There are so many twists and turns to an NFL Sunday that it's hard for fantasy football managers to keep up with everything. This column is designed to help, providing you with all of the storylines you need to know from Sunday's action in order to kick-start your research for Week 13.
There is no doubt that this week's top story is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts, during which Tom Brady extended his NFL record with his 32nd career double-digit come-from-behind win. Tampa Bay scored 24 points off turnovers in the game, thanks in large part to an offense which was led not by Brady, but by Leonard Fournette.
Fournette gained 131 yards and scored four touchdowns in the contest, marking the 10th time in his career that he has reached the 100-yard milestone, but just the second time since the start of 2020. Next week, the Buccaneers have a date with an Atlanta Falcons defense allowing the seventh-most RB fantasy points per game (26.7).
There's something to be said for momentum, so consider Fournette to be an RB1 this coming Sunday.
All stats are courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information, except where noted.
Here's a quick look at some of the standout stats from Sunday's action:
Kendrick Bourne averaged 4.6 targets, 3.8 receptions, and 56 receiving yards per game from Weeks 7-11 for the New England Patriots. While he played on only 33 snaps against the Tennessee Titans, he was still targeted six times for 61 yards and two touchdowns. His 29 routes run weren't that far behind those of Jakobi Meyers (33) and Nelson Agholor (34). As a flex option during the fantasy playoffs, he'll have an opportunity to help you win your league as the Colts (Week 15) and Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 17) rank among the 12 most generous fantasy WR defenses.
After being elevated from the practice squad last week, Titans RB Dontrell Hilliard has now rushed for 166 yards on only 19 attempts, averaging 8.73 yards per carry. In a game where Jeremy McNichols was inactive, Hilliard outperformed D'Onta Foreman and became the first non-Derrick Henry player to rush for 100 yards since DeMarco Murray in 2017. Once the Titans return from their bye in Week 14, he's a good flex option.
Over the last five games, Pittsburgh Steelers WR James Washington has caught just 7 of 15 targets for 76 receiving yards. Anthony Miller, who joined the Steelers' practice squad in October and was promoted to the active roster prior to this week's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, cut into Washington's total snaps (27) and routes run (22). Miller played on 25 snaps, with 19 routes run and one target. His chances of overtaking Washington as the Steelers' No. 3 receiver increase as the year goes on. You should keep an eye on Miller in deeper formats.
Rex Burkhead's 33 rushing attempts and targets over the last two games indicate that he is the leader of Houston's "running back by committee." Burkhead led the Texans backfield with 18 routes run and should be on the flex radar next week against the Colts defense due to his volume. Should David Johnson have to miss time due to injury, Burkhead's ceiling could be even higher.
Carolina's Christian McCaffrey rolled his ankle late in the second quarter and was seen wearing a walking boot after the game. Ameer Abdullah ended up playing on 27 snaps and ran 21 routes for the Panthers as their primary back. Since joining the team in Week 8, Abdullah has accumulated 20 targets -- more than any other teammate over that stretch, save for DJ Moore (37) and McCaffrey (25). With McCaffrey now out for the season, Abdullah and Chuba Hubbard will likely form some kind of committee and both should be on the flex radar.
Noah Fant has only accumulated 14 targets, 10 receptions, and 79 receiving yards over his last three games with the Denver Broncos. The team ranks near the bottom of the league with only 30 passing attempts per game over that period. With four targets against the Chargers, Fant tied RB Javonte Williams for the team-high. Although Albert Okwuegbunam (28) played on fewer snaps than Fant (53), he ran nearly as many routes. Fant is hard to rely on as TE1, but Okwuegbunam is a good option in deeper formats.
After being carted off the field in the Minnesota Vikings game against the San Francisco 49ers due to a shoulder injury, Dalvin Cook was in tears. In his place, Alexander Mattison rushed the ball seven times for 21 yards and a touchdown, adding two receptions for seven additional yards. If Cook has to miss significant time, Mattison could end up being a league-winning force. In the two full games this season without Cook, Mattison has averaged 33 opportunities, 162 yards and 25.7 fantasy points per game.
Van Jefferson left a lot of statistical production on the field when the Los Angeles Rams faced off against the Green Bay Packers. The wide receiver dropped a 15-yard pass in the fourth quarter. Earlier in the contest, he stepped out of bounds on what would have been a TD reception. Both Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. attract a great deal of attention. Yet, despite Beckham's expanded role this week, Jefferson continued to play an active role. He played on the same number of snaps as Beckham (60) with one more route run (41). Jefferson is on the flex radar next week against a Jacksonville defense that has allowed 36.2 WR fantasy points per game.
Rashod Bateman's ceiling is being capped by the Baltimore Ravens' "wide receiver by committee" approach for anyone not named Marquise Brown. Bateman played on 37 snaps and ran 22 routes. Sammy Watkins and Devin Duvernay each played on 35 snaps and ran about the same number of routes. While Bateman can still be deployed as a flex option, it's important to have the right expectations. He's not "going to Hollywood" anytime soon.