BUY
Rico Dowdle, RB, Dallas Cowboys
With virtually zero competition for touches in the Dallas backfield over the past two weeks, Dowdle erased any doubt about his workhorse status as the Cowboys have suddenly run off two straight victories. This particular Rico might not be able to throw a football over those mountains, but he finally proved he could take a handoff across the goal line after scoring his first rushing touchdown of the season. He also registered his first 100-yard game on the ground this year, although it all came against the hapless Giants. Dowdle’s remaining schedule is manageable, and the volume over the past five games lets us know this isn’t a mirage.
Indianapolis DEF
Our rosters are thinning out, and we’re looking ahead to the playoffs. If you still have someone on your roster that you can’t envision yourself starting, cut them and roster someone, or an entire unit in this case, that can benefit you down the stretch. The Colts are on a bye this week, and their defense has been dropped accordingly, but their Week 16 and 17 matchups of the Titans and the Giants are too juicy to ignore. Do you really need six running backs at this point in your quest for a championship? If you’re holding onto someone like Tyjae Spears and still hoping for that surprise week-winning performance, there’s no reason to try to be the smartest guy or gal in the room anymore. Drop him, get ahead of your league mates, and stash Indy’s defense.
SELL
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
I imagine the number of teams that roster Pitts and are securely in the fantasy playoffs or fighting for that final spot is rather small, but just in case you needed a reminder; Kyle Pitts has not been consistently productive for the Falcons or fantasy managers since 2021. As a matter of fact, I had as many fantasy points as the former first-round pick did last week. The late-October wave of excitement around a two-game run quickly fizzled out when the calendar flipped to November, as he’s produced a total of six catches and zero touchdowns since then. He is the living embodiment of “I wish I knew how to quit you” and is still somehow rostered in 84% and 82% of Yahoo and Sleeper leagues, respectively. He’s not worthy of a roster spot or your time at this point. If you leave him in your lineup and beat me, I’ll just shake your hand and move on.
Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos
Three out of his last four games resulted in a total of one (1!!!) rushing yard or fewer, including 12 carries for -1 yard in the last two. That is not a typo. 12 carries for -1 yard. He scored a touchdown last week to salvage his otherwise putrid stat line, but I’m not waiting through Denver’s bye week to see if Williams regains any part of his early season workload after Jaleel McLaughlin has appeared to run away with it. Available in well over 80% of Sleeper and Yahoo leagues, McLaughlin is a solid pick-up in another grab-and-stash type of situation.
HOLD
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR, Tennessee Titans
What does NWI have in common with Hall of Famer Cris Carter? All they do is score touchdowns. Make it eight trips across the goal line in eight games after a two-score day against Washington by the former Hoosier. If you played him like we discussed last week, you were rewarded handsomely. If you didn’t, I would bet there is still some wick left to burn on this candle. There is something to be said for a receiver that has a nose for the end zone going up against a Jaguars defense that ranks in the bottom two in touchdown passes conceded this season. Ride the wave with me.
