Fantasy experts genuinely love to make people feel terrible about their best decisions. There isn\u2019t anything we enjoy even half as much. It\u2019s a passion project; it\u2019s what drives us. We embrace any opportunity to shriek about the imminent collapse of your most essential and irreplaceable player.<\/p>\n
Right now, across the fantasy industry, we are doing this with Bijan Robinson.<\/p>\n
Every major platform is simultaneously featuring the same panicky story \u2014 underpinned by the smallest data samples \u2014 about Robinson\u2019s perilous situation in Atlanta. Michael Penix and Drake London are injured; Kirk Cousins is at the controls, so things will surely fall apart. How could they not?<\/p>\n
We are encouraging you to forget about the first 43.5 games of Robinson\u2019s professional career and instead focus only on the second half of Sunday\u2019s loss to Carolina.<\/p>\n
What if he can\u2019t function outside Penix\u2019s orbit? What if the Falcons never score again? What if Robinson is simply doomed? Shouldn\u2019t we cash out right now, today?<\/p>\n
We\u2019re just asking questions. Panic is good for business.<\/p>\n
I will not attempt to convince you that an offense directed by the ghost of Kirk Cousins is a good thing, of course. But we shouldn\u2019t pretend this is uncharted territory.<\/p>\n
Last year, during the five-game stretch in which Atlanta\u2019s season imploded and end-stage Cousins was fully exposed \u2014 when he threw one TD pass and nine interceptions \u2014 here\u2019s the production Robinson managed to deliver:<\/p>\n
Week 10 at NO: 144 scrimmage yards, 2 TDs, 3 receptions
\nWeek 11 at DEN: 63 yards, 4 receptions
\nWeek 13 vs. LAC: 135 yards, TD, 6 receptions,
\nWeek 14 at MIN: 101 yards, TD, 2 receptions
\nWeek 15 at LV: 135 yards, one reception<\/p>\n
Robinson rushed for over 90 yards in four of those five weeks while averaging 19.56 points per game in PPR scoring. Again, this was during the five-game sequence in which Cousins absolutely cratered. The Falcons went 1-4 and averaged only 14.4 points per game. They were abysmal, yet Robinson was his usual superstar self.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s please try to remember who, exactly, we are discussing:<\/p>\n
Bijan Robinson breaks two tackles for a touchdown!<\/p>\n
CARvsATL on FOX\/FOX Onehttps:\/\/t.co\/HkKw7uXVnt<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ubyzWsH9Fk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n This is not some standard-issue running back. One of the reasons you spent a top-five overall pick on Robinson is because he\u2019s basically impervious to game flow, matchup or team context. We didn\u2019t take him simply because we wanted Atlanta\u2019s featured runner, whoever it was.<\/p>\n Please don\u2019t allow the panic mongers to influence your fantasy decisions. We are not issuing a must-sell alert for Bijan at this time.<\/p>\n Josh Allen pummeled on Thursday night<\/p>\n Thursday night wasn\u2019t kind to anyone who happens to have Allen\u2019s name at the top of their roster. And Houston\u2019s defense was deeply unkind to Allen.<\/p>\n He was sacked eight times and hit 11 times, throwing zero touchdowns and two interceptions (one of which would have been a pick-six if not for a penalty). Buffalo scored a touchdown on a kick return and still finished the night with just 19 total points.<\/p>\n No one is sounding the alarm on Allen from a fantasy perspective, of course \u2014 he\u2019s only a week removed from a six-touchdown performance against the Bucs. However, the loss to the Texans was a harsh reminder of the dearth of game-changing weapons in Buffalo\u2019s offense. It\u2019s an offense reliant on excellence from James Cook and superhero plays from Allen. Against an elite defense like Houston\u2019s, that formula wasn\u2019t sufficient.<\/p>\n The Texans weren\u2019t unusually spicy on offense against the Bills, but Woody Marks basically took care of all family business on Thursday. He out-touched Nick Chubb (17 to 7) and dramatically out-snapped him (41 to 13) on the same day that Dameon Pierce was released and Joe Mixon was semi-officially ruled out for the season<\/a>. Marks hasn\u2019t seen fewer than 16 touches in any of his last three games.<\/p>\n Joe Burrow might just be back in business<\/p>\n The Cincinnati Bengals are now 3-7, trailing the Steelers by three full games in the division, and, realistically, they can afford no more than one more loss. Also, their all-world No. 1 receiver expectorated<\/a> his way out of this weekend\u2019s critical matchup<\/a> with New England.<\/p>\n Into this difficult set of circumstances steps franchise quarterback Joe Burrow, recently designated to return from IR. Burrow hasn\u2019t appeared in a game since mid-September, but he took starter\u2019s reps in practice on Thursday. He\u2019s on track to beat his original return timeline by nearly a full month, and it\u2019s not a moment too soon.<\/p>\n We shouldn\u2019t view Burrow as a no-doubt fantasy QB1 in traditional leagues quite yet \u2014 not after the long layoff and with Ja\u2019Marr Chase sidelined. But his return is obviously a welcome development and a huge win for anyone who\u2019s kept him stashed. Well played.<\/p>\n So, um, about those Emanuel Wilson waiver claims \u2026<\/p>\n Hopefully, you bought the optional FAAB insurance when you emptied the wallet for Wilson on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Josh Jacobs returned to practice Thursday, which, of course, was always a possibility after we learned his knee issue was a contusion, not a tear.<\/p>\n Josh Jacobs, practicing. pic.twitter.com\/qjix2MMVbO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Jacobs has a history of playing through strains, tweaks and bruises, so his managers should feel relatively optimistic about his availability for Sunday. Adding Wilson still wasn\u2019t the worst idea, even if the price was unfortunate.<\/p>\n Rhamondre Stevenson threatens to derail the TreVeyon Henderson train<\/p>\n Never take your toes for granted, people, because one day they might get turf\u2019d. But Stevenson practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, a positive sign for his availability Sunday. His toe situation is clearly improving. We are happy for him, truly.<\/p>\n And yet, well \u2026 [deep sigh] \u2026 some of us definitely needed the Henderson binge to continue uninterrupted.<\/p>\n Perhaps we can find a compromise. Maybe Stevenson doesn\u2019t need to return to the same 70-75% snap share he enjoyed in October. Henderson has surely earned greater trust, having made five house calls over the past two games. Realistically, we can hope for him to see 10-14 weekly touches, which seemed to be the role envisioned for him in the season\u2019s early weeks, before his various pass-pro failings.<\/p>\n If Henderson sees double-digit workloads \u2014 which does not seem like an unreasonable ask, in my opinion \u2014 then he remains a locked-in fantasy starter.<\/p>\n New England\u2019s rest-of-season schedule is a running back\u2019s dream scenario:<\/p>\n Week 12: at Cincinnati Bengals Dart has not cleared the protocol as of this writing, but he\u2019s been advancing.\u00a0Dart has been a top-five fantasy quarterback on a per-game basis<\/a> since he claimed the starting job back in Week 4. When we last saw him in action against the Bears, he finished the week as the QB3. He might very well be burdened with the league\u2019s least talented receiving corps, but that has hardly mattered in fantasy.<\/p>\n Practice news on Dart this week has been consistently positive:<\/p>\n QB Jaxson Dart was participating in practice. He\u2019s on track to clear the concussion protocol after today\u2019s practice.<\/p>\n Players not spotted at practice: TE Thomas Fidone (foot), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder) and CB Cor\u2019Dale Flott (personal: \ud83d\udc76).<\/p>\n CB Paulson Adebo (knee) was on\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) November 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s certainly possible that interim head coach Mike Kafka will attempt to dissuade the rookie from running as often (or as recklessly), but it\u2019s in Dart\u2019s nature to scramble. When he\u2019s active, he\u2019s un-benchable.<\/p>\n Bucky Irving remains limited in practice; status unclear<\/p>\n Irving is now in his second week of limited practice sessions, so we should be feeling somewhat optimistic about his chances to return Sunday night against the Rams. However, certain tea leaves are telling a pessimistic story:<\/p>\n On the Rond\u00e9 Barber show on @WFLA<\/a>, Bucs legend Barber said that \u201cBucky Irving is not going to be back for Sunday Night Football\u201d this week. Barber also calls the games for the Buccaneers Radio Network.<\/p>\n It might be another week of Sean Tucker and Rachaad White.<\/p>\n \u2014 Andrew Cooper (@CoopAFiasco) November 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n L.A.\u2019s defense has been particularly stingy to opposing rushers, allowing just 3.9 yards per carry and four rushing touchdowns on the season, so we\u2019re not talking about a prime matchup. Irving would not rank as a must-start if cleared for this one.<\/p>\n
\nWeek 13: vs. New York Giants
\nWeek 14: Bye
\nWeek 15: vs. Buffalo Bills
\nWeek 16: at Baltimore Ravens
\nWeek 17: at New York Jets
\nWeek 18: vs. Miami Dolphins
\nJaxson Dart practicing, progressing through concussion protocol<\/p>\n