No NFL season is devoid of injuries. They happened last year, they've happened every week of this season, and they'll happen again next year. But this week hit hard. Harder than most.

Drake London and Josh Jacobs headlined the carnage. We also saw Bhayshul Tuten and Jaylen Warren go down. Michael Penix Jr. is expected to be out for the remainder of the year. Aaron Rodgers fractured his wrist, leaving his future uncertain. Sam LaPorta unexpectedly landed on IR. Marvin Harrison Jr. had an emergency appendectomy. Calvin Ridley, who missed the last four games, fractured his fibula on his first snap of the game.

Losing a player you've relied on all season in fantasy football will crush your spirit.

Our Dan Hindery did a study last year on teams that advanced to the playoffs in the Footballguys Bowl, trying to identify what worked and what didn't. One tidbit from his article really stood out to me. Last year, drafters who selected Rashee Rice made the playoffs at a higher rate than average drafters.

As you probably remember, Rice went down in Week 4 with a season-ending knee injury. How is it possible that his drafters found success after losing an early-round stud? In Dan's words, "The likely explanation is that Rice was a sharp pick, and his drafters were skilled enough to compensate for his absence with other strong selections."

You know who else was a sharp pick this year?

Drake London. It was easy to discredit his Year 3 breakout after subpar production through his first two seasons. However, savvy drafters saw an ascending player with a quarterback tailor-made for his skill set. Penix is an aggressive quarterback who allows his receivers to make plays on contested balls. London is a contested-catch technician, using his physicality and size to snare balls away even while draped in coverage. Even though he dealt with some injuries this year, London's 17-game pace through Week 11 was 178 targets, 1,530 yards, and 12 touchdowns. That production over a full season would have nearly guaranteed a top-five receiver finish.

You know who else was a sharp pick?

Josh Jacobs. Sure, he's aging. And yes, Matt LeFleur has displayed a penchant for a split backfield in years past. But we saw LeFleur buck that trend last year, giving Jacobs the eighth-most weighted opportunities of any running back. Additionally, the Packers don't have a rushing quarterback or legitimate red-zone threat, making Jacobs the preferred option near the end zone. Through Week 11 this year, Jacobs was fifth in the league in weighted opportunities. His 11 rushing touchdowns were second only to Jonathan Taylor.

Want another sharp pick?

Bhayshul Tuten. With off-the-charts athleticism, Tuten had all of the signs of a rookie who could steal the job from an inefficient veteran. It took some time, but the backfield finally flipped in Week 11. Prior to Tuten's ankle injury, he was handling more touches than Travis Etienne Jr. For three quarters of that game, Tuten drafters thought they had a league-winner.

Want some more sharp picks? Jaylen Warren. Cam Skattebo. James Conner. Malik Nabers. Tyreek Hill. Tucker Kraft. George Kittle. Brock Bowers. All smash picks who suffered unfortunate injuries.

Drafting players who get hurt doesn't make you a bad fantasy manager. It's just an unfortunate part of the game we play. Reframing your mindset is the first step in overcoming these injuries.

Take a deep breath. "The process was right." And then look at your waiver wire and trade block.

Every year, players pop up late in the year and help fantasy managers win their leagues. Let's look at last season.

Ladd McConkey and Xavier Worthy had quiet starts to their rookie campaigns before logging WR1 finishes from Weeks 15-17. Jalen McMillan, undrafted in almost every fantasy league last year, averaged 19.4 fantasy points per game through the fantasy playoffs. Olamide Zaccheaus got hot down the stretch, averaging 18.0 points per game through the playoffs. Through the fantasy playoffs, Tyjae Spears was the RB5, Ameer Abdullah the RB7, and Jerome Ford the RB16. This time last year, most of these players were afterthoughts in fantasy football leagues.

Injuries impact everyone who plays fantasy football, but a critical injury doesn't mark the end of your season. Rather than accepting defeat and phoning in the rest of the year, find solace in knowing that you made a good pick that provided value while they were healthy. 

Losing Tucker Kraft a couple of weeks ago was a brutal blow. But managers who picked up Dalton Schultz stumbled into the TE4 and TE8 over the last two weeks. 

Just last week, a lot of fantasy managers could have thrown a fit when Marvin Harrison Jr. unexpectedly underwent an appendectomy. Harrison had proven to be a good pick, putting up strong production in recent weeks with Jacoby Brissett under center. Diligent managers regrouped and went to the waiver wire. Michael Wilson, Christian Watson, Xavier Legette, and Greg Dortch were all top-12 receivers on the week and available in many leagues.

To steal the wise words from our Sigmund Bloom, "Fantasy football is a war of attrition." You probably already daydreamed about winning fantasy championships with Drake London and Josh Jacobs in your starting lineup. Maybe they come back soon. Perhaps they don't. All you can focus on is setting yourself up to navigate through these injuries by adding depth and swapping out falling players for risers. 

That's where these rest-of-season rankings come into play. Every week, I dig into each game, studying usage and efficiency trends, watching games, and reading beat reports to find the league's biggest risers and fallers. If you still roster players who are falling deep down the rankings, check your waiver wire for risers who are ranked ahead of them. If your trade deadline hasn't passed, see if you can package some of your lowly players for a riser. I use the rankings as the guiding light for waiver wire transactions and trades, and I hope you benefit similarly.

Next to each player's name is their positional ranking, along with a "+" or "-" indicating their movement from last week's rankings. New players to the rankings will be marked as "New." As always, please check out Bob Henry's Rest-of-Season projections for a different opinion.

This was, without a doubt, the wildest week we've had so far this season. Many impactful injuries caused significant movements at almost every position. In addition to injuries, we have rookies getting hot, veterans cooling off, superstars getting suspended, and players getting benched. Let's dive in, starting with the quarterbacks.

Quarterbacks

On most weeks, I note how there is little quarterback movement. The quarterback rankings have been firm relative to other positions. This week, chaos. Herbert is spiraling, Purdy is back, Burrow is close, Rodgers and Penix went down, and Fields was benched. A handful of uncertain situations only feel murkier in the aftermath of this week. There's a lot to digest.

• QB1 - Josh Allen
• QB2 - Lamar Jackson
• QB3 - Jalen Hurts
• QB4 - Patrick Mahomes II
• QB5 - Drake Maye
• QB6 - Daniel Jones (+1)
• QB7 - Dak Prescott (+1)
• QB8 - Matthew Stafford (+3) - Despite an illustrious career, Stafford has never won an MVP. He's doing his best to change that this season. He's led the Rams to an 8-2 record and the top of the NFC West. He ranks fifth in EPA per dropback and, since Week 4, has thrown 22 touchdowns with zero interceptions. That efficiency has fully translated to fantasy: he's currently the per-game QB5, trailing only Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes II, Drake Maye, and Lamar Jackson. There's always a scary weekly floor with quarterbacks who offer nothing as rushers, but Stafford has dipped below 13 fantasy points just once all year. He's playing like one of the league's best quarterbacks and throwing to an elite receiver duo. Keep treating him as a locked-in QB1.
• QB9 - Baker Mayfield
• QB10 - Jaxson Dart
• QB11 - Justin Herbert (-5) - Herbert's slide in the rankings isn't about his talent. The offense around him is falling apart, and it's dragging down his production. In the five games where Joe Alt has played at least 40% of the snaps, Herbert has averaged 23.5 fantasy points per game. In the six games without Alt, that number falls to 16.3. That's the difference between being the per-game QB2 and the QB19. On Sunday, Herbert took a brutal shot from an unblocked edge rusher and didn't look the same afterward in a blowout loss. He's good enough to overcome dire circumstances, but the with-and-without-Alt splits are too stark to ignore.
• QB12 - Brock Purdy (+5) - Purdy has been a steady low-end QB1 since taking over as the 49ers' starter in 2022. Written off early as just a system beneficiary, he's sharpened his craft every year. For fantasy, he finished as the QB8 in 2023 and QB12 last season. This year, there might be untapped upside. It's easily the worst defense he's ever played with, and game scripts could force more pass-heavy outings. It's a small sample (only three games), but he's posted weekly finishes of QB14, QB12, and QB4. Yes, he benefits from the scheme and supporting cast, but the fantasy production speaks for itself. Assuming he avoids setbacks with his turf toe injury, you can start him as a QB1 going forward.
• QB13 - Caleb Williams (-1)
• QB14 - Bo Nix (-1)
• QB15 - Jared Goff (-1)
• QB16 - Sam Darnold (-1)
• QB17 - Jordan Love (-1)
• QB18 - Joe Burrow (+12) - Although he returned to practice last week, Burrow is still expected to need some time before he's ready for game action. For fantasy managers who have already locked up a playoff spot and could use a late-season quarterback upgrade, he's a perfectly reasonable stash. Expect him back in Week 13 or 14.
• QB19 - Trevor Lawrence (+3)
• QB20 - J.J. McCarthy (-1)
• QB21 - C.J. Stroud (-1)
• QB22 - Bryce Young (+5) - It has been a strange season for Young. There was reasonable offseason optimism after he finished as the top-scoring fantasy quarterback over the final month of 2024. Heading into Week 11, that optimism had evaporated. His 11.6 points per game ranked 36th among quarterbacks. Week 11 finally offered a glimpse of what managers hoped for. Young posted a career-high 448 passing yards, beating his previous best by 120 yards. His 68.9% completion rate was his highest of the year, and his three touchdowns tied his season high. If not for Josh Allen's six-score eruption, Young would have finished as the top fantasy quarterback of the week. He is not close to reentering the conversation in single-quarterback formats, but managers in two-quarterback and superflex leagues should feel more encouraged than they did a week ago.
• QB23 - Marcus Mariota (+2)
• QB24 - Tua Tagovailoa (+2)
• QB25 - Joe Flacco (-4)- Joe Burrow is nearing his return. Flacco's run as the Bengals' quarterback and a fantasy streamer are coming to an end.
• QB26 - Jacoby Brissett (+8) - Brissett broke multiple NFL records in Week 11. His 47 completions set a new regular-season record, and he became the first player in league history to attempt more than 50 passes while completing more than 80% of them. He did it all without Marvin Harrison Jr., the team's top wideout. He kept Trey McBride at his usual volume and turned Michael Wilson into a week-winning savior, generating some buzz about a Cardinals' team that hasn't had much in recent years. As the Cardinals continue weighing their long-term decision on Kyler Murray, Brissett is easing any short-term worries about the offense's ability to function.
• QB27 - Aaron Rodgers (-3) - Reports indicate Rodgers has a small fracture in his left wrist. He's hopeful he can play through it, but we need to see how the week of practice goes. Even before the injury, his 15.2 fantasy points per game ranked 25th among quarterbacks. He remains a streamer in multi-quarterback formats but is nowhere near the single-quarterback picture.
• QB28 - Jayden Daniels
• QB29 - Tyrod Taylor (+11) - It will be hard to trust Taylor in fantasy given the current state of the Jets. Garrett Wilson is on IR. Mason Taylor, a rookie tight end, has emerged as their top pass-catcher. Adonai Mitchell is operating as the team's top wideout, and he couldn't catch a cold in a daycare. Taylor has some rushing upside that puts him on the radar in two-quarterback and superflex leagues, but that is about the extent of his value.
• QB30 - Cameron Ward (-1)
• QB31 - Kirk Cousins (New)
• QB32 - Mason Rudolph (New)
• QB33 - Justin Fields (-15) - On Monday, Adam Schefter reported that the Jets would be making a change at quarterback, starting Tyrod Taylor ahead of Justin Fields. Despite a handful of games with strong fantasy production, Fields' season has been poor. His -0.13 EPA per dropback ranks 28th among 34 qualifying quarterbacks. Fields is safely droppable in all formats.
• QB34 - Kyler Murray (-3)
• QB35 - Tyler Shough (-3)
• QB36 - Geno Smith (-3)
• QB37 - Dillon Gabriel (-2)
• QB38 - Shedeur Sanders (+7)
• QB39 - Mac Jones (-3)
• QB40 - Spencer Rattler (-3)
• QB41 - Davis Mills
• QB42 - Malik Willis
• QB43 - Michael Penix Jr. (-20)
• QB44 - Joe Milton III (-1)
• QB45 - Jameis Winston (New)
• QB46 - Jalen Milroe (-2)
• QB47 - Kenny Pickett (-1)
• QB48 - Andy Dalton (-1)
• QB49 - Jake Browning (-10)
• QB50 - Russell Wilson (-12)

Running Backs

Running backs live in a constant churn, especially in that messy range from just outside the top ten into the fifties. Workloads swing wildly, injuries hit harder, and no position is tougher to rank for rest-of-season value. In trades and on the waiver wire, I'm often willing to chase short-term production. Still, I also want to prepare for the inevitable chaos by stashing as many injury-away backups as possible. At this point in the season, I'll gladly cut backup quarterbacks, backup tight ends, and end-of-bench receivers for handcuff running backs with league-winning contingent upside.

• RB1 - Jonathan Taylor
• RB2 - Christian McCaffrey
• RB3 - Jahmyr Gibbs
• RB4 - Bijan Robinson
• RB5 - De'Von Achane
• RB6 - James Cook 
• RB7 - Javonte Williams (+1)
• RB8 - Saquon Barkley (+1)
• RB9 - Kyren Williams (+1)
• RB10 - Derrick Henry (+1)
• RB11 - Breece Hall (+1)
• RB12 - Chase Brown (+2)
• RB13 - Omarion Hampton (+8) - The expectation all along was that Hampton would return from his sprained ankle after the Chargers' Week 12 bye, and that timeline still makes sense. Before getting hurt, he posted 24.9 and 27.5 PPR points in back-to-back games and looked every bit like the first-round talent he was. He immediately established himself as a true bell cow. For fantasy managers who get into the playoffs with Hampton, he should provide league-winning upside down the stretch.
• RB14 - Rico Dowdle (+6) - Dowdle's perception is slightly inflated by his back-to-back starts against the Dolphins and Cowboys, the two worst run defenses in the league. In those matchups, he averaged 236.5 yards per game and 7.9 yards per touch, scoring more fantasy points than any other running back. In his three starts since then, those numbers have dropped to 101.3 yards per game and 4.2 yards per touch. He is still providing respectable production and getting true workhorse usage, but the dreams of him being a plug-and-play top-five option have cooled. He has handled 83.7% of the backfield touches over the last three weeks. Expect back-end RB1 or high-end RB2 numbers going forward, but given how top-heavy the position is, it is tough to rank him inside the top ten.
• RB15 - Ashton Jeanty (-2)
• RB16 - Travis Etienne Jr. (+1)
• RB17 - TreVeyon Henderson (+5) - It's easy to chalk Henderson's surge up to Rhamondre Stevenson's injury, but this is a storyline we see almost every year. A highly drafted rookie opens the season behind an inefficient veteran. Something happens that forces an expanded workload, whether it is an injury, a bye-week reset, or a favorable game script, and the breakout follows. The cat is out of the bag. Late-season rookies win leagues. I could hedge and worry about Stevenson's return, but I am buying in. Henderson brings explosive, big-play ability that Stevenson simply does not. There is a narrative that Stevenson is the superior between-the-tackles runner, but the data does not support it. Henderson is generating more rushing yards and more yards after contact, both inside and outside the tackles. He followed up his two-touchdown breakout in Week 10 with three more scores in Week 11. It would be hard, bordering on irresponsible, for the Patriots to shrink his role back into a secondary spot in a committee.
• RB18 - D'Andre Swift (-3)
• RB19 - Bucky Irving (-1)
• RB20 - Quinshon Judkins (-1)
• RB21 - Josh Jacobs (-14) - Jacobs left Week 11's game early with a knee injury and was quickly declared out. The team hopes he'll return soon, but his Week 12 availability is already in question. As we approach the end of the season, and every week becomes more valuable, these late-season injuries become increasingly impactful.
• RB22 - Jaylen Warren (-6) - The stranglehold Warren appeared to have on the Steelers' backfield might not be as tight as we thought. In Week 11, he ceded a surprising amount of work to Kenneth Gainwell. Yes, Pittsburgh controlled the game, and a lot of Gainwell's usage came late after Warren suffered an ankle injury. And it wasn't all garbage-time relief work: Gainwell caught touchdowns in both the first and fourth quarters. You're still firing Warren up as a weekly RB2 if he's healthy, but don't be surprised if this turns into more of a split than it has been.
• RB23 - David Montgomery (+1)
• RB24 - RJ Harvey (+1)
• RB25 - Alvin Kamara (-2)
• RB26 - Tyrone Tracy Jr.
• RB27 - Ken Walker III (+2)
• RB28 - Zach Charbonnet (-1)
• RB29 - Aaron Jones Sr. (-1)
• RB30 - Tyjae Spears
• RB31 - Woody Marks (+3)
• RB32 - Emanuel Wilson (+22) - Early reports suggest Josh Jacobs should return this season, which is great news. After Jacobs left Week 11 early with a knee injury, Wilson became the clear lead back Green Bay leaned on. He handled 11 carries and a target, while Chris Brooks logged only one rushing attempt. With a full week to reset and gameplan, the Packers could choose to divide work a bit more evenly, but Wilson has been the primary backup all year, signaling how the team feels about the two relief options. The best-case scenario is Jacobs avoiding serious injury and returning in Week 12. However, if he misses time, Wilson immediately becomes a plug-and-play RB2 in a strong offense.
• RB33 - Trey Benson (-2)
• RB34 - Rhamondre Stevenson (-2)
• RB35 - Kyle Monangai
• RB36 - Isiah Pacheco
• RB37 - Chris Rodriguez Jr. (+15) - Rodriguez got the starting nod in Week 10 but was knocked out early with an injury. After healing up over the week, he got the starting nod again in Week 11, dominated touches, and looked better than any Commanders' running back has this season. A former sixth-round pick entering his third season, he's mostly been a short-yardage grinder to this point. This year, though, he actually looks good. He's already handled more touches than he has in any prior season and is averaging an impressive 4.7 yards per carry. He's still a one-dimensional runner with almost no passing-game usage, and his lack of long speed limits his breakaway upside. But he's a punishing, physical back who consistently mitigates losses and grinds out yards after contact. Jacory Croskey-Merritt provides change-of-pace work, and Jeremy McNichols handles passing downs, but Rodriguez looks locked into the bulk of the early-down volume going forward. If he maintains this role coming out of next week's bye, fantasy managers should have some confidence in starting him during the fantasy playoffs.
• RB38 - Tony Pollard
• RB39 - Tyler Allgeier
• RB40 - Blake Corum
• RB41 - Kenneth Gainwell (+7) - Week 11 was Gainwell's second multi-touchdown game this year. His first big outing came while Warren was sidelined with an injury, helping fantasy managers win their weekly matchups. This one was more unexpected. Warren left the game early with an ankle issue, came back briefly, and downplayed it afterward. But Gainwell took advantage of the extra opportunities. He only had 24 rushing yards, but caught seven of eight targets for 81 yards and two touchdowns. If Warren were to miss any time, Gainwell would be an obvious RB2. He might also carve out a bigger role in the passing game after his strong performance. For now, he remains a stash while we wait for updates on the severity of Warren's injury.
• RB42 - Sean Tucker (+18) - Rachaad White got the starting nod back in Week 5 after Bucky Irving went down and opened strong: 71 yards and two scores in his first start, then 86 and a touchdown the following week. But over the next four games, he managed just 44, 61, 54, and 61 scoreless yards. And then the backfield seemingly flipped in Week 11. In White's most recent start, Tucker got some extra work early and exploded for 140 yards and three touchdowns. He broke tackles and ripped off chunk gains, two things White hasn't done lately. Irving returned to practice last week and should be back soon, but if he misses another game, Tucker is the preferred play over White.
• RB43 - Rachaad White (-10) - See: Tucker, Sean
• RB44 - Devin Singletary (+3)
• RB45 - Kareem Hunt (-3)
• RB46 - Isaiah Davis
• RB47 - Chuba Hubbard (-3)
• RB48 - Nick Chubb (-3)
• RB49 - Brian Robinson Jr.
• RB50 - Jordan Mason
• RB51 - Bhayshul Tuten (-10) - Tuten's increased usage was a clear focal point in this week's game plan, as the rookie handled 15 carries to Etienne's 12 before exiting the game with an ankle injury. While we await news on his injury, he will slide down the rankings. There are concerns of a high-ankle sprain, which could sideline him for up to a month. Consider his ranking this week as a placeholder while we await more information. Any cleared health concerns will quickly push him right back up, as he would have been one of this week's biggest risers, if not for the injury.
• RB52 - Tank Bigsby (+3)
• RB53 - Jacory Croskey-Merritt (-16) - Croskey-Merritt's role on the Commanders' three-headed backfield nets low-value and infrequent touches. Chris Rodriguez Jr. appears to have seized the early-down and goal-line work. Jeremy McNichols takes almost all of the passing-down work. That leaves Croskey-Merritt as a change-of-pace early-down option. Since his surprise 150-yard, two-touchdown game in Week 5, Croskey-Merritt has averaged just 38.2 scoreless yards. We understand the hesitation in dropping a rookie who has flashed, but it is getting harder to justify keeping him rostered in shallow leagues.
• RB54 - Jeremy McNichols (-3)
• RB55 - Brashard Smith (+3)
• RB56 - Kimani Vidal (-13) - Vidal exited Week 11's game with an injury. He came back later, but you probably wouldn't know from the box score. He had five carries and two receptions, totaling just 12 yards. Vidal's production has been up and down since taking over for an injured Omarion Hampton. While Hampton hasn't officially had his 21-day practice window opened yet, he's expected to return after their bye next week and play in Week 13. Vidal's Week 11 performance may end up being his final start, and it leaves fantasy managers with a sour last impression despite a few productive weeks.
• RB57 - Devin Neal (-1)
• RB58 - Emari Demercado (-1)
• RB59 - Ollie Gordon II (+7)
• RB60 - Ray Davis (-1)
• RB61 - Dylan Sampson (+1)
• RB62 - Bam Knight (+1)
• RB63 - Jaleel McLaughlin (+15) - Everything I said about rookie breakouts in my TreVeyon Henderson write-up does not apply here, simply because of Sean Payton. J.K. Dobbins is presumed to be out for the year, which should have paved the way for an RJ Harvey breakout. Harvey was drafted in Round 2 and showed plenty of flashes through his young career. He saw a bump in usage, a season-best 61.3% snap share. But he didn't run away with the job like many had hoped. McLaughlin suited up for just his second game of the season and received seven touches. Payton has always favored a committee approach in the backfield, and Dobbins' injury only pushed McLaughlin into that weekly rotation.
• RB64 - Malik Davis (+7)
• RB65 - Keaton Mitchell (+7)
• RB66 - LeQuint Allen Jr. (+8)
• RB67 - Will Shipley
• RB68 - Kaleb Johnson (+9)
• RB69 - Jerome Ford (-5)
• RB70 - Ameer Abdullah
• RB71 - Justice Hill (-6)
• RB72 - Tahj Brooks (+1)
• RB73 - Samaje Perine (-4)
• RB74 - D'Ernest Johnson (New)
• RB75 - Terrell Jennings (-14)
• RB76 - Tyler Badie (-8)
• RB77 - Michael Carter (+3)
• RB78 - Ty Johnson (+4)
• RB79 - Raheem Mostert (-3)
• RB80 - Chris Brooks (+8)
• RB81 - Dare Ogunbowale
• RB82 - Jaylen Wright (-7)
• RB83 - Hunter Luepke (New)
• RB84 - George Holani (-1)
• RB85 - Phil Mafah (-1)
• RB86 - Braelon Allen (+3)
• RB87 - Clyde Edwards-Helaire (-1)
• RB88 - Zavier Scott (-3)
• RB89 - Trayveon Williams (New)
• RB90 - Jaret Patterson (-11)
• RB91 - Kendall Milton (New)
• RB92 - Kyle Juszczyk (New)
• RB93 - Roschon Johnson (-6)
• RB94 - Trevor Etienne
• RB95 - Adam Prentice (New)
• RB96 - Tyler Goodson (-6)
• RB97 - Chase Edmonds (+9)
• RB98 - Jaydon Blue (-6)
• RB99 - Dylan Laube (-6)
• RB100 - Joe Mixon (-9)
• RB101 - Sione Vaki (-6)
• RB102 - Hassan Haskins (-6)
• RB103 - DJ Giddens (-4)
• RB104 - Brittain Brown (-6)
• RB105 - Eric Gray (-8)
• RB106 - Dameon Pierce (-6)
• RB107 - Isaac Guerendo (-6)
• RB108 - A.J. Dillon (-6)
• RB109 - Zamir White (-6)
• RB110 - MarShawn Lloyd (-6)
• RB111 - Jarquez Hunter (-6)

Wide Receivers

Wide receiver production always seems to come from the strangest places late in the year. I don't know how or why, but every season, a few random receivers catch fire down the stretch. Just recently, Alec Pierce, Troy Franklin, and Christian Watson went straight from the waiver wire into our lineups. Other receivers are starting to quickly find themselves in fantasy-relevant roles. There are rarely massive swings at the top of the rankings, but Tetairoa McMillan's boom game demands an exception. Just as the consensus opinion on him was starting to sour, he reminded everyone why he was a top-ten pick in this year's draft.

• WR1 - Jaxon Smith-Njigba (+1)
• WR2 - Ja'Marr Chase (-1)
• WR3 - Puka Nacua
• WR4 - CeeDee Lamb (+1)
• WR5 - Amon-Ra St. Brown (-1)
• WR6 - Rashee Rice (+1)
• WR7 - Nico Collins (+3) - Panic followed Collins' three-catch, 25-yard outing in Week 1, but he has since averaged 16.6 fantasy points per game, eighth among all wide receivers. It doesn't matter whether CJ Stroud or Davis Mills is under center. Collins is clearly the top weapon in this offense, while the other receivers rotate behind him. He ranks 13th in targets per route run and 15th in yards per route run, showing that he can receive opportunities and utilize them efficiently. Keep him in your lineup as a low-end WR1.
• WR8 - Davante Adams (+1)
• WR9 - Justin Jefferson (-1) - I believe it is unfair and irresponsible to make declarative statements about young quarterbacks, so I will not do that about J.J. McCarthy. Still, what we've seen over the last few weeks is enough to raise concerns about Jefferson's outlook for the rest of the season. Targets are not the problem. His 30.3% target share ranks sixth among all wide receivers. The issue is efficiency. He is ninth in receptions and only 22nd in yards per route run. His 74.7 receiving yards per game are the lowest of his career. Errant throws and a low-volume passing attack have capped Jefferson's ceiling. He can still take over a game on any given week, making him impossible to bench. That said, he is sliding into the back-end WR1 conversation.
• WR10 - Tetairoa McMillan (+8) - Week 11 gave us the kind of game script we love to see. A high-scoring overtime win allowed McMillan to post the best game of his young career. His 12 targets, eight receptions, and 130 yards were all single-game highs, and he recorded his second multi-touchdown game of the year. Despite only four touchdowns so far, McMillan ranks as the WR9 in PPR formats. His 44.2% air yards share is second in the NFL, behind only Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He is drawing targets, and more importantly, he is drawing them downfield. He is also learning to assert his physicality in the red zone, where he caught both of his Week 11 scores. Drafted eighth overall this year, McMillan has already proven worthy of being a team's WR1, and he deserves the same respect in your fantasy lineups.
• WR11 - Emeka Egbuka
• WR12 - Jaylen Waddle
• WR13 - George Pickens (+4) - There was reasonable concern that Pickens' production would dip once CeeDee Lamb returned from injury. Technically, it has, falling from 26.2 to 17.6 PPR points per game. But even his current pace alongside Lamb would rank as fantasy's WR7 this season. Pickens has been a big-play and touchdown machine for Dallas. His seven touchdowns are tied for the third-most in the league, trailing only Davante Adams and Amon-Ra St. Brown. His weekly floor may be a bit lower with Lamb back, but the week-winning upside remains fully intact.
• WR14 - Zay Flowers (+1)
• WR15 - Rome Odunze (-1)
• WR16 - Ladd McConkey
• WR17 - A.J. Brown (-4) - The squeaky wheel got the grease. After a public plea for a shift in offensive philosophy, Brown set season highs in targets (11) and receptions (7). The problem is that he was not especially efficient with those opportunities, and the entire Eagles offense sputtered. Brown is an elite talent, but there is obvious dysfunction in Philadelphia. Whether it is questionable coaching, player-only meetings, or personal conflicts, the tension has been hard to ignore. Brown got his wish in Week 11, but it's unclear who the usage will find next week. He can make plays few receivers in the league can even imagine, but for fantasy purposes, he is sliding deeper into the WR2 tier.
• WR18 - Michael Pittman Jr. (+1)
• WR19 - Marvin Harrison Jr. (+1)
• WR20 - Tee Higgins (+3)
• WR21 - Jameson Williams (+4)
• WR22 - Drake London (-16) - Diagnosed with a PCL sprain, London has already been ruled out for Week 12. It is a tricky injury, and we have seen the potential downside this season with Ricky Pearsall and Brock Bowers. On top of that, Michael Penix Jr. is expected to miss the rest of the year. London had been performing like a bona fide WR1, topping 100 yards in five of his last six games. The combination of his knee injury and the loss of his quarterback is a nightmare scenario for fantasy managers. He hopes to return soon, and when he does, his outlook will be a bit dimmer with Kirk Cousins throwing him the ball.
• WR23 - DK Metcalf (-2)
• WR24 - Chris Olave
• WR25 - Stefon Diggs (+5) - It is easy to look at the box score and get excited about Diggs' 11 targets, nine receptions, and 105 yards. A deeper look shows something even more important: a 69% snap rate, which is his highest of the season. He also led the team with 33 routes run. Diggs is almost 32 and coming off a season-ending ACL tear, so the Patriots had him in a part-time role for the first half of the year. Forty-one receivers have run more routes than him, but few have been as efficient with their opportunities. His 2.63 yards per route run ranks fourth among all receivers, and his 0.29 targets per route run ranks ninth. Diggs is talented enough to separate himself from the rest of this Patriots receiving room. If his snap share continues to climb, there's no reason he can't produce top-ten numbers.
• WR26 - Deebo Samuel Sr. (+5) - Samuel picked up a midseason heel injury, missed Week 7, and has been limited in a few games since. Even so, he's sitting as fantasy's WR18. It hasn't been pretty. His 47.0 receiving yards per game are the second-lowest of his career, his targets are coming closer to the line of scrimmage, and he hasn't created the same yards after contact we're used to. The only reason he's hanging around as a top-20 receiver is volume and touchdowns. Terry McLaurin has been hurt most of the year, and both Luke McCaffrey and Noah Brown are on IR. That has funneled extra work his way, and his 6.7 targets per game are his highest since 2022. He's also on a heater with six touchdowns already. Samuel is a clear regression candidate, especially if McLaurin returns healthy after the bye, but we're past the halfway point of the season, and he's still producing WR2 numbers. We can't ignore that.
• WR27 - Brian Thomas Jr. (+1)
• WR28 - DeVonta Smith (+1)
• WR29 - Jauan Jennings (-2)
• WR30 - Troy Franklin (+7) - Franklin has been a steady riser throughout this series all season, but this is the first time he's officially moved ahead of Courtland Sutton. I noted last week that Sutton hadn't out-targeted Franklin in five straight weeks, and that extended to six after Week 11. Keep starting Franklin as a steady WR3.
• WR31 - Xavier Worthy (-9) - I'm a big fan of true facts that don't sound true. Here's one: Xavier Worthy has played 24 regular-season games, and his career-high is 83 receiving yards. The logic behind draft Worthy was a case built on potential. The logic behind drafting him was based almost entirely on potential. He ran a record-setting 4.21 at the NFL Combine and plays with one of the best quarterbacks of all time. But the production still has not shown up. And with Rashee Rice back in the lineup, it has actually gotten worse. Worthy is averaging just 34 scoreless receiving yards over his last four games. There was hope he could build on a rookie season that had a few flashes, but it simply is not happening. His usage and production are almost identical to last year, but now he lacks the touchdowns to mask the poor underlying metrics.
• WR32 - Quentin Johnston (-6) - Another zero-point fantasy outing is a harsh reminder of how disappointing Johnston has been lately. Through the first four weeks, he was fantasy's WR4, averaging 9.0 targets, 84.3 yards, and a touchdown per game. He suffered a hamstring injury in Week 5. Since then, he has averaged 4.8 targets, 27.5 yards, and has scored twice in six games. Over that stretch, he is the per-game WR65 in PPR. Multiple factors have contributed to the decline. The team has found success with rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II, who runs many of the same routes and has cut into Johnston's workload. The loss of Joe Alt has also hurt. With weaker pass protection, the offense does not have the time to develop Johnston's valuable downfield routes. Johnston is too talented to drop, but he belongs on the bench until his usage improves.
• WR33 - Ricky Pearsall (+1)
• WR34 - Courtland Sutton (-1)
• WR35 - Keenan Allen (+4)
• WR36 - Alec Pierce
• WR37 - Wan'Dale Robinson (-2)
• WR38 - Jordan Addison
• WR39 - Khalil Shakir (+1)
• WR40 - DJ Moore (+1)
• WR41 - Rashid Shaheed (+3)
• WR42 - Christian Watson (+3)
• WR43 - Jakobi Meyers (+6)
• WR44 - Terry McLaurin (+3)
• WR45 - Tre Tucker (+1)
• WR46 - Tez Johnson (-4)
• WR47 - Romeo Doubs (-4)
• WR48 - Chris Godwin Jr. (+3)
• WR49 - Jerry Jeudy (+1)
• WR50 - Josh Downs (+2)
• WR51 - Cooper Kupp (+4)
• WR52 - Parker Washington (-4)
• WR53 - Luther Burden III (+12) - Catching three of five targets for 27 yards is hardly exciting, but Burden's rise in this week's rankings comes from his route participation. For the first time this year, he out-ran Zaccheaus in routes run, 22 to seven. Zaccheaus has been a liability in recent weeks, dropping multiple passes, including a would-be touchdown in Week 10. Burden has generated some exciting efficiency metrics. Albeit on a small sample, his 2.37 yards per route run rank eighth among all receiver this year. This is reminiscent of Rashee Rice's rookie season, when elite per-route metrics were offset by minimal usage. When Rice's role expanded in the second half of the season, he began producing WR1 numbers. Burden's path will be tougher, given the target competition, but a talented rookie with a growing role should always pique fantasy interest.
• WR54 - Garrett Wilson (-22) - With Wilson officially landing on IR, he'll be out until at least Week 15. That theoretically gives fantasy managers a chance to utilize him in the playoffs, but there's no guarantee he's back after the minimum requirement. He may also require a ramp-up period upon return. Injury aside, his production has been inconsistent this year in a low-volume passing attack. In shallow leagues, he's a legitimate sabotage drop. His likelihood of helping fantasy managers win a championship this year is razor-thin.
• WR55 - Elic Ayomanor (+8)
• WR56 - Marquise Brown (-2)
• WR57 - Kayshon Boutte (-4)
• WR58 - Brandon Aiyuk
• WR59 - Cedric Tillman (+12) - Tillman has ranked second in routes run behind only Jerry Jeudy in back-to-back weeks. In Week 11, he led the team with 52 receiving yards. Now in his third year, his production this season has been underwhelming. Last year, though, he had a midseason stretch averaging 75.5 receiving yards per game over four weeks before suffering a season-ending injury. The Browns' offense, particularly the passing game, isn't one to heavily invest in, but Tillman is a big-bodied, physical receiver capable of producing weekly upside. He's worth a stash in deep leagues.
• WR60 - Christian Kirk (+2)
• WR61 - Darnell Mooney (+6)
• WR62 - Rashod Bateman (-6)
• WR63 - Michael Wilson (+24) - When I recommended Wilson as a sneaky flex play last week, even I didn't imagine that he's catch 15 balls for 185 yards. Wilson has been a reliable receiver since the Cardinals drafted him in 2023, but has never displayed much upside. He's a full-time receiver with a primary purpose of stretching the field vertically to open up space for Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride. When called upon this week, though, he turned in a spectacular performance. His 15 receptions are the second-most in Cardinals history, and his 185 yards set the mark for a single game this season.
• WR64 - Tyler Lockett (+2)
• WR65 - Chimere Dike (-5)
• WR66 - Tre' Harris (+3)
• WR67 - Jayden Higgins (+3)
• WR68 - DeMario Douglas (-4)
• WR69 - Matthew Golden (-8)
• WR70 - Xavier Legette (+5)
• WR71 - Jalen Coker (+2)
• WR72 - Mack Hollins (+24) - Drake Maye is putting together an MVP-caliber season in Year 2. Of all the things he does well, spreading the ball around might be the best. While it's made gameplanning a nightmare for opposing defenses, it makes weekly wide receiver projections a headache. Hollins has turned 15 targets into 170 yards over the last two weeks, which obviously puts him on the rise. However, he's also had five games this year with fewer than ten yards. He's not someone we're ready to rely on as a weekly starter yet, but he's creeping his way into the discussion.
• WR73 - Pat Bryant (+4)
• WR74 - Malik Washington (+4)
• WR75 - Tory Horton (-3)
• WR76 - Roman Wilson (+10)
• WR77 - Keon Coleman (-9) - Coleman was a healthy scratch in Week 11. Reports say it was punishment for missing a team meeting, but there is likely more to the story. He has had a disappointing second season, failing to crack the top-50 receivers on a per-game basis. With Joshua Palmer back from IR and Gabe Davis joining the team, Coleman is droppable in most formats.
• WR78 - KaVontae Turpin (-2)
• WR79 - Tyquan Thornton
• WR80 - Olamide Zaccheaus (-6)
• WR81 - Jalen Nailor
• WR82 - Van Jefferson (+33) - Jefferson has quietly averaged 5.8 targets per game over his last five outings. He had his first touchdown of the season in Week 11 while leading the team with seven targets. Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike have drawn some buzz this season, but it hasn't translated to much production or team success. With Calvin Ridley officially out for the year, the team may choose to feature Jefferson, a reliable big-bodied veteran, as the team's primary receiver. He's worth a pickup in deep leagues, but is going to see a significant change in usage before being recommended as a weekly start.
• WR83 - Andrei Iosivas (+2)
• WR84 - Devaughn Vele (-1)
• WR85 - Dontayvion Wicks (-1)
• WR86 - Kyle Williams (-4)
• WR87 - Tyrell Shavers (+15)
• WR88 - Calvin Austin III (-8)
• WR89 - Adonai Mitchell (+43) - Mitchell's Week 11 performance was a perfect snapshot of his career so far. He drew coverage from Christian Gonzalez, one of the league's best corners, and beat him like a drum all night. He created separation, drew targets, and watched them bounce off his hands. Of his six targets, he caught just one. Mitchell is an exceptional athlete, but the actual catching part has been a consistent problem since college. The Jets will keep feeding him after acquiring him in the Sauce Gardner trade, but until he shows some reliable hands, it'll be tough to trust him anywhere near a fantasy lineup.
• WR90 - Darius Slayton (-2)
• WR91 - JuJu Smith-Schuster (-2)
• WR92 - Sterling Shepard (+5)
• WR93 - Dyami Brown (-34) - There was hope that Brown's role might grow with injuries to Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. However, Brown has pulled just two targets over the last two weeks, catching neither. In Week 11, he ran just six routes. He's completely off the fantasy radar at this point.
• WR94 - Jordan Whittington (-3)
• WR95 - Jaylin Noel (-3)
• WR96 - Marvin Mims Jr. (-3)
• WR97 - Jalin Hyatt (New)
• WR98 - Isaiah Williams (New)
• WR99 - Jalen Tolbert (-4)
• WR100 - Xavier Hutchinson (-1)
• WR101 - Jahan Dotson (+6)
• WR102 - Isaiah Bond (-4)
• WR103 - Demarcus Robinson (+2)
• WR104 - Jayden Reed (+6)
• WR105 - Jack Bech (-4)
• WR106 - Kendrick Bourne (-12)
• WR107 - Joshua Palmer (+29) - Palmer returned from IR and tied with Gabe Davis for third in routes run among receivers. The ball in this Buffalo offense is spread thin, but if Palmer's role grows even slightly, he could step into a WR1 role that the team desperately needs. The offseason suggested he might seize this opportunity, and now he finally has his chance.
• WR108 - Gabe Davis (New)
• WR109 - Savion Williams (-5)
• WR110 - David Sills V (+4)
• WR111 - Mike Evans (-8)
• WR112 - Xavier Weaver (New)
• WR113 - Curtis Samuel (-5)
• WR114 - John Metchie III (New)
• WR115 - Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (-6)
• WR116 - DeAndre Hopkins (-5)
• WR117 - KhaDarel Hodge (+16)
• WR118 - Brandin Cooks (-6)
• WR119 - Treylon Burks (-6)
• WR120 - Isaiah Hodgins (New)
• WR121 - Tim Patrick (New)
• WR122 - Xavier Smith (-5)
• WR123 - Elijah Moore (-17)
• WR124 - Ray-Ray McCloud III (-24)
• WR125 - Chris Moore (-4)
• WR126 - Isaac TeSlaa
• WR127 - Dont'e Thornton Jr. (-11)
• WR128 - Jimmy Horn Jr. (+9)
• WR129 - Kalif Raymond (-11)
• WR130 - Robbie Chosen (New)
• WR131 - Greg Dortch (-11)
• WR132 - Jaylin Lane (-10)
• WR133 - Josh Reynolds (-10)
• WR134 - Tutu Atwell (-10)
• WR135 - Konata Mumpfield (-10)
• WR136 - Tyler Johnson (-17)
• WR137 - Kameron Johnson (-10)
• WR138 - Malik Heath (-10)
• WR139 - Arian Smith (-10)
• WR140 - Ryan Flournoy (-10)
• WR141 - Jamari Thrash (-10)
• WR142 - Jalen McMillan (-7)
• WR143 - Adam Thielen (-5)
• WR144 - Luke McCaffrey (-10)
• WR145 - Noah Brown (-6)
• WR146 - Hunter Renfrow (-6)

Tight Ends

If you have one of Trey McBride, Brock Bowers, George Kittle, or Tyler Warren, congratulations. If you don't, hopefully you landed Jake Ferguson, Oronde Gadsden, or Travis Kelce. And if you don't have any of them, well, I'm sorry. Finding production at tight end isn't impossible, but it does require more work. Be sure to check out our Weekly Rankings to guide your streaming decisions. The good news is that the streaming pool is deep this year. The bad news is that streaming doesn't always pan out. Then again, even the top guys have the occasional dud. Such is the position.

• TE1 - Trey McBride
• TE2 - Brock Bowers
• TE3 - George Kittle (+1)
• TE4 - Tyler Warren (-1)
• TE5 - Jake Ferguson
• TE6 - Oronde Gadsden II
• TE7 - Travis Kelce (+1)
• TE8 - Mark Andrews (+5) - Remember last year when Andrews stumbled out of the gate before finishing as a top-five fantasy tight end? This year is eerily similar. Despite just two catches for seven yards in his first two games, he is currently the TE13 in PPR. Since Week 3, he has been the TE7, and over the last three weeks with Lamar Jackson back, he ranks as the TE6. The touchdown rate suggests possible regression, and he isn't getting the same target volume he once did. Week 11's big score came on a flukey 35-yard rush where Andrews took the snap from under center. Still, he consistently finds ways to score, and his connection with Jackson is undeniable. He is not a plug-and-play top-three tight end anymore, but he is comfortably a tier above the streamers.
• TE9 - Dallas Goedert
• TE10 - Harold Fannin Jr. (+1)
• TE11 - Colston Loveland (-1)
• TE12 - Kyle Pitts Sr.
• TE13 - Zach Ertz (+1)
• TE14 - Dalton Schultz (+3) - Schultz is currently a top-ten tight end, and he remains available in 45% of Sleeper leagues. He had modest usage in the first two games, seeing five and four targets. Since then, he has pulled six or more targets in every game but one, when he left early with an injury. Excluding that limited Week 8 game, he is averaging 8.0 targets per game. The season-long data is a bit cloudy after a slow start and a minor midseason injury, but when healthy, Schultz is pulling targets at an elite rate. For fantasy managers still searching for a reliable tight end, he could be a waiver-wire savior.
• TE15 - Juwan Johnson
• TE16 - Theo Johnson
• TE17 - Hunter Henry (+1)
• TE18 - Dalton Kincaid (+2)
• TE19 - AJ Barner (+5) - Barner is quietly fantasy's TE19 this year, logging five top-12 finishes. In addition to being the team's primary tight end, he has sneaky value as their de facto "tush push" quarterback. A few other tight ends, most notably Tucker Kraft and Mark Andrews, have done this. While it might seem minor, a couple of touchdowns can be the difference between a back-end TE1 and a droppable TE3. The margins between mid-tier tight ends are thin, and any edge should not be ignored. Barner's involvement and upside firmly place him in the weekly streaming discussion.
• TE20 - Cade Otton (-1)
• TE21 - David Njoku
• TE22 - Mason Taylor
• TE23 - Sam LaPorta (-16) - A back injury surprisingly landed LaPorta on IR. His soonest possible return would be in Week 15. He'd require a best-case scenario and recovery to be of any use to fantasy managers this year. He's droppable in most formats. However, those who have an open IR spot and a need at tight end can keep him stashed in case he returns for the fantasy playoffs.
• TE24 - Taysom Hill (-1)
• TE25 - T.J. Hockenson (+1)
• TE26 - Evan Engram (+1)
• TE27 - Jonnu Smith (+1)
• TE28 - Pat Freiermuth (+2)
• TE29 - Dawson Knox
• TE30 - Cole Kmet (+8) - Although it may feel like Kmet is on borrowed time, the reality is he continues to see more work than rookie Colston Loveland. Kmet might not offer the long-term upside that Loveland does, but at this stage in their careers, he's the more well-rounded tight end. He isn't quite on the fantasy radar, but his consistent involvement is an ongoing annoyance for anyone waiting on a Loveland breakout.
• TE31 - Michael Mayer (+1)
• TE32 - Luke Musgrave (-7)
• TE33 - Noah Fant (-2)
• TE34 - Isaiah Likely (+1)
• TE35 - Greg Dulcich (+7)
• TE36 - Elijah Arroyo (-3)
• TE37 - Ja'Tavion Sanders (-3)
• TE38 - Darnell Washington (+2)
• TE39 - Chig Okonkwo (-2)
• TE40 - Jake Tonges (-4)
• TE41 - Gunnar Helm (-2)
• TE42 - Darren Waller (-1)
• TE43 - Noah Gray (+1)
• TE44 - Elijah Higgins (New)
• TE45 - Luke Schoonmaker (+2)
• TE46 - Brenton Strange
• TE47 - Terrance Ferguson (-2)
• TE48 - Tyler Higbee (-5)
• TE49 - Tommy Tremble (+1)
• TE50 - Hunter Long (-2)
• TE51 - Austin Hooper (-2)
• TE52 - Ben Sinnott (-1)
• TE53 - Davis Allen (-1)
• TE54 - Brock Wright (New)
• TE55 - Colby Parkinson (+3)
• TE56 - Tyler Conklin (-3)
• TE57 - Will Dissly (-3)
• TE58 - Jackson Hawes (-3)
• TE59 - Mike Gesicki (-3)
• TE60 - Jeremy Ruckert (-3)
• TE61 - Johnny Mundt (-2)
• TE62 - John FitzPatrick (New)

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