Studs and Duds: Divisional Round

Mon Jan 22 9:38am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Kelce comes up big for Chiefs


Well, that was a lot better. The games were really good this weekend. Even the first one that ended up pretty lopsided. It was still good for the half. The rest of the games were really entertaining, though. Most of them were really back and forth, and could have gone to either team in the end. It made for some great entertainment. And the fantasy numbers weren’t too bad, either. There were some really big games this weekend. Hopefully, you were able to take advantage of some of those big games on all your playoff fantasy teams.

Ravens 34, Texans 10

Fantasy Stud: Lamar Jackson. Jackson proved why he is the front runner for MVP this year. He had a great game, going 16-of-22 for 152 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. He also led the team in rushing, hitting the 100-yard mark. Jackson ran 11 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson scored 37.6 fantasy points. He has 35-plus fantasy points three of five games

Fantasy Dud: C.J. Stroud. The Ravens did a great job of holding the impressive rookie in check. He did not score a touchdown in the game and failed to hit 200-passing yards. Stroud was 19-of-33 for 175 yards without a score or turnover. He still had a monster rookie season and is going to be one of the best fantasy quarterbacks for years to come.

Game Notes: Justice Hill had 13 carries for 66 yards, leading the Ravens in rushing for ar running back. He also caught two passes for 11 yards, finishing with 77 total yards.

Dalvin Cook made his Ravens debut and ran eight times for 23 yards. He got nearly all his work with the Ravens up big late in the game.

49ers 24, Packers 21

Fantasy Stud: Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey had his usual huge fantasy game. He ran 17 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns. He also had seven receptions for 30 yards. McCaffrey had 31.8 fantasy points. This was his fourth game this season with 30-plus fantasy points. McCaffrey just keeps posting huge numbers on a weekly basis

Fantasy Dud: Brandon Aiyuk. With Deebo Samuel sidelined much of the game, you thought Aiyuk might get a little more work. Well, that didn’t happen. Aiyuk was a disappointment to fantasy teams, catching just three passes for 32 yards. It was a down game for the star receiver.

Game Notes: Deebo Samuel injured his shoulder early in the game and was unable to return. He had two receptions for 24 yards. This is an injury to watch going forward. Samuel is a huge part of the 49ers offense.

Aaron Jones hit the 100-yard rushing mark. He had 18 carries for 108 yards. Jones finishes the season with five straight 100-yard games.

Lions 31, Bucs 23

Fantasy Stud: Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs had a big game rushing and receiving, showing his dual threat ability. He ran nine times for 74 yards and a touchdown. He also had four receptions for 40 yards, giving him 114 total yards and a score. Gibbs outproduced starter David Montgomery running the ball despite having one less carry.
  
Fantasy Dud: Chris Godwin. Godwin had one of his down games this week, catching four passes for 40 yards. He was up and down all season, so this shouldn’t be a huge surprise. Godwin still had a fine season but here is to hoping he can produce more consistent numbers next year.

Game Notes: Mike Evans had eight receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown. This was his fourth 100-yard game of the season. Evans had a huge season and shows few signs of slowing down.

Jared Goff continued his great play in the playoffs, going 30-of-43 for 287 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. He has 275-plus passing yards each of his two playoff games without a turnover.

Chiefs 27, Bills 24

Fantasy Stud: Travis Kelce. Kelce showed he can still play a big role in the playoffs. He had five receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns. This was his first two-touchdown game of the entire season. It was the fourth time he topped 20 fantasy points in a game, though. Kelce scored 24.5 fantasy points in this one.
  
Fantasy Dud: Stefon Diggs. Diggs was held in check once again, catching three passes for just 21 yards. It was kind of the theme of the second half of his season. Diggs really disappeared down the stretch, causing some concern for next season.

Game Notes: Josh Allen was huge in defeat, especially as a runner. He ran 12 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns. He also was 26-of-39 for 186 yards and a touchdown.

Isiah Pacheco had a solid game, rushing 15 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. He had a catch for 14 yards, giving him 111 total 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.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 12

Player Notes
Austin Hooper Nov 19 2:10am CT
Austin Hooper

New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper (concussion) carved out standalone fantasy value in his role behind Hunter Henry last season, but he has failed to establish himself as a worthwhile fantasy addition during the 2025 campaign. He went from the overall TE24 in PPR leagues last year to TE45 through Week 11 this season. The 31-year-old hasn't registered more than three targets in a single game this season, which is a major step backward after he averaged 3.5 targets per game in 2024. While Henry has cemented himself as the Patriots' top tight end and is one reason for Hooper's underwhelming year, the bigger factor is likely the wide receivers' increased productivity. Players like Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, and Mack Hollins have elevated this position room higher than in years past, leaving fewer opportunities for a backup tight end like Hooper. An injury has complicated his status even more, as Hooper missed Week 11 in concussion protocol and remains up in the air for Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Even if he plays, he'll remain off the fantasy radar in all leagues. His only path to fantasy relevance would be a Hunter Henry injury.

From RotoBaller

Demario Douglas Nov 19 2:00am CT
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas continues to face significant competition within his own position group. Ahead of Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Douglas faces an uphill battle to handle the workload necessary to produce in fantasy football. Douglas has already tied his career-high of three touchdowns this year, but he is behind his 2024 pace in targets, catches, and receiving yards. In fact, he's averaging only 2.1 catches and 30.2 yards per game, and he has surpassed 45 yards in just two different weeks. The 24-year-old has slipped down the pecking order this season after New England brought in Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams. Meanwhile, Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) has taken on a larger role as a playmaker. While Douglas can still hold his own as a receiver, he has failed to separate himself from the rest of his teammates. As a result, he has a lower fantasy ceiling and remains off the radar in leagues with 14 or fewer teams.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Higbee Nov 19 1:50am CT
Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee has started to see his role slip away, coinciding with the emergence of rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson and veteran Colby Parkinson. Higbee caught just one of two targets for 23 yards last Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. He played only 39 percent of the offensive snaps, but this was partly due to an ankle injury sidelining him for a portion of a contest. Nevertheless, even if he were fully healthy, Higbee likely wouldn't have seen enough usage to achieve fantasy relevance. He's losing key opportunities to Ferguson, who had 117 yards in three games from Week 7 to 10, and Parkinson, who scored in back-to-back games while playing roughly two-thirds of the snaps. As long as Higbee is vying for targets with Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and several impactful tight ends, he'll be tough to trust in fantasy football. He can be left on waivers going forward, ranking outside the top 24 options at his position.

From RotoBaller

Colby Parkinson Nov 19 12:10am CT
Colby Parkinson

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson has scored both of his touchdowns on the season in the last two weeks, compiling six catches for 55 yards on seven targets and one score in each game. Parkinson, interestingly, played a season high in snap share and tied star wideout Puka Nacua at 68% in their Week 11 win over the Seattle Seahawks. The spike in playing time was partly caused by Tyler Higbee leaving late in the third quarter with an ankle injury. The three highest snap shares of the season for the 26-year-old Parkinson have come in the past three weeks after the Rams' Week 8 bye. It has been a part of the Rams' transition to use more 13 personnel, and Parkinson has played the most of any Rams tight end during this span. Rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson generates most of the buzz for Rams tight end due to his second-round draft capital and freak athleticism, but Parkinson has been playing the most and could have TE2 streaming value if Higbee were to miss time.

From RotoBaller

Raheem Mostert Nov 19 12:00am CT
Raheem Mostert

Las Vegas Raiders running back Raheem Mostert has served as the primary backup to rookie Ashton Jeanty in his age-33 season, recording 19 carries for 90 yards and six catches (six targets) for 45 yards in seven games. Jeanty has held down one of the heaviest workloads in the league, which has resulted in Mostert's most touches in a game being seven, which came back in Week 5 against the Colts. The veteran back has also served on special teams as a kick returner, leading the league with a 30.9 average yards per return. Even if Jeanty were to miss time, the offensive line and overall offensive environment don't create a lot of upside for Mostert as a contingency option.

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Jimmy Horn Jr. Nov 18 11:50pm CT
Jimmy Horn Jr.

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. saw his first NFL action in Week 5 this season and has maintained a limited role in the offense. Horn played 27.1% of the snaps in that game and hasn't seen his snap share increase since. In fact, he had his lowest snap share of the season in Carolina's Week 11 win over the Falcons, playing just 8.8% of the snaps, and hasn't recorded a touch in the past two games. The rookie sixth-rounder has totaled six catches for 66 yards on 10 targets to go along with seven carries for 44 yards in seven games. It appears Brycen Tremaine has surpassed the rookie on the depth chart, as he has seen his snaps increase lately. Horn is an intriguing stash on taxi squads in dynasty leagues, but he isn't relevant in redraft leagues.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Whittington Nov 18 11:30pm CT
Jordan Whittington

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington has played in all 10 games this season and has served as the primary No. 3 wide receiver behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Whittingon owns a 53.5% snap share and has run 44.7% of the team's routes this season, collecting 13 catches for 130 yards on 18 targets. The Texas product had a prime opportunity to produce in Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars when Puka Nacua missed the game due to an ankle injury, but Whittington was unable to capitalize, catching just two of four targets for nine yards. There was optimism for the 25-year-old to step in and be a potential streaming option that week after he made two spot starts in Weeks 4 and 5 last season and totaled 13 catches for 151 yards on 18 targets. For now, he will continue to operate behind the Rams' two star wideouts and remain off fantasy radars.

From RotoBaller

Arian Smith Nov 18 11:20pm CT
Arian Smith

New York Jets wide receiver Arian Smith had his lowest snap share since Week 1 in the team's 27-14 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 11. Smith played just 15.8% of the snaps and ran 21.2% of the routes, both significantly lower than his season averages. It seems the rookie wideout has moved into a depth role after the Jets acquired two wide receivers at the trade deadline in John Metchie III and Adonai Mitchell. Smith wasn't a fantasy-relevant option to begin with, catching six of 10 targets for 47 yards in 10 games this season.

From RotoBaller

Roman Wilson Nov 18 9:50pm CT
Roman Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson finished with just one reception for 17 yards on two targets in a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Despite this modest output, Wilson's expanded role was an encouraging development. The second-year pro logged a 57% snap share, his second-highest mark of the season and his highest in games with Calvin Austin III active. Austin, who had previously operated as the team's clear WR2, played on just 29% of offensive snaps. It's unclear if this utilization will stick, but Wilson has looked like the better player since Austin's return from a shoulder injury. Although Wilson still isn't a viable fantasy starter, his usage is worth monitoring as the Steelers head into a Week 12 meeting with the Chicago Bears.

From RotoBaller

Jonnu Smith Nov 18 9:40pm CT
Jonnu Smith

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith did not catch either of his two targets in a Week 11 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Smith has not had a worthwhile fantasy showing since Week 7, when he last found the end zone. It has been an incredibly disappointing season for the 30-year-old, who was expected to be heavily involved in Pittsburgh's offense after the team traded for him in the offseason. While Smith still has more fantasy points than teammate Darnell Washington, the latter has impressed in recent weeks and could earn a more consistent role moving forward. Smith should still be rostered in dynasty formats, but fantasy managers should look elsewhere for tight end production in all redraft leagues.

From RotoBaller

Darnell Washington Nov 18 9:30pm CT
Darnell Washington

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington logged four receptions for 67 yards on five targets in a 34-12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. While Washington didn't have an incredibly productive fantasy outing, he made plenty of noise with a massive play in the second quarter that set up a Steelers field goal. Washington caught a short pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers (wrist) and ran through three defenders to gain 31 yards before stepping out of bounds. He later picked up 17 yards on a throw from backup quarterback Mason Rudolph. It will be hard to trust Pittsburgh's offense against the Chicago Bears in Week 12, especially if Rodgers is unable to play, but Washington has looked great when given opportunities this year and could be worth stashing in deeper fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Nov 18 9:10pm CT
D.K. Metcalf

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf turned in yet another disappointing performance in Week 11, securing five of eight targets for 49 yards in a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (wrist) exited the contest at halftime and is currently considered questionable to play in Week 12 with a fractured left wrist. If Rodgers can't go, Metcalf will be catching passes from Mason Rudolph, who hasn't started a game since Week 17 of last season. Regardless of who is under center, it is becoming increasingly difficult to trust Metcalf, as he has scored fewer than 10 fantasy points in three straight games. On the bright side, Pittsburgh will face the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The Bears have surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts, keeping Metcalf in play as a boom-or-bust WR2.

From RotoBaller

Jack Bech Nov 18 9:00pm CT
Jack Bech

When the Las Vegas Raiders traded away veteran wide receiver Jakobi Meyers at the NFL trade deadline, there was a thought that rookie wideout Jack Bech might see more playing time. However, across the two games that have followed, Bech has recorded just one catch for 19 yards on two targets. The 22-year-old played just nine offensive snaps in the Raiders' 33-16 Week 11 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. For the time being, Bech remains behind Tre Tucker, Tyler Lockett, and Dont'e Thornton Jr. on his team's wide receiver depth chart. Las Vegas also utilizes a lot of two-tight end formations with Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, which limits the opportunities for its depth wide receivers. Bech maintains some long-term fantasy appeal in dynasty formats, but it does not appear as though the production is going to come for him in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Olamide Zaccheaus Nov 18 8:50pm CT
Olamide Zaccheaus

Across 10 games in 2025, Chicago Bears wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus has recorded 32 catches for 248 yards and one touchdown on 50 targets. For most of the season to this point, he's played the WR3 role in Chicago alongside wideouts Rome Odunze and DJ Moore. However, Zaccheaus' usage dropped off sharply in the Bears' Week 11 win over the Minnesota Vikings. The 28-year-old recorded zero catches on zero targets and played a season-low 10 offensive snaps. Chicago could be shifting playing time to rookie wideout Luther Burden III, who played 33 offensive snaps against Minnesota. Zaccheaus was not a major factor for fantasy managers before Week 11, but he could now be fading into true fantasy irrelevance. The usage split between Zaccheaus and Burden III is worth monitoring heading into Chicago's Week 12 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

From RotoBaller

Michael Carter Nov 18 8:50pm CT
Michael Carter

Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter recorded a season-high five receptions on seven targets in his team's 41-22 Week 11 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. With Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (ankle) likely to miss the team's Week 12 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Carter could be in line for a sizable role for a second straight week. The 26-year-old is unlikely to factor much on early downs, as Carter has fallen behind Arizona back Bam Knight in the pecking order for carries. However, Carter has recorded at least five targets in three out of six games played for the Cardinals this season. One wrinkle for Carter is the potential return of Trey Benson (knee), who could be returning soon from the knee injury that has kept him on Injured Reserve since Week 4. However, if Benson and Demercado are out in Week 12, Carter could have some deep-league fantasy appeal.

From RotoBaller

Michael Mayer Nov 18 8:40pm CT
Michael Mayer

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer is often overlooked due to the presence of his star teammate and fellow tight end Brock Bowers. However, Mayer has maintained a consistent role in his team's passing game even since Bowers returned in Week 9 from a knee injury that forced him to miss multiple games. Over the last three weeks, Mayer has recorded nine catches for 61 yards on 15 targets. While the overall ineptitude of the Raiders' offense limits Mayer's upside, his stable target volume provides a decent floor in PPR fantasy leagues. He's not worth a starting spot in the vast majority of fantasy formats, but Mayer could be a player to monitor in deep leagues.

From RotoBaller

Keaton Mitchell Nov 18 8:30pm CT
Keaton Mitchell

Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell had one of his highest usage games of the 2025 season in Week 11, recording 54 scrimmage yards on eight touches against the Cleveland Browns. With Ravens running back Justice Hill (toe) sidelined by a toe injury, Mitchell stepped into the team's RB2 role behind Derrick Henry. If Hill remains out for Baltimore's Week 12 matchup against the New York Jets, Mitchell could see steady playing time on passing downs for the second straight week. Across 19 career games with Baltimore, Mitchell has averaged 6.6 yards per carry and 7.3 yards per touch. He could be worth targeting on the waiver wire for fantasy managers in leagues with 14 or more teams heading into Week 12.

From RotoBaller

Dawson Knox Nov 18 8:20pm CT
Dawson Knox

Even with Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) sidelined in Week 11, Bills TE2 Dawson Knox had a modest outing, recording one catch for 23 yards on three targets against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kincaid did not practice on either Monday or Tuesday heading into Buffalo's Week 12 matchup against the Houston Texans on Thursday night, so Knox could have another chance to be his team's lead tight end. Still, in the two games he's played this season without Kincaid, Knox has recorded two catches for 42 yards and a touchdown on five targets. Expectations for Knox should be limited, but the 29-year-old does have a better chance to find the end zone without Kincaid in the lineup. In the deepest fantasy leagues, Knox could be a low-end streaming option for managers to add off the waiver wire heading into Week 12.

From RotoBaller

Harold Fannin Jr. Nov 18 7:00pm CT
Harold Fannin Jr.

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has been inconsistent during his rookie campaign. To be fair, it's not easy to be a consistent contributor in this Browns offense that has been struggling as a whole. The good news is, Fannin has seen five targets or more in each of his last five games. Last week, Fannin hauled in two of his five targets for 26 yards in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The 21-year-old hasn't been productive every week, but is worthy of a look as a deep league option for the upcoming Week 12 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Adonai Mitchell Nov 18 6:50pm CT
Adonai Mitchell

New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell made his team debut against the New England Patriots last week. Mitchell was traded to the Jets in the deal that sent defensive back Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. Mitchell didn't have a ton of time to learn the playbook, but was immediately heavily involved in the passing attack. Mitchell was targeted six times, but was only able to haul in one of those passes for 10 yards in the loss. The result obviously isn't good, but the six targets is promising for Mitchell. The Jets are without Garrett Wilson (knee), so someone needs to step up for this team. The 23-year-old figures to get a decent amount of chances down the stretch for the Jets. Mitchell could be worth a look as a deep league option as he continues to build chemistry with his new quarterback.

From RotoBaller