Fantasy Football: Playoff Push Free Agent Targets

The twelfth Sunday of the NFL calendar showcased an unforgettable performance by Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs, notable come-from-behind triumphs by the determined Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys, a fairly compelling starting debut by Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders and, as regrettably seems to be the norm, multiple injuries that are poised to impact a number of fantasy participants, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield (shoulder), New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara (knee) and Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins (concussion).

Four teams took their bye this Week 12 (Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders), but none will do so this coming Thanksgiving week, which presents three contests on Thursday and an additional one in Philadelphia on Friday afternoon. However, bye weeks are not yet finished! The last four teams will take their bye in Week 14 (New England Patriots, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers), which coincides with the initial playoff round for many participants. Consequently, this week’s free agent report includes Week 14 considerations. It’s the playoffs. Strategize for them this week, if feasible.

Each Monday, prior to the current NFL weekend concluding, we will pinpoint players obtainable in at least 50% of ESPN standard leagues deserving of your consideration, from standard formats to more extensive options. The NFL is a weekly league, and player worth and positions rarely stay fixed. It’s irrelevant how you procure players for your fantasy rosters, only that you procure them!

Quarterback

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals (47% rostered in ESPN leagues): Brissett was highlighted last week, and we are compelled to do so once more following his registering another top-10 showing in Week 12. Brissett tallied 18.48 points Sunday, his least impressive performance in six opportunities. That’s still outstanding! We favor Brissett for Week 13 against the weakened Buccaneers, but not as much for Week 14 against the NFC-leading Los Angeles Rams.

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (47.2%): Him yet again? Indeed! Darnold rebounded from dreadful fantasy showings in Weeks 10 and 11 to post a useful 17.66 points against the Tennessee Titans. Approaching are the Minnesota Vikings and subsequently, in Week 14, the Atlanta Falcons. It’s a plausible two-week stretch for a substitute fantasy quarterback who possesses the premier wide receiver in the league, as Jaxon Smith-Njigba advances toward 2,000 receiving yards.

Deep-league options/streamers/random thoughts

• Giants substitute Jameis Winston (3.1%) topped all Sunday passers with 32.24 points, and while rookie star Jaxson Dart may return from his concussion this week, the Giants are idle in Week 14 and could/should afford him more time to recuperate. The Giants are not contending for the playoffs. Winston remains capable of noteworthy performances at any juncture, against any adversary, even versus the Patriots next Monday night.

• Titans rookie Cam Ward (5.2%) tallied 23.94 points in Sunday’s defeat to the Seahawks, exceeding his season best by more than 10 points. Ward still isn’t dependable for fantasy, but we acknowledge there is potential here for this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Subsequently, the Titans must contend with Myles Garrett and the Browns in Week 14, which is not as appealing.

• Dolphins lefty Tua Tagovailoa (12.8%) didn’t throw a single pass in Week 12, observing the bye week, but this week he confronts the New Orleans Saints and subsequently, in Week 14, the New York Jets. As with Darnold, a fantasy participant could fare worse over a two-week span. Numerous quarterbacks are readily accessible in ESPN leagues, but Darnold and Tagovailoa merit consideration ahead of, among others, Houston Texans starter C.J. Stroud (41.1%), Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders (5.2%) and, if necessitated to start for an injured Baker Mayfield, the Buccaneers’ Teddy Bridgewater (0.1%).

Running back

Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders (8.8%): We don’t generally advocate players against the Broncos, but Rodriguez certainly appeared to be the team’s starter prior to the bye week, and not rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt (60%). Even Austin Ekeler (18.3), who was placed on injured reserve far back in Week 3, is more rostered than Rodriguez. That is simply absurd. Anticipate volume for Rodriguez against Denver, after he rushed 15 times in Week 11, and tallied touchdowns in Weeks 9 and 10. The Commanders encounter the Vikings in Week 14.

Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints (1.8%): Neal, a sixth-round selection from Kansas, was thrust into early action when Kamara (knee) exited Sunday’s game. Neal tallied a competent 11.1 points in relief, with much of the yield originating from his five receptions for 43 yards. The Saints employed TE Taysom Hill (1.2%) for more volume, but he converted 10 carries into only 17 yards, so we would opt for Neal first. We lack clarity on Kamara’s situation, but Neal may garner an opportunity to excel this week against the Dolphins, and a week later against the Buccaneers.

Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals (40.2%): Someone must execute the ground game for Arizona this week against the Buccaneers, and while we have promoted potential starter Trey Benson (55.7%) returning from his knee injury several times recently in this space, it’s uncertain when he will officially return. It may be Knight and Michael Carter (11.3%) once more this week and beyond.

Deep-league options/streamers/random thoughts

• There isn’t much to contribute at running back, so it’s fortunate no teams are on bye in Week 13. Chiefs backup Kareem Hunt (59.9%) and Pittsburgh Steelers backup Kenneth Gainwell (57.2%) are above the 50% line, but each should be more popular than they are. Hunt tallied 20 points on Sunday, and we still await clarity on whether Isiah Pacheco (knee) will participate this Thursday afternoon against the Cowboys. Gainwell has tallied a staggering 47.7 points for the past two games, with his 13 receptions in that span a significant reason why, and the Steelers confront the Buffalo Bills. Add these players for Week 13 and beyond.

Wide receiver

Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans (11.9%): Dike tallied 21.4 points in Sunday’s defeat to the heavily favored Seahawks, registering an electrifying punt return touchdown and subsequently tallying a receiving touchdown in the final minute. Dike has attained 16 fantasy points in three of five games, and Ward appears to be making advancements. Nobody will mistake the Titans’ offense for, well, any productive one, but Ward and Dike should generate competent figures in Week 13 against the Jaguars, and if the Titans can sustain the pass rush, perhaps the following week versus the Browns.

John Metchie III, New York Jets (0.5%): Metchie tallied 18.5 points in Sunday’s defeat to the Baltimore Ravens, catching six of seven targets for 65 yards and a touchdown. This is the second consecutive game in which Metchie, who caught four passes over seven games with the Philadelphia Eagles before landing with the Jets for Week 10, tallied a touchdown. He appears to be the featured receiver alongside former Indianapolis Colts option Adonai Mitchell (2.8%). For the time being, proceed with Metchie the next fortnight against the Falcons and Dolphins.

Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans (23.3%): Higgins has caught touchdown passes in three of five games, and from two quarterbacks, as he emerges as a reasonable flex option. The schedule isn’t favorable over the next two weeks for road games with the Colts and Chiefs, and we don’t know who will be throwing the football, but Higgins should be more popular. Teammate Christian Kirk (10.6%) also tallied a touchdown in Week 12, but Higgins has the bright future in the short and long term.

Deep-league options/streamers/random thoughts

• The Bengals played Week 12 without star Ja’Marr Chase (suspension) and then late in the defeat to the Patriots, they lost Tee Higgins (concussion). This should compel his absence in Week 13, as the Bengals play on Thursday night. Andrei Iosivas (11.2%) caught four passes for 61 yards Sunday, while Mitchell Tinsley (0.2%) tallied a touchdown on his two receptions. It is certainly possible Joe Burrow, likely to return to action Thursday, looks their way on Thanksgiving. Go with Iosivas first, and remember, there is no guarantee Higgins returns for Week 14, either.

• Green Bay Packers starter Christian Watson (48.8%) tallied a disappointing 9.9 points on Sunday against the Vikings, but we like him for Week 13 and 14 against the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. After all, the Lions just permitted 30.6 points to the Giants’ Wan’Dale Robinson, and the Bears are one of the easiest teams to procure WR fantasy points against. Watson boasts touchdown upside for these contests.

• Similarly, we like the upside of Bears rookie Luther Burden III (7.5%) for games against the Eagles and Packers. Burden has yet to truly break out, with three receptions in each of the past three weeks, but he makes big plays when called upon, and thus makes for a decent, deep-league flex.

• Cardinals slot option Greg Dortch (6.1%) has tallied 35.4 points over the past two games, as Brissett continues throwing the football sans Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix). Michael Wilson is the target hog, but the diminutive Dortch has tallied touchdowns in consecutive weeks.

Tight end

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears (35%): Loveland tallied 14.9 points in Sunday’s win over the Steelers, which included his third touchdown of his rookie season. Loveland has been a fantasy factor over the past five weeks, averaging better than 12 yards per catch each week. The Bears play the Eagles this Friday afternoon.

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (10.9%): Strange, out since Week 5 with a hip injury, tallied 14.3 points (a top 5 figure among tight ends this week) in his return against the Cardinals, and he comes recommended for Week 13 against the Titans and even the following week against the Colts. A healthy Strange will see targets, and he totaled 93 receiving yards Sunday.

Deep-league options/streamers/random thoughts

• Evan Engram (42.4%) and his mates observed a Week 12 bye, and they play the Sunday night game this week in Washington. Engram hasn’t aided fantasy participants much this season, but the Commanders permit plenty of fantasy points to tight ends, though not quite the most.

• It may be a bit of a stretch to rely on Ravens backup TE Isaiah Likely (7.6%) just because his team plays the Bengals, who have been historically terrible against tight ends this season. Starter Mark Andrews should have a good game, and perhaps Likely will reach double digit fantasy points for the first time this season. For those wondering, the Bengals play the Bills in Week 14, so if Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) can return to health by then, he is a prime fantasy pickup!

Defense

• The Colts D/ST (46%) is safely among the top 10 in fantasy scoring this season, yet because so many participants moved on for the Week 11 bye week, this unit remains available in many leagues. Go get the Colts. They play the Texans and Jaguars over the next two weeks.

• For Week 13, the San Francisco 49ers D/ST (20%) should produce several turnovers against the Browns and their rookie QB, while the Atlanta Falcons D/ST (36.4%) gets to face the Jets.

• Meanwhile, the Dolphins D/ST (2.3%) hasn’t aided many fantasy participants, but this unit does have 18 fantasy points over its past two games, against the Bills and Commanders. The Dolphins host the Saints in Week 13, then play the Jets in Week 14. That may work nicely for fantasy.