25 NFL players who could be fantasy X-factors down the stretch

Justin Jefferson’s hamstring injury put him on IR, and the team could decide to shut him down if their season continues to go south. Addison is an obvious beneficiary and should see more targets as he gets more comfortable in the offense.

Burrow was obviously hobbled to start the season after injuring his calf in training camp, throw two touchdowns over his first four games. More recently, the tide has turned with five touchdown passes in two games, as he starts to resemble the player we’ve grown accustomed to seeing over the last two years. It could be too late to buy low, but Burrow could be a difference-maker down the stretch.

Injury and lack of comfort in the offense have limited Charbonnet early in his rookie campaign, but he’s still shown flashes. Starter Kenneth Walker had issues staying healthy last season, so the team could turn to the rookie running back more often.

Anthony Richardson’s season-ending injury is unfortunate news for the Colts franchise, but the move to Gardner Minshew could help the team in the short term. Downs has already seen loads of targets early in his rookie season, and could see more as the offense gets more aggressive.

The unfortunate injury to starting running back J.K. Dobbins had made Edwards the bell cow running back once again. He’s yet to get going, averaging only 3.9 yards per carry over his first six games, but the powerful runner’s history shows Red Zone opportunities could be on the way.

Flowers has impressed in his rookie season, quickly becoming Lamar Jackson’s favorite receiver. He could see an even bigger uptick in work as Jackson gets more comfortable.

Kyren Williams was one of the breakout stars of the early season, but an untimely injury allows for other backs to step up. Henderson’s production with the Rams has been suspect, though he has value sharing carries with Royce Freeman.

Gainwell opened the season as Philadelphia’s starting back, but he was promptly replaced by the more explosive D’Andre Swift in Week 2. Still, there’s reason to hang on to Gainwell, given Swift’s lengthy injury history and the great Eagles running back. Fantasy managers could be rewarded for their patience.

Gibbs has been one of the most frustrating players in fantasy leagues early this season, with the Lions turning to veteran David Montgomery more often. The rookie clearly has more explosion, and could establish himself as Montgomery fights injuries. A more prominent role could make Gibbs a great find in the explosive Lions offense.

Howell is on pace to easily break the sacks record. That adds a lot of injury risk, but the second-year quarterback has been a viable fantasy option so far as a fringe QB1 in most formats. More comfort with Eric Bieniemy’s offense down the stretch could allow Howell to be a difference-maker.

Nick Chubb’s knee injury allowed Hunt to return to Cleveland, and Jerome Ford’s ankle injury could allow him to prosper. The versatile Hunt has a chance to run away with the job now that Ford is out. His declining yards per carry average would indicate that Hunt isn’t the same back we saw in earlier seasons, but a heavy workload would offset those concerns to make him a nice fantasy option again.

The Chargers saw Johnston as a development prospect when they selected him in the first round of the draft. His contributions have been limited early this season, despite Mike Williams’ injury, but the rookie could become a bigger part of the offense as the year progresses and gain momentum.

It’s always a good idea to stash backup running backs in elite running offenses, especially those backing up injury-prone running backs. Christian McCaffrey has had trouble staying on the field in the past, and suffered an oblique injury earlier this season. Should he go down, Mason is the next man up, and would immediately become a top option in fantasy leagues.

It’s clear the Broncos are looking toward the future, and that means Mims could be set for more attention. He’s shown flashes early this season, and the rookie should see an uptick in snaps as the weeks progress. The deep threat could help if his snaps increase sharply.

Minshew is set to be Indy’s ride-or-die under center for the rest of the season, with rookie Anthony Richardson out for the year. He’s proven a capable passer during his five-year career, and the Colts have intriguing receiving options. Minshew accumulated back-to-back 300 yard passing games in October, and more could be on the way.

The speedy Moore has already seen more snaps as a running back in Arizona’s new offense, and that could continue as their youth movement intensifies. The offense is expected to improve with the imminent return of Kyler Murray, another reason to give Moore a longer look in fantasy leagues.

Recovering from ACL surgery, Murray is expected to return around midseason. That’s probably too little, too late for Arizona’s playoff hopes, but the star quarterback could still supercharge his offense in the second half of the season. Don’t expect his usual running stats, but Murray has a chance to be a viable QB1 down the stretch.

Prescott drafters have been left with extreme disappointment early in the season in Mike McCarthy’s offense, though that could change as the team gets more desperate. The Cowboys defense has already started to deteriorate following the injury to star corner Trevon Diggs, providing hope the team could air out the ball more as the season moves along.

The question entering the season for the Chiefs offense was which wideout would emerge. Rice appears to be the frontrunner, and he’s just starting to get comfortable in his rookie season. Rice’s snaps and fantasy stats have gradually increased, and he shown see even more action in the second half of the season.

The Falcons offense hasn’t been a pot of gold for fantasy managers, particularly the passing game, but Ridder is showing signs of major strides. He produced back-to-back 300 yard passing games in October, and has also been a viable Red Zone threat as a runner. Slowly but surely, Ridder could work himself into low-end QB1 territory in the weak NFC South.

A finger injury started Smith-Njigba on the wrong foot in his rookie campaign, but he’s started to shine with DK Meltcalf sidelined. With more production and comfort in the offense, Smith-Njigba is becoming a viable fantasy option who could be something more if Seattle’s offense picks up the pace.

The Titans saw wholesale change during the offseason, and that could continue leading into the trade deadline. Regardless of whether Derrick Henry is moved, Spears figures to some additional work as the team looks at what they have for 2024. Averaging over five yards per carry early in the season, Spears has the upside to be a regular fantasy starter.

The speedy Williams missed the start of the season due to suspension, and has seen limited production upon his return. Still, his elite deep speed is intriguing, and Detroit could find more creative ways to get him the ball. Williams could end up a difference-maker for both the Lions and fantasy managers if he finally gets comfortable in the offense.

Wilson missed the start of the season due to injury, but has a chance to be an important part of Miami’s running back committee following Devon Achane’s injury. He showed comfort in Mike McDaniel’s offense upon being acquired last year, with 486 yards from scrimmage in eight games, and could be a viable PPR addition.

With a limited supporting cast, Young has looked lost at times in his rookie season. However, we’ve started to see positive signs recently, including a three-touchdown performance at the Lions. Young’s production should continue to improve as he gets more comfortable and sees an easier schedule, while his dynamic ability makes him a potential QB1 matchup play.