colts
47. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys
48. Marquise Brown, WR, Ravens
49. Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings
50. Adam Thielen, WR, Vikings
51. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers: To be fair, he has thrown for 648 yards the past two games. Facing the Rams might not be fun, though.
52. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Dolphins: Hey, you were warned that durability is not really his thing. Might sit again for Jacoby Brissett. Nobody wants that.
53. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
54. Taylor Heinicke, QB, Washington
55. Baker Mayfield, QB, Browns: Well, his play certainly did not suffer with the overrated WR off the team. Addition by subtraction is real.
56. Robert Woods, WR, Rams
57. Darren Waller, TE, Raiders
58. Mike Williams, WR, Chargers
59. Darrel Williams, RB, Chiefs: Still no sign of Clyde Edwards-Helaire returning soon. Williams is a bit underrated.
60. Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders
61. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars
62. Trevor Siemian, QB, Saints: Could be Taysom Hill here. Siemian was not the reason Saints lost last week, though.
63. Mac Jones, QB, Patriots
64. Michael Carter, RB, Jets: Most important thing here is that this is no longer a timeshare. Does not mean Carter will run on the Bills, but nobody else will.
65. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks
66. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Dolphins
67. Amari Cooper, WR, Cowboys
68. Mike White, QB, Jets
69. P.J. Walker, QB, Panthers: May be awful, but then again, Sam Darnold was playing terribly, too.
70. Jared Goff, QB, Lions: It says something when he ranks last among QBs for this week.
71. Myles Gaskin, RB, Dolphins
72. Elijah Mitchell, RB, 49ers
73. D'Ernest Johnson, RB, Browns: Might be only running back on active roster by Sunday. If so, bump him up a dozen spots or so.
74. George Kittle, TE, 49ers
75. Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons: Pace for 72 catches and 1,100 yards, but he is all or nothing from week to week. Consistency would be nicer.
76. Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens
77. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Cardinals: Out with hamstring injury and seems a bit unlikely he plays Sunday.
78. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Broncos: Trending toward WR2 status. He is that good.
79. Zack Moss, RB, Bills
80. Chris Carson, RB, Seahawks
81. Damien Harris, RB, Patriots
82. Hunter Renfrow, WR, Raiders: Very consistent and on pace for 90 catches. Very under the radar.
83. Chase Claypool, WR, Steelers
84. Javonte Williams, RB, Broncos
85. Melvin Gordon III, RB, Broncos: If only the Broncos could still trade him, because he is running well lately.
86. Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington
87. J.D. McKissic, RB, Washington
88. Julio Jones, WR, Titans
89. Adrian Peterson, RB, Titans: Kind of what we expected. Will score touchdowns but lacks efficiency.
90. Jeremy McNichols, RB, Titans
91. Devonta Freeman, RB, Ravens: Trending to decent flex option if Latavius Murray sits out again.
92. Nyheim Hines, RB, Colts
93. Eno Benjamin, RB, Cardinals: Decent rookie fills in for Chase Edmonds, should get double-digit touches, especially when Cards go up big versus Panthers.
94. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Lions
95. Mike Gesicki, TE, Dolphins
96. Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles
97. Cole Beasley, WR, Bills
98. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Bills
99. Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos
100. Elijah Moore, WR, Jets: Major breakout possibilities for second half of season. Make sure he is rostered in your league.
101. DeVonta Smith, WR, Eagles
102. Jakobi Meyers, WR, Patriots: No, I apparently cannot get over the fact only 12 WRs have more catches, but more than 100 have a touchdown, and he does not.
103. Jarvis Landry, WR, Browns
104. Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Browns: Not much volume but looks like the touchdown maker in the passing game.
105. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 49ers
106. Mike Davis, RB, Falcons
107. Devin Singletary, RB, Bills
108. Jamaal Williams, RB, Lions
109. Noah Fant, TE, Broncos
110. Pat Freiermuth, TE, Steelers: Forced his way into TE1 discussion, and rather quickly.
111. Logan Thomas, TE, Washington: Was a TE1 when his hamstring injury occurred. He is back now.
112. Dawson Knox, TE, Bills
113. Marvin Jones Jr., WR, Jaguars
114. Corey Davis, WR, Jets
115. Van Jefferson, WR, Rams
116. Rashod Bateman, WR, Ravens: Rookie and first-round pick is ready to rock in final two months. Had eight targets last week.
117. AJ Dillon, RB, Packers
118. Kenyan Drake, RB, Raiders
119. Jordan Howard, RB, Eagles: Ran well on Lions and Chargers, but Broncos are a better defense. Easy to be skeptical here.
120. Boston Scott, RB, Eagles
121. Brandon Bolden, RB, Patriots: Other Patriots RBs are in concussion protocol, so Bolden might have great opportunity.
122. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Patriots
123. Mark Ingram II, RB, Saints: One of these weeks he will approach 20 touches and become more relevant in our world.
124. Russell Gage, WR, Falcons
125. Jamison Crowder, WR, Jets
126. Jamal Agnew, WR, Jaguars
127. Tony Pollard, RB, Cowboys
128. Le'Veon Bell, RB, Ravens
129. Ty Johnson, RB, Jets
130. Sony Michel, RB, Rams
131. Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington: Dynamic player could return from groin injury, and might be exactly what sputtering offense needs.
132. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts
133. Dan Arnold, TE, Jaguars: Hey, does your tight end have 17 targets the past two weeks? When he scores a touchdown, people will take notice.
134. Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams
135. Dalton Schultz, TE, Cowboys
136. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Jaguars
137. Mecole Hardman, WR, Chiefs
138. Marquez Callaway, WR, Saints
139. Michael Gallup, WR, Cowboys: Expected back from calf injury. He did see seven targets in Week 1.
140. Christian Kirk, WR, Cardinals
141. Zach Pascal, WR, Colts
142. Bryan Edwards, WR, Raiders
143. Rondale Moore, WR, Cardinals: Another Hopkins absence would greatly aid his value.
144. Randall Cobb, WR, Packers
145. Kalif Raymond, WR, Lions
146. JaMycal Hasty, RB, 49ers
147. Carlos Hyde, RB, Jaguars
148. Alex Collins, RB, Seahawks
149. Ronald Jones II, RB, Buccaneers
150. Giovani Bernard, RB, Buccaneers: And we close with this former Bengal, who is averaging a whopping 8.5 yards per carry! OK, so it is only six carries. Still.

 

[Wagerallsports]

Fantasy football waiver wire for NFL Week 11: Elijah Moore is getting it done​

ESPN PLUS $ MATERIAL

I'm not one to stump for awards at different points in the season. The Most Valuable Player is a full-season award, and so many things can change from week to week in the NFL that the player deemed most valuable after seven weeks could change one, two or three weeks later.

But I'll make an exception here because Week 11 will present all of us in the world of fantasy with a unique challenge: replacing the most valuable player in fantasy football up to this point of the season. That's right, Los Angeles Rams wideout Cooper Kupp has been the highest-scoring and most valuable player in fantasy football so far in 2021, combining volume, explosive plays and touchdowns, as he has a true shot at the NFL's receiving triple crown of leading the league in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Kupp has been a very good player for some years, but 2021 has been his breakout season in fantasy. He has seemingly lived in the end zone and proved to be the best value of any pick. He's been so good this year, I might start him in Week 11 during his bye out of respect. Hats off to you, Mr. Kupp.

For those looking to fill in for Kupp and other players, we've got the names you need to know on the Week 11 ESPN Fantasy waiver wire.

Note: All players in this column are available in over 50% of leagues on ESPN.com

Week 11 byes: Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots (9.9%): With Damien Harris out in Week 10, Stevenson had a chance to step into a starring role. And star is what he did, as he finished second among all running backs with 27.4 fantasy points, rushing for 100 yards, two touchdowns and adding four catches for good measure. The talent is obvious with Stevenson, and with a short week prior to the Patriots' next game, we'll closely monitor whether Harris is available in Week 11. If not, Stevenson is a top-20 running back play. He should be added in all leagues.

Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens (30.7%): The Ravens' first-round pick continues to come on strong, posting at least 10 fantasy points in three straight games and averaging seven targets per game since making his NFL debut. While Bateman has yet to find the end zone, the talent is obvious enough that more splash plays and eventual trips to the end zone are coming soon. He's a really smart add and stash in any size league who can already be utilized in deep leagues (14 teams or larger).

Dan Arnold, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars (26.1%): Arnold has been a busy man since being acquired in a trade by the Jaguars and is now up to 37 targets over his past five games, scoring at least 10 fantasy points in four of them. What Arnold has not done yet this season is score a receiving touchdown, but he has at least 60 receiving yards in four his past five games. Volume is hard to come by at the tight end spot and Arnold doesn't figure to cede much of it going forward. He's an add in all leagues.

Elijah Moore, WR, New York Jets (36.3%): The Jets' second-round draft pick has been rock solid of late, with four straight games of at least 10 fantasy points. In each of those games, the rookie has at least six targets, and he figures to stay busy as he grows more and more comfortable in the offense. The talent has been apparent since training camp and we're seeing that translate into more fantasy production by the week.

D'Onta Foreman, RB, Tennessee Titans (1.5%): We thought the Titans were more likely to choose between Jeremy McNichols or Adrian Peterson as their top fill-in for Derrick Henry, but Foreman has had a role in each of the team's two games since Henry's injury and had a team-high 11 rushes in Week 10. It might prove that no back is worth a weekly start out of the Tennessee backfield because each has a role, but Foreman is a deeper-league consideration because, by the eye test, he has been the Titans' best Henry fill-in runner.

Jamal Agnew, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (8.1%): Agnew, whose speed has stood out, has been a solid find for Jacksonville in free agency. Interestingly, it was his three rushing attempts in Week 10 that allowed him to cash in, as despite the fact that he was held without a catch, he did accumulate 71 rushing yards and a touchdown. He now has at least 10 fantasy points in four of his past five games, making him another deeper-league add to consider.


Marcus Johnson, WR, Tennessee Titans (0.0%): An out-of-nowhere performance for Johnson has him on the deep-league radar, as he paced the Titans with five catches for 100 yards in Week 10. I have no clue if there is any chance that Johnson will cement a consistent role in this offense, but Tennessee is looking for depth at wide receiver with Julio Jones being placed on injured reserve prior to Week 10. A deep-league flier to monitor.

Ray-Ray McCloud, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (0.4%): It's hard to know what to make of the McCloud's Week 10 performance, as he was a vacuum for targets for the first time this season. He had 12 targets alone in Week 10, two more than he had for the entirety of the season prior to this game. But with Chase Claypool out, the team was looking for answers at wide receiver, and it's possible it might have found a short-term solution in McCloud. A deeper-league consideration.

Wayne Gallman, RB, Atlanta Falcons (0.8%): I'm not entirely sure what to make of Gallman's increased role in Week 10, but he led the Falcons with 15 rushes on a day when Mike Davis saw his role reduced, as the possibility exists that Atlanta just worked Gallman in because the game was so out of hand. But it's worth monitoring, and we should get a good look on Thursday night when the Falcons play host to the Patriots. For now, Gallman is a deeper-league consideration only.

 

[Wagerallsports]

Fantasy football highs and lows from NFL Week 10: Is Jonathan Taylor the new RB1?​

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Week 10 in the NFL resembled many of the weeks that recently preceded it, with blowouts, upsets and sometimes the least likely of fantasy football fill-ins lighting up the scoreboard. Jonathan Taylor and CeeDee Lamb excelled, while Tom Brady and his teammates fell flat.

How should fantasy managers react? Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their takes.

---

RB Jonathan Taylor continues to establish himself as a potential league winner​

For the sixth time in the past seven weeks, the Indianapolis Colts' second-year RB scored 20-plus PPR fantasy points, his 24.6 the second most at his position from the 1p.m. ET games. He's now averaging 5.8 yards per rushing attempt, and this game represented his season high in touches (27). Judging by his recent play, the ability to dominate his soft matchups and his offensive-line support, he makes a very real case for No. 1 status at his position from this point forward. I won't rank him that way with his two toughest matchups up in Weeks 11-12 -- the Bills and Buccaneers -- but I'm also not remotely scared by either assignment. -- Cockcroft

Tristan, I'm really impressed with Taylor right now. He is so patient as a runner right now. And when he does find daylight, then we see the explosive traits he brings to the position. He can scoot past the second level now. And I'm with you on the upcoming matchups, too. He will get the volume, and there's always scoring upside with Taylor on low red zone touches. -- Bowen

RB AJ Dillon becomes a bigger factor​

Perhaps the biggest story of Week 10 was the injury to Aaron Jones, who sprained a medial collateral ligament during the third quarter of the Green Bay Packers' 17-0 win over the Seattle Seahawks, after which he was witnessed in tears. Dillon absorbed a huge workload after Jones' departure, concluding the game with 26.8 PPR fantasy points on 23 total touches. While some of that can be attributed to the favorable matchup against the Seahawks, it was good to see him involved in the passing game after Jones' early exit, as Jones entered the week averaging 20.0 routes to Dillon's 8.3, and any rise in that number could pay big fantasy dividends for the second-year back. As is, Dillon had scored 10-plus points in three of six games before this, raising questions about the division of carries in the Green Bay backfield. Assuming Jones' injury is a lengthy one -- it seems likely to sideline him for Week 11 at the minimum -- Dillon should take on a hefty workload, elevating him into the back end of the RB1 tier. He's somehow still available in 40.5% of ESPN leagues, a number that needs to shrink to zero in this week's waiver run, and the only real knock on him as a fill-in would be that the Packers have their bye in Week 13, taking a week out of the fantasy-scheduling equation. -- Cockcroft

Rhamondre Stevenson leads a trio of solid fill-in RBs​

Injuries might've created this expanded opportunity, but New England Patriots rookie Stevenson's usage in Week 10 -- and his resulting numbers -- was one of the most encouraging storylines of the week. He played 56.5% of the offensive snaps, easily more than double that of Brandon Bolden (25.8%) or J.J. Taylor (19.4%), had 20 rushing attempts and four receptions, and had four rushing attempts and a receiving target in goal-to-go situations, converting two of the former for touchdowns. It showed a clear commitment to Stevenson, which bodes well for future weeks when Damien Harris might be at less than full strength, and in fact could set up a competition between the two for carries in their healthy weeks. Stevenson's 27.4 PPR fantasy points, by the way, were the most by a Patriots rookie running back since Jonas Gray scored 44.1 in Week 11 of 2014. For your Week 11 pickups, Stevenson remains available in 90.1% of ESPN leagues. -- Cockcroft

WR CeeDee Lamb shines in a Dallas Cowboys' rout​

The star of what was a rout of the visiting Falcons, Lamb scored 28.6 PPR fantasy points in three quarters' work, which at the time of his departure from the game led all players who had appeared to that point. Of Lamb's seven targets on the day, three came in the red zone, a good sign considering he hadn't seen any in Weeks 8-9 and had only five for the season entering Sunday. He also now has 105.0 points in his past five games, continuing to show a good rapport with QB Dak Prescott, who seems to only look stronger the further he gets from last season's surgery. If there's any worry with Lamb, it was his early departure due to an arm contusion, which might've been as much a scoreboard-related decision than a concern. Assuming he's 100% and gets in his early-week practice time, Lamb should be regarded a borderline WR1 from this point forward, especially in Week 11 when he has a great matchup against the Chiefs. -- Cockcroft

I agree on CeeDee here, Tristan. And I might even have Lamb a little higher in the ranks -- as a locked-in, low-end WR1 for that Week 11 game versus the Chiefs. We know how the Cowboys will scheme for Lamb on catch-and-run balls, but the red zone targets are the big takeaway here, too. Lamb had two scores on Sunday inside the 15-yard line (on outside breaking routes), and that's where we usually see man coverage from NFL defenses. I'll take Lamb in those matchups. -- Bowen

RB Christian McCaffrey puts versatility on display​

For the 11th time in his five-year, 56-game NFL career to date, McCaffrey made double-digit catches (10 in this one), looking once again like the locked-in, PPR dynamo he has been in the past. He scored 26.1 PPR fantasy points on what was 23 total touches, and played 76.9% of the Panthers' offensive snaps, a number that might have been higher if not for his team being up big on the scoreboard late in the contest. If there was any frustration about McCaffrey's performance, it was that he got only one of the team's five goal-to-go rushing attempts, as Cam Newton and Chuba Hubbard each converted chances for scores. That wasn't so much the case during McCaffrey's big 2019, and while the team could be attempting to protect him from further injury, it's just as likely that they're working him back one step at a time, and that the goal-line opportunities will still come. There's no reason to think of him as anything less than a top-three running back going forward. -- Cockcroft

Quick hitters​

Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: In what was the upset of Week 10, Brady's Buccaneers lost 29-19 to the Washington Football Team, a matchup that made him a popular top-three pick at his position. He scored only 13.00 fantasy points, meaning he has now finished beneath 15 in two of his past six games. Brady and his team didn't look at all like a squad freshly rested off the bye, though he also rebounded with a massive 37.74-point performance the most recent time he had such a poor stat line (Week 5), and all logic points to him rebounding nicely against the Giants in Week 11. Consider this a one-week blip. -- Cockcroft

Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots: Looking at the Patriots' schedule over the second half of the season, can we consider Jones a matchup-dependent starter moving forward? The rookie was pretty dialed in against the Browns' defense on Sunday, posting 19.92 fantasy points, his second-highest scoring total of the season, and throwing three touchdown passes in New England's blowout win. We know Jones is an easy fit for this Patriots' passing game, too. Throw with timing, rhythm, anticipation here. And I loved the seam-ball touchdown Jones delivered to Kendrick Bourne in this one. That's a small window to hit. Go challenge it. Up next for Jones and the Pats? It's the Falcons' defense. And that's a matchup I like with Jones as a lower-tier QB1 in deeper leagues. -- Bowen

D'Ernest Johnson, RB, Cleveland Browns: Johnson has the running traits to play a volume role in this Cleveland offense when he gets the opportunity to roll as the lead back. We saw it in Week 7, when Johnson racked up 24.8 PPR points versus the Broncos. And he did it again on Sunday, finishing with 22.7 PPR points (on 26 touches) against the Patriots. He's a decisive, one-cut runner. Get downhill. Yes, the volume will take a dip with Nick Chubb's anticipated return next week, but Johnson is a player you want on the roster given his ability to produce as a viable insurance back in one of the league's most run-heavy offenses. -- Bowen

Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers: Some concern here after Ekeler failed to score at least 15 PPR points for the second straight week? Yes, a little, because I don't believe the Chargers have a meaningful run game. For Ekeler to produce high-end RB1 numbers, you need to see production in the pass game. And the Chargers running back has caught just a total of six passes in his past two games. -- Bowen

DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Smith scored 22.6 PPR points (all in the first half) for the second straight week. And the highlight for me was the contested catch he made versus Patrick Surtain II in the end zone. That's big-time football. Smith added a second touchdown in this one, too, running away from man coverage on a crosser in the red zone, giving him three total scores in his past two games. The explosive plays are up, and so are the scoring opportunities for the rookie. But with a Week 11 matchup versus the Saints' aggressive, man-coverage secondary, Smith will stay in my ranks as an upside WR3. -- Bowen

Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks: In his return from a finger injury, Wilson scored only 5.64 fantasy points, his fourth fewest in any of his 150 career NFL starts. He simply looked rusty, lacking the usual zip on his throws and making poor decisions at times, which isn't entirely shocking considering his four-week absence. Wilson should improve with time, though a Week 11 matchup against the Cardinals isn't the easiest matchup in which for him to rebound. He'll be a low-end QB1, one I'll probably prefer to have outside my top 10. -- Cockcroft

Mark Ingram II, RB, New Orleans Saints: Like Johnson, Ingram was a popular streaming choice for Week 10, and he similarly delivered in a losing effort, scoring 20.8 PPR fantasy points. While his 18 total touches fell short of what Alvin Kamara usually handles, Ingram's receiving usage showed that the team should regard him somewhat similarly if Kamara is forced to miss any additional time. He's an insurance policy worth keeping around if you're among the 38.2% of ESPN managers who added him within the past week. -- Cockcroft


Matt Breida, RB, Buffalo Bills: There's a blast from the past, as Breida, the former 49ers and Dolphins back, finished among his position's top-10 scorers from the 1 p.m. ET games, scoring 18.0 PPR fantasy points despite finding himself rostered in only 0.2% of ESPN leagues. While that's at least a small step toward him carving out a small role in the running game, keep in mind that 17 of his 25 snaps played came on special teams, and he had just six total touches in the contest. Call it a matchups-driven fluke, and it's a pretty rough time in the team's schedule to consider him a pickup, as the Colts (Week 11), Saints (Week 12) and Buccaneers (Week 14) represent three of his next four matchups. -- Cockcroft

Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots: With Jonnu Smith (shoulder) sidelined, Henry played 82.3% of the Patriots' offensive snaps, saw a pair of goal-line targets that he caught for touchdowns and saw an additional red zone target wiped out by penalty. The result: 19.7 PPR fantasy points, a season best for him, giving him 10-plus in five of his past seven games. Clarity on Henry's role helped, and an extended Smith absence would thrust Henry easily into the TE1 class, as he'll have back-to-back favorable matchups in Weeks 10-11 against the Falcons and Titans. -- Cockcroft

Dan Arnold, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: With 13.7 PPR points in Week 10 against the Colts, Arnold has now scored 10 or more PPR points in his past three games, with at least seven targets in each matchup. While the scoring upside isn't there with Arnold, the volume alone puts the veteran in the low-end TE1 mix. -- Bowen

 

[Wagerallsports]

First look at fantasy football for NFL Week 11: Overlooked Patriots starting to shine​

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Stop if you have heard this story before. The calendar flipped to November and the New England Patriots suddenly cannot lose football games. The Patriots routed the Cleveland Browns on Sunday for their fourth consecutive victory, but the individual players who scored most of the fantasy points remain largely available in ESPN standard leagues.

Perhaps this part will change before the Patriots hit the road in Week 11 for an attractive Thursday night matchup in Atlanta against the enigmatic Falcons.

Quarterback Mac Jones and running back Rhamondre Stevenson were high school players the last time these franchises met, in the fall of 2017 (eight months after their Super Bowl meeting), but today they are becoming interesting to fantasy managers. Maybe. Jones tossed three touchdown passes -- with only four incompletions -- in the 45-7 win over the Browns, those scores featuring Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry and Jakobi Meyers. The rookie from Alabama is more about efficiency than big numbers, but his top two statistical outings have come during this four-game winning streak, and the Falcons are, well, rough defensively.

Stevenson (rostered in 9.9% of ESPN standard leagues) obviously offers more fantasy upside, but even that one comes with a caveat on whether starter Damien Harris will play. Harris missed the Week 10 game because of a concussion, and he might retain his volume upon his return since he has scored touchdowns in his past five games. Stevenson scored a pair of touchdowns Sunday, and he caught four passes as well, scoring 27.4 PPR points. That tops any outing for Harris (only 11 catches) this season. Perhaps this gets interesting after all, but it seems clear the Patriots will run the ball effectively on the Falcons, so invest where possible.

As for the passing game, Meyers entered Week 10 one of the more underrated yet unlucky players in the NFL. His 46 receptions ranked him tied for 18th in the league, but of the 55 players with 32 or more catches, Meyers was the only one who had failed to score a receiving touchdown. Even that changed on Sunday with his memorable 11-yard score in the closing minutes, the first career touchdown for Meyers in his 39th game.

As Jones matures -- he was more accurate and made better decisions Sunday -- and gets more chances to throw the football downfield, perhaps Meyers becomes more relevant to fantasy managers. He entered Week 10 among the top 50 PPR wide receivers despite scoring nary a touchdown, and he is available in more than 33% of ESPN standard leagues.

(For those wondering, and I suspect you are because I certainly was, the new leader for receptions sans a receiving touchdown this season is Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette, and he last caught a receiving touchdown in 2018. Few complain about Fournette, a clear RB2, though, and he has four rushing scores. The Jacksonville Jaguars' Laviska Shenault Jr. and Dan Arnold are next on the list, with 35 and 34 catches, respectively, and no touchdowns. C'mon, Trevor Lawrence, get this offense moving already.)

If one is to make a case for any rookie passer the rest of the way, it might be for Jones, although he has no more games with the New York Jets. Still, watch his progress. Meyers and Henry should pique the interest of fantasy managers, too. Meyers is surely capable of scoring more touchdowns. Henry, who used to be a TE1 with the Los Angeles Chargers, scored two touchdowns on Sunday and has seven on the season, one off his career high. Henry might be returning to that TE1 level, especially if Jonnu Smith (shoulder) continues to miss time. The Patriots are a run-first team playing excellent defense, and both Harris and Stevenson demand our attention, but keep an eye out on the passing game, too.

As for the Falcons, they are quite difficult to predict from week to week, with running back Cordarrelle Patterson and rookie tight end Kyle Pitts the main options in fantasy lineups on any consistent basis. Patterson comes off his worst fantasy performance of the season in the 43-3 demolition loss to the Dallas Cowboys with 4.9 PPR points. Chalk that one up to the game flow rather than a key change in value. Pitts caught four of seven targets for 60 yards, reaching 10 PPR points but for only the fourth time all season. Is he still a TE1, as he sits on one touchdown, and against a thriving Patriots defense? Perhaps not this week.

Quarterbacks rusty or not

Things look positive in the recent reunion of quarterback Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. Newton, signed back to his original team just days before Sunday's stunning road win over the Arizona Cardinals (who were missing QB Kyler Murray), ran for a touchdown on his first play and threw a TD pass to Robby Anderson on his second play. P.J. Walker started the game, but it seems likely Newton gets the call for the Week 11 home game against Washington. Fantasy managers need to take this situation seriously. As noted by ESPN colleague Eric Moody, Newton is clearly fantasy relevant, and Sunday's game notwithstanding, Washington has struggled defensively.

As for the Seattle Seahawks and Russell Wilson, he returned sooner than expected from finger surgery in Sunday's shutout loss to the Green Bay Packers, and scored 5.64 PPR points; he averaged more than 22 PPR points in his first four full games. Wilson and the Seahawks -- who had not suffered a shutout in the Wilson era -- host the Cardinals in Week 11. While we should give the Packers' defense major props for shutting down Wilson, Patrick Mahomes and Murray the past three games, Wilson will need to play better -- and get more time to throw -- to be a fantasy factor.

The injury report

Unfortunately, there is no shortage of names to keep an eye on for this week. At quarterback, it seems likely the Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers will get veterans Murray (ankle) and Ben Roethlisberger (COVID-19 reserve list) back for their games against the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Chargers, respectively. Murray is a clear fantasy starter. Roethlisberger, at this stage of his career, certainly is not. Cleveland's Baker Mayfield (knee) should play against the winless Detroit Lions, but as with Roethlisberger, fantasy managers should look elsewhere at the position anyway.

The Browns could get running backs Nick Chubb (reserve/COVID-19) and Kareem Hunt (calf) back against the Lions, which would obviously harm the value for promising D'Ernest Johnson, who scored 22.7 PPR points Sunday. New Orleans Saints star Alvin Kamara (knee) should return for a road tilt against the Philadelphia Eagles, similarly affecting the value for Mark Ingram II, coming off his best performance of the season. The Packers lost Aaron Jones (knee) during their win over Seattle, and AJ Dillon feasted in relief. At wide receiver and tight end, we await further word on the Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins, Steelers' Chase Claypool and the Eagles' Dallas Goedert (concussion).

Monday night outlook


Then there are the New York Giants, a team consistently featured in the injury section of this weekly article. They come off their bye week but offer little clarity as of today. Running back Saquon Barkley (ankle) last played in Week 5, but he could return for Monday night against Brady and the Buccaneers. Rookie wide receiver Kadarius Toney (thumb) piqued our collective interest in Week 5 but has only eight receptions since and -- keeping with a theme -- has no touchdowns. As with Toney, veteran Kenny Golladay (knee) played in Week 9, but he also achieved little statistically. Two of the Giants' wins have come against the NFC South, for what that is worth.

Brady hopes to have wide receiver Antonio Brown (ankle) and tight end buddy Rob Gronkowski (back) in the lineup, but if he continues to throw the football to the other team, it might not matter. Brady threw a mere three interceptions over his first seven games, strengthening yet another MVP case. He has four interceptions in the past two games, road losses to the Saints and Washington. Brady remains one of the top scorers for the season in fantasy, and an obvious play against the Giants, but turnovers can derail fantasy value quickly, as we have seen with Kansas City Chiefs star Mahomes.

 

[Bettor Days]

Fantasy football Week 11 shadow report: Key WR/CB matchups​

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By utilizing our play-by-play data, we're able to identify defensive schemes and where each wide receiver and cornerback lines up on each play. By tracking these WR/CB matchups, including potential shadow situations, we can offer the best projections, rankings, sit/start decisions and fantasy advice each week. Fantasy football is a weekly game, so knowing the matchups can also help you make the best waiver-wire pickups.

Down below are the receivers with the best and worst matchups this week, as well as the corresponding fantasy impact.

To view the primary defenders the top three wide receivers for each team will see this weekend, be sure to check out our weekly WR vs. CB Cheatsheet.

Note that, unless otherwise noted, references to where teams rank in statistical categories adjusts to a per-game basis in order to avoid distortion due to bye weeks.

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Advantageous Matchups​

Titans' A.J. Brown and Marcus Johnson vs. Texans' Desmond King, Tavierre Thomas and Terrance Mitchell

Houston is back from its bye week, but it's hard to imagine that major improvements were made to a pass defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to perimeter receivers this season, including the most over the past month. Houston is middle of the pack in overall fantasy points to the position, but has been worse as of late, allowing the second-most over the past month. Perimeter corner play has been the major problem area, as Thomas and King (who has been benched multiple times) have struggled.

Brown aligns all over the formation, but will spend close to 60% of his day against Thomas and Mitchell. Brown aligns inside 38% of the time, so he'll also see Thomas, who has shown well in the slot. Overall, it's a good matchup for Brown and certainly an opportunity for a "fix me" game after his Week 10 dud. Johnson (85% perimeter) is also in a good spot, but his inconsistent usage makes him very hard to trust.

Seahawks' DK Metcalf vs. Cardinals' Marco Wilson

It's rare that a 1-on-1 matchup opportunity appears in this column without the shadow designation, but that's what we have here. Metcalf aligns at left perimeter receiver 53% of the time, which is where Wilson has spent 94% of his coverage snaps this season. The fourth-round rookie has struggled mightily, having been targeted on 21% of his coverage snaps and allowing a hefty 0.40 fantasy points per route. The Cardinals are a bit better than average in terms of fantasy points allowed to receivers, but they've allowed the ninth-most points to Wilson's side of the field.

Metcalf will see Byron Murphy Jr. in the slot and Robert Alford on the other side of the field occasionally, but running more than half his routes against Wilson sets him up for a nice week.

Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle, Preston Williams and Albert Wilson vs. Jets' Michael Carter II, Bryce Hall and Javelin Guidry

Following a better-than-expected start to the season, the wheels have fallen off the Jets' pass defense. New York has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers over the past month (second most over expected), as well as the third most to the perimeter and 12th most to the slot. Hall and Guidry (who is filling in for injured starter Brandin Echols) will man the perimeter, leaving fifth-round rookie Carter to handle the slot. The inexperience and lack of pedigree has been a problem in recent weeks and will be to the benefit of Miami's wideouts this week. Waddle has worked from the slot on 64% of his routes this season and can be upgraded against Carter. Wilson is the de facto No. 2 wide receiver with Will Fuller V and DeVante Parker still out and makes for a deep-league sleeper. Williams is too risky to play in most formats, but he nonetheless is in a good spot.

Ravens' Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay and Marquise Brown vs. Bears' Jaylon Johnson, Duke Shelley and Kindle Vildor

Chicago returns from its bye week having allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. The Bears have allowed the eighth most over the past month, including the fifth most to the perimeter and 10th most to the slot. Second-year corner Johnson has flashed at times, but he has struggled against top corners and quarterbacks haven't avoided throwing at him. Johnson is the primary right perimeter corner with struggling Vildor on the left side and Shelley currently manning the slot.

Brown (68% perimeter) aligns all over the field and will see a fairly even share of the three corners. Bateman (82% perimeter) will see Johnson most often. Duvernay worked the slot and played ahead of Sammy Watkins last week. He'll see plenty of Shelley in this one. All three receivers can be upgraded, with Brown and Bateman the viable fantasy starters.

Other notable upgrades:

Bills' Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders vs. Colts' Xavier Rhodes, Kenny Moore II and Rock Ya-Sin

Eagles' DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins and Jalen Reagor vs. Saints' Marshon Lattimore, P.J. Williams and Paulson Adebo

Cardinals' Christian Kirk vs. Seahawks' Ugo Amadi (slot)

Chargers' Keenan Allen vs. Steelers' Tre Norwood (slot)

Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb vs. Chiefs' L'Jarius Sneed (slot)

Packers' Davante Adams, Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. Vikings' Cameron Dantzler, Mackensie Alexander and Bashaud Breeland

Tough Matchups​

Buccaneers' Mike Evans vs. Giants' James Bradberry (shadow)

Buccaneers' Antonio Brown or Tyler Johnson vs. Giants' Adoree' Jackson (shadow)

The Giants started the season in an underwhelming fashion in terms of their ability to slow opposing wide receivers. A lot of that was volume based, however, as the Giants have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points over expected (13th most straight up) this season. We've seen some reversion to the mean in recent weeks (at least against perimeter receivers) as the Giants have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to outside receivers over the past month. That's hardly a surprise with standouts Bradberry and Jackson playing on the outside.


The most notable matchup this week features Evans against longtime rival Bradberry. During his four seasons in Carolina, Bradberry racked up 2,080 coverage snaps. A ridiculous 201 (or 9.7%) of those plays came while lined up against Evans. On those snaps, Evans caught 30 of 61 targets for 387 yards and one touchdown. Four of the targets were intercepted. Bradberry shadowed Evans in seven of the eight games, and Evans averaged 12.2 fantasy points per game in the seven showdowns. His only touchdown came in 2016, and he averaged 64.7 yards per game despite a massive 9.9 targets per game. These teams faced off last season as well (Bradberry's first with New York), and Evans was, once again, shadowed by Bradberry. Evans posted a decent 5-55-1 receiving line on seven targets in the game with most of that coming against Bradberry. Needless to say, Bradberry has had Evans' number for the most part, but last season's performance suggests there's no need for major panic in what projects as a ninth showdown between the two standouts.

If Brown returns this week, he'll also be safe to play, but the matchup won't be a cake walk against Jackson, who has arguably outplayed Bradberry this season. If Brown is out, Johnson can be avoided, especially considering his recent duds in Brown's place. New York has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the slot (third most over the past month), so Godwin (68% slot) can be upgraded against Darnay Holmes.

Colts' T.Y. Hilton, Zach Pascal and Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Bills' Tre'Davious White, Taron Johnson and Levi Wallace

Some garbage-time production led to Buffalo allowing a season-high 194 yards to the opposing wide receiver room last week, and yet the Bills' numbers against the position are still elite. Buffalo has allowed the fewest fantasy points (fewest over expected), receiving yards and touchdowns to wide receivers, as well as the lowest yards per target (5.7) and catch rate (58%). The Bills have also allowed the fewest fantasy points to the perimeter. White continues to be a dominant presence on the perimeter and, while it's certainly not a lock, he's a candidate to shadow Pittman (78% perimeter) this week.

It's already a tough matchup, so that added risk makes Pittman a major downgrade this week. Hilton (81% perimeter) will see a ton of Wallace and, if he doesn't shadow Pittman, White. Pascal will work primarily against Johnson, one of the league's best slot corners. Hilton and Pascal shouldn't be in lineups. No wide receiver has reached 17.0 fantasy points against Buffalo this season.

Vikings' Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn and Adam Thielen vs. Packers' Rasul Douglas, Chandon Sullivan and Eric Stokes

Green Bay's defense has been red hot as of late, which is incredible when you consider that stars Jaire Alexander and Za'Darius Smith have been sidelined. Green Bay has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season (second fewest over expected), as well as the third fewest over the past month (fewest over expected). The Packers have been middle of the pack against the slot but very good against the perimeter (seventh fewest). Kevin King, Douglas and first-round rookie Stokes have been manning the perimeter and will be the primary competition for Jefferson (68% perimeter) and Thielen (74%) this week. Osborn (56% slot) will see Sullivan inside most often, though his targets have dwindled and he's barely on the fantasy radar at this point. Jefferson and Thielen are lineup locks, but lower expectations and consider avoiding in DFS.

49ers' Deebo Samuel vs. Jaguars' Shaquill Griffin (shadow)


There aren't many clear-cut shadow scenarios this week, but perhaps the most likely one features Griffin traveling with Samuel. Griffin has shadowed several times this season, including in all three games since Jacksonville's Week 7 bye. Results have varied in his meetings with A.J. Brown (3-38-0 receiving line in the game), DK Metcalf (6-43-2), Stefon Diggs (6-85-0) and, most recently, Michael Pittman Jr. (5-71-0). Samuel (72% perimeter) rarely aligns in the slot, so he figures to align against Griffin on most of his routes this week. There's no need for major panic here, especially with Samuel getting work at running back, but Griffin is Jacksonville's top corner and has played well, so it's a notable matchup. While Griffin is chasing Samuel around, Brandon Aiyuk will be in a good spot against rookie Tyson Campbell on the other side of the field and can be upgraded. Despite Griffin's solid play and the surprising emergence of Rudy Ford in the slot in recent weeks, Jacksonville has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to wide receivers overall and to the perimeter this season.

Other notable downgrades:

Saints' Marquez Callaway, Tre'Quan Smith and Deonte Harris vs. Eagles' Steven Nelson, Avonte Maddox and Darius Slay

WFT's Terry McLaurin, Adam Humphries and DeAndre Carter vs. Panthers' Donte Jackson, A.J. Bouye, Keith Taylor and Stephon Gilmore

Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green vs. Seahawks' D.J. Reed and Tre Brown

Falcons' Tajae Sharpe, Russell Gage and Olamide Zaccheaus vs. Patriots' Jalen Mills, Myles Bryant and J.C. Jackson

Bengals' Tyler Boyd vs. Raiders' Nate Hobbs (slot)

 

[Wagerallsports]

Fantasy football trade deadline: Top backfields to exploit or avoid down the stretch​

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It's time -- if not past time -- to get your fantasy backfields in order.

This has been a season of constant flux at the running back position. The top five selected on average during the preseason have missed a combined 18 games. Five of the 18 performances worth 30-plus PPR fantasy points this season have come from players drafted 30th or later at the position. Players like Saquon Barkley, Antonio Gibson and Miles Sanders have underperformed. Yes, running back unpredictability might be a pattern we see every season, but this year has been especially tricky to navigate with the increasing amount of key injuries.

Being Week 13 -- or at least it will be by midnight Tuesday morning -- it's essential that you solidify your fantasy football team's running back plan now, with the trade deadline in ESPN leagues set to arrive on Wednesday at 12 p.m. ET, and the fantasy playoffs set to begin in two short weeks. Consider: All but eight teams are beyond their bye weeks, greatly diminishing the need to keep your bench spots free for bye-week plug-ins, so in addition to leaning on the trade market, it's also prime time to grab insurance-policy backups behind your incumbent running backs.

To help you in your quest, I've pulled the latest Matchups Map data, typically published in my weekly Thursday column, to analyze NFL backfields ideal to exploit or avoid down the stretch and in the fantasy postseason. These numbers include all Week 12 Thursday and Sunday games, with only Monday's Seattle Seahawks-Washington game excluded from the analysis, and account for both full-season and past-five-weeks (the latter being what's used in the weekly column) data.

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Load up on these backfields/players​

Chicago Bears (David Montgomery): If this sounds familiar, it should. Montgomery, who hasn't overwhelmed in three games since his return from a knee injury (28.1 PPR fantasy points combined), went on a massive, schedule-boosted tear during fantasy's regular-season conclusion and postseason in 2020 after similarly returning from the injured list (then for a concussion).

Montgomery scored 20-plus PPR fantasy points in each of his final six games, amassing a best-among-all-players 154.4 points in total, and now his Bears align for a similarly fantasy-friendly rest of season schedule in 2021. One year ago -- and note that Montgomery's first big game in that hot spell happened on this exact date in 2020, Nov. 29 -- there was similar health concern surrounding him, tempering enthusiasm and perhaps causing some to add insurance policy Cordarrelle Patterson. A similar approach is warranted this time, with the greater concern for a knee issue, which is why in addition to trying to trade for Montgomery, fantasy managers who have him already should invest in Damien Williams and Khalil Herbert. After all, Williams (Week 5) and Herbert (Weeks 6 and 7) averaged 18.0 points in their three uninterrupted fill-in starts while Montgomery was sidelined, showing that they can similarly capitalize upon this team's softer remaining matchups if needed.

After this week's below-average matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, the Bears have nothing but above-average-to-great running back matchups for the rest of 2021, especially during the fantasy postseason (MIN, @SEA, NYG, @MIN). The Matchups Map data says the Bears have the No. 1 remaining positional schedule overall, and the third-best playoff schedule for running backs.

Kansas City Chiefs (Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrel Williams): This backfield is especially important because of the ability of either Edwards-Helaire or Williams to emerge as "the guy" and feast upon this similarly fantasy-friendly schedule. With matchups ahead against the Las Vegas Raiders (Week 14), Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 16) and Cincinnati Bengals (Week 17), the Chiefs have the sixth-best remaining schedule and ninth-best during the fantasy postseason, not to mention not a single "tough" matchup remaining overall. This team recently has looked more like the playoff lock predicted in the preseason, swinging the game-flow debate back into the running backs' favor, and Williams delivered 19.0 PPR fantasy points on average from Weeks 8-10 with Edwards-Helaire scoring 15.6 in his Week 11 return from a knee injury. I see this backfield as a prime hot-hand situation, where the next back with the big play grabs the starting role and runs with it, meaning both need to be on your fantasy roster.

If your league affords deep benches and byes are definitively in your rearview, I'd even make the case that third-on-the-depth-chart Derrick Gore warrants a stash, considering how fantasy-friendly the schedule ahead.

Buffalo Bills (Matt Breida): I'm including them in here because of how run-friendly/pass-unfriendly their remaining schedule, but the Bills represent easily the most risk/reward of the backfields accounting for that facet of the analysis coupled with their offensive scheme. Quarterback Josh Allen is really their "running back," but check what the numbers say: The Matchups Map data says the Bills have the second most-favorable rest-of-season schedule for running backs, with a league-leading four "elite" positional matchups, which includes the Weeks 13 and 16 games against the New England Patriots, Week 17 against the Atlanta Falcons and the regular-season finale against the New York Jets. Bearing in mind that some leagues chop the Week 18 games off their schedules, keep that in mind when planning in those formats, but this is a backfield largely in flux, with massive opportunity for someone from the Devin Singletary-Zack Moss-Breida trio.

Here's why I listed Breida exclusively: He's the one available in 94.4% of ESPN leagues, meaning an easily attainable stash, especially after he was touted as a Week 12 breakthrough candidate who predictably scored a modest 13.5 PPR fantasy points due to the tough matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Breida has also scored 39.2 points in limited action the past three weeks (45 snaps, which is typically what a full-time back would see in a single game), so there's reason to believe he could not only see increasing work, but also capitalize upon this fantasy-friendly schedule.

Fade these backfields/players​

New York Giants (Saquon Barkley): He's in a similar spot to Montgomery, having returned from an ankle injury in Week 11, but the two couldn't face more polarized schedules. Almost any approach you take -- full-season or five-week data, rest-of-season or fantasy-playoffs -- places the Giants' schedule worst as far as running back matchups are concerned, in large part because of upcoming games against the Miami Dolphins (Week 13), Dallas Cowboys (Week 15), Bears (Week 16) and Washington (Week 18). Barkley appears to have lost a step, presumably due to his injuries, and he's coming off a Week 12 in which game flow was firmly in his favor but he could deliver only 9.3 PPR fantasy points. At this stage, he's more name than true value, and if you can swap him at anything close to RB1 value, you should do it.

Pittsburgh Steelers (Najee Harris): At first glance, it might seem absurd to suggest trading Harris, the position's No. 4 scorer for the season (193.3 PPR fantasy points) and a player on pace to become only the 14th rookie running back in history to score 300-plus points (even if paced to a 16-game schedule, which 2021's isn't), but hear me out. The Steelers' remaining schedule is brutal, most especially their having two games against the Baltimore Ravens (Weeks 13 and 18) as well as one apiece against the Tennessee Titans (Week 15) and Chiefs (Week 16), which is how they have a league-leading four remaining "tough" matchups.

Use this when offering up Harris before Wednesday: He has played a by-far-position-best 84.8% of the Steelers' offensive snaps and is tied for the lead with 237 total touches. Tuck this away for yourself: The Steelers have been increasingly regarding him as a one-dimensional piece, targeting him just 21 times in the past five weeks combined after doing so a whopping 19 times in Week 3 (plus another seven apiece in Weeks 4 and 6), and they've had some very real issues with game flow, which could be a problem in those Ravens and Chiefs games. Harris' two lowest single-game snap rates also came in the past two weeks -- 58% in Week 12 and 75% in Week 11 -- which is an indicator that the team is trying to manage his workload.

 

[Wagerallsports]

Fantasy football trade index and rest-of-season rankings: trade deadline edition​

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Trading season is just about complete as we hit December, but we still provide the latest end-of-season rankings and trade index, discussing the latest trends with injuries and player value, for your enjoyment and debating pleasure. Lots of movement again this week, as always, for we have some major running back injuries to discuss. It is always free-agent pickup season, and one's efforts to improve their fantasy teams should never stop. Good luck!

Quarterback​

Rankings changes: The New York Giants wanted to make Philadelphia Eagles runner Jalen Hurts throw the ball, and we see he could not do it effectively. Other defenses probably noticed. Hurts tumbles in the rankings, but remains top 10. Carolina Panthers starter Cam Newton was out of the top 10 anyway, but he tumbles as well. Miami Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa has been remarkably accurate of late, but still has not reached 20 PPR points since Week 7. He moves up, but not a ton. The New Orleans Saints may be changing quarterbacks, good news for those relying on the legs of Taysom Hill.

Trade for: Anyone in the top 12 is firmly in our top 100 overall and safe - including underrated Minnesota Vikings standout Kirk Cousins - and after that, you take your chances.

Be cautious trading for: Everyone else. Hurts and Newton are reminders that running quarterbacks still need to throw a little. We shall see whether Hill can be effective. Seattle Seahawks star Russell Wilson had a rough Monday night until the final seconds, and does not come recommended.

Running back​

Rankings changes: First, the good news. A group hurrah for Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Mixon and Tampa Bay Buccaneers surprise Leonard Fournette, as well as San Francisco 49ers rookie Elijah Mitchell and Atlanta Falcons stunner Cordarrelle Patterson. They are winning players for fantasy managers and they keep moving up! Second, we have more injuries! Minnesota Vikings star Dalvin Cook (shoulder) is the latest casualty, though he may return in the next few weeks. There is no right answer on where to rank him. There is with Carolina Panthers star Christian McCaffrey, though, as he sees his season end prematurely, yet again. Good luck in dynasty leagues. Ugh.

Trade for: Despite the efforts of Fournette and others, Week 12 was not a banner week at the position. So many questions. At least Mitchell and Patterson look safe, if they can stay on the field. What is the dividing player line for safety? Several top 10 options clearly are not close to 100% health, including Detroit Lions star D'Andre Swift and Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott.

Be cautious trading for: Who knows when Cook plays again? Get Alexander Mattison but trading for him is risky. Trading for McCaffrey fill-in Chuba Hubbard is a better bet. It is a joy watching a healthy New York Giants star Saquon Barkley run, but this version, clearly compromised, is not fun. The Pittsburgh Steelers offense now hampers rookie Najee Harris. Do not suddenly trust the new Tennessee Titans running backs.

Wide receiver​

Rankings changes: It is finally time to remove Bengals rookie Ja'Marr Chase from the top 10. This makes four consecutive games with fewer than 50 receiving yards. However, Miami Dolphins rookie Jaylen Waddle moves up into WR2 territory. Titans star A.J. Brown moves out due to injury. A pair of Los Angeles Rams receivers move up. Cooper Kupp is already No. 1, but newcomer Odell Beckham Jr. triumphantly returns to the top 100 and Van Jefferson closes in.

Trade for: The WR1 options sure seem safer - and healthier- than the RB1 options. Now seems like a wise time to get the Vikings and Cowboys starters.

Be cautious trading for: As with previous weeks, not sure trading for a wide receiver makes much sense, unless it is a top option. One can stream at the position. Just not Seahawks.

Tight end​

Rankings changes: Lots of movement at the back end of the top 10, as Tampa Bay Buccaneers great Rob Gronkowski bullies his way in, and Falcons rookie Kyle Pitts falls all the way out. Does not mean Pitts is a bust, but the past five weeks have been and there seems little reason to expect a turnaround. Gronkowski is third at this position in average PPR points per game. Dawson Knox continues his ascent for the Buffalo Bills. Jack Doyle appears relevant again for the Indianapolis Colts. And we say farewell to touchdown-less Dan Arnold (knee). Just wait till next year!

Eric Karabell's Rest-Of-Year Top 100 Rankings​

RANK		PLAYER	TEAM	BYE	POS. RANK	NEXT 3
1		Jonathan Taylor	IND	14	RB1	@HOU, BYE, NE
2		Cooper Kupp	LAR	11	WR1	JAX, @ARI, SEA
3		Austin Ekeler	LAC	7	RB2	@CIN, NYG, KC
4		Davante Adams	GB	13	WR2	BYE, CHI, @BAL
5	UP	Joe Mixon	CIN	10	RB3	LAC, SF, @den
6		Tyreek Hill	KC	12	WR3	DEN, LV, @LAC
7	UP	Justin Jefferson	MIN	7	WR4	@DET, PIT, @CHI
8	UP	Stefon Diggs	BUF	7	WR5	NE, @TB, CAR
9		Alvin Kamara	NO	6	RB4	DAL, @NYJ, @TB
10	UP	Leonard Fournette	TB	9	RB5	@ATL, BUF, NO
11		Najee Harris	PIT	7	RB6	BAL, @MIN, TEN
12		Nick Chubb	CLE	13	RB7	BYE, BAL, LV
13		Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	7	RB8	@NO, @WSH, @NYG
14		James Conner	ARI	12	RB9	@CHI, LAR, @DET
15	DOWN	D'Andre Swift	DET	9	RB10	MIN, @den, ARI
16		Travis Kelce	KC	12	TE1	DEN, LV, @LAC
17		Darrell Henderson Jr.	LAR	11	RB11	JAX, @ARI, SEA
18		Diontae Johnson	PIT	7	WR6	BAL, @MIN, TEN
19		Terry McLaurin	WSH	9	WR7	@LV, DAL, @PHI
20	UP	Elijah Mitchell	SF	6	RB12	@SEA, @CIN, ATL
21	UP	Cordarrelle Patterson	ATL	6	RB13	TB, @CAR, @SF
22		Josh Allen	BUF	7	QB1	NE, @TB, CAR
23		Lamar Jackson	BAL	8	QB2	@PIT, @CLE, GB
24	UP	Justin Herbert	LAC	7	QB3	@CIN, NYG, KC
25	UP	Tom Brady	TB	9	QB4	@ATL, BUF, NO
26		Patrick Mahomes	KC	12	QB5	DEN, LV, @LAC
27	UP	Antonio Gibson	WSH	9	RB14	@LV, DAL, @PHI
28	DOWN	Saquon Barkley	NYG	10	RB15	@MIA, @LAC, DAL
29	UP	Adam Thielen	MIN	7	WR8	@DET, PIT, @CHI
30	DOWN	Deebo Samuel	SF	6	WR9	@SEA, @CIN, ATL
31		CeeDee Lamb	DAL	7	WR10	@NO, @WSH, @NYG
32		Mike Evans	TB	9	WR11	@ATL, BUF, NO
33	UP	Keenan Allen	LAC	7	WR12	@CIN, NYG, KC
34	DOWN	Ja'Marr Chase	CIN	10	WR13	LAC, SF, @den
35	UP	Aaron Jones	GB	13	RB16	BYE, CHI, @BAL
36		Michael Pittman Jr.	IND	14	WR14	@HOU, BYE, NE
37		Miles Sanders	PHI	14	RB17	@NYJ, BYE, WSH
38		Mike Williams	LAC	7	WR15	@CIN, NYG, KC
39		DJ Moore	CAR	13	WR16	BYE, ATL, @BUF
40		James Robinson	JAX	7	RB18	@LAR, @TEN, HOU
41		Clyde Edwards-Helaire	KC	12	RB19	DEN, LV, @LAC
42	UP	Aaron Rodgers	GB	13	QB6	BYE, CHI, @BAL
43	UP	Dak Prescott	DAL	7	QB7	@NO, @WSH, @NYG
44		Chris Godwin	TB	9	WR17	@ATL, BUF, NO
45	UP	Jaylen Waddle	MIA	14	WR18	NYG, BYE, NYJ
46		Elijah Moore	NYJ	6	WR19	PHI, NO, @MIA
47		DK Metcalf	SEA	9	WR20	SF, @HOU, @LAR
48		David Montgomery	CHI	10	RB20	ARI, @GB, MIN
49		DeAndre Hopkins	ARI	12	WR21	@CHI, LAR, @DET
50	DOWN	Jalen Hurts	PHI	14	QB8	@NYJ, BYE, WSH
51		Kyler Murray	ARI	12	QB9	@CHI, LAR, @DET
52	UP	Chuba Hubbard	CAR	13	RB21	BYE, ATL, @BUF
53	DOWN	Dalvin Cook	MIN	7	RB22	@DET, PIT, @CHI
54	UP	Alexander Mattison	MIN	7	RB23	@DET, PIT, @CHI
55		Mark Andrews	BAL	8	TE2	@PIT, @CLE, GB
56		George Kittle	SF	6	TE3	@SEA, @CIN, ATL
57		Damien Harris	NE	14	RB24	@BUF, BYE, @IND
58		Marquise Brown	BAL	8	WR22	@PIT, @CLE, GB
59	UP	Kareem Hunt	CLE	13	RB25	BYE, BAL, LV
60		AJ Dillon	GB	13	RB26	BYE, CHI, @BAL
61		Javonte Williams	DEN	11	RB27	@KC, DET, CIN
62		Melvin Gordon III	DEN	11	RB28	@KC, DET, CIN
63		Josh Jacobs	LV	8	RB29	WSH, @KC, @CLE
64		Myles Gaskin	MIA	14	RB30	NYG, BYE, NYJ
65		Mark Ingram II	NO	6	RB31	DAL, @NYJ, @TB
66	UP	Tony Pollard	DAL	7	RB32	@NO, @WSH, @NYG
67		Matthew Stafford	LAR	11	QB10	JAX, @ARI, SEA
68		Joe Burrow	CIN	10	QB11	LAC, SF, @den
69	UP	Kirk Cousins	MIN	7	QB12	@DET, PIT, @CHI
70		Brandon Aiyuk	SF	6	WR23	@SEA, @CIN, ATL
71		Hunter Renfrow	LV	8	WR24	WSH, @KC, @CLE
72		Rhamondre Stevenson	NE	14	RB33	@BUF, BYE, @IND
73		Tee Higgins	CIN	10	WR25	LAC, SF, @den
74		Jerry Jeudy	DEN	11	WR26	@KC, DET, CIN
75	DOWN	A.J. Brown	TEN	13	WR27	BYE, JAX, @PIT
76		DeVonta Smith	PHI	14	WR28	@NYJ, BYE, WSH
77	UP	Tyler Lockett	SEA	9	WR29	SF, @HOU, @LAR
78	UP	Jamaal Williams	DET	9	RB34	MIN, @den, ARI
79		Darrel Williams	KC	12	RB35	DEN, LV, @LAC
80		Kenyan Drake	LV	8	RB36	WSH, @KC, @CLE
81		Brandin Cooks	HOU	10	WR30	IND, SEA, @Jax
82	UP	Rob Gronkowski	TB	9	TE4	@ATL, BUF, NO
83	DOWN	Darren Waller	LV	8	TE5	WSH, @KC, @CLE
84		Devonta Freeman	BAL	8	RB37	@PIT, @CLE, GB
85		Amari Cooper	DAL	7	WR31	@NO, @WSH, @NYG
86		J.D. McKissic	WSH	9	RB38	@LV, DAL, @PHI
87		Nyheim Hines	IND	14	RB39	@HOU, BYE, NE
88	DOWN	Michael Carter	NYJ	6	RB40	PHI, NO, @MIA
89		Tyler Boyd	CIN	10	WR32	LAC, SF, @den
90		Darnell Mooney	CHI	10	WR33	ARI, @GB, MIN
91		Rashod Bateman	BAL	8	WR34	@PIT, @CLE, GB
92	UP	Dawson Knox	BUF	7	TE6	NE, @TB, CAR
93		Zach Ertz	ARI	12	TE7	@CHI, LAR, @DET
94		T.J. Hockenson	DET	9	TE8	MIN, @den, ARI
95		Mike Gesicki	MIA	14	TE9	NYG, BYE, NYJ
96		Pat Freiermuth	PIT	7	TE10	BAL, @MIN, TEN
97		Chase Claypool	PIT	7	WR35	BAL, @MIN, TEN
98	UP	Matt Breida	BUF	7	RB41	NE, @TB, CAR
99		Jakobi Meyers	NE	14	WR36	@BUF, BYE, @IND
100	UP	Odell Beckham Jr.	LAR	11	WR37	JAX, @ARI, SEA

Top 40 Quarterbacks​

POS. RANK	OVR. RANK		PLAYER	TEAM	BYE	NEXT 3
1	22		Josh Allen	BUF	7	NE, @TB, CAR
2	23		Lamar Jackson	BAL	8	@PIT, @CLE, GB
3	24		Justin Herbert	LAC	7	@CIN, NYG, KC
4	25		Tom Brady	TB	9	@ATL, BUF, NO
5	26		Patrick Mahomes	KC	12	DEN, LV, @LAC
6	42	UP	Aaron Rodgers	GB	13	BYE, CHI, @BAL
7	43		Dak Prescott	DAL	7	@NO, @WSH, @NYG
8	50	DOWN	Jalen Hurts	PHI	14	@NYJ, BYE, WSH
9	51		Kyler Murray	ARI	12	@CHI, LAR, @DET
10	67		Matthew Stafford	LAR	11	JAX, @ARI, SEA
11	68		Joe Burrow	CIN	10	LAC, SF, @den
12	69		Kirk Cousins	MIN	7	@DET, PIT, @CHI
13	107		Russell Wilson	SEA	9	SF, @HOU, @LAR
14	108		Cam Newton	CAR	13	BYE, ATL, @BUF
15	146		Carson Wentz	IND	14	@HOU, BYE, NE
16	152	UP	Taysom Hill	NO	6	DAL, @NYJ, @TB
17	157		Mac Jones	NE	14	@BUF, BYE, @IND
18	158		Daniel Jones	NYG	10	@MIA, @LAC, DAL
19	164	DOWN	Ryan Tannehill	TEN	13	BYE, JAX, @PIT
20	165		Derek Carr	LV	8	WSH, @KC, @CLE
21	172		Teddy Bridgewater	DEN	11	@KC, DET, CIN
22	184		Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	7	BAL, @MIN, TEN
23	186		Jimmy Garoppolo	SF	6	@SEA, @CIN, ATL
24	188		Taylor Heinicke	WSH	9	@LV, DAL, @PHI
25	189	UP	Tua Tagovailoa	MIA	14	NYG, BYE, NYJ
26	190	DOWN	Matt Ryan	ATL	6	TB, @CAR, @SF
27	NR	UP	Tyrod Taylor	HOU	10	IND, SEA, @Jax
28	NR		Justin Fields	CHI	10	ARI, @GB, MIN
29	NR		Baker Mayfield	CLE	13	BYE, BAL, LV
30	NR		Trevor Lawrence	JAX	7	@LAR, @TEN, HOU
31	NR		Jared Goff	DET	9	MIN, @den, ARI
32	NR	DOWN	Trevor Siemian	NO	6	DAL, @NYJ, @TB
33	NR		Zach Wilson	NYJ	6	PHI, NO, @MIA
34	NR		Trey Lance	SF	6	@SEA, @CIN, ATL
35	NR		Andy Dalton	CHI	10	ARI, @GB, MIN
36	NR		Joe Flacco	NYJ	6	PHI, NO, @MIA
37	NR		Colt McCoy	ARI	12	@CHI, LAR, @DET
38	NR		Case Keenum	CLE	13	BYE, BAL, LV
39	NR	UP	Geno Smith	SEA	9	SF, @HOU, @LAR
40	NR		P.J. Walker	CAR	13	BYE, ATL, @BUF

Top 60 Running Backs​

POS. RANK	OVR. RANK		PLAYER	TEAM	BYE	NEXT 3
1	1		Jonathan Taylor	IND	14	@HOU, BYE, NE
2	3		Austin Ekeler	LAC	7	@CIN, NYG, KC
3	5	UP	Joe Mixon	CIN	10	LAC, SF, @den
4	9		Alvin Kamara	NO	6	DAL, @NYJ, @TB
5	10	UP	Leonard Fournette	TB	9	@ATL, BUF, NO
6	11		Najee Harris	PIT	7	BAL, @MIN, TEN
7	12	UP	Nick Chubb	CLE	13	BYE, BAL, LV
8	13		Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	7	@NO, @WSH, @NYG
9	14	UP	James Conner	ARI	12	@CHI, LAR, @DET
10	15	DOWN	D'Andre Swift	DET	9	MIN, @den, ARI
11	17	UP	Darrell Henderson Jr.	LAR	11	JAX, @ARI, SEA
12	20	UP	Elijah Mitchell	SF	6	@SEA, @CIN, ATL
13	21	UP	Cordarrelle Patterson	ATL	6	TB, @CAR, @SF
14	27		Antonio Gibson	WSH	9	@LV, DAL, @PHI
15	28	DOWN	Saquon Barkley	NYG	10	@MIA, @LAC, DAL
16	35	UP	Aaron Jones	GB	13	BYE, CHI, @BAL
17	37		Miles Sanders	PHI	14	@NYJ, BYE, WSH
18	40		James Robinson	JAX	7	@LAR, @TEN, HOU
19	41		Clyde Edwards-Helaire	KC	12	DEN, LV, @LAC
20	48		David Montgomery	CHI	10	ARI, @GB, MIN
21	52	UP	Chuba Hubbard	CAR	13	BYE, ATL, @BUF
22	53	DOWN	Dalvin Cook	MIN	7	@DET, PIT, @CHI
23	54	UP	Alexander Mattison	MIN	7	@DET, PIT, @CHI
24	57		Damien Harris	NE	14	@BUF, BYE, @IND
25	59	UP	Kareem Hunt	CLE	13	BYE, BAL, LV
26	60		AJ Dillon	GB	13	BYE, CHI, @BAL
27	61		Javonte Williams	DEN	11	@KC, DET, CIN
28	62		Melvin Gordon III	DEN	11	@KC, DET, CIN
29	63		Josh Jacobs	LV	8	WSH, @KC, @CLE
30	64		Myles Gaskin	MIA	14	NYG, BYE, NYJ
31	65		Mark Ingram II	NO	6	DAL, @NYJ, @TB
32	66	UP	Tony Pollard	DAL	7	@NO, @WSH, @NYG
33	72		Rhamondre Stevenson	NE	14	@BUF, BYE, @IND
34	78	UP	Jamaal Williams	DET	9	MIN, @den, ARI
35	79		Darrel Williams	KC	12	DEN, LV, @LAC
36	80		Kenyan Drake	LV	8	WSH, @KC, @CLE
37	84		Devonta Freeman	BAL	8	@PIT, @CLE, GB
38	86		J.D. McKissic	WSH	9	@LV, DAL, @PHI
39	87		Nyheim Hines	IND	14	@HOU, BYE, NE
40	88	DOWN	Michael Carter	NYJ	6	PHI, NO, @MIA
41	98	UP	Matt Breida	BUF	7	NE, @TB, CAR
42	101		Devin Singletary	BUF	7	NE, @TB, CAR
43	102		Alex Collins	SEA	9	SF, @HOU, @LAR
44	103	UP	D'Onta Foreman	TEN	13	BYE, JAX, @PIT
45	106	UP	Dontrell Hilliard	TEN	13	BYE, JAX, @PIT
46	109	DOWN	Devontae Booker	NYG	10	@MIA, @LAC, DAL
47	113	UP	Rex Burkhead	HOU	10	IND, SEA, @Jax
48	114		Trey Sermon	SF	6	@SEA, @CIN, ATL
49	115		Chase Edmonds	ARI	12	@CHI, LAR, @DET
50	118		Mike Davis	ATL	6	TB, @CAR, @SF
51	120	UP	Boston Scott	PHI	14	@NYJ, BYE, WSH
52	121	DOWN	Jordan Howard	PHI	14	@NYJ, BYE, WSH
53	122		Latavius Murray	BAL	8	@PIT, @CLE, GB
54	124		Eno Benjamin	ARI	12	@CHI, LAR, @DET
55	128	UP	Jeff Wilson Jr.	SF	6	@SEA, @CIN, ATL
56	129	DOWN	D'Ernest Johnson	CLE	13	BYE, BAL, LV
57	130	DOWN	Zack Moss	BUF	7	NE, @TB, CAR
58	131	UP	Austin Walter	NYJ	6	PHI, NO, @MIA
59	133	UP	Tevin Coleman	NYJ	6	PHI, NO, @MIA
60	135		Sony Michel	LAR	11	JAX, @ARI, SEA

Top 60 Wide Receivers​

POS. RANK	OVR. RANK		PLAYER	TEAM	BYE	NEXT 3
1	2		Cooper Kupp	LAR	11	JAX, @ARI, SEA
2	4		Davante Adams	GB	13	BYE, CHI, @BAL
3	6		Tyreek Hill	KC	12	DEN, LV, @LAC
4	7		Justin Jefferson	MIN	7	@DET, PIT, @CHI
5	8		Stefon Diggs	BUF	7	NE, @TB, CAR
6	18		Diontae Johnson	PIT	7	BAL, @MIN, TEN
7	19		Terry McLaurin	WSH	9	@LV, DAL, @PHI
8	29	UP	Adam Thielen	MIN	7	@DET, PIT, @CHI
9	30		Deebo Samuel	SF	6	@SEA, @CIN, ATL
10	31		CeeDee Lamb	DAL	7	@NO, @WSH, @NYG
11	32		Mike Evans	TB	9	@ATL, BUF, NO
12	33	UP	Keenan Allen	LAC	7	@CIN, NYG, KC
13	34	DOWN	Ja'Marr Chase	CIN	10	LAC, SF, @den
14	36		Michael Pittman Jr.	IND	14	@HOU, BYE, NE
15	38		Mike Williams	LAC	7	@CIN, NYG, KC
16	39		DJ Moore	CAR	13	BYE, ATL, @BUF
17	44		Chris Godwin	TB	9	@ATL, BUF, NO
18	45	UP	Jaylen Waddle	MIA	14	NYG, BYE, NYJ
19	46		Elijah Moore	NYJ	6	PHI, NO, @MIA
20	47		DK Metcalf	SEA	9	SF, @HOU, @LAR
21	49		DeAndre Hopkins	ARI	12	@CHI, LAR, @DET
22	58		Marquise Brown	BAL	8	@PIT, @CLE, GB
23	70		Brandon Aiyuk	SF	6	@SEA, @CIN, ATL
24	71		Hunter Renfrow	LV	8	WSH, @KC, @CLE
25	73		Tee Higgins	CIN	10	LAC, SF, @den
26	74		Jerry Jeudy	DEN	11	@KC, DET, CIN
27	75	DOWN	A.J. Brown	TEN	13	BYE, JAX, @PIT
28	76	DOWN	DeVonta Smith	PHI	14	@NYJ, BYE, WSH
29	77		Tyler Lockett	SEA	9	SF, @HOU, @LAR
30	81		Brandin Cooks	HOU	10	IND, SEA, @Jax
31	85		Amari Cooper	DAL	7	@NO, @WSH, @NYG
32	89		Tyler Boyd	CIN	10	LAC, SF, @den
33	90		Darnell Mooney	CHI	10	ARI, @GB, MIN
34	91		Rashod Bateman	BAL	8	@PIT, @CLE, GB
35	97		Chase Claypool	PIT	7	BAL, @MIN, TEN
36	99		Jakobi Meyers	NE	14	@BUF, BYE, @IND
37	100	UP	Odell Beckham Jr.	LAR	11	JAX, @ARI, SEA
38	112		Michael Gallup	DAL	7	@NO, @WSH, @NYG
39	119		Rondale Moore	ARI	12	@CHI, LAR, @DET
40	123	UP	Van Jefferson	LAR	11	JAX, @ARI, SEA
41	125		Antonio Brown	TB	9	@ATL, BUF, NO
42	126		Christian Kirk	ARI	12	@CHI, LAR, @DET
43	132	UP	Kendrick Bourne	NE	14	@BUF, BYE, @IND
44	144	UP	Emmanuel Sanders	BUF	7	NE, @TB, CAR
45	145	UP	Julio Jones	TEN	13	BYE, JAX, @PIT
46	148	UP	Cole Beasley	BUF	7	NE, @TB, CAR
47	149	UP	Sterling Shepard	NYG	10	@MIA, @LAC, DAL
48	150	UP	Jarvis Landry	CLE	13	BYE, BAL, LV
49	151	UP	Jamison Crowder	NYJ	6	PHI, NO, @MIA
50	153	UP	DeSean Jackson	LV	8	WSH, @KC, @CLE
51	154	DOWN	Corey Davis	NYJ	6	PHI, NO, @MIA
52	156		James Washington	PIT	7	BAL, @MIN, TEN
53	159		Randall Cobb	GB	13	BYE, CHI, @BAL
54	160	DOWN	Kadarius Toney	NYG	10	@MIA, @LAC, DAL
55	161	UP	Josh Reynolds	DET	9	MIN, @den, ARI
56	162		Laviska Shenault Jr.	JAX	7	@LAR, @TEN, HOU
57	163		Marvin Jones Jr.	JAX	7	@LAR, @TEN, HOU
58	167		K.J. Osborn	MIN	7	@DET, PIT, @CHI
59	168		A.J. Green	ARI	12	@CHI, LAR, @DET
60	169	UP	Curtis Samuel	WSH	9	@LV, DAL, @PHI

Top 30 Tight Ends​

POS. RANK	OVR. RANK		PLAYER	TEAM	BYE	NEXT 3
1	16		Travis Kelce	KC	12	DEN, LV, @LAC
2	55		Mark Andrews	BAL	8	@PIT, @CLE, GB
3	56		George Kittle	SF	6	@SEA, @CIN, ATL
4	82	UP	Rob Gronkowski	TB	9	@ATL, BUF, NO
5	83		Darren Waller	LV	8	WSH, @KC, @CLE
6	92	UP	Dawson Knox	BUF	7	NE, @TB, CAR
7	93		Zach Ertz	ARI	12	@CHI, LAR, @DET
8	94		T.J. Hockenson	DET	9	MIN, @den, ARI
9	95		Mike Gesicki	MIA	14	NYG, BYE, NYJ
10	96		Pat Freiermuth	PIT	7	BAL, @MIN, TEN
11	104		Dallas Goedert	PHI	14	@NYJ, BYE, WSH
12	105	DOWN	Kyle Pitts	ATL	6	TB, @CAR, @SF
13	110		Noah Fant	DEN	11	@KC, DET, CIN
14	111	DOWN	Hunter Henry	NE	14	@BUF, BYE, @IND
15	116	UP	Logan Thomas	WSH	9	@LV, DAL, @PHI
16	117		Tyler Conklin	MIN	7	@DET, PIT, @CHI
17	127		Tyler Higbee	LAR	11	JAX, @ARI, SEA
18	134	UP	Jack Doyle	IND	14	@HOU, BYE, NE
19	136	DOWN	Dalton Schultz	DAL	7	@NO, @WSH, @NYG
20	137	UP	David Njoku	CLE	13	BYE, BAL, LV
21	139	UP	Cole Kmet	CHI	10	ARI, @GB, MIN
22	155	UP	Jonnu Smith	NE	14	@BUF, BYE, @IND
23	166		Gerald Everett	SEA	9	SF, @HOU, @LAR
24	178		Jared Cook	LAC	7	@CIN, NYG, KC
25	NR	UP	Foster Moreau	LV	8	WSH, @KC, @CLE
26	NR	DOWN	Ricky Seals-Jones	WSH	9	@LV, DAL, @PHI
27	NR	DOWN	C.J. Uzomah	CIN	10	LAC, SF, @den
28	NR		Evan Engram	NYG	10	@MIA, @LAC, DAL
29	NR		Juwan Johnson	NO	6	DAL, @NYJ, @TB
30	NR		Austin Hooper	CLE	13	BYE, BAL, LV

Top 32 Team Defense/Special Teams​

POS. RANK	OVR. RANK		TEAM	BYE	NEXT 3
1	191	UP	Patriots D/ST	14	@BUF, BYE, @IND
2	192		Bills D/ST	7	NE, @TB, CAR
3	193		Buccaneers D/ST	9	@ATL, BUF, NO
4	194		Cardinals D/ST	12	@CHI, LAR, @DET
5	195		Packers D/ST	13	BYE, CHI, @BAL
6	196	UP	Broncos D/ST	11	@KC, DET, CIN
7	197	DOWN	Rams D/ST	11	JAX, @ARI, SEA
8	198		49ers D/ST	6	@SEA, @CIN, ATL
9	199		Chiefs D/ST	12	DEN, LV, @LAC
10	200		Eagles D/ST	14	@NYJ, BYE, WSH
11	NR	UP	Dolphins D/ST	14	NYG, BYE, NYJ
12	NR	UP	Bengals D/ST	10	LAC, SF, @den
13	NR		Colts D/ST	14	@HOU, BYE, NE
14	NR	DOWN	Titans D/ST	13	BYE, JAX, @PIT
15	NR		Cowboys D/ST	7	@NO, @WSH, @NYG
16	NR		Browns D/ST	13	BYE, BAL, LV
17	NR		Bears D/ST	10	ARI, @GB, MIN
18	NR	DOWN	Saints D/ST	6	DAL, @NYJ, @TB
19	NR		Ravens D/ST	8	@PIT, @CLE, GB
20	NR	DOWN	Steelers D/ST	7	BAL, @MIN, TEN
21	NR		Panthers D/ST	13	BYE, ATL, @BUF
22	NR		Washington D/ST	9	@LV, DAL, @PHI
23	NR		Vikings D/ST	7	@DET, PIT, @CHI
24	NR		Chargers D/ST	7	@CIN, NYG, KC
25	NR		Seahawks D/ST	9	SF, @HOU, @LAR
26	NR		Giants D/ST	10	@MIA, @LAC, DAL
27	NR		Raiders D/ST	8	WSH, @KC, @CLE
28	NR		Lions D/ST	9	MIN, @den, ARI
29	NR		Texans D/ST	10	IND, SEA, @Jax
30	NR		Jaguars D/ST	7	@LAR, @TEN, HOU
31	NR		Falcons D/ST	6	TB, @CAR, @SF
32	NR		Jets D/ST	6	PHI, NO, @MIA

 

[Wagerallsports]

Fantasy football waiver wire for NFL Week 13: Replacing injured RBs McCaffrey, Cook, Swift​

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Making trades is among the most enjoyable parts of fantasy football.

Only about 99.99999999999999% of the people who play fantasy football will never become an actual NFL general manager, so negotiating fantasy trades is about as close as we'll get to experiencing what that job must be like (in part).

While I feel trades in dynasty formats are the most enjoyable to work through -- it's easier to find middle ground -- any trade is a fun one to negotiate. Whether it's a trade where teams deal from positions of depth (one manager deals a wide receiver for a running back, for example), a multiplayer trade where you change the entire look of your lineup or something in between, trades just make things a whole bunch of fun.

So why all this talk about trades?

Because the trade deadline on ESPN.com for leagues that use default settings is Wednesday at noon ET.

After the deadline passes, roster alterations will be made exclusively through the waiver wire. Two of my colleagues wrote trade-specific columns to help get the wheels turning. Eric Moody discussed pass-catchers to target, while Tristan H. Cockcroft dug into the backfields to exploit or avoid down the stretch.

Note: All players mentioned in this column are available in more than 50% of leagues on ESPN.com.

Week 13 byes: Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans



Alexander Mattison, RB, Minnesota Vikings (33.6% rostered): Dalvin Cook left the game early for the Vikings in Week 12 and was quickly ruled out because of a dislocated shoulder. Mattison has stepped in for Cook on previous occasions and performed extremely well. He's had two games this season in which he's seen at least 25 rushing attempts and put up 23.1 and 25.6 points in Weeks 3 and 5, respectively. With word that Cook could be headed to injured reserve, Mattison has massive value right now and is a top-10 consideration on a weekly basis until Cook returns.

Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers (33.4%): With the crushing news that Christian McCaffrey is going to be out for the season because of an ankle injury, Hubbard is expected to step back into a starting role for the Panthers. He had a six-game stretch earlier this season in which he had the opportunity to start, and turned that into double-digit carries and at least 9.0 fantasy points in every game. The passing game value isn't close to the CMC level, especially with Ameer Abdullah now seeing some targets since being acquired midseason. But Hubbard has volume on his side and should be a low-end RB2 or a strong flex consideration.

Taysom Hill, QB, New Orleans Saints (2.2%): With reporting that the Saints are prepared to turn to Hill as their starting quarterback, he has an opportunity to build off of what he did last season during a four-game starting stint. As a reminder: Hill threw for at least 230 yards in three of those games (the one exception being a game against the Broncos in which Denver was down to practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton at quarterback) and rushed 39 times, which included four scores. In a week where we are uncertain about the status of Jalen Hurts and will be without Aaron Rodgers, Hill has a chance to be a top 12 (or so) option.

Jamaal Williams, RB, Detroit Lions (46.1%): With news that D'Andre Swift has a sprained shoulder, Williams is in line for a big-volume role if Swift misses any time. He had a team-high 15 carries for 65 yards in Week 12 after Swift left the game early, and he's an excellent pass-catching back as well. Williams should be the clear-cut leader in running back touches if Swift is out, opening the door to potential top-15 running back value. He's a must-add in all leagues.

Dontrell Hilliard (23.9%) and D'Onta Foreman (40.9%), RB, Tennessee Titans: The Titans have had quite the roulette of backs since Derrick Henry suffered a foot injury, with Hilliard and Foreman each playing a significant role in Week 12. While having two useful backs can create a bit of a fantasy headache, each should be added because the Titans are equipped to play a style of football where they lean on two backs consistently, especially until A.J. Brown (out until at least Week 16) returns. Hilliard may have a touch more upside because of superior pass-catching skills, but both have impressed as runners so far. Tennessee goes on a bye this week, but these two should remain busy down the stretch.

Matt Breida, RB, Buffalo Bills (5.6%): The Bills have leaned more on Breida in recent weeks, especially in Week 12 when Zack Moss was a surprise healthy scratch. Breida has three touchdowns over the past three games (including a receiving touchdown in Week 10 and Week 12) and his speed is difficult to ignore. Devin Singletary is the likeliest to be the lead back for Buffalo (assuming Moss could be a healthy scratch again in Week 13), but Breida is an interesting speculative add in deeper leagues.

Van Jefferson, WR, Los Angeles Rams (42.8%): While Cooper Kupp has been the best wide receiver in the league this year and Odell Beckham Jr. arrived to Los Angeles with much deserved acclaim, Jefferson has been quite busy himself as a virtual full-time player in the LA offense. Over his past five games, Jefferson has 36 targets and at least 10 fantasy points in three of those five efforts. Given his excellent speed, the Rams frequently use him down the field, which makes those targets a little bit less efficient than wideouts who are used more in the short-to-intermediate passing game, but he's got upside with his talent and role in this offense.

Kendrick Bourne, WR, New England Patriots (15.1%): Bourne had yet another standout Sunday for the Patriots in Week 12, as he had a pair of receiving touchdowns and 61 yards on five catches. Bourne now has at least 10 fantasy points in six of his last 10 games and at least four catches in five of his past six games. Bourne has not yet reached 100 receiving yards in a game this season, but his volume has been steady enough lately, and he's catching an absurd percentage of his targets (86.2% over the past five games), making him a consideration in a deeper league. Adding Bourne in free agency this offseason was a very shrewd move by the Patriots.

Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants (42.0%): I remain bullish on Toney for this season, even though a quad injury kept him off the field in Week 12 and his roster percentage has remained understandably low. Call this a gut feeling, as Toney's talent is undeniable and the Giants are still looking for spark plugs on offense. Toney is so special with the football in his hands and has three games this season with at least nine targets already. There's evidence that he can be a fantasy force when he's healthy and the opportunities come his direction. He's a bench stash in case the breakout I'm hopeful for takes place down the stretch. He'd be the kind of guy whose upside could be useful if you're in a matchup where you need a bunch of home runs to upset a strong opponent.

Tevin Coleman, RB, New York Jets (23.8%): The Jets are going to be without Michael Carter for at least two more games, which has opened the door for Coleman to step back into a more prominent role. He led the team with 16 carries for 67 yards and added a pair of catches in Week 12, good enough for 9.0 fantasy points. It's fair to note that the Jets aren't likely to be in positive game script each and every week, and that the upside is limited on the whole for Coleman, so he's just a deeper-league addition.

Rex Burkhead, RB, Houston Texans (8.1%): The Texans have leaned on Burkhead quite a bit of late, as he had 18 total touches in Week 11 and then followed that up with 15 more in Week 12. The rushing efficiency for the Texans offense has been quite poor this season (Burkhead's 30 carries over the past two weeks have resulted in just 67 yards), so the upside is not significant. With that being said, the volume is enough to merit a look in deep leagues.

 

[Wagerallsports]

Fantasy football flex and superflex rankings for Week 13​

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Welcome to Week 13 and the latest edition of the fantasy football superflex rankings, combining the best of the running backs, wide receivers and tight ends -- and quarterbacks! -- into one tidy package of 150 names to aid in your decision-making.

It is December now. No more trades! (At least not in ESPN standard leagues.) There are four teams on bye (Browns, Packers, Titans, Panthers) and also missing are plenty of injured players, so do your best to fill those lineups with reasonable choices. Good luck in Week 13 and beyond!

1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens: Four interceptions in Week 12 were less than ideal, but offset by the rushing yards. Still the best bet at QB.
2. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts: Took a while for him to get going on Sunday, but he has scored a TD in nine consecutive games. No defense can control him.
3. Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers: May look odd to see him ranked so nicely, but he is No. 2 among QBs in PPR points per game!
4. Tom Brady, QB, Buccaneers
5. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs: We shall see if the bye week fixed his sudden interception narrative.
6. Josh Allen, QB, Bills: Perhaps he needs a bye on his own interception narrative. Playing the Patriots is a sure step up.
7. Joe Mixon, RB, Bengals
8. Austin Ekeler, RB, Chargers
9. Cooper Kupp, WR, Rams
10. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys: Showed he can thrive sans his top wide receivers. Now, all have returned.




11. Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles: Showed he cannot thrive when a defense forces him to throw. Not even a lock to play this week through ankle injury.
12. Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams
13. Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs
14. Leonard Fournette, RB, Buccaneers: Would you believe only four running backs have more PPR points this season? No, I would not have believed it three months ago.
15. Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings
16. Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals: Just hopeful to return from ankle injury, says his coach. This ranking shows he is not a must-start anyway.
17. James Conner, RB, Cardinals
18. Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints: He would be a must-start on Thursday if he returns from his knee sprain.
19. Alexander Mattison, RB, Vikings: No sign of Dalvin Cook for the next fortnight or so. Huge volume guaranteed here. Enjoy!
20. Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, Falcons: He's back and the backfield is apparently all his. Hard to believe.
21. Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings
22. Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers
23. Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals
24. Carson Wentz, QB, Colts
25. Taysom Hill, QB, Saints: Struggling offense goes with the runner over Trevor Siemian. Can't blame them. Hill vaults into QB1 territory in deeper formats. He can do what Hurts does.
26. Derek Carr, QB, Raiders
27. Taylor Heinicke, QB, Washington: Ya gotta root for this undrafted, Old Dominion product who has his team in the final NFC wild-card spot. Good for him.
28. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Dolphins: Very accurate lately, but not exactly piling on the fantasy numbers. Could improve even more this week.
29. Tyrod Taylor, QB, Texans
30. Stefon Diggs, WR, Bills
31. Diontae Johnson, WR, Steelers
32. Najee Harris, RB, Steelers: Still all the backfield volume, but his QB has to play better or there will be more blowout losses.
33. Darrell Henderson Jr., RB, Rams: Quad injury may limit him, but you play him if he is active.
34. Elijah Mitchell, RB, 49ers
35. Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington
36. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys: Looks likely to play through knee woes, but figures to have low volume. Not a must-play anymore.
37. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers
38. Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks: Certainly not a must-play. Have you seen the past three games? Stop automatically playing him because of his great name.
39. Mac Jones, QB, Patriots: Comes off his second 20-point effort, and playing tough foe on the road. If he gets 20 again, his narrative alters.
40. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Broncos
41. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers: Man, that was an ugly game against the Bengals. Schedule remains tough. His days as even a QB2 may be over.
42. Marquise Brown, WR, Ravens
43. Adam Thielen, WR, Vikings: So underrated. Vikings actually have the Nos. 5 and 7 WRs on the season.
44. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys
45. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington
46. Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs
47. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Bengals: We keep talking about the low receiving yardage totals because they tell us more than the occasional touchdowns do at this point.
48. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Dolphins: His yards are up. Waddle looks like top rookie receiver these days.
49. Jamaal Williams, RB, Lions: Have to assume D'Andre Swift misses a few games and Williams handles much of his workload. Competent player.
50. James Robinson, RB, Jaguars
51. Justin Fields, QB, Bears: Who knows? Possible he returns from rib injury, but if not, Andy Dalton would inherit this exact rankings spot. Neither ranks well.
52. Zach Wilson, QB, Jets
53. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons: The NFC version of Roethlisberger? Wow, this useful fantasy option fell hard.
54. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars
55. Mike Glennon, QB, Giants: Daniel Jones likely misses the game. The fact Glennon does not rank last at QB for the week says much about the next fellow's struggles.
56. Jared Goff, QB, Lions: Hard pass.
57. Chris Godwin, WR, Buccaneers
58. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 49ers: Potentially big volume ahead with Deebo Samuel likely out a few games.
59. Amari Cooper, WR, Cowboys
60. Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens
61. Hunter Renfrow, WR, Raiders: Monster performance on Thanksgiving and steady targets all season.
62. Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers
63. Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals: Quiet season, but comes off his best game and one can reasonably debate the team's WR hierarchy again.
64. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Colts
65. Mike Williams, WR, Chargers: Still clearly not 100% healthy, but dangerous enough for weekly WR2 territory anyway.
66. Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders
67. Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants: Not saying his career path is forever changed, but for this season, and now with Glennon at QB, well, good luck. Does not look good.
68. Myles Gaskin, RB, Dolphins
69. George Kittle, TE, 49ers
70. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Buccaneers: Pretty much as expected. Loves running over defenders and piles up numbers when he plays, but misses half the games.
71. Brandin Cooks, WR, Texans: Still just about the only offensive weapon they have, and he may get to 80 catches and 1,000 yards. Yep, a Texan!
72. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Cardinals: As with Murray, may play, may not. His malady is the hamstring and it may haunt him the rest of the way. You do not have to play Hopkins.
73. DK Metcalf, WR, Seahawks: You do not have to play Metcalf, either. His QB almost literally cannot find him. Stop looking at preseason rankings!
74. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks
75. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Broncos
76. David Montgomery, RB, Bears: Good player still on the mend from knee injury, and this offense clearly holds him back. What are they doing?
77. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Chiefs
78. Chase Claypool, WR, Steelers
79. Darnell Mooney, WR, Bears
80. Elijah Moore, WR, Jets
81. Javonte Williams, RB, Broncos: We can only imagine what kind of season he would have had if there was no timeshare. Still worthy flex choice.
82. Melvin Gordon III, RB, Broncos
83. Miles Sanders, RB, Eagles: It is always something with him. An injury. A fumble. A misread. Should destroy the Jets, but Eagles could split up the backfield volume.
84. Van Jefferson, WR, Rams: Why can't he be the Rams No. 2 WR still? You know the next guy. Jefferson is the underrated, healthy one.
85. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Rams
86. DeVonta Smith, WR, Eagles: His QB simply has to target him more and there is no evidence he will. Caps his fantasy upside.
87. Tre'Quan Smith, WR, Saints
88. Devin Singletary, RB, Bills
89. Tony Pollard, RB, Cowboys: Should get double-digit touches this week. Make sure he is rostered, whether you use him or not.
90. Rex Burkhead, RB, Texans
91. Devonta Freeman, RB, Ravens: Sure looks like this is no timeshare. Pittsburgh defense got shredded last week.
92. Corey Davis, WR, Jets
93. Cole Beasley, WR, Bills
94. Kendrick Bourne, WR, Patriots: You probably did not notice he has three touchdowns the past three weeks.
95. Jakobi Meyers, WR, Patriots
96. Jamison Crowder, WR, Jets
97. Darrel Williams, RB, Chiefs
98. Tevin Coleman, RB, Jets: Timeshare sans Michael Carter, but Coleman showed some jump last week.
99. J.D. McKissic, RB, Washington: Neck injury from Monday night may cost him playing time.
100. Mark Ingram II, RB, Saints
101. Damien Harris, RB, Patriots
102. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Patriots: Neither he nor Harris catch passes, so if the Pats fall behind this Monday, you may not want either active.
103. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Lions
104. Pat Freiermuth, TE, Steelers: Has touchdowns in four of five contests, but is also dealing with a concussion.
105. Mike Gesicki, TE, Dolphins
106. Dalton Schultz, TE, Cowboys
107. Antonio Brown, WR, Buccaneers: He last played in Week 6, due to ankle injury. He is like Gronk (with a different style of course). When he plays, watch him produce.
108. Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants
109. Russell Gage, WR, Falcons
110. Marvin Jones Jr., WR, Jaguars: And to think, we all thought this rookie QB was infallible, a generational talent. Could not fail. What do we think now?
111. Kenyan Drake, RB, Raiders
112. Zach Ertz, TE, Cardinals
113. Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons: His investors will keep playing him, but his numbers for five weeks say to sit him.
114. Dawson Knox, TE, Bills: Modest targets, but clearly a goal-line target.
115. Matt Breida, RB, Bills
116. Boston Scott, RB, Eagles: Could get 15 touches. Could get three. Welcome to the Philadelphia offense.
117. Jordan Howard, RB, Eagles
118. Sony Michel, RB, Rams: Barely playing, but Henderson injury may change that.
119. Christian Kirk, WR, Cardinals
120. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Bills
121. Michael Gallup, WR, Cowboys
122. Rashod Bateman, WR, Ravens
123. Tyler Boyd, WR, Bengals
124. Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles: Should be a top-five TE, but inconsistent QB, inconsistent targets make it hard to rely on him.
125. Tim Patrick, WR, Broncos
126. Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington: Healthy and ready to show his considerable skills. Sleeper pick.
127. Alex Collins, RB, Seahawks
128. Nyheim Hines, RB, Colts
129. Godwin Igwebuike, RB, Lions: Averaging 14.2 yards per carry! No, really! OK, so it is only six carries. Why must you be so skeptical?
130. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Jaguars: Unfortunate leader for most receptions (45) sans a touchdown. No end in sight on this one.
131. Kadarius Toney, WR, Giants
132. Kenny Golladay, WR, Giants
133. David Johnson, RB, Texans: Another fellow who investors play when there is no logical reason to do so. None.
134. Ty Johnson, RB, Jets
135. Latavius Murray, RB, Ravens
136. Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos: Look at his numbers from the past month and make a case to play him.
137. Allen Robinson II, WR, Bears: Dealing with hamstring injury. Hard to make a case to play him in fantasy.
138. Zay Jones, WR, Raiders
139. DeSean Jackson, WR, Raiders: Maybe he catches a long one. Seems risky to rely on that in fantasy.
140. Josh Reynolds, WR, Lions
141. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts
142. DeAndre Carter, WR, Washington
143. Mike Davis, RB, Falcons
144. Austin Walter, RB, Jets: Undrafted journeyman from Rice comes off career day and hey, good for him. No guarantee he gets touches this week, though.
145. Brandon Bolden, RB, Patriots
146. Foster Moreau, TE, Raiders: Likely that Darren Waller sits and Moreau, in brief action, has had some moments this season.
147. Noah Fant, TE, Broncos
148. DeeJay Dallas, RB, Seahawks
149. Eno Benjamin, RB, Cardinals
150. Kene Nwangwu, RB, Vikings: And we close up shop for this week with this Iowa State rookie averaging a cool 41.3 yards on his eight kickoff returns. Um, wow! Definite sleeper if he gets the chance to run the ball, too.

 

[Wagerallsports]

NFL fantasy fallout: More opportunity for Javonte Williams, Chuba Hubbard?​

ESPN PLUS

Nobody has a more stacked lineup of fantasy analysts and NFL team reporters than ESPN. It's the rare "backfield by committee" that is actually a good thing for fantasy football managers.

Every Tuesday, Mike Triplett will ask our NFL Nation reporters a series of burning questions about the weekend's biggest stories to help inform you for your waiver wire pickups and other roster decisions.

This week's roundup includes some growth potential for rookies Javonte Williams, Chuba Hubbard and Amon-Ra St. Brown, among others.

It's time to begin our weekly trip around the league, so fasten your seat belts and get ready to tour the NFL Nation!

---

Denver Broncos​

Javonte Williams has to have earned himself a bigger role in Denver's RB timeshare, even when Melvin Gordon III eventually returns from his injury, right?

In the near term, we'll have to wait and see when Gordon might be back. He did not practice at all last week, so it remains to be seen whether he will even practice on a limited basis this week. That said, Williams has shown quick growth in the two areas that will give him more touches overall: blitz pick-up in the passing game and his usage as a receiver.

Williams led the Broncos in both catches and receiving yards in the loss to the Chiefs this past Sunday and his 178 yards from scrimmage were the most of any running back in Week 13. If Gordon is healthy, the pair will still split some work. However, Williams could -- and should -- soon open games and have the "1A look" that Gordon has had so far this season. -- Jeff Legwold

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Carolina Panthers​

Do you think any players will be either especially helped or perhaps hurt by Carolina's switch from offensive coordinator Joe Brady to Jeff Nixon?

One reason for the switch was Joe Brady's lack of commitment to the run. Jeff Nixon's team averaged 36 runs per game when he was the co-offensive coordinator at Baylor in 2019. He also coached the running backs at Carolina, so the backs should benefit greatly in terms of more opportunities.

Chuba Hubbard in particular should benefit as the primary back, but don't forget about QB Cam Newton. Nixon could run more read-option and let Newton do his thing. Committing to the run also should help the team's banged-up offensive line, which won't be called upon to pass protect as often. If Nixon can keep the opposition guessing, that will give Newton more time to throw as well. This could be a completely different look in a lot of ways. -- David Newton

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Tennessee Titans​

Who leads this backfield in touches for the rest of the season?

It will likely be Dontrell Hilliard. He is the most explosive of the remaining Titans backs, and his 8.7 yards per attempt should make it more enticing for the staff to give him the ball. His 68-yard TD run against the Patriots was the longest overall run since Derrick Henry's foot injury four games ago. Hilliard is also a viable option catching the ball out of the backfield, which won't require him to come off the field on 3rd downs. -- Turron Davenport

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Los Angeles Rams​

After Sony Michel was so effective Sunday, do you think we could see more of a RB timeshare when Darrell Henderson Jr. returns to the lineup? Is Michel simply a solid backup for those who roster Henderson?

While Michel was effective against the Jaguars, it would be somewhat surprising to see him have a sustained increase in workload. The Rams went into the game knowing that Henderson had a thigh injury and would really only be used in a last-case scenario. In recent seasons, Sean McVay has shown a tendency to move away from the run in order to rely on the pass, so expect more of that going forward as the Rams prepare to face stiffer competition. That means more Henderson and less Michel -- with fewer overall opportunities to carry the ball. -- Lindsey Thiry

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Las Vegas Raiders​

Do you expect a monster workload for Josh Jacobs in the wake of Kenyan Drake's injury? Could this open the door for any other running backs to be fantasy relevant in deeper leagues?

Define "monster" workload. Jacobs is already the "go-to guy" in the run game. So, with Drake lost in the second quarter Sunday and the Raiders already without Jalen Richard (who was placed on the COVID-19 list on Sunday morning), Jacobs also had an unusually high number of targets in the passing game. It was a career-high nine, to be precise, but he only had 38 yards receiving. That's a relatively big workload, yes, but not an awful lot of production. Hey, at least he struck the "Karate Kid" crane pose after his 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Still, it's Richard who should "wax on" (so to speak) to the pass-catching role when he comes back. -- Paul Gutierrez

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Detroit Lions​

Could Amon-Ra St. Brown's breakout performance on Sunday be a sign of things to come down the stretch?

Absolutely. The rookie wide receiver has been preparing himself to make big plays all season long, and this game-winning touchdown will only boost his confidence. Although he hasn't been targeted consistently all year, he has had stretches where he was extremely productive, like in Weeks 4-5 where he had back-to-back games of at least six catches and 65 receiving yards. Lions QB Jared Goff was asked about his confidence level in St. Brown and said, "A lot." You can be sure the Lions will be working hard to get him more catches moving forward. -- Eric Woodyard

Will WR K.J. Osborn's role be significant enough to start him in deeper fantasy lineups if Adam Thielen misses time?

Yes. Justin Jefferson is so good that he could continue to catch double-digit passes with Thielen sidelined by an ankle injury and yet there would still be a considerable role for Osborn in this offense. Against Detroit, Osborn was targeted seven times and had four receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. Kirk Cousins lauded Osborn's efforts in Thielen's absence and talked about the confidence he has in Minnesota's No. 3 receiver. Osborn has routinely shown up when called upon, just like the last touchdown he scored prior to Week 13 which came on a walk-off play in overtime against the Panthers in October. -- Courtney Cronin

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Atlanta Falcons​

Is there anything to see here (finally) with WR Russell Gage after his two best fantasy outputs of the season over the last two weeks?


It seems like it. Gage always had the talent, but he finally seems to have recovered from the early-season ankle injury that cost him three games. Plus, he's found a role in Atlanta's offense with teams paying so much attention to Cordarrelle Patterson and Kyle Pitts. Gage has been targeted seven-plus times in four of the last five games and has gone for 60-plus yards in three of them.

There's still a ceiling here, so Gage isn't a "must start." Still, at this point, he's worth a roster spot in most fantasy leagues and should be in the conversation to start, depending on the matchup. For this week, keep in mind that Gage was not targeted on any of his 36 snaps when Atlanta last played Carolina in October. -- Michael Rothstein

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Cincinnati Bengals​

Ja'Marr Chase hasn't surpassed 52 receiving yards since he busted loose for 201 yards in Week 7. How concerned should fantasy managers be?

Pretty concerned. It appears that opposing defenses have prioritized limiting Chase and Cincinnati's explosive plays that were productive earlier in the season. In those few opportunities he's had since Week 7, Chase hasn't capitalized, with his drop-turned-interception against the Chargers being a prime example. Chase has now become a massive question mark for starting lineups. -- Ben Baby

---

Minnesota Vikings​

 

[Wagerallsports]

Fantasy football waiver wire for NFL Week 14: Taysom Hill and a handful of insurance options​

ESPN PLUS

It's amazing to think that one month from right now, we'll be in the final days of the NFL's regular season, the first ever in which we will have had 17 games played by each team.

For fantasy football purposes, we have reached the home stretch, as many of you reading this column will be playing in your final regular-season matchup this week or next. It's crunch time, people.

Along those lines, one piece of advice that I like to lean on during this time of the season is to make sure you know your own needs in terms of roster management.

Zoom out for a second and see where your roster is strong, where it might be vulnerable and where you aren't quite sure.

If you're in first place, staring down a first-round bye, the answer may be that your roster is all set: a little tinkering here or there, but nothing major needed. There's a quiet comfort in knowing that your roster is built in a way that requires minimal attention.

If you're clinging to life in the playoff race but know that you need to get a few breaks in your favor, you may have to ask yourself, "Is this the week that I have to swing for the fences with a couple of wild cards that carry equal parts risk and reward?" Maybe (assuming he's healthy enough to give it a go) you decide to start Taysom Hill at quarterback or want to throw DeSean Jackson in as your flex, knowing that almost no player has a better chance at a 75-yard touchdown grab on any given play and understanding that a more modest stat line is also in the cards.

No matter your circumstances, let's finish strong!

Note: All players in this column are available in more than 50% of leagues on ESPN.com.

Week 14 byes: Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles



Taysom Hill, QB, New Orleans Saints (35.9% rostered): Week 13 was an almost perfect crystallization of why Hill is such a valuable player in fantasy. Hill played poorly last Thursday night -- he completed just 19 of 41 passes and threw four interceptions -- yet he mustered more than 20 fantasy points in the game, as he rushed 11 times for 101 yards and threw for 264 yards. Few quarterbacks offer as much weekly upside with their legs as Hill, which immediately sets a floor for him. While a finger injury suffered last Thursday is unquestionably worth monitoring, my colleague Adam Schefter has reported that Hill intends to continue to play. He's a top-10 option at the position.

JaMycal Hasty, RB, San Francisco 49ers (0.5%): Elijah Mitchell experienced concussion symptoms Monday after briefly leaving the game on Sunday (at the time, he cleared the concussion testing and went back into the game), leaving his status for Week 14 in doubt. Jeff Wilson Jr. had a knee issue flare up and Trenton Cannon suffered a concussion on a scary early play, leaving Hasty as the only healthy back on their roster right now. San Francisco will work out runners this week and it's possible they'll have one or more of their banged-up backs available, but Hasty is currently in line for a legitimate role. He should be added in leagues of any size.

Russell Gage, WR, Atlanta Falcons (24.9%): Gage was a trendy preseason sleeper after the Falcons traded away Julio Jones, but the start of his season quickly pushed him back onto the waiver wire. But Gage has been much better of late, including five games in his last six outings with at least 9.9 fantasy points (and 44 targets in that stretch). He's been especially busy over the past three weeks, as he has 27 targets during that time and has averaged more than 20 fantasy points over the past two weeks. The Falcons figure to be a pass-heavy team going forward, and Gage right now is the best bet amongst their wide receivers to deliver a fantasy-worthy day.

K.J. Osborn, WR, Minnesota Vikings (4.2%): Osborn has been a solid player for Minnesota this season, though most of that was while operating as its third wide receiver. Things changed early in Week 13 when Adam Thielen suffered an ankle sprain after just one catch, and his status for Week 14 is in doubt, per Adam Schefter. Osborn played a more prominent role, catching four of his seven targets for 47 yards and finding the end zone. Should Thielen have to miss Thursday's game against the Steelers, Osborn would be thrust into a near-every-snap role for an effective Minnesota passing game and serve as a potential low-end WR3 option.

Dontrell Hilliard (36.1%) and D'Onta Foreman, RBs, Tennessee Titans (35.5%): The Titans were on a bye this week, but I'd expect them to rely heavily upon these two players down the stretch as they push for a top seed in the AFC. Both played extremely well in Week 12, when Tennessee rushed for 270 yards as a team, with Foreman handling more total carries and Hilliard providing more of a passing-game spark. The fact that they're splitting duties means inherent risk in starting either of them, but with no A.J. Brown available this week (and we'll see on Julio Jones), the Titans figure to stay true to their ground-game form. Both are addable, with Hilliard's receiving work giving him the slight edge, in my view.

Sony Michel, RB, Los Angeles Rams (35.2%): While Darrell Henderson Jr. did dress for the Rams in Week 13, he was a literal nonfactor with zero touches. It's possible that Henderson was available only as an emergency option while he continues to deal with an injury that kept him off the practice field for two of three days this past week. Michel is a value add in the event that Henderson is limited and potentially unavailable again in Week 14 or beyond. Michel handled 24 rushing attempts and added four targets in Week 13, good enough to be the first Rams running back with a game over 100 rushing yards this season. He's a must-add just in case Henderson is unavailable next week.

Jalen Guyton, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (0.2%): With news that Keenan Allen has been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the Chargers are facing the possibility of being without their top wide receiver in Week 14. Guyton, who scored a touchdown in Week 13 and had 90 yards on four targets, could be the next man up if Allen is unavailable. He's a hit-or-miss play who comes with some risk, but with a quarterback as talented as Justin Herbert, good things can happen.

Boston Scott, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (27.2%): Philly heads into its bye this week, so starter Miles Sanders has extra time to heal an ankle injury that caused him to leave the game early in Week 13. His status for Week 15 is unknown, but if he were to miss time, Scott is my preferred Eagles running back to have rostered. While Scott did not register a touch in Week 13, he was sick and missed the week of practice, likely meaning Philly was planning on utilizing him only if it absolutely needed to. While Jordan Howard would likely carve into Scott's goal-line opportunities if Howard is back from a knee injury in Week 15, Scott is the best overall option from the Eagles as a stash add.

Carlos Hyde, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (9.2%): James Robinson was already iffy to play in Week 13 as he continues to fight through injuries, then there was mixed messaging after the game about why his role was so dramatically reduced compared to normal (just eight total carries). At this juncture of the season, I do wonder if the Jaguars will take a bigger-picture approach to Robinson's injury situation and potentially sit him in games where he might be close to 50/50 to play. If he does sit, Hyde would be the next man up and a potential flex option in this offense.

 

[Wagerallsports]

Fantasy football trade index and rest-of-season rankings: Gibson and Montgomery rush toward the top​

ESPN PLUS

Player value continues to adjust even as we approach the fantasy football playoffs, so we continue along with the latest rest-of-season rankings and trade index, inspecting the trends for your enjoyment and debating pleasure.

Injuries always play a role at this (and all times) of the year. Plus, we have one more week of byes, which matter as well. Some players simply have more games, thus more opportunities to score. Regardless, it is always free-agent pickup season and one's efforts to improve their fantasy teams should never stop. Good luck!

Quarterback​

Rankings changes: The No. 1 spot remains fluid, with Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Tom Brady and Los Angeles Chargers star Justin Herbert moving up. After all, no quarterbacks average more PPR points per game than those two do. We cannot ding Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen too much for playing on a windy Monday night, but alas, he has reached 21 PPR points in only one of his past five games now and he has another game remaining with the strong New England Patriots defense. Baltimore Ravens runner Lamar Jackson has had three consecutive disappointing statistical outings.



Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints' new starter, Taysom Hill, lost in his first start of the season, in part because he tossed four interceptions. However, he also rushed for 101 yards and, well, that is excellent and matters more. Hill moves all the way up to Cam Newton range. They're similar players. Moving down is New York Giants starter Daniel Jones because his season may be over. For Mike Glennon, it is just the beginning! Maybe. New York Jets rookie Zach Wilson moves up, but you really should not rely on him in fantasy -- at least not this season.

Trade thoughts: I cannot imagine you can still trade in your leagues, but perhaps your league has different rules. One never knows. The top 12 remains the dividing line, which means Seattle Seahawks starter Russell Wilson and the runners (Newton, Hill) are not safe for fantasy. Still, being inconsistent also means being occasionally good, so that may win you a playoff week or two! Meanwhile, Indianapolis Colts starter Carson Wentz is hardly a bastion of durability and now has had more than a meager 12 PPR points in only one of four games. He is hardly helping us in fantasy. The same goes for Pittsburgh Steelers starter Ben Roethlisberger. His Sunday outing was bad for three quarters. Be careful!

Running back​

Rankings changes: Washington's Antonio Gibson forces his way into the top 10, while Chicago Bears starter David Montgomery closes in. At least these fellows are healthy. Denver Broncos rookie Javonte Williams had a breakout performance on Sunday night but -- there is always a "but" -- we should see Melvin Gordon III return soon. Josh Jacobs looks a bit better for the Las Vegas Raiders after Kenyan Drake broke his ankle, but they could involve Peyton Barber now. Keep Detroit Lions starter D'Andre Swift and Los Angeles Rams starter Darrell Henderson Jr. rostered, obviously. Perhaps they will play this week! And, we welcome back Adrian Peterson, now of the Seahawks, to the rankings (although it hardly means you should roster him).

Trade thoughts: Perhaps the top-20 (or so) runners are safe in fantasy, but is any running back truly safe? Those in keeper leagues should look at running backs first. Let us assume Denver's Williams is rostered, but perhaps you can get injured Jets rookie Michael Carter or ignored San Francisco 49ers rookie Trey Sermon on the cheap. I got Patriots bruiser Damien Harris from free agency in one shallow league. Also, see if injured Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Etienne Jr. is available for next season, too. It may be time to move beyond James Robinson.

Wide receiver​

Rankings changes: Miami Dolphins rookie Jaylen Waddle passes Cincinnati Bengals rookie Ja'Marr Chase, though each is a solid WR2. Hey, the numbers do not lie and recent trends matter more than full-season figures. Another first-year option, the Jets' Elijah Moore, forces his way into the top 20 and underrated Raiders receiver Hunter Renfrow closes in. There may be room if Minnesota Vikings star Adam Thielen (ankle) needs to miss time.

Trade thoughts: Monday notwithstanding, do not let people tell you that NFL teams run the ball and never throw it in cold weather. They throw, too. Wind is more important than cold and snow. The Bengals are throwing plenty and Joe Burrow will keep doing it. So will the Buccaneers and Chargers, too. Apparently, Mac Jones will not, much to the chagrin of those who needed a paltry one point from him on Monday and did not get it!

Tight end​

Rankings changes: Well, the 49ers' George Kittle looks healthy, eh? The Raiders' Darren Waller and Washington's Logan Thomas, not so much. It was nice to see the Philadelphia Eagles use Dallas Goedert, although we shall see what happens when Jalen Hurts returns, which he will for Week 14.

​

Eric Karabell's Rest-of-Year Top 100 Rankings​

RANK		PLAYER	TEAM	BYE	POS. RANK	NEXT 3
1		Jonathan Taylor	IND	14	RB1	BYE, NE, @ARI
2		Cooper Kupp	LAR	11	WR1	@ARI, SEA, @MIN
3		Davante Adams	GB	13	WR2	CHI, @BAL, CLE
4		Tyreek Hill	KC	12	WR3	LV, @LAC, PIT
5		Justin Jefferson	MIN	7	WR4	PIT, @CHI, LAR
6		Austin Ekeler	LAC	7	RB2	NYG, KC, @HOU
7		Joe Mixon	CIN	10	RB3	SF, @den, BAL
8		Stefon Diggs	BUF	7	WR5	@TB, CAR, @NE
9		Alvin Kamara	NO	6	RB4	@NYJ, @TB, MIA
10		Leonard Fournette	TB	9	RB5	BUF, NO, @CAR
11		Najee Harris	PIT	7	RB6	@MIN, TEN, @KC
12		Nick Chubb	CLE	13	RB7	BAL, LV, @GB
13	UP	Diontae Johnson	PIT	7	WR6	@MIN, TEN, @KC
14		Travis Kelce	KC	12	TE1	LV, @LAC, PIT
15	UP	Antonio Gibson	WSH	9	RB8	DAL, @PHI, @DAL
16		Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	7	RB9	@WSH, @NYG, WSH
17		James Conner	ARI	12	RB10	LAR, @DET, IND
18		Elijah Mitchell	SF	6	RB11	@CIN, ATL, @TEN
19		Cordarrelle Patterson	ATL	6	RB12	@CAR, @SF, DET
20		Terry McLaurin	WSH	9	WR7	DAL, @PHI, @DAL
21	UP	David Montgomery	CHI	10	RB13	@GB, MIN, @SEA
22		Tom Brady	TB	9	QB1	BUF, NO, @CAR
23		Justin Herbert	LAC	7	QB2	NYG, KC, @HOU
24		Josh Allen	BUF	7	QB3	@TB, CAR, @NE
25		Lamar Jackson	BAL	8	QB4	@CLE, GB, @CIN
26	DOWN	D'Andre Swift	DET	9	RB14	@den, ARI, @ATL
27	DOWN	Darrell Henderson Jr.	LAR	11	RB15	@ARI, SEA, @MIN
28		CeeDee Lamb	DAL	7	WR8	@WSH, @NYG, WSH
29		Keenan Allen	LAC	7	WR9	NYG, KC, @HOU
30	UP	Chris Godwin	TB	9	WR10	BUF, NO, @CAR
31		Aaron Jones	GB	13	RB16	CHI, @BAL, CLE
32		Mike Evans	TB	9	WR11	BUF, NO, @CAR
33		Miles Sanders	PHI	14	RB17	BYE, WSH, NYG
34	UP	Kyler Murray	ARI	12	QB5	LAR, @DET, IND
35	DOWN	Patrick Mahomes	KC	12	QB6	LV, @LAC, PIT
36	DOWN	Deebo Samuel	SF	6	WR12	@CIN, ATL, @TEN
37	UP	Jaylen Waddle	MIA	14	WR13	BYE, NYJ, @NO
38		Ja'Marr Chase	CIN	10	WR14	SF, @den, BAL
39		Michael Pittman Jr.	IND	14	WR15	BYE, NE, @ARI
40	UP	Javonte Williams	DEN	11	RB18	DET, CIN, @LV
41	DOWN	Adam Thielen	MIN	7	WR16	PIT, @CHI, LAR
42	DOWN	Saquon Barkley	NYG	10	RB19	@LAC, DAL, @PHI
43	DOWN	Mike Williams	LAC	7	WR17	NYG, KC, @HOU
44		Elijah Moore	NYJ	6	WR18	NO, @MIA, JAX
45		Clyde Edwards-Helaire	KC	12	RB20	LV, @LAC, PIT
46	DOWN	DJ Moore	CAR	13	WR19	ATL, @BUF, TB
47	DOWN	Aaron Rodgers	GB	13	QB7	CHI, @BAL, CLE
48	DOWN	Dak Prescott	DAL	7	QB8	@WSH, @NYG, WSH
49	UP	George Kittle	SF	6	TE2	@CIN, ATL, @TEN
50	UP	Josh Jacobs	LV	8	RB21	@KC, @CLE, DEN
51		DK Metcalf	SEA	9	WR20	@HOU, @LAR, CHI
52		DeAndre Hopkins	ARI	12	WR21	LAR, @DET, IND
53		Mark Andrews	BAL	8	TE3	@CLE, GB, @CIN
54		Chuba Hubbard	CAR	13	RB22	ATL, @BUF, TB
55	DOWN	James Robinson	JAX	7	RB23	@TEN, HOU, @NYJ
56	UP	Hunter Renfrow	LV	8	WR22	@KC, @CLE, DEN
57	UP	Tee Higgins	CIN	10	WR23	SF, @den, BAL
58	DOWN	Dalvin Cook	MIN	7	RB24	PIT, @CHI, LAR
59	DOWN	Alexander Mattison	MIN	7	RB25	PIT, @CHI, LAR
60	DOWN	Jalen Hurts	PHI	14	QB9	BYE, WSH, NYG
61		Damien Harris	NE	14	RB26	BYE, @IND, BUF
62	UP	Devonta Freeman	BAL	8	RB27	@CLE, GB, @CIN
63	UP	Jamaal Williams	DET	9	RB28	@den, ARI, @ATL
64	DOWN	Marquise Brown	BAL	8	WR24	@CLE, GB, @CIN
65	DOWN	Kareem Hunt	CLE	13	RB29	BAL, LV, @GB
66	DOWN	AJ Dillon	GB	13	RB30	CHI, @BAL, CLE
67		Tony Pollard	DAL	7	RB31	@WSH, @NYG, WSH
68		Myles Gaskin	MIA	14	RB32	BYE, NYJ, @NO
69		Mark Ingram II	NO	6	RB33	@NYJ, @TB, MIA
70	UP	Rob Gronkowski	TB	9	TE4	BUF, NO, @CAR
71		Matthew Stafford	LAR	11	QB10	@ARI, SEA, @MIN
72		Joe Burrow	CIN	10	QB11	SF, @den, BAL
73		Kirk Cousins	MIN	7	QB12	PIT, @CHI, LAR
74	DOWN	Melvin Gordon III	DEN	11	RB34	DET, CIN, @LV
75	DOWN	Brandon Aiyuk	SF	6	WR25	@CIN, ATL, @TEN
76		Rhamondre Stevenson	NE	14	RB35	BYE, @IND, BUF
77	UP	Chase Edmonds	ARI	12	RB36	LAR, @DET, IND
78		Jerry Jeudy	DEN	11	WR26	DET, CIN, @LV
79		A.J. Brown	TEN	13	WR27	JAX, @PIT, SF
80		DeVonta Smith	PHI	14	WR28	BYE, WSH, NYG
81		Tyler Lockett	SEA	9	WR29	@HOU, @LAR, CHI
82		Darrel Williams	KC	12	RB37	LV, @LAC, PIT
83		Brandin Cooks	HOU	10	WR30	SEA, @Jax, LAC
84		Amari Cooper	DAL	7	WR31	@WSH, @NYG, WSH
85		Nyheim Hines	IND	14	RB38	BYE, NE, @ARI
86		Michael Carter	NYJ	6	RB39	NO, @MIA, JAX
87		Tyler Boyd	CIN	10	WR32	SF, @den, BAL
88		Darnell Mooney	CHI	10	WR33	@GB, MIN, @SEA
89	DOWN	Darren Waller	LV	8	TE5	@KC, @CLE, DEN
90	UP	Dallas Goedert	PHI	14	TE6	BYE, WSH, NYG
91		Mike Gesicki	MIA	14	TE7	BYE, NYJ, @NO
92		T.J. Hockenson	DET	9	TE8	@den, ARI, @ATL
93	UP	Van Jefferson	LAR	11	WR34	@ARI, SEA, @MIN
94	UP	Odell Beckham Jr.	LAR	11	WR35	@ARI, SEA, @MIN
95		Dawson Knox	BUF	7	TE9	@TB, CAR, @NE
96		Chase Claypool	PIT	7	WR36	@MIN, TEN, @KC
97		Matt Breida	BUF	7	RB40	@TB, CAR, @NE
98		Jakobi Meyers	NE	14	WR37	BYE, @IND, BUF
99		Devin Singletary	BUF	7	RB41	@TB, CAR, @NE
100	UP	Sony Michel	LAR	11	RB42	@ARI, SEA, @MIN

​

Top 40 Quarterbacks​

POS. RANK	OVR. RANK		PLAYER	TEAM	BYE	NEXT 3
1	22	UP	Tom Brady	TB	9	BUF, NO, @CAR
2	23		Justin Herbert	LAC	7	NYG, KC, @HOU
3	24		Josh Allen	BUF	7	@TB, CAR, @NE
4	25		Lamar Jackson	BAL	8	@CLE, GB, @CIN
5	34	UP	Kyler Murray	ARI	12	LAR, @DET, IND
6	35		Patrick Mahomes	KC	12	LV, @LAC, PIT
7	47		Aaron Rodgers	GB	13	CHI, @BAL, CLE
8	48		Dak Prescott	DAL	7	@WSH, @NYG, WSH
9	60		Jalen Hurts	PHI	14	BYE, WSH, NYG
10	71		Matthew Stafford	LAR	11	@ARI, SEA, @MIN
11	72		Joe Burrow	CIN	10	SF, @den, BAL
12	73		Kirk Cousins	MIN	7	PIT, @CHI, LAR
13	106		Russell Wilson	SEA	9	@HOU, @LAR, CHI
14	107		Cam Newton	CAR	13	ATL, @BUF, TB
15	108		Taysom Hill	NO	6	@NYJ, @TB, MIA
16	147		Carson Wentz	IND	14	BYE, NE, @ARI
17	156		Mac Jones	NE	14	BYE, @IND, BUF
18	163		Ryan Tannehill	TEN	13	JAX, @PIT, SF
19	166		Derek Carr	LV	8	@KC, @CLE, DEN
20	173		Teddy Bridgewater	DEN	11	DET, CIN, @LV
21	184		Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	7	@MIN, TEN, @KC
22	186		Jimmy Garoppolo	SF	6	@CIN, ATL, @TEN
23	187		Taylor Heinicke	WSH	9	DAL, @PHI, @DAL
24	188		Tua Tagovailoa	MIA	14	BYE, NYJ, @NO
25	189		Matt Ryan	ATL	6	@CAR, @SF, DET
26	NR	UP	Zach Wilson	NYJ	6	NO, @MIA, JAX
27	NR		Tyrod Taylor	HOU	10	SEA, @Jax, LAC
28	NR		Justin Fields	CHI	10	@GB, MIN, @SEA
29	NR		Baker Mayfield	CLE	13	BAL, LV, @GB
30	NR		Trevor Lawrence	JAX	7	@TEN, HOU, @NYJ
31	NR		Jared Goff	DET	9	@den, ARI, @ATL
32	NR	UP	Mike Glennon	NYG	10	@LAC, DAL, @PHI
33	NR	DOWN	Daniel Jones	NYG	10	@LAC, DAL, @PHI
34	NR		Trevor Siemian	NO	6	@NYJ, @TB, MIA
35	NR		Trey Lance	SF	6	@CIN, ATL, @TEN
36	NR		Andy Dalton	CHI	10	@GB, MIN, @SEA
37	NR	UP	Gardner Minshew II	PHI	14	BYE, WSH, NYG
38	NR	UP	Davis Mills	HOU	10	SEA, @Jax, LAC
39	NR	DOWN	Joe Flacco	NYJ	6	NO, @MIA, JAX
40	NR		Case Keenum	CLE	13	BAL, LV, @GB

​

Top 60 Running Backs​

POS. RANK	OVR. RANK		PLAYER	TEAM	BYE	NEXT 3
1	1		Jonathan Taylor	IND	14	BYE, NE, @ARI
2	6		Austin Ekeler	LAC	7	NYG, KC, @HOU
3	7		Joe Mixon	CIN	10	SF, @den, BAL
4	9		Alvin Kamara	NO	6	@NYJ, @TB, MIA
5	10		Leonard Fournette	TB	9	BUF, NO, @CAR
6	11		Najee Harris	PIT	7	@MIN, TEN, @KC
7	12		Nick Chubb	CLE	13	BAL, LV, @GB
8	15	UP	Antonio Gibson	WSH	9	DAL, @PHI, @DAL
9	16		Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	7	@WSH, @NYG, WSH
10	17		James Conner	ARI	12	LAR, @DET, IND
11	18		Elijah Mitchell	SF	6	@CIN, ATL, @TEN
12	19		Cordarrelle Patterson	ATL	6	@CAR, @SF, DET
13	21	UP	David Montgomery	CHI	10	@GB, MIN, @SEA
14	26	DOWN	D'Andre Swift	DET	9	@den, ARI, @ATL
15	27	DOWN	Darrell Henderson Jr.	LAR	11	@ARI, SEA, @MIN
16	31		Aaron Jones	GB	13	CHI, @BAL, CLE
17	33		Miles Sanders	PHI	14	BYE, WSH, NYG
18	40	UP	Javonte Williams	DEN	11	DET, CIN, @LV
19	42	DOWN	Saquon Barkley	NYG	10	@LAC, DAL, @PHI
20	45		Clyde Edwards-Helaire	KC	12	LV, @LAC, PIT
21	50	UP	Josh Jacobs	LV	8	@KC, @CLE, DEN
22	54		Chuba Hubbard	CAR	13	ATL, @BUF, TB
23	55	DOWN	James Robinson	JAX	7	@TEN, HOU, @NYJ
24	58		Dalvin Cook	MIN	7	PIT, @CHI, LAR
25	59		Alexander Mattison	MIN	7	PIT, @CHI, LAR
26	61		Damien Harris	NE	14	BYE, @IND, BUF
27	62	UP	Devonta Freeman	BAL	8	@CLE, GB, @CIN
28	63	UP	Jamaal Williams	DET	9	@den, ARI, @ATL
29	65	DOWN	Kareem Hunt	CLE	13	BAL, LV, @GB
30	66	DOWN	AJ Dillon	GB	13	CHI, @BAL, CLE
31	67		Tony Pollard	DAL	7	@WSH, @NYG, WSH
32	68		Myles Gaskin	MIA	14	BYE, NYJ, @NO
33	69		Mark Ingram II	NO	6	@NYJ, @TB, MIA
34	74	DOWN	Melvin Gordon III	DEN	11	DET, CIN, @LV
35	76		Rhamondre Stevenson	NE	14	BYE, @IND, BUF
36	77	UP	Chase Edmonds	ARI	12	LAR, @DET, IND
37	82		Darrel Williams	KC	12	LV, @LAC, PIT
38	85		Nyheim Hines	IND	14	BYE, NE, @ARI
39	86		Michael Carter	NYJ	6	NO, @MIA, JAX
40	97		Matt Breida	BUF	7	@TB, CAR, @NE
41	99		Devin Singletary	BUF	7	@TB, CAR, @NE
42	100	UP	Sony Michel	LAR	11	@ARI, SEA, @MIN
43	104		D'Onta Foreman	TEN	13	JAX, @PIT, SF
44	105		Dontrell Hilliard	TEN	13	JAX, @PIT, SF
45	109	UP	Adrian Peterson	SEA	9	@HOU, @LAR, CHI
46	110		Devontae Booker	NYG	10	@LAC, DAL, @PHI
47	111	DOWN	J.D. McKissic	WSH	9	DAL, @PHI, @DAL
48	115		Rex Burkhead	HOU	10	SEA, @Jax, LAC
49	116	UP	Carlos Hyde	JAX	7	@TEN, HOU, @NYJ
50	117	UP	Tevin Coleman	NYJ	6	NO, @MIA, JAX
51	118	UP	Kenneth Gainwell	PHI	14	BYE, WSH, NYG
52	120	DOWN	Trey Sermon	SF	6	@CIN, ATL, @TEN
53	121	DOWN	Mike Davis	ATL	6	@CAR, @SF, DET
54	123	UP	Peyton Barber	LV	8	@KC, @CLE, DEN
55	124	DOWN	Boston Scott	PHI	14	BYE, WSH, NYG
56	125	DOWN	Jordan Howard	PHI	14	BYE, WSH, NYG
57	126	DOWN	Latavius Murray	BAL	8	@CLE, GB, @CIN
58	131		D'Ernest Johnson	CLE	13	BAL, LV, @GB
59	132		Zack Moss	BUF	7	@TB, CAR, @NE
60	133		Austin Walter	NYJ	6	NO, @MIA, JAX

​

Top 60 Wide Receivers​

POS. RANK	OVR. RANK		PLAYER	TEAM	BYE	NEXT 3
1	2		Cooper Kupp	LAR	11	@ARI, SEA, @MIN
2	3		Davante Adams	GB	13	CHI, @BAL, CLE
3	4		Tyreek Hill	KC	12	LV, @LAC, PIT
4	5		Justin Jefferson	MIN	7	PIT, @CHI, LAR
5	8		Stefon Diggs	BUF	7	@TB, CAR, @NE
6	13		Diontae Johnson	PIT	7	@MIN, TEN, @KC
7	20		Terry McLaurin	WSH	9	DAL, @PHI, @DAL
8	28		CeeDee Lamb	DAL	7	@WSH, @NYG, WSH
9	29	UP	Keenan Allen	LAC	7	NYG, KC, @HOU
10	30	UP	Chris Godwin	TB	9	BUF, NO, @CAR
11	32		Mike Evans	TB	9	BUF, NO, @CAR
12	36	DOWN	Deebo Samuel	SF	6	@CIN, ATL, @TEN
13	37	UP	Jaylen Waddle	MIA	14	BYE, NYJ, @NO
14	38		Ja'Marr Chase	CIN	10	SF, @den, BAL
15	39		Michael Pittman Jr.	IND	14	BYE, NE, @ARI
16	41	DOWN	Adam Thielen	MIN	7	PIT, @CHI, LAR
17	43		Mike Williams	LAC	7	NYG, KC, @HOU
18	44		Elijah Moore	NYJ	6	NO, @MIA, JAX
19	46	DOWN	DJ Moore	CAR	13	ATL, @BUF, TB
20	51		DK Metcalf	SEA	9	@HOU, @LAR, CHI
21	52		DeAndre Hopkins	ARI	12	LAR, @DET, IND
22	56		Hunter Renfrow	LV	8	@KC, @CLE, DEN
23	57		Tee Higgins	CIN	10	SF, @den, BAL
24	64		Marquise Brown	BAL	8	@CLE, GB, @CIN
25	75		Brandon Aiyuk	SF	6	@CIN, ATL, @TEN
26	78		Jerry Jeudy	DEN	11	DET, CIN, @LV
27	79		A.J. Brown	TEN	13	JAX, @PIT, SF
28	80		DeVonta Smith	PHI	14	BYE, WSH, NYG
29	81		Tyler Lockett	SEA	9	@HOU, @LAR, CHI
30	83		Brandin Cooks	HOU	10	SEA, @Jax, LAC
31	84		Amari Cooper	DAL	7	@WSH, @NYG, WSH
32	87		Tyler Boyd	CIN	10	SF, @den, BAL
33	88		Darnell Mooney	CHI	10	@GB, MIN, @SEA
34	93	UP	Van Jefferson	LAR	11	@ARI, SEA, @MIN
35	94		Odell Beckham Jr.	LAR	11	@ARI, SEA, @MIN
36	96		Chase Claypool	PIT	7	@MIN, TEN, @KC
37	98		Jakobi Meyers	NE	14	BYE, @IND, BUF
38	114		Michael Gallup	DAL	7	@WSH, @NYG, WSH
39	122		Rondale Moore	ARI	12	LAR, @DET, IND
40	127	UP	DeVante Parker	MIA	14	BYE, NYJ, @NO
41	128	UP	Christian Kirk	ARI	12	LAR, @DET, IND
42	130	DOWN	Rashod Bateman	BAL	8	@CLE, GB, @CIN
43	134		Kendrick Bourne	NE	14	BYE, @IND, BUF
44	144		Emmanuel Sanders	BUF	7	@TB, CAR, @NE
45	146		Julio Jones	TEN	13	JAX, @PIT, SF
46	149		Cole Beasley	BUF	7	@TB, CAR, @NE
47	150	UP	Jarvis Landry	CLE	13	BAL, LV, @GB
48	151	UP	Jamison Crowder	NYJ	6	NO, @MIA, JAX
49	152	UP	DeSean Jackson	LV	8	@KC, @CLE, DEN
50	154	UP	K.J. Osborn	MIN	7	PIT, @CHI, LAR
51	155	UP	Russell Gage	ATL	6	@CAR, @SF, DET
52	157	UP	Amon-Ra St. Brown	DET	9	@den, ARI, @ATL
53	158		Randall Cobb	GB	13	CHI, @BAL, CLE
54	159		Kadarius Toney	NYG	10	@LAC, DAL, @PHI
55	160		Josh Reynolds	DET	9	@den, ARI, @ATL
56	161		Laviska Shenault Jr.	JAX	7	@TEN, HOU, @NYJ
57	162		Marvin Jones Jr.	JAX	7	@TEN, HOU, @NYJ
58	164	DOWN	Sterling Shepard	NYG	10	@LAC, DAL, @PHI
59	165		A.J. Green	ARI	12	LAR, @DET, IND
60	167	DOWN	Antonio Brown	TB	9	BUF, NO, @CAR

​

Top 30 Tight Ends​

POS. RANK	OVR. RANK		PLAYER	TEAM	BYE	NEXT 3
1	14		Travis Kelce	KC	12	LV, @LAC, PIT
2	49		George Kittle	SF	6	@CIN, ATL, @TEN
3	53		Mark Andrews	BAL	8	@CLE, GB, @CIN
4	70		Rob Gronkowski	TB	9	BUF, NO, @CAR
5	89		Darren Waller	LV	8	@KC, @CLE, DEN
6	90	UP	Dallas Goedert	PHI	14	BYE, WSH, NYG
7	91		Mike Gesicki	MIA	14	BYE, NYJ, @NO
8	92		T.J. Hockenson	DET	9	@den, ARI, @ATL
9	95	DOWN	Dawson Knox	BUF	7	@TB, CAR, @NE
10	101		Pat Freiermuth	PIT	7	@MIN, TEN, @KC
11	102	DOWN	Zach Ertz	ARI	12	LAR, @DET, IND
12	103		Kyle Pitts	ATL	6	@CAR, @SF, DET
13	112		Noah Fant	DEN	11	DET, CIN, @LV
14	113		Hunter Henry	NE	14	BYE, @IND, BUF
15	119		Tyler Conklin	MIN	7	PIT, @CHI, LAR
16	129		Tyler Higbee	LAR	11	@ARI, SEA, @MIN
17	137		Jack Doyle	IND	14	BYE, NE, @ARI
18	138		Dalton Schultz	DAL	7	@WSH, @NYG, WSH
19	139		David Njoku	CLE	13	BAL, LV, @GB
20	141		Cole Kmet	CHI	10	@GB, MIN, @SEA
21	153		Jonnu Smith	NE	14	BYE, @IND, BUF
22	168		Gerald Everett	SEA	9	@HOU, @LAR, CHI
23	179		Jared Cook	LAC	7	NYG, KC, @HOU
24	NR		Foster Moreau	LV	8	@KC, @CLE, DEN
25	NR		Ricky Seals-Jones	WSH	9	DAL, @PHI, @DAL
26	NR		C.J. Uzomah	CIN	10	SF, @den, BAL
27	NR		Evan Engram	NYG	10	@LAC, DAL, @PHI
28	NR		Juwan Johnson	NO	6	@NYJ, @TB, MIA
29	NR		Austin Hooper	CLE	13	BAL, LV, @GB
30	NR		Cameron Brate	TB	9	BUF, NO, @CAR

​

All 32 Team Defense/Special Teams​

POS. RANK	OVR. RANK		TEAM	BYE	NEXT 3
1	190		Patriots D/ST	14	BYE, @IND, BUF
2	191		Bills D/ST	7	@TB, CAR, @NE
3	192		Buccaneers D/ST	9	BUF, NO, @CAR
4	193		Cardinals D/ST	12	LAR, @DET, IND
5	194		Packers D/ST	13	CHI, @BAL, CLE
6	195		Broncos D/ST	11	DET, CIN, @LV
7	196		Rams D/ST	11	@ARI, SEA, @MIN
8	197		Chiefs D/ST	12	LV, @LAC, PIT
9	198		49ers D/ST	6	@CIN, ATL, @TEN
10	199		Eagles D/ST	14	BYE, WSH, NYG
11	200		Dolphins D/ST	14	BYE, NYJ, @NO
12	NR		Colts D/ST	14	BYE, NE, @ARI
13	NR		Bengals D/ST	10	SF, @den, BAL
14	NR		Titans D/ST	13	JAX, @PIT, SF
15	NR		Cowboys D/ST	7	@WSH, @NYG, WSH
16	NR		Browns D/ST	13	BAL, LV, @GB
17	NR		Bears D/ST	10	@GB, MIN, @SEA
18	NR		Saints D/ST	6	@NYJ, @TB, MIA
19	NR		Ravens D/ST	8	@CLE, GB, @CIN
20	NR		Steelers D/ST	7	@MIN, TEN, @KC
21	NR		Panthers D/ST	13	ATL, @BUF, TB
22	NR		Washington D/ST	9	DAL, @PHI, @DAL
23	NR		Chargers D/ST	7	NYG, KC, @HOU
24	NR		Vikings D/ST	7	PIT, @CHI, LAR
25	NR		Seahawks D/ST	9	@HOU, @LAR, CHI
26	NR		Giants D/ST	10	@LAC, DAL, @PHI
27	NR		Raiders D/ST	8	@KC, @CLE, DEN
28	NR		Lions D/ST	9	@den, ARI, @ATL
29	NR		Texans D/ST	10	SEA, @Jax, LAC
30	NR		Jaguars D/ST	7	@TEN, HOU, @NYJ
31	NR		Falcons D/ST	6	@CAR, @SF, DET
32	NR		Jets D/ST	6	NO, @MIA, JAX