Notable Injuries:
- David Montgomery (Shoulder)
- JK Dobbins (Knee)
- Austin Ekeler (Concussion
- Brian Robinson Jr. (Ankle)
- Josh Downs (Shoulder)
- Romeo Doubs (Concussion)
- Cedric Tillman (Concussion)
- Ja’Tavion Sanders (Neck)
- Jake Ferguson (Concussion)
- Cole Kmet (Back)
- Cooper Rush (Knee)
- Sam Darnold (Foot)
- Tommy Devito (Forearm)
Teams on a BYE week:
- None
Waiver Wire Targets:
Jeremy McNichols (Rostered in 1.2% of ESPN leagues)
With both Brian Robinson Jr. (Ankle) and Austin Ekeler (Concussion) at risk to miss Sunday’s matchup against the Commanders, Jeremy McNichols could assume lead back duties. McNichols has flashed some relevance with 2 double digit fantasy point outings and his only real competition is Chris Rodriguez. Consider McNichols a one week rental option while the Commanders lick their wounds ahead of their BYE week.
Gus Edwards (Rostered in 23.5% of ESPN leagues)
With JK Dobbins exiting the game against the Ravens early due to a knee injury, Gus Edwards is logically the next man up set to lead this back field. It is worth monitoring Dobbins injury status throughout the week but this is one of the friendliest run offenses you can find in the NFL and Gus “the bus” Edwards has proven fantasy relevant in the past. If you need a running back, Edwards could be your man this week against the Falcons.
Devaughn Vele (Rostered in 1.7% of ESPN leagues) Genius Pick of the Week
Bo Nix and the Broncos are starting to find their rhythm on offense and as a result we are seeing an increase in fantasy output for a couple of guys. Cortland Sutton is catching a lot of that attention but rookie Devaughn Vele is quietly emerging as the team’s number 2 wide receiver. Over the last 3 games, Vele is averaging 6 targets and just about 61.5 yards a game. He has turned in 3 double digit fantasy points in that span as well. The Browns are tough up front but are allowing an average of 23.1 fantasy points to wide receivers which is 4th most in the league. Vele is a must add to close out the year.
Adam Thielen (Rostered in 27.8% of ESPN leagues) and Xavier Legette (Rostered in 36.3% of ESPN leagues)
What a conflicting year to be a Panthers fan. Things started out so terribly and now I find myself finding solace in a tough loss to the reigning champs. I truly think better days are ahead for this team. For fantasy purposes, there is some relevance. With Adam Thielen returning from IR. Bryce Young regains a reliable outlet and Xavier Legette gets some of the pressure taken off of him. Important to note that Young threw for a season-high 263 yards against a formidable Chiefs defense. While that didn’t result in many passing touchdowns, that is certainly encouraging. I think both Thielen and Legette can provide some value as the season comes to a close. While father time is sneaking up on Thielen, we saw last season he has the potential to be a target monster. Legette has been consistently involved in the offense and has seen the most looks inside the redzone of wide receivers currently on the roster. Of the two I like Legette more but both can offer flex appeal if needed.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (Rostered in 7.5% of ESPN leagues)
I’ll admit that I am behind the curve in recommending Westbrook-Ikhine compared to the rest of the fantasy community I think. While he has been on an absolute tear in the touchdown department, I was not sold on his usage and the Titans offense in general has not been great. However, it is hard to ignore that kind of production for much longer. While some regression is probably due, his involvement in the offense has only increased. The Titans also play some pretty receiver friendly teams the rest of the way making him an even more appealing option for fantasy managers.
Rashad Bateman (Rostered in 25.8% of ESPN leagues)
Bateman has had an up and down season this year but has provided some pretty good fantasy outings. 6 double digit fantasy points outings in fact. A lot of focus is put into keeping Lamar contained and Derrick Henry in check, that big plays downfield are opening up. We saw that last night against the Chargers. Bateman is a boom or bust flex play.
Luke Schoonmaker (Rostered in 11.1% of ESPN leagues)
Schoonmaker balled out once Ferguson went down with a concussion turning 4 targets into 3 catches for 55 yards and a touchdown. It’s also worth mentioning this performance is a week removed from a 10 target outing. With Ferguson unlikely to play with a short week ahead, Schoonmaker could remain productive against a pretty abysmal Giants team. Worth a chance if you are in need of a tight end.
Will Levis (Rostered in 4% of ESPN leagues)
Say what you want about the man and make all the memes you want but since returning from injury, Will Levis has been a fairly serviceable fantasy quarterback. Over the last 3 weeks he has scored 15+ fantasy points. The Titans also have one of the easiest schedules for the remainder of the season as they will face the Commanders, Bengals, Colts, Jaguars x2 and Texans. I think Levis can provide startable value this week and beyond especially with a lot of BYE weeks in week 14. He is at least worth an add as a backup option if you already have an established starter.
Drew Lock (Rostered in 0.1% of ESPN leagues)
This one is for all you sickos out there. It was reported by Adam Schefter this afternoon that Tommy Devito is dealing with a forearm injury and is “not 100 percent” to play on Thanksgiving against the Cowboys. In my opinion, I think Drew Lock should have been the starter once Daniel Jones was released purely off of his experience being a NFL starter. If you have the balls to pick up Lock and start him, you may need to reevaluate some things personally but I absolutely respect to the hustle. This is purely a hail mary.
*Point totals mentioned assume full point PPR scoring
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