• Add Jordan Love: The Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback has played much better in recent weeks, leading to reliable fantasy outputs.

• Add Jayden Reed: Love’s favorite target this season has put up big game after big game in recent weeks, thanks to Love’s improved play.

• Add Pat Freiermuth: The Pittsburgh Steelers tight end posted 100 yards with his new offensive coordinator.

Estimated Reading Time: 17 minutes

Jump to a position group:

QB | RB | WR | TE

Quarterback

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (Rostered in 47.9% of leagues on ESPN)

Love completed 22 of his 32 attempts for 268 yards and three touchdowns on Thanksgiving.

• He achieved his best PFF game grade of the season (86.6).
• His grade over the past four games is at 84.0 after he earned a 65.2 mark through the first eight weeks.
• Love has scored at least 18 fantasy points in each of the past three weeks.
• The Packers have the seventh-best schedule for quarterbacks over the rest of the season and the ninth-best in the playoffs, according to PFF’s strength of schedule tool.
• Love can be a fantasy starter more often than not over the rest of the season, but his matchup this upcoming week against the Kansas City Chiefs is not favorable.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (31.1%)

Stafford completed 25 of his 33 attempts for 229 yards and four touchdowns.

• He accomplished that impressive stat line despite both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp being on the injury list this week and combining for only seven receptions for 45 yards.
• The offense was greatly helped by good field position, which is why Stafford’s yardage doesn’t align with his touchdown total.
• Stafford has regularly finished outside the top 14 fantasy quarterbacks this season.
• The Rams play the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens over the next two weeks — the top two teams at preventing fantasy points to quarterbacks.
• He follows that up with a game against the Washington Commanders, who have allowed the most points to fantasy quarterbacks.
• Pick up Stafford to stash him for that game. His wide receivers should be closer to 100% by that point.

Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints (22.7%)

Carr is once again on this list because of the Saints’ remaining schedule.

• The Saints recently lost Michael Thomas to injured reserve, and both Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed exited in Week 12 due to injuries.
• Carr completed 24 of his 38 passes for 304 yards and no touchdowns.
• The Saints have the second-best schedule for quarterbacks over the rest of the season and the best during the fantasy playoffs, according to PFF’s strength of schedule tool.
• Carr is the best option for fantasy managers in need of a starter next week — that is, only if Olave is healthy — as he’s facing the Detroit Lions, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
• Even if things aren’t in a good place next week due to injury, he should be a decent quarterback over the rest of the year if his receivers are healthy, given the schedule.

Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts (7.3%)

Minshew completed 24 of his 41 attempts for 251 yards and no touchdowns, but he ran for a score.

• This was Minshew’s best game in terms of passing yards in a few weeks, and it was also his first game with Josh Downs at 100% in recent weeks.
• Minshew has been on this list for several weeks because of the Colts’ schedule.
• The Colts have the best schedule for quarterbacks over the rest of the season and the fourth-best during the fantasy playoffs, according to PFF’s strength of schedule tool.
• Three of Indianapolis’ next four opponents are against teams that allow an above-average number of fantasy points to quarterbacks. This includes a matchup in the fantasy playoffs against the Atlanta Falcons, who have let up the fifth-most points to quarterbacks.
• Minshew is the clear best option among quarterbacks available in at least 90% of ESPN leagues.

Running Back

Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers (48.5%)

Carolina’s running back rotation has continued to evolve.

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