NFL Player News

As is the case with all first-round draft picks, McDonald’s contract is fully guaranteed and includes a fifth-year team option. The deal is worth $16.3 million. McDonald is the latest addition to a Jets defense that has quickly become one of the league’s most formidable units. He notched 13 TFLs and topped 10 sacks in consecutive seasons at Iowa State before his production took a step back in his fifth collegiate season. His slight frame might make him a pass-rush specialist as a rookie, but McDonald should have an impact on opposing offenses out of the gate.

Kupp was mostly unheard from through the Rams’ Week 13 game agains the Saints. He managed a few short receptions, but Puka Nacua was the clear No. 1 target for designed touches and downfield targets. Kupp will still get opportunities the rest of the season, but it has become more evident that Nacua is becoming the preferred top target in the Rams offense. Working out of the slot, Kupp will rank in the low-end WR2 range for Week 14 against the Bills.

Coming off one of the worst games by any receiver all season, Johnston was the most distant of No. 2 wideouts as Justin Herbert targeted Ladd McConkey on 12 of his 23 pass attempts. Even with six teams on bye for Week 14, Johnston has lost his shot at WR4 relevance.

Mayfield was occasionally bothered by the Panthers’ pass rush, which sacked him four times and eventually left him mildly lame with an ankle sprain. The veteran signal caller was able to return but was visibly limping and gasping on a late-game scramble which he successfully converted for a first down. He is a high-end QB2 against the Raiders in Week 14.

For Barkley’s lofty standards, 117 yards and a lone touchdown are not that special. What’s more meaningful is who he did it against. Lamar Jackson entered the week as the MVP favorite amidst an electric season, but Barkley, who is on pace for a truly special season of his own, was hot on his heels after a 302-yard, two-touchdown outing in Week 12. With a win over the Ravens, Barkley’s MVP candidacy will remain alive despite playing a position that hasn’t won the award since 2012, when Adrian Peterson took it home. Barkley turned a quiet day around in the fourth quarter with a 25-yard sprint to the end zone that gave Philly an insurmountable lead. He gets a phenomenal matchup with the Panthers next week and will remain the RB1 overall without much consideration for another name.

With the Rams offense getting off to a slow start, Nacua did most of his damage in the second half. He drew a pass interference to get the team into the red zone and later scored the go-ahead touchdown on a seven-yard screen pass. He also had one carry for seven yards in addition to his receiving output. It wasn’t quite the elite game we are accustomed to from Nacua, but he worked ahead of Cooper Kupp and is the team’s No. 1 wide receiver. He will be a low-end WR1 for Week 14 against the Bills.

The 95 yards were easily a new season high thanks to a 60-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter. McCloud also posted five receptions for the second game in a row after previously going five contests without doing so. Good for McCloud, but not really fantasy relevant with Kirk Cousins’ struggles deepening heading into Week 14 against the Vikings.

Mooney looked no worse for the wear after tweaking his hamstring in Week 11, but he was held under 30 yards receiving for the second consecutive contest as Kirk Cousins’ struggles grew more concerning. It’s Cousins that has Mooney falling further down the WR3 ranks headed into a Week 14 matchup with the Vikings. The Vikes actually allow a healthy amount of receiver production, but they are going to eat Cousins alive if he continues to show as little arm strength and athleticism as he did on Sunday against the Chargers.

Corum rotated into the game on the Rams’ second possession, getting the Rams’ first backfield carries of the game. He showed burst, averaging 5.3 yards per carry against a weak Saints run defense. In true Sean McVay fashion, Kyren Williams carried the load the rest of the game while Corum was hardly seen outside of the second possession. Nevertheless, Corum has shown he can be efficient when given chances. He continues to rank as as a high-value handcuff the rest of the season.

Williams curiously did not see the first running back touches of the game, with Blake Corum rotating in on the second possession and seeing first carries against the Saints. However, Williams still proved to be the lead back, totaling 16 touches and a score with an efficient 6.9 yards per carry. He had less of the backfield share on the day, but fantasy managers should not be concerned just yet over Williams’ workload. Late season usage may lead to more breaks for him, but the high leverage carries still go Williams’ way and he will rank as a back-end RB1 against the Bills in Week 14.

Stafford and the Rams offense got off to a molasses-like slow start against the Saints. Having completed just 4-of-10 passes in the first half, Stafford had an improved second half, tossing both of his touchdowns with under 16 minutes left in the game. He connected with Demarcus Robinson and Puka Nacua for short-yardage scores and showed his usual, collected self as the Rams scored all of their 21 points in the second half to win. A tough Bills matchup is on the horizon for Week 14; Stafford will be in the QB2 ranks for fantasy.