Instant Fantasy Analysis

Mon Mar 10 9:35am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

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Metcalf heads to the Steelers


The NFL does such a good job of staying relevant all season long. Free agency hasn’t even officially opened but the NFL continues to dominate headlines. Teams are agreeing to deals with free agents and trades are happening nearly every day. There is so much to keep up with, but we are here to help. It is time for some instant fantasy analysis of the latest moves from around the league.

Here is the latest. . . . .

The Jaguars traded receiver Christian Kirk to the Texans. This is a great spot for Kirk to land. He could become the go-to possession receiver for Houston. With Tank Dell’s status up in the air for the coming season, Kirk could take his role in the offense. Kirk should pair with Nico Collins to form a solid duo for quarterback C.J. Stroud. With that said, Kirk probably isn’t more than a No. 3 or 4 fantasy receiver. He isn’t likely to post some of his huge numbers from past seasons but should be able to get 70-plus receptions with around 1,000 yards. He should be a good depth piece or spot starter.

Las Vegas found their quarterback for the coming season, trading for Geno Smith. This is a big upgrade for the Raiders offense and their playmakers in the passing game. As for Smith, this probably isn’t a great spot for his fantasy value. He does reunite with his old coach, Pete Carroll, but the weapons in the passing game are lacking a little in Las Vegas, especially if you compare what he had to work with in Seattle. The only positive is the Raiders could be playing from behind, giving Smith more chance to air out. Smith could see his numbers dip a little from his days in Seattle. He is going to be spot start material for fantasy teams. 

The Seahawks got their quarterback a few days later, agreeing to a deal with Sam Darnold. This could be a good fit for Darnold and the Seahawks. He isn’t going to post the huge numbers he did with the Vikings explosive offense last year, though. We would consider Darnold more of a spot starter for fantasy teams this year. He should have a few big games but likely be pretty ho-hum most weeks.

Defense end Myles Garrett requested a trade a few weeks back but money apparently talks. The Browns signed Garrett to a massive contract extension, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history. Garrett will continue to lead the Browns top defense, which is good news for that fantasy unit.

The Vikings agreed to terms with running back Aaron Jones on a new two-year contract. This keeps Jones in Minnesota for a few more seasons. Jones was 15th overall in fantasy running back scoring this past season and has obvious fantasy value in this offense. He should be considered a top No. 2 fantasy back for the coming year. Injury is always a concern for him, especially at his age, but as long as he is on he field, he should produce good numbers in this offense.

The Rams made a big move for their offense, agreeing to terms with receiver Davante Adams on a two-year contract. Adams will replace Cooper Kupp, who the team is trying to move. Adams should be a healthier version of Kupp and produce some good numbers in this top offense. It wouldn’t surprise to see Adams push 100 receptions this coming season, being a top possession target for Matthew Stafford. Consider Adams a top No. 2 for fantasy teams. And don’t downgrade Puka Nacua because of this move. Nacua remains the top target in this offense and produced big numbers when Kupp was healthy and playing at a high level.

Pittsburgh added another top weapon to their passing game, trading for DK Metcalf. And he is signing a new, five-year contract with the team. It is hard to gauge Metcalf’s fantasy value right now, though, because we don’t know their quarterback. We will have a better idea of his value once that is figured out. For now, Metcalf should be considered a solid No. 2 fantasy receiver in this offense. The Steelers don’t have a great history in recent seasons of producing big fantasy receivers. Metcalf could be a little hit or miss for a team that likes to run the ball.

The Jets agreed to terms with Justin Fields to be their starting quarterback. This is a really intriguing signing for fantasy purposes. Fields might not be the best passer but his rushing totals really boost his fantasy value. As long as he is starting, he has good fantasy value. And he also gets to reunite with former college teammate Garrett Wilson, which could be a plus as well. Overall, Fields in a starring role is a plus for fantasy teams. He has the potential to a be top-10 fantasy quarterback if all goes well for him.

Dalles added Javonte Williams to their running back room. This is an interesting signing. It is thought the Cowboys want to address the running back position in the draft but for now, Williams looks to have the first shot to start. And if starting, he could have his best season to date in Dallas. He could do well in their pass-first offense, getting plenty of chances as a receiver out of the backfield. We’ll know more about this signing after the draft, though.

The Chargers seem to be moving on from JK Dobbins, agreeing to a deal with Najee Harris. This might be a downgrade from Dobbins a little but is a great fantasy spot for Harris. He seems like he could be a perfect fit for the Chargers offense. It would not surprise if he has his best fantasy season to date in this offense. 

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 [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 11

Player Notes
Josh Reynolds Nov 12 12:10am CT
Josh Reynolds

New York Jets wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hip) was placed on Injured Reserve after suffering a hip injury in the team's Week 8 thriller against the Cincinnati Bengals. Reynolds is eligible to return in Week 13 against the Falcons. The 30-year-old was having a quiet season in a bad Jets passing attack, catching 11 of 21 targets for 101 yards in five games. With star wideout Garrett Wilson (knee) also injured, the Jets will be relying on a wide receiver crew consisting of two newly acquired wideouts in John Metchie III and Adonai Mitchell, along with Arian Smith and Tyler Johnson.

From RotoBaller

Chigoziem Okonkwo Nov 12 12:00am CT
Chigoziem Okonkwo

Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo has had a quiet season through nine games, catching 29 of 39 targets for 281 yards with no touchdowns. Okonkwo ranks as just the TE33 with 6.3 PPR points per game, as the Titans' offensive situation has been bleak for fantasy purposes. The 26-year-old is just barely averaging a career high in receiving yards per game (31.2) and tied for the highest receptions per game (3.2). Okonkwo has also been gradually losing snaps to rookie tight end Gunnar Helm over the course of the season. After running more than 70% of the team's routes in the first two weeks of the season, Okonkwo hasn't had a route share above 60% in a game since. Helm hasn't surpassed him in any game yet, but he's stayed involved and has some real ability as a receiver and could get more involved out of the bye week. Okonkwo will remain off fantasy radars for Week 11 against the Texans.

From RotoBaller

Jaydon Blue Nov 11 11:50pm CT
Jaydon Blue

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue was a healthy inactive in the team's last game in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. After being inactive for the team's first four games of the season, Blue was finally active for his NFL debut in Week 5 against the New York Jets after Miles Sanders (ankle, knee) was placed on injured reserve. The rookie fifth-rounder out of Texas served as the clear No. 2 back behind starter Javonte Williams, handling 22 carries for 65 yards and adding one catch (one target) for five yards in Weeks 5 through 8 before being made inactive again in Week 9. The lack of receiving usage was disappointing to see, as that is one of the most appealing parts of Blue's prospect profile, but he essentially just spelled Williams and didn't see many creative play designs to get him the ball in space and use his 4.38 speed. It remains to be seen if Blue will play in the coming weeks and what his usage will look like if he is active.

From RotoBaller

Samaje Perine Nov 11 11:40pm CT
Samaje Perine

Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine (ankle) had the Week 10 bye to rest the high-ankle sprain suffered in the team's Week 9 loss to the Chicago Bears. Head coach Zac Taylor said that Perine would be out a couple of weeks, which puts his status in doubt for Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 30-year-old has been solid in the primary backup role behind Chase Brown, handling 32 carries for 198 yards and a touchdown to go with seven catches on nine targets for 30 yards as a receiver. While it's a small sample size, his 6.2 yards per carry is easily the best of his career and leads all running backs with at least 30 carries this season. Perine is a trusted veteran for his strength in pass protection, and if he's unable to go in Week 11, rookie Tahj Brooks will be expected to fill in as the No.2 behind Brown.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Hutchinson Nov 11 11:20pm CT
Xavier Hutchinson

Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson didn't draw a single target in Sunday's 36-29 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was the first game this season where Hutchinson was held without a catch despite running the third-most routes on the team. His last catchless game came in Week 12 of last season, where he played only eight offensive snaps. The 25-year-old has still been a reliable player overall for the Texans this season, recording 21 receptions for 222 yards and three touchdowns on 29 targets while also serving as an excellent blocker. Hutchinson had his lowest snap share of the season in Week 10 at 52.2% and may continue to see less work with rookie Jayden Higgins emerging over the last few weeks. Hutchinson is a useful player for the Texans, but can be left on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Nov 11 10:20pm CT
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. managed just two catches for 38 yards in Week 10's 31-25 overtime loss to the Colts, but the stat line doesn't tell the whole story. The 25-year-old was targeted a solid five times in the contest, and one of them could have gone for at least a 20-yard catch and potentially a touchdown, but he simply dropped it; otherwise, it would have been a much more bountiful day. There are no points for almost catching a pass, though, and he disappointingly finished as the 25th-ranked TE for fantasy this week. The two receptions were his lowest output of the season, so hopefully he can rebound from this performance in Week 11, as the 6-foot-6 tight end is still averaging over six targets and five catches per game this year. Week 11 brings a home matchup against Carolina, a defense that has been generous to TEs thus far, even allowing the Tyler Shough-Juwan Johnson connection to register a touchdown in Week 10. With just one touchdown in nine games for Pitts, though, he could be on the verge of being relegated to TE2 territory in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Nov 11 9:20pm CT
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth caught all three of his targets for 33 yards in a Week 10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. It remains difficult to predict weekly involvement for Pittsburgh's tight ends, but all of them could find success against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. When these two teams met in Week 7, Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Darnell Washington each found the end zone. The Bengals have allowed the most fantasy points and touchdowns to tight ends this season, and Freiermuth has historically torched them. In nine career games versus Cincinnati, he has totaled six touchdowns while averaging over seven targets, five receptions, and 66 yards per contest. Though far from a reliable fantasy starter, Freiermuth can be streamed in a pinch and considered in DFS lineups this Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Marquise Brown Nov 11 9:10pm CT
Marquise Brown

After failing to reach 50 receiving yards in any game between Week 2 and Week 8, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown hauled in two catches for 73 yards on four targets in his team's Week 9 loss to the Buffalo Bills. However, with Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy ahead of him on the Chiefs' wide receiver depth chart, Brown's upside coming out of Kansas City's Week 10 bye is limited. He has not earned more than four targets in any game since Rice returned from the suspension that sidelined him for the first six games of 2025. Brown's big-play ability allows him to maintain some level of fantasy relevance. Still, he will be difficult to trust on a week-to-week basis as long as Kansas City's top pass-game targets can stay on the field. The Chiefs have a tough matchup in Week 11 against the Denver Broncos, making Brown a player for fantasy managers to avoid.

From RotoBaller

Travis Kelce Nov 11 9:00pm CT
Travis Kelce

Through his first nine games of 2025, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has recorded 41 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns on 53 targets. While the 36-year-old is not the player he once was at his peak, he remains a key piece of his team's passing attack. Kelce has recorded at least five targets in seven of nine outings this season and at least 54 yards in six out of nine contests. If there's one cause for concern with Kelce's fantasy profile, it might be his target outlook now that Chiefs wideout Rashee Rice is back from suspension and fully re-integrated into the offense. Kelce has averaged 5.3 targets per game this season with Rice in the lineup, compared to 6.2 targets per game when he's been sidelined. Still, Kelce has remained productive in recent weeks with Rice on the field and profiles as a solid tight end option in Week 11 against the Denver Broncos.

From RotoBaller

Roman Wilson Nov 11 9:00pm CT
Roman Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson hauled in two of his three targets for 35 yards and a touchdown in a Week 10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Though he logged just a 35% snap share, Wilson tied DK Metcalf to lead the team in receiving on a forgettable night for Pittsburgh's offense. It's also worth noting that fellow receiver Calvin Austin III struggled with drops and caused an interception in the fourth quarter. Going forward, it wouldn't be shocking to see Wilson earn more playing time. It is clear that the Steelers need another weapon to step up for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and Wilson has flashed upside with two scores in the past three weeks. He shouldn't be considered a viable option in most redraft formats, but Wilson could surprise this week against the Cincinnati Bengals.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Nov 11 8:50pm CT
Aaron Rodgers

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers struggled in a Week 10 loss, completing 16 of his 31 pass attempts for 161 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Fortunately, he is poised to bounce back at home against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. Although the Steelers lost to the Bengals on the road back in Week 7, Rodgers went off for 249 yards and four touchdowns. With Pittsburgh favored and Cincinnati surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points per contest to opposing signal-callers, Rodgers is back on the fantasy radar as a high-end QB2 and quality streaming option on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Tony Pollard Nov 11 8:50pm CT
Tony Pollard

Across nine games played in 2025, Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard has recorded 623 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 138 total touches, an average of 15.3 touches per game. However, Pollard's usage was clearly trending downwards heading into Tennessee's Week 10 bye. After seeing at least 14 carries and 17 total touches in each of the Titans' first five games of the season, Pollard failed to crack 12 total touches in any of his most recent four outings. Tennessee has been steadily evening out the workload between Pollard and third-year back Tyjae Spears. Coming out of the bye week, there seems to be little reason for the 1-8 Titans to feed the veteran Pollard over the up-and-coming Spears. Spears has also been more efficient, averaging over a yard per touch more than Pollard. Heading into a Week 11 matchup against the Houston Texans, Pollard is tough for fantasy managers to trust as anything more than a low-end flex option.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Nov 11 8:50pm CT
D.K. Metcalf

Over the past two weeks combined, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf has scored just 6.6 half-PPR fantasy points. While there are reasons to be optimistic about the Steelers' offense against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11, this matchup doesn't project to be a great one for Metcalf specifically. Cincinnati has surrendered six receiving touchdowns to opposing wideouts, and only one of them went to a clear WR1. In Metcalf's Week 7 meeting with the Bengals, he managed just three receptions for 50 yards. Because Metcalf has not exceeded five receptions in any contest this season, fantasy managers can't rely on volume when deciding whether to start him. The 27-year-old will probably need to hit pay dirt to provide value as a low-end WR2 or flex option this week.

From RotoBaller

Jake Ferguson Nov 11 8:40pm CT
Jake Ferguson

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson had a solid game in his final outing before the team's Week 10 bye, recording five catches for 50 yards on seven targets in a Week 9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. However, the 26-year-old's target volume has tailed off in recent weeks after a scorching start to the season. Across the first five weeks of 2025, Ferguson was averaging 9.6 targets per game. From Weeks 6 through 9, Ferguson averaged 4.5 targets per contest. That drop-off coincided with the return of star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to the lineup, who had three-plus games in the middle of the season with a high-ankle sprain. Coming out of the bye, Ferguson could continue to lose targets to Lamb and Cowboys wideout George Pickens. Ferguson may still be a useful fantasy tight end, but he's more reliant on touchdowns now than he was earlier in the year.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Nov 11 8:30pm CT
Xavier Worthy

Before his team's Week 10 bye, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy was struggling to be consistently productive. In his final three games before the bye, Worthy recorded 11 catches for 111 yards and zero touchdowns on 18 targets. For the season, the 22-year-old has hauled in just 24 receptions for 256 yards and one touchdown on 40 targets across seven games. Worthy appears to have taken a clear backseat to wide receiver Rashee Rice and tight end Travis Kelce in the Kansas City passing game. Worthy has also seen his red-zone usage decrease in 2025, after scoring nine touchdowns across 17 games as a rookie in 2024. The Chiefs will face a difficult matchup in Week 11 when they travel to Denver to take on the Broncos, so Worthy's struggles may continue coming out of the bye.

From RotoBaller

Andrei Iosivas Nov 11 8:20pm CT
Andrei Iosivas

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas had his best game of the season in his team's final game before its Week 10 bye. Iosivas recorded five catches for 66 yards and a touchdown in Cincinnati's Week 9 loss to the Chicago Bears. The 26-year-old has been a modest producer overall this season, hauling in 16 catches for 236 yards and a score on 31 targets across nine games. As long as star Bengals wideouts Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins remain healthy, the target volume ceiling for Iosivas is limited. If there's any reason for optimism surrounding Iosivas' fantasy outlook, it's how pass-heavy the Bengals' offense has become. In the four games since Joe Flacco has taken over under center in Cincinnati, he's averaging a whopping 43.3 pass attempts per game. If the Bengals continue to throw at that rate, Iosivas could have multiple opportunities to make plays in Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Nov 11 7:50pm CT
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings caught six of his nine targets for 71 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 10. He also lost a fumble in the team's 42-26 loss to the Rams. The touchdown was Jennings' second in as many weeks and his third of the season. With Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) out, Jennings is the 49ers' unquestioned WR1. Jennings' production has not met preseason expectations, especially while being targeted on 25.4% of routes run. Week 10 was just Jennings' second top-24 finish among wide receivers, but as long as he continues seeing that kind of opportunity share, Jennings is still worth keeping in fantasy football lineups. Another good week could be in store when the 49ers face the Cardinals in Week 11. Jennings was inactive when the teams met in Week 3, but Pearsall posted 117 yards on eight catches in that game.

From RotoBaller

Kendrick Bourne Nov 11 7:40pm CT
Kendrick Bourne

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne caught his only target of the game for 19 receiving yards in Sunday's 42-26 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Bourne has maintained a steady presence on the 49ers' offense while Ricky Pearsall (knee) has been out, but has had little to show for it in recent weeks. After blowing up for a pair of 142-yard games in Week 5 and Week 6, Bourne has averaged 2.3 targets and 27.8 yards per game over the last four weeks. With Pearsall's return supposedly not far off, Bourne's viability in fantasy football is trending downward and would come to an end entirely if and when Brandon Aiyuk (knee) comes back. Even if Pearsall remains out for San Francisco's Week 11 meeting with the Arizona Cardinals, Bourne's ongoing cold streak limits his flex appeal.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Nov 11 7:00pm CT
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is coming off his best performance of the season. Higgins hauled in seven of his nine targets for 121 yards and two touchdowns during the Week 9 loss to the Chicago Bears. The Bengals are hopeful that the bye week hasn't cooled off Higgins. The 26-year-old has scored four touchdowns over his last three games. He'll head into a rematch against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11. A defense that he burned for 96 yards and a touchdown during their last meeting. Fantasy managers should expect another big performance out of Higgins this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Luke Farrell Nov 11 7:00pm CT
Luke Farrell

San Francisco 49ers tight end Luke Farrell had two receptions for 15 yards and a touchdown on two targets in Sunday's 42-26 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The score was Farrell's second of the season, the other coming back in Week 2's tilt against the Saints. His season-long production now stands at 10 receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Farrell's role on San Francisco's offense is limited almost entirely to acting as an extra blocker. Through 10 games, he is averaging just 1.2 targets per game. With so few opportunities, he can safely be left on the waiver wire. He is unlikely to be as productive in Week 11, when the 49ers face the Arizona Cardinals.

From RotoBaller