NFL Player News

Fantasy managers have been waiting all season for the JSN breakout game, and they finally got it; kind of. Seattle’s turnover issues caused the offensive output to stagnate in the second half, and JSN saw just one target, which was a drop on 3^rd-and-7 on Seattle’s final drive. With DK Metcalf sidelined due to multiple injuries, Smith-Njigba was a featured part of the Seahawks passing game. Although, it was fellow rookie Jake Bobo who was involved in more of the deeper routes down the sidelines, Smith-Njigba consistently got open over the middle of the field and has clearly earned the trust of Geno Smith, who fired passes to him in all kinds of key situations. With DK Metcalf expected back next week, the rookie from Ohio State will go back to being the third receiver on the depth chart, albeit one who runs a lot of routes. Given the crowded receiver room, JSN figures to have inconsistent production when everybody is healthy, making him more of a WR4/FLEX with upside. If you’re in a redraft league, you could use today’s game to see if you can sell high, but don’t just give him away.

Parkinson has been a complete afterthought in the offense in the second half of the 2024 season, playing fewer offensive snaps than Davis Allen during the previous four games. What little fantasy value remaining has gone with the wind for the veteran tight end in Los Angeles.

Robinson remains well behind both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp in the target pecking order, earning just three looks versus the 13 of Nacua and 11 of Kupp. Even so, he has now racked up six touchdowns on the season to lead the team, something more useful in best ball than it is in managed fantasy leagues. Robinson’s next chance to find paint comes in Week 13 against the porous Saints defense.

Kupp managed just 33 yards on 10 targets before a 27-yard touchdown with just over one minute remaining in a three-score game, clearly taking a backseat to second-year star Puka Nacua when the latter is healthy and on the field. Even so, Kupp’s trip to the paint was his fifth score of the season for the veteran pass-catcher, still keeping him on pace to potentially hit double-digit touchdowns for the third time in his career while battling through significant injuries. Kupp’s next chance to find pay dirt comes in Week 13 against the porous Saints defense.

Nacua handily led the team in both targets and yardage, continuing to operate as the alpha wide receiver when healthy this season. Fellow wide receiver Cooper Kupp managed just 33 yards on 10 targets before catching a 27-yard touchdown on the team’s final drive of the game while down three scores, with Nacua’s role in the offense clearly the anchor point from which the rest of the pass offense is built. Nacua’s next chance to return WR1 production comes in Week 13 against the porous Saints defense.

Williams found the end zone late in the first quarter as the Rams moved the ball well before the break, ultimately taking a 13-7 deficit into the half. They would then struggle to move the football as the Eagles continued to tack on points on the legs of Saquon Barkley, who became the first player since Julio Jones in 2016 to record 300 yards from scrimmage or more. Even so, Williams maintains one of the most robust roles in the league and should continue to return elite fantasy production the rest of the season. The Rams get a softer matchup on the ground against the Saints in Week 13.

The Rams played the Eagles tight in the first half, holding a lead until a six-yard touchdown from A.J. Brown propelled the Eagles to a six-point lead at the half. Even so, the Rams managed just one first-half touchdown before the two passing touchdowns to Demarcus Robinson and Cooper Kupp after the break, the latter of which came with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter with the Rams down by three scores. The up-and-down season for the Rams continues as they fall to 5-6 and a game behind both the Cardinals and Seahawks in the NFC West. A matchup against the Saints in Week 13 could prove a pivotal game for the Rams, likely needing a win to keep pace in the division.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts attempted only 22 passes as running back Saquon Barkley erupted for 302 combined yards and two touchdowns, with the only passing score going to alpha wide receiver A.J. Brown. Goedert remains in a short area role while either Brown or DeVonta Smith are on the field this season, with his aDOT in 2024 marking a five-year low. As such, he remains unlikely to return elite fantasy scores while maintaining a poor red zone role. Goedert’s next chance to return a usable fantasy score comes in Week 12 against the pass-funnel Ravens.

Brown saw seven targets on just 22 Jalen Hurts pass attempts in a game running back Saquon Barkley erupted for 302 combined yards and two touchdowns, catching the only passing score from Hurts in the process. Only Brown, tight end Dallas Goedert, and running back Saquon Barkley saw more than a single target with DeVonta Smith held out of action with a hamstring injury, something to monitor as the Eagles prepare to face the pass-funnel Ravens on the road in Week 12.

Gainwell spelled lead back Saquon Barkley late in the game after the veteran alpha erupted for 302 combined yards, finding the end zone on a 13-yard scamper late in the third quarter. Gainwell remains unlikely to return consistent production playing behind fantasy’s top running back, but stands out as one of the clearest pure handcuffs in the league should something happen to Barkley down the stretch.

Barkley and the rest of the Philadelphia offense had a rather modest first half, something that completely flipped after the break. Two rushing scores of 70 yards or more propelled Barkley to a top-10 rushing performance in the history of the league. The 302 combined yards were the first time a skill position player recorded 300 yards or more in a game since Julio Jones did it in 2016, with the dominant performance further distancing Barkley from the pack as the clear and away RB1 in fantasy. Barkley gets a more daunting matchup on the ground when the Eagles travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens in Week 12.