Fantasy Football Player Notes

There's no way around it, after carrying fantasy teams all season, McBride dropped the ball in the fantasy semi-finals. Posting his worst week of the year, it was one of those moments that make fantasy football such a cruel game. However, if you managed to move on, he could single-handedly win you your championship. The Bengals have allowed by far the most fantasy points to the TE position on the season. Plus, the Cardinals' defense won't have the answers for Burrow and company. As a result, we have McBride taking on the worst defense in a game that should be the highest scoring affair of the week. That sounds like a league-winner to me.

Michael Carter is a flex/RB2 play this week. Last week, he played 53.6% of the snaps with a 51.5% route share, finishing with 11 carries and 65 total yards. Over the last two games, he has averaged 14.5 touches and 70 total yards. Carter got most of the backfield work last week, but Emari Demercado was also involved, and Corey Kiner had both of the team's red zone rushing attempts. I mention it to highlight that Carter isn't the safest play this week, as Arizona will get other backs involved. Carter hasn't been impressive on a per-touch basis, with only a 6% missed tackle rate and 1.59 yards after contact per attempt. Luckily for Carter, that might not matter against Cincy's horrible run defense. If Carter gets the volume, he should produce nicely. Since Week 12, Cincy has allowed the fourth-most rushing yards per game, the highest explosive run rate, and the fifth-most yards after contact per attempt.

Luckily for Michael Wilson, it looks like DJ Turner isn't shadowing anymore. Turner hasn't shadowed since Week 11, as he didn't follow Stefon Diggs or Jaylen Waddle in recent games. This significantly improves Wilson's outlook for this week, as Turner has been one of the best shadow corners in the league in 2025. Last week, with Marvin Harrison Jr. back, Arizona's passing offense went off the rails as Elijah Higgins was thrust into the mix and Michael Wilson saw only a 9.7% target share and a 15.8% first-read share. I'm hoping that was a one-game outlier rather than a sign of more weird things to come for Week 17. Since Week 11, Wilson has had a 26.3% target share, 97.8 receiving yards per game, 2.51 yards per route run, and a 36.2% first-read share as the WR3 in fantasy points per game. Wilson has a tougher matchup this week, but if his usage and volume bounce back, he can overcome it. Since Week 12, Cincy has allowed the ninth-fewest PPR points per target and the ninth-fewest receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers.

Last week, in his first game back from a heel injury, Marvin Harrison Jr. had only a 54.5% route share, a 9.7% target share, and a 15.8% first-read share. The Cards stated they were easing Harrison Jr. back in last week, but I doubt just one more week will make a massive difference in his heel health. Harrison Jr. stated previously that the injury was something he'd likely have to deal with for the rest of the season. With his usage and role in the offense up in the air, Harrison Jr. is only a middling flex play this week with a bad matchup. Since Week 12, Cincy has allowed the ninth-fewest PPR points per target and the ninth-fewest receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers.

Last week, Elijah Higgins was the WR2 for Arizona with a 75.8% route share, a 22.6% target share, 91 receiving yards, 3.64 yards per route run, and a 21.1% first-read share. In Weeks 14-15, Higgins had route shares of 62% and 62.8%, so this isn't a one-off sample of Higgins running more routes, but the heavier integration into the game plan was a change. Higgins is a deep league streaming option this week at tight end. Since Week 10, Cincy has allowed the most fantasy points per game and the highest yards per target to tight ends.