Well, Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror now, and we’re hurtling toward the finish line of the fantasy football regular season.
The 2024 NFL regular season has its last round of bye weeks, with the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, and Washington Commanders each resting for the final stretch.
There are some heavy hitters sitting this week, so we’ll need to really focus on any changes to the depth chart in the past few days as the waiver wire should be very competitive in most leagues, with teams jockeying for playoff positioning.
It’s now December, and some leagues have just one or two regular season weeks left before teams qualify for the playoffs. Championships will be decided soon, and it’s the most wonderful time of … oh, wait. Is it too early for Christmas music? I have found Christmas music is just as polarizing as opinions on the new kickoff rules.
Denver Broncos running backs
It seems like this could have been a running series all season.
In Week 13, it was time for RB Jaleel McLaughlin to get his crack at being the workhorse. He had 14 attempts for 84 yards, which was good for 6.0 yards per carry. While RB Javonte Williams had a touchdown run, he ended up with four rushes for a single yard. Yuck.
Rookie RB Audric Estime was used three times for 12 rushing yards and was not targeted in the pass game. McLaughlin and Williams were each targeted twice, posting a single short catch. Estime appears to have already fallen out of favor after a week or so looking like he might be the man.
Williams had double-digit rushing attempts six times in the first nine games before disappearing in Week 10 for a single yard on one attempt and three total touches. He bounced back in Week 11 with 59 yards on nine carries with a touchdown and 13 total touches. Williams then had minus-2 yards on eight rushes in Las Vegas in Week 12. It’s no surprise he was in Sean Payton’s doghouse, but the surprise was McLaughlin’s heavy load.
The 24-year-old former Youngstown State Penguins standout hadn’t had double-digit rushes and/or total touches since Week 1 in Seattle, when he flamed out with 10 runs for just 27 yards. The 14 rushing attempts and yards were both career highs, so is that a sign of things to come?
It’s difficult. First off, the Broncos are on a bye in Week 14, so it’s like watching the final episode of a series on Netflix and then having to wait for the new season.
This is probably a terrible answer, but we just don’t know what Payton is going to do. The best guess is that McLaughlin did enough to be RB1 in Denver for Week 15, while Williams has likely laid enough eggs to be RB3 in the Mile High City. It’s like the old War Games movie from the 1980s, as “the only winning move is not to play” any of the Denver backs. But, if you absolutely, positively have to, roll with McLaughlin going forward.
San Francisco 49ers RB Isaac Guerendo
No one wants to earn more playing time because of injuries to others. But, San Francisco 49ers RB Isaac Guerendo is the next man up after injuries to both RBs Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle).
When head coach Kyle Shanahan saw the icy and snowy conditions, he probably should have chosen to power things down with McCaffrey. He has a hard enough time staying healthy when the weather is optimum. With a slippery surface, it seemed a matter of when, not if, CMC would go down to injury.
McCaffrey exited in the second quarter with what is apparently a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury, which will send him back to the shelf for the next six weeks. Since the 49ers are two games under .500, that likely means McCaffrey is done for the season.
Jordan Mason was plugged into the lineup, and he had 13 carries for 78 yards, stepping up for McCaffrey similar to how he did earlier in the season. However, he suffered a high-ankle sprain in the snow, and he is headed for the injured reserve list, too.
That leaves Isaac Guerendo to serve as the RB1 for the remainder of the season. Elijah Mitchell is in no position to return from hamstring surgery, and it is likely that the only guy seeing carries, at least initially, will be Deebo Samuel. Patrick Taylor Jr. is likely to be promoted from the practice squad for depth, but the team will likely look to raid the practice squad of another organization for help.
For now, though, it’s the Guerendo show, and if you have FAAB left, invest heavily. He has RB1 potential as San Francisco loves to rely on the running game.
Carolina Panthers WR Adam Thielen
Thielen racked up eight receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 13.
He suffered a hamstring injury on a sliding touchdown reception back in Week 3 and didn’t return to action until Week 13 against Kansas City.
Thielen is 34 years old, but this old dog still can hunt. He is a great addition for fantasy managers looking for receiver assistance, particularly in PPR formats, as QB Bryce Young is starting to see his arrow point upward, and he has built a nice rapport with the veteran pass catcher.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Cade Otton
As quickly as Otton emerged as a fantasy starter, he has now devolved back to a TE2 option in most leagues.
Otton had just four receptions for 20 yards on seven targets in Week 13 against the Carolina Panthers. The catch total and targets were nice, but he is no longer the top option in the passing game with WR Mike Evans back.
Evans is obviously the big play guy, and he has 13 receptions for 186 yards and a score with 18 targets in two games back from a hamstring injury.
Otton had eight or more receptions in three straight games from Week 7 through Week 10, while going for 10 or more targets and 77 or more yards in each of the three outings. He was the top receiving option but now is now the distance second option in the passing game. With just five grabs for 50 yards in two games since Evans returned, Otton can be used as a TE2 in fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams.
