General Fantasy Football Analysis – Page 4

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Injuries, stars and duds from Week 16

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Joe Flacco	368-1	3
Josh Allen	237-15	3
Derek Carr	319-2	3
Justin Fields	170-97	2
Nick Mullens	411-1	2
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Breece Hall	20-95 12-96	2
Jahmyr Gibbs	15-80 4-20	2
James Conner	12-45 5-67	1
Derrick Henry	19-88 1-11	2
Rachaad White	20-39 6-38	1
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Amari Cooper	11-265	2
George Pickens	4-195	2
Puka Nacua	9-164	1
Amon-Ra St. .Brown	12-106	1
D.J. Chark	6-98	2
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Evan Engram	10-95	0
Chigoziem Okonkwo	6-63	1
David Njoku	6-44	1
Juwan Johnson	4-48	1
Cole Kmet	4-107	0
Placekickers	XP	FG
Younghoe Koo	2	5
Jason Sanders	1	5
Cameron Dicker	1	5
Lucas Havrisik	3	3
Greg Zuerlein	3	3
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Atlanta	6-1	0
Tampa Bay	4-3	0
Detroit	4-4	0
Pittsburgh	3-3	0
Houston	3-2	1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

PK Dustin Hopkins – Hamstring
QB Trevor Lawrence – Shoulder
WR Jaylen Waddle – Shin
WR DJ Moore – Leg
WR Dontayvion Wicks – Chest
WR Jordan Addison – Ankle
WR Courtland Sutton – Head
TE T.J. Hockenson – Knee
TE Tucker Kraft –
TE Cole Kmet – Knee

Chasing Ambulances

QB Trevor Lawrence – The Jaguars quarterback was questionable last week, returning from a concussion and ankle injury but was active and did not appear limited. Until he injured his shoulder and missed the rest of the game. He’ll get tests on Monday to determine the extent of the injury but he took himself out of the game because of the pain. He has never missed a game, but will be replaced by C.J. Beathard.

WR Jaylen Waddle – Injured his shin on an end-around against the Cowboys and never returned to the field. He was limping significantly at the time but the diagnosis will happen on Monday. The Fins play at the Ravens this week and need all hands on deck for a game that likely determines the No. 1 seed.

WR DJ Moore – He said that he aggravated the ankle injury from a few weeks ago. He did return to the game and caught three of his six targets for only 18 yards in the win over the Cardinals. He’ll need to be tracked in practice this week to make sure he won’t be limited this week in Philly.

WR Jordan Addison – Injured his ankle when he collided with a teammate after an interception.

TE T.J. Hockenson – Injured his knee when a defender tackled him low. Both Viking receivers will be examined more on Monday to determine the extent of their injuries but HC Kevin O’Connell was asked if any of them were serious and he said, “I believe so.” We’ll see what their status is later in the week but the Vikings can ill afford to lose either.

WR Courtland Sutton – The Broncos star wideout has entered the concussion protocol after a hard hit against the Patriots. He left before he caught a pass and never returned. He’s been their difference-maker this year, so his health will be closely tracked to see if he can play against the Chargers this week.

TE Cole Kmet – He was already in the middle of a career-best game with 107 yards in the first half, when the Bears tight end left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and was downgraded to out. HC Matt Eberflus reported that Kmet’s injury “looks positive.” More news should be known later this week.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Nick Mullens – First start was 303 yards and two scores at the Bengals, then this week he threw for 411 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll be an option next week against the Packers but he also threw four interceptions and both Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson were injured, so make sure of their status before grabbing Mullens for the week.

RB Najee Harris – The usage of Harris has always varied and Jaylen Warren has often been talked up as the better back and more deserving of a primary role. But Week 16 saw Harris with a season-high 19 carries for 78 yards and a score in the win over the Bengals. Warren only carried eight times for 24 yards but added five catches for the second straight week. Both are signed through next year.

WR George Pickens – The Steelers No. 1 wideout has disappointed for the last two months while Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky took turns not throwing the ball well or in the area of Pickens. First week with Mason Rudolph and Pickens responds with a season-best four catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns. He was criticized last week for apparently giving up on plays. Something clicked because his previous meeting with the Bengals was only a month prior and he only managed three catches for 58 yards in it.

QB Josh Allen – The Bills have won their last three games, but Allen threw for just 94 yards and a score against the Cowboys, then 237 yards and one score versus the Chargers and their paper doll defense. He runs in a score weekly, but the offense is changing in Buffalo – just ask the player formerly known as Stefon Diggs.

TE Kyle Pitts – He’s been a shell of what he was as a rookie, but he is turning in around 50 yards per week and scored in two of the last three games. The Falcons may undergo change in the offseason that will impact Pitts, but he is improving just enough to end the season on a higher note.

RB Aaron Jones – He’s signed through next year when he turns 30, so it is notable that he’s finally healthy this season and just ran for a season-best 127 yards on 21 carries. He’s not done much as a receiver with Jordan Love, but he just had far more carries than his other 2023 games.

QB Bryce Young – His rookie season hasn’t been impressive and he’s been compared to C.J. Stroud in an unflattering light this year. But, he’s just thrown his first 300-yard game with 312 yards and two scores in the close loss to the Packers. D.J. Chark (6-98, 2 TD) and Adam Thielen (6-94) both were fantasy-relevant this week.

WR Amari Cooper – He just set a personal record with 265 yards on 11 catches with two scores versus the Texans. Not sure what is more impressive – that monster game or the fact that 16 other players have gained even more in a game. Six had 300 yards, and I do remember when Flipper Anderson set the record with 15 receptions for 336 yards in 1989 against the Saints in overtime.

Huddle player of the week

Breece Hall – He’s suffered behind a terrible offensive line that has worsened. And he plays with the worst passing offense in the NFL. So he’s more than remarkable this week with 20 carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns, plus 12 catches for 96 yards in the win over the Commanders.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Joe Flacco	368	3	QB	Trevor Lawrence	211-29	1
RB	Chris Rodriguez	10-58 1-7	2	RB	De’Von Achane	7-24 1-7	0
RB	Khalil Herbert	20-112 1-9	1	RB	Tony Pollard	12-38 1-5	0
WR	D.J. Chark	6-98	2	WR	Jordan Addison	1-2	0
WR	K.J. Osborn	5-95	1	WR	DJ Moore	3-18	0
WR	Demarcus Robinson	6-82	1	WR	DeAndre Hopkins	2-20	0
TE	C. Okonkwo	6-63	1	TE	Sam LaPorta	3-18	0
PK	Younghoe Koo	2 XP 5 FG		PK	Brandon McManus	0 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 177				Huddle Fantasy Points = 38

Now get back to work…

Six points with David Dorey (2024 RB free agent edition)

Looking at the 2024 free agent running backs

Week 16 means most fantasy team owners are out of the playoffs. But the NFL is still on and there are notable changes coming down the road worth thinking about because players changing teams is where a significant amount of fantasy value lies – there’s no way to know just how a player will produce on a new team and the inclination is to undervalue them.

The 2023 draft class proved to be a disappointment. Bijan Robinson has not been the next generational running back, he hasn’t even been the primary back for his own team in some weeks. Jahmyr Gibbs is the No. 9 fantasy back so far, and has been marginally better than Robinson. De’Von Achane had a few monster games but has been mostly injured. Otherwise, not a lot so far from the class of 2023.

Let’s take a quick look at the pending free agents running backs when the NFL’s 2024 season starts on Wednesday, March 13 at 4 p.m. ET. Some will be signed by their own teams, but most likely head on to new teams. Here are my Top-6 running back free agents. A number of these players were top free agents last year. Many teams are not wanting to commit to any back for more than a year.

1.) Saquon Barkley (NYG, Age 27) – The Giants only signed him for last year, so the process starts all over. Barkley is the face of the franchise and the only reliably productive part of the offense, They’ll do what they can to re-sign him though it probably won’t be more than a two-year deal. Barkley had a great 2023 showing but is only the No. 17 running back this year having missed three games. The fantasy world would love to see him elsewhere, but he’s at least a 50/50 to resign. He’ll never win the Super Bowl there, but he does get to play in an offense designed around him.

2.) Josh Jacobs (LV, Age 26) – The NFL’s best running back in 2022 re-signed with the soon-to-implode Raiders and is only the current No. 14 running back. The Raiders will be going through a purge in the offseason when they hire a new head coach and start the rebuild. Jacobs is no lock to stay around for that. His production is up since Josh McDaniels was fired and he’ll attract attention. He can probably help a new team more than any other free agent running back, if they are willing to sign him to at least a two-year contract.

3.) Derrick Henry (TEN, Age 30) – The Titan’s star becomes a free agent right after what will be his worst season. He’s only averaging 3.8 yards per carry and if he breaks 1,000 rushing yards for the fifth time, it will be thanks to playing a 17-game season. Henry has defied limitations that faced other backs who had a similar workhorse role but he finally broke down in 2021, bounced back nicely, but now has a down year. He’ll end up elsewhere and could fit in nicely for another team looking for the Thunder to match with a Lightning. He’ll drop in fantasy drafts no matter what happens this year, but can still offer a valuable role.

4.) Tony Pollard (DAL, Age 27) – Maybe there is a difference between being the No. 2 guy behind a back that attracts all the attention (Ezekiel Elliott), and being the only running back that a defense focuses on. Pollard dropped to only 4.1 yards per carry and the Cowboys’ backfield has taken a big step backward. Pollard signed a $10 million contract for this year and is the current No. 12 fantasy running back. He hasn’t had the look of a No. 1 running back and the Cowboys won’t be willing to pay as much for him now that his impact fell once he became the primary back. At best, Pollard remains in Dallas and they bring in another back to beef up the backfield.

5.) Austin Ekeler (LAC, Age 29) – Yet another back from 2023 who held out for a contract extension and was a big part of the Great RB Revolt of last summer that didn’t change anything. His problem is that he was a nightmare for defenses in 2021 and 2022, but his performance and usage has dropped off significantly in 2023. His current 3.6 yard average is a career-lowest by far, but in fairness the team around him has also been a disappointment. He still has value and can fit into any backfield, but his age and 2023 performance will work against him.

6.) Devin Singletary (BUF, Age 26) – He left the Bills to become the backup for Dameon Pierce in Houston. Singletary only signed a one-year contract worth $2.75 million and has taken over as the primary back since mid-season. He’s rushed for over 100 yards three times. He may end up re-signing with the Texans but he could go elsewhere by ending on a high note. He still has plenty in the tank and was never over-used in Buffalo in their pass-happy offense.

Other 2023 free agent running backs: Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, Gus Edwards, Ezekiel Elliott, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, D’Andre Swift, D’Onta Foreman.

About Last Night…

Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans 22, Los Angeles Rams 30

The Saints scored two touchdowns in the final six minutes to make this look closer than it was. The Rams already led 27-7 entering the fourth quarter and their offense gashed the Saints with both the pass and run. David Carr threw 40 passes out of need, and the Saints run game was nearly non-existent.

Derek Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns between Rashid Shaheed (5-70, TD), Juwan Johnson (4-48, TD), and A.T. Perry (1-35, TD). Chris Olave (9-123) was the star though he failed to score. Alvin Kamara rushed for only 19 yards on nine carries but added five catches for 16 yards.

Matt Stafford threw for 328 yards and two scores between Puka Nacua (9-164, TD) and Demarcus Robinson (6-82, TD). Cooper Kupp led the offense with 12 targets but ended with only six receptions for 52 yards. Kyren Williams rumbled for 104 yards and a score on his 22 runs, Almost anything the Rams tried worked, though they have to settled for three field goals or the score would have been very lopsided.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Jared Goff	278-0	5
Baker Mayfield	381-(-2)	4
Aiden O’Connell	248-0	4
Brock Purdy	242-0	4
Easton Stick	257-11	3
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Christian McCaffrey	18-115 5-72	3
James Cook	25-179 2-42	2
Kyren Williams	27-152 5-3	1
Jahmyr Gibbs	11-100 2-8	2
Ty Chandler	23-132 3-25	1
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Jordan Addison	6-111	2
Jaylen Waddle	8-142	1
Terry McLaurin	6-141	1
Chris Godwin	10-155	0
Cooper Kupp	8-111	1
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Sam LaPorta	5-56	3
David Njoku	10-104	1
Trey McBride	10-102	0
Hunter Henry	7-66	1
Isaiah Likely	5-70	1
Placekickers	XP	FG
Ka’imi Fairbairn	1	4
Matt Prater	2	3
Matt Gay	3	3
Jason Sanders	3	3
Harrison Butker	3	2
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Dolphins	6-4	0
Raiders	3-5	1
Bears	4-3	1
Saints	7-0	0
Titans	4-1	1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Will Levis – Leg
QB Zach Wilson – Head
RB Zack Moss – Arm
RB Keaton Mitchell – Knee
RB Jonathan Williams – Concussion
WR Zay Jones – Leg
WR Michael Pittman – Concussion
WR Ja’Marr Chase – Shoulder
WR Jayden Reed – Toe
TE Hunter Henry – Leg
K Randy Bullock – Hamstring

Chasing Ambulances

QB Will Levis – Injured his ankle but said afterward that he is alright and that the injury “could’ve been a lot worse and it was definitely scarier in the moment than it was.” He carries minimal fantasy value anyway, but had kept DeAndre Hopkins relevant.

QB Zach Wilson – Received a concussion in the shutout loss to the Dolphins. He was replaced by Trevor Siemian who would take the start this week against the visiting Commanders, the NFL version of Santa Claus coming down the chimney. Siemian was even worse than Wilson when he came into the loss to the Fins, but he may have some value against the worst defense in the NFL.

RB Zack Moss – Left the win over the Steelers with another arm injury and X-Rays were negative at the stadium. He was ruled out when he couldn’t grip the ball well. He was replaced by a tag team of Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson which could repeat this week if Moss remains out. But, Jonathan Taylor may return this week.

WR Michael Pittman – Left the game in the second quarter when he got a concussion after getting blasted on a tackle. He may end up missing this week, and if so they will cobble together the tight ends and other wideouts to replace his production.

RB Keaton Mitchell – Broke into the open and then crumpled almost untouched in the win over the Jaguars. He is already reported to be gone for the season with a serious knee injury. Gus Edwards and Justice Hill will take over his production, but be much slower about it.

WR Zay Jones – Already missed time with a knee injury this year, and now suffered a hamstring strain in the loss to the Ravens. Jamal Agnew will help cover for him if needed, but the Jaguars are running out of wideouts with Christian Kirk already gone.

WR Ja’Marr Chase – Injured the AC joint in his shoulder and is considered “day to day.’ HC Zac Taylor said his availability for the Steelers game will be determined later in the week.

WR Jayden Reed – Left the loss to the Buccaneers with a toe injury and will have a status update later in the week.

TE Hunter Henry – Injured his knee in the loss to the Chiefs at the start of the fourth quarter and did not return. His status will be updated by Wednesday.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Dart Throw – For some leagues, Week 15 is the playoffs and even the league championship for large contests. And the Top-8 fantasy quarterbacks for when you need them the most – Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, Joe Flacco, Aidan O’Connell, Brock Purdy, Easton Stick, Jake Browning, and Nick Mullens. Basically, all names on your waiver wire in Week 1. Maybe even a week or two ago for most of them. That’s disappointing after the top quarterbacks have been so good all year… until now.

WR Justin Jefferson – He made it all the way through the game without injury. Jefferson led the Vikings with ten targets that became seven catches for 84 yards. That, in turn, helped Jordan Addison (6-111, 2 TD) succeed against lesser coverage. Nick Mullens (303 yards, 2 TD) looks like he’ll stick for now.

RB Bijan Robinson – One of the biggest questions that will come out of 2023 is why did the Falcons have such uneven usage of a supposed generational talent? Robinson faced one of the weakest defenses in the NFL – Carolina – and was limited to only seven rushes for 11 yards while Tyler Allgeier handled 14 rushes for 45 yards. Robinson is already the leading rusher for the Falcons. Seven carries! They already drafted a generational talent in Kyle Pitts and then don’t use him. Now they have Robinson and do not use him. If they use a first-round pick on a quarterback, should we assume up front that he won’t get to play?

QB Joe Flacco – The Browns’ latest quarterback just threw for 374 yards and two scored on the Bears. He passed for 311 yards and three scores in Week 14. He’s only played three games and already has the two highest-producing games for Cleveland.

RB Raheem Mostert – He’s 31 years old and has already topped his career marks in carries, yards and scores. This week versus the Jets, he ran for 42 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. That a Miami team record with 20 touchdowns on the season, with three games left to play. Does he age in reverse? He’s playing out his ninth NFL season with more touchdowns than he’s scored in all other years combined.

RB James Conner – The Cardinals’ primary rusher ran for 105 yards and two scores at the Steelers in Week 13 and then went in his bye. He returned to face the 49ers on Sunday and reeled off 86 yards and a score on 14 rushes, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. And mostly on fantasy benches across the land.

QB Josh Allen – The Bills beat the Cowboys 31-10 in a laugher and Josh Allen spoke about his newfound wisdom after the game, suggesting that it is okay that he didn’t have to take the team on his back and do everything for the offense. He can allow James Cook to score twice with 227 total yards. Allen only passed for 94 yards and a touchdown but did run in one score. And that is not okay, at least not without warning during fantasy playoffs.

TE Isaiah Likely – Mark Andrews was lost after Week 12 and the Ravens No. 2 tight end stepped up these last two weeks with five catches for around 75 yards and a touchdown in each. That was more yardage than Andrews had in all but two games this year.

TE Sam LaPorta – The rookie just caught three touchdowns on his five catches for 56 yards in the win over the Broncos. That gives him an NFL tight end lead with nine touchdowns – no other in the position has scored more than six. Ironically, the Lions old tight end T.J. Hockenson is the No. 1 and Travis Kelce is No. 2. And LaPorta is No. 3 and just ten fantasy points away from being the No. 1 – as a rookie.

Huddle player of the week

James Cook – He already had improved in the second half of the season and against the previously feared Cowboys defense, Cook turned in a career-best performance with 179 yards and a score on 25 carries, plus caught two passes for 42 yards and a second touchdown. Cook demolished the Cowboys almost single-handedly.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Baker Mayfield	381-(-2)	4	QB	Dak Prescott	134-27	0
RB	Ty Chandler	23-132 3-25	1	RB	Breece Hall	6-12 1-2	0
RB	Devin Singletary	26-121 4-49	0	RB	Bijan Robinson	7-11 1-3	0
WR	Terry McLaurin	6-141	1	WR	Brandin Cooks	2-10	0
WR	Jordan Addison	6-111	2	WR	DeAndre Hopkins	2-21	0
WR	Tre Tucker	3-59	2	WR	Garrett Wilson	3-29	0
TE	David Njoku	10-104	1	TE	Taysom Hill	1-4	0
PK	Ka’imi Fairbairn	1 XP 4 FG		PK	Younghoe Koo	1 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 202				Huddle Fantasy Points = 26

Now get back to work…

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

Week 15 means many are in their fantasy playoffs, big-dollar contests are deciding league winners and kicking off the total-points stretch for the next three weeks. We saw a lot of injuries in the last two weeks, particularly to quarterbacks. Unfortunately, most fantasy teams are just watching by now but there’s always things to learn that can help next season.

Here’s a popular look at meaningful statistics that aren’t usually considered.

1.) Wide Receiver yards per catch – How many yards do each catch average? Here are the Top-20 deep-ball receivers for 2022 with a minimum of 30 catches.

For the last two seasons, there were only seven wideouts with more than 15.0 yards per catch – there are 15 this year. The top receivers in yards per catch represent most of the top players in the position. The increased use of slot receivers tends to bring down their average yardage, but the long ball is alive and well. The bigger surprises are Mike Evans, Odell Beckham, and DeAndre Hopkins who don’t immediately come to mind thinking of players catching deep passes.

2.) Quarterback passes per touchdown – This metric is the ultimate in measuring quarterback effectiveness. What is more telling than how many passes have to be thrown to get a touchdown? Minimum of ten touchdowns.

How impressive is Brock Purdy? Russell Wilson is another surprise since he struggled when landing in Denver. Tua Tagovailoa has been Top-5 the last two years, thanks surely to Tyreek Hill. It is telling for the problems with the Chiefs when Patrick Mahomes rates No. 9, but last year he was No. 1 with 15.5. More passing, fewer scores.

3.) Running Back plays per game – Today’s NFL uses running backs as both rushers and receivers, but it is a little more accurate to count up their carries and targets, since that represents how often teams consider the running back for a play. Snaps are a fairly new metric, though only describes how often a players was on the field rather than actually doing anything fantasy-relevant. Minimum 100 plays.

One of the realities is that this list changes dramatically each year, though there are usually six or seven with 20+ plays per game. Barkley, McCaffrey, and Jacobs are the only backs that repeated a 20-play level from 2022. The biggest falls from 2022 to this year were Dameon Pierce, Jonathan Taylor, and Dalvin Cook – all previous Top-10 backs in the metric.

4.) Tight Ends yards per catch – Maybe you don’t get any fantasy points for “Catch distance”, but it’s a good measure of how much a tight end is really a designed receiver than a blocker. Minimum 25 catches.

The position declines a bit each year as offenses evolve into deeper passing and wider formations. The deeper the catch, the more in indicates that the tight end is being used more as a receiver than just a blocker who occasionally catches a pass. It is encouraging that Kyle Pitts is No. 2 and he was No. 5 last year with a nearly identical average catch. But this too changes – the Top-3 last year were Hunter Henry, Jordan Akins, and Greg Dulcich.

5.) Place Kicker field goal success rate – The reality for kickers is that they are an expression of how often an offense is good enough to get within the opponent’s 40-yard line and yet bad enough that they didn’t score a touchdown. But when that happens, you want a guy that is going to toss three points on the scoreboard.

Good to see newcomer Brandon Aubrey nailing every single attempt, alone with Harrison Butker who had a down year in 2022. He’s better this year, but kicking far fewer field goals.

6.) Defensive “big plays” – There is a wide variation in what fantasy points are awarded for defenses from league to league, but everyone rewards sacks, fumble recoveries, interceptions, and safeties. They reward touchdowns as well, but those come on a fumble or interception. This looks at how many plays NFL defenses have in those categories.

It is always surprising to see how defenses shift from year to year. They are reactive units and, as such, are left to deal with whatever their offense did or did not do. Opponents have to throw the ball in order to get sacks and interceptions. But the upper tier of defenses not only have that advantageous situation, but have the players to make the difference. The top defenses are very well represented among the playoff-bound teams.

About Last Night…

Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

That was not a resume builder for any of the Chargers, much less HC Brandon Staley, who is still the head coach as of this writing. Maybe not tomorrow. It was one touchdown away from repeating the Miami win over the Broncos. 63-21 is just not a score that happens much in a professional game. By halftime, it was getting hard to watch unless you had fantasy players not named Austin Ekeler in it.

These were the same Raiders that lost last week 3-0. That had only totaled 46 points in the previous four games before posting 42 by halftime.

The Chargers have clearly given up. HC Brandon Staley has lost the team and while they played without Keenan Allen, they weren’t remotely competitive. By halftime, Easton Stick only totaled 75 passing yards. He ended with 257 yards and three scores but never changed the scoreboard until they were down 49-0. Joshua Palmer (4-113, TD) and Gerald Everett (5-41) led the receivers, but 79 yards came on a touchdown catch by Palmer. Austin Ekeler only gained nine yards on five carries and caught four passes for 29 yards, but Isaiah Spiller gained 50 yards on 16 runs and handled most of the work after the first quarter.

Aiden O’Connell passed for 248 yards and four touchdowns. That was as many touchdowns as he had over his first six games combined – and never more than one in a week. It was more of an indictment of the Chargers’ lack of a secondary than any positive advancement of the Raiders offense that was shut out last week. Davante Adams (8-101, TD), Tre Tucker (3-59, 2 TD), Mike Mayer (4-39, TD), and Jakobe Meyers (2-32, TD) all scored, plus Meyers threw the touchdown to Adams. Zamir White ran for 69 yards and a score on 17 carries, while Brandon Bolden (2-25, TD) had his first touches of the year.

It was an embarrassing beatdown from a team that could never score last week.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Lamar Jackson	316-70	3
Desmond Ridder	347-15	2
Jake Browning	275-7	3
Justin Fields	223-58	2
Joe Flacco	311-(-1)	3
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Ezekiel Elliott	22-68 7-72	1
Breece Hall	10-40 8-86	1
James Cook	10-58 5-83	1
Rachaad White	25-102 2-33	1
Joe Mixon	21-79 3-46	1
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Deebo Samuel	7-149	2
Drake London	10-172	0
D.J. Moore	6-68 3-20	2
Cooper Kupp	8-115	1
Rashee Rice	7-72	1
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Evan Engram	11-95	2
David Njoku	6-91	2
Isaiah Likely	5-83	1
Hunter Henry	3-40	2
George Kittle	3-76	1
Placekickers	XP	FG
Greg Zuerlein	3	3
Justin Tucker	2	3
Lucan Havrisik	2	3
Evan McPherson	4	2
Brandon Aubrey	3	4
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Vikings	4-3	0
Saints	4-2	1
Broncos	6-2	0
Browns	4-4	0
Bears	4-3	0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB C.J. Stroud – Head
QB Justin Herbert – Finger
QB Jake Browning – Cramps
RB Josh Jacobs – Knee
RB Alexander Mattison
WR Mack Hollins – Ankle
WR Devin Duvernay – Back
WR Nico Collins – Calf
WR Tutu Atwell – Concussion
WR Justin Jefferson – Chest

Chasing Ambulances

QB C.J. Stroud – Landed on his back and his head whipped back to the turf for a concussion. In the protocol now and Davis Mills will fill in this week in Tennessee if needed. The Texans have gone through a rash of injuries and Stroud is the one piece they cannot lose.

QB Justin Herbert – Fractured the index finger on his throwing hand and that may be season ending with just one month left to play in a year already gone bad. Easton Stick is the next man up. This week is a trip to face the Raiders and looks like another low-scoring affair there.

RB Josh Jacobs – He injured his knee early in the game but continued to play through it until finally giving up with six minutes left because of the pain. Speculation is that he hyperextended his knee and likely damaged ligaments and if so, he will not play on Thursday at the least. Zamir White would replace him versus the Chargers.

RB Alexander Mattison – Left the win over the Raiders with an ankle sprain which HC Kevin O’Connell later confirmed. His status for the Saturday matchup in Cincinnati will be determined after tests on Monday. Ty Chandler will take the start if needed.

WR Nico Collins – Injured his calf on the first series and was ruled out during halftime. Tank Dell was already lost for the season, so if Collins misses games he’ll be replaced by the group of Noah Brown, Robert Woods, and John Metchie, though C.J. Stroud’s status is uncertain this week as well.

WR Justin Jefferson – He suffered a chest injury in the second quarter and was forced to the sideline. He was later sent to a nearby hospital. His prognosis and status should be known on Monday but the Vikes play on Saturday in the early game at the Bengals. The No. 1 pick in nearly every fantasy draft is yet another instance where the best player for a season cannot replicate their success.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Desmond Ridder (ATL) – Turned in a season-high 347 yards and a score on the visiting Buccaneers that included Drake London’s ten-catch, 172-yard performance for a career-best. Granted – the Buccaneers secondary is one of the worst. But Ridder threw three completions for 57 yards and a score to Kyle Pitts.

QB Jake Browning (CIN) – He left the win over the Colts with what were described as “hand cramps” but returned to the game and ended with 275 yards and two touchdowns, plus ran in a touchdown. He may be no Joe Burrow, but he looks like a guy who needs to be more than an unseen backup.

QB Trevor Lawrence (JAC) – When he was awkwardly bent backward over his ankle last week, it looked like the season was over. But Robo-QB showed few signs of the injury and was one of the best quarterbacks for Week 14 with 257 yards and three touchdowns – though he had three interceptions.

WR Parker Washington (JAC) – The rookie replacement for Christian Kirk only managed two catches for 27 yards, but he’s started his career with a touchdown in his first two games.

RB Chase Brown (CIN) – He only ran for 25 yards on eight carries, but Brown led the Bengals’ receivers with three catches for 80 yards that included a 54-yard touchdown catch. The Bengals still ran Joe Mixon 21 times for 79 yards and a score, but Brown has looked sharp for the last two weeks. The Bengals have a potential out in Mixon’s contract next year and Brown can promote more confidence in him for the final month of the season.

RB Keaton Mitchell (BAL) – He ran for 54 yards on nine carries in the win over the Rams but the Ravens still used Gus Edwards for six rushes for 15 yards. They speak about getting Mitchell more involved and he’s impressed when given the chance. Apparently, getting him more involved is a slow process.

QB Joe Flacco (CLE) -After posting 254 yards and two scores on the Rams, the Browns waited until late in the week before naming him as the starter versus the Jaguars. Flacco ended with 311 yards and three scores for the first 300-yard game by any Browns’ quarterback this year. He was named the starter the rest of the season before he reached the locker room.

TE Isaiah Likely (BAL) – He took over for Mark Andrews for the last two games and only managed four catches for 40 yards at the Chargers in Week 12 before their bye. Versus the Rams, Likely caught five passes for 83 yards and a touchdown – very Anderson-ish.

Huddle player of the week

Evan Engram – Engram has been involved weekly for four or five catches, but now has two straight weeks as the primary receiver with at least nine catches and a touchdown in each. Engram faced the Browns who had the No. 1 defense against tight ends and caught 11 passes for 95 yards and two scores yesterday. That’s catching fire right when we need it most.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Desmond Ridder	347-15	2	QB	C.J. Stroud	91	0
RB	Chase Brown	8-25 3-80	1	RB	Josh Jacobs	13-34 2-16	0
RB	Jerick McKinnon	4-19 3-18	1	RB	Zack Moss	13-28 4-28	0
WR	Demarcus Robinson	3-46	1	WR	Mike Evans	1-8	0
WR	Josh Reynolds	3-44	1	WR	Nico Collins	1-13	0
WR	Quentin Johnston	3-91	0	WR	A. St. Brown	3-21	0
TE	Evan Engram	11-95	2	TE	Sam LaPorta	2-23	0
PK	Greg Zuerlein	3 XP 3 FG		PK	Cameron Dicker	1 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 154				Huddle Fantasy Points = 32

Now get back to work…

Six points with David Dorey

Looking at the Top-6 rookies for fantasy drafts next year

The NFL season has turned the corner and is starting the final stretch. Not a lot of transition in-depth charts other than quarterbacks who have seen one of their worst seasons. We haven’t lost many of the elite quarterbacks, but Joe Burrow and Kirk Cousins sent fantasy owners scrambling. Some fantasy teams have fallen from their playoff races due to injuries, unforeseen circumstances, and bad luck. At least, that’s what we tell ourselves. It’s probably right.

So, let’s take a very early look at Top -6 fantasy rookies that you will be overspending on soon enough. The rookies will change positions in the rankings after their bowl season is over and the NFL combine has taken place. And mostly after being over-analyzed and overhyped. But the 2023 season has quietly been a banner year for rookies.

It is a rarity that rookie quarterbacks or tight ends have any fantasy value. This year, both positions contain a Top-5 player that is a rookie. The first two running backs taken are currently Top-15 fantasy backs. Wideouts were supposedly a weaker class, and yet there are currently eight in the Top-50 and four in the Top-20. Youth be served, indeed.

Here’s my current Top-6 rookies-to-be and where you can see them play. Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. are locks to be the first taken in their position. Running backs are expected to wait until Round 2, so none are obvious first-rounders. The Texas running back was in the lead to be drafted first but tore his ACL on November 11.

1.) WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (6-3, 205 lbs., 4.39/40, Ohio State)
If you’ve played fantasy football for more than 15 years, you’ll grab Harrison from name and genetic advantages alone. He is the consensus best college wideout in the nation and gained over 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns for both of the last two seasons as a Buckeye. He’s tall and yet fast, explosive and strong. His size-speed combination is elite and gives him all the advantages of being fast with a huge catch radius. He’s a first-rounder and hopefully ends up with a team that has a veteran quarterback with the talent to optimize what Harrison can be. Bowl Game: December 29, Cotton Bowl Ohio State vs. Missouri

2.) WR Malik Nabers (6-0, 200 lbs., 4.4/40 LSU)
The junior Tiger followed up his promising sophomore year by catching 86 passes for 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is a bit shorter than the prototypical wideout but is thick and capable of breaking tackles. He’s been at his best in the slot where he can find the open areas and help out his quarterback as a trusted outlet. But he brings natural skills and big-play ability and comes from that NFL-wideout factory at LSU. His teammate Brian Thomas Jr. will also be a first-round pick. Bowl Game: January 1 ReliaQuest Bowl LSU vs. Wisconsin

3.) RB Trey Benson (6-0, 221 lbs. 4.5/40, Florida State )
The fourth-year junior spent the last two years as a Gator with around 150 carries and 950 yards in both seasons and up to 15 touchdowns just last year. He offers a powerful frame with quick feet and explosive burst that can excel in both inside and outside rushing. He’s fast enough to get through small creases and hard to bring down with a solo tackle. He’s been a capable receiver and caught 20 passes for 227 yards last year. Benson projects as a No. 1 running back in the NFL that can play any needed role. Bowl Game: December 30, Orange Bowl Florida State vs. Georgia

4.) QB Caleb Williams (6-1, 220 lbs., 4.59/40 USC)
Rookie quarterbacks rarely have fantasy “start-ability” in their first season but then again – C.J. Stroud. After a year at Oklahoma, he transferred to USC for the last two seasons as one of the top passers in the NCAA. Over his two seasons, he threw for a total of 72 touchdowns and rushed for 21 more. He’s not a running quarterback but very mobile for a pocket passer. He was prolific with up to 500 passes thrown in a season and peaked at 4,537 yards in 14 games as a sophomore. He’s likened to Josh Allen and excels in the RPO game. He’s elusive and most dangerous when a play breaks down. He’s expected to be the 1.01 pick and will enter the NFL with high expectations. Williams will not be playing in the USC bowl game vs. Louisville.

5.) RB Blake Corum (5-7, 210 lbs., 4.38/40 Michigan)
The four-year back for the Wolverines has been the centerpiece of their offense and ran for 1,436 yards and scored 19 times but tore his meniscus in December and had surgery. He returned as a senior and ran for 1,028 yards and 24 touchdowns. He totaled 57 scores in his college career. He’s a hard-working compact back with the burst and speed to score on any play and can still play inside with his one-cut ability. Good at finding the lanes and exploiting empty space. He has potential as a receiver and can be a primary back. Playing on the No. 1 ranked team doesn’t hurt his stock. Bowl Game: January 1, Rose Bowl Michigan vs. Alabama

6.) WR Rome Odunze (6-3, 201 lbs., 4.34/40 Washington)
The four-year Husky is a fourth-year junior that’s ready for the NFL after posting 81 catches for 1,428 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. It was his second season with high production. He makes great use of his frame to to defeat cornerbacks and makes contested catches. Considered an advanced route runner, he’s accomplished making sideline catches and has the ability to gain separation and then use his wide catch radius. He’s expected to be a first-rounder. He’s the central receiver for No. 2 Washington. Bowl Game: January 1, Washington vs. Texas

About Last Night…

Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

New England 21, Pittsburgh 18

So not a lot of points, but more than we expected.

The Patriots shocked the world, and probably themselves, when they posted 21 points over the first 20 minutes of the game. They never scored again, of course, but after being shut out last week (for the second time), any touchdown was a treat and three of them had to make for a giddy halftime.

Bailey Zappe passed for 240 yards and three touchdowns for a rarity with the Patriots. Hunter Henry (3-40, 2 TD) turned in his best fantasy game of the season, while JuJu Smith-Schuster (4-90) was the last man standing with DeVante Parker out, and he got to help beat his old team. Ezekiel Elliott delivered the fantasy points to owners who had waited all year for what just happened. He rushed for 68 yards on 22 carries, and led the Patriots with seven catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.

The Steelers had to switch to Mitchell Trubisky and the results were not encouraging. He only passed for 190 yards and one score to Diontae Johnson (3-57). George Pickens was limited to just 19 yards on five receptions, and Najee Harris only gained 29 yards on 12 rushes and caught three passes for 19 yards. Jaylen Warren was much better, gaining 11 yards on seven carries and catching four passes for 29 yards.

The game ended the Pats’ five-game losing streak and provided a much-needed reprieve. The Steelers have reason to be considered. The failure to generate any real passing or rushing production will be a bigger problem with three road games on the horizon.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Geno Smith	334-6	4
Brock Purdy	314-9	4
Dak Prescott	299-23	3
Jalen Hurts	298-20	2
Matthew Stafford	279-(-2)	3
Running Backs	Rush Receive	TD
Alvin Kamara	14-51 6-58	2
De’Von Achane	17-73 3-30	2
Derrick Henry	21-102 1-18	2
James Conner	25-105	2
Chuba Hubbard	2-104	2
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
DK Metcalf	6-134	3
Deebo Samuel	3-22 4-116	3
Nico Collins	9-191	1
CeeDee Lamb	2-30 12-116	1
Tyreek Hill	5-157	2
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Sam LaPorta	9-140	1
Trey McBride	8-89	1
Jake Ferguson	6-77	1
Harrison Bryant	5-49	1
Taysom Hill	13-59 2-15	1
Placekickers	XP	FG
Brandon Aubrey	3	4
Matt Gay	1	4
Lucas Havrisik	4	2
Jason Sanders	6	1
Matt Ammendola	1	3
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Chargers	5-1	0
Colts	6-2	1
Dolphins	3-1	1
Falcons	4-3	0
Texans	3-3	0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Kenny Pickett – Ankle
QB Derek Carr – Concussion “plus”
WR Tank Dell – Fractured fibula
WR Marquise Brown – Heel
WR Amari Cooper – Head
WR Christian Watson – Hamstring
RB Derrick Henry – Head
RB Emari Demarco – neck
RB Rhamondre Stevenson – Ankle
RB Brian Robinson – Hamstring
TE Tyler Higbee – Concussion

Chasing Ambulances

QB Kenny Pickett – He injured his right ankle that will need a surgical procedure to fix. He is expected to miss at least a few weeks and Mitch Trubisky will replace him for this Thursday’s game against the Patriots.

QB Derek Carr – For the third time this year, Carr left the game injured. This time he was blasted when he threw the ball and suffered a concussion while also injuring his shoulder and back. The Lions Bruce Irvin was penalized for roughing the passer and Carr was carted from the field. Carr just had a concussion three weeks ago, so this a serious situation. Jameis Winston will take over until Carr returns.

WR Tank Dell – The Texans phenom fractured his fibula and will miss the rest of the season. It is a sad ending for a season that has been so bright but he should return in 2024 with no lasting problems. Noah Brown just returned after missing two games with a calf injury and should be the replacement. Brown posted two 150-yard performances in Weeks 9 and 10, so he’s already seen success in the offense. He’ll need to step up into a starting role.

WR Marquise Brown – He was already questionable heading into the game with a heel injury, and reaggravated it during the win over the Steelers. If he cannot go when they return from their Week 13 bye, Rondale Moore and Greg Dortch would share the workload.

WR Amari Cooper – He was already battling a rib injury heading into the game and was crushed by two defenders while trying to catch a pass. He is reported to have a concussion. He was already meshing well with Joe Flacco when he was hurt. There is no true replacement for Cooper who is clearly the best receiver on the team. Elijah Moore would see an uptick if Cooper remains out and he led the team with four catches for 83 yards.

WR Christian Watson – He had already scored twice on the Chiefs, but at the end of the game he went down clutching at his leg with an apparent hamstring injury. He missed three games to start the season with a hamstring issue as well, so another one is concerning. Dontayvion Wicks would become a starter if Watson remains out, but his production would be replaced by Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed.

RB Derrick Henry – Suffered a head injury expected to be a concussion. Henry has been very durable considering his career workload but hasn’t missed time with a concussion. Tyjae Spears will replace him in Miami this week if he remains out.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson – The Pats’ running back suffered an ankle injury and while his X-rays were negative, the early speculation is that he may miss multiple games. An MRI will determine the severity of the sprain but it’s highly unlikely that Stevenson plays on Thursday night at the Steelers. Ezekiel Elliott entered Week 13 with a thigh injury but was active and stepped up once Stevenson left near the end of the first quarter. Elliott handled 17 carries for 52 yards and caught a team-high four passes for 40 yards.

RB Brian Robinson – The Commanders’ back was running well against the Dolphins, gaining 53 yards on seven attempts but injured his hamstring and did not return. There was no immediate speculation as to the severity of the injury or if he would miss any games. Antonio Gibson would see the bigger boost in carries and catches, and Chris Rodriguez would also bump up to being the No. 2 back if Robinson misses any time, but the Commanders enter their bye and that gives Robinson more time to heal.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

Where did all the passes go? – It’s that time of the season when passing starts to decline. There were six teams on bye this week, but it is still notable that there were only two passers that topped 300 yards – Geno Smith (334 yards) and Brock Purdy (314 yards). Bet you didn’t see that coming.

RB De’Von Achane – We can’t be certain how long he will stay healthy, but he’s back to form at least for now. After taking last week off and flopping in Week 11, Achane ran for 73 yards on 17 carries and caught three passes for 30 yards, while scoring twice. His 20 touches topped the 12 given to Raheem Mostert.

RB Austin Ekeler – The stud of 2022 just hasn’t been nearly as effective this year. He just ran for 18 yards on 14 carries and caught just two passes for nine yards. He was on the road, but the Patriots run defense has declined to being only average – until this week.

RB Ezekiel Elliott – The injury to Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to last at least a week or two. The ex-Cowboy star gets a chance to handle a workhorse load until Stevenson returns. Three of their next four games are on the road which is not ideal, nor is scoring zero points at home this week. But Elliott can help an RB-hungry fantasy team reach the playoffs.

TE Kyle Pitts – He led the Falcons in Week 13 with eight targets for four catches and 51 yards. That was versus the Jets defense. The Falcons host the Buccaneers this week for a violent shift in the quality of the secondary. He had a minor boost from the Jets taking Drake London (1-8) out of the game, but it is good to see his name atop the box core for once.

RB Tyjae Spears – Derrick Henry consumed 21 rushes for 102 yards and two scores before leaving with a head injury in the loss to the Colts. But Tyjae Spears also turned in 16 carries for 75 yards (4.7 YPC) and caught four passes for 13 yards. He ran well enough that the Titans may not be in a hurry to replace Derrick Henry next season.

WR Jonathan Mingo – The Panthers second-round rookie is picking up steam as the offense appears to intentionally involving him more while relying less on Adam Thielen. This season was over long ago and working on next year by throwing more to the younger players makes sense. Thielen is sighed through 2025 and the Panthers cannot get out of that until after next year, so Thielen still needs to be involved.

QB Joe Flacco – Compared to Dorian Thompson-Robinson or P.J. Walker, the aged Flacco looked sharp passing for 254 yards and two scores in the loss to the Rams. Amari Cooper was lost in the game, and Elijah Moore ended with 12 targets that became four catches for 83 yards to lead the Browns. Flacco needs Cooper to be healthy, but he gets a lighter time for the next two weeks at home against the Jaguars and Bears.

QB Patrick Mahomes – He’s ranked as the No. 14 fantasy quarterback and hasn’t missed any games. Eight of his last nine games did not record more than two passing scores and no games this year had him rushing in a touchdown. Over the last five games, he’s averaged 222 passing yards and 1.4 touchdowns which is pretty much the definition of an average NFL quarterback. What I’m trying to figure out is if we can say that he is a… you know,,, “average quarterback”? Can we even say that aloud? Is that even legal? I’m asking for a friend.

Huddle player of the week

Deebo Samuel – You’d think visitors would be less aggressive in the City of Brotherly Love, but not so for Samuel. The 49ers Swiss Army knife caught four passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns at the Eagles, and ran for 22 yards and another score on three carries. Oh yeah, he also gained 60 yards on his two kick returns. He may have several blades, but each one can cut you.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Geno Smith	334-6	4	QB	Justin Herbert	212	0
RB	James Conner	25-105	2	RB	D’Andre Swift	6-13 2-7	0
RB	Chuba Hubbard	25-104	2	RB	Austin Ekeler	14-18 2-9	0
WR	Alec Pierce	3-100	1	WR	Tank Dell	0	0
WR	DeMarcus Robinson	4-55	1	WR	Terry McLaurin	0	0
WR	Jauan Jennings	3-44	1	WR	Adam Thielen	3-25	0
TE	Trey McBride	8-89	1	TE	David Njoku	2-17	0
PK	Lucan Havrisik	4 XP 2 FG		PK	Joey Slye	1 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 163				Huddle Fantasy Points = 27

Now get back to work…

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

The season races toward Week 17 and fantasy championships (yes, I know, some use Week 18 because change is hard). That’s just five weeks away, and most fantasy leagues will begin their playoffs in either Week 15 or 16. For those of you in large contests, it probably starts in Week 14 so this is the final week of your regular season.

We’ve seen plenty of transition through the year and by this point, there aren’t many (any?) players new to starting that will make a difference. Your waiver wire is likely exhausted, and by this point, you’re swapping kickers and defenses just because it feels like you need to always upgrade.

Let’s take a look at six items for Week 13.

1.) RB Leonard Fournette (BUF) – I discussed him a few weeks back when he landed on the practice squad for the Bills, who wanted to get him into shape and versed in the offense. James Cook and Latavius Murray are currently splitting the workload, and adding Fournette may just reduce everyone’s fantasy value. But – if any player suddenly appeared on the scene and made a difference, it would be Fournette as a productive veteran landing in a capable offense. HC Sean McDermott said he didn’t elevate him last week because they needed other players against the Eagles. The Bills are on bye this week, and Fournette could get the call up for Week 14 at home against the Rams.

2.) QB Aaron Rodgers (NYJ) – The almost-starting quarterback for the Jets has nursed his torn Achilles and said that it was “possible” that he could return in the coming weeks. He was designated to return from injured reserve and that opened his 21 days to be activated or he must remain on IR for the balance of the season. He could play in Week 16 if it happens, but the Jets are 4-7 with a slate of ATL, HOU, and @MIA before Week 16 against WAS. Even if he did, he would carry no fantasy reliability but could potentially help Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson right when you need them most. That seems overly optimistic, but the Jets wouldn’t have activated him if they hadn’t thought he had a chance to play. They must end the season on a high note, no matter what.

3.) Those amazing rookies – The 2023 class of wide receivers wasn’t considered a top class, and there were no drafted until the 1.20 pick. There were 14 taken over the first two days (Rounds 1-3). And 17 were taken in 2022 during those rounds, and six were selected before the 1.20 pick. That was considered a great class for wideouts and three went on to be Top-40 last year – worthy of being a fantasy starter. This year? There are SEVEN wideouts currently in the Top 40. That’s more than one-in-six top wideouts who are rookies from a “weaker” class.

4.) QB Joe Flacco (CLE) – Dorian Thompson-Robinson has a concussion and may not be cleared in time to play the Rams. If he cannot play, Joe Flacco will take the start. That would change the offense dramatically. Flacco will not be running. He is a pocket passer, and he’ll probably get hurt if he leaves the safe pocket protected by the Browns’ formidable O-line. The 38-year-old veteran is drawing raves from Amari Cooper on the quality of his passes. Imagine the Browns’ passing game with a passer who won’t take off on a run and who started three games for the Jets last year with 285+ yards in each. He could boost the receiving stats for several players.

5.) WR Noah Brown (HOU) – The veteran wideout has been out with a bruised knee since Week 10 when he posted a career-best 172 yards on seven receptions at the Bengals. Brown had limited practices to start the week and should be on track to return this week. His last two games helped C.J. Stroud throw for 470 yards and five scores versus the Bucs, then 356 yards and two touchdowns against the Bengals. The Broncos this week will be a bigger challenge but the trio of Brown, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell has been devastating.

6.) Packers passing game – There’s been an upturn in stats for Jordan Love and the wide receivers. He threw for 322 yards and two scores against the Chargers and then 268 yards and three touchdowns on the Lions. Christian Watson and Jayden Reed scored in both games. This week they face the Chiefs and their challenging defense. If the Packers can show continued improvement against the Top-5 pass defense of the Chiefs, the Packers have a very advantageous remaining schedule.

About Last Night…

Seattle 35, Dallas 41

Well. Thursday night games are typically sloppier and lower scoring than Sunday games. Not this week, apparently the sloppy play was limited to the defenses.

The Cowboys were favored by eight points and had held visitors to Dallas to under 20 points. But the Seahawks led 21-20 at the half thanks to DK Metcalf scoring twice. The Cowboys had to settle for four field goals because they had a problem punching in touchdowns, and the Cowboys were on the Seattle 20-yard line or closer on every kick. The Seahawks led 35-27 to start the fourth quarter before the Cowboys posted 17 unanswered points to win.

No one expected Geno Smith to throw for 334 yards and three scores – by far the best passing performance allowed by the Cowboys this year. It helped that DK Metcalf (6-134, 3 TD) opened the game with a 73-yard touchdown. No opposing wideout had scored more than once against that defense. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (7-62) and Tyler Lockett (5-47) chipped enough to keep the stocks moving. Zach Charbonnet ran for 60 yards on 19 carries and rushed in a touchdown while catching a 39-yard pass. The Seattle offense was far better than expected and couldn’t quite hang on for a win.

The Cowboys posted very similar stats. Dak Prescott passed for 299 yards and three touchdowns with CeeDee Lamb (12-116, TD) as the top receiver and he also ran for 30 yards on two rushes. Jake Ferguson (6-77, TD) and Brandin Cooks (4-45, TD) were the only other receivers with more than 17 yards. Tony Pollard ran for 68 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries and added three receptions for 15 yards. It was shockingly high-scoring and a treat to see on a Thursday.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Josh Allen	339-81	4
Jalen Hurts	200-65	5
Dak Prescott	331-10	4
C.J. Stroud	304-47	3
Jordan Love	268-39	3
Running Backs	Rush Rcv	TD
Kyren Williams	16-143 6-61	2
Christian McCaffrey	19-114 5-25	2
Bijan Robinson	16-91 3-32	2
Isiah Pacheco	15-55 5-34	2
Josh Jacobs	20-110 4-15	1
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Tyreek Hill	9-102	1
Mike Evans	6-70	2
Rashee Rice	8-107	1
DeVonta Smith	7-106	1
Keenan Allen	14-106	0
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Pat Freiermuth	9-120	0
Tyler Higbee	5-29	2
Sam LaPorta	5-47	1
Travis Kelce	6-91	0
Gerald Everett	4-43	1
Placekickers	XP	FG
Blake Grupe	0	5
Brandon McManus	1	3
Tyler Bass	4	2
Jason Sanders	4	2
Chris Boswell	1	3
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Miami	7-2	1
San Francisco	6-2	0
Dallas	4-1	1
Baltimore	3-4	0
Green Bay	3-3	1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB D. Thompson-Robinson – Head
QB Baker Mayfield – Ankle
WR Laviska Shenault – Ankle
WR Demario Douglas – Head
WR Rashid Shaheed – Thigh
WR Amari Cooper – Rib
WR Chris Olave – Concussion

Chasing Ambulances

QB D. Thompson-Robinson – Got blasted by a defender and left the field with a bloody lip. Was diagnosed with a concussion. So the Browns will either revert to P.J. Walker as they did in the game, or they promote Joe Flacco from the practice squad. The Browns play at the Jaguars this week.

QB Baker Mayfield – He injured his ankle and looked significant at first, but he later returned to the game. Kyle Trask replaced him in the game for a few plays. He should be good for the Panthers this week.

WR Demario Douglas – He’s been the only Patriot wideout with a shred of fantasy value and he was clotheslined on a punt return though no penalty was called. He’s believed to have a concussion but more should be known by Wednesday at the latest.

WR Rashid Shaheed – Thigh
WR Chris Olave – Concussion The Saints’ receivers are in bad shape. Olave hit the ground hard on an attempted catch and was ruled out with a concussion. Shaheed injured his thigh and did not return to the game. Michael Thomas is already on IR. The Saints host the Lions this week and may have little more than A.T. Perry, Keith Kirkwood, and Taysom Hill for receivers.

WR Amari Cooper – He had his arms outstretched for a pass when a Denver defender delivered a crushing shot to his ribs. He was immediately ruled out though his X-rays were negative. The rookie Cedric Tillman was the top wideout with four catches for 55 yards. The Browns play at the Rams this week but it isn’t even certain who the quarterback will be. If Cooper misses time, assumedly Elijah Moore would see more targets but there have been no fantasy-relevant wideouts in Cleveland other than Cooper.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Jake Browning – The replacement for Joe Burrow threw for 227 yards and a touchdown with one interception against the Steelers. He connected with Ja’Marr Chase for 81 yards on four receptions but had no success with the rest of the receivers. The Steelers were also able to hold Joe Mixon to only eight carries for 16 yards, so the absence of Burrow is going to impact both the rushing and receiving.

WR Calvin Ridley – After disappearing for much of the season, Ridley scored on his five catches for 89 yards in the win over the Texans for his second straight game with high yardage and a touchdown. And the last two weeks have been the best performances for Trevor Lawrence.

RB Rachaad White – He popped up on the injury report on Friday as questionable with a thigh injury. Apparently, the pain motivated him because he rushed for a season-high 100 yards and caught two short passes in the loss to the Colts.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson/Ezekiel Elliott – The Pats may not win again this season, as shocking as that seems. They used both Matt Jones and Bailey Zappe in a race to who could throw the most interceptions (Jones won), but the rushing offense wasn’t a disaster. Stevenson (21-98, TD) and Elliott (9-46) were the only part of the offense that scored or gained much yardage. This week they play the Chargers which should benefit them again.

QB Tommy DeVito – He won his last two games and threw for 246 yards and three scores in Week 11. On Sunday, he passed for 191 yards and a touchdown. He also did what was thought impossible when he completed five passes to the rookie Jalin Hyatt, who gained 109 yards – the only 100-yard game by a Giants’ receiver this year.

WR Rashee Rice – The Chiefs desperately need a receiver not currently dating Taylor Swift to make a difference and Patrick Mahomes has already thrown passes to 12 wideouts. Rice has been the most consistent so far, logging around 50 yards and scoring in every other game. Versus the Raiders, he caught a season-best eight passes for 107 yards and a touchdown – the first 100-yard game by a wide receiver. Justin Watson scored for the last two weeks but with minimal yardage. Week 12 was the first time it looked like the Chiefs had an actual No. 1 wideout.

WR Jakobi Meyers – While Aiden O’Connell has continued to throw to Davante Adams, he had failed to connect with Meyers for more than a few catches and minimal yardage. Against a very tough Chiefs secondary, Meyers led the Raiders with six catches for 79 yards and a score. That bodes well for when they return from their Week 13 bye to face the weak defenses of the Vikings and Chargers.

TE Pat Freiermuth – He returned from the back injury in Week 11 after spending six weeks on injured reserve but only caught one pass for seven yards at the Browns. Playing for the first time without OC Matt Canada, Freiermuth posted a career-high nine catches for 120 yards in the win over the Bengals. He only had 13 receptions on the year entering Sunday. The Bengals are weak against the position, but Freiermuth had double the production of any other receiver.

RB Keaton Mitchell – He led the Ravens in rushing with nine carries for 64 yards, plus caught both targets for 25 more yards. The Ravens are committed to their committee backfield, but Mitchell is still generating fantasy points even with the 11-touch workload. That was one more carry than Gus Edwards and three more than Justice Hill.

Huddle player of the week

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

RB Kyren Williams – He spent time on injured reserve with an ankle injury and the Rams said they would have him on a snap count in his first game back. That limitation ended up as 16 carries for 143 yards, plus six receptions for 61 yards with two touchdowns as the No. 1 running back for Week 12. Royce Freeman also ran for 77 yards and a score on 13 carries, so they didn’t give him a “full” workload, just one that helped his fantasy owners win their game – if they ignored what the Rams coaches said before the game.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Jordan Love	268-39	3	QB	Tua Tagovailoa	243-1	1
RB	Kyren Williams	16-143 6-61	2	RB	Kareem Hunt	7-22	0
RB	Royce Freeman	13-77	1	RB	Saquon Barkley	12-46 1-6	0
WR	Rashee Rice	8-107	1	WR	Adam Thielen	1-2	0
WR	Gabe Davis	6-105	1	WR	DK Metcalf	3-32	0
WR	Jalin Hyatt	5-109	0	WR	Puka Nacua	4-27	0
TE	Pat Freiermuth	9-120	0	TE	George Kittle	3-9	0
PK	Blake Grupe	5 FG		PK	Matt Prater	zip
Huddle Fantasy Points = 220				Huddle Fantasy Points = 20

Now get back to work…

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

Thanksgiving is a great time of the year, an occasion that hopefully most of you could reconnect with people from your past and mix them with others from your present. Hopefully, it offered a chance to ponder and discuss commonalities and not differences. And regardless, it is a day to give thanks and appreciate what I hope are the positives in your life.

In that vein, and with fantasy roster improvement in mind, here are the players that, through Week 11, have produced more than one “big game.” It’s not hard to create an average starting lineup, but you need those players to twist the fantasy point spigot open and offer difference-making to your weekly score. As usual, these lists contain a few surprises and just as notable, some exclusions of players that should have been there. Performance scoring with reception points and showing players with more than one instance.

1.) Quarterbacks – Here are the quarterbacks that have turned in 30 points or more in a game. As they typically score more than any other position, these can make a difference for your team.

Quarterbacks	30 Pts
Dak Prescott	3
Jalen Hurts	3
Josh Allen	3
Lamar Jackson	3
Justin Fields	2
Justin Herbert	2
Kirk Cousins	2
Tua Tagovailoa	2

First off, where is Patrick Mahomes? What a telling absence. Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are no surprises, but Dak Prescott does exceptionally well when he faces a weak defense. Tua Tagovailoa has two, but that reflects that he really only does well in relation to the one receiver as we will see later. These were the game performances that likely won your week.

2.) Running Backs – The position has been devalued in recent years, so getting one of the high-scoring backs is still a major advantage.

Running Backs	25 Pts
Christian McCaffrey	3
Jahmyr Gibbs	3
Raheem Mostert	3
Alvin Kamara	2
Austin Ekeler	2
Brian Robinson Jr.	2
De’Von Achane	2
Kyren Williams	2
Saquon Barkley	2

As many points as David Montgomery produces, he wasn’t on this list and yet Jahmyr Gibbs was with three. That bodes very well for his future whenever he takes an even more prominent role. Raheem Mostert continues to defy all we thought for the first years of his career. Brian Robinson is a sign that the new offense under OC Eric Bieniemy is better than you think and headed in a positive direction.

3.) Wide Receivers – There are more of these on the field at one time than the other positions considered, and if you can own two or more of them, they can help sustain high weekly points from the position.

Wide Receivers	25 Pts
Tyreek Hill	7
CeeDee Lamb	4
Keenan Allen	4
A.J. Brown	3
Adam Thielen	3
Ja’Marr Chase	3
Justin Jefferson	3
Stefon Diggs	3
Tank Dell	3
Amon-Ra St. Brown	2
Brandon Aiyuk	2
DJ Moore	2
Mike Evans	2
Nico Collins	2
Puka Nacua	2

Well hello, Tyreek Hill. The most notable surprises are Adam Thielen, Tank Dell, and Puka Nacua. Where is Cooper Kupp? Davante Adams? Garrett Wilson? Want a sign that the Texans are on the right track? Both Tank Dell and Nico Collins are here as the only two from the same team. What are the Texans going to be like next year?

4.) Tight Ends – They score less than the other positions, and even less this year, so any difference-making tight ends are an advantage.

Tight Ends	20 Pts
George Kittle	4
T.J. Hockenson	3
Travis Kelce	3
Cole Kmet	2
Mark Andrews	2
Trey McBride	2

George Kittle is still a little inconsistent, but no arguing what he’s done when he has a big game. The notables here are Cole Kmet and Trey McBride. Kmet had double touchdowns with both Justin Fields and Tyson Bagent and yet several outright dud games. For any Arizona tight end to be on this list flies in the face of every Cardinal offense for a few decades. And he is only a second-year player.

5.) WR A.T. Perry (NO) – In the wake of Michael Thomas’ latest trip to IR, the Saints brought back Keith Kirkwood and Marques Callaway and the Saints prefer veteran receivers. Callaway was the replacement for Thomas in 2021 and had a career year with 46 catches for 698 yards and six touchdowns – his only notable season. But the Saints want to give the 6-4 sixth-round rookie Perry a shot as the replacement. He already had his first action last week with two catches for 38 yards and a touchdown at the Vikings. Thomas leaves behind 7 or 8 targets weekly. The Saints host the Lions this week and no other teams with a winning record are on their remaining schedule.

6.) QB Kenny Pickett (PIT) – Despite the winning record, the Steelers offense is abysmal and they rank No. 32 in fantasy points from their quarterbacks. They just fired OC Matt Canada and will rely on QB coach Mike Sullivan and RB coach Eddie Faulkner for the rest of the season. Many teams get a positive bounce from such a move and there is talent on the roster with George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, and Pat Freiermuth. The Steelers face the Bengals and Cardinals next, which should indicate if there are any changes that benefit the rest of the season.

About Thanksgiving…

Green Bay 29, Detroit 22

Hope you didn’t get to the game late. The Packers pulled away 23-6 at halftime looking exactly like we expected from the Lions. They missed Aaron Jones and Luke Musgrave landed on IR. But Jordan Love passed for 268 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers. Christian Watson (5-94, TD), Jayden Reed (4-34, TD) and even Tucker Kraft (2-15, TD) took care of the scoring. AJ Dillon wasn’t much as the starting running back when he gained 43 yards on 14 rushes but he added three catches for 38 yards. The Green Bay offense threw well and made no mistakes. They rise to 5-6 and and host the Chiefs for another challenging matchup.

The Lions lost their seventh-straight Thanksgiving game, even though they were favored by seven points. Jared Goff threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns but lost three fumbles. Amon-Ra St. Brown (9-95) and Kalif Raymond (5-90) were the top receivers and Jameson Williams (2-51) caught a 38-yard pass. Sam LaPorta (5-47, TD) caught the only first-half score and the Lions should have been in this one more but gave up a touchdown on one of Goff’s fumbles. David Montgomery (15-71, TD) and Jahmyr Gibbs (11-54) ran effectively, and Gibbs added four receptions for 19 yards. This was a tough loss since it drops the 8-3 Lions behind in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and even could give the Vikings an opening to challenge them. The Lions head to New Orleans for Week 13.

Washington 10, Dallas 45

This was the expected outcome when the Cowboys face the worst defense in the NFL. Sam Howell threw for 300 yards, but no scores and one interception. Curtis Samuel (9-100), Jahan Dotson (5-52), and Terry McLaurin (4-50) were the only receivers with more than 30 yards, Brian Robinson was limited to 53 yards on 15 carries while Antonio Gibson turned in 37 total yards. Both scores from the Commanders happened in the second quarter when they drew as close as 14-10 but they never reappeared after halftime. They drop to 4-8 and will make the Dolphins very happy next week.

Dak Prescott threw for 331 yards and four touchdowns, though the top receivers Brandin Cooks (4-72, TD) and CeeDee Lamb (4-53, TD) didn’t manage monster games. All the rest of the receivers were held to fewer than 36 yards. The run game was better than usual, though Tony Pollard (13-79, TD) only rushed 13 times in a game that the Cowboys always led. Rico Dowdle (3-11) caught a 15-yard touchdown but totaled just four touches. The lack of a rushing effort is perplexing for this supposedly conservative offense. The Cowboys rise to 8-3 and host the Seahawks this week.

San Francisco 31, Seattle 13

Yet another big win, only in this case the Seahawks were 6-3 just a week ago and yet had no answer for the 49ers defense. Geno Smith was held to 180 passing yards and an interception. Jaxon Njigba-Smith (2-41), DK Metcalf (3-32), and Tyler Lockett (3-20) all saw limited effectiveness and yet nearly all the targets. With Kenneth Walker out, Zach Charbonnet had the start and only gained 47 yards on 14 rushes with four catches for 11 yards. The Seahawks were entirely outclassed and outplayed. They never even scored on offense, their lone touchdown coming off a Brock Purdy pass that was deflected into a defenders hands for a 12-yards interception return. The Seahawks drop to 6-5 and head to Dallas.

The 49ers were in control for the entire game and never trailed. Brock Purdy passe for 209 yards and a 28-yard score to Brandon Aiyuk (2-50) in the fourth quarter. Christian McCaffrey was the star of the game with 114 yards on 19 carries and five receptions for 25 yards with two rushing touchdowns. Deebo Samuel ran for a two-yard touchdown and led the wideouts with seven catches for 79 yards, George Kittle was only used to catch three passes for 19 yards. These teams meet again in two weeks, The 8-3 49ers have righted themselves from that three-game losing streak and take complete control of the NFC West over the No. 2 6-5 Seahawks. The 49ers spend next week in Philadelphia before returning home to host these Seahawks again.