Cowboys RB Tony Pollard was bottled up for most of Thursday night's game vs. the Seahawks, totaling just 68 yards on 20 carries (3.4 YPC). But he turned in a solid fantasy outing thanks to a 6-yard score in the third quarter. It was Pollard's third straight game with a TD -- after going eight straight games without one. It's just the latest reminder of the fickle nature of TDs. While Pollard's efficiency remains a concern, his volume and the strength of Dallas' offense should keep him locked into fantasy lineups the rest of the way. Pollard racked up 24 opportunities (20 carries, 4 targets) in Week 13 and has 17+ in four of his last five outings. The Cowboys, meanwhile, look unstoppable at this point, scoring 33+ points in four straight games and five of the last six.
Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team and set a season-high with 11 targets in Thursday night's loss to the Cowboys. He parlayed the volume into seven catches and 62 yards. It looked like he'd have a much bigger night when he hauled in a 30-yard TD late in the first half -- but it was (questionably) ruled incomplete on review. It was still an encouraging game for JSN from a volume perspective, although it was likely at least partly matchup-induced against a Dallas defense tougher against outside WRs than slots. Smith-Njigba will likely remain behind WRs D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in the pecking order going forward. But the rookie is trending up, with four games of 12+ PPR points over his last seven outings. He'll be a shaky Week 14 fantasy play against a tough 49ers defense that just held him to a 2-41-0 line on Thanksgiving. But Smith-Njigba gets plus matchups the following two weeks against the Eagles and Titans.
Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf single-handedly won fantasy matchups on Thursday night with a massive 6-134-3 outing. He got going on Seattle's very first possession when he split the seam between two Cowboys defenders and raced to the end zone for a 73-yard score. Metcalf hit 22.23 mph on the play, per Next Gen Stats -- the fastest speed by a ball carrier this season, and flat-out ridiculous for a 235-pounder. Metcalf's other two TDs came from one and three yards out. It was a much-needed scoring binge from a guy who had just three TDs on 43 receptions (7.0%) over his first 10 games. D.K. drew eight targets vs. Dallas, giving him 38 total targets on a 24.5% share over his last four games. Don't expect another outing like this the rest of the way, but Metcalf should stay glued into fantasy lineups going forward. Not only has the volume been strong, but he also gets the single easiest WR schedule from Weeks 14 through 17.
Seahawks QB Geno Smith ripped the Cowboys for 334 yards and three TDs on Thursday night. Smith got rolling on his very first drive, threading a pass between two Dallas defenders to WR D.K. Metcalf, who took off for a 73-yard score. Smith's other two TDs also went to Metcalf, from one and three yards out. He added a five-yard rushing TD for a truly monstrous fantasy outing. The 334 passing yards were Smith's second-most of the season -- and the most by a Cowboys opponent this year. It was also Smith's first game of the season with more than two passing scores. The big game came when Smith, Metcalf, and WR Tyler Lockett were finally all off the injury report. If those guys can stay healthy the rest of the way, there should be plenty of fantasy goodness to be had. Week 14 brings a rematch against a tough 49ers defense. But that's followed by plus matchups against the Eagles and Titans. Smith closes the fantasy ceiling against the Steelers' eighth-ranked QB defense.
Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet suffered a knee injury late in Thursday night's loss to the Cowboys. HC Pete Carroll said afterward that Charbonnet bruised the knee when he banged it against the turf and that it shouldn't be an issue going forward. The rookie operated as Seattle's feature back before the injury, finishing with 19 carries for 60 yards and a score. He added one catch on two targets for 39 yards, showing good burst on a well-designed screen. Charbonnet and backfield mate Ken Walker (oblique) get 10 days to heal up for a Week 14 rematch with the 49ers. Charbonnet was limited to 58 scoreless yards in their Thanksgiving meeting.
Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon (groin) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. It gives him a shot to play vs. the Packers on Sunday night. McKinnon isn't a fantasy option, but his return would knock Isiah Pacheco from high-end RB1 status to lower-end RB1 status.
Jaguars RB Travis Etienne (ribs) was limited in Thursday's practice. He briefly left last week's game with this injury but was able to return. He told insider Mia O'Brien that he fully expects to play vs. the Bengals on Monday night. We'll keep an eye on Etienne's status over the next few days, but he can stay penciled into Week 13 fantasy lineups.
Browns RB Kareem Hunt (groin) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He should be available for this weekend's game vs. the Rams, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin was added to Thursday's injury report with a neck and limited in practice. Godwin was on the injury report with a neck back in Week 8 but wound up playing. We'll see what he does on Friday and how he's listed on the final injury report for this weekend's game vs. the Panthers.
Panthers WR Jonathan Mingo was added to Thursday's injury report with an Achilles and limited in practice. Mid-week additions are always worrisome. Achilles injuries are always worrisome. We'll look for further updates on Mingo's situation.
Cardinals TE Trey McBride (groin) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He should be available for this weekend's game vs. the Steelers, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow.
Saints WR Chris Olave (concussion) remained limited in Thursday's practice. He still has some work to do to clear the protocol but at least has a chance to play vs. the Lions on Sunday. We'll update his progress again tomorrow.
Chargers WR Keenan Allen (quad) missed practice again on Thursday. The Athletic's Daniel Popper did spot Allen working off to the side of practice. We're still expecting Allen to play vs. the Patriots this weekend, but his status is certainly worth checking back on Friday afternoon.
Texans TE Dalton Schultz (hamstring) remained sidelined on Thursday. He's seemingly in real danger of missing this weekend's game vs. the Broncos. Schultz's absence would leave Brevin Jordan as Houston's lead TE -- and likely push more targets to the WRs.
Texans WR Tank Dell (calf) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. The rookie is fully expected to play vs. the Broncos this weekend, but check back tomorrow to see how he's listed on the final injury report.
Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy (groin) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He should be ready to go for this weekend's game vs. the Texans, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow.
Seahawks RB Ken Walker (oblique) is inactive for tonight's game vs. the Cowboys. He didn't practice all week, and we still don't have a timetable for his return. Zach Charbonnet gets another game as Seattle's top back tonight after garnering 14 carries and four targets on an 88% snap rate on Thanksgiving.
Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert (ankle, knee) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. The 31-year-old is already up to 151 carries -- the second-most of his career -- and his body is probably feeling it. But he should be out there for Sunday's game vs. the Commanders.
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill (ankle) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He should be on track to play vs. the Commanders this weekend, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring, ankle) put in a limited practice on Thursday. He said afterward that he plans to play vs. the Jaguars on Monday night. We'll track Higgins' status throughout the week, but he'd be a shaky Week 13 fantasy play catching passes from QB Jake Browning off a multi-week hamstring injury. See where Higgins lands in the Week 13 WR Rankings.
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