Quarterback
Russell Wilson, Denver (at Houston)
Wilson has been reasonably productive despite a very conservative approach on offense. The Broncos might not have the luxury of being safe with their playcalls against C.J. Stroud and the Texans. The Houston defense has given up two combined scores to each of the last four quarterbacks they faced, including Baker Mayfield. They even gave up 235 passing yards to Bryce Young.
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh (vs Arizona)
Pickett had his best passing yardage game of the year, and the Steelers offense went over 400 total yards for the first time in over 50 games. It just happened to be in the first game after they fired Matt Canada. This week, he'll face the Cardinals defense that just gave up four passing scores to Matthew Stafford.
Bryce Young, Carolina (at Tampa Bay)
If you have to have to play Young as bye coverage or a QB2/Superflex, there's hope. The Panthers offense could follow the Steelers in coming alive after firing a coach who was holding the offense back. Thomas Brown will be back as the play-caller, and he shouldn't be worried about how the team's performance will affect his job prospects now. The Tampa pass defense is solvable, and hopefully, the Panthers will have some new looks for them.
Derek Carr, New Orleans (vs Detroit)
Carr will be without Rashid Shaheed and Michael Thomas, and if he doesn't clear concussion protocol, Chris Olave. He still could be a good fantasy play as bye week coverage because he's facing the Lions defense that just made Jordan Love look like Aaron Rodgers. Carr still has Alvin Kamara, Juwan Johnson, and Taysom Hill, and the Lions offense will likely force the Saints offense to open up to stay in the game.
Tight End
Gerald Everett, LA Chargers (at New England)
Everett returned from injury to dominate tight end receiving opportunity for the Chargers last week, scoring and catching four balls. He should be a key piece this week with Bill Belichick likely focusing his gameplan on Keenan Allen, who might not be 100%. He should be available on the waiver wire after posting two catches for 18 yards over the last four weeks.
Logan Thomas, Washington (vs Miami)
Thomas is another struggle play for Sam Howell this week - that is a play that is made to take advantage of the trouble he'll likely have throwing outside the numbers against the Dolphins defense in a game that will force him to throw a lot to keep up with the competition. In the game against Seattle's top-end young cornerback duo, Howell completed eight balls for 61 yards to tight ends, including 5-40 for Thomas, which would be a fine score for your fantasy tight end in a week where Dalton Kincaid, Cole Kmet, and T.J. Hockenson are on bye.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas (vs Seattle) **Thursday**
Ferguson hasn't scored in a couple of weeks, but that could change Thursday night as the Cowboys face the Seahawks and their imposing outside corner duo. He only caught one ball last week (for 35 yards), and Luke Schoonmaker got the touchdown in Week 11, but Ferguson's snap share was exactly the same in Weeks 11 and 12, which were higher than his snap share in Week 10, so don't worry about his role in the offense getting smaller.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans (vs Detroit)
Johnson should be a big part of the passing game against the Lions with Rashid Shaheed and Michael Thomas out. The Lions gave up a touchdown to rookie backup Tucker Kraft last week, and Blake Bell and Tommy Tremble have also scored against them. Johnson had his highest target total (7) of the season, just in time for one of the toughest tight end weeks this year.
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