Welcome back for another round of fantasy football ramblings. Hopefully, if you’re still following along, it’s because you are anticipating a playoff run and trying to find the right keys to unlock a championship. (I can certainly vouch for having teams in different positions down the stretch, from a Friends & Family League team that has already clinched a first-round playoff bye at 10-1, leaving a month of results that only matter for bragging rights before a Week 16 that actually matters, to a superflex league team that is desperately scrounging the likes of Tyler Shough for a second QB after Jayden’s injury and Justin Fields’ benching.)
A lot of the work to get across the finish line to the elimination weeks should be done already at this point, with only few remaining bye weeks to navigate and injuries now the primary obstacle to consider. Even so, we’ll take one last shot at identifying some names to keep an eye on for stretch run additions before planning to close this year’s fantasy ramblings with a Playoff Start/Sit primer in Week 15. Don’t know if there’s any interest, but I’ll also open it up to mailbag questions to be answered the Tuesday before Week 15 as well, should that prove helpful. (And I’ll again offer my thanks to those who’ve read through my maiden voyage into providing fantasy advice as well as to [Hogs Haven for hosting](/fantasyfootball) – hope it has been at least a little bit helpful/entertaining!)
**Sam Darnold – 5/10** It’s been a pair of bad outings since this column recommended Darnold, but he’s still top half of the league at QB for the season and criminally under-rostered across ESPN leagues. He’ll have some usable moments yet.
**Joe Flacco – 5/10** The Ja’Marr Chase suspension won’t help in Week 12, and you’re not starting him over less old-in-the-tooth options, but the volume remains there.
**Bhayshul Tuten – incomplete** Seemed to be starting to emerge, but picked up an injury in Week 11.
**Emari Demercado – 3/10** Bam Knight jumped back in front in usage, but the real problem is that the Cardinals as a whole do not inspire confidence at this point.
**Christian Watson – 8/10** Two touchdowns in a breakout Week 11. Still not enough targets for full confidence, but the trend is in the right direction.
**Demario Douglas – 1/10** Turned out not to be the beneficiary of Boutte’s absence in spite of production the week of the injury. Instead, Mack Hollins returns from the dead.
**Theo Johnson – 6/10** Concerned about the downtick in production with Jameis Winston at quarterback, but a season-high in yards the week before.
**Colston Loveland – 5/10** Modest production the last two weeks after his breakout, but enough to not cost you from that lineup spot.
**Davis Mills –** You probably have better options if you’re in playoff contention, but especially in superflex formats, he hasn’t looked bad in relief of C.J. Stroud the last couple weeks. Goes without saying that Stroud’s full return to health would dim his prospects.
**Sean Tucker –** Multi-touchdown game despite Rachaad White being active makes him worth a look for as long as Bucky Irving remains out.
**Emmanuel Wilson –** Entirely about Josh Jacobs injury news, but could be a RB1 in a best case scenario the rest of the way.
**Jaleel McLaughlin –** Harvey remains the starter in Denver with J.K. Dobbins sidelined, but his yards per carry have been disappointing enough that McLaughlin could start to steal work. Harvey will remain the primary pass catching back either way though.
**Darnell Mooney –** If Drake London misses significant time, he’ll have a window to haul in an increase in targets.
**Jayden Higgins –** We were on the wrong Texans rookie (Noel) in this column a few weeks ago; since, Higgins has three 7+ target outings in his last four games.
**Juwan Johnson –** Quietly a Top 6 TE for the year, yet still unrostered in 2/3 of ESPN leagues, Johnson will get the safety blanket dumpoffs from a developing rookie QB and a friendly schedule down the stretch.
**Saints DST –** The Saints get a potentially Michael Penix and Drake London-less Falcons team in Week 12, and the Jets and Titans in Weeks 15 and 16. I’ve tried not to double up on recommendations in this column this year, but its worth another nod in the direction of a defense that is attached to a team so bad that many will not look their direction.
I’ve also mentioned **Kenneth Gainwell** and **Chris Rodriguez** in weeks prior, but will give them a smaller shoutout again with **Jaylen Warren** injury news to watch and **Jacory Croskey-Merritt** seeming to take a backseat in Washington.
That just about wraps it up for the fantasy regular season. Good luck to all for your playoff pushes! And again, if there are mailbox questions you want answered on the Tuesday before Week 15, leave them in the comments and I’ll be happy to offer my $0.02!
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