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📝 Week 13 Key Takeaways

Los Angeles Rams @ Carolina Panthers

Panthers: Chuba back in the mix

• Usage/what it means: Dowdle still started, but Hubbard cleared 50% of snaps, kept the third-down role, and mixed in more on early downs after getting the hot hand

• Action: Treat Dowdle as a TD-dependent RB2/flex now, with Hubbard a viable PPR flex. Both are startable in deeper leagues but neither is a “must start” after the bye

Rams: Xavier Smith pushing for WR3

• Usage/what it means: Smith led the team in yards (3/82) and took nearly half of the 11-personnel snaps, cutting deep into Jordan Whittington’s role while Mumpfield stayed the 13-personnel guy

• Action: In deeper leagues, Smith is a bench stash but my lean is Atwell will take back the WR3 role when healthy

Quick hits

• Panthers leaned into single-WR sets with Brycen Tremayne; Tetairoa McMillan’s snap rate dipped but he still played every snap in 2- and 3-WR

• Blake Corum continues to live in the 30–40% snap range as the Rams’ change-of-pace back

San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns

Browns: Judkins consolidates the backfield, Harold Fannin quietly becomes TE1

• Usage/what it means: With Ford banged up and Dylan Sampson leaving with a calf injury, Quinshon Judkins played about two-thirds of the snaps and handled 23 carries plus 3 targets. Fannin played over 90% of snaps and led the team in receiving, while Njoku was under 50% and clearly secondary

• Action: Judkins is a strong RB2, and a near-auto-start next week vs TEN if Sampson misses time. Sampson is a contingency-only stash in deeper leagues. Fannin is in the TE1 streamer conversation and a priority stash for the stretch run; Njoku is droppable in most redraft leagues

Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts

Texans: Jayden Higgins producing in a capped role

• Usage/what it means: Higgins has 4+ catches in four straight and just set a career high in yards, but he’s still running routes on only ~57% of dropbacks as a part-time 11-personnel player

• Action: Strong stash in deeper leagues in case Houston finally makes him a full-time starter, but still tough to start in normal-sized leagues

Colts keep WR rotation tight after Dulin hits IR

• Usage/what it means: With Ashton Dulin placed on injured reserve, Indianapolis stuck with a very condensed rotation: Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs and Alec Pierce operated as the clear top three, while Laquon Treadwell only came in to spell them in 12 personnel

• Action: Pittman and Pierce maintain the most fantasy volume as Downs still mostly only plays in 3-WR sets. But all three can pop off for big games.

Quick hits

• C.J. Stroud returned and looked healthy; Woody Marks briefly left with a foot issue but his second-half usage matched prior weeks

• Cade Stover’s snap increase is mostly run-game focused and hasn’t dented Dalton Schultz’s route share

New Orleans Saints @ Miami Dolphins

Saints: Devin Neal is the Kamara replacement (for now)

• Usage/what it means: With Kamara out, Neal dominated RB snaps and touches while Taysom Hill saw just one carry and 12 offensive snaps

• Action: As long as Kamara sits, Neal is a volume-driven RB2/flex with a great upcoming schedule; Hill is a desperation TE/gadget play only

Dolphins: Darren Waller returns to immediate relevance

• Usage/what it means: Waller played ~46% of snaps but ran a route on ~70% of pass plays and led Miami in receiving (2/47) in his first game back

• Action: He should be rostered everywhere and is a strong TE1 starter the next three weeks in plus matchups vs NYJ, PIT and CIN

Quick hits

• Devaughn Vele’s 8/93/1 breakout cements him as the clear WR2; he’s a deep-league PPR option, especially if Olave’s back issue lingers

• Malik Washington’s 2-WR snaps jumped, hinting at a growing role even if the total snap share didn’t spike

Atlanta Falcons @ New York Jets

Jets: Breece Hall finally gets true workhorse usage

• Usage/what it means: Hall played nearly 88% of snaps, over 90% on early downs and the majority of third downs, and handled 21 touches

• Action: Regardless of matchup, this usage locks him in as a weekly RB1. Start him every week and don’t overthink the schedule

Falcons: WR situation stays gross without Drake London

• Usage/what it means: With London out, David Sills, Dylan Drummond and Deven Thompkins rotated, but non-WRs again led the team in receiving.

• Action: Outside of London (and occasionally Mooney when he’s healthy), this WR room is a full avoid in fantasy

Arizona Cardinals @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers: Bucky Irving resumes lead-back duties, Chris Godwin Jr. ramps up

• Usage/what it means: In his first game since Week 4, Irving handled 19 touches, including both goal-line snaps, while the rest of the backfield combined for four carries. Godwin played 87.5% of 11-personnel snaps, led the team in receiving, and took a big chunk of both Sterling Shepard’s and Tez Johnson’s routes.

• Action: Plug Irving back in as an every-week RB2 with RB1 upside as his snap share ramps up. Rachaad White can be dropped; Sean Tucker is just a pure handcuff. Treat Godwin as a volume WR3. Just temper expectations with a brutal remaining WR schedule and potential crowding when Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan return.

Cardinals: MHJ back… then hurt again

• Usage/what it means: Marvin Harrison Jr. returned to a near-full role at X before leaving with a heel injury; Michael Wilson slid back outside and would again be the primary target if MHJ sits

• Action: Wilson is a high-upside WR2/3 if Harrison misses time. Watch practice reports closely

Quick hits

• Bam Knight remained the early-down leader with Emari Demercado out; Michael Carter held the third-down role. Trey Benson stayed on IR but is mid-window to return; his activation would immediately shake up this backfield.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans

Jaguars: Brian Thomas back, but role is fluid, Brenton Strange reclaims every-down TE status

• Usage/what it means: With everyone healthy, Jacksonville opened with Meyers and Parker Washington in 2-WR sets, using Thomas mostly in 3-WR until Washington exited with a hip issue. Strange was back over 80% of snaps after last week’s easing-in and now owns the clear TE1 role in a functional offense

• Action: If Washington misses time, Meyers and Thomas are locked in starters. If Washington is healthy, it’ll be difficult to guess the rotation with a healthier BTJ. Strong waiver add at TE, especially with two matchups vs Indianapolis who gives up 6th most points to opposing TEs (including fantasy championship week) on deck

Titans: Elic Ayomanor leads snaps; Dike still the only dart

• Usage/what it means: Ayomanor dominated 2-WR snaps and single-WR looks; Dike stayed locked into 3-WR but has been the only Titan WR with spike fantasy weeks.

• Action: Dike remains the only semi-interesting WR in deeper leagues, but volatility is extreme. Ayomanor is more of a usage-watch list than a start.

Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks

Vikings: Monitor Aaron Jones’ shoulder, Mason is next up though macro offensive risk exists

• Usage/what it means: Jones exited in the third quarter, and Jordan Mason took over, rushing 6 times for 47 yards before Zavier Scott handled late garbage time

• Action: If Jones misses time, Mason becomes an instant RB2 given a friendly three-week schedule (WAS, DAL, NYG). Though must be noted there is substantial macro risk to this offense given the QB situation.

Seahawks: Walker’s role stays meaningfully elevated

• Usage/what it means: Kenneth Walker again cleared 55% of snaps with more third-down and goal-line work, turning 16 touches into solid but unspectacular production.

• Action: With three straight games of 3+ receptions and more goal-line work, Walker is back to a safe RB2 with weekly RB1 upside.

Quick hits

• T.J. Hockenson’s snaps bounced back and he led the team in receiving, but the season-long ceiling still looks capped.

• Adam Thielen was a healthy scratch as Jalen Nailor continues to gain 11-personnel work.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers

LV – Brock Bowers continues to operate as a featured receiver

• Usage/what it means: Raiders are still using 12/13 personnel as their base with Bowers treated like a primary WR (slot and out wide) while the other tight ends soak up most of the in-line work, so his route-running role is locked in even if the weekly box scores bounce around

• Action: Keep viewing Bowers as an elite TE1, accepting the floor is low due to the poor Raiders offense but the spike weeks are still there

Chargers: Oronde Gadsden hitting the rookie wall

• Usage/what it means: Gadsden’s snap rate dropped to ~70% with his third straight sub-6.5 PPR game, and he now faces three of the league’s stingiest TE defenses in the next four

• Action: Still rosterable, but you should be lining up a backup TE option given the schedule and recent production

Quick hits

• Ashton Jeanty pushed to ~96% of snaps, but the low play volume kept total touches in check

• Justin Herbert’s hand surgery looms; any missed time would further ding Chargers pass-catchers

Buffalo Bills @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Bills: WR rotation turns into a full-on mess

• Usage/what it means: With Brandin Cooks added and multiple Z receivers out, Buffalo used Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers as primary outside WRs while mixing in Coleman and Cooks; only Khalil Shakir maintained a stable slot role

• Action: Outside of Shakir (deep PPR flex), it’s best to avoid this WR room until injuries or performance force some clarity

Steelers: Reminder that Gainwell is still just the passing-down back

• Usage/what it means: Roles didn’t change. Jaylen Warren handled early downs and the goal line; Gainwell played his usual third-down/two-minute role and cooled off after his two-week spike

• Action: Gainwell is a fringe PPR flex in deeper leagues only; Warren remains the preferred fantasy start

Quick hits

• Darnell Washington has now cleared 68% of snaps in three straight games and is pushing Jonnu Smith into more of a rotational role.

If you want more detailed information on each game, including the full breakdown from the Broncos/Commanders game, I highly recommend Nathan Jahnke’s weekly article which is the data source for much of this information.

📊 Poll of the Day

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