Immediate fantasy football takeaways from Sunday’s games

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PFF’s fantasy football recap focuses on player usage and stats, breaking down all the vital information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2025.

Los Angeles Rams @ Carolina Panthers

Chuba Hubbard leads the Panthers’ backfield: Hubbard played over 50% of Carolina’s offensive snaps for the first time since Week 8.

Hubbard started the season as the Panthers’ starter, while Rico Dowdle played on third downs and was the primary backup. Hubbard missed Weeks 5 and 6, where Dowdle ran 53 times for 389 yards and a touchdown while catching seven passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Hubbard remained the starter for his first two weeks back, but Dowdle continued to outplay him on fewer carries.

This led Dowdle to take over as the lead back in Week 9. Dowdle’s playing time increased to 79.2% of the offensive snaps in Week 10 and 82.5% in Week 11, but his yards per carry fell to 2.9 and 2.4 in those games. Hubbard became the Panthers’ third-down back last week to help balance things out. Carolina only ran 43 plays last week, and they were behind for all of those plays, so Dowdle wasn’t given many opportunities.

Dowdle started this week, but after a few touches, Hubbard mixed in. Hubbard gained seven yards on his first carry, six on his second and caught a 35-yard pass to finish off the first drive. Dowdle remained the primary early-down back over the rest of the game, but Hubbard mixed in on early downs more than he had in recent weeks after getting the hot hand. Hubbard remained the third-down back, and Carolina ran 13 plays in those situations. 

The two split carries over the rest of the game, but Hubbard ended up with more yards. Carolina has its bye next week, which will give the team time to consider how to split snaps between the two running backs. Dowdle will likely keep the starting job, but Hubbard will continue playing on third downs and mixing in more than he had been on early downs. Both running backs are worth at least considering for fantasy starting lineups, but Dowdle will no longer be a must-start player.

Xavier Smith takes a larger role in the Rams’ offense: Smith led the team in receiving yards with 82 on three receptions.

The Rams started the season with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams as their top two receivers, while Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell competed for the third receiver spot. Konata Mumpfield and Smith rounded out the depth chart. Atwell has spent some time on injured reserve, while Whittington spent some time in the middle of the season injured.

Mumpfield has gained notable playing time in the Rams’ 13 personnel grouping. The Rams didn’t use 13 personnel at all over the first five weeks but have used it 138 times over the last seven games. Mumpfield has been on the field for over half of those plays. Smith played more in three-receiver sets, particularly in Weeks 7 and 10.

This week, Atwell appeared set to return to the 53-man roster. He returned to practice from injured reserve on Wednesday and was a full participant in practice all week, but he wasn’t activated to the 53-man roster for this game. Mumpfield (calf) and Smith (concussion) were both dealing with injuries heading into the game. Smith missed last week, but both wide receivers were active for this game.

Nacua and Adams continued to be the top two wide receivers, while Mumpfield continued to be the 13 personnel wide receiver on 80% of those plays. The Rams changed their third spot in three-receiver sets. Whittington had played 88.4% of the 11-personnel snaps in the last five games where he was healthy, but he only played 43.9% of those snaps in this game. Smith took 48.8% and Mumpfield played 26.8%. Whittington being on the field typically signified a run play, while Smith’s presence typically led to passes.

Given Mumpfield’s clear role and Smith’s big game, it’s possible that Whittington and Atwell will be competing for a spot in the game day roster going forward, rather than fighting for a starting job.

Miscellaneous notes

• The Panthers ran a season-high 17 plays out of single-receiver sets, and Brycen Tremayne played each snap. Tetairoa McMillan played a career-low 73.4% of the offensive snaps, despite playing 100% of the snaps in two- and three-receiver sets for the fifth consecutive game. Xavier Legette didn’t see as dramatic a dropoff in snaps because he played 88.6% of the 11-personnel snaps, his most in a game since Week 8.
• Carolina tight end James Mitchell was active after six straight games as a healthy inactive, giving the Panthers four tight ends this week.
• Rams backup running back Blake Corum has played between 30-40% of the Rams’ offensive snaps each of the last four weeks. He only exceeded 30% once in the first nine weeks.
• The Rams signed tight end Nick Vannett from Minnesota’s practice squad on Wednesday. Tyler Higbee landed on injured reserve over a week ago, so Vannett is the new fourth tight end. While he was active, he didn’t play a snap on offense.
• Los Angeles used more 11 personnel this week than in other recent weeks, leading to a decrease in playing time for both Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson in addition to a slight increase for Colby Parkinson.
• The Rams waived kicker Joshua Karty on Friday, leaving Harrison Mevis as Los Angeles’ kicker going forward.

San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns

Monitor Dylan Sampson’s health: The fourth-round rookie suffered a calf injury in the third quarter and didn’t return.

The Browns have generally used Quinshon Judkins as their early-down back, Jerome Ford as the third-down back, and Sampson as the backup to both. Cleveland was already dealing with one running back injury heading into the game. Ford was limited in practice on Wednesday and Friday, and he didn’t practice at all on Thursday due to a hamstring injury. He was deemed questionable but was ultimately active. Raheim Sanders was active for the first time since Week 1, giving Cleveland four running backs. 

Ford only played one offensive snap in the first half, so Sampson took the lead in third-and-long situations. Sampson’s injury occurred early in the third quarter, and he was ruled out early in the fourth. This led Ford to take over as the primary third-down back for the rest of the game. Judkins took two third-and-medium snaps, which has been unusual for him this year.

Judkins also played a higher percentage of the early-down snaps than usual, 71.1%. This led him to play two-thirds of the total offensive snaps, which was the most for him in a game this season. He had a fine day with 23 carries for 91 yards and three receptions for 18 yards. If Sampson misses more time, it will be even safer to consider Judkins in fantasy starting lineups. The Browns face the Tennessee Titans next week, which will be Judkins’ most favorable matchup so far this season.

Harold Fannin scores while playing a season-high snap rate: Fannin led the Browns in receiving with three receptions for 43 yards along with his touchdown.

The Browns spent most of the season with David Njoku and Fannin in a two-man rotation. The Browns have used more 12 and 13 personnel than any other team, so Fannin played 72.8% of the offensive snaps in the first eight games when both tight ends were healthy. Njoku was just a tad ahead at 73.3%. Njoku had a lead in 11 personnel snaps, but Fannin helped close the gap by playing a higher percentage of the 12-personnel snaps.

Njoku missed Week 7, but Fannin’s snap rate only increased to 82.2% in that game, while Blake Whiteheart took some of Fannin’s snaps in 11 personnel. 

Njoku has appeared on the injury report most weeks this season due to a knee injury, leaving him limited in practice at times. He missed the first two practices leading up to Week 12. Fannin played 90.2% of the snaps compared to Njoku’s 49%, which was a clear difference compared to a month earlier when Njoku didn’t play at all. This week, Njoku was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, which was very similar to most of the weeks earlier in the season. Despite this, Fannin played an even larger percentage of the offensive snaps this week, 92.1%.

While the Browns’ passing game might lead some to leave Fannin out of fantasy starting lineups, playing time no longer appears to be an issue. There is a chance Njoku gets healthier and takes more snaps later in the season, but it appears the Browns are ready to prepare the team for 2026 and allow Fannin to be the feature tight end going forward.

Monitor Kyle Juszczyk’s health: The 49ers fullback suffered a rib injury early in the fourth quarter and didn’t return.

Juszczyk is a nine-time Pro Bowl fullback, partly due to how much more the 49ers use a fullback than any other team. Juszczyk has played 370 offensive snaps this season, over 100 more than any other team and double any other team in the NFC. He’s only run the ball twice and has lost yards on both carries, but he’s averaged over 1.5 receptions per game this season. His two receptions for 27 yards this week are the third-most yards for 49ers players this season.

After his absence, Jake Tonges took on a larger role in the offense, including multiple snaps lined up in the backfield. Tongs played 74.5% of the 49ers’ offensive snaps from Weeks 2-6 when Kittle was out due to injury, and he was a top-10 fantasy tight end during that time. He only played 7.1% of the offensive snaps from Weeks 7-12.

If Juszczyk’s injury is serious, that could lead to Tonges playing significantly more snaps going forward. It probably won’t be enough to trust starting him in most leagues, but there are some deep leagues where Tonges could be interesting. It could also be an audition for that role in 2026, given that Juszczyk is 34 years old. He could have a significant role in the 49ers’ offense, given how much it uses two-receiver sets.

Miscellaneous notes

• Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel returned after missing last week due to a concussion, but Shedeur Sanders remained the starting quarterback.
• Malachi Corley has taken a larger role in the Browns’ offense. He played over 50% of the 11-personnel snaps for the first time and a season-high 30.4% of the snaps in two-receiver sets. Cedric Tillman only played 61.4% of the offensive snaps because he doesn’t play in single-receiver sets, and he only took half of the 12-personnel snaps. Isaiah Bond is clearly fourth on the depth chart at this point.
• Cleveland wide receiver Jamari Thrash was inactive for a third straight game. He’s been dealing with a foot injury, but he wasn’t given a game status. He was a healthy inactive two weeks ago, suggesting he would have been inactive in this game even if he didn’t have a foot injury.
• Cleveland tight end Brenden Bates didn’t practice all week due to an ankle injury. He was ruled out on Friday.
• San Francisco wide receiver Demarcus Robinson had played 100% of the 11-personnel snaps in each game from Weeks 9-12, but this week, he only played 62.5% of those snaps. Kendrick Bourne took a larger role in recent weeks, splitting those snaps with Robinson.
• 49ers’ wide receiver Jordan Watkins was a healthy scratch, his third straight absence.
• 49ers’ kicker Eddy Pineiro didn’t practice all week and missed his second straight game due to a right hamstring injury. The 49ers activated kicker Matt Gay from the practice squad for this game on Saturday to take Pineiro’s place.

Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts

Houston doesn’t change their wide receiver rotation: Second-round rookie Jayden Higgins has caught at least four passes in each of the last four games, but that hasn’t led to an increased role.

Houston started the season with Nico Collins as an every-down receiver. Higgins joined Collins in 12 personnel, while Xavier Hutchinson and Christian Kirk joined in 11. Injuries to wide receivers in October gave both Higgins and third-round rookie Jaylin Noel a chance to shine, leading to an increased role for both receivers in Week 10. Higgins started playing more in 11 personnel, while Noel started cutting into Kirk’s playing time in the slot.

Higgins has continued playing at a high level. In this increased role, he’s averaged 2.13 yards per route run. That is second on the team behind Collins, and the next closest was tight end Dalton Schultz at 1.31. His separation numbers have also been much better than Hutchinson’s leading up to this game. Despite this, Higgins’ role has been unchanged in the last four weeks, playing less than 50% of the 11-personnel snaps. This has meant he’s only run a route on 57% of the Texans’ passing plays.

Noel has similarly outplayed Kirk, both by production metrics like yards per route run and separation metrics, but the gap between them hasn’t been as large.

Higgins set a career-high with 65 receiving yards this week. He should be picked up off the waiver wire in case Houston increases his role to a full-time starter, but there has been no evidence of them increasing his role in the past month.

Tyler Warren scores despite stomach issue: Warren was added to the injury report on Saturday, but his playing time was not impacted.

Warren had an excellent start to his rookie season. He gained at least 70 receiving yards in three of his first four games and scored touchdowns in each of the following three. He had slowed down a little bit, with less than 10 PPR points in three of his last four games.

Warren’s playing time had fluctuated early in the season. His role on third downs has been consistent all year, finishing with a 93.2% snap rate in those situations. He’s also played at least 77% of the 11-personnel snaps on early downs in all but one game. His playing time varied in 12 personnel. He was held to 50% of the 12-personnel snaps or fewer in three of his first five games. In recent weeks, he’s more consistently stayed on the field in 12 personnel.

This week, his playing time was very similar to the last few weeks. He was on the field a little more than usual in 11 personnel on early downs and a little less than usual in 12 personnel. 

Warren only gained 22 receiving yards in this game, but Daniel Jones‘ passing has been more of a problem for Indianapolis recently than Warren’s injury status. The Colts have the best schedule for tight ends over the final four weeks of the fantasy season. If Jones can start playing as he did at the beginning of the season, then Warren has league-winning potential.

Miscellaneous notes

• Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was back in the lineup after missing three games due to a concussion. He was a full participant in practice all week.
• Rookie running back Woody Marks suffered a foot injury early in the first quarter, causing him to miss just over a quarter of football. His playing time in the second half was identical to his playing time over the previous two weeks, so there is only minimal concern about the injury impacting him long-term.
• Houston wide receiver Braxton Berrios was a healthy inactive, his third straight absence.
• Texans backup tight end Cade Stover’s playing time has steadily increased each week since returning from injured reserve in Week 11. However, his playing time is largely increasing in run situations only, which does not impact Dalton Schultz‘s route participation to this point.
• Indianapolis’ quarterback Daniel Jones was limited in practice on Wednesday due to a fibula injury.
• The Colts placed wide receiver Ashton Dulin on injured reserve on Tuesday. This left Laquon Treadwell as the top backup for Indianapolis, primarily giving the starting wide receivers a break at times in 12 personnel.

New Orleans Saints @ Miami Dolphins

The Saints adjust without Alvin Kamara: The Saints’ lead running back was inactive due to both a knee and ankle injury. He wasn’t able to practice all week.

The Saints started the season with Kamara as the lead back and Kendre Miller as the backup. Miller eventually landed on injured reserve, resulting in rookie Devin Neal becoming the primary backup and third-down back. The only other running backs to play a snap for New Orleans this season were Audric Estime with three and Velus Jones Jr. with two. Four of their five combined snaps were kneel-downs.

Kamara’s injury left Neal as the top running back on the roster, although he was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday with an ankle injury. Estime was a healthy inactive last week. He was active for this game but didn’t play on offense. The Saints activated Evan Hull off the practice squad for this game, giving New Orleans three halfbacks.

Neal played the clear majority of the Saints’ offensive snaps. He ran 14 times for 47 yards and caught three passes for 22 yards. Hull took the rest of the offensive snaps. While it wasn’t surprising to see Neal dominate opportunities over the backups, it was surprising how little Taysom Hill was involved. Hill led the team in carries last week with 10, but he only ran once in this game. He played 12 offensive snaps, with one snap at quarterback, four at fullback, three at tight end and four at wide receiver. 

The Saints have favorable matchups over the next four weeks. Kamara wasn’t placed on injured reserve, so he is eligible to return as early as next week. However, as long as Kamara is out, Neal will be a borderline fantasy starter.

Devaughn Vele has his best career game: The second-year receiver caught eight passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.

The Saints started the season with Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks as their top three receivers. They traded for Vele shortly before the season from the Denver Broncos after Troy Franklin emerged as a top receiver. Vele started to see an increased role in Week 3, but an injury cut into his momentum.

His playing time has drastically increased over the last three games after Shaheed was traded to the Seattle Seahawks and Cooks was released. This has left Vele as the clear second option at wide receiver. Mason Tipton has become their third receiver, and Kevin Austin Jr. has become the top backup. The Saints activated wide receiver Dante Pettis from the practice squad for this game on Saturday to be their fifth receiver.

The Saints needed Vele more this week than in the past because Olave has been dealing with a back injury. He was limited in practice on Wednesday, downgraded to not practicing on Thursday and limited in practice again on Friday. He was initially ruled questionable but was ultimately active. Olave’s playing time was normal, and he caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Vele’s playing time will likely remain high over the rest of the season. His target rate might not be as high going forward if Olave can recover, but there is also a chance Olave gets shut down if the injury lingers on. The Saints were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs after this loss. The Saints have favorable matchups this upcoming week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and in the fantasy championship round against the Tennessee Titans. Vele could have another two strong games this season, if not more.

Darren Waller returns to the Dolphins: The former All-Pro tight end was activated off injured reserve, giving Miami some much-needed help on offense.

Miami traded for Darren Waller this spring after trading away Jonnu Smith. He played during Weeks 4-7, and his playing time gradually increased each week until he suffered a pectoral injury, which landed him on injured reserve. He averaged 15.2 PPR points per game from Weeks 4-6, which were the games he started and finished. He returned to practice on Wednesday, was limited in practice all week but ultimately activated from injured reserve. Miami waived tight end Hayden Rucci to make room for Waller on the roster.

Waller played 45.8% of the offensive snaps, which was better than his Week 4 debut but not as strong as in other games. He wasn’t as consistently on the field on third downs or during two-minute drills as in other weeks, but he was running a route on 69% of the Dolphins’ passing plays, which was similar to Weeks 5 and 6. Miami also stayed out of third-down situations for most of the game, which is when we would expect Waller to be most active.

He led Miami in receiving this week with two receptions for 47 yards. He needs to be on fantasy rosters and could be in some fantasy starting lineups next week in a solid matchup against the New York Jets. He follows that up with two games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, two of the best matchups for tight ends. Waller will be a starting fantasy option in most leagues those weeks.

Miscellaneous notes

• Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was limited in practice on Wednesday due to a foot injury.
• Malik Washington played a season-high 70% of the Dolphins’ snaps in two-receiver sets. He averaged 25.9% of those snaps over the first 11 weeks. This didn’t lead to a massive increase in overall snaps because Miami has run more snaps in single-receiver sets over its last two games.
• Dolphins wide receiver Dee Eskridge returned after missing the last two games due to a shoulder injury. He was a full participant in practice all week. The team opted to make Eskridge active and rookie Tahj Washington a healthy inactive.
• New Orleans tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden was inactive Sunday (coach’s decision) after appearing last week.
• The Saints waived kicker Blake Grupe on Tuesday after missing two field goals last week. While the Saints signed Cade York to the practice squad on the same day, they instead activated Charlie Smyth from the practice squad for this game.

Atlanta Falcons @ New York Jets

Breece Hall plays a season-high 87.9% of snaps: Hall played over 90% of the early-down snaps and the majority of third-down snaps for the first time this season.

Hall started the season in a three-man rotation at running back. He was the primary early-down back, while Braelon Allen was the backup, and Isaiah Davis was the third-down back. Hall played 58.3% of the offensive snaps over the first three weeks compared to Allen’s 28.9% and Davis’ 15%. Allen suffered an injury in Week 4, landing him on injured reserve. It was revealed last week that it’s unlikely Hall will return this season.

Hall only received a slight increase in snaps in the first month after Allen’s injury, finishing with a 61.6% snap rate. Davis absorbed most of Allen’s vacated snaps. New York had its bye week in Week 9 and changed strategies in Week 10. Hall played between 71-72% of the offensive snaps in each of the last three weeks. The increase came from an increase in early-down snaps.

This week, Hall’s snaps increased in every situation. Most notably, he played the majority of the third-down snaps. Hall had averaged at least 30 receiving yards per game in each of the first three seasons of his career, so it was surprising that Hall wasn’t playing as much in passing situations. This didn’t necessarily help his fantasy value in this game, as he ran 19 times for 68 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for eight yards. Hall has some difficult matchups over the next four weeks, but he should remain in fantasy starting lineups thanks to his increased role.

Arian Smith is a healthy inactive: The Jets’ fourth-round rookie was inactive for the first time this season.

New York started the season with Garrett Wilson and Josh Reynolds at the top of the depth chart, while Smith, Tyler Johnson and Allen Lazard fought for playing time in the third and fourth spots. Either Johnson or Lazard has been inactive for the majority of the Jets’ games this season. Wilson and Reynolds have been on injured reserve. Typically, that would mean Smith, Johnson and Lazard would be the top three wide receivers. However, the team traded for backups John Metchie III from the Philadelphia Eagles and Adonai Mitchell from the Indianapolis Colts before the trade deadline, and they were the clear top two wide receivers on the depth chart last week.

This week, Smith was inactive instead of Johnson or Lazard, even though Lazard was questionable due to a neck injury. Smith had only caught six passes in 11 games, so it’s not surprising he wasn’t playing given his production. However, given the Jets’ 2-9 record, it is surprising the team went with an injured wide receiver who is two weeks away from his 30th birthday over their rookie to better prepare the team for 2026 and beyond.

Metchie and Mitchell remained the Jets’ top two wide receivers. Mitchell caught eight passes for 102 yards and a touchdown, the first 100-yard receiving game by a Jet this season. Isaiah Williams was ahead of both Lazard and Johnson as the slot receiver in 11 personnel this week.

There is a chance Smith is active next week while Johnson or Lazard is inactive, but that decision might not matter much for the Jets going forward. Mitchell and Mechie have earned the top two spots on the depth chart in recent weeks, and the only way that will change is if Wilson comes back this season.

The Falcons continue to adjust without Drake London: The Falcons’ lead receiver was ruled out due to a knee injury.

This was London’s second straight absence. Darnell Mooney has been the Falcons’ other starting wide receiver when healthy, and that remained the case for this game. David Sills V emerged as the primary third receiver in Week 6, and he’s held that role ever since. With London out, Sills has been the other wide receiver in two-receiver sets. Despite having a prominent role in the offense, he had only caught six passes for 50 yards this season prior to this week. He caught the Falcons’ only touchdown pass in this game.

Casey Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud III, Casey Washington and KhaDarel Hodge are the only other wide receivers with over 30 receiving yards for Atlanta this season, but McCloud was released over a month ago. Washington was a healthy inactive for a second-straight week. Hodge was limited in practice on Thursday due to a shoulder injury, but he wasn’t given a game status. Despite the lack of game status, he was also inactive.

Atlanta opted to sign Dylan Drummond off its practice squad to be its third wide receiver, while Deven Thompkins was activated off the practice squad. Jamal Agnew has also been on the roster, but he’s primarily been a returner rather than an offensive player. Drummond played 100% of the 11-personnel snaps, while Thompkins was the primary backup in two-receiver sets. Agnew remained a special teams player.

The top three players in receiving yards for the Falcons were non-wide receivers. Given the Falcons’ constant changes and lack of production at wide receiver, outside of London and, at times, Mooney, we can expect the Falcons to prioritize wide receiver this offseason.

Miscellaneous notes

• Falcons running back Nathan Carter was active for the fifth time this season. The Falcons’ decision to have two or three running backs active seems to depend on their health at other positions.

Arizona Cardinals @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bucky Irving returns: Irving had last played in Week 4.

He missed seven straight games due to shoulder and foot injuries, but he was able to practice in full. Prior to his injury, he was playing over 70% of the offensive snaps each week, finishing with at least 18 touches in every game. In his absence, Rachaad White was initially the clear lead back, but over time, Sean Tucker took over as the early-down back while White remained the passing-down back. Owen Wright was recently the third running back on the depth chart, but he was released on Saturday because the team didn’t need four running backs.

Irving wasn’t on the field as much as he was earlier in the season, but he touched the ball on a higher percentage of his plays. His decrease in playing time occurred across most situations, except at the goal line, where he took both snaps, and during two-minute drills because the Buccaneers didn’t play in that situation. He ran the ball 17 times for 61 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 20 yards. The other running backs combined for four carries.

We can expect Irving’s playing time to increase as the rest of the season progresses. This means he can safely be put back into fantasy starting lineups, given his volume of touches. Ideally, his efficiency also improves as he becomes healthier. White can be dropped in redraft leagues at this point. Even if Irving suffers another injury or a setback, Tucker would likely lead the team in carries. It’s fine to hold onto Tucker, but only as a handcuff.

Chris Godwin Jr.’s role increases: Godwin finished first on the team in receiving yards and second among the wide receivers in offensive snaps.

Tampa Bay spent most of October and early November with Emeka Egbuka as its X receiver, Tez Johnson as its Z receiver and Sterling Shepard in the slot. Godwin played in Week 12 for the first time since Week 5, but it was on a limited basis. He played 35.7% of the offensive snaps, largely taking snaps from Shepard in 11 personnel from the slot.

This week, Godwin took even more playing time from Shepard while also taking time from Johnson. Godwin played 87.5% of the 11-personnel snaps, leaving Johnson and Shepard to split the rest of the snaps. Shepard not only played under 40% of the offensive snaps for the first time this season but also played less in the slot than usual, allowing Godwin to be the team’s primary slot receiver. Last week, Johnson took two-thirds of the 12-personnel snaps while Godwin took the other third. This week, Johnson played 59% compared to Godwin’s 46%. 

There were also some 12-personnel snaps where Egbuka was off the field. Egbuka played 85.2% of the offensive snaps, which is still relatively high, but it was his lowest rate since Week 7. While Godwin had a big performance this week, the Buccaneers have the second-worst schedule for wide receivers over the rest of the season. The rotation will also be more complicated if Mike Evans returns, which could potentially happen as soon as next week. Jalen McMillan is also expected to return to practice this week, which would further complicate the rotation.

Marvin Harrison Jr. temporarily returns for the Cardinals: He returned after missing the last two games due to an appendectomy. He was limited in practice all week and was initially ruled questionable, but he ultimately played.

Harrison and Michael Wilson have been the Cardinals’ top two wide receivers this season. Wilson was a non-factor for the first five weeks of the season, totaling 16 receiving yards or less in all five games. He became more involved starting in Week 6, catching a few passes each game for 34-61 yards. In the two weeks without Harrison, Wilson was a fantasy MVP, catching 25 passes for 303 yards.

Part of Wilson’s success was a move to the X receiver spot. Wilson had spent 18% of his snaps as an outside receiver on the line of scrimmage over the first 10 weeks, compared to Harrison’s 66.5%. Wilson lined up in that spot on 58.2% of his snaps in the two weeks without Harrison.

This week, both Cardinals receivers played significant snaps as an X receiver. Wilson played 54.4% of his snaps there, while Harrison played 59.5% of his snaps there. However, Harrison suffered a heel injury in the fourth quarter and didn’t return. This left Xavier Weaver as the Cardinals’ second wide receiver for the rest of the game, similar to the last two weeks.

Wilson didn’t have much receiving production, as Harrison caught six passes for 69 yards, while Wilson hauled in three passes for 36 yards. If Harrison misses time due to the heel injury, we can expect Wilson to be a bigger part of the offense.

Miscellaneous notes

• Cardinals’ running back Trey Benson was limited in practice on Wednesday and didn’t practice on Thursday or Friday due to a knee injury. He remained on injured reserve for this week. Arizona is roughly halfway into his 21-day practice window, when it will need to decide to activate Benson or leave him on injured reserve.
• Running back Bam Knight was limited in practice all week due to a knee injury and was questionable, but he ended up active. The injury didn’t stop Knight from being the Cardinals’ lead running back in this game.
• Arizona halfback Emari Demercado was ruled out due to an ankle injury, his second straight absence. He didn’t practice all week. He was ruled out on Friday. Michael Carter was the Cardinals’ third-down back, similar to other weeks when Demercado has missed time.
• Cardinals’ wide receiver Xavier Weaver was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to a shoulder injury.
• The Cardinals activated tight end Pharaoh Brown from the practice squad for this game on Saturday, giving Arizona four tight ends.
• Tampa Bay’s quarterback Baker Mayfield didn’t practice on Wednesday, was limited on Thursday and upgraded to full on Friday due to a left shoulder injury. He was listed as questionable but ultimately started.
• The Buccaneers signed quarterback Connor Bazelak off their own practice squad on Saturday, likely as a precaution in case Mayfield couldn’t play. He was a healthy inactive, although it gave them an emergency third quarterback.
• Tampa Bay’s wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. was limited on Wednesday due to a fibula injury.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans

Brian Thomas Jr. returned for Jacksonville: The Jaguars’ wide receiver had missed three straight games due to an ankle injury.

The Jaguars started the season with Thomas as their top outside receiver and Travis Hunter as their slot receiver, while Dyami Brown and Parker Washington rotated as the other outside receiver. Tim Patrick was the fifth receiver on the depth chart. Hunter has since landed on injured reserve, while the team traded for Jakobi Meyers to effectively take his place. 

During Thomas’s absence, Patrick was playing significantly more snaps. As the season has progressed, Washington has completely won a starting spot over Brown, to the point where Brown was a healthy inactive this week. Austin Trammell has become the Jaguars’ new fifth wide receiver.

Jacksonville started the game with Meyers and Washington as the top two wide receivers, while Thomas joined them in three-receiver sets. It’s possible the Jaguars were easing Thomas back in, but it’s also possible Thomas is third on the depth chart at this point when everyone is healthy. The Jaguars didn’t use nearly as much wide receiver rotation as usual, as Patrick only played in two of the first 23 snaps, while Tammell played one.

Washington suffered a hip injury at the start of the Jaguars’ sixth drive. Thomas went back to playing in two-receiver sets, further suggesting Thomas is third on the depth chart at this point. Trammell took over as the third wide receiver in three-receiver sets after the injury.

If Washington misses time, Meyers would belong in fantasy starting lineups going forward, while Thomas would be at least worth considering for fantasy starting lineups.

Brenton Strange scores his first touchdown: The Jaguars tight end caught three passes for 45 yards, including a touchdown pass. 

Strange was a top sleeper tight end this summer, and he was living up to the expectations in September. He played 81.5% of the Jaguars’ offensive snaps over the first four weeks, including at least 80% of the snaps in each major situation. He caught at least a few passes each week and scored at least nine PPR points in three of four games. He suffered a hip and quad injury in Week 5, landing him on injured reserve.

Strange returned last week, but his role was somewhat limited. He played 71% of the offensive snaps and only 60% of the 11-personnel snaps on early downs. He also played less than 80% on third downs as well as two-tight-end sets. He caught five passes for 93 yards despite the limited time. This week, his playing time was back to normal. While he would have ideally seen a few more targets, the Jaguars only attempted 27 passes because they spent the last three quarters with a lead.

Strange faces the Indianapolis Colts next week and during the fantasy championship round. He should be a top waiver-wire target in any league where he is available due to his role, but two notable favorable matchups in the last four weeks of the fantasy season help his case.

Elic Ayomanor returns for Tennessee: Ayomanor returned after missing last week due to a hamstring injury.

The Titans have had a clear top three wide receivers since Calvin Ridley suffered his season-ending injury. Ayomanor, Van Jefferson and Chimere Dike have been the three primary wide receivers in three-receiver sets. During October and early November, there were constant changes to which two were the primary receivers in 12 personnel.

Ayomanor was limited in practice all week and was questionable, but that didn’t stop him from being the top wide receiver in terms of playing time this week. He played over 80% of the offensive snaps in 11- and 12-personnel sets, and he was the primary receiver in single-receiver sets. Van Jefferson was the other primary receiver in 11 and 12 personnel. Dike played 95.6% of the snaps in three-receiver sets.

While Dike hasn’t been playing in two-receiver sets in recent weeks, he is the only one with a chance of being fantasy-relevant this year. He’s gained at least 15 PPR points in three of his last six games, but he’s also been held under four PPR points in the other three, including this week.

Tennessee made a change at its top backup this week, making Mason Kinsey a healthy scratch after playing 33 offensive snaps in Week 11. Undrafted rookie Xavier Restrepo was the fourth wide receiver this week. He made his NFL debut last week thanks to Ayomanor’s injury, among others. However, he suffered a right ankle injury late in the fourth quarter, which will make it more difficult for him to earn more playing time.

Miscellaneous notes

• Jaguars lead running back Travis Etienne Jr. didn’t play as much as usual, but that was due to the blowout rather than a sign of things to come. Etienne had a clear lead in carries over Bhayshul Tuten in the first half, while the two were even throughout the second half.
• Jacksonville tight end Hunter Long missed his fourth straight game. He’s been dealing with a knee injury but was a full participant in practice all week. This suggests he’s fallen to fourth on the depth chart, and Jacksonville only wants three tight ends active. 
• Tyjae Spears played more offensive snaps than Tony Pollard for the Tennessee Titans, which is typical when the Titans are blown out. Pollard remains the clear early-down back.
• Tennessee tight end Chig Okonkwo didn’t practice on Thursday due to a foot injury. He was also limited on Wednesday and Friday. While he was ruled questionable on Friday, he ultimately played his usual number of snaps. He was leading the team in receiving yards heading into the game, and he expanded his lead by leading the team in receiving yards in this game with 29.

Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks

Monitor Aaron Jones Sr.’s health: The veteran running back suffered a shoulder injury in the middle of the third quarter and didn’t return.

Jones has been the lead running back the last three weeks, playing at least 65% of the offensive snaps each game. He split time with Jordan Mason early in the season when both were healthy, but Jones had taken the lead recently. Jones accomplished this despite showing up on the injury report each of the last three weeks due to a shoulder injury, presumably the same shoulder. However, Jones wasn’t on the injury report heading into this week.

Jones started the game only playing 56% of the offensive snaps. A high percentage of the Vikings’ first-half snaps were third downs, so Minnesota opted to use fullback C.J. Ham in those situations, potentially to help their rookie quarterback in his first start. Mason only played six of 25 snaps in the first half.

He suffered his injury in the middle of the third quarter, and Mason initially took over. Mason briefly exited the game in the fourth quarter and then returned. However, the Vikings were down by multiple scores, so they eventually turned to Zavier Scott.

If Jones misses time, Mason will become fantasy-viable. While his playing time has noticeably shrunk over the past month, he’s averaged over 5.0 yards per carry in each of his last four games. He ran six times for 47 yards this week. The Vikings face the Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants over the next three weeks, and all three have been favorable for running backs. This would make Mason a potential fantasy starter for as long as Jones is out.

Kenneth Walker III continues in an expanded role: Walker played over 55% of the Seahawks’ offensive snaps for a second straight week, after achieving that in one game during the first 11 weeks.

Seattle has used a two-man rotation between Walker and Zach Charbonnet all season, as Walker played over 50% of the snaps in normal early-downs each week but under 35% of snaps on third downs, two-minute drills, short-yardage situations and goal-line snaps.

Prior to Week 12, head coach Mike Macdonald mentioned that Walker had earned a larger role in the offense. He played a season-high 62.5% of the offensive snaps, including over 50% of the third-down snaps and 50% of goal-line snaps. This week, his playing time decreased slightly, but it was still better than most of the season. He ran 13 times for 56 yards and caught three passes for 18 yards.

His rushing efficiency hasn’t been a problem all year, but his receiving and scoring have been. This was his third-straight game with three receptions after catching one or fewer in seven of his previous eight games. He’s also played 63.6% of the goal-line snaps since Week 9, so the touchdowns should be on the way. Charbonnet broke a 17-yard touchdown run this week, but that was from a big play rather than the usual goal-line snaps.

Walker should remain a safer start going forward because he has both a higher floor due to his receiving ability and a higher ceiling due to his touchdown potential.

Miscellaneous notes

• Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy was ruled out due to a concussion. He was limited in practice all week. He was ruled out on Friday. Undrafted rookie Max Brosmer started his first NFL game. The Vikings activated quarterback John Wolford from the practice squad for this game on Saturday to be the backup.
• Wide receiver Adam Thielen was a healthy inactive for the first time this season. He played significant snaps in the first three weeks of the season when Jordan Addison was suspended, but he’s caught eight passes for 69 yards on the season, and his playing time was declining each week, as Jalen Nailor has taken a higher percentage of 11 personnel snaps as the season has progressed.
• T.J. Hockenson played notably fewer snaps last week, notably on early downs in single-tight-end sets. This week, his playing time bounced back. He also had his game of the season in terms of receiving yards at 59. This was not enough to trust starting him in future weeks.
• Vikings tight end Ben Yurosek was a healthy scratch, his second straight absence.
• Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to a glute injury.
• The Seahawks placed third-string running back George Holani on injured reserve on Saturday. To replace him, the Seahawks signed Cam Akers to the active roster and Myles Gaskin to the practice squad on Wednesday. However, the team opted to make Akers inactive and instead signed Gaskin off the practice squad and activated Velus Jones Jr. from the practice squad to be the third and fourth running backs for this game.
• Rashid Shaheed’s playing time in 12 personnel has declined every week since joining Seattle. He only played 14.3% of the 12-personnel snaps this week, leading him to play under 50% of the total snaps despite playing in garbage time.
• Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo was a healthy inactive after suiting up last week.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers

Monitor Dont’e Thornton Jr.’s health: The third-round rookie wide receiver suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter and didn’t return.

Thornton started the season as the Raiders’ X receiver. He eventually lost the job to Jack Bech but then earned it back. He had played 45.2% of the Raiders’ offensive snaps over the previous three weeks, while Bech still took some snaps from him in 11 personnel. Lockett’s playing time in 12 personnel had been rising.

This week, Las Vegas embraced even more of a rotation. Thornton and Bech split time in 11 and 12 personnel. Lockett lost most of his time in 12 personnel, allowing the rookies to be more involved. Once Thornton suffered his injury, Bech was more consistently on the field in both 11 and 12 personnel.

None of the wide receivers earned more than 25 receiving yards. Since the team traded Jakobi Meyers, they have combined for one touchdown in four games. They’ve averaged eight receptions for 86 yards, which isn’t as good as some elite receivers. It’s best to avoid the Raiders’ wide receivers over the rest of the season. We can expect Las Vegas to continue investing in wide receivers this offseason.

Oronde Gadsden was held to one reception: The breakout rookie tight end has been held under 6.5 PPR points in each of his last three games.

Gadsden started the season as a healthy inactive but was given an opportunity in Week 3 because Will Dissly was injured. He had a breakout Week 6 with seven receptions for 68 yards. Gadsden was the top fantasy tight end from Weeks 6-9 with 24 receptions for 377 yards and two touchdowns. His playing time was rising during that stretch, playing 80% of the offensive snaps in Week 9. This included 100% of the snaps on third downs and in two-tight-end sets.

Gadsden suffered an injury in Week 10 but was able to return in Week 11, playing 87.5% of the offensive snaps. This week, he was down to 70.1%, his fewest in a game since his breakout, outside of Week 10 when he was injured. Part of the reason he wasn’t playing as much was the blowout, but he was also on the field for less than 70% of the Chargers’ passing plays, which was also his fewest since Week 5. Gadsden was targeted on 10.5% of his routes, a low for him since Week 5.

Part of the problem is that he was playing the Raiders, who have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season. It’s worth noting the Chargers play the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans in three of their next four games. They all rank in the top seven in preventing fantasy points to tight ends. 

If you’ve had Gadsden in your fantasy starting lineup, it could be time to consider a backup plan.

Miscellaneous notes

• Ashton Jeanty played a career-high 95.8% of the Raiders’ offensive snaps this week. While that was potentially due to the team’s offensive coordinator change, the team also ran only 48 total offensive plays. In terms of the total number of plays, this game was average for Jeanty.
• Las Vegas wide receivers Tre Tucker (knee) and Tyler Lockett (ankle and quadriceps) were limited in practice at times this week, but neither was given a game status, and both were active.
• Raiders tight end Michael Mayer didn’t practice all week due to an ankle injury. He was ruled out on Friday.
• Quarterback Justin Herbert suffered a left hand injury, but he was able to return. Jim Harbaugh said after the game that he will have surgery to repair his hand, but it’s unclear if that will lead Herbert to miss time.
• Chargers running back Omarion Hampton returned to practice from injured reserve on Monday. He was limited in practice all week, and he ultimately wasn’t activated.
• The Chargers signed running back Jaret Patterson off their own practice squad on Saturday while making Trayveon Williams a practice squad elevation. Patterson was back to being the primary backup after Williams was the primary backup last week.
• Los Angeles wide receiver Tre’ Harris was limited on Wednesday due to a jaw injury.

Buffalo Bills @ Pittsburgh Steelers

The Bills’ ever-changing wide receiver room: The Bills added Brandin Cooks, while half of their wide receivers from the start of the season were not active.

Buffalo started the season with Keon Coleman as its X receiver and Khalil Shakir as its slot receiver in three-receiver sets. Buffalo rotated Joshua Palmer, Tyrell Shavers, Curtis Samuel and Elijah Moore as its Z receiver and backup to Coleman. Typically, one of those four receivers was inactive, depending on who was healthy each week.

Among those Z receivers, Moore was released from the team on Wednesday. Palmer was inactive with an ankle injury. He missed one practice and was limited in the other two. Samuel was placed on injured reserve on Friday due to an elbow injury. The team signed Cooks after he requested his release from the New Orleans Saints. Cooks had played more at X and in the slot during his time with the Saints this year than at the Z receiver spot.

At X receiver, Coleman was a healthy inactive the last two weeks due to disciplinary reasons. Gabe Davis was a practice squad elevation each of the last two weeks to take Coleman’s place. Davis was signed to the 53-man roster on Friday, so he and Coleman were active for this game. 

Shakir continued playing nearly all of the 11-personnel snaps but rarely in other personnel groupings, which had been the only constant this season. Buffalo used Davis and Shavers as the primary X and Z receivers, with Coleman and Cooks were the backups. Shavers and Cooks rotated more frequently in 11 personnel, while Coleman led the rotation with Davis in 12 personnel. 

There is a decent chance the rotation becomes more complicated next week, as Cooks may play more after practicing more with the team in addition to Palmer potentially returning. It’s best to avoid all of these players from a fantasy perspective.

Kenneth Gainwell’s fantasy value comes back to Earth: Gainwell ran five times for 20 yards and caught two passes for 25 yards.

The Steelers’ backfield has used a clear rotation since Week 7. Jaylen Warren was the early-down back and Gainwell was the receiving back. Gainwell has played 32.5% of the early-down snaps, 81.0% of the third-down snaps and 75.9% of two-minute drill snaps in that time, and those numbers varied only a little from one week to the next.

In Week 11, the Steelers had 12 plays in two-minute drill situations. Warren was the lead rusher in that game, but Gainwell caught seven passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns. In Week 12, Gainwell caught another six passes for 30 yards and broke a 55-yard run on a fake tush push. He was RB3 over those two games, but the Steelers’ running back usage by situation had not changed in a significant way. Warren had averaged 4.8 yards per carry over the last three weeks, so there was no indication he was going to start losing carries.

This week, the rotation remained the same. Warren was the lead rusher, which included him scoring a one-yard touchdown. The Steelers only ran 43 offensive plays, as the Bills earned more than double the time of possession. Gainwell could remain a flex option going forward, but it’s unlikely he will play significantly more snaps this year.

Miscellaneous notes

• Buffalo tight end Dalton Kincaid didn’t practice on Wednesday but was limited on Thursday and Friday due to a hamstring injury. He was ruled questionable on Friday but didn’t play. Dawson Knox remained the Bills’ lead tight end with Kincaid out, while Keleki Latu was activated from the practice squad for this game on Saturday to be their third tight end.
• The Bills’ reliance on the run game led running back Ray Davis to have his best game of the season. Tight end Jackson Hawes also played a season high in snaps because of how much he was used on early downs and two-tight-end sets for blocking situations.
• Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers was back in the lineup after missing last week due to a left wrist injury. He didn’t practice on Wednesday but was able to practice on Thursday and Friday. He left the game for a few plays in the third quarter due to a nose injury. He also didn’t play on the final three plays with the game out of reach.
• Steelers’ wide receivers D.K. Metcalf (ankle) and Ben Skowronek (shoulder) both missed some practice this week but were able to play.
• Wide receiver Scotty Miller was a healthy inactive after suiting up last week. Undrafted rookie Ke’Shawn Williams was active in his place.
• Tight end Darnell Washington played over 68% of the offensive snaps for a third straight game. He led the Steelers in receiving yards, catching two passes for 45 yards. Jonnu Smith has played less than 55% of the offensive snaps in each of the last three games.

Denver Broncos @ Washington Commanders

Terry McLaurin returns for the Commanders: McLaurin had played in only one game since Week 3 because of a quadriceps injury.

The Commanders have had to dig deep into the wide receiver depth chart in recent weeks because of multiple injuries. McLaurin was out, Noah Brown had been out since Week 2 with groin and knee injuries, and Luke McCaffrey had suffered a season-ending injury. That left Deebo Samuel and Jaylin Lane as their only receivers from the start of the season. Chris Moore took over the X role with McLaurin out, while Treylon Burks, Robbie Chosen and Jacoby Jones were added at various points as backups.

McLaurin was limited in practice on Wednesday, practiced in full on Thursday and received a rest day on Friday. Burks also missed their last game with a finger injury. He was limited to start the week but practiced in full by Friday. Brown returned to practice from injured reserve on Monday. He was limited on Wednesday, upgraded to full on Thursday and didn’t practice on Friday. Washington kept Brown on injured reserve for this game. Moore (shoulder) and Lane (hip) were also limited early in the week but practiced in full by the end. With four of the five injured receivers ready to play, Washington waived Jacoby Jones on Tuesday and brought him back to the practice squad, and waived Chosen on Friday.

The Commanders used their five active receivers in a heavy rotation. Washington has typically rotated wide receivers more than most teams. Samuel and Burks were the clear top two options, particularly in two-receiver sets, followed by Lane and McLaurin. Moore was the clear fifth receiver. Burks scored a highlight-worthy touchdown, but McLaurin had the best day among the group.

We can expect McLaurin to have a larger role next week as he gets further removed from the injury. If his role increases and Brown is able to return, Moore could become a healthy inactive or potentially be released and returned to the practice squad. McLaurin and Samuel remain the only Commanders wide receivers to consider from a fantasy perspective.

Pat Bryant passes Troy Franklin on the depth chart: Bryant received more targets than Franklin, and he played more offensive snaps in both two- and three-wide-receiver sets.

The third-round rookie wide receiver started the season as a clear fifth option on the Broncos’ depth chart, playing only four offensive snaps in Week 1. Throughout the preseason and the first week of the season, he served strictly as a backup to Courtland Sutton. His playing time rose steadily, and he passed Trent Sherfield on the depth chart in Week 4 and Marvin Mims Jr. in Week 5.

From Weeks 5–11, Bryant played 54.5% of the offensive snaps. That included 74.7% in 11 personnel, which was nearly identical to Franklin, but only 6.5% of snaps in two-receiver sets, while Franklin played 72.7%. Both wide receivers had big games in Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs, with Franklin catching four passes for 84 yards and Bryant catching five for 82. Bryant has posted 1.85 yards per route run since Week 6, the best mark among all Denver wide receivers.

Denver had its bye last week, which is often a time when teams adjust their rotations, and rookies frequently see more playing time. Bryant received a notable increase in snaps in 11 personnel, while Franklin rotated more often with Mims. In two-receiver sets, the team rotated more than usual. Bryant played a larger share of those snaps, as did run-blocking wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey. That left Franklin rarely used in two-receiver groupings.

Bryant was among the Broncos’ top receivers in this game, catching three passes for 42 yards. Denver faces the Las Vegas Raiders next week, and that matchup could set up a big game for Bryant.

Miscellaneous notes

• Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels was ruled out on Friday due to a left elbow injury, his third straight absence. He was limited in practice all week.
• Washington running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. didn’t practice on Wednesday due to an illness. He remained the Commanders starting running back.
• Tight end John Bates has played over 55% of the Commanders offensive snaps in each of the last three games after playing under 55% in each of his first seven games. 
• Commanders’ tight end Ben Sinnott returned after missing last week with an ankle injury. He practiced in full this week.
• The Commanders waived kicker Matt Gay, and replaced him with Jake Moody from the Chicago Bears practice squad.
• The Broncos continued their three man running back rotation from before the bye week, with R.J. Harvey as the lead back, Jaleel McLaughlin as the backup, and Tyler Badie as the receiving back.
• Denver tight end Nate Adkins missed his fourth consecutive game with a knee injury. The Broncos had elevated Marcedes Lewis from the practice squad the last three games. This week, Denver opted to only have two tight ends active rather than sign Lewis to the 53-man roster. This led Evan Engram to play a larger role than usual.

Table notes

• Snaps include plays called back due to penalties, including offensive holding or defensive pass interference. The other three stats have these plays removed.
• Targets may differ from official NFL sources. The most likely discrepancy would be from a clear thrown-away pass, where the NFL may give the target to the nearest receiver, while this data will not.
• Carries are only on designed plays. Quarterback scrambles won’t count for the total number of carries in the game.