At varied factors through the fantasy soccer season, accidents, bye weeks and breaking information could cause you to wish reinforcements to your fantasy lineup. Each Friday all through the 2025 NFL season, Matt Bowen will supply some late-week pickup choices to assist fill these holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues.
Due to that, this column will focus totally on gamers rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues, with occasional exceptions.
Justin Herbert and Bo Nix are on byes this week, so we’ll begin with three accessible quarterbacks who’ve strong matchups. There’s a group of vast receivers offering each quantity and upside worthy of consideration, plus there are some operating backs I see as potential flex choices for deeper codecs. As at all times, I am going to offer you a good finish to doubtlessly stream, and I am zeroing in on a protection that faces a rookie quarterback making his first NFL begin.
Quarterbacks
Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals (34.4% rostered; vs. Jaguars)
Brissett had 21.9 factors, plus 452 yards passing, in a Week 11 loss to the 49ers. He averages 21.3 PPG in his 5 begins this season with a number of touchdowns throws in every. Sure, recreation circulate pressured Brissett to throw with heavy quantity towards San Francisco (57 makes an attempt), however the tape tells us that he has upgraded this Cardinals passing offense. Brissett suits this week as a deeper-league starter towards a Jaguars protection that ranks within the backside 10 towards opposing quarterbacks (20.1 PPG).
Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (46.1% rostered; at Titans)
The previous two weeks have been tough on Darnold, with lower than 5 factors and three or extra turnovers in back-to-back video games. However I like Darnold as a rebound play in Week 12 towards a Titans protection that ranks in the course of the pack towards opposing QBs (17.4 PPG). Vast receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba gives matchup capability in any respect three ranges of the sector for Darnold, and do not be stunned if Darnold begins to attach with Rashid Shaheed on the schemed verticals within the Seahawks’ playbook.
Bryce Younger, Carolina Panthers (10.9% rostered; at 49ers)
Younger performed his finest recreation of the season within the Week 11 win over the Falcons, throwing for 448 yards and three touchdowns (31.82 factors). We additionally noticed the upside of rookie vast receiver Tetairoa McMillan on this one (eight receptions, 130 yards, two touchdowns). With a Week 12 matchup towards a 49ers protection giving up a mean of 283.7 passing yards over their previous 5 video games, Younger is value taking part in in a deeper league on Monday night time.
Vast receivers
Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (33.6% rostered; vs. Jaguars)
With Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendectomy) set to take a seat out his second straight recreation, let’s hold Wilson within the lineup. He had a career-best 33.5 factors in a Week 11 loss to the 49ers, catching 15 of 18 targets for 185 yards. Managers should not count on a repeat of these numbers, however Wilson would be the main boundary goal once more for Brissett towards the Jags.
Christian Watson, Inexperienced Bay Packers (43.2% rostered; vs. Vikings)
We wrote about Watson on this house final week and he delivered numbers in a win over the Giants, catching 4 of 5 targets for 46 yards and two touchdowns (20.6 factors). Watson will stay a growth/bust WR3 towards the Vikings on Sunday because the vertical stretch goal for quarterback Jordan Love. Take the upside of Watson right here.
Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals (5.7% rostered; vs. Patriots)
With Ja’Marr Chase (suspension) out for Sunday’s recreation at New England, there’s an open door for Iosivas to see a bump in targets reverse Tee Higgins. Iosivas caught three of 4 targets in final week’s loss to the Steelers, and he had 18.0 factors in Week 9 towards the Bears. Iosivas suits as a deeper-league flex in Week 12.
Operating backs
Devin Singletary, New York Giants (33.3% rostered; at Lions)
Singletary had 17.3 factors in Week 11 towards the Packers, his second straight recreation with 10 or extra, and he noticed his utilization enhance within the low crimson zone. Singletary rushed for 2 touchdowns on six goal-to-go carries towards Inexperienced Bay, and he completed with 17 touches. His upside is restricted due to the backfield cut up with Tyrone Tracy Jr., plus the Lions’ run protection looms this Sunday. However with no less than 10 touches in three straight video games, Singletary has worth in deeper leagues.
Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (36.0% rostered; at Rams)
With Bucky Irving doubtlessly again within the lineup Sunday night time, it is powerful to gage Tucker’s Week 12 worth. However after he posted 140 whole yards and three touchdowns (34.0 factors) towards the Payments final week, I count on Tucker to play a job right here, even when Irving returns. Sure, the Rams’ protection is a tricky matchup for opposing backs (14.3 PPG), however I might nonetheless be prepared to take a shot on Tucker as a deeper-league choice.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (36.2% rostered; vs. Seahawks)
Spears had solely 4 carries within the Titans’ Week 11 loss to Houston, however the passing-game numbers hold him within the combine. Spears had 5 receptions for 31 yards towards the Texans and he has caught no less than three passes in every of his previous three video games, with 9 or extra touches in every. He is a deeper-league flex Sunday towards the Seahawks.
Tight finish
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (43.3% rostered; vs. Falcons)
Johnson scored 19.2 factors in his most up-to-date recreation towards the Panthers in Week 10, catching all 4 of his targets for 92 yards and a landing. He has 10 or extra factors in 4 straight video games, with a landing seize in every of his previous two. A dependable goal who can uncover for rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, whereas additionally working the seams, Johnson suits as a deeper-league play towards Atlanta.
D/ST
Las Vegas Raiders (18.1% rostered; vs. Browns)
Let’s play the matchup right here towards rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who can be making his first professional begin. Sanders performed frenetically when he relieved an injured Dillon Gabriel within the Week 11 recreation towards the Ravens, finishing simply 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception. And with the expectation that the Raiders will combine their coverages and pressures to cloud the post-snap appears to be like for Sanders, I like Vegas to make some splash performs on protection.
