Remember how Jacorey Croskey-Merritt has seemingly fallen off of the face of the earth for fantasy? Wanna take a guess who still leads the Commanders in rushing yards? Yup, JCM.

🟠 Dylan Sampson and Jerome Ford are both out this week. In Shedeur Sanders’s three starts, they have combined for 15 targets and 14 rushing attempts. Quinshon Judkins is the only real backfield threat Cleveland has left.

Since Week 9, Ashton Jeanty has averaged 2.8 YPC. Yes, 2.8. However, he is still a top-15 RB in PPG during that stretch, thanks to 30 receptions in that span, second-most among NFL RBs behind only Jahmyr Gibbs. Despite having only five fewer total touches than Gibbs in that time, Jeanty has three scores to Gibbs’ nine. That’s what a functional offense can do for you.

🐻 Since finally getting a >40% snap share, Luther Burden is starting to come through. He’s been on a 760 receiving yard pace since Week 10, but hasn’t scored a touchdown. He faces a tough Cleveland defense this week who will be looking to redeem themselves after being trampled by the lowly Titans. However, Rome Odunze is questionable for this game, and even if he plays, Been Johnson could scheme up some touches for Burden in space and utilize his YAC ability.

🟠 Harold Fannin has been a staple in this newsletter since Shedeur Sanders took over at QB for the Browns, and he’s going to stay that way this week against Chicago. At first, you’d presume that the absence of David Njoku and Dylan Sampson could boost Fannin. It will, but not as much as you might think. Njoku had three combined targets in Sanders's three starts (granted, he left the last game very early). I’ve already mentioned Sampson and Jerome Ford’s workload numbers above, and I think those vacated targets are going to be split between Fannin and Quinshon Judkins.

🏹 Travis Kelce has averaged seven receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown per game against the Chargers since 2020. He plays them on Sunday.

It was a bit disappointing last time out, but Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely both get the Bengals yet again on Sunday. Likely could have had a massive game against them, but fumbled right before he crossed the goal line for a would-be touchdown. Andrews was on the quieter side, but still managed four catches for 47 yards. Start them both; one is bound to have something go right against a defense that somehow beat the Ravens but still gave it up to the tight ends. 🟣

🦬 Somehow, the AFC East is almost useless for pass-catching options despite having Josh Allen and Drake Maye both being in the top-8 in passing yards and touchdowns this season. They’re playing a lot of the same game. They spread the ball around, they run, and are effective despite not having a true “go-to” guy. Maye isn’t scoring on the ground nearly as much as Allen, but still. While we can’t trust any receivers (though I’d love Kyle Williams to see the field more and garner a larger target share), the tight ends are coming through. Both Dalton Kincaid and Hunter Henry are options this week for your TE spot. 🇺🇸

⚡ In his first game back from a long injury absence, Omarion Hampton had only a 31% snap share. But on the bright side, he had 46% of the backfield touches. Kansas City isn’t an easy matchup, but Hampton should get some more work and be a reasonable RB2.

🎖 The Giants are allowing the second-most rushing yards and fantasy points to running backs this season. Chris Rodriguez is a low-end sleeper who has scored in three of his last five games. Since Week 9, he’s put up 54 attempts to JCM’s 43, has averaged more YPC, and has eight 10+ yard runs to JCM’s three.

On the flip side, Washington is the seventh-best matchup for slot receivers. Wan’Dale Robinson could eat this week. Since Week 5, he’s seen fewer than seven targets just once and 5+ receptions seven times. 🔵

🐆 Jakobi Meyers is the WR1 for the Jaguars, plain and simple. Brian Thomas Jr. started to get some things going after returning from injury, but this is Meyers’ team. He’s averaged 4.4 receptions and 56.8 receiving yards since joining the Jags, and has six targets in the redzone and the fourth most PPG in the RZ since Week 10. Granted, that’s heavily influenced by touchdowns, but the fact that he’s scoring and getting usage counts for something.

Side note: someone can run hot in the redzone and still be praised for their usage in it. Meyers is seeing that now. Sure, I don’t expect him to score a touchdown every two targets in that area. I don’t expect over the long haul, Davante Adams will score seemingly three touchdowns for every target he gets. But you still can’t ignore how someone is being used, it’s just finding that line of when to lean into it, and when not to. Meyers isn’t the same threat Adams is with his back-shoulder fade, and he doesn’t have Matthew Stafford at QB. So he’s probably going to cool off in the touchdown department. But he’s still being utilized in that area and elsewhere, so don’t ignore that. 🐏

🐴 You have to start Jonathan Taylor this week. You likely made the playoffs thanks to him, and you should dance with those who brought you. But since the Colts’ bye, Taylor is just the RB29 in PPG. Is that all his fault? No. I don’t expect the Colts to have an easy time moving the ball against Seattle with Riley Leonard or Philip Rivers behind center. Hope and pray he gets some dump-offs and scores a touchdown. Unless you are stacked at RB, your other options are going to have about the same upside (or less) and are likely a lot less talented than Taylor.

⛪ Alvin Kamara is out yet again, so Devin Neal is back in the spotlight. He’s been serviceable as the Saints’ primary back over the last three weeks, with a mix of receiving work and rushing scores keeping his fantasy appeal afloat. Carolina isn’t as easy a matchup as they were last year, but they are still allowing the 10th most rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns to running backs this year.

If you need a streaming option in a deep league, let me introduce you to Tyler Shough. He’s struggled with interceptions, but he’s consistently running the ball and has averaged 20+ PPG in his last two games. Much like I said above, Carolina isn’t an easy defense, but they aren’t impenetrable. And don’t forget, he’s essentially playing for his job and a chance to start in 2026.

On the opposite side, Rico Dowdle hasn’t been lighting it up the last few weeks, but he put up a respectable 15.8 PPR points against the Saints in Week 10 and is the RB15 on the season. 🐈‍⬛

✈ This might go without saying, but stay away from any and all Jets this week if you can help it. You might be forced to start Breece Hall or Mason Tyalor, but with Brady Cook at quarterback, I surely hope you don’t.

🔴 Michael Wilson has been a machine this year in games without Marvin Harrison Jr., averaging 148 yards per game in those three contests. However, he gets Derek Stingely and the Texans’ defense this week. On the season, Stingely has allowed 25 YPG and just two touchdowns. He’s still a must-start based on his volume alone, and I don’t think he will be matched up with Stingely the entire time either.

Wilson’s teammate Zonovan Knight is a deep sleeper option at running back, even against Houston. He’s caught at least four passes in four of his last five games and has a moderate rushing workload. He’s not an exciting option, but he’s got a usable floor. With Trey Benson now out for the season, the Cardinals’ backfield is going to continue to be a committee. But Knight at least seems to have a stable 10-12 touches per game.

⛏ Leading up to the 49ers bye, Jauan Jennings was on about as much of a WR2 heater as someone could be. He wasn’t lighting things up and becoming Michael Wilson, but he had 13.9+ PPR points in four of five games from Weeks 9-13. He should be able to pick up where he left off and be a WR2 for fantasy.