Derek Brown

Last week, with Nick Chubb out and Woody Marks knocked out of the game, Jawhar Jordan had a career-best game with 17 touches and 118 total yards. With Woody Marks out this week, Jordan could team with Nick Chubb to lead the Houston ground game. His workload is up in the air, though. Chubb isn't fully healthy, but the team could still lean on him if he is healthy enough to hold up to the volume. Jordan is a wild card flex play that could have big-time upside if Houston is salting the clock away or the coaching staff looks to reward Jordan for his standout effort last week with another game in the sun. Last week, Jordan put up bonkers per-touch numbers with a 6.7% explosive run rate, a 33% missed tackle rate, and 4.67 yards after contact per attempt. I don't expect him to keep up that legendary pace, but he can still be solid this week on a per-touch basis. Since Week 11, the Raiders have allowed the seventh-most rushing yards per game, the 13th-highest rushing success rate, and the eighth-most yards after contact per attempt.

Tee Higgins is likely back this week. Joe Burrow will be welcoming Higgins back with open arms after his monster Week 14 performance as the WR4 in fantasy. Overall, Higgins is the WR14 in fantasy points per game with a 17.7% target share, a 32.4% air-yard share, 55.6 receiving yards per game, 1.67 yards per route run, and a 23.8% first-read share. Higgins is second on the team in red zone targets (ten) and deep targets (18). Higgins is a solid WR2 this week against a Miami secondary that, since Week 10, has allowed the 15th-most PPR points per target while ranking 16th in fantasy points per game against perimeter wide receivers.

Jake Ferguson is the TE8 in fantasy points per game with a 17.5% target share, 40.7 receiving yards per game, 1.34 yards per route run, and a 19.7% first-read share. Ferguson ranks second in red zone targets among tight ends while also kicking in four deep targets. Ferguson should provide solid TE1 production this week. Since Week 10, the Bolts have allowed the fifth-most yards per target and the 13th-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.

Geno Smith will be back under center this week for Las Vegas. I don't want to put Geno Smith into fantasy lineups this week. Nope. No way. Not gonna happen. Not with his matchup this week. Since Week 11, Houston has allowed the 14th-fewest passing yards per game, the seventh-fewest yards per attempt, the eighth-lowest passer rating, and the ninth-lowest success rate per dropback.

Tee Higgins remains in the concussion protocol. He opened the week with limited practices but upgraded to a full session on Friday. I'll update his status on Saturday. 

The last time that we saw Marvin Harrison Jr. on the field with the "new-look" version of Michael Wilson in the first three quarters (before he sustained a heel injury), he had a 25.9% target share, 2.88 yards per route run, and a 38.9% first-read share. Harrison Jr. may step right back in as Trey McBride's running mate and as the clear 1B in the passing attack. It's also possible that he takes a backseat to Wilson. Harrison Jr. stated that his heel is "good enough to go," and his head coach stated that he is "getting his wind back a little bit." It's possible that Harrison Jr. isn't an 80-90% route share player this week or 100% effective. He has a wide range of outcomes this week, but he's absolutely flex-worthy considering the matchup this week. Since Week 10, Atlanta has allowed the third-most PPR points per target and the second-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers.

Ricky Pearsall aggravated his PCL injury last week. I doubt that he will suit up this week, but I'll update his status on Saturday. Persall has logged DNPs all week. 

Woody Marks is dealing with an ankle injury. He didn't practice until Friday this week and only logged a limited session. I worry that Marks could suit up this week, but he could see Nick Chubb and Jawhar Jordan eat into his workload some. Since Week 10, Marks has averaged 18 touches and 63.7 total yards. His main appeal for fantasy has been his volume, but that is a concern this week as Chubb practiced in full on Thursday and Friday (ribs), and Jordan played well in relief last week. If Marks gets his usual workload, he's an easy RB2 this week, but I don't know if that will happen. Since Week 11, the Raiders have allowed the seventh-most rushing yards per game, the 13th-highest rushing success rate, and the eighth-most yards after contact per attempt.