Fantasy Football Player Notes

With Carolina's coaching staff getting gutted this week, there's no telling how the backfield workload will be divided up this week. Approach Hubbard cautiously this week, but the matchup is already horrendous, so it's not like I'm telling you to fade a player in a smash spot. Last week, Hubbard saw his snap count bounce back with 64% of the snaps played with 19 touches and 92 total yards. Among 55 qualifying backs, Hubbard ranks 30th in missed tackles forced per attempt and 23rd in yards after contact per attempt. Tampa Bay has remained a rock-solid run-stopping unit since Week 7, allowing the 11th-lowest explosive run rate, the ninth-lowest yards after contact per attempt, and the 10th-lowest yards per carry to zone runs (Hubbard 61% zone). Hubbard is a shaky flex this week that could flirt with 15-20 touches or see the wrong side of committee work with Sanders. Week 13 Positional Value: RB3

After his hot start to the season, Thielen has cooled off considerably since Week 8. Over his last five games, he has surpassed 70 receiving yards only twice, with a 24.4% target share, a 25.5% air-yard share, 1.15 YPRR, and a 30.2% first-read share. Since Week 8, Tampa Bay has utilized single-high at the 11th-highest rate (59.8%). Thielen has been the team's single-high beater this season with a 26.8% target share, a 33.1% air-yard share, 2.15 YPRR, and a 35.8% air-yard share. Thielen will run about 70% of his routes against Christian Izien (80% catch rate and 104.1 passer rating). This could be the Thielen bounceback spot. Tampa Bay has allowed the fourth-most PPR points per target and the second-most receiving yards to slot receivers this season. Week 13 Positional Value: WR2

Sanders saw his work cut back to previous levels last week with 36% of the snaps played with 15 carries and only 28 rushing yards. Sit Sanders this week. It's possible that he could lead this backfield in touches with the coaching staff shakeup, but there's no way to project that confidently. Even when he has been a workhorse for this team, he hasn't been very productive. The matchup is also brutal on the ground this week. Since Week 7, Tampa Bay has allowed the 11th-lowest explosive run rate, the ninth-lowest yards after contact per attempt, and the 10th-lowest yards per carry to zone runs (Sanders 63.9% zone). Week 13 Positional Value: Sit