The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 12: Last-minute moves

UPDATE: 11:50 p.m. Saturday

Quarterback availability is the big issue heading into Sunday, as a couple of prominent names have been ruled out.

Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow had been hoping to make his grand return from a foot injury. But he will be inactive this week, meaning Joe Flacco gets another chance to pad his career stats against New England.

Giants QB Jaxson Dart is still in the concussion protocol, so Jameis Winston will try to eat another W versus Detroit. Spoiler alert: He won’t

Other notables ruled out this week are Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco, Jaguars WR Brian Thomas, Bucs RB Bucky Irving and Atlanta WR Drake London.

Getting clearance to play are NE RB Rhamondre Stevenson, Tampa Bay WR Chris Godwin and Jaguars RB Travis Etienne.

As for Green Bay RB Josh Jacobs, he’ll be a gametime decision for the Packers-Vikings showdown.

ORIGINAL POST: 12:10 a.m. Wednesday

He began this season as one of the NFL’s biggest disappointments. Managed barely 30 yards rushing per game over his first nine pro appearances.

Yet suddenly, New England’s TreVeyon Henderson might be the most valuable fantasy rookie of 2025.

The former Ohio State standout had his breakout over the past two weeks for the AFC East-leading Patriots, with 405 total yards and six touchdowns.

The top rookie prospects have mostly underwhelmed. Injuries sidelined Chargers RB Omarion Hampton and Jaguars WR Travis Hunter. The Raiders’ offensive line has betrayed RB Ashton Jeanty. Titans QB Cam Ward never had a chance.

Here’s our list of the season’s top freshmen though 11 weeks:

Emeka Egbuka (Buccaneers WR) — Where would injury-plagued Tampa be without this ex-Buckeye. HIs 45 receptions for 717 yards and six TDs put him at the head of the class.

Tetairoa McMillan (Panthers WR) — After a huge Week 11 back on his Arizona turf, The former Wildcats standout has 54 receptions for 748 yards and four scores.

Tyler Warren (Colts TE) — He’s clearly the top frosh tight end with 50 receptions for 617 yards and three TDs for playoff-bound Indianapolis and is a favorite of revived QB Daniel Jones.

Cam Skattebo (Giants RB) — He only managed five starts before mangling his ankle, but he stole the show with 410 yards, five touchdowns and dozens of viral celebrations.

Jaxson Dart (Giants QB) — Clearly the best of the meager quarterback class. In seven starts, the ex-Ole Miss Rebel tallied 1,417 passing yards, 10 TDs and only three interceptions.

Bucs RB Sean Tucker was truly a one-hit wonder last week in Buffalo, but he won’t be anywhere near that productive against the Rams. … Houston RB Nick Chubb has all but disappeared, and he won’t return against Buffalo. … The Vikings will focus on stopping Packers WR Christian Watson. … Chicago WR D.J. Moore will continue to disappoint against Pittsburgh. … Same goes for Vikings’ T.J. Hockenson versus Green Bay. … With Cincinnati’s JaMarr Chase suspended over spittle, that’s going to knock QB Joe Flacco down several pegs. … And Dak Prescott will find the Philly defense infinitely more impregnable than the Raiders’ D he toyed with Monday night in Vegas.

It’s official: 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey is back to being RB1, and he’ll continue to pile up numbers against Carolina. … The Jets will give the ball plenty to RB Breece Hall now that Tyrod Taylor is in at QB. … We see a breakout for Chiefs WR Rashee Rice against the Colts. … Same for Niners WR Jauan Jennings versus Panthers. … Tight ends we love this week include Baltimore’s Mark Andrews against the Jets and Arizona’s Trey McBride versus Jacksonville. … New England QB Drake Maye will look all-world against Cincy’s motley defense. … And we like turnover-prone former Viking Sam Darnold to have a nice bounce-back week against No. 1 pick-bound Tennessee.

Running back issues aplenty. Is Green Bay’s Josh Jacobs going to play against the Vikings, or is Emanuel Wilson taking his workload?. … How about Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Warren? Will it be Kenneth Gainwell at No. 1 this week? … Atlanta QB Michael Penix Jr. is on injured reserve, but that’s no reason to put your trust in Kirk Cousins. … Texans will start QB Davis Mills for concussed C.J. Stroud. … The list of questionables includes four running backs (Tampa’s Bucky Irving, Patriots’ Rhamondre Stevenson, Chiefs’ Isaiah Pacheco, Cards’ Trey Benson) and six pass catchers (Houston’s Nico Collins, Jaguars’ Brian Thomas Jr., Pats’ Kayshon Boutte, Giants’ Darius Slayton, Texans’ Dalton Schultz, Bills’ Dalton Kincaid).

Arizona wide receiver Michael Wilson nearly doubled his season output on Jacoby Brissett’s record day: 15 catches for 185 yards. But somehow Wilson didn’t add to the lone touchdown he scored more than two months ago. With Marvin Harrison Jr. still recovering from his appendectomy, Wilson is a great pickup for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville, though Brissett is unlikely to match his 47 completions of Week 11.

Bills at Texans (+5½): Pick: Bills by 7

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at [email protected].

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