Every season brings a chaos week — and Week 11 was that week. Injuries struck nonstop. Stars left games, returned, left again. Backups broke fantasy matchups, and several offenses imploded on the spot.
Here are the 21 things you need to know heading into Week 12.
Stud Players (Overperformers)
1. Josh Allen, QB – Bills
- Line: 19/30, 317 Pass Yds, 3 Pass TD, 2 INT | 6 Rushes, 40 Rush Yds, 3 Rush TD
- Fantasy: 44.7 points (highest of the week)
Allen put the entire Bills offense on his back, accounting for all six touchdowns in a vintage “I’m the best fantasy QB alive” performance. Even with the two picks, his rushing workload and red-zone usage keep him in a tier of his own. There’s simply nobody with his weekly ceiling.
2. Bryce Young, QB – Panthers
- Line: 31/45, 448 Pass Yds, 3 Pass TD | brief in-game ankle scare, returned
- Fantasy: 31.8 points (more than his last four games combined)
Young delivered the breakout Panthers fans have been waiting for. He set a franchise passing record and spread the ball confidently to McMillan, Legette, and Coker all game long. The brief ankle scare didn’t slow him down, and while we’re not ready to call this a permanent leap, the sheer volume is exactly what fantasy managers want to see.
3. Sean Tucker, RB – Buccaneers
- Line: 19 Carries, 106 Rush Yds, 2 Rush TD | 2 Catches, 34 Rec Yds, 1 Rec TD (21 touches, 140 yards, 3 TD)
With Bucky Irving sidelined, Tucker stepped into a true lead-back role and absolutely ran with it. Explosive runs, three touchdowns, and over 20 touches, this was everything fantasy managers hoped he’d show as a rookie. The only question now is what happens once Irving returns.
4. Bijan Robinson, RB – Falcons
- Line: 23 Carries, 104 Rush Yds, 2 Rush TD | 4/5, 39 Rec Yds (27 touches, 143 yards, 2 TD)
This was the version of Bijan everyone drafted: heavy volume, efficient rushing, involvement in the passing game, and control of the goal-line work. After a couple of frustrating weeks, he looked dominant again and reminded the fantasy world he’s still a locked-in elite RB1.
5. Kenneth Gainwell, RB – Steelers
- Line: 7/8, 81 Rec Yds, 2 Rec TD | added usage on the ground after Jaylen Warren exited
Gainwell turned into the Steelers’ offensive engine the moment Jaylen Warren exited. His receiving work was highly valuable, and Pittsburgh leaned on him heavily in the red zone. If Warren sits next week, Gainwell becomes a plug-and-play PPR starter, with the kind of role that can push for a top-12 finish.
6. Tetairoa McMillan, WR – Panthers
- Line: 12 Targets | 8 Receptions, 130 Rec Yds, 2 TD
McMillan was unstoppable in Carolina’s passing surge. Career highs across the board and another game with elite target volume show how important he’s become to Bryce Young’s development. He’s operating as a strong WR2 with the ability to pop for WR1 weeks any time Carolina leans pass-heavy.
7. Michael Wilson, WR – Cardinals
- Line: 18 Targets | 15 Receptions, 185 Rec Yds
Wilson took full advantage of Marvin Harrison Jr.’s absence and turned into a target monster. Eighteen looks and 185 yards is no fluke, he was Brissett’s go-to player all game long. His volume will normalize when MHJ returns, but this performance showed the ceiling he has in high-volume scripts.
8. George Kittle, TE – 49ers
- Line: 6 Targets | 6 Receptions, 67 Rec Yds, 2 TD
Kittle was surgical, catching all six of his targets and finding the end zone twice. With Purdy back, the 49ers are leaning into Kittle’s matchup advantages again, especially inside the 20. He’s firmly re-established himself as an elite TE1.
Dud Players (Underperformers)
9. Lamar Jackson, QB – Ravens
- Line: 14/25, 193 Pass Yds, 0 TD, 2 INT | 4 Rushes, 10 Rush Yds
One of Lamar’s quietest games of the season. He never got comfortable behind a collapsing offensive line and couldn’t bail out fantasy managers with his legs, either. Chalk it up to an off week against a relentless Cleveland front.
10. Kimani Vidal, RB – Chargers
- Line: 5 Carries, 13 Rush Yds | 2 Targets, 2 Rec, -1 Rec Yd
The Chargers offense couldn’t get anything going, and Vidal suffered because of it. Seven touches in a game where the team managed just six points is a concerning sign, especially with Hampton set to return soon. His role is on very shaky ground.
11. Ricky Pearsall, WR – 49ers
- Line: 1 Target | 1 Reception, 0 Rec Yds
Pearsall was a complete afterthought in a high-scoring game, which tells us everything. He’s clearly still being eased back in, and until his snap share grows, he’s nothing more than a speculative bench piece.
12. Parker Washington, WR – Jaguars
- Line: 2 Targets | 2 Receptions, 20 Rec Yds
Even with Thomas Jr. out again, Washington didn’t see the bump fantasy managers were hoping for. Two catches on two targets in a blowout win is disappointing, and it’s becoming clear he’s more depth than a featured option.
13. David Njoku, TE – Browns
- Line: 1 Target | 1 Reception, 7 Rec Yds
Njoku’s usage just keeps shrinking. One target in an offense that barely moved the ball through the air is a dealbreaker. In most formats, it’s safe to move on.
14. Kyle Pitts Sr., TE – Falcons
- Line: 2 Targets | 2 Receptions, 14 Rec Yds
Even in an extended game with plenty of points scored, Pitts barely made a dent. The talent is still there, but the role and usage aren’t. At this point, he’s more name value than actual fantasy value.
Thud Players (Drop Candidates)
15. J.J. McCarthy, QB – Vikings
- Line: 16/32, 150 Pass Yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
McCarthy continues to struggle with accuracy and decision-making, and the turnovers are piling up. With a tough matchup looming and no real fantasy consistency to lean on, he’s not worth holding in standard 1QB leagues.
16. Tony Pollard, RB – Titans
- Line: 10 Carries, 22 Rush Yds | 3 Targets, 3 Rec, 4 Rec Yds
Pollard’s efficiency has cratered, and Spears continues to take all the meaningful passing-down work. Fourteen touches for 26 yards is about as rough as it gets. In shallow leagues, you can comfortably move on.
17. D.J. Moore, WR – Bears
- Line: 3 Targets | 1 Reception, 18 Rec Yds | 1 Rush, 3 Rush Yds
Moore hasn’t been featured in weeks, and being fifth in team targets this week only confirms it. Without volume, he has no path to reliable production. He’s droppable in most normal-sized leagues.
18. Luke Musgrave, TE – Packers
- Line: 1 Target | 1 Reception, -1 Rec Yd
One catch for negative yardage says everything about where Musgrave is in this offense. He’s not commanding snaps or targets and isn’t a factor in scoring position. Easy drop.
Injuries to Monitor
19. Aaron Rodgers, QB – Steelers
- Injury: “Slight break” in left wrist
- Week 11: Left at halftime, replaced by Mason Rudolph (12/16, 127 yards, 1 TD)
Rodgers suffered a small fracture in his wrist and is expected to miss at least one game. While Mason Rudolph can keep the offense afloat, the explosive upside for Metcalf and the tight ends takes a temporary hit.
20. Michael Penix Jr., QB – Falcons
- Injury: Aggravated knee issue that previously cost him time
- Week 11: Left vs. Panthers; Kirk Cousins finished the game
Penix re-aggravated his knee injury, and although he might’ve been able to return, the team sticking with Cousins is telling. Any missed time lowers the floor and ceiling for the entire Falcons passing attack.
21. Josh Jacobs, RB – Packers
- Injury: Knee; left late in the first half, ruled out
- Week 11: 7 Carries, 40 Rush Yds before exit
Jacobs exited with a knee injury and was quickly ruled out, which is rarely a good sign. Emanuel Wilson filled in well and should handle lead duties if Jacobs misses time. Expect Jacobs to be sidelined for at least a week or two, and plan accordingly.
Quick-Hit Injuries to Track
- Jaylen Warren (ankle): Left in Q3, Gainwell took over passing-down work.
- Bhayshul Tuten (high-ankle sprain, JAX): Left after 15 carries; boosts Travis Etienne’s workload.
- Emari Demercado (ankle, ARI): Knight/Carter split incoming if he misses time and Benson remains out.
- Drake London (knee): Early reports say “not serious,” but he could still miss Week 12.
- Calvin Ridley (fibula): Out for the season. Elic Ayomanor gets a volume bump, but offense limits his upside.
