Fantasy News

Ryan Switzer catches six passes in Week 12.

Switzer gained 67 yards on his six receptions versus Denver, and he also had one carry for four yards. The second-year receiver was a reliable target for Ben Roethlisberger throughout the game, and this was his highest receiving total of the season. Switzer is not a recommended fantasy option in a tough matchup with the Chargers next Sunday night.

11/26/18 - 11:52 AM ET

James Conner gets 17 touches against the Broncos.

Conner carried 13 times for 53 yards and added four receptions (on four targets) for 42 yards and a fumble lost in the Week 12 loss. The Steelers threw the ball 56 times in the game, so it was good to see Conner still able to get 17 touches. The fumble was one of four Steelers turnovers in the game, and it came on a 23-yard catch-and-run where Conner basically just lost control of the ball while trying to gain more yardage. Conner has hit a mini wall these last two weeks, but hopefully the Steelers commit to running the ball behind their great offensive line after going with a pass-happy approach in a turnover-filled loss. Conner remains an RB1 for Week 13 against the Chargers.

11/26/18 - 11:50 AM ET

Austin Ekeler handles 15 touches in Week 12 win.

Ekeler rushed five times for 35 yards and a touchdown, also adding ten receptions for 68 yards. The biggest thing that happened in the win was obviously Melvin Gordon going down with a sprained MCL, so Ekeler has a chance to be featured for at least the start of the fantasy playoffs, and he’s suddenly a strong RB2, especially in PPR leagues. Justin Jackson will also be involved, but Ekeler should be a huge factor for one of the league’s best offenses. The Chargers take on the Steelers next Sunday night.

11/26/18 - 11:49 AM ET

Antonio Brown catches nine passes in Week 12.

Brown was targeted 13 times against the Broncos, gaining just 67 yards on his nine receptions. He also was 0/1 passing, as he missed a wide-open Jaylen Samuels on a trick play on what would’ve been an easy touchdown, though Brown was hit low while making the throw. It appeared Brown might have stopped his route on Ben Roethlisberger’s first interception of the day; and a second interception came on Pittsburgh’s last offensive play, as Brown was targeted on a run-pass option that he was completely blanketed on. Overall, Denver did a very good job of limiting AB, and this ends his streak of eight straight games with a touchdown reception. Brown will look to bounce back in a primetime matchup with the Chargers next Sunday.

11/26/18 - 11:46 AM ET

Justin Jackson sees extended work after Melvin Gordon (knee) leaves in Week 12.

Seeing his first touches since Week 7, Jackson rushed seven times for 57 yards. Gordon is expected to miss multiple weeks with a sprained MCL, so the rookie is worth picking up in all leagues as a potential early-down option to pair with Austin Ekeler, who Los Angeles might not want to overwork down the stretch. Jackson will be on the FLEX radar next week for a potential shootout against Pittsburgh.

11/26/18 - 11:46 AM ET

Ben Roethlisberger throws for 462 yards in loss to Denver.

Roethlisberger was 41/56 for 462 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions along with two carries for 18 yards in the Steelers’ Week 12 loss. The Broncos did a nice job of limiting James Conner on the ground, but it was surprising that the Steelers threw the ball as much as they did. The score was a 97-yarder to JuJu Smith-Schuster, as Big Ben delivered a strike down the field while getting pressured in the end zone. He nearly had another score, but Xavier Grimble fumbled out of the end zone for a touchback after it looked like he would get into the end zone on a 23-yard reception. The first interception appeared to occur after Antonio Brown stopped on his route; and the second was a crusher on a zone-read play at the end of the game, as Roethlisberger targeted Brown over the middle on an easy interception by defensive lineman Shelby Harris (it likely would’ve been picked off by the cornerback in front of Brown if Harris didn’t intercept it). Roethlisberger tends to make some questionable decisions at times, and he now has five interceptions in the last two weeks. He’s still putting up fantasy numbers, though, and he’ll probably throw the ball around a lot against 2004 draft classmate Philip Rivers next Sunday night.

11/26/18 - 11:43 AM ET

Philip Rivers nearly plays a perfect game in 45-10 victory over Arizona.

Rivers was 28/29 for 259 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions, setting the NFL record for completion percentage in a game (96.6%), consecutive completions to start a game (25), and tying Ryan Tannehill’s record for consecutive completions (25) in a game. He also added a three-yard rush for good measure. The first two touchdowns came to Mike Williams from nine yards and two yards away, and then he finished things off with a four-yard score to Keenan Allen. The 36-year-old is playing perhaps the best football of his career, and he should be at least a solid QB1 for next Sunday night’s matchup against the Steelers. 

11/26/18 - 11:42 AM ET