Mon Jan 6 11:12am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Gibbs scores four touchdowns
Well, that’s a wrap on another NFL regular season. And as you expected, the last week of the regular season was a tough one to predict. Teams started some regulars but that didn’t last long. Others played some starters longer than expected while some didn’t play any starters at all. It was a bit of a mess and another reason you should likely end your fantasy seasons in Week 18. But if you did play, the good news is there were plenty of big fantasy performances this week, including a player topping 40 fantasy points. Hopefully, you had some of those big performances on your roster.
Ravens 35, Browns 10
Fantasy Stud: Derrick Henry. Henry had a fitting end to his season, posting another huge game. He ran 20 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 23 yards, giving him 161 total yards. Henry topped 30 fantasy points in the game for the third time this season. He finished just 79 yards shy of 2,000-rushing yards.
Fantasy Dud: Zay Flowers. Flowers was a bust because he didn’t last too long, leaving with a knee injury. He had a catch for 12 yards before getting hurt. It came at a bad time because he had a chance to post some good numbers in this game. Instead, he was a bust for fantasy teams.
Game Notes: Bailey Zappe got his first start and had his struggles. He was 16-of-31 for 170 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.
Mark Andrews found the end zone for the sixth straight game. He had four receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown on eight targets.
Bengals 19, Steelers 17
Fantasy Stud: Ja’Marr Chase. Chase topped off his career-best season with another big performance. He had 10 receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. He had 25.6 fantasy points, giving him nine games with 20-plus fantasy points. He is going to end the season leading the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Chase was a league winner in 2024.
Fantasy Dud: George Pickens. Pickens had just a catch for no gain on six targets. He just couldn’t get it going. Pickens was up and down all season. He showed his huge fantasy ceiling at times but also disappeared at other times. Pickens has finished with fewer than double-digit fantasy points every game since Week 13.
Game Notes: Pat Freiermuth finished with season highs across the board. He had eight receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets.
Mike Gesicki had eight receptions for 68 yards on 10 targets. He has 18 receptions on 22 targets his last two games.
Eagles 20, Giants 13
Fantasy Stud: Malik Nabers. Nabers continued to produce despite all the offensive woes for the Giants. He had five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown. He finished the season with 109 receptions. Nabers had at least 11 fantasy points 10 straight games to end his season. He is going to be a special player for years to come.
Fantasy Dud: Kenneth Gainwell. Some thought Gainwell might lead the backfield and produce well in an expanded role. He did get work but did next to nothing with it. He ran 10 times for just 15 yards. He also caught two passes for eight yards. It was not a great day for any fantasy owner that took a chance on Gainwell in Week 18.
Game Notes: Tanner McKee had a solid first NFL start. He was 27-of-41 for 268 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover.
Wan’Dale Robinson had double-digit receptions for the second time this season. He had 10 catches for just 43 yards on 11 targets.
Texans 23, Titans 14
Fantasy Stud: Dameon Pierce. Pierce ended up getting most of the work at running back and had a huge game. He ran 19 times for 176 yards and a touchdown. It was an impressive showing for the former starter. Maybe this game puts him in conversation for some team to take a chance on him as their starter in 2025.
Fantasy Dud: Tony Pollard. Pollard played and started. He got plenty of work, rushing 22 times but had just 62 yards and didn’t catch a pass. Pollard had a good first season with the Titans, topping 1,000-rushing yards and should get first shot to start next season in what could be a better offense. His finish was disappointing for fantasy owners, though.
Game Notes: Will Levis and Mason Rudolph split the work at quarterback for the Titans in this one. Levis was 9-of-17 for 175 yards and a touchdown. Rudolph was 7-of-9 for 70 yards.
C.J. Stroud played a few series and looked good, going 6-of-6 for 50 yards and a touchdown.
Patriots 23, Bills 16
Fantasy Stud: Kayshon Boutte. Boutte continued his late-season surge. He had seven receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. This was his first 100-yard game of the season. He has 20-plus fantasy points two of his last three games. Boutte could be a big part of this offense from day one next season.
Fantasy Dud: Antonio Gibson. Gibson started and got much of the work at running back once again for the Patriots. He was held in check, though. He ran 12 times for just 41 yards and had four receptions for 20 yards. It was a disappointing showing for Gibson, getting so much work but not doing much with it.
Game Notes: Joe Milton ended up playing most of the game and looked very good for the Patriots. He was 22-of-29 for 241 yards and a touchdown without an interception. He also ran 10 times for 15 yards and a score.
James Cook ran 10 times for 28 yards and a touchdown. He finishes his season with 18 total touchdowns, scoring four straight games to end his season.
Bears 24, Packers 22
Fantasy Stud: D.J. Moore. Moore had nine receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown. Moore finishes the season just two catches shy of 100. He had at least six receptions eight straight games to end his season. Moore had another solid year and should be a big part of the offense once again for the Bears in 2025.
Fantasy Dud: Jayden Reed. Most of the Packers receivers played much of the game but none of them were much help to fantasy teams. Reed is the most marquee and had two catches for just 48 yards. He also ran three times for just three yards and lost a fumble. It was another disappointing showing for Reed.
Game Notes: Jordan Love started but suffered some sort of elbow injury and left the game. It was more of a precaution than something serious, though. He was 7-of-12 for 69 yards before leaving.
Emmanuel Wilson got more work at running back and ran well. He rushed 14 times for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Commanders 23, Cowboys 19
Fantasy Stud: Terry McLaurin. McLaurin was one of the few bright spots offensively in this one. He had eight receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown. He has touchdowns five of his last six games and 13 total for the season. McLaurin is having one of the best fantasy seasons of any receiver.
Fantasy Dud: Jayden Daniels. There was thought that Daniels might play the whole game here with the Commanders still fighting for position. But he didn’t last too long, burning most of his owners. He was 6-of-12 for 38 yards and ran four times for 27 yards.
Game Notes: Marcus Mariota had a great game in relief of Daniels. He had three total touchdowns. He was 15-of-18 for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Mariota also ran five times for 56 yards and another touchdown.
Trey Lance showed well at times in his start but failed to score a touchdown. He was 20-of-34 for 244 yards and ran six times for 26 yards.
Colts 26, Jaguars 23
Fantasy Stud: Jonathan Taylor. Taylor continued his big-time play late in the year. He ran 34 times for 177 yards and a touchdown. Taylor had four straight 100-yard games to end his season. He scored six touchdowns during that stretch. He finished the year with more than 1,500 total yards and 12 total touchdowns. He even missed three games because of injury.
Fantasy Dud: Joe Flacco. Flacco played fine but you thought he might have a really big game in this favorable matchup. Instead, he was 23-of-40 for 264 yards and a touchdown, scoring just 17.2 fantasy points. He failed to hit 20 fantasy points.
Game Notes: Josh Downs hit double-digit receptions for the first time all year. He had 10 catches for 94 yards on 13 targets.
Brian Thomas hit the 100-yard mark for the third time in four games. He had seven receptions for 103 yards on 11 targets.
Bucs 27, Saints 19
Fantasy Stud: Jalen McMillan. McMillan had five receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. McMillan finishes the season with touchdowns five straight games. He had at least 16 fantasy points all of those games. He could end up being a big factor from the get go in 2025 for the Bucs.
Fantasy Dud: Foster Moreau. Moreau had been gaining steam in recent weeks, having double-digit fantasy points two of his previous three games. He didn’t do much in this one, though, catching four passes for 31 yards. It was a ho-hum performance from Moreau.
Game Notes: Mike Evans broke a record, topping the 1,000-yard mark for the 11th straight season. He had nine receptions for 88 yards.
Bucky Irvin scored his eighth touchdown of the season. He ran 19 times for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Panthers 44, Falcons 38
Fantasy Stud: Bryce Young. There were several huge fantasy performances in this game, but Young gets the well-deserved nod. He had his best game as a pro. Young was 25-of-34 for 251 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. Young also ran five times for 24 yards and two touchdowns, giving him five total scores. Young had 38.95 fantasy points. He had multiple touchdowns four straight games to end his season, making big progress throughout the year.
Fantasy Dud: Kyle Pitts. Pitts had another typical game for his standards, catching two passes for 15 yards. He was once again all over the map this year for fantasy teams. His lack of consistency drives fantasy owners crazy. And it is clearly a trend and not a fluke based on the last few seasons.
Game Notes: Bijan Robinson had 28 carries for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Robinson had multiple scores three straight games to end his season.
Drake London picked the last game of his season for his best. He had 10 receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns on 18 targets.
Broncos 38, Chiefs 0
Fantasy Stud: Bo Nix. Nix put on a show in the Broncos must-win game to make the playoffs. He was 26-of-29 for 321 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. The Broncos seem to have found their franchise quarterback. Nix should just get better with more seasoning, too.
Fantasy Dud: Carson Wentz. Wentz got his big start but was able to do anything with it. He failed to even throw for 100 yards. He was 10-of-17 for just 98 yards without a touchdown or an interception. Wentz was a big disappointment for fantasy owners in this one.
Game Notes: Marvin Mims continued his late-season surge. He had five receptions for 51 yards and two touchdowns. Mims has multiple touchdowns two straight.
Courtland Sutton had five receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. Sutton scored his eighth touchdown and has scores three of his last four games.
Chargers 34, Raiders 20
Fantasy Stud: Quentin Johnston. Johnston had arguably his best game as a pro. He had 13 receptions for 186 yards. He did not have more than five catches in a game all season before this huge showing. Maybe this is his coming out party in the NFL. Johnston certainly has the talent to produce big games like this.
Fantasy Dud: Alexander Mattison. Mattison got most of the work at running back with Ameer Abdullah out but did little. He had six carries for just 20 yards and caught four passes for 11 yards. It was a disappointing performance from Mattison. He got some play this week, too, because of the expected bump in playing time.
Game Notes: Justin Herbert had his second 300-yard game of the season. He was 28-of-36 for 346 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover.
Jakobi Meyers found the end zone for the second straight game and had his third 100-yard game of the year. He went over 1,000 yards for the season, catching nine passes for 123 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets.
Seahawks 30, Rams 25
Fantasy Stud: Geno Smith. Smith had a huge fantasy game, going 20-of-27 for 223 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. He had 28.55 fantasy points, giving him 26-plus points two of his last three games. It was his second highest fantasy point total of the season. Smith had another solid season for the Seahawks, throwing for 4,320 yards with 23 total touchdowns.
Fantasy Dud: Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks played their starters but Smith-Njigba got little work for once. He had four receptions for just nine yards. Smith-Njigba had a great, breakout season but his last two games were not good, having fewer than seven fantasy points each of his last two.
Game Notes: Jimmy Garoppolo started the game with the Rams resting some of their starters and was 27-of-41 for 333 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
Noah Fant found the end zone for the first time all season. He had five receptions for 64 yards and a score.
Jets 32, Dolphins 20
Fantasy Stud: Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers had a down year but finished on a high note in what might have been his last NFL game. He was 23-of-36 for 274 yards and four touchdowns with an interception. It was a great showing from Rodgers, a game you hoped he had more of throughout the season.
Fantasy Dud: Tyreek Hill. Hill had a quiet game, catching two passes for just 20 yards. He was held in check and on the sidelines a little more in the second half than usual. Hill had a down season for his standards and you wonder what he will be like going forward at this stage of his career.
Game Notes: Davante Adams had six receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown. He finishes the season with scores five of his last six games.
Devon Achane had just his second 100-yard game of the season but had them two of his last three games. He ran 11 times for 121 yards and a touchdown.
Cardinals 47, 49ers 24
Fantasy Stud: Kyler Murray. Murray was 25-of-35 for 242 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. Murray topped 30 fantasy points for the third time this year, scoring 30.3 points. He didn’t have a huge year, but was better as the season progressed. He had 21-plus fantasy points three straight and four of his last five games.
Fantasy Dud: Isaac Guerendo. He was expected to be the starter but was on the field very little. Guerendo ran two times for just five yards. He had injury issues late in the season when he was supposed to finally get his chance to start. His injuries came at a bad time.
Game Notes: Trey McBride scored his first touchdown of the season last week and got his second in this one. He had seven receptions for 65 yards and a score.
Patrick Taylor got most of the work at running back for the 49ers and had a 100-yard showing. Taylor ran 17 times for 109 yards.
Lions 31, Vikings 9
Fantasy Stud: Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs had a monster performance in a huge game for the Lions. He ran 23 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 31 yards and another score, giving him four total touchdowns. Gibbs scored an amazing 46 fantasy points. Gibbs has 25-plus fantasy points four straight games.
Fantasy Dud: Sam Darnold. There were duds across the board for the Vikings, but Darnold tops the list because he was in charge of the offense. He really struggled, missing on a lot of possible game-changing passes. He finished just 18-of-41 for 166 yards without a touchdown. This probably was his worst showing of the season, coming at a terrible time for a Vikings team looking to clinch the No. 1 overall seed.
Game Notes: Sam LaPorta had seven receptions for 63 yards. He has at least five receptions four of his last five games.
Cam Akers got less work but actually led the Vikings in rushing. He ran six times for 65 yards, averaging 10.8 yards per carry. Aaron Jones rushed 10 times for 45 yards.
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.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren rushed for 127 yards on 16 carries during Thursday's Week 7 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. He also caught four of his five targets for an additional 31 receiving yards. Although Warren wasn't able to find the end zone on Thursday night, he still had a terrific performance with 7.94 yards per carry and a significant impact in the passing game. His efficiency likely peaked thanks to his matchup against a Bengals defensive line sans Trey Hendrickson (hip), but he still has a favorable fantasy outlook heading into Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers. He continues to rank as a steady RB2 option in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins caught six of his 10 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's Week 7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 26-year-old is enjoying some newfound success after struggling to form a rapport with Jake Browning earlier in the year. He has looked much better in two games with Joe Flacco as his quarterback, totaling 11 catches, 158 yards, and one touchdown during that span. Flacco appears poised to remain the Bengals' quarterback for the duration of Joe Burrow's (toe) absence, which is great news for Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase, and their fantasy managers. Higgins will continue to operate behind Chase in the pecking order, but he still has standalone value as a low-end WR2 for Week 8 against the Jets.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 23 of his 34 pass attempts for 249 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions during Thursday's Week 7 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. He also rushed for six yards and didn't take a sack. The four touchdowns worked wonders as Rodgers attempted to mount a late comeback on national television, but you could also argue that his two interceptions were the difference between a win and a loss in Cincinnati. One of the two turnovers wasn't exactly Rodgers' fault as his sideline pass was ripped out of DK Metcalf's hands, but the other came on an overthrown pass that the veteran quarterback would have loved to get back. With that being said, fantasy managers won't gripe too much about the two turnovers, as his four touchdowns were more than enough to boost his point total. He's a solid mid-range QB2 heading into Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth caught four of his five targets for 111 yards and two touchdowns during Thursday's Week 7 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. His touchdowns came on 19-yard and 68-yard receptions, the latter of which gave Pittsburgh a late lead (that they would ultimately relinquish). Freiermuth had not yet posted a fantasy performance with more than 6.1 fantasy points this season (PPR), so Thursday's breakout was admittedly unexpected. It should give fantasy managers optimism moving forward, but there's no denying that the 26-year-old continues to face competition at the tight end position. Fellow tight ends Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington each scored touchdowns on Thursday night, too, offering Aaron Rodgers plenty of options when he's looking to target big, physical receivers in the passing game. As a result, managers should view Freiermuth as a low-end TE2 for Week 8.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco completed 31 of his 47 pass attempts for 342 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions during Thursday's Week 7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also took two sacks. Just nine days removed from his trade to Cincinnati and three weeks removed from his benching in Cleveland, the veteran quarterback showed flashbacks to the peak of his career back in the 2010s. This was Flacco's first performance with three passing touchdowns and zero turnovers since Week 1 of the 2018 season. Perhaps most impressive -- beyond the fact that Flacco dug Cincinnati out of a multiple-possession deficit -- was the veteran quarterback posting such a good performance despite a matchup against a talented Pittsburgh Steelers defense. He didn't let T.J. Watt fluster him, nor did he have much trouble keeping the ball away from a solid secondary. Flacco has shown upside in years past, but he seems to have unlocked a whole new ceiling with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at his disposal. He'll vault into the high-end QB2 range for Week 8 against the New York Jets.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase caught 16 of his 23 targets for 161 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's Week 7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The superstar receiver posted career-highs in targets and receptions as the Bengals mounted a comeback victory on national television. After facing some growing pains with Jake Browning under center, Chase has returned to elite form while catching passes from Joe Flacco. In his two games with the veteran quarterback, he has totaled 26 catches, 255 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. Flacco has shown that he is capable of airing out the football, keeping the Bengals in close games, and limiting turnovers. All three of these factors bode well for Chase going forward, as he's firmly back in the high-end WR1 mix ahead of Week 8 against the Jets.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase caught 16 of his 23 targets for 161 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's Week 7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The superstar receiver posted career-highs in targets and receptions as the Bengals mounted a comeback victory on national television. After facing some growing pains with Jake Browning under center, Chase has returned to elite form while catching passes from Joe Flacco. In his two games with the veteran quarterback, he has totaled 26 catches, 255 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. Flacco has shown that he is capable of airing out the football, keeping the Bengals in close games, and limiting turnovers. All three of these factors bode well for Chase going forward, as he's firmly back in the high-end WR1 mix ahead of Week 8 against the Jets.
From RotoBaller
While it's unlike the Cincinnati Bengals to hold a fire sale, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson (hip) is likely to be a trade chip as this year's deadline approaches. Hendrickson suffered a hip injury in the Week 6 loss to the Green Bay Packers and was inactive for Thursday night's divisional clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it's not a long-term injury after his MRI exam came back clean. Rapoport was told that the Bengals would be seeking a young player who could help them this year and into the future, and a future mid-round pick, although it's unclear if the team is actually willing to trade Hendrickson. The veteran pass-rusher is coming off back-to-back seasons of 17.5 sacks, so he would immediately be a huge boost to any pass rush if he were dealt midseason, similar to Micah Parsons' impact in Green Bay.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (toe), who suffered a serious turf-toe injury back in Week 2, is on track to return from Injured Reserve in mid-December, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Burrow is a month into a three-month recovery after having surgery for a Grade 3 turf-toe injury. Burrow has been doing well in his rehab and has not had any setbacks, which means he's still in play to return at the tail end of the regular season if the Bengals still have something to play for. He has told people he has every intention of playing again this year, but he just needs Cincinnati to stay in the hunt in the meantime. The 28-year-old isn't guaranteed to be in play for the fantasy playoffs, so managers shouldn't feel obligated to hold onto him in redraft leagues. Jake Browning struggled with turnovers (eight picks in four games) after replacing Burrow, leading Cincy to trade for veteran Joe Flacco to try and keep the team's playoff hopes alive.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring), who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, is expected to return when the Ravens come off their bye in Week 7 to face the Chicago Bears in Week 8, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Jackson will have three weeks of rest, so he should be a full-go when the team comes off their bye to face Chicago. The 28-year-old two-time MVP has gone 1-3 in his four starts in 2025, but he does lead the league with a 10.5 touchdown percentage, a 10.78 adjusted yards gained per pass attempt, and a 130.5 QB rating. While this may end up being a lost season for the Ravens, Jackson still has the ability to carry fantasy football teams once he's back from his hamstring injury. The elite dual-threat signal-caller needs to be back in all starting fantasy lineups if he's active in Week 8, which is expected.
From RotoBaller
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that there is "real concern" that Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) will be forced to miss a fourth straight game with a quad injury that he suffered back in Week 3. McLaurin returned to a limited practice on Wednesday, but he was downgraded to a DNP on Thursday, putting his status in doubt for Sunday's divisional game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. It's unclear if the Commanders gave the 30-year-old a maintenance day on Thursday, but typically, mid-week downgrades aren't a good sign. Meanwhile, Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) has yet to practice this week and might be in danger of missing Sunday's game as well. Noah Brown (groin, knee) was put on Injured Reserve this week, so the Commanders signed former Titans first-rounder Treylon Burks to their practice squad. It's possible that Luke McCaffrey, rookie Jaylin Lane, and Chris Moore could start in three-wide sets against Dallas if both McLaurin and Samuel cannot play.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (illness) was limited in practice again on Thursday as he works toward being cleared for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. Jacobs has handled a heavy workload this season, logging 98 carries for 359 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 3.7 yards per attempt. Although his efficiency has dipped compared to his Pro Bowl 2024 campaign, Jacobs remains the clear lead back in Green Bay's offense, handling the vast majority of touches out of the backfield. The Cardinals present a middle-of-the-pack matchup, allowing 102 rushing yards per game, which ranks 13th in the NFL. Assuming Jacobs suits up, he should continue to see volume-driven RB2 production, though fantasy managers may want to temper expectations if his illness limits his workload heading into Sunday.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (hamstring) missed his second consecutive practice on Thursday, casting doubt on his availability for Sunday's matchup against the Denver Broncos. With Malik Nabers (knee) already out for the season, Slayton's absence would further deplete the Giants' receiving corps. In that scenario, Wan'Dale Robinson would be positioned to handle a heavy target load, while Jalin Hyatt could see a significant uptick in snaps and opportunities. Hyatt caught three of five targets for 17 yards in Week 6 and would remain a risky deep-league dart throw if pressed into action. The Giants offense has shown signs of life recently, but fantasy managers should view Robinson as the only trustworthy option in this passing game heading into Week 7.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) remained a limited participant in Thursday's practice as he works his way back from the turf toe injury he suffered in Week 1. The 49ers have managed a 4-2 record in his absence, with veteran backup Mac Jones (knee, oblique) handling starting duties. While Purdy is unlikely to return in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons, his continued presence at practice is a positive sign for his recovery timeline. The 49ers are expected to remain cautious with their young signal-caller, but the door appears open for a potential return in the coming weeks. Fantasy managers in superflex and two-quarterback formats should keep Purdy stashed, as his upside in a talented San Francisco offense makes him a valuable asset once he's back to full strength.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle, rib, shoulder) has been limited in practice all week but is trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. The veteran wideout has battled multiple injuries this season, appearing in just four games while totaling 10 receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown. With the 49ers offense still dealing with several key absences, quarterback Mac Jones will need all available weapons against the league's top-ranked pass defense -- one that just stifled Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Jennings' potential return would provide a much-needed boost to San Francisco's depth at receiver, though his fantasy value remains limited unless he begins to see a larger target share. For now, Jennings is best viewed as a deep-league stash or DFS dart throw in Week 7.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (hip) was upgraded to a full participant in Thursday's practice after being limited the day before, putting him on track to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears. The third-year wideout has maintained WR1 status in New Orleans with a commanding 32.3% target share, turning 39 receptions into 342 yards and a touchdown through six games. While quarterback Spencer Rattler has struggled with consistency, Olave continues to command double-digit targets nearly every week. His 60.9% catch rate highlights some inefficiency in the Saints' passing attack, but the sheer volume keeps Olave firmly in must-start territory for fantasy managers. Against a Bears defense allowing over 213 passing yards per game, Olave should remain the focal point of the Saints' offense and carries a solid WR2 floor with WR1 upside if the offense finds rhythm.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip) has been ruled out for Thursday night's matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, dealing a major blow to an already struggling defensive unit. Hendrickson leads the Bengals in sacks (4) this season, and his absence will make it even tougher for Cincinnati's defense -- currently ranked 31st in the league -- to contain a rejuvenated Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers offense. Without their top pass-rusher, the Bengals' ability to generate pressure and limit big plays takes a significant hit. Fantasy managers should steer clear of starting the Bengals defense in Week 7, as they'll face an uphill battle as they host a divisional rival finding its offensive rhythm.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (calf) was added to the team's injury report on Thursday and is expected to miss at least the next couple of weeks. The veteran wideout's absence is another setback for a 49ers offense already dealing with multiple injuries across the roster. Fortunately, tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is trending toward returning this week, providing quarterback Mac Jones with a much-needed security blanket in the passing game. Without MVS, expect to see a heavy dose of Kittle along with Kendrick Bourne and Jauan Jennings in the passing game while utilizing a run-heavy approach against the Atlanta Falcons. With the Falcons boasting the league's top-ranked defense, fantasy managers should temper expectations for all 49ers pass-catchers until the offense gets back to full strength.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring), who is currently on Injured Reserve due to a hamstring injury he suffered in the season opener, said he plans to play this Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7. The Niners designated the 32-year-old to return from IR this week, which means the team now has 21 days to officially activate him. In his return to practice on Wednesday, Kittle was limited, and he maintained that practice status on Thursday. Despite suffering a full tear of his hamstring in Week 1, Kittle is back to full health and is hoping to make his return this weekend. It's unclear if the coaching staff feels the same way yet, but we should have our answer by Saturday, when the Niners will need to activate Kittle from IR if they intend to play him on Sunday. Despite the layoff, Kittle will be back on the TE1 radar immediately if he returns to action against Atlanta.
From RotoBaller
Former Tennessee Titans first-round wide receiver Treylon Burks is expected to sign with the Washington Commanders' practice squad, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Burks is a low-risk, high-reward addition who played in a similar offense in college to the one that Kliff Kingsbury is running in D.C., and he could be elevated quickly to Washington's active 53-man roster. Before visiting with the Commanders, Burks had a meeting with the Denver Broncos this week. The Commanders' impending addition of Burks speaks to their need for WR depth, with both Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) potentially missing the Week 7 game against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys this Sunday. Noah Brown (groin, knee) was also put on Injured Reserve this week. Burks is an interesting addition, but he'll be behind Luke McCaffrey, rookie Jaylin Lane, and Chris Moore if McLaurin and Samuel cannot play.
From RotoBaller