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It’s already Week 12 and the best teams in your league are getting prepared for the fantasy football playoffs. The rookie pool shrinks as injuries hit and roles tighten, but opportunity pops for the few who can change a Sunday. Each week, we take a look at rookie names who could swing a matchup — the risers you start with conviction, the stashes you scoop before waivers lock and the streamers you deploy when your lineup needs upside.

Rookie Report Week 12 — let’s get it.

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Patriots vs. Bengals

I don’t know if anyone has been hotter the past two weeks than TreVeyon Henderson. Since stepping in as the feature back with Rhamondre Stevenson and Terrell Jennings banged up, the rookie has stacked five touchdowns in two games. He ripped Tampa Bay for 147 rushing yards and two scores, then followed it on Thursday night against the Jets with 3 more touchdowns and the second-most receiving yards of his young career. Henderson is straight-up explosive. Each and every touch can go the distance. 

Cincinnati’s defense has been dreadful and now has to deal with an efficient Patriots operation piloted by Drake Maye. New England doesn’t boast a room full of superstar pass catchers, but the execution is sharp and the tempo keeps the offense moving. Even if Stevenson returns (and there’s buzz he could), Henderson’s role should hold because he’s been the team’s most explosive finisher and he’s earned high-leverage touches. Over the last three weeks, he’s the RB4 in half-PPR at 20.6 fantasy points per game, trailing only De’Von Achane, Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor.

That’s not fluky usage either. He’s handling early downs, inside-the-10 work and he’s been viable as a checkdown option when defenses sit back. Against a Bengals unit that’s struggled to tackle and fit the run, this sets up as one of the most favorable scripts on the slate, whether Stevenson suits up or not.

Ray’s Rookie Read: Locked-in top five play in Week 12 with multi-touchdown upside even if Stevenson returns.

Quinshon Judkins, RB, Browns at Raiders

Quinshon Judkins has turned in a strong rookie season with 620 rushing yards, but the splash plays cooled after that 3-touchdown eruption against Miami in October. Since then, he’s cleared 60 yards just once and he hasn’t scored a rushing touchdown. He’s been non-existent in the passing game. Cleveland is slated to start fifth-round rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders in what should be a spectacle of its own. Dallas just lit up the Las Vegas team that Cleveland will face, but this is not Dak Prescott. There is no CeeDee Lamb. There is no George Pickens to make defenses pay. The Raiders run defense has tightened over the past month. Javonte Williams had to grind for 93 yards on 20-plus carries, which tells you this is a body-blow fight between the tackles.

With a rookie under center, Cleveland’s path is straightforward. Heavy personnel, condensed formations and a steady diet of inside zone and duo to protect the quarterback and live in second-and-manageable. Judkins’ receiving drought caps his floor if the Browns chase points, but early downs belong to him and his short-yardage work keeps a clean path to six on one snap. If Cleveland can keep this game neutral and string first downs, touch volume climbs into the sweet spot, where opportunity trumps efficiency. The Raiders’ front can win reps, yet they’ve also yielded chunk gains when backs get downhill before contact. That’s Judkins’ game.

The Browns don’t have many options with a rookie quarterback on the road, so expect them to ride Judkins and let the defense do the heavy lifting.

Ray’s Rookie Read: Volume-play RB2 with multi-touchdown upside in Week 12 at Las Vegas.

Tyler Shough, QB, Saints vs. Falcons

The last time we saw rookie Tyler Shough was two weeks ago. New Orleans, off of a bye, returns home to face a 3-7 Falcons team that’s reeling. Before the break, Shough posted his best game as a pro in a 17-7 win over the Panthers, throwing for a career-high 282 yards with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He finished QB11 with 18.9 fantasy points. The arrow is at least pointing up, and the context this week is friendly.

Atlanta is limping in without Michael Penix Jr. and Drake London. Just last week, the Falcons got lit up by Bryce Young and the Panthers for 448 passing yards and 3 scores while Tetairoa McMillan went nuclear. Now, they have to deal with Chris Olave. Shough’s tape against Carolina was solid. They utilized the quick game, he had much better ball placement and fewer hero throws. If New Orleans keeps him in that lane with play action and defined reads, he’s got a path to stacking efficient drives. 

You’re not chasing rushing upside here; you’re betting that Olave wins outside, the backs handle blitz pickup and Shough distributes on time. Beyond Week 12, the schedule stays interesting for a rookie you’re monitoring, not marrying. After Atlanta, Shough gets the Dolphins, then the Panthers again, the Jets and the Titans. Given how the quarterback position has been wrecked by injuries, that’s a runway where volume and competent decision-making can keep him streamer-relevant.

Ray’s Rookie Read: In desperate spots, Shough is a viable Week 12 streamer, but more importantly, his fantasy playoff runway is good enough to keep him on speed dial if you need volume-based production at quarterback.

Jayden Higgins, WR, Texans vs. Bills

Jayden Higgins deserves a shout for a steady two-week climb. He’s seen 7 targets in back-to-back games, scored against the Jaguars, then posted 4 catches for 55 yards at Tennessee — where he was forced out at the 1 on what could’ve been a second straight week with a touchdown. With C.J. Stroud out, Davis Mills has thrown the ball 40-plus times in consecutive weeks. Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz lead but Higgins has settled in as the third option and the usage drumbeat is real.

Buffalo’s defense hasn’t been at its best and Houston’s veteran quarterback is being trusted to operate the full menu. Higgins’ profile fits what this passing game needs behind Collins — big frame, catch radius, downfield ball skills. If the Bills tilt coverage to No. 12 and squeeze the seams on Schultz, Higgins is going to see single coverage on the perimeter and in the red zone. The last two weeks showed the staff is comfortable dialing him up on schemed in-breakers, glance routes and boundary shots. If volume holds anywhere near seven to eight looks again, one chunk play or a goal-line fade can flip a lineup decision.

Higgins isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it starter yet, but the role is stabilizing. He’s running live routes with the starters, he’s trusted near the end zone and Mills has shown no hesitation to throw when game script tilts pass-heavy. In deeper leagues or formats that reward big plays, he fits as a bench stash who can be elevated when injuries and/or byes hit. If Houston stays near that 40-attempt range again, Higgins’ path to five-plus targets is clear and any bump in red-zone usage can turn a fringe flex into a big-play touchdown threat. 

Ray’s Rookie Read: Stash off waivers and you can roll him as a deep, desperation flex with big-play and red-zone upside.

Bhayshul Tuten & LeQuint Allen Jr., RBs, Jaguars at Cardinals

Bhayshul Tuten left last Sunday with an ankle injury, then told reporters he was good to go earlier this week. Before exiting, he out-carried Travis Etienne 15-12 and looked like he was grabbing the hot-hand baton. He logged 15 touches for 74 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers, a sharp spike after seeing just four carries the week prior and nine the week before that. With Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter sidelined, the Jags were hunting explosives, and they found them in the rookie Tuten. If he is somehow on waivers, that’s the move — push priority and empty the budget because the role was expanding before the ankle twist.

Arizona just let Christian McCaffrey do whatever he wanted, and Jacksonville draws that same defense Sunday. If Tuten’s ankle responds, this sets up for a downhill script with early-down volume and red-zone chances behind a staff that clearly wants to lean on him.

If Tuten can’t go, LeQuint Allen Jr. is the contingency you stash now, then activate late. The seventh-rounder has been praised for execution and physicality on third downs, he’s already played decent snaps and he profiles as the next man up for passing downs with enough burst to handle 10 to 12 carries if needed. In deep leagues, this is the exact kind of Saturday night add that can swing in your direction early Sunday morning.

Ray’s Rookie Read: Tuten is a priority add with RB2 upside this week. If he’s out, LeQuint Allen Jr. is a viable late-week plug-in flex against a soft Cardinals run defense.

It's been an eventful few months since Shedeur Sanders was drafted in the fifth round by Cleveland. Let's relive it all now that he's going to be the team's starter.

April 26 — Shedeur Sanders drafted by Cleveland Browns

After a winding evaluation process that cast him as one of the NFL draft’s biggest mysteries — and following a huge slide that saw him bypassed by multiple QB-needy franchises — the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback was chosen in Saturday’s fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. Taken No. 144 overall, the pick comes following a draft slide that stunned even some of his most critical talent evaluators in the league. The Browns also drafted Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel in the third round.

"I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity throughout everything," Sanders told reporters after being drafted. "I don't ever focus on a negative or even think about the negative because the positive happened so fast."

April 27 — Son of Falcons DC apologizes for prank call during draft to Sanders

The mystery of how quarterback Shedeur Sanders was prank-called during the NFL Draft has been solved. The Atlanta Falcons confirmed the 21-year-old son of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was behind the prank after coming across the phone number for Sanders' special draft phone.

The Falcons released a statement explaining the situation and offering "sincere apologies" to Sanders and his family. In the meantime, Ulbrich's son, Jax, posted a public apology to Sanders on Instagram, both as a post and as a story.

April 29 — NFL announces Day 3 draft viewership record

The NFL and ESPN announced that Saturday of the 2025 NFL Draft was the most-watched third day of the draft ever, with an average of about 4.3 million viewers tuning in to watch the final rounds of the event — which is historically the least-watched day of the three. That’s likely due to, at least in part, Shedeur Sanders’ slide. The Colorado quarterback, who many expected to be a first-round pick, ended up being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round. The Sanders storyline dominated the draft over the first two days when his name wasn’t called.

May 6 — Browns announce Shedeur Sanders will wear No. 12

The Browns released a list of numbers to be worn by their newcomers, revealing Shedeur Sanders will not be wearing his usual No. 2.

While Sanders has worn the deuce his whole career, No. 2 landed with ninth-year wide receiver DeAndre Carter, who arrived in Cleveland this year after a one-year stint on the Chicago Bears practice squad. Carter, whose seniority likely factored in his number selection, has also worn Nos. 1, 3, 11, 14, 16, 19 and 82 throughout his career.

Sanders' No. 2 was retired at Colorado alongside Travis Hunter's No. 12 before a spring game in April.

[Get more Browns news: Cleveland team feed]

June 10 — Shedeur Sanders makes Browns mandatory minicamp debut

BEREA, Ohio — As the Cleveland Browns’ 11-on-11 drills wrapped, Shedeur Sanders finished his final drive and beelined to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.

But what happened after the coach-player interaction was even more interesting. While Rees and Sanders were recapping his performance, Joe Flacco and the other QBs had assembled on the sideline between the two practice fields in anticipation of a film review with an on-field projector.

As Sanders arrived, Flacco pulled himself up from the kneel. He was ready to help.

“I’d be dumb, I’d be a fool to not get insight from somebody that’s had success over all the years that he’s had,” Sanders said after practice ended. “I never feel, I would say, full. I would say I’m always hungry.”

June 17 — Shedeur Sanders reportedly cited for speeding, driving more than 100 mph

Shedeur Sanders' speeding ticket Tuesday for allegedly driving more than 100 mph wasn't his first since joining the Cleveland Browns.

Per Cleveland.com, the Browns' rookie quarterback was previously cited by the Ohio State Highway Patrol on June 6 for speeding in the Cleveland suburb of Medina, Ohio. Per the Highway Patrol, Sanders was driving 91 mph in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 71 at 5:13 p.m.

Per court records obtained by Cleveland.com, Sanders missed a June 16 arraignment related to the infraction. It's not clear from the report if Sanders was required to show up in court or if he had the option of paying a fine that would absolve him from his court date. Court records state the ticket was for $150 and that additional costs raised the total fine to $249.

On June 17 — the night after his scheduled court date — Sanders was pulled over in Strongville, Ohio at 12:24 a.m. for his second speeding infraction in two weeks. Police say he was driving 101 mph in a 60-mph zone in his Dodge pickup truck on Interstate 71 in the Cleveland suburb.

July 18 — Shedeur Sanders reports to first NFL training camp with Browns

Sanders and Gabriel reported to Berea with the rest of the Browns rookies, and to start it was really a competition divided into two buckets.

In one was veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, and the other was the rookies Sanders and Gabriel.

July 25 — Shedeur Sanders on not getting 1st-team reps: 'It's not in my control'

With NFL training camps well underway, rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is getting some reps with the Cleveland Browns in practice. Though Sanders has not been working much with the Browns' first-team offense, the rookie says he's not thinking about it too hard.

"That's not my place to answer," Sanders told reporters Friday, via ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. "I feel like it's not in my control, so I'm not even gonna think about that or have that even in my thought process."

July 29 — Browns owner says drafting Shedeur Sanders was GM Andrew Berry's call

The Browns spent a third-round pick to select Dillon Gabriel and a fifth-round pick to select Shedeur Sanders in April's NFL Draft. These guys are just now getting their first training camp reps as NFL quarterbacks.

The selection of both raised some eyebrows, raising questions about what Cleveland's plan at quarterback is. Haslam said Tuesday that the decision to draft Sanders two rounds after selecting Gabriel was general manager Andrew Berry's, not his.

"If you'd have told me ... Friday night driving home, 'y'all are gonna pick Shedeur,' I would say 'that's not happening,'" Haslam said. "We had a conversation early that morning, and we had a conversation later that day. I think we had the right people involved in the conversation.

"At the end of the day, that's Andrew Berry's call. Andrew made the call to pick Shedeur."

August 8 — Shedeur Sanders has promising preseason debut against Panthers

Shedeur Sanders was put in a tough situation but handled himself well in a 30-10 win over the Panthers. In the first half he completed 11 of 18 passes for 103 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 113.9 passer rating. Sanders remained in the game for the third quarter, and completed all three passes on another touchdown drive. All in all, Sanders finished 14 of 23 for 138 yards and the two scores.

Sanders got the start unexpectedly, after Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel suffered hamstring injuries. The Browns know what 40-year-old Joe Flacco can do, so he was held out.

“Thankful for the opportunity, I’m excited for it, I don’t feel like I took full advantage of the opportunity,” Sanders told Browns sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala. “It’s something to work on, something to learn from.

“I don’t feel like I was sharp at all, honestly. I think I was OK today. Next opportunity I get, I have to build on this one.”

August 8 — Shedeur Sanders confronts Cleveland radio host over comments

With a strong preseason performance under his belt, Shedeur Sanders took an opportunity to confront one of his loudest local detractors, ESPN Cleveland radio host Tony Grossi. And Well Off Media, the Sanders family social media channel, had cameras ready to record the conversation.

August 13 — Shedeur Sander suffers oblique injury that knocks him out of second preseason game

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is "day-to-day after he suffered an oblique strain during Wednesday's joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Sanders suffered the injury during warmups, according to ESPN, and underwent an MR to determine the severity. The team decided to hold Sanders out for the remainder of the session as the teams worked on 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. He stayed on the field for the rest of practice watching the Browns go through drills with the Eagles.

With Sanders out, Dillon Gabriel played well in the second preseason game against the Eagles. Gabriel made headlines after the game for apparently taking a swipe at Sanders in his media availability, but Gabriel later said that wasn't the case.

August 13 — NFL Network announces Shedeur Sanders' debut delivered best preseason ratings in a decade

Shedeur Sanders entered the NFL with a built-in audience, and it definitely showed up for his first game action on an NFL field.

The Cleveland Browns' preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, in which Sanders made a successful debut, drew an average of 2.237 million viewers Friday. Per the NFL, that was enough to make it NFL Network's most-watched preseason game since 2015.

The league also noted it was NFL Network's most-watched first week of preseason ever.

August 23 — Shedeur Sanders struggles in preseason finale

In his return from an oblique injury, Shedeur Sanders couldn't get anything going after Dillon Gabriel looked very sharp.

Sanders, playing his first snaps at home, started the second half. His first four drives didn't result in a single first down. He finished 3 of 6 for just 14 yards in almost a full half of work. He was under pressure on many plays, though he also had a few plays in which he held the ball too long. He took five sacks.

Sanders looked visibly frustrated on the sideline when he was pulled to allow Tyler Huntley to lead the final drive, and later explained "In the heat of the battle, you want to be that alpha. You want to be that dog."

August 26 — Shedeur Sanders officially makes Browns' 53-man roster as third QB

Dillon Gabriel has earned the backup quarterback job with the Cleveland Browns, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Tuesday. Shedeur Sanders will serve as the team's emergency third quarterback, officially making the team's initial 53-man roster.

"It's such an all-encompassing evaluation," Stefanski said Tuesday. "Everything the guys did in the games was important. We also saw a lot of them out here in practice and how they are in their craft. [Gabriel's] certainly somebody that we think is getting better and better."

The Browns traded veteran QB Kenny Pickett to the Raiders the day before, opening up a spot for Sanders.

September 22 — Deion Sanders says Shedeur turned down Ravens, Eagles in draft

On the "New Heights" podcast, Deion Sanders revealed and confirmed some draft interactions Shedeur had with teams. Deion claimed the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles all contacted Shedeur during the draft. The Eagles' interest in Shedeur was put into the sports discourse by none other than Cam Newton last week.

Deion wouldn't go into specifics on Shedeur's conversation with Ravens executive vice president Ozzie Newsome, but essentially confirmed a report that suggested Shedeur told the team he didn't want to sit behind Lamar Jackson for a decade.

"How in the world can somebody fault [Shedeur] for saying or thinking, 'Why in the world would I go back up Lamar for 10 more years,'" Sanders said. "I've never sat on the bench and said, 'Well, I learned a lot today.'"

September 25 — Shedeur Sanders says he's 'capable of doing better' than some NFL QBs

After a competitive race for the Browns' QB1 job, Sanders and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel lost out on the starting job to Joe Flacco. While waiting on the bench, Sanders, who has yet to play a regular-season snap, said Thursday he could do better than some other NFL starters.

"If you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I know I'm capable of doing better than that," Sanders said, via ESPN Cleveland.

Sanders, who had a solid preseason debut but struggled during the rest of the preseason, has been listed as the team's QB3 on its depth chart throughout the season, behind Gabriel. But Sanders said he'll be ready to take the field whenever his moment comes.

"I don't think playing [or] not playing is in my hands," Sanders said, via ESPN Cleveland. "Based on the situation ... I'll be out there and I'll be ready to play. I'm ready to play right now."

October 1 — Shedeur Sanders mouths answers when asked about Browns benching Joe Flacco for Dillon Gabriel

The Cleveland Browns are turning the keys over to a rookie quarterback who won his conference's Offensive Player of the Year award and ranked top 10 in Heisman Trophy voting in 2024: Dillon Gabriel, not Shedeur Sanders, although both 2025 draftees fit that criteria.

Joe Flacco was benched after Cleveland's 1-3 start, but the 40-year-old former Super Bowl MVP will remain the team's backup for Sunday's game in London against the Minnesota Vikings.

Sanders, meanwhile, is still the Browns' third-string quarterback.

When he was asked about it on Wednesday in the locker room, Sanders mouthed his answers, taking an unorthodox approach to handling media.

October 10 — Shedeur Sanders named backup for gameday for first time after Joe Flacco trade

Shedeur Sanders will serve as backup quarterback for the Cleveland Browns for their matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed on Friday

Dillon Gabriel, who threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns in his first NFL start last week against the Minnesota Vikings in London, will remain the starter.

Sanders, the Browns fifth-round draft pick in 2025, gets the bump up the depth chart following the trade this week of Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals. That transaction upped the spirits of Sanders this week, who said he was feeling good and excited about being one step closer to playing.

November 16 — Shedeur Sanders makes NFL regular-season debut after Dillon Gabriel suffers concussion

Shedeur Sanders came in to replace Dillon Gabriel in the second half of the Cleveland Browns' 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens after Gabriel went down with a concussion. Gabriel did not come out with the team to start the second half at Huntington Bank Field, so the Browns turned to Sanders for the first time in the regular season early in the third quarter.

Sanders finished 4-of-16 passing for 47 yards and no touchdowns, an interception and two sacks taken.

"I don't think I played good at all," he said afterward.

November 18 — Police say thieves stole more than $200K worth of property in break-in at Sanders' home while he made NFL debut

Police say thieves stole more than $200,000 worth of property from Shedeur Sanders' home on Sunday as the rookie Cleveland Browns quarterback made his NFL debut.

Citing home-security footage, the Medina County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio wrote in a press release that three masked burglars broke into Sanders' home at 6:46 p.m ET on Sunday and left at 6:58 p.m. with the stolen property.

Police did not announce what was stolen from Sanders' house in the Cleveland suburb of Granger Township. They did not identify any suspects. The incident remains under investigation.

The break-in took place during the second half of Sunday's game between the Browns and Baltimore Ravens in Cleveland. Sanders took over at quarterback in the second half for injured starter Dillon Gabriel, who suffered a concussion in the game.

November 19 — Shedeur Sanders named Browns' starter for Week 12 at Raiders with Dillon Gabriel in concussion protocol

One of the most anticipated NFL rookies is finally making his first start of the season. Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders was named the team's starter ahead of Week 12, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Sanders will get all the first-team reps this week for the first time in his pro career.

”You want to make sure that all the concepts are things that he feels confident in," Stefanski said. "Having been around him over the months you get a good sense of the things that fit his eyes, so to speak. Definitely want to lean into those types of things."

Stefanski added he's seen "significant growth" from Sanders since he's been with the Browns.