NFL Player News

It could have been a bigger day as Collins scored a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter before an illegal shift penalty brought it all back. Collins got free for a 56-yarder in man coverage and looked fully healthy. He’ll be on the WR1 line against the Jaguars next week, but we’re a little underwhelmed by how the Texans passing offense has looked with him back.

Heath handled his typical, small workload this week but was fortunate enough to earn one of them in the green zone. His score from three yards out iced the Packers’ 38-10 win over the 49ers. He is a WR6 against the Dolphins in Week 13.

Benson continued to split backup duties with Emari Demercado, getting four carries on the day. He was more efficient than starter James Conner, averaging 4.5 yards per tote. However, he was seldom involved in the passing game, with Conner taking checkdowns and Demercado rotating in on checkdowns as well. Benson is still just a handcuff moving forward.

Wicks earned his first target in the third quarter and recorded his first reception in the fourth. The talented rotational wide receiver remains one of the position’s few high-upside bench stashes. He is a highly volatile WR5/6 against the Dolphins in Week 13.

Conner averaged an inefficient 1.1 yard per carry against the Seahawks, with most of his fantasy production coming off his usage in the receiving game. He peeled off pass protection to catch a checkdown from Kyler Murray more than once, inflating his fantasy output to the tune of five catches for 41 yards. He did not get many red zone chances in a subpar day for the Cardinals offense. Volume puts Conner in the RB2 mix for Week 13 against the Vikings.

With 23 seconds left in the first half, Jordan Love threw a perfectly catchable pass to Watson, who was streaking through the green zone with his primary coverage defender safely behind him. The ball calamitously banged off of the third-year wide receiver’s hands before falling to the ground, incomplete. Love tried to get Watson back on track by targeting Watson through double-coverage on the next play but 49ers S Malik Mustapha dropped an otherwise easy pick. Watson was unable to find his footing after that. He is a volatile flex option against the Dolphins in Week 13.

With Noah Fant (groin) still out, Barner continued as the team’s primary pass-catching tight end. He saw four targets, primarily in the short-yardage area, finishing with three catches for 19 yards. Pharaoh Brown caught 2-of-2 targets for 19 yards next to Barner as both fill Fant’s pass-catching role. However, neither is fantasy relevant for Week 13 against the Jets.

Lockett’s role has shrunk throughout the season as Jaxon Smith-Njigba has earned more targets. He was targeted three times, good for fifth-highest on the team, turning that into two catches for 20 yards. The 32-year-old veteran is the clear No. 3 wide receiver on the team and his fantasy value is minimized as a result. Lockett will be a WR5 for Week 13 against the Jets.

Smith-Njigba continues to earn a high share of the Seahawks offense, making plays off screens, in motion, and from shallow crossers. It is becoming more clear that offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb likes using Smith-Njigba as a playmaker and he was the team’s most-targeted receiver on the day. He counted for the Seahawks’ sole offensive touchdown, catching a three-yard pass from Geno Smith in the first half. Smith-Njigba has WR2 upside against the Jets in Week 13.

Metcalf was targeted just five times on a lackluster day for the Seahawks offense. He had a clutch third-down 18-yard catch to midfield in the fourth quarter, but was silent for much of the rest of the game. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has earned more looks in offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s offense, denting the more downfield looks Metcalf gets. Metcalf is a fantasy WR2 against the Jets in Week 12.

Minshew’s left shoulder was driven into the ground hard while being sacked in the Raiders’ Week 12 loss to the Broncos. Minshew finishes 2024 with 2,013 passing yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions and rushed 19 times for 58 yards. He is under contract through 2025. Minshew was replaced by backup Desmond Ridder but former starter Aidan O’Connell (right thumb) could reportedly be activated from injured reserve next week.