A Surprise QB Shakeup and an Order of Tommy Cutlets
In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Mike's Hard Lemonade:
Forget buying a turkey because next Thursday America is getting served up a hearty portion of Tommy Cutlets.
That’s right—the Daniel Jones era is officially over in New York as the Giants are turning back to everyone’s favorite Italian-American QB, Tommy DeVito.
He’ll start this week vs. the Bucs and then get a crack to endear himself to your aunts and uncles on Thanksgiving Day vs. the Cowboys.
Jones getting benched is hardly a surprise (especially when you factor in the injury clause in his contract), but most of us assumed Drew Lock would get the first crack at salvaging Malik Nabers’ fantasy value down the homestretch.
But when you stop to think about it, it does makes some sense:
1) Brian Daboll is coaching for his job and DeVito showed a pulse last year
2) It increases their chances for the No. 1 pick in 2024
3) And it tosses a bone to the fanbase, which can’t get enough of Cutlets or his agent.
Now it’s time for Dallas to make a similar move so we can finish our pumpkin pie with Cutlets vs. Trey Lance on the telly.
Read on for a jam-packed newsletter to help you on the waiver wire …
What else is in today’s newsletter?
- Stat of the Day: Unsung WR in Denver now seeing big target share?
- Dwain’s Utilization Report: Two Rock-Solid RB1s
- Kendall Valenzuela’s Week 11 Waiver Wire Adds
- Watercooler: Injury Updates
- Ian Hartitz’s Sheesh Report from Week 10
Stat of the Day 11/19: Devaughn Vele had a 33% air-yards share in Week 11
Devaughn Vele has now played on over 60% of the snaps–while averaging 4.0 receptions–in back-to-back starts. He’s also converted 8 of his last 9 targets into catches.
His reliability and solid route running is starting to pay off with a bigger route tree. Via our Utilization Report, Vele accounted for 33% of his team’s air yards in Week 11, his biggest weekly share to date, and best mark since he posted a 20% team air-yards share in Week 2.
Against the Raiders he managed only 5 targets, but averaged 16.5 yards per reception. As a bigger-body receiver who’s versatile enough to play the slot, he should continue to have some fantasy value playing the off-coverage alongside Courtland Sutton, who should be up against team’s best defenders most weeks.
With Bo Nix showing improved accuracy Vele projects as a solid fill-in, or deep bench stash, for those dealing with bye weeks or injury issues in the final few weeks of the fantasy regular season.
Quench Your Hard-Earned Thirst With Mike’s Hard Lemonade 🍋
Winning in fantasy football is hard work. You’ll need to replace your injured QB one day but get outbid in Free Agency. Next week you’ll need 5 points from your TE and see him deliver only 4. But, Mike’s Hard Lemonade wants to remind you that Hard Days Deserve a Hard Lemonade. So, the next time you work up a hard-earned thirst by leaving your highest-scoring player on the bench, it’s time to twist open a Mike’s Hard Lemonade.
Find Mike’s Hard Lemonade near you at www.MikesHard.com.
Week 12 Utilization Report
De'Von Achane: The Little Engine That Could.
"I think I can, I think I can."
The primary concern around Achane this preseason was his workload, which many thought would be capped due to his size (188 pounds). However, history told us that backs as good as Achane typically find their way onto the field more, which is the story now unfolding in Miami.
Over the last four games, Achane has a 9.0 Utilization Score, averaging 22.4 points per game with RB2, RB2, RB24, and RB5 finishes. However, his workload got another bump over the last two games, hogging 66% of the snaps and 62% of the rushing attempts.
Mostert briefly left the game on Sunday, but his snaps have been equally dismal for two consecutive weeks at 15% and 14%. He is now splitting time with Jaylen Wright for the third of the pie Achane doesn't account for.
Achane UPGRADES to high-end RB1 territory and will challenge for the RB1 overall if his expanded role sticks.
Chase Brown has reached the coveted status of every-down RB.
Since the loss of Zack Moss, Brown has dominated the Bengals backfield with a sizzling Utilization Score of 9.9. He has handled 83% of snaps and 92% of attempts. He has also been highly active in the passing game, with a 66% route participation and 17% target share.
Over the three-game span, Brown has averaged 23.5 points per game on the back of 21 carries and 7 targets per game. Averaging 28 opportunities in a high-quality offense is hard to top, putting Brown in elite company.
Since 2020, Browns' Utilization Score comps have dominated fantasy football, averaging 20.5 points. Every comp managed an RB1 finish, with 86% posting a top-6 campaign. We could see the team expand Khalil Herbert's role as he acclimates, but at this point, Brown has plenty of room to give because his utilization is so strong.
Brown UPGRADES to high-end RB1 status.
MORE UTILIZATION REPORT TAKEAWAYS
Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
Elijah Moore, WR, Browns
Here's hoping Jameis Winston continues to be the quarterback in Cleveland, because he gives us great fantasy upside across all their offensive pieces. Elijah Moore is getting the waiver wire highlight this week because he has seen 29 targets over the last three weeks, and on Sunday against the Saints he was able to turn 6 receptions into 66 yards and 1 touchdown. With Winston, Moore has averaged 13.6 points per game with a 7.0 Utilization Score.
The Browns have a tough schedule coming up—Steelers, Broncos, Steelers—and there is a chance the team turns to Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but Moore is a good wide receiver option who should continue to have good numbers inside a high-volume passing offense with Winston.
Drake Maye, QB, Patriots
There aren't a lot of quarterbacks available on the waiver wire who are less than 40% rostered, but Drake Maye is one of them. If you're picking him up for Week 12 just know that he has a tough matchup against the Miami Dolphins, but he can still provide us fantasy goodness with his rushing upside. Over his six starts this season he is averaging 41.3 rushing yards per game—we like that!
The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness, and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds:
📰 Take it to 11! Ian and Chris break down the 11 biggest headlines, including the return of Tommy Cutlets under center for the Giants.
🌋 After that blowup TE1 performance, do we trust Taysom Hill going forward?
🚑️ Injury updates. Gabe Davis (brutal), Jonathon Brooks (yaye).
❓Gotta find a bye-week QB streamer for Josh Allen or Joe Burrow? The Fantasy Life Waiver Wire Tool is here to help.
🏈 Jake runs through the 5 Stages of a Fantasy Football Trade. Drew Sample stans, don’t look.
⚖️ Jayden Daniels or Bo Nix for OROY? Not as crazy as it once sounded.
Week 11 Sheesh Report: Xavier Worthy, please keep two feet inbounds
by Ian Hartitz
Xavier Worthy … SHEESH
The Chiefs' first-round rookie did a lot of good things in Week 11. Xavier Worthy's 4 receptions tied a career-high, he found the end zone, and the 68 total yards were tied for his second-highest mark of the year; there's reason for optimism here moving forward.
And yet, things could have been so much bigger had Worthy managed to be just a bit more aware of the sideline, something that has already reared its ugly head earlier this season.
Overall, Worthy has hauled in just 3 of 12 targets thrown 20-plus yards downfield this season, catching as many TDs (2) as Patrick Mahomes has thrown INTs (2) along the way.
The speedy first-year talent was supposed to simply be one-third of a three-pronged WR room featuring Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown; it's possible all of this is simply too much too fast and Worthy will go on to far bigger and better things as he builds more chemistry with the best QB alive. With all that said: Sheesh.
Of course, Worthy wasn't the only one who just missed out on creating some huge downfield plays …
The Eagles RB special: Down at the 1-yard line, and no TD
Getting all the way to the 1-yard line but failing to score a TD is objectively a sheeshy feeling—particularly when fantasy managers are forced to watch someone else vulture away the score that was SO CLOSE to belonging to them.
Here’s the full list of Week 11’s players who managed to get the football within three feet of the goal line, but not quite across the plane, and ultimately didn’t score later on the same drive:
Saints RB Alvin Kamara (x2, same drive)
Chargers RB Hassan Haskins (x2, same drive)
Eagles RB Saquon Barkley
Dolphins RB De'Von Achane
Vikings RB Aaron Jones
Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson
Colts WR Adonai Mitchell
Packers QB Jordan Love
Barkley now has 9 such sheeshes on the season, 8 of which have occurred on separate drives. The only other players even somewhat close are Javonte Williams and Kareem Hunt … with 4. Sheesh stuff for fantasy managers, but don't feel too bad for the Eagles' stud RB himself: Barkley has zero dollars in incentives based on TDs.
Dropped TDs, nullified scores, and more sheeshy moments from Week 11
