Week 11 of the fantasy football season is here, and the playoff push is officially on. As managers scramble to solidify their lineups, a new wave of rookies is making its mark across the league — and on fantasy scoreboards. From surprise breakout performances to steady contributors finding their rhythm, these young playmakers are reshaping the fantasy landscape. Let’s break down the biggest headlines from Week 11, spotlighting a Rookie turning potential into production.
Injuries Abundant
Garrett Wilson’s 2025 fantasy season took a tough turn when he re-injured his right knee during the Jets’ Week 10 matchup against the Browns. The setback happened in the third quarter on a diving catch attempt, the same knee he had previously hyperextended earlier in the season — an issue that already caused him to miss Weeks 7 and 8. Early reports indicate he suffered a knee sprain and will miss at least 3–4 weeks, though he avoided surgery, which keeps the door open for a later-season return. For fantasy managers, this injury significantly impacts his outlook. Wilson had been productive when healthy, logging 36 catches, 395 yards, and 4 touchdowns through six games, and he remained the clear WR1 in the Jets’ offense. However, the missed time combined with the possibility that the Jets may ease him back into action means his short-term value takes a major hit. His chances at another 1,000-yard season are now in jeopardy, and managers will need to prepare for reduced snaps or limited explosiveness upon his return. Still, Wilson remains a hold in most formats — his ceiling is too high to drop — but he shifts from a weekly must-start to a stash-and-wait option until he’s fully healthy.
Jaxson Dart’s injury against the Bears delivered a significant blow to both the Giants and fantasy managers. The rookie quarterback exited the Week 10 matchup after sustaining a concussion on a hard hit during a designed run late in the third quarter, a play where he fumbled and his head hit the turf. He was taken to the sideline medical tent and later ruled out for the rest of the game. Before the injury, Dart was having one of his best outings of the season, completing 19 of 29 passes for 242 yards while adding 66 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground — showcasing the dual-threat skill set that made him such a rising fantasy asset. Now, the concussion puts his immediate future in question. He is likely to miss at least one game, and even when he returns, the Giants may scale back his designed runs to limit further risk, which would directly affect the rushing production that inflated his fantasy ceiling. For fantasy managers, this turns Dart from a high-upside weekly starter into a more volatile option who comes with added risk. While his long-term talent and role remain promising, the concussion means fewer potential total points on the season and uncertainty about how aggressive he will be as a runner once cleared. For now, managers should stash him, monitor the concussion protocol closely, and be prepared with a reliable backup until Dart returns to full strength.
Treveyon Henderson 🚀
TreVeyon Henderson delivered a breakout performance in Week 10 of the 2025 season for the New England Patriots against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, rushing for 147 yards on just 14 carries and scoring two long rushing touchdowns—one of 55 yards and another of 69 yards late in the fourth quarter that sealed the 28–23 road win. Entering the game, Henderson had averaged a modest 5.3 yards per carry on the season and had limited big-play moments; the explosive runs on Sunday markedly changed his profile.
From a fantasy football standpoint, this performance is significant because it validates Henderson’s upside as a rookie back and suggests he’s capable of game-changing plays—a key trait for a high-ceiling fantasy asset. However, his outlook isn’t without caveats. While he showed he can break off huge runs, much of his yardage came on just two explosive plays (which account for the majority of the 147 yards) and thus don’t necessarily guarantee consistent week-to-week production. Additionally, his workload leading up to this game had been inconsistent, and the Patriots’ backfield situation remains somewhat fluid, meaning his status as a weekly RB1 in fantasy still carries some risk. That said, if Henderson secures a steady role and we see more touches, his value in fantasy formats could rise considerably. Managers in need of a running back with game-breaking ability should consider him a strong buy-low target, while those who already roster him can feel a bit more confident—but should still monitor his volume and the backfield usage each week.
McCarthy Holding Back WRs
The J.J. McCarthy era as starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in 2025 has gotten off to a rough start, and the effects are rippling through the rest of the offense — especially for star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. McCarthy, the 10th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has struggled to consistently process the NFL game speed. According to one metric, over his first few games the rookie posted a passer rating of about 37.76, with no passing touchdowns and four turnovers, while being sacked nine times — a clear sign of early growing pains.
Because of these issues, Jefferson’s usual elite numbers are taking a hit. In the games McCarthy has been under center, Jefferson has averaged only about 4.25 receptions and 52.3 yards per game — compared to roughly 6.8 catches and 95.4 yards in the games with other quarterbacks. Moreover, one report highlighted McCarthy and Jefferson as “particularly poor” on deep targets, noting that all of Jefferson’s targets in one game came in the short area of the field, and his longest gain was just 11 yards.
From a fantasy standpoint, this situation creates uncertainty for the rest of the 2025 season. On one hand, Jefferson remains one of the league’s most talented receivers and still commands a high target share, making him a worthwhile asset. But his upside is being curtailed by a quarterback who is still developing, an offensive line and pass‐protection group that’s struggling (which places more pressure on McCarthy and forces quicker throws or mistakes), and a tougher remaining schedule.
For McCarthy himself, fantasy managers looking for QB value should tread lightly. His completion rates on short passes are among the worst in the league — he ranks last on passes thrown fewer than five yards downfield and near the bottom in EPA (expected points added) per attempt. Unless there is a marked improvement in accuracy, decision-making, and protection, his fantasy floor remains low, and his ceiling is limited compared to more established signal-callers.
Nico The Freako
Davis Mills’ Week 10 start against the Jaguars had a clear and immediate impact on Nico Collins, giving the Texans’ top wideout one of his best performances of the 2025 season. With C.J. Stroud sidelined by a concussion, Mills stepped in and surprisingly delivered 292 passing yards and two touchdowns, showing command and confidence in the offense. Collins benefited directly from that steadiness, hauling in 7 catches for 136 yards, marking yet another 100-yard outing against Jacksonville and reaffirming his role as Houston’s most dangerous receiving threat. Mills was willing to push the ball downfield and trust Collins in contested situations, something that helped unlock Collins’ big-play ability and kept him heavily involved throughout all four quarters. For fantasy managers, this game serves as a reminder of Collins’ high ceiling when quarterback play is stable. Looking ahead to the rest of the 2025 fantasy season, Collins profiles as a strong WR2 with legitimate WR1 spikes — especially if Stroud returns healthy and the offensive rhythm carries over. The only caution is consistency, as Collins’ production is tied to how well his quarterbacks perform week to week. Still, with his target share secure and big-play efficiency intact, he remains a reliable starter who can swing matchups during the fantasy stretch run.
As Week 11 rapidly approaches, it’s clear that up-and-coming players aren’t just playing for the future — they’re impacting fantasy matchups right now. Their growing roles and confidence are translating into consistent, and sometimes league-winning, performances. As we move closer to the fantasy playoffs, keeping an eye on these emerging stars could make all the difference between a playoff berth and an early exit. The message is simple: underestimate the rookies at your own risk.
