Every Monday of the NFL regular season, we will showcase exceptional player performances from the weekend and analyze their potential for sustained success in fantasy football. We will rank these performances from 🔥 to 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 based on whether we believe they are momentary or long-term options for your fantasy teams.
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Fantasy Football Heat Index
Quarterback
Stats: 23/38, 364 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2 attempts, 0 yards, 1 rush TD
Position Rank (pre-MNF): QB6 (24.56 points)
Analysis: If you drafted Trevor Lawrence and you’re still in playoff contention, consider yourself lucky. After tanking the majority of fantasy football teams earlier this season, the former No.1 overall draft pick is starting to pay off for patient fantasy managers.
One week after scoring 32.18 points and finishing as the overall QB1, Lawrence followed that up with another QB1 performance on Sunday. In Jacksonville’s 24-21 victory over Houston, Lawrence had 364 passing yards and two total touchdowns. He scored 24.56 fantasy points, and he’s the pre-“MNF” QB6 on the week.
Lawrence’s inconsistency makes him a tougher sit/start decision than he should be, but you might as well ride out the hot hand while you can. That said, keep an eye on his upcoming schedule. After the showdown against the Joe Burrow-less Bengals, Lawrence has difficult matchups against Cleveland and Baltimore.
Heat Index: 🔥🔥🔥
Running Back
Stats: 15 attempts, 55 rushing yards, 2 TD, 5 receptions, 34 receiving yards, 5 targets
Position Rank (pre-MNF): RB4 (23.4 points)
Analysis: I usually reserve these spots for breakout stars and potential waiver wire options. We’re making an exception for Kansas City running back Isiah Pacheco.
While Pacheco has earned every-week starter status with his play this season, his usage in Week 12 needed a mention in this column. With Jerick McKinnon out, he took over passing-game and goalline duties usually reserved for the veteran.
That type of bell-cow role likely won’t continue once McKinnon returns, but you can see Pacheco’s potential if ever given the full workload. Pacheco will be locked into most starting lineups regardless, but he has top-end RB1 upside if McKinnon misses more time.
Heat Index: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Wide Receiver
Stats: 8 receptions, 107 receiving yards, 1 TD, 10 targets
Position Rank (pre-MNF): WR3 (20.7 points)
Analysis: We all consider Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce the defacto WR1 in Kanas City, but that doesn’t mean the wide receiver corps is completely devoid of talent. While no one would confuse it with one of the top wide receiver rooms in the league, Chiefs rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice looks like the lone bright spot in the group.
Rice has flashed at various times this season, but he really came into his own this weekend. He finished with season-highs in receptions (eight), receiving yards (107) and targets (10) in Kansas City’s 31-17 Week 12 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. The rookie is currently the WR3 on the week.
While we celebrate and acknowledge Rice’s breakout performance, we also must take a cautious approach. Outside of Kelce, no one in this passing game has been consistently productive. Here’s hoping Rice breaks the mold, but if history is any indication, he’s just as likely to finish with five points as he is to repeat this performance next week.
Heat Index: 🔥🔥🔥
Tight End
Stats: 9 receptions, 120 receiving yards, 0 TD, 11 targets
Position Rank (pre-MNF): TE2 (16.5 points)
Analysis: With embattled offensive coordinator Matt Canada finally relieved of his duties, the Pittsburgh Steelers are starting over offensively. Installing an entirely new offense mid-season is nearly impossible, but you can make minor tweaks for the betterment of your team.
One of Pittsburgh’s first tweaks was getting tight end Pat Freiermuth more involved in the offense. Freiermuth has battled injuries and inconsistency throughout his third season. Still, he saw a major bump in usage this week, finishing with 100+ receiving yards for the first time in his career.
Entering Sunday, Freiermuth had nine receptions and 60 receiving yards in five starts. On Sunday, Freiermuth finished with nine receptions and 120 receiving yards in Pittsburgh’s 16-10 victory. I wouldn’t expect a 40% target share every week, but Freiermuth has thrown his name into the TE1 mix after Sunday’s performance.
Heat Index: 🔥🔥🔥
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