Fantasy Football Today – Week 13 Recap: “A Lot of Duds and a Lot of Committees”

Podcast: Fantasy Football Today (CBS Sports)
Date: December 1, 2025
Hosts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, Heath Cummings

Episode Overview

This episode delivers an in-depth recap of NFL Week 13 from a fantasy football perspective, focusing on a Sunday marred by lackluster performances, disappointing fantasy results, and the ever-expanding plague of running back committees. The crew breaks down the biggest wins and losses of the week, offers injury updates, highlights key stats and trends, and tries to find optimism in an otherwise “busty” slate. They also engage in rapid, on-brand banter and tackle numerous fantasy conundrums with frankness and humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. General Tone and NFL Week 13 Overview

• The hosts agree: This was a dud of a fantasy week. "It was a Sunday full of pretty bad performances. Really. Eight anticlimactic games. Ugh. It was kind of ugly," Dave says (01:47).
• While Thursday’s slate was exciting, Sunday was dominated by underwhelming offenses and messy committee backfields. “It felt a whole lot of busty…big time busty. Huge busty,” says Heath (02:30).
• Several high-profile teams were off the Sunday slate, further sapping excitement.

2. Running Back Usage & The Committee Plague

• There was an uptick in rushing attempts league-wide this week: “We had 666 running back carries with two games to play…That could be another hundred plus carries” (03:09).
• As winter tightens its grip, teams are “leaning into the run a little bit more” (03:41), yet few running backs have unquestioned control of their backfield, making trustworthy fantasy starts scarce.

3. Winners & Losers of the Week

Heath's Biggest Winner

Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets

• Broke out with 12 targets and 20 fantasy points after weeks of missed opportunities.
• "He was able to do both in this game... Hopefully he's coming out of it" (04:29).
• Major caveat: He's still volatile—“There will be at least one time...where he will do something terrible” (05:51).

Notable Quote:
“He runs exceptionally good routes…He regularly destroys defenders in coverage, he has a hard time catching the football. He did here. Hopefully he's coming out of it.” – Heath (04:29)

Dave's Biggest Loser

Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

• Continues to disappoint: "Seven straight games for Justin Jefferson under 80 yards. Four straight games without a touchdown...You can't count on him as a top 24 receiver" (06:48).
• Offensive line woes and poor QB play are ruining his value.

Notable Quote:
“He has a bust for the season, and it's Justin Jefferson. Horrible game against Seattle…It's really just a terrible environment.” – Dave (06:48–10:47)

Other Winners

• Jacoby Myers, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: Six catches, 90 yards, and a TD; “probably should be closer to 25” in WR rankings (17:27).
• Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Only started in 7% of leagues, but “found himself open a bunch” with an uptick in Yak and schedule easing ahead (20:08–21:00).
• Alec Pierce, WR, Indianapolis Colts: “Single handedly kept the Colts in the game” with big plays; “he’s just their biggest playmaker” (21:13–22:28).
• Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans: Seven catches, 55 yards, on eight targets. “Borderline must start tight end” going forward (23:03).
• Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 17 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD, 2 catches for 20 yards, dominating touches and finally matching preseason hype (23:03–24:07).

Other Losers

• Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars: “Share goes down, averaged like 2.3 yards per carry…He might be closer to RB24 than to 18” (26:42–27:28).
• Khalil Shakir, WR, Buffalo Bills: One catch on four targets in primo matchup; “wide receiver three…when you ranked him too high this week” (29:29).
• Arande Gadsden, WR, Los Angeles Chargers: Offense collapsing, 4.63 PPR points over last three games, Herbert injury looming (31:25–32:41).
• Jalen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins: Disappointing again in great on-paper matchups, “I just think he’s a number two receiver…not a top 10 guy” (33:21–34:53).
• Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers: “Just not…confident you can be confident in Rico Dowdle at this point” (33:21).
• Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Still racking up targets, but under 10 PPR points in 6 of last 7 games despite huge role (46:03).

4. Committees, Usage, & Trust Issues

• Hosts complain about a fantasy landscape where few players are reliable:

  “How many guys do I have just full confidence in going forward? It just can't be that many.” – Dave (36:59)

• Running back committees are rampant, frustrating managers trying to find usable options.
• Receiver volatility is just as bad: “I think wide receiver’s still worse than running back,” says Adam (37:16).

5. Notable Performances & Fantasy Trends

• Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons): "One of the best performances I've ever seen from Bijan," raves Dave—yet the team still lost (24:17–24:42).
• Breece Hall (NY Jets): “Just a must-start running back…Given his workload, nobody else is taking him off the field” (63:01).
• Chuba Hubbard (Carolina Panthers): The crew debates whether Hubbard is the back to roster over Dowdle after a huge game vs. the Rams (55:09).
• Ken Walker/Zach Charbonnet (Seattle): Usage split is close but Walker’s “so close to breaking one loose”; neither back can fully be trusted, but both have appeal (65:13).
• DK Metcalf (Seattle): Time to stop ranking him as a Top 30 WR? “He was barely a top 40 receiver for me this week…other than Warren [Jalen], who else do you even care about starting on Pittsburgh?” (67:06–68:18).
• Committee Backfields:
  • Jacksonville: Etienne loses goal line work to Tutin.
  • Panthers: Dowdle and Hubbard in true split.
  • Seahawks: Walker and Charbonnet share touches almost evenly.

6. Key Injury Updates (11:36)

• Justin Herbert (LAC): "Broken hand on non-throwing hand, will undergo surgery, unclear if he’ll miss time." (11:36)
• Aaron Jones (GB): Left with shoulder injury; Jordan Mason may be a priority add.
• Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET): Low ankle sprain; possible to return Week 15.
• Garrett Wilson (NYJ): Out at least one more game.
• Multiple O-line and defensive injuries affecting game flow across several teams.

7. Trends, Snap Counts, and Under-the-Radar Stats

• Devin Neal (Kansas): Great usage; “on the field a ton,” especially on third downs (18:56).
• Taysom Hill (NO): Snap count plummets; only 1 carry (18:56).
• Parker Washington (JAX): Snap rate affected due to health, not role (17:21).
• Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX): Solid route participation but still can't break through for consistent fantasy value (53:31–54:16).

8. Player Debates – Who to Start/Drop, Backfield Clarity

• Saquon Barkley vs. DeAndre Swift: Both are murky RB2s, with Swift now perhaps preferred due to OL woes for Barkley and Swift’s continued (if split) usage (41:10–44:18).
• Chuba Hubbard vs. Rico Dowdle: Momentum swinging toward Hubbard, but rest-of-season value is still close (55:09).
• Emeka Egbuka: Volume there, production not. Injuries to surrounding WRs could change landscape (46:03).
• DK Metcalf: Falling out of starting WR ranks “He’s no good” (67:08).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “It just didn't. It feel a little busty today? It feel a little busty.” – Dave (02:22)
• “How many guys do I have just full confidence in going forward? It just can't be that many.” – Dave (36:59)
• “I’ve got way too many other things to be concerned about. It’s like when the whole house is burning down and you look outside, and one of your flowers is wilting.” – Adam, on worrying about JSN (65:00)
• “We just have a Chuba Hubbard problem now…You can't be confident in Rico Doddle at this point leading you into the fantasy playoffs.” – Jamie (33:21)
• “Bijan Robinson was so good today. This is one of the best performances I've ever seen from Bijan, which is saying something.” – Dave (24:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:47: NFL Week 13 “busty” overview and discussion of committee hell.
• 04:29: Heath names Adonai Mitchell biggest winner and breaks down his week.
• 06:48: Dave details Justin Jefferson’s downfall as the week’s biggest loser.
• 11:36: Rapid-fire injury news and notes, including Justin Herbert.
• 17:27: Jacoby Myers’ usage & emergence in Jacksonville.
• 20:08–21:00: Chris Godwin’s value and future outlook.
• 23:03: Dalton Schultz and Bucky Irving named winners.
• 26:42–27:28: ETN’s demotion and struggles dissected.
• 29:29: Khalil Shakir’s letdown, Adam analyzes the Bills' passing game.
• 33:21: Dowdle and Waddle named losers, committee frustrations deepen.
• 36:59: The “who can you trust” discussion; WR volatility worse than RB.
• 41:10–44:18: Barkley vs. Swift dissected; neither emerging as a true hero.
• 46:03: Emeka Egbuka’s target/production paradox.
• 53:31–54:16: Brian Thomas Jr. usage and outlook.
• 55:09: Chuba Hubbard’s surge & possible usurping of Dowdle.

Final Thoughts

This episode captured the frustration, confusion, and occasional optimism that define 2025’s fantasy football season. The hosts provided pointed analysis, actionable injury updates, and honest debates about fantasy assets often left in limbo by NFL coaching tendencies and an ever-blurring hierarchy at the running back position. While plenty of waiver wire heroes and prospective must-starts are explored, the real lesson is: with so many “committees,” so few bankable stars, and so much in-season upheaval, adaptability is the fantasy manager’s greatest weapon.

For further insights, nuanced start/sit debates, and waiver priorities, tune in for the next episode and follow the hosts on social media.