Parker Washington’s role in the Jaguars’ offense began to expand after Christian Kirk was placed on IR (injured reserve). Gabe Davis joining Kirk on IR has fully opened the door for Washington. In his first game as a starter on the outside, Washington led the team with 11 targets, catching six for 103 yards and a touchdown in Week 13 en route to 24.3 fantasy points.
It’s just the second 100-yard receiving game for a Jaguars receiver this season and the best stat line of the second-year pro’s career. Washington will be the Jaguars’ No. 2 WR for the remainder of the season and has a golden opportunity to make a name for himself.
It was a slow start to the season for Rico Dowdle and any player with a star on his helmet, but the fifth-year running back eventually took over the backfield and has been steadily improving ever since. In the last three weeks, Dowdle has carried the ball 51 times compared to just five for Ezekiel Elliott.
On Sunday, Dowdle notched a career-high in carries (22) and rushing yards (112). He also found the end zone and caught three passes for 11 yards, good for 21.3 fantasy points. Despite a faltering offense and an organization that feels like it’s on the ropes, Dowdle has been able to produce and has increased his value in the process.
Ladd McConkey made the risers list in Week 8 after posting 111 yards and two scores, and he’s continued to climb the rankings ever since. He caught nine passes for 117 yards on Sunday, marking his third 100-yard game of the season and third in the last six weeks.
His 12 targets on Sunday were a season-high while his 20.7 fantasy points are the fifth time he reached double digits in the last six weeks. The Chargers are always going to lean towards the run under Jim Harbaugh, but they’ve opened it up lately and McConkey is showing why he was such a trendy prospect.
Another player who was on the risers list and continues his ascent is Chase Brown, who posted 19 fantasy points on Sunday after rushing 12 times for 70 yards and a score. Following the injury to Zack Moss, it was clear Brown would lead the backfield, but it’s been surprising to see him take on a workhorse-type role, especially after the addition of Khalil Herbert.
Brown played nearly 90% of the running back snaps on Sunday and has averaged 18.5 carries per game over the last four contests.
In his eighth NFL season at age 29, Jonnu Smith is having a career year. He led the team in targets (11), receptions (10) and receiving yards (113) in Week 13. His 21.3 fantasy points was the third week in a row clearing 20 points, and the fourth time he’s done so this season.
Smith has seen 11 targets in back-to-back weeks and has totaled 301 yards across his last three games. There was some intrigue with Smith as a sleeper in the Dolphins’ offense, but he’s surpassed those hopes. He has another year on his contract and should be in the TE1 mix for at least the next couple of seasons.
Zamir White, Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah. It doesn’t matter. The Raiders can’t run the ball. Enter Sincere McCormick, who led the team with 33 rushing yards in Week 12 and with 64 rushing yards in Week 13.
McCormick has already reverted back to the practice squad, but with what he showed compared to other running backs in Vegas, why wouldn’t he continue to get more carries? He’s worth a waiver wire stash.
James Cook rushed 14 times for 107 yards and a touchdown inside of a snow globe on Sunday night, adding one reception for 13 yards. All but one yard came in the first three quarters, as the Bills pulled their starters early in the fourth quarter, but that was all Cook needed.
Cook flashed like lightning on a 65-yard touchdown run in the first half and has been remarkably consistent this season. He currently sits at RB8 in points per game and has just two games below 10 points.
Blake Corum gets a slight boost this week after notching a season-high 42 rushing yards and matching a season-high of eight carries. He’s been working more frequently and played 32% of the Rams’ offensive snaps on Sunday, the first time he’s gone above 20%.
Given the Buccaneers’ health issues at wide receiver and Jalen McMillan’s early season flashes, there were some expectations he would be making more of an impact at this point. He ran the most routes of Bucs receivers, outside of Mike Evans, but only produced two grabs for 25 yards on Sunday.
McMillan has yet to surpass 35 yards in a game while topping out at four receptions and has failed to reach the end zone since Week 1.
Unfortunately, the reason many avoided J.K. Dobbins this season has come to fruition. Dobbins has been placed on IR with a knee sprain and can’t return until at least the fantasy football championship. A knee sprain is far from a career-ender, but his injury history will ding his value going forward. It’s unlikely he’s the future starter in the Chargers’ backfield.
It’s tough to label Kyren Williams, who has been a steady RB1 this season, as a faller after his season-high 104 rushing yards and a touchdown on Sunday, but there are concerns here. He’s been extremely reliant on touchdowns all season long. In his last four games, he’s carried the ball 15 times in three of them and 16 in the other game, which are his four lowest totals of the season.
Blake Corum played a season-high 32% of snaps this week and took 38% of the carries. Williams has been solid this season, but most of his value is based on volume and goal-line work. If Corum eats into either or both, Williams will see his value decline.
After working his way back from a torn ACL during his rookie season, Keaton Mitchell has yet to see a carry and was a healthy scratch in his fourth week back. Mitchell was one of the most dynamic players in the NFL last season, so you’d think the Ravens would be eager to get him in action, but it seems Justice Hill and Rasheen Ali remain ahead of Mitchell on the depth chart.
It can take players over a year to fully return from an ACL tear, so there’s still hope for Mitchell, but it will be a problem if he can’t get on the field.
Trey Benson has shown some flashes this year but has mostly been quiet. Being included in the fallers section has more to do with James Conner receiving a two-year extension than anything else.
Conner will be paid $9.5 million in average annual salary, which makes him the seventh-highest paid running back in the NFL. The road for Benson to become the Cardinals’ starter just a got bit longer and bumpier.
