Nearly all the leaves are gone, Christmas ads are back on TV, the countdown to Thanksgiving is in full swing and the race to the Fantasy Football playoffs is heating up. So, if you want to lock in that playoff spot or know which games to turn on this weekend, then check out this week’s Fantasy Forecast.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
There is no exaggeration in saying that the Bengals’ defense is one of the worst to ever play the sport. Through nine games, the 2025 Cincy defense is second to the 1979 San Francisco 49ers in terms of DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average). They have let up an average of 33.3 points per game, and to add insult to injury, star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has more solo tackles (5) than their number one draft pick, defensive end Shemar Stewart (2).
The offense is still strong without quarterback Joe Burrow, as 40-year-old Joe Flacco and company have scored 80 points in their last two games, and somehow, they lost both by a combined six.
The Steelers, on the other hand, share a different story. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers had one of his worst career performances in last week’s 25-10 loss against the L.A. Chargers. The 41-year-old vet only threw for 161 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions in the mix. If the Black and Gold want any chance of securing a playoff spot, a win against their division rival is necessary. A desperate offense against a poor defense should make fantasy users grin from ear to ear.
The last time these two met, the victor was decided by two points. The “UNC bowl” rematch will unfold this weekend at 1 p.m. in the Steel City.
Washington Commanders vs. Miami Dolphins
When the NFL schedules were released back in May, experts said the Dolphins wouldn’t win more than seven games. While they still haven’t, nobody was expecting one of those seven to come against the Buffalo Bills. And yet in Week 10, Miami shocked the world with their 30-13 victory, snapping a seven-game losing streak to the division rival in the process. The MVP in the upset went to running back De’Von Achane, who recorded 174 yards on 22 carries, with two trips to the end zone.
For the Commanders, their story is simple: five straight losses and staring at the bottom of their division. While fans saw one of the best performances from backup Marcus Mariota last Sunday, his 213-yard and two-touchdown performance wasn’t enough to secure the dub as the Detroit Lions toppled Washington 44-22. On a more positive note, for Washington, the Commanders will look to win their fourth win with Jayden Daniels back as gunslinger, after suffering an elbow injury in Week 9. Kickoff is set for 9:30 a.m. in Madrid, Spain.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
Eight wins, undefeated in the Mile High City and still the Broncos are slated as underdogs in their home matchup this Sunday. Facing off against a division rival, the Broncos will look to make up for a meager performance last Thursday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Quarterback Bo Nix threw for just 150 yards, finding the end zone once. Even worse, he added a pair of interceptions to his stat line, leading to a 26.7 QBR and scores of “boos” from his home crowd.
On the other side of the ball are the 5-4 Chiefs, fresh off a bye and in need of a win. After a one-score beat by the Buffalo Bills in Week 9, quarterback Patrick Mahomes will look to get his team back on track as playoffs are looming in the distance. Fantasy users should be excited for the 4:25 p.m. kickoff, as the highly staked, inter-division game will be an all-out brawl.
Best of luck, Huskies.