November 24, 2025
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that running back
Jaleel McLaughlin had a number of good runs in the team's big Week 11 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs and pointed to him "being important down the stretch," per Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. McLaughlin played only 13% of the offensive snaps before the team's Week 12 bye and had six carries for 19 yards, but he did find the end zone for the first time this year in just his second game played. Rookie
RJ Harvey is expected to lead Denver's backfield the rest of the way with
J.K. Dobbins (foot) done for the year, but it sounds like McLaughlin is going to have a bigger role to close out 2025. At the very least, McLaughlin could become the Broncos' preferred goal-line back, which would give him streaming appeal in deeper leagues as a touchdown-dependent option. McLaughlin is currently rostered in 1% of Yahoo leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
November 24, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Monday that running back
Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) will practice all week before the team re-evaluates him on Friday, according to the Pewter Report. Irving hasn't played since Week 4, but he has practiced the last two weeks and is expected to make his return in Week 13 versus the Arizona Cardinals. The 23-year-old has been rehabbing from a subluxated shoulder and a foot sprain. The Tampa offense could use a boost, especially with quarterback
Baker Mayfield (shoulder) now injured, but Irving could be eased back into a crowded backfield that also includes
Sean Tucker and
Rachaad White. Before his injury, Irving was the team's clear RB1, recording 165 scrimmage yards in four games. He should be rostered in all fantasy leagues, but he'll be a shaky fantasy play in his first game back in what could become a committee backfield the rest of the season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pewter Report
November 24, 2025
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers believe that quarterback
Baker Mayfield (shoulder) suffered a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder in the Sunday night loss to the Los Angeles Rams, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN. Mayfield is undergoing an MRI exam on Monday, but he doesn't have a fracture or structural damage. The Buccaneers "are not ruling out" Mayfield being available to play on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13. However, Monday's MRI exam will give the team a clearer picture of Mayfield's timetable. The good news is the 30-year-old's injury is to his non-throwing shoulder, although that doesn't mean he won't be forced to miss time. If Mayfield cannot play this weekend, Tampa's offense would take a big hit with backup
Teddy Bridgewater running the offense. Fantasy managers should have a better idea of Mayfield's Week 13 status once the team resumes practicing on Wednesday.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
November 24, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Greg Dortch has caught 12 of his 15 targets for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games, with
Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix) sidelined after undergoing an appendectomy. In the Week 12 overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the 27-year-old caught six of a season-high nine targets for 53 yards and scored for the second week in a row. He also carried the ball twice but lost five yards as a runner. Dortch has come alive the last two weeks with Harrison sidelined, and with Harrison's status unknown for a Week 13 date with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dortch is worth a look on the waiver wire this week as WR depth. In deeper leagues, Dortch could continue to be an option as a WR4/flex play, even when Harrison returns, as the Cardinals' offense has become very pass-heavy with
Jacoby Brissett under center.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
November 24, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Christian Watson didn't have a huge day in the team's Week 12 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, but he led the Packers in receiving in the convincing 23-6 victory. Watson led the team in targets (seven), receptions (five), and receiving yards (49). He didn't make his season debut until Week 8 while recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 18 of last year, but he has slowly developed into quarterback
Jordan Love's most trusted option through the air. The 26-year-old former second-rounder has seen at least four targets in each of his five games this year, and he has caught at least four passes in three of those contests. Watson had a season-high 85 receiving yards in his debut back on Oct. 26, and he found the end zone twice in last week's win over the Giants. His target share could take a hit whenever
Jayden Reed (shoulder, foot) returns from IR, but at the very least, Watson deserves to be rostered as an explosive deep threat. He's still rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
November 24, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Michael Wilson put up another exceptional performance in Sunday's 27-24 OT loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and profiles as one of the week's biggest pickups if teammate
Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix) remains sidelined for another contest. Wilson has racked up gaudy numbers despite the team dropping their last two games. Over that stretch, the 25-year-old has posted 25 receptions and 303 scoreless yards on a whopping 33 targets. As of now, it's unclear how much longer the team will be without Harrison Jr., although it's possible that even his return may not knock Wilson down that many pegs. Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett is averaging 43.5 pass attempts per game since becoming the starter. That figure has jumped to 50 over the last three, supporting three solid fantasy options in two of them. Expectations will need to be tempered with the second-year pro coming back from an appendix issue, but Wilson has made a case to remain involved even when that happens.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
November 24, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed (foot, shoulder) has been on Injured Reserve since Week 2, when he suffered a broken collarbone. Reed is also recovering from surgery to fix a Jones fracture in his foot. However, the Packers opened his 21-day practice window last week, and the 25-year-old former second-rounder is nearing his return. It's unclear if he'll be activated from IR to play in Week 13 on Thanksgiving Day on Thursday against the division-rival Detroit Lions, but fantasy managers need to look into picking Reed up off the waiver wire this week. Reed, who has scored 18 total touchdowns (15 receiving, three rushing) in 35 career games, is only rostered in 36% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available. The Packers could ease Reed back into a crowded WR room when he's activated, but for his TD upside alone, he could help WR-needy fantasy managers down the stretch.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
November 24, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver
Chimere Dike was a solid option in Week 12 amid injuries to the team's wide receiver room, punching in two touchdowns (one on special teams), while tying for the team lead in targets with seven. Tight end
Gunnar Helm was the team's top receiver in terms of yardage on the day. However, Dike was impactful anyway, posting the first two-TD game of his career. In fact, the former Florida Gator has notched a special teams touchdown in two of his previous three outings, while acting as a reliable outlet for rookie QB
Cameron Ward. With
Calvin Ridley (fibula) out at least a few more games, and uncertainty around
Elic Ayomanor's (hamstring) timetable for return, Dike has a chance to make a name for himself, particularly against an exploitable Jaguars' pass defense in Week 13. He's shaping up to be a nice high-floor PPR asset, and gets a boost in formats that account for return yards.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
November 24, 2025
New Orleans Saints running back
Devin Neal rushed for 18 yards on seven carries in Sunday's 24-10 home loss to their division-rival Atlanta Falcons. He added 43 yards through the air on 5-of-7 receiving. The rookie took on an elevated workload in Week 12 in the wake of backfield mate
Alvin Kamara's (knee) injury. Neal didn't find much room on the ground to run, and it's noteworthy that tight end
Taysom Hill saw three more carries than him. However, Hill's efficiency was worse (1.7 YPC), and the former tied two others for second on the team in targets. Kamara's injury has been deemed an MCL sprain, though it's unclear how much time he will miss, if any. While Neal may not be the team's only rushing option in his teammate's absence, New Orleans began working him in on passing downs a few weeks ago, notching at least three receptions in three of his last four outings. If Kamara is inactive next Sunday, the 22-year-old would be in a smash spot against a sieve-like Dolphins' rush defense.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
November 24, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kenneth Gainwell posted another solid fantasy effort in Week 12's loss to the hosting Chicago Bears, making the team's backfield situation less clear than it was a few weeks ago. Gainwell might not have had as much success as a receiver on Sunday as he did in Week 11's win, though he's now logged at least six receptions in back-to-back games and four or more in three of four. The 26-year-old's elevated workload in Pittsburgh's win over Cincinnati two Sundays ago can be explained away by teammate
Jaylen Warren's mid-game injury. However, it's notable that Gainwell retained his passing game role with Warren fully healthy, particularly because offensive coordinator Arthur Smith sang the praises of the former earlier in the week. As it stands, both Steelers' RBs may boast a bit of value. However, Gainwell currently plays a more valuable part in PPR leagues. It's a backfield worth monitoring ahead of the fantasy playoffs.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
November 24, 2025
Sports Illustrated's Alain Poupart reports that Miami Dolphins tight end
Darren Waller (pectoral) is expected to practice this Wednesday as the team gears up for a home meeting with the New Orleans Saints in Week 13. Waller has been out since picking up a pectoral sprain in Week 7, although he's apparently progressing well. For what it's worth, he's within the initial time frame of his return, and if all goes well at practice this week, the veteran might be able to suit up for Sunday's clash. There are still a few hurdles for him to clear before being activated from IR, but the Dolphins could certainly use him, considering the offense moved a bit better while he was out there on the field. Fantasy managers should monitor Waller's practice status over the coming days, as he'd be an intriguing play against a vulnerable Saints' defense if active.
--Alex CiullaSource: Alain Poupart
November 24, 2025
The New Orleans Saints are hosting kicker tryouts, and free agent
Justin Tucker is among the players invited, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Tucker served a 10-game suspension to start the 2025 season for violating the NFL's conduct policy after being the target of multiple sexual misconduct allegations. The 35-year-old is now free to sign with any team, and New Orleans is apparently interested in giving him a look after kicker
Blake Grupe missed two field goal attempts in the team's Week 12 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The 35-year-old Tucker is a five-time All-Pro who made 89.1% of his 468 career field goal attempts over 13 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens from 2012 to 2024. However, he had his worst NFL season by far in 2024, making just 22 of 30 field goal attempts and just 11 out of 19 from 40-plus yards out. Even if he gets a second chance in the NFL with New Orleans, Tucker should likely remain off fantasy radars.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo
November 24, 2025
Chicago Bears rookie running back
Kyle Monangai recorded 12 carries for 48 yards and a touchdown in his team's 31-28 Week 12 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. After veteran Bears back
D'Andre Swift coughed up a fumble early in the game against Pittsburgh, Monangai worked as the team's feature back for much of the remainder of the contest. There's no question that the 23-year-old is emerging as a key piece in the Bears' offense. Monangai has now scored a rushing touchdown in three straight weeks. For the season overall, he's recorded 461 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 99 carries. While Swift should be expected to remain the passing-downs back in Chicago, Monangai may be establishing himself as the team's preferred early-down and goal-line option. In any fantasy league with 12 or more teams where he remains available, Monangai should be a priority waiver-wire target heading into a Week 13 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
November 24, 2025
In his final game before his team's Week 12 bye, Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. recorded 79 rushing yards on a season-high 15 carries against the Miami Dolphins. The Commanders have operated with a committee backfield of Rodriguez Jr.,
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and
Jeremy McNichols for most of the 2025 season. However, Rodriguez Jr. has recorded 33 carries and two rushing touchdowns over the team's last three games and could be emerging as the team's lead back on early downs. The 25-year-old has just one reception across nine games played, so his fantasy upside is limited in PPR leagues. However, Rodriguez Jr. is still worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into Washington's Week 13 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
November 24, 2025
With star Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Ja'Marr Chase sidelined by suspension in Week 12, Bengals wideout
Andrei Iosivas recorded four catches for 61 yards on seven targets against the New England Patriots. While Chase will be back in Week 13 against the Baltimore Ravens, Iosivas could spend a second straight game in the WR2 role in Cincinnati. Bengals wideout
Tee Higgins (concussion) is in the league's concussion protocol after suffering a head injury late in the game on Sunday against New England. Cincinnati faces a short week before playing Baltimore on Thursday night, which may make it difficult for Higgins to play in Week 13. Iosivas has proven that he can step up and provide solid fantasy production when either of Cincinnati's star wide receivers is out. In PPR leagues with 12 or more teams where he remains available, Iosivas should be a waiver-wire target.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
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