Kyle Williams Earning More Playing Time in New England
New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams made the first big play of his career in Week 10, recording a 72-yard touchdown catch in his team's 28-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Patriots wideout Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) sidelined by a hamstring injury, Williams played a career-high 56% of New England's offensive snaps against Tampa Bay. If Boutte remains out for the Patriots' Week 11 matchup against the New York Jets on Thursday night, Williams could have another chance to make an impact. Boutte was listed as a limited practice participant on Monday's injury report. Even if Boutte returns, Williams could still be worth stashing off the waiver wire in deep fantasy leagues as a player on the rise.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kayshon Boutte On Track To Return on Thursday?
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) missed Week 10's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a hamstring injury, but was estimated as a limited participant in practice on Monday. It's positive to see that Boutte listed as limited after not being able to practice at all last week. However, with the quick turnaround to face the Jets on Thursday night, it wouldn't be surprising if Boutte was held out for one more week, as hamstring injuries can be tricky. The 23-year-old has been a valuable piece of New England's offense, serving as a big-play threat for Drake Maye. If Boutte were to miss his second straight game, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and rookie Kyle Williams will see bumps in routes and targets.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaxson Dart's Week 11 Status Uncertain Following Concussion
New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart (concussion) was forced to exit early from his team's Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears after suffering a concussion. The injury puts Dart's status for New York's Week 11 matchup against the Green Bay Packers in question. The 22-year-old was having an excellent game against Chicago before getting injured, completing 19 of 29 pass attempts for 242 yards and adding 66 rushing yards and two touchdowns with his legs. Dart has six rushing touchdowns in his last five games played, establishing him as one of the premier dual-threat fantasy quarterbacks in the NFL. If he is sidelined in Week 11, the Giants could turn to veteran Russell Wilson or veteran Jameis Winston under center. Both quarterbacks would likely hold minimal fantasy appeal in a difficult matchup against Green Bay.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tre Tucker is a Player to Target Ahead of Favorable Week 11 Matchup
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker was held in check by the Denver Broncos in Week 10, recording just two catches for 28 yards on three targets. However, Tucker will get a significantly easier matchup in Week 11 when the Raiders host the Dallas Cowboys. After Las Vegas traded away wide receiver Jakobi Meyers at the trade deadline, Tucker profiles as the clear number two option in the team's passing game behind tight end Brock Bowers. The 24-year-old Tucker has quietly been productive this season, recording 34 catches for 455 yards and four touchdowns on 46 targets across nine games. With a favorable matchup awaiting him in Week 11, Tucker should be a waiver-wire target for fantasy managers in leagues with 12 or more teams.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Watson Continues to Demonstrate Explosive Upside
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson had an underwhelming game in his team's Week 10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, recording two catches for 45 yards on four targets. Still, Watson's fantasy outlook could be trending upwards coming out of the game, as Packers wideout Romeo Doubs (chest) was forced to exit Week 10 early due to a chest injury. In three games since returning from a knee injury that delayed his start to the season, Watson has recorded eight catches for 188 yards on 12 targets. Watson is averaging 23.5 yards per reception, which demonstrates his big-play ability. If Watson can earn a few more targets going forward, he could be in line for some explosive weeks. Additionally, the Packers have a much easier matchup in Week 11 against the New York Giants. In fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams where he remains available, Watson should be a waiver-wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chimere Dike Could Be a Late-Season Breakout Candidate
Before his team's Week 10 bye, Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike appeared to be working his way into a larger role in the offense. In his final three games before the bye, Dike recorded 12 catches for 168 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets. The 24-year-old also played 89% and 87% of Tennessee's offensive snaps in their final two games before the bye. The Titans could be getting veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley (hamstring) back from a hamstring injury in Week 11 against the Houston Texans, which could definitely impact Dike's playing time. Still, the 1-8 Titans have every reason to lean into their youth and see what they have in Dike. In fantasy leagues with 14 or more teams, Dike should be a waiver-wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Browns Not Opening Deshaun Watson's 21-Day Practice Window
The Cleveland Browns will not open the 21-day practice window for quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) this week, despite him showing great progress in his recovery, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Watson continues to recover from the injury suffered in Week 7 of last season, in addition to a re-rupturing of his Achilles, but isn't quite ready to practice yet. It remains uncertain if he will return this season or play for Cleveland at all in the future. In the meantime, rookie Dillon Gabriel will continue to start at quarterback for Cleveland.
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Bijan Robinson has Touchdowns Vultured in Week 10
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson rushed 17 times for 84 yards in Sunday's 31-25 overtime loss to the Colts, adding two catches for four yards in the contest. It was the third straight week without a touchdown, though, currently sitting with two rushing and two receiving scores on the season. Fellow running back Tyler Allgeier scored twice, however, and now has six rushing touchdowns on the season, despite totaling 79 touches for 290 yards from scrimmage compared to Robinson's 178 touches for 1,146 yards. The problem for fantasy managers was glaring in Sunday's game, which was that Allgeier received five red zone attempts while Robinson saw only one. Allgeier doesn't get much work, especially if the Falcons are playing from behind, but he's getting a lot of the carries that matter when games are close, and Atlanta's next few games should be competitive (CAR, @NO, @NYJ). Although Robinson drew only two targets on Sunday, his work in the passing attack typically provides a solid floor for fantasy, but the lack of touchdowns is concerning. Nevertheless, he should be a top-five option at the position in Week 11 against Carolina, a defense that gave up 146 yards from scrimmage to running backs this past week.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Harold Fannin Jr. Continues to Earn Targets in Week 10 Loss
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. ranks second on the team in total targets on the season, trailing only wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. Fannin recorded four catches for 44 yards on seven targets in Cleveland's Week 10 loss at the New York Jets. The rookie third-rounder has been a consistent piece of the offense from the start, playing at least 60% of the snaps in every game this season. Fannin has caught at least four balls in five straight games and has been one of the most productive rookie pass catchers in the league despite a poor offensive environment in Cleveland. Fannin has the fifth most receiving yards (396), third most receptions (42), and the fourth most targets (57) among all rookie wide receivers and tight ends. Fannin will rank as a borderline TE1 in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Loses Starting Role in Week 10
Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt had started every game since Week 5, but his recent struggles led to the team starting third-year back Chris Rodriguez Jr. in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions. Rodriguez ended up leaving the game early due to a shoulder injury, but he played 72% of the snaps in the first half compared to Croskey-Merritt at 16%. As a result of the injury and the game being out of hand, the rookie seventh-rounder played 65.4% of snaps in the second half. It was still another inefficient outing on the ground for the 24-year-old with just 30 yards on 11 carries. Croskey-Merritt hasn't surpassed four yards per carry in a game since his 150-yard, two-touchdown performance in Week 5 against the Chargers. Rodriguez's status will be updated throughout the week as the Commanders travel to Madrid to take on the Dolphins in Week 11, but it looks like Croskey-Merritt has lost grip on the starting running back duties in Washington.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Monangai Shares Backfield Duties in Week 10 Win
Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai enjoyed a breakout game in the first start of his career in Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals, recording 198 total yards on 29 touches. With starter D'Andre Swift returning in Week 10, Monangai was still a part of the offense, but took a backseat to Swift as he continues to run well this season. The rookie seventh-rounder played 39.1% of the snaps and had seven carries for 28 yards in Chicago's Week 10 win over the Giants. Swift, on the other hand, played 60.9% of the snaps and handled 18 touches for 98 yards from scrimmage. The 60-40 split could be how head coach Ben Johnson manages the backfield moving forward, with Swift enjoying a resurgent season and Monangai serving as a physical, downhill back to complement Swift. Monangai remains a must roster player due to his upside when Swift is out and holds standalone value as a flex play for Week 11 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Tyjae Spears An Option Coming Back From His Bye Week?
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears will have a tough matchup as his team returns from its bye week against the Texans, but he's worth a look from the waiver wire since he has been working in such a prominent role in the Titans' backfield. Spears missed the first four weeks of the season, but he played between 40% and 60% of the team's snaps in each of the last four weeks. In his five games, he has 30 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown, while adding 13 catches for 96 more yards. He has at least three catches in each of the last four weeks and should be fully healthy coming down the stretch for the Titans. The offense has struggled under Cam Ward, but as the rookie finds his way, Spears could be an interesting late-season addition. He has some favorable RB matchups ahead with the Jaguars, 49ers, and Saints remaining on his schedule down the road.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Quinshon Judkins Handles Another Heavy Workload in Week 10 Loss
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins has had a strong rookie campaign through eight games, handling 140 carries for 561 yards and five touchdowns to go with 14 catches (18 targets) for 70 yards as a receiver. The 22-year-old was bottled up on heavy usage in Cleveland's Week 10 loss at the Jets, averaging just 3.5 yards on 24 touches. Judkins has taken on one of the biggest workloads in the league as a rookie, with his 17.5 carries per game ranking sixth highest among running backs. Cleveland's poor offensive situation has limited some of the upside, and he doesn't catch a ton of passes, but the rookie has still been productive, ranking as RB20 in PPR points per game (13.4). Judkins will remain on the RB1/RB2 border for Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Vikings Contend J.J. McCarthy's Struggles Are Part Of The Process
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been hot-and-cold in his limited experience as the team's starter, but the Vikings believe his struggles are to be expected as he acclimates to the NFL. The league's youngest starter at age 22, McCarthy is completing 53.7% of his passes with five touchdowns and six interceptions through four games. The Vikings certainly didn't help the young quarterback with eight false start penalties in Sunday's loss to Baltimore, which contributed heavily to only 13 carries for running backs and 42 passing attempts. McCarthy currently has the highest depth of target of any quarterback in the NFL, and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell acknowledged some of the game scripts have not "fit hand in hand with where you'd like the game to be for the ascension of (McCarthy's) development." While Minnesota continues taking the long view with McCarthy, managers will have to gauge their risk tolerance for playing an erratic, if promising, young quarterback during the fantasy home stretch.
Source: The Athletic
Source: The Athletic
Justin Jefferson Vows Better Weeks Are Ahead
Coming off a frustrating loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson vowed to improve following a rare quiet game. Jefferson was targeted 12 times, but caught only four for 37 yards. A number of factors led to Minnesota's struggles, most notably eight false start penalties that had the offense playing from behind most of the day. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the NFL's youngest starter at age 22, has been inconsistent, but the Vikings saw promise in two near-connections with Jefferson. On the first, McCarthy saw Baltimore's zero coverage and heaved a deep ball to Jefferson, who lost his footing with incidental contact, leading to an interception. The star receiver also nearly caught a touchdown on an accurate ball in traffic that would have been a tough catch, but he said he views it as his job to "make the 50-50 opportunity catches look 70-30," according to The Athletic. For fantasy managers, Jefferson is a must-start player every week, but the Vikings look like they're going to be erratic as they weather McCarthy's growing pains.
Source: The Athletic
Source: The Athletic
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