By know you mostly know if your teams are headed for the playoffs or not. However, there are still some teams in the grey zone. No matter where your team is, there is almost always a reason to improve it. If you are winning, you can start to plan for the future weeks of the season. For example, you can pick up extra defenses and kickers that have good match-up alignments through your playoffs.  For keeper and dynasty leagues this is one of the best times of the year to wheel and deal players. Winnings teams can trade some of their developing players with longer term dynasty/keeper value to get bargains on top veterans that are getting it done this year to get some boost for the playoffs. And teams that aren't going to make it can be trading for next year and/or trying to win their consolation bowl.

My teams are in 3rd place (keeper), 5th place (dynasty) and 12th place (keeper). I have finally thrown in the towel in my 12th-place keeper league. So last week I made two trades:

Trade 1: Gave up RB Josh Jacobs (LV) for WR Jordan Addison (Min). In my keeper league Josh Jacobs cannot be kept next year because he was my 2nd round pick, but Jordan Addison can be kept for a 5th next year because he was a 7th round pick this year (based on the rules of our keeper league). 

Trade 2: Gave up QB Joe Burrow (Cin), WR Cooper Kupp (LAR) and WR DK Metcalf (Sea) for QB Joshua Dobbs (Min) and WR Calvin Ridley (Jax). I drafted Burrow, Kupp and Metcalf 4th, 1st and 3rd respectively, so none of them are keepers for next year. Dobbs and Ridley can be kept for a 12th and a 9th respectively next year.

I can't win this year, so I went and got myself Dobbs, Addison and Ridley which I can keep for a 12th, 9th and 5th next year. That's a nice start to my 2024 season. Likewise, those I traded with got some nice boost for their playoffs this year.

I am trying to do some trading in my other two league, but in the reverse where I give a way picks and/or players with good future value for players that can help me in the playoffs this year. Some players I have targeted in my dynasty league that are on teams that aren't going to the playoffs are RB Christian McCaffrey (SF), RB Alvin Kamara (NO) and WR DeAndre Hopkins (Ten) because they are older veteran players that seem likely to be near the end of their career. I have 11 picks stock piled for next year, 2 1sts, 4 2nds and 5 3rds. I can probably throw all these picks out there to get those three players and really boost my chances to win the playoffs, but I try to play for the best long term result, so we will see if I can get any trades done. It is a tough balancing act, how much of the future should I give up for the present?

I hope that's interesting, and helps you think about your own team. Remember, you are a team "manager" - no matter what situation your team is in, you can make it better, especially in keeper and dynasty leagues.

If you read this article regularly then you already know the following: This article is for deeper roster leagues (18 to 24 players). These are the players that are available in my three leagues. The players with the asterisks in front of them are available in my 24-player roster league - a dynasty league. I always try to have at least two players from that league here to accommodate those of you in similar leagues. The first number in parenthesis is the ranking of the defensive team versus the fantasy position of the offensive player, where 1st is the strongest defense (allowing the least fantasy points) and 32nd is the weakest defense (allowing the most fantasy points). The second number in parenthesis is the current PPR fantasy point projection from our special blend. However, don't put too much into these projections as not all projection providers are fully up-to-date yet. Rather read the info that goes with them to make more informed decisions that might suit your circumstances better. 

^QB

• Baker Mayfield, TB @ Ind (13th, 16.4) - Last week wasn't Mayfield's week against a stiff SF D. He'll be looking to bounce back in Week 12.
• ^*Jake Browning, Cin v Pit (12th, 14.7) - With Joe Burrows out for the season (wrist), Browning has assumed the starting role for the Bengals.
• Will Levis, Ten v Car (3rd, 13.7) - A rookie who had an unbelievable first game but has been less than mediocre since then. Last week he scored 2 TDs in garbage time after the team was down 27-0, and one of those was on a trick play to DeAndre Hopkins.
• ^*Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Cle @ Den (27th, 13.0) - DTR isn't a common household acronym yet, but this rookie led his team to victory last week and got the starting nod for Week 12.
• Tommy DeVito, NYG v NE (11th, 12.8) - This rookie took nine sacks last week while completing an impressive 3 TDs and no interceptions to lead his team to victory over the Commanders weak D against the pass. How will he perform against better defenses?
• Tim Boyle, NYJ v MIA (20th, 12.2) - With Zach Wilson now relegated to 3rd-string QB, Boyle will have a shot at the helm this Friday.
• ^*Jameis Winston, NO @ Atl (28th, N/A) - With Derek Carr still in concussion protocol, you have to watch the injury news. If Winston were to start, he could put up some big fantasy points against a soft Atl D.
  
  

RB

• A.J. Dillon, GB @ Det (4th, 13.1) - With Aaron Jones likely out for the Thanksgiving game, Dillon is the only healthy back on the roster.
• Jaylen Warren, Pit @ Cin (17th, 11.1) - This sophomore RB shouldn't be available on waivers, but if he is don't hesitate to add him to your roster.
• Ty Chandler, Min v Chi (25th, 6.9) - This sophomore has started splitting carries with Alexander Mattison in the last two weeks and has been the better back. Seems a good time to grab Chandler from the waiver wire if he is available.
• Latavius Murray, Buf @ Phi (1st, 5.8) - Murray had 10 carries for 35 yards last week and no catches. Usually Murray has a catch or two per game, but is basically a TD dependent back for fantasy purposes.
• Samaje Perine, Den v Cle (8th, 5.2) - Perine was heavily involved with the passing game last week, catching 7 of 8 targets and scoring a TD. He caught four of those catches in the Broncos game winning drive.
• ^*Salvon Ahmed, Mia @ NYJ (24th, 3.1) - Ahmed got a couple more touches than usual when De'Von Achane exited the game early, and he scored a TD. If Achane is not available this Friday, Ahmed might continue to get some more touches than usual behind Raheem Mostert.
• ^*Ty Johnson, Buf @ Phi (1st, N/A) - Johnson was used as a change of pace back behind James Cook last week and made the most of his opportunities. Will his newly found change-of-pace back role continue under new offensive coordinator Joe Brady?

WR

• Demario Douglas, NE @ NYG (29th, 11.2) - We don't know who (if anyone) will be throwing the ball for the Patriots in Week 12, but Douglas has been racking up the receptions the last four weeks, averaging 5 per game.
• Odell Beckham, Bal @ LAC (31st, 8.9) - Injured his shoulder last week and is considered day-to-day. If he is health for Week 12, he is a nice streamer up against a soft Chargers secondary.
• Elijah Moore, Cle @ Den (11th, 8.5) - With Watson out, Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been relying on short possession passes to his slot receiver, so Moore has seen an uptick in volume the last two games.
• Darius Slayton, NYG v NE (22nd, 8.3) - Was having a solid game against the Commanders last week, but left the game early (arm). His status is questionable for Week 12.
• Michael Gallup, Dal v Wsh (30th, 8.1) - Not getting a lot of volume, but has two or more receptions in his last eight games.
• Khalil Shakir, Buf @ Phi (32nd, 7.6) - This sophomore had a career day last week against the toughest D vs the pass, with 3 TDs for 115 yards and a TD. With 18 catches and a TD on 20 targets in the last five games, and a likely shootout against a soft Eagles secondary, he can make a nice addition to your roster for Week 12.
• ^*Nelson Agholor, Bal @ LAC (31st, 4.2) - A lot must change for Agholor to get consistent targets. However, Mark Andrews is likely out for the season and Odell Beckham left with a shoulder injury. If Beckham can't return in Week 12, Agholor might get more touches.
• Justin Watson, KC @ LV (12th, 6.9) - Watson has had a low volume of touches. Last week was the exception. He had a nice TD last week - his first of the season - on 5 catches out of 11 targets.
• Cedrick Wilson, Mia v NYG (1st, 5.7) - Wilson is likely not your best option, but he has scored TDs in two of his last three games and saw a slight uptick in volume last week.
• ^*Greg Dortch, Ari v LAR (14th, 2.7) - Dortch got a burst of opportunities last week with six catches for 76 yards in Michael Wilson's absence. Expect him to get more opportunities in Week 12 if Wilson is not able to return.

TE

• Michael Mayer, LV v KC (3rd, 6.6) - Has seen an uptick in targets the last two weeks as he builds chemistry with rookie QB Aidan O'Connell.
• Jonnu Smith, Atl v NO (21st, 6.5) - In almost every league Kyle Pitts has a home, but Smith has outperformed him every game. The Falcons QB situation is not stable and the receiving unit as a whole struggled last week at Arizona. Look for Smith to bounce back this week against a softer Saints D vs TEs.
• *Daniel Bellinger, NYG v NE (6th, 6.3) - Bellinger has caught 8 of his 9 targets in the last three weeks. He has no TDs on the season.
• Tanner Hudson, Cin v Pit (7th, 5.4) - Hudson has now had a steady flow of targets for the last three weeks and looks like he is now the Bengal's lead TE. He was becoming a target favorite of Burrow and could be a relief valve as Jake Browning takes the helm behind center going forward.
• Hunter Henry, NE @ NYG (8th, 5.4) - Henry has averaged 3 receptions per week for the last four weeks and has 3 TDs on the season.
• *Tommy Tremble, Car v Dak (2nd, 3.8) - Tremble only caught one of his three targets last week, but it was a TD. Tremble now has 3 TDs in his last 6 games. He is becoming a red zone target. He is up against a tough Titans D vs TEs this week.

K

• Riley Patterson, Det v GB (17th, 9.9)
• Cairo Santos, Chi @ Min (27th, 8.6)
• Daniel Carlson, LV v KC (1st, 8.4)
• Will Lutz, Den v Cle (2nd, 8.4)
  
  

D

• Green Bay Packers @ Det (7th, 7.9)
• Denver Broncos v Cle (26th, 6.7)
• New York Giants v NE (29th, 6.2)
• Los Angeles Rams @ Ari (26th, 5.7)