It almost never fails. Invariably at least one RB who you’ve never heard of bursts upon the scene and becomes a viable back that you can insert into your fantasy lineup for the stretch run of the fantasy football season.
Based on his Week 12 performance, (104 rushing yards, three catches and a TD), Jonathan Williams should be given another opportunity to be the lead back in the Colts backfield while Marlon Mack ’s broken hand heals. Williams should be able to do some damage against the Titans this week. They’ve given up 10 total TDs to RBs on the season.
Lions RB Bo Scarbrough looked good in Week 12, rushing 18 times for 98 yards for a 5.44 YPC.He should be the Lions’ lead back going forward but the Bears, Vikings, Buccaneers and Broncos are his next four opponents and they all have tough run defenses. Remember, opportunity does not always lead to big time fantasy production.
Falcons RB Devonta Freeman who was dealing with a foot injury, is set to make his return to action on Thanksgiving night. Fantasy owners shouldn’t expect too much from Freeman. He’s facing the Saints, and they’ve given up just 129 rushing yards to RBs in their last four games.
Heading into Week 13 David Montgomery ’s rookie season could be filed under “B” for bust. He ran for just 22 yards on 13 carries (1.69 YPC) against a Giants defense that gives up 123 rushing yards per game. You can’t start Montgomery during this crucial part of your fantasy season.
The Jaguars run defense has fallen apart over the past few weeks. The Jags have given up 623 rushing yards over their last four games. Too bad the Buccaneers, the Jags’ next opponent, use a 50/50 time share between Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber in their backfield.
The Jaguars’ recent shortcoming defending against the run should remind all fantasy football players that they can’t only look at season long averages to determine who to plug into their lineups. Now is the time for fantasy football players to pay attention to recent trends. There are plenty of resources that break down statistics into anywhere from two to five week intervals.
Pay attention to the running back situation in Seattle. Chris Carson ’s fumbling problems may cause Rashaad Penny to eat into his playing time. Carson has lost four fumbles on the year, (his fourth coming in Week 12), and Penny had a season high 14 carries in Week 12. Coincidence? Probably not.
Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott has averaged 3.13 YPC and hasn’t had a 100 yard rushing game in three straight contests. You’re never going to consider benching Elliott as a fantasy player but, you have to wonder if all of the time he missed in preseason training camp is starting to catch up to him.On the other hand, perhaps his recent slump is due to his playing against tougher oppositionin recent weeks. Just something to think about…
Team | Primary RB | Change of Pace | 3rd Down Back | Handcuff | IR/PUP/Susp./Holdout/Injured |
Arizona Cardinals | Chase Edmonds hasn’t played since week 8 (hamstring) | ||||
Atlanta Falcons | Quadree Ollison/Kenjon Barner | Ito Smith on IR | |||
Baltimore Ravens | |||||
Buffalo Bills | |||||
Carolina Panthers | |||||
Chicago Bears |
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Cincinnati Bengals |
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Cleveland Browns | |||||
Dallas Cowboys |
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Denver Broncos |
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Detroit Lions | Kerryon Johnson , Tra Carson on IR | ||||
Green Bay Packers |
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Houston Texans |
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Indianapolis Colts | Marlon Mack – broken hand | ||||
Jacksonville Jaguars |
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Kansas City Chiefs | |||||
Los Angeles Chargers | |||||
Los Angeles Rams |
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Miami Dolphins | |||||
Minnesota Vikings |
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New England Patriots |
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New Orleans Saints |
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New York Giants |
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New York Jets | Le’Veon Bell | ||||
Oakland Raiders |
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Philadelphia Eagles | Darren Sproles ,*missed Wk 12 matchup-watch his progress | ||||
Pittsburgh Steelers | *Conner is likely to miss Wk 13 action. Based on last week’s game script if Conner is out, Snell would get the majority of touches. | ||||
San Francisco 49ers | Jerick McKinnon on IR, *Breida is dealing with ankle injury-has missed two straight games. | ||||
Seattle Seahawks |
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
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Tennessee Titans | *Henry was limited with a hamstring injury at practice this week. Watch his progress as game time approaches. | ||||
Washington Redskins |
Player News
CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala says free agent QB Aaron Rodgers “is not going to play just for the sake of playing.”
Kinkhabwala has had conversations with Rodgers and executives around the league trying to sign him. Based on those conversations, she says, “it’s extremely clear Rodgers is not going to play just for the sake of playing.” He remains unsigned with the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon and multiple teams needing quarterback help. The Steelers are the most likely fit, but it seems Rodgers won’t force it if he does not find a good fit. This explains why Rodgers has been interested in the Vikings and has not yet signed. The 41-year-old may be headed for retirement if a situation he prefers, like the Vikings, does not want him back. His options remain limited and Rodgers may call it a career if he still does not like his options later in the offseason.
Bears signed LB T.J. Edwards to a two-year, $20 million extension.
Edwards’ extension includes $16.6 million guaranteed. The Bears originally signed him to a three-year, $19.5 million contract two seasons ago and he has outplayed that salary. Edwards has four interceptions, 6.5 sacks, and 20 tackles for loss in two seasons starting for Chicago in the middle of the field. He gets a raise as the Bears lock up another important part of their defense after extending CB Kyler Gordon earlier in the week.
Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams visited the Falcons on Wednesday.
Williams posted on his Instagram that he visited the Falcons facility on what was the last day of pre-draft visits. The 20-year-old is a Georgia native, played at the University of Georgia, and is expected to be selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Falcons have a need for an edge rusher and hold the No. 15 pick. They may look to keep Williams in-state and add his skillset to their pass-rushing group. Williams tallied five sacks last season and has explosive production for any team looking to add an edge rusher in the first round.
Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart “won’t fall out of the first round.”
Schultz reports his sources are indicating that Dart will not fall out of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He continues that the Giants are a candidate to trade up from pick No. 34 into the first round to take Dart if they do not take a quarterback at pick No. 3. The Saints are also an option with pick No. 9 or a trade up from pick No. 40. Dart is generally considered the third quarterback to come off the board after Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, so a team in need of a franchise quarterback may take a chance on him after Ward and Sanders are selected. Teams could look to gain a fifth-year option on Dart and trade into the first round if he is not taken earlier.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Raiders LT Kolton Miller is not participating in the voluntary offseason program and seeks an extension.
Miller was the Raiders’ first-round pick in 2018 and has started 107 games over seven seasons for the team. He is set to enter the final year of his current contract in 2025, making $12.25 million. Though he is not technically holding out yet since the offseason program is voluntary, Fowler notes Miller is seeking an extension. He finished last season with an 80.6 PFF grade, No. 14 among offensive tackles. Miller has been the Raiders’ franchise left tackle for seven years now and both sides will certainly discuss an extension as training camp nears.
Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten said he had a private workout with the Commanders’ running backs coach.
Tuten didn’t name him directly, but Anthony Lynn is currently the Commanders’ running backs coach and run game coordinator. The Commanders were hampered by injuries to both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler last year. Robinson Jr. missed three games and played through some of his injuries while Ekeler missed five contests and was limited to just 112 touches. Tuten crushed the combine with a 4.32 Forty at 5'9/206. He handled 200 touches in back-to-back seasons at Virginia Tech while topping 1,100 yards from scrimmage in both campaigns. He would offer the Washington backfield a good mix of durability and home run potential.