.jpg)
Running Backs
Top Handcuffs
Mike Davis, SEA- Yup, another week another running back to gamble on in Seattle. In Week 13 rushed for 64 yards and added four catches for 37 yards against the Eagles. He will likely head into Week 14 as the starting back given the struggles of the all other running backs on the Seahawks roster. Davis actually has a decent matchup against the Jaguars who have a stout pass rush but have been susceptible to the run this season.
Peyton Barber, TB- With Doug Martin out with a concussion it was easy to assume that Jacquizz Rodgers would take over as the lead back but Barber followed up his two touchdown performance in Week 12 to rush for 102 yards and added four catches for 41 yards in Week 13. Martin is not expected to play in Week 14 as of now which means Barber should start againt the Lions.
Giovani Bernard, CIN- It wasn't too long ago that Bernard was the back to own in Cincinnati but he lost snaps to Jeremy Hill and then with Joe Mixon drafted he nearly fell out of the picture all together but with Hill on IR and Mixon suffering an injury in Week 13 the Bengals turned to Bernard again and he delivered 77 yards on 13 carries while adding two catches for 19 yards against the Steelers. If Mixon is unable to go Bernard will be the feature back in Week 14 against the Bears.
Wide Receivers
Top Handcuffs
Braxton Miller, HOU- This is far from an ideal scenario for the Texans but Miller is now the the No.2 receiver with both Will Fuller and now Bruce Ellington dealing with injuries. Miller did have a solid Week 13 which saw him catch four passes for 71 yards but the once college quarterback has been far from consistnet as an NFL receiver to this point in his career.
Zay Jones, BUF- Injuries continue to pile up in Buffalo and following the team's Week 13 loss to the Patriots they placed receiver Jordan Matthews on IR. With Kelvin Benjamin also dealing with an injury the No.1 receiver role returns to rookie Zay Jones who has been less than impressive to begin his career. The targets should be there but I question if he is worth picking up given the situation.
Kenny Stills, MIA- Davante Parker has caught just two passes over the past two weeks with Kenny Stills seeing a bigger chunk of the action. Stills was nearly a 1,000 yard receiver with the Saints before he was surprisingly traded to the Dolphins a few seasons ago and he has gotten better in each year with Miami as he already has more catches and yards this season through 13 weeks than he did through all of last year.
Tight Ends
Top Handcuffs
Stephen Anderson, HOU- Anderson had a career game in Week 13, catching five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. This performance comes after starting tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz went down with an injury. Anderson is already expected to start Week 14 against the 49ers which is a good matchup for him and the Texans passing attack which he figures to again be heavily involved in, especially given the loss of Bruce Ellington at receiver.
Player News
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports the Cowboys were among the teams interested in acquiring Steelers WR George Pickens.
“But with the draft in the rearview,” Russini said, “expect the trade buzz to cool surrounding Pickens.” The disgruntled wideout will likely stay on the Steelers roster alongside new WR1 DK Metcalf. The Cowboys’ interest in Pickens could indicate that they’d like to bolster the team’s wideout room behind CeeDee Lamb in the coming weeks or months. Pickens, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, has led the Steelers in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and TD receptions since entering the NFL in 2022.
49ers signed TE George Kittle to a four-year, $76.4 million contract extension.
The deal includes $40 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. After denying a report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini that he was aiming to become the game’s highest paid tight end, Kittle signs a monster extension that eclipses Trey McBride’s recent deal. Kittle last year ranked third in tight end receiving yards and led the position in yards per route run. He has been one of the NFL’s most efficient pass catchers for years and will enter his age-32 season as an important part of a San Francisco passing attack that is now without Deebo Samuel.
ESPN’s Peter Schrager reports Aaron Rodgers “has no timetable” to sign for the 2025 season.
Schrager said Rodgers has told teams — including the Giants and Steelers — that they should feel free to move on in their quarterback search if Rodgers’ timetable doesn’t fit theirs. Rodgers, 41, told ESPN’s Pat McAfee this month that he was dealing with personal issues and indicated he was in no hurry to sign with the team for 2025. The Steelers could enter the summer with Mason Rudolph and rookie QB Will Howard atop their quarterback depth chart.
Seahawks exercised the fifth-year option on OT Charles Cross.
Cross now remains tied to the organization through the 2026 season. PFF gave the towering 24-year-old tackle exemplary marks in 2024, ranking him 10th of 140 qualified tackles, including 15th in pass protection and 16th in run blocking. The Seahawks extend the negotiating window on one of the key pieces of their offensive front.
Browns signed WR Diontae Johnson to a one-year contract.
The former Steeler wasn’t able to carve out a significant role with the Panthers, Ravens, or Texans in 2024 after seemingly breaking out in Pittsburgh. The Browns apparently saw enough during his visit with the team Monday to sign him to a one-year contract, the details of which have yet to be released. Expect Johnson to start opposite Cedric Tillman on the perimeter while Jerry Jeudy works the slot.
ESPN’s Field Yates reports Browns placed the unrestricted free agent tender on WR Elijah Moore.
Moore visited the Bills on Monday and then saw the Browns place the unrestricted free agent tender on him. Per Field Yates, this means that Moore will count against the compensatory free agent formula should he sign with another team. He’ll play on the tender if he returns to the Browns, which carries a value of $3.428 million for wide receivers in 2025.