Rookie wide receivers keep pushing forward
These players saw their fantasy values increase or decrease most based on their performances in Week 12:
WR Jayden Reed: Green Bay Packers:
Reed kept up his good work on Thanksgiving Day, posting four catches for 34 yards and scoring a touchdown for the third consecutive game. He has managed at least three receptions in six straight outings, and he has been increasingly used as a rusher in recent weeks, too.
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks: SmithNjigba made all the highlight reels with a pretty one-handed snare on Thanksgiving night against the 49ers. He has at least 36 receiving yards in seven straight outings, and three or more catches in seven of the past eight, which makes him very attractive in PPR formats.
RB Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys: Dowdle shook off an ankle injury to score on a 15yard catch and run vs. Washington. His total touches were down, but that was likely a product of a blowout, as well as a precaution due to his injury. He is one injury to Tony Pollard from being a major impact guy.
TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals:
McBride had seven receptions for 60 yards against the Rams, giving him five or more grabs in four of the past five games. The rookie is emerging as a low-end TE1.
TE Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams: Sure, it’s just one game, but Higbee tied a season best with five catches on Sunday, including his first two touchdowns. Tight end is such a wasteland that any time we see a stat line like his, it’s reason for celebration.
Fizzlers
WR Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos: The Broncos have won five in a row, but Jeudy has played a minor role. He has just 10 receptions for 114 yards and no scores in the past three games, and he has one touchdown all season.
WR George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers:
The Steelers offense has been ugly, and the team changed offensive coordinators this past week, with positive results. Perhaps Pickens will get back to his early-season form, but with just three catches on five targets Sunday, he isn’t part of the rebound just yet.
TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons:
Pitts showed some signs of life in October after a slow start, but he has disappeared yet again. Including Sunday’s 2for-22 effort, he’s put up 35 or fewer receiving yards in three of the past four contests.
WR Zay Jones, Jaguars: Jones caught one pass for 10 yards in Week 12, and he has just 30 receiving yards in the two games since he returned from a knee injury. While he’s helped open things up for fellow wideout Calvin Ridley, Jones is little more than a decoy now.
Jacksonville RB Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals:
The Bengals’ first game with QB Jake Browning as starter didn’t go well. The run game, in particular, was almost non-existent vs. Pittsburgh, with Mixon held to a season-low 16 yards on eight carries.