Lineup Prep: Divisional Round

Wed Jan 17 9:40am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

LaPorta is getting healthier


Here is to hoping that the playoff games are better this weekend. For the most part, the games last week just weren’t very good unless you were a fans of those teams. I’m hoping for some barn burners this week, going down to the last drive. It will make for a lot better viewing.

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

I like a snow/cold game as much as anyone, but it does kind of stink for the teams involved when playing in the playoffs. You play all season in pretty normal conditions, but have to deal with brutal conditions when the playoffs hit. Again, I love to watch a snow game, but it probably would be better for the playoffs if teams didn’t have to deal with the awful winter weather. Oh well.

The Josh Allen experience is truly wild. He can drive you crazy with the turnovers and mistakes, but when he is playing well, Allen is really the best in the game. He showed that last week. Allen is just so tough defend, especially when he is running the ball more. The Bills kind of took that out of the game plan early in the season, but brought it back more after changing offensive coordinators. The change in philosophy has been a huge spark to the Bills offense.

I’m really excited about Jameson Williams next season. The Lions are starting to use him a lot more in normal routes than just as a deep threat. He is showing his ability as a route runner lately. Williams has a chance for a breakout season as long as he is healthy and playing. The big issue for Williams to start his career is just staying on the field. The ability is there for huge things. I’m ready to see what he can do next year.

It will be interesting to see what the Vikings do with their quarterback position this offseason. I almost think Kirk Cousins will be back and the team will draft a quarterback to learn from him. That might make the most sense and keep star receiver Justin Jefferson happy. This is one situation I’m going to keep a really close eye on this offseason because it has a lot of fantasy implications.

If I’m the Bears, I’m trading that No. 1 overall pick and loading up on more draft picks to surround Justin Fields with better talent. I know Caleb Williams is a stud and could be a fantastic pro, but Fields is no slouch. He made strides this year, especially late in the season. I think the franchise would do better to take advantage of the hype surround Williams and get a huge haul in a trade.

I don’t see Bill Belichick going to a team that doesn’t already have a franchise quarterback. You hear him interviewing with Atlanta, but that situation just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. I think he is going to go to a team that already has a top quarterback, so he doesn’t have to deal with the issues he had with the Patriots after losing Tom Brady.

And speaking of coaches, you have to wonder what is going to happen in Dallas after their stunning early-round exit in the playoffs. Mike McCarthy has been great during the regular season, but owner Jerry Jones doesn’t care about regular season wins. Jones wants Super Bowl titles. I would not be surprised if McCarthy is relieved of his job in the coming days.

I really thought the Browns operated better with Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback this season than Deshaun Watson. Flacco gave that passing game a spark and it produced huge numbers on a weekly basis. You have to think the Browns are really regretting going all in on Watson as their franchise quarterback. He certainly has not played near his past levels. The Browns really overpaid for Watson and could be feeling it for years to come.

News and Notes: The Bills released running back Leonard Fournette from the practice squad on Tuesday.

HOT PLAYS

Sam LaPorta, TE, Lions. LaPorta was able to play last week and didn’t look quite 100 percent, but still found the end zone. He has double-digit fantasy points three straight games and scores two straight. He should be even healthier this week, meaning his production could be even better. Plus, he has a great matchup against a bad Bucs pass defense. The Bucs allowed the second most fantasy points to tight ends during the regular season.

Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers. McCaffrey is always a must start and hot play, but especially this week. He gets a Packers defense that is the worst out of all the remaining playoff teams against the run. Green Bay was 28th against the run in the regular season and allowed the 13th most fantasy points to running backs. Green Bay allowed 200-plus rushing yards four times this season. We think McCaffrey is going to have a monster showing in this one, possibly pushing 200-plus total yards and 30 fantasy points.

Zay Flowers, WR, Ravens. Flowers had a breakout season as the top target at receiver the Ravens. He played really well late in the season, having 20-plus fantasy points three of five games. He has scores four of five games. Flowers keeps getting it done on a weekly basis. Look for more success this week against the Texans in what should be a high-scoring game. The Texans have allowed 265-plus passing yards three of six games.

COLD PLAYS 

Devin Singletary, RB, Texans. Singletary had a solid season, emerging as the starter for the Texans. He has scores two straight games and has been consistent for the Texans, especially the second half of the season. Singletary has a really tough matchup to keep up his solid play this week, though, playing the Ravens. Baltimore was 14th against the run during the regular season, allowing 109.4-rushing yards per game. Houston might need to rely on C.J. Stroud and the passing game moire than Singletary if they hope to have much offensive success.

David Montgomery, RB, Lions. Montgomery found the end zone again last week, giving him four straight games with a touchdown. He still hasn’t topped 65-rushing yards in any of those games and has just three catches during that stretch. He might be a scary play this week against a Bucs defense that allowed just 10-rushing touchdowns all season. The Bucs allowed the third fewest fantasy points to running backs during the regular season and were fifth overall against the run.

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs. It is so hard to bet against Patrick Mahomes, but his numbers down the stretch haven’t been great for fantasy owners. He has just one touchdown each of his last three games. He has been pretty mediocre for fantasy teams. It might be more of the same this week against the Bills on the road. Buffalo has really played better defense down the stretch and allowed the sixth fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks during the regular season.

SLEEPERS

Baker Mayfield, QB, Bucs. Mayfield had a great opener in the playoffs, hitting the 300-yard mark while scoring three touchdowns. Mayfield has multiple touchdowns five of six games. He has three three-touchdown games during that stretch. He has a great matchup against the Lions, a team that allowed the third most fantasy points to quarterback during the regular season. Look for Mayfield to keep it going this week.

Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Packers. Wicks scored another touchdown last week, giving him scores three straight games. He keeps finding the end zone, making him a top red-zone target for the Packers. He could score again this week in a game the Packers are likely throwing often and playing from behind. This could lead to even more targets for Wicks. He could be a sneaky play for fantasy owners.

Khalil Shakir, WR, Bills. Shakir scored his third touchdown of the season last week. He has 12-plus fantasy points two straight games. He has at least three catches four consecutive games. Shakir is getting more work with Gabe Davis out and playing well in an expanded role. Shakir has a chance for another solid game this week in what should be a high-scoring game with the Chiefs.

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: Packers/49ers, Bucs/Lions.

Low Scoring Games: None.

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.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 11

Player Notes
Brian Robinson Jr. Nov 13 12:20am CT
Brian Robinson Jr.

San Francisco 49ers running back Brian Robinson Jr. is coming off his best two games since joining the team. Robinson handled eight carries for 41 yards and a touchdown in Week 10's loss to the Rams, following his Week 9 performance against the Giants, where he had 53 yards and a touchdown on five carries. The 26-year-old finally found the end zone and has run well as the primary backup behind Christian McCaffrey this season. His 4.9 yards per carry would be the highest of his career over a full season, and he remains one of the premier handcuffs in fantasy. It's possible that the coaching staff lightens up McCaffrey's workload down the stretch to keep him fresh for a potential playoff run and gives Robinson a path to real standalone value. But if McCaffrey were to miss any time, Robinson would immediately slot in as a high-end RB2 in Kyle Shanahan's offense.

From RotoBaller

Drake Maye Nov 13 12:10am CT
Drake Maye

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye remains a must-start in fantasy football ahead of Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets in Week 11. Maye is coming off a solid 270-yard, two-touchdown game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that made him the highest-scoring quarterback in fantasy football this season. He continues to flash a high completion rate, consistent scoring tendencies, strong passing yardage efficiency, and impressive rushing abilities, allowing him to stand atop the fantasy football podium while leading the Patriots to an 8-2 start (and a seven-game win streak). This week, Maye gets a relatively favorable matchup against the Jets, who have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points and fifth-most rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks in 2025. Maye remains a high-end QB1 for this divisional matchup on national television.

From RotoBaller

Malik Washington Nov 13 12:00am CT
Malik Washington

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington has been a fairly consistent contributor for the offense since Tyreek Hill (knee) went down in Week 4. Washington has served as a lite version of Hill, with plenty of designed targets and jet sweeps to get the ball in his hands. The per catch efficiency has been modest for the 24-year-old, with his 6.4 yards per reception ranking third lowest out of 117 wide receivers with at least 100 routes this season, per Fantasy Points Data Suite. Washington remains among the top Miami pass catchers in routes run and has recorded multiple receptions in all but one game this season. Washington has also scored twice in the past three weeks and gets a glorious Week 11 matchup against a Washington Commanders defense that has allowed the second-most PPR points per game to opposing wide receivers.

From RotoBaller

Demario Douglas Nov 12 11:50pm CT
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas isn't expected to see an increase in volume despite Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) being ruled out for a second consecutive week. Douglas caught just two passes on a 21 percent snap share with Boutte sidelined last Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so he should handle similar volume on Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets in Week 11. The 24-year-old has been a solid depth contributor this year, but it appears that he's firmly entrenched behind Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams in the pecking order. Fantasy managers should leave Douglas on the bench or the waiver wire this week.

From RotoBaller

Tre Tucker Nov 12 11:50pm CT
Tre Tucker

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker has had a productive season in nine games this season, catching 34 of his 46 targets for 455 yards and four touchdowns, leading the team in all categories except targets. Tucker was quiet in the first week after the Raiders traded Jakobi Meyers to Jacksonville, catching two of three targets for 28 yards in their Week 10 loss at Denver. But both sides struggled offensively in that game, and Las Vegas finished with only 143 total receiving yards. The recent return of Brock Bowers will likely draw more defensive attention, potentially creating more opportunities for Tucker to hit on explosive plays down the field. Tucker ranks as WR31 with 107.1 total PPR points, with 40.9 of those coming in Week 3 versus the Washington Commanders. It is still the most PPR points by a wide receiver in a game this season. Tucker will have flex value in a favorable matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Hunter Henry Nov 12 11:50pm CT
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry is a solid fantasy football starter in Week 11 against the New York Jets. Henry only had one catch last week, but he has been targeted 10 times over the last two games and is the overall TE15 in PPR leagues this year. This Thursday night, he should see increased volume with backup tight end Austin Hooper (concussion) sidelined. Hooper's absence leaves Henry as the Patriots' only healthy tight end on gameday, excluding fullback/tight end Jack Westover, who has one target and zero catches this year. Therefore, Henry, who has already been playing more than three-quarters of the snaps and leading his position group in targets, should be even more involved against the Jets. In addition to Hooper's absence, Henry stands to benefit from a very favorable matchup, as the Jets have allowed the second-most touchdowns to tight ends in 2025. Managers should view the 30-year-old as a top-12 tight end in fantasy football this week.

From RotoBaller

Terrell Jennings Nov 12 11:40pm CT
Terrell Jennings

New England Patriots running back Terrell Jennings (knee) is on track to operate as the backup to TreVeyon Henderson in Week 11 after Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) was ruled out for a third consecutive game. Jennings has opened each of the last two weeks as the Patriots' No. 2 running back, but his Week 10 outing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was cut short due to a knee injury. That same ailment limited him in practice this week and left him questionable to face the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football. It's a relatively quick turnaround for the second-year back to get healthy, but the Patriots are leaving the door open for him to play with this injury designation. Jennings should have a role if he suits up. Just last week, he earned the team's first touches before TreVeyon Henderson even got his hands on the football. Jennings had 12 touches, 44 scrimmage yards, and a touchdown in the Patriots' first game sans Stevenson, and we could expect similar volume in a favorable game script against the Jets. If he plays on Thursday, Jennings has low-end RB3/flex appeal in leagues with 14 or more teams.

From RotoBaller

Stefon Diggs Nov 12 11:40pm CT
Stefon Diggs

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs will look to extend his touchdown streak to four games during Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets in Week 11. Diggs has posted modest volume lately, but the touchdown streak has been enough for him to rack up double-digit fantasy points (PPR) in four consecutive weeks. He continues to play just over half of the team's offensive snaps, perhaps limiting his ceiling. Nevertheless, he remains the most talented receiver in New England's offense, and Drake Maye has plenty of trust in him. He should continue to produce against the Jets and could benefit from the absence of Sauce Gardner, whom New York traded away one week ago. Diggs ranks as a low-end WR2.

From RotoBaller

Luther Burden III Nov 12 11:40pm CT
Luther Burden III

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III is in line for more opportunities moving forward after a strong performance in Week 10 against the Giants and positive coachspeak from head coach Ben Johnson after the game. Johnson spoke glowingly of Chicago's rookie second-rounder, saying that "he's the guy that's starting to get more targets" and adding that the trust level between Burden and quarterback Caleb Williams "continues to ascend." The 21-year-old is certainly deserving of more work with how efficient and dynamic he's been with his limited looks. Out of 115 wide receivers with at least 15 targets this season, Burden's 12.3 yards per target ranks fourth highest, per Fantasy Points Data Suite. Burden's stock is trending up, and he's a strong hold in 12-team leagues.

From RotoBaller

Mack Hollins Nov 12 11:40pm CT
Mack Hollins

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins has emerged as quarterback Drake Maye's favorite target lately, and he should continue to remain highly involved against the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football in Week 11. Hollins has 15 catches over his last three games, including at least six catches in two of those three contests. Last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) sidelined, Hollins caught six of his 10 targets for 106 yards. This was his first 100-yard game since 2022 with the Las Vegas Raiders. Not only has the 32-year-old receiver earned Maye's trust, but he'll also remain a central piece of the game plan with Boutte sidelined for a second consecutive week. Hollins was a bit of a non-factor at the start of the year, but he has started to emerge as a household name and should rank as a low-end WR3/flex against a struggling Jets squad.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Williams Nov 12 11:40pm CT
Kyle Williams

New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams should continue to see more involvement during Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets in Week 11. Williams is coming off a strong outing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which he posted a season-high (and, thus, career-high) 56 percent snap share. He caught one of two targets in the victory, breaking off an impressive 72-yard touchdown that wound up on numerous highlight reels. While we can't count on the rookie to break off a huge touchdown every week, last Sunday's big play should be enough to earn him more opportunities going forward. His volume will also continue to benefit from the absence of Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), who is headed for his second consecutive absence. Williams still has to compete with players like Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and DeMario Douglas for volume, but he's certainly starting to earn the trust of Drake Maye and New England's coaching staff. Williams is a WR5 with a low floor and high ceiling this week. Managers in most leagues can leave him on the bench until we see him consistently earn more targets.

From RotoBaller

TreVeyon Henderson Nov 12 11:30pm CT
TreVeyon Henderson

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson is on track to lead the backfield in Week 11 after Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) was ruled out for a third consecutive game. After totaling 150 yards and two touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, Henderson will look to keep his momentum during a short week, facing off against the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football. New York ranks near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to running backs, but a spread of New England -12.5 could lead to a heavy dose of touches for Henderson, as well as teammates Terrell Jennings (knee) and D'Ernest Johnson. The rookie still has some things to clean up -- he averaged just 1.96 YPC on non-scoring plays last week -- but if he can continue to play more than three-quarters of the snaps while carving out a role as a rusher and receiver, he'll be in line for a very strong fantasy outing in Week 11. He ranks as a solid RB2 with RB1 upside.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Nov 12 11:20pm CT
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (collarbone, foot) has been sidelined for seven consecutive games after suffering a broken collarbone during their Week 2 win over the Washington Commanders and being placed on injured reserve. His timeline to return was estimated to be around six to eight weeks, which we are close to approaching, and his 21-day practice window hasn't been opened yet. The 25-year-old has fully recovered from the Jones fracture in his foot, and he is making progress with his collarbone. The dynamic wideout should be able to return either for the Thanksgiving game versus the Detroit Lions in Week 13 or in the following week against the Chicago Bears. With multiple Packers' pass catchers banged up, Reed is well worth a stash for his eventual return in a few weeks.

From RotoBaller

Blake Corum Nov 12 10:40pm CT
Blake Corum

Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum remains a steady producer alongside Kyren Williams, as Williams held a slight lead in touches, 16 to 13, last week. While Williams continues to see the majority of the offensive snaps (58%), head coach Sean McVay has found ways to utilize his change-of-pace back. Corum has seen 12 or more carries in each of the last three games, but faces a stiff Seattle Seahawks defense in Week 11. Corum should be considered a speculative add on the waiver wire this week, with exploitable defenses down the road.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Nov 12 10:40pm CT
Tyler Lockett

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyler Lockett has seemingly resurrected his career after signing with the team on October 27. After seeing just 19 snaps in Week 9, Lockett was on the field for 34 plays in Week 11. The savvy veteran reunited with quarterback Geno Smith, and hauled in five passes for 44 yards. With Lockett already having a strong relationship with Smith, the situation couldn't be better for the 33-year-old wideout. Lockett's crisp route running should continue to shine, as the Raiders utilize him alongside Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker. Lockett is a must-add for PPR formats.

From RotoBaller

Dawson Knox Nov 12 10:30pm CT
Dawson Knox

Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox is once again rising in the positional rankings as starter Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) missed practice on Wednesday. The Bills enter an exciting Week 11 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where scoring should be plentiful. Knox saw four targets against the Dolphins last week, as Kincaid was limited to just 18 plays. The Bills' injury report should be monitored closely, but Knox could be a valuable plug-and-play option if he is forced into the lineup Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Emari Demercado Nov 12 10:20pm CT
Emari Demercado

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado could see an increased workload heading into the team's Week 11 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. With Bam Knight (ankle) a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Demercado may build on his career-best performance last week, where he picked up 104 yards from scrimmage on just seven touches. The 26-year-old back is likely to see heavy usage moving forward, with quarterback Jacoby Brissett poised to get the ball out quickly to his playmakers.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Nailor Nov 12 10:20pm CT
Jalen Nailor

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor has emerged as a big-play threat in the Vikings' passing attack, after delivering 124 yards and a touchdown on just five receptions. Despite seeing just 14.3% of the target share, Nailor was able to post the most productive game of his young career. The receiver's big game put him on the map for fantasy owners, but prior to Week 10, his biggest game of the season was a three-catch outing for 37 yards. While Nailor should be viewed as a priority on the wire this week, it may be early to expect consistent production.

From RotoBaller

Cedric Tillman Nov 12 9:00pm CT
Cedric Tillman

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (glute) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session. Tillman made his return to the field this past weekend. Before this, Tillman had missed the previous four games due to a hamstring issue. The 25-year-old hauled in two of his four targets for 11 yards in the loss to the New York Jets. The fact Tillman is limited to start the week could just be the Browns being cautious with him. It doesn't appear that Tillman is going to have a huge role in this offense going forward. Despite that, his status is still worth monitoring ahead of the Week 11 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

From RotoBaller

Terrell Jennings Nov 12 8:50pm CT
Terrell Jennings

New England Patriots running back Terrell Jennings (knee) is officially listed as questionable ahead of Thursday's Week 11 matchup against the New York Jets. Jennings is still managing a knee injury that he suffered during last weekend's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It sounds like the Patriots are going to wait until closer to game-time before making a final decision. This offense will already be shorthanded with Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) being ruled out. That means, TreVeyon Henderson could be in line for a heavy workload on Thursday. Henderson is looking like an excellent fantasy option after rushing for 147 yards with two touchdowns this past weekend.

From RotoBaller