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With Week 12 in the rearview mirror, we shift our focus to the Week 13 waiver wire and the three-game Thanksgiving slate.
Or in the case of the Bengals, both.
Yesterday, we got word that Joe Burrow will return for their matchup on Thursday vs. the Ravens despite the Bengals having only a 3% chance to make the playoffs. Shoutout Burrow, though, apparently he does care about our fantasy teams.
On the flip side, however, the Bengals will be without Tee Higgins due to a concussion he suffered vs. the Patriots.
Ja’Marr Chase will also be back after serving his one-game spit-pension, but that still leaves plenty of receiving opportunity against a Ravens secondary that gives up the sixth-biggest boost to opposing WRs.
Kendall made the case for Andrei Iosivas in her waiver column (seven targets, 61 yards vs. the Patriots), and I also think you could take a stab on Mitchell Tinsley (2-29-1), but I’m most interested in Mike Gesicki in this spot.
He had outrageous target splits last year whenever one of Higgins or Chase was out of the lineup, and he immediately stepped back into the TE1 role over Noah Fant in Week 12:
He earned 18% of the targets (six) and had a strong 24% TPRR on just 44% of the snaps. I’d expect those snaps to increase on Thanksgiving, which puts him firmly on the menu right alongside the dressing, mashed potatoes and Pecan pie.
By the way, if you want to check out the comparison tool on the Utilization Report, or any of our other advanced features, take advantage of our Black Friday sale this week (keep your eyes peeled tomorrow!).
Gesicki probably won’t be startable when Higgins returns, but he’s a solid one-week rental for Sam LaPorta managers, or anyone else down bad at TE.
Stream Thanksgiving Football Live on Paramount+
It's a holiday tradition! Stream the NFL on CBS while you chow down on turkey and watch the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Dallas Cowboys. Catch kickoff at 4:30 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
Fantasy
Editors’ Picks
Week 12 is in the books. Who’s ready to look toward Week 13? Get a head start with some of the latest Fantasy Life content to come through the Week 13 pipeline …
 | Who should you turkey trot to the waiver wire to grab ahead of Thursday’s three-game slate? Kendall Valenzuela breaks down all things waiver wire for Week 13. |
 | Cam Ward has proven to be the flow-chart matchup for DST streamers this year, and Jonathan Fuller breaks down the Jags upside against the rookie this week, as well as two more streamers. |
 | Keon Coleman has officially moved from the Watch List to the Drop List. See who else joins him in Gladys Louise Tyler’s players to drop ahead of the Week 13 waiver wire run. |
Fantasy
The #1 Utilization Takeaway From Week 12 Is …
1. George Pickens is in his sweet spot in Dallas.
In life, sometimes we need a change of scenery. Not every role or job is right for everyone. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes we mesh better with certain people and environments.
The goal is to find your sweet spot—that place where your talent and passion intersect with an organization's goals, strategy and mission. When you find that place, it is a beautiful thing. Work doesn't feel like work. You excel at being you. And your company and the marketplace benefit because you are performing at a high level. Never stop until you find that spot, y'all!
After years of being misused or underutilized by the Steelers, George Pickens has found his sweet spot with the Cowboys and Dak Prescott. Dallas is using Pickens at every level of the field in an offense willing to embrace the passing game.
Pickens' catchable targets per game are up 25% versus last season (5.1 vs. 6.4). His 1.4 end zone targets per game—a 100% increase over last season—ranks second behind only Davante Adams. The Cowboys' offense reaches the red zone on 35% of their drives, the sixth-most in the NFL. That is a massive improvement over the 26% with the Steelers in 2024.
Pickens ranked 38th in fantasy points per game (12.3) and 23rd in Utilization Score (73) last season in Pittsburgh. Those numbers have skyrocketed to 19.7 (third) and 85 (sixth) in Dallas through 11 games in 2025.
Pickens' historical Utilization Score comparisons have averaged 17.7 fantasy points, with 88% finishing as top-12 WRs.
WR1 to WR6 performers: 41%
WR7 to WR12 performers: 47%
WR13 to WR18 performers: 13%
We rarely get two WRs from the same team in the top 12 in fantasy points per game, but there is a realistic shot with Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. At a minimum, we should have two top-18 options.
Will this be a long-term answer in Dallas? That is hard to say because Jerry Jones will need to pay up in a big way, given Pickens' production this season. But we can figure that part out later—for now, all we care about is the 2025 fantasy season.
Pickens is a mid-range WR1.
» For the rest of Dwain McFarland’s Utilization Report ahead of Week 13, click below!
Fantasy
Early Week 13 Rankings: Michael Wilson Soars
Watching Michael Wilson the past two games with Marvin Harrison Jr. on the sidelines after an appendectomy, the Stanford product has snatched 25 catches for 303 yards. Do you think he’s going back into a reserve role once MHJ is back in the lineup? Ian Hartitz has thoughts:
“If we trapped an alien in a basement for two weeks and forced them to watch every snap that Wilson and Harrison have played over the last two seasons with zero background knowledge on either player, who do you think they would believe to be better at football? Makes you think!
“Up next is (another) winnable matchup against a Buccaneers defense that was just shredded by Matthew Stafford and company on Sunday night football. IF Marv is again sidelined, I'm inclined to ride the wave and rank Wilson as a legit borderline WR1 ahead of guys like Ladd McConkey, Emeka Egbuka, the Eagles ballers and even Justin Jefferson. What a time to be alive.”
Week 13 is very much a great time to be alive in your race for the fantasy playoffs, and Ian offers up his early rankings as an appetizer for the Thanksgiving Weekend fun ahead.
Fantasy
Around the Watercooler
The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness, and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds.
📺 Who’s a better add? Chimere Dike or Andrei Iosivas?
🚀 We’re looking ahead and have found three of the biggest Week 13 smashes.
👀 KW3 trending up and more updates for fantasy.
🔥 Did CMC fuel your MNF miracle? That 142 scrimmage yards and 1 TD were pure cinema.
🤯 T-MAC was quiet, until this happened.
This WR could be a surprise in the top 10 of the rankings.
🤦 All of these Bucky Irving updates feel the same. Here’s another one …
🚑️ Speaking of Bucs … Baker might not play this week. Ugh.
😥 Huge blow for the Patriots. Maye is going to be running for his life.
🤮 The biggest RB bust of the year? It’s up there.
🏃 Remember when Lamar rushed? I barely do.
🪑 Jayden Daniels could play this year, though Matthew recommends other plans.
😎 When you’re just chilling on your way to a fantasy romp.
💪 No surprise with who will start at QB for Cleveland this week.
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