It is really crazy to me that there are just a few weeks left in the regular fantasy season. The seasons seem to go faster and faster every season, especially as I get older. So take some time to enjoy the ride every year. Fantasy football is a great game and release from your everyday life. Don’t take it for granted. I know things don’t always go your way in fantasy land, but it is still enjoyable to participate and makes your Sundays a lot more interesting. Hopefully, things are trending well for you in 2024. We are in the home stretch.

Now for my random thoughts for the week . . . .

The Miami Dolphins can pop their champagne once again with the Chiefs losing last week. It was bound to happen to the Chiefs, though. Kansas City played a lot of close games and still seems to be lacking something offensively right now. Patrick Mahomes just isn’t playing at his same elite level as usual for him. I think he will find it, but Mahomes and the offense just don’t seem in synch right now.

I really don’t think Jayden Daniels is healthy right now. I think his rib injury is a lot worse than what he is leading on. He just isn’t taking the chances down the field anymore. He just dinked and dunked down the field last week, throwing for just 191 yards despite throwing the ball 32 times. I think it will come out after the season is over, but Daniels is dealing with something that is slowing him down. He doesn’t look like the same quarterback from earlier this season.

The Jets are a complete dumpster fire right now. You have to wonder if they are having buyer’s remorse on Aaron Rodgers. He has thrown for less than 200 yards two straight and still doesn’t have a 300-yard game this season. It seems his best days are behind him. It might have been smarter for the Jets to address the quarterback position in this past year’s deep class of quarterbacks. New York could be set back for a few more seasons once again.

It pains me to see Chris Godwin still ranked 12th overall among fantasy receivers. He hasn’t played the last three games but still ranks that high. He was having some sort of season before his ankle injury. I took him in nearly every one of my leagues. Oh, what could have been? I will enjoy the time I had with Godwin this year.

Rookie tight end Brock Bowers sure looks to be a fantasy force for years to come. I thought it would be hard for any fantasy tight end to top Sam LaPorta’s rookie season, but Bowers is going to do that. And doesn’t have Jared Goff throwing him passes. Just imagine what Bowers will start doing when a competent quarterback is on his side. This guy is a legit star.

With so many kickers having huge seasons and making 50-plus yard kicks look easy, I didn’t expect to see Justin Tucker to be a fantasy disappointment. He is struggling, though, especially with the longer kicks. You just don’t normally see that with him. Tucker has already missed six field goals this season. He has not missed more than six fields in a season since 2015. The good news is his fantasy production is still solid, but it would look a lot better if not for the struggles from long distance.

Jameis Winston is just another prime example of why NFL teams should take the backup quarterback spot very seriously. Winston has looked great in a starting role. I don’t get why more NFL teams don’t have top, quality backup like Winston. If you are the Cowboys right now, would you rather have Cooper Rush or Winston? Or maybe you are the Giants, would Winston look better than Daniel Jones? If I were a general manager, I would make it a priority to have a more than competent backup on my roster. It just makes too much sense to me.

I like the way the Dolphins are trending right now. They are getting healthy and playing some good football on both sides of the ball. I think their offense is going to really get going in the coming weeks. Tyreek Hill can still salvage his season. I know he has really disappointed to date, but a lot of things were working against him. I’m not sure I feel the same way about Jaylen Waddle, though. He just isn’t getting the consistent work and produced similar disappointing number last year.

News and Notes: The Chiefs signed receiver Tyquan Thornton on Tuesday. Kansas City is taking a chance on the talented receiver that was just let go by the Patriots. . . . .The Jets fired general manager Joe Douglas on Tuesday. New York continues to overhaul things in their organization. The firing of Douglas could signal the end of Aaron Rodgers in New York.

HOT PLAYS

Bo Nix, QB, Broncos. Nix is eighth overall in fantasy quarterback scoring his last three games and 11th overall for the season. He has 30-plus fantasy points two of four games and is coming off his best game of the season. Nix threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns against the Falcons in Week 11. Expect another big game this week against the Raiders, a team he had three touchdowns against in Week 5. The Raiders allow the eighth most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Nix is a top-10 play once again this week.

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Patriots. Stevenson had another solid game last week, finishing with 89 total yards and four catches. He scored 12.9 fantasy points. He has 20-plus fantasy points two of four games in the emerging Patriots offense. Stevenson should get a heavy workload this week against a Dolphins team that is good against the pass but struggles to stop the run. Stevenson had a touchdown and 92 total yards against Miami in Week 5. He scored 19.2 fantasy points in that game. Miami allows the ninth most fantasy points to running backs.

James Conner, RB, Cardinals. Conner had his best fantasy game of the season his last time out, scoring 22.3 fantasy points against a good Jets defense. He has at least 14 fantasy points four straight games, posting very consistent numbers in the Cardinals offense. He has 100-yard rushing games two of four. Conner should do well again this week against a Seahawks team that allows the 11th most fantasy points to running backs.

Josh Downs, WR, Colts. Downs showed last week he can still produce big with Anthony Richardson as his starting quarterback. Downs had five receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. He has 12-plus fantasy points four straight games. Downs is up to 21st overall in fantasy receiver scoring. He just keeps getting it done. And remember, he missed the first two games of the season. Downs has a matchup for success this week, getting the Lions. Detroit is 27th against the pass compared to fifth against the rush.

Malik Nabers, WR, Giants. We don’t think the addition of Tommy DeVito to the starting lineup is a bad thing for Nabers. He can’t be worse than Daniel Jones, right? Nabers continues to rack up the targets despite all the offensive woes for the Giants, though. He has double-digit targets three straight games and reached double-digit fantasy points all of those games. We like him to perform better this week in a game the Giants could have to throw more often. Nabers gets the Bucs, a team that allows the fifth most fantasy points to receivers but has been stout against the run.

COLD PLAYS

Sam Darnold, QB, Vikings. Darnold got it going again last week, scoring three touchdowns against a good Titans pass defense. He played much better than the past few games, but he still isn’t a sure thing at this point. He has fewer than 20 fantasy points three of six games. Darnold has been more hit or miss since a hot start, showing he might not be the long-term option at the position for the Vikings. We think another one of those down games could come this week against the Bears. Chicago allows the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks and ranks ninth overall against the pass.

D’Andre Swift, RB, Bears. Swift played a season-low 57 percent of the snaps last week, seeing backup Roschon Johnson getting more playing time. A new offensive coordinator could be limiting the load of Swift a little going forward. Swift did score a touchdown last week but his overall numbers were a little down. He has fewer than 75-rushing yards three straight games. It could be tough sledding for him this week against the Vikings, especially if he gets a few less touches. Minnesota allows the second fewest fantasy points to running backs and ranks first overall against the run, allowing just 74.4-rushing yards per game.

Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers. You would have thought Samuel would see his touches increase with Brandon Aiyuk done for the season. That hasn’t really been the case, though. Jauan Jennings has been the biggest benefactor of the Aiyuk injury. Samuel scored just 6.2 fantasy points last week and averages just 5.6 targets per game this year, his lowest total since his rookie season. Samuel plays the Packers this week, a team that allows the 10th fewest fantasy points to receivers.

Tucker Kraft, TE, Packers. Kraft is still seventh overall in fantasy tight end scoring but has cooled the last few weeks. He didn’t catch a pass last week and had just a target in the game. He has just four catches his last two games and failed to hit double-digit fantasy points either of those games. He is hard to trust right now, especially this week against the 49ers. San Francisco has done well against the tight end, allowing the sixth fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Go with safer options.

Chuba Hubbard, RB, Panthers. Hubbard has been great this year, ranking ninth overall in fantasy running back scoring. He has two straight games with 20-plus fantasy points and had a season-high 153-rushing yards his last game. We might temper expectations for him this week, though. He is tough to bench because of his consistency - just don’t expect him to top 20 points once again in Week 12. Hubbard gets a great Chiefs run defense this week. Kansas City has allowed more than 100-rushing yards just three times all year. The Chiefs allow the fewest fantasy points to running backs and are third overall against the run, allowing just 85.3-rushing yards per game.

SLEEPERS

Austin Ekeler, RB, Commanders. Brian Robinson returned last week but that didn’t slow Ekeler from having another good showing. He got a ton of looks in the passing game, catching a season-high eight passes for 89 yards. Jayden Daniels doesn’t look healthy and is struggling to complete passes down the field, so look for Ekeler to continue to get a workout in the passing game. He has 17-plus fantasy points three straight games. Ekeler should have another good game against a reeling Cowboys team this week. Dallas allows the fourth most fantasy points to running backs.

Quentin Johnston, WR, Chargers. Johnston has touchdowns three straight games. He is a top red zone target for the Chargers and getting more looks than ever in a Chargers passing game that is starting to click. Johnston had a season-high eight targets last week. It would not surprise to see Johnston find the end zone again this week against the Ravens. Baltimore has struggled against the pass nearly all season and allows the most fantasy points to receivers.

Rome Odunze, WR, Bears. Odunze is becoming a bigger part of the Bears passing game. He had double-digit targets last week for just the second time this season. He had six catches for 65 yards on 10 targets. Oduzne has double-digit fantasy points two of three games. Oduzne could rack up double-digit looks again this week against the Vikings. Minnesota is very good against the run but ranks just 28th overall against the pass. The Vikings allow the third most fantasy points to receivers.

Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles. Goedert can be a boom-or-bust fantasy play but showing more consistency since his return from injury. He has double-digit fantasy points two straight games. He had five catches for 61 yards on five targets last week. Goedert can keep up his good ways this week against the Rams. Los Angeles allows the seventh most fantasy points to tight ends and ranks just 22nd overall against the pass.

Elijah Moore, WR, Browns. Moore is another Browns receiver that has flourished since the insertion of Jameis Winston as the Browns starting quarterback. He has double-digit fantasy points three of four games. He scored his first touchdown of the season last week, catching six passes for 66 yards and a score. Moore has at least eight targets three straight. Look for him to keep it up this week against the Steelers. Pittsburgh has a good defense but if you are going to have success against them, it will be throwing the ball. The Steelers are fourth overall against the run, allowing just 90.8-rushing yards per game.

High/Low Scoring Games

Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low scoring games for the coming week. In high scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.

High Scoring Games: Cardinals/Seahawks, 49ers/Packers, Eagles/Rams.

Low Scoring Games: Titans/Texans, Vikings/Bears.

Byes: Falcons, Bills, Bengals, Jaguars, Saints, Jets.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.