You’ve made the moves you needed to before the trade deadline, but where do your new players fit into your lineup? Have no fear – Faraz and Zach are here to let you know which players to start and sit on today’s episode of the Upper Hand Fantasy Podcast: QB & RB matchups!

ICYMI: Head over to our website to check out the brand-new Upper Hand Fantasy Start/Sit Decision tool! Compare players, matchups, and rankings across all positions and get instant answers to your start/sit questions!

• Buccaneers WR Mike Evans returns to practice Wednesday, appears to be on track to return in Week 12 vs Giants

  • As happy as Mike Evans’ fantasy managers are to hear that he’s set to be back this week, they’re probably not as happy as Baker Mayfield managers. Since Week 7 when Godwin and Evans both went down with their injuries, there hasn’t been a single Buccaneers WR that stepped up in their absence. That forced Baker Mayfield to rely on TE Cade Otton and RBs Rachaad White and Bucky Irving in the meantime, who all were serviceable and helped prevent Mayfield’s value from bottoming out while he was down his top two options in the receiving game. Obviously, Chris Godwin won’t be returning this season, so it’ll be the Mike Evans show from here on out – and his role should be one of the best in the NFL as Tampa Bay’s clear top option. With Evans back, Mayfield returns squarely into the middle of the QB1 conversation this week in a matchup against the Giants, while Evans himself profiles as a high-end WR2 / low-WR1. Cade Otton should remain fantasy relevant with Godwin still out of the picture, though his top-5 upside could be dashed by Evans’ presence on the outside. Evans reportedly hasn’t suffered any setbacks in his recovery, and barring anything unforeseen, should be ready to be re-inserted back into fantasy lineups. He’ll be a welcome addition in a week with multiple WR1s on bye (Ja’Marr Chase, Garrett Wilson, Drake London, to name a few).

• Bears RB D’Andre Swift pops up on Wednesday injury report with groin injury, listed as DNP

  • This one comes out of left field, as Swift was able to finish the game this past weekend without receiving a designation or missing any more time than anticipated. Swift did log a season-low in snap share against the Packers on Sunday, which we’ve largely chalked up to the switch at offensive coordinator at this point – however, there is the potential, it would seem, that an injury could have been factoring into his reduced workload. Regardless, RB Roschon Johnson was on the upswing anyway in this last game and seems primed for a more substantial role in the Bears offense moving forward. It’s early in the week, so fantasy managers shouldn’t start panic adding players off the waiver wire or make impulsive trade decisions. However, a tough schedule the rest of the way (including the most difficult schedule for RBs over the past four weeks), wouldn’t mix well with Swift nursing an injury for fantasy purposes. Should D’Andre Swift be forced to miss this week, Roschon Johnson would have instant potential RB2 appeal – though expectations should be tempered with the former Texas Longhorn given Chicago’s severe struggles on offense this season, even with a new offensive coordinator.

• Titans RB Tyjae Spears opens practice this week as DNP Wednesday, currently working through league’s concussion protocol

  • As has been the case all season long, the injury bug has once again bitten Spears. Even in games where he’s been active and healthy, he’s largely played second fiddle to incumbent RB1 Tony Pollard – he has yet to score more than 12 points in a game and has missed three games so far this season. Of course, a potential absence from Spears is much less about Spears himself than it is about Tony Pollard, who will presumably unlock his workhorse role once again in the Titans backfield. It’s a relatively tough matchup this week against the Texans, but as we know, volume is the best medicine for fantasy running backs. Not practicing Wednesday more than likely puts Spears on track to be inactive this week, and barring a late-week turnaround, fantasy managers should expect to have Pollard in their lineups with potential 20+ opportunity upside. Pay attention to practice reports later this week to ensure that Spears is, indeed, out, but the early indication is that this could be a one-man show in Tennessee as it was from Weeks 7-9.

Buy RB Kyren Williams, LAR

• Kyren Williams has finished outside the top-12 in each of the past three weeks in PPR scoring after five straight weeks of top-12 finishes from Weeks 3-8. He’s scored zero touchdowns during his three-game cold spell despite a 79% rush attempt share, 62% route participation, and averaging 72 rush yards per game.

• Williams’ role remains among the best in the league for fantasy running backs, handling 100% of the short down and distance, long down and distance, and 2-minute snaps in each of his past five games. His season-long averages in those departments are all >90%, as well.

• Williams also has one of the largest deltas among running backs between his expected fantasy points per game (15.6) and realized fantasy points per game (10.4) over his last three games. That discrepancy points to underperformance in that span, and we can expect Williams to return to a higher level of production given that his role is very much the same as it’s been all year.

• Williams draws a tough matchup this week against the Eagles, which could make his current managers antsy given how tough they’ve been against running backs this season (allowing the 6th-fewest fantasy points per game to the position). After that, matchups against the Saints, Bills, and 49ers are all favorable, which could help Williams get back on track to close out the year.  

Sell RB D’Andre Swift, CHI

• Swift had a solid game against the Packers last week, but it took a 39-yard rushing touchdown to salvage what was otherwise an inefficient day for the Bears’ top back. 

• Swift had his lowest snap share of the season in Week 11 (54%) in his first game without Shane Waldron as Chicago’s offensive coordinator, conceding valuable work in short down and distance, at the goal line, and in the two-minute drill to RB Roschon Johnson. It follows that Johnson, conversely, posted season highs in snap share (44%) and rush attempts share (34%), while also handling two more carries at the goal line than Swift and playing a clear majority of snaps in short, long-down and distance, and 2-minute snaps.

• If this new backfield split in utilization becomes a trend, Swift won’t be the same reliable RB1 he’s been over the past two months. Given the overall struggles of the Bears offense in general and an imposing schedule coming up the rest of the way (matchups against the Vikings and Lions twice apiece in the next five games), as well, Swift could be in for a rough ride to close the season.

Check out the full list of buys & sells on IG!