The next two weeks might be the most important in the fantasy football season. Not only are they the final contests of the regular season, but they’re also your last chance to bulk up your roster for the playoffs in Weeks 15, 16 and 17.

The NFL’s matchups in those weeks are critical. Who your standouts are facing can have as much to do with your success, or lack thereof, as those players’ résumés.

The Vikings, for example, have a rather favorable trio of games against the Cowboys, Giants and Lions. But their quarterback issues could make those defenses look impregnable.

Next week, we’ll look at the stars who are looking at a rocky road the last three weekends of December. But today, we’ll list 10 fellows who could have especially smooth sailing:

Jonathan Taylor (Colts RB): NFL rushing leader needs to average 134 yards over final six games to top 2,000. He’ll average more than that against the Seahawks, Niners and Jaguars.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) celebrates the team’s win against the Tennessee Titans after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

De’Von Achane (Dolphins RB): He has a shot to surpass 2,000 total yards, and that effort will be boosted with games against Steelers, Bengals and Buccaneers.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 08: De’Von Achane #28 of the Miami Dolphins runs the ball against the New York Giants during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

TreVeon Henderson (Patriots RB): The hottest rookie runner from The Ohio State University won’t be cooling off when he faces the Bills, Ravens and Jets.

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson carries the ball for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Emeka Egbuka (Buccaneers WR): This year’s top rookie receiver will face three supple pass defenses in the Falcons, Panthers and Dolphins.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (9) signals during a pre-season NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)

A.J. Brown (Eagles WR): The malcontent receiver seems happier now, and with the Raiders, Commanders and Bills ahead, his fantasy backers will be happier still.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) scores a touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) defends during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Trey McBride (Cardinals TE): He’s the league’s No. 1 tight end for a now-pass-happy Arizona offense. It will be bombs away against the Texans, Falcons and Bengals.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride takes part in drills at the NFL football team’s practice facility, Monday, May 23, 2022, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

George Kittle (49ers TE): He’s again the Niners’ top receiving threat. And the Titans, Colts and Bears defenses are not very threatening.

George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers dives for the pylon after a catch and run during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 27, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Joe Burrow (Bengals QB): He’ll be back this week and looking to pad his stats in a lost season. The Ravens, Dolphins and Cardinals defenses will help him.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, bottom, goes down with a season-ruining turf toe injury as he is sacked by Jacksonville’s Arik Armstead during last Sunday’s game in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Jayden Daniels (Commanders QB): Last year’s rookie of the year should be back just in time to face three NFC East rivals: Giants, Eagles and Cowboys.

Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders looks to pass during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Oct. 19, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins QB): He has fooled us many times before, but the Steelers, Bengals and Bucs have pass defenses Miami can exploit.

Tua Tagovailoa #1 and Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins celebrate after Tagovailoa’s touchdown in the third quarter of a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium on Nov. 17, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Sitting stars

Seems hard to believe, but you MIGHT want to keep both Vikings WR Justin Jefferson and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson on the bench this week. Unless you have no better options. … Neither Vikings RB, Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason, will do much against Seattle defense. … Most overrated player in NFL? Could be Lions WR Jameson Williams, who might get another goose egg against Green Bay. … Just a hunch, but Lions may get revenge on Packers QB Jordan Love for his great game in the opener. … San Fran QB Brock Purdy looked bad at times Monday night, and he’ll look worse with Cleveland’s Myles Garrett breathing down his neck.

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) tackles Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) in the fourth quarter of an NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. The Ravens beat the Vikings, 27-19. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Matchup game

New England WR Stefon Diggs has run a bit hot and cold this season, but he’ll be on point Monday night against the Giants. … Dallas will need to run the ball to upset Kansas City on Turkey Day, so Javonte Williams could have a big day. … A no-name RB who could find paydirt this week: Saints backup Devin Neal. … Baltimore tight end Mark Andrews’ revival will accelerate against Cincinnati. … We have no idea why Jacoby Brissett is suddenly a mad bomber, but the Cards’ QB will post strong numbers again in Tampa. … And two quarterbacks we expect to feast against bad defenses are Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence versus Tennessee and Denver’s Bo Nix against Washington.

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs during an NFL football practice, Monday, June 9, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Injury watch

All eyes are on Packers RB Josh Jacobs, who sat last week due to a knee injury. Will he return, or will the short week before their Thanksgiving game in Detroit mean another big start for Emamuel Wilson? … As for quarterbacks, the Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers is expected back, but Tampa’s Baker Mayfield and Washington’s Daniels are much iffier. … The list of questionables includes three running backs (Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty, Bucs’ Bucky Irving, Saints’ Alvin Kamara), eight pass catchers (Dallas’ George Pickens, Chiefs’ Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, Cards’ Marvin Harrison Jr., Steelers’ D.K. Metcalf, Jags’ Brian Thomas Jr., Buffalo TE Dalton Kincaid, Lions TE Brock Wright) and two quarterbacks (Giants’ Jaxson Dart, Texans’ C.J. Stroud).

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) runs near Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (29) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Deepest sleeper

Cincinnati WR Andrei Iosivas is back on the radar. He has only 12 catches for 147 yards and one TD over his past three games, but he could be in for big game Thanksgiving night in Baltimore. Tee Higgins is out, and Ja’Marr Chase is dealing with the pressure of trying to avoid spitting at his opponent … again. With Burrow returning, Iosivas could find himself back in the end zone.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – DECEMBER 28: Andrei Iosivas #80 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Thursday/Friday picks

Packers at Lions (-2½)
Pick: Lions by 7

Chiefs at Cowboys (+3½)
Pick: Chiefs by 7

Bengals at Ravens (-7½)
Pick: Ravens by 7

Bears at Eagles (-7½)
Pick: Eagles by 7

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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America’s enemies are growing bolder and more sophisticated in cyberspace. To fend them off, the government must stop unilaterally disarming.

Two recent reports underscore the danger. In mid-October, Seattle-based cybersecurity firm F5 Inc. acknowledged a “catastrophic” breach of its systems, which may have allowed Chinese hackers to penetrate networks used by federal agencies and Fortune 500 companies. Less than a week later, a congressionally mandated watchdog, the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, warned that US cyber readiness had for the first time regressed since the body was formed five years ago. Nearly a quarter of the group’s recommendations judged to have been “fully implemented” had lost that status.

Much of the damage has occurred at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, responsible for coordinating defense of the nation’s civilian networks. Launched in 2018, the agency has generally won plaudits for helping secure election systems around the country, providing early warning of attacks, and helping companies and infrastructure managers bolster their cyberdefenses. Since January, the agency has lost nearly a third of its personnel — including most of its senior staff — to layoffs, buyouts and early resignations. About two-thirds of the remaining employees were furloughed during the government shutdown, while others have been transferred to agencies focused on deportations. At one point, fewer than 900 were still on the job.

Meanwhile, a key law offering liability protections to companies when they share information about attacks with the government and each other lapsed temporarily, slowing down potential responses. While Congress has revived it through the end of January, a long-term fix is still needed. The administration’s proposed budget for 2026 would slash nearly $500 million from CISA’s funding, further shrinking collaboration with states and companies, as well as education and training programs.

Although the White House defends the cuts as streamlining the agency’s mission, cybersecurity professionals and members of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission are alarmed. Artificial intelligence tools threaten to supercharge the capabilities of criminals and US adversaries even as, according to the commission’s new report, the “nation’s ability to protect itself and its allies from cyber threats is stalling and, in several areas, slipping.” States and infrastructure operators can’t easily replicate the resources and bird’s-eye view of the federal government, nor can they play the same coordinating role. If that delays responses to hacks of critical systems, including energy grids and hospitals, attacks could swiftly cascade.

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Congress should heed the warnings of its own commission. The information-sharing law in particular has widespread support across both sides of the aisle and across industry. It should be extended beyond January, and a replacement found for the public-private council that formerly allowed industry to discuss sensitive security information with the government.

When legislators finally get around to drawing up a new budget for next year, they should also restore funding and staffing for CISA, preferably on a multiyear basis to insulate the agency against future shutdowns. While it may be difficult to restock the ranks with experienced professionals given more lucrative private-sector opportunities, the government should at least strive to retain those that are left and to restore the pipeline for new recruits.

Threats to the nation’s digital networks are not going to shrink. Neither should the agency tasked with helping to defeat them.

At Cossetta’s, panettone is moving upward — literally and figuratively.

Up till now, head pastry chef Jaime Martinez and his team have made the classic Italian Christmas bread in a subterranean bakery under the gelato shop at the St. Paul culinary institution. But starting in December, the company’s panettone operation is relocating up to the second floor of Cossetta Eventi, the company’s catering space on Exchange Street, into a custom-built, 15,000-square-foot panettone production facility.

In conjunction with the move, said owner Dave Cossetta, the company is launching an e-commerce platform Dec. 1, at cossettas.com, to ship panettone nationwide year-round.

Cossetta head pastry chef Jaime Martinez pushes an inverted cooling rack of panettone loaves on Nov. 20, 2025, at the new bakery facility dedicated to the Italian bread. Led by Martinez, panettone made by the Cossetta’s team won first place across North and South America at a recent competition. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)

Panettone is famously difficult to master. The treat is a round loaf that starts with a fermented “mother” dough like sourdough, but with a buttery texture that rivals the silkiest croissant. Loaves are flavored with orange and vanilla and speckled with candied fruit, and they cool upside-down in specialized racks so the domed tops don’t collapse. Start to finish, a single batch takes anywhere from 50 to 70 hours and requires near-constant attention.

“This ain’t for the weak at heart,” Cossetta said after a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new kitchen space. “We’re serious.”

And already, Martinez and his team make the best panettone on the continent: In September, team Cossetta’s swept at the biannual Panettone World Cup Americas Division, winning the top prize for traditional panettone in the U.S. for the fourth consecutive time and being named the best panettone overall across North and South America.

During the ribbon-cutting event on Nov. 20, St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Her lauded Cossetta’s success at producing traditional foods like panettone as a win for St. Paul and an example of the long-term rootedness of immigrant-founded cultural business in the city.

“Not only is this a validation of the dreams that our ancestors bring with when they start something new, but it’s also a validation of our city — that we can grow businesses, grow restaurants that produce products on this level,” she told the crowd of about 200.

Cossetta’s new panettone kitchen includes both must-haves — a humidity-controlled environment for the fermented “mother” dough; rotating proofing boxes and ovens; a mixer that can hold about 500 pounds of dough — plus some new bells and whistles. With a roller coaster-esque chain lift, one particularly staggering contraption elevates the gargantuan mixing bowl about eight feet in the air and slowly rotates it, dumping the dough cleanly onto a wooden work surface so chefs don’t have to manually transfer a quarter-ton of dense dough before shaping it into loaves by hand.

And from the new kitchen, Dave Cossetta hopes Martinez and his longtime team of panettone chefs Rafael Morán, Ariana Anaro Montoya and Carelys Santeaga — who between them have more than seven decades of pastry experience at Cossetta’s alone — can launch the bakery’s panettone upward in the global World Cup rankings.

A half-loaf of Cossetta’s panettone sits on a pedestal alongside a trophy on Nov. 20, 2025, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the company’s new panettone bakery facility. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)

Cossetta’s win at the Americas Division this fall qualifies the team to once again compete at the Coppa del Mondo del Panettone, the world championships, in Milan next fall. Martinez and Morán also qualified to bring Cossetta’s panettone to the World Cup in 2024 but did not earn a medal. In March, Ton Cortés, the renowned Barcelona baker who won the 2024 World Cup, spent about six days at Cossetta’s, helping Martinez and the team test batches and refine recipes.

Traditionally, panettone is only served around Christmas. Cossetta’s sells a smaller pound cake-sized version of the treat year-round, but Dave Cossetta hopes the high quality of Cossetta’s classic panettone will turn the domed cakes into a regular treat, too. And if you ask the people who make it, the plan seems to be working.

“Panettone is getting more demand now than ever,” Morán said.

Panettone is on sale now at Cossetta’s in St. Paul (211 W. 7th St.; 651-222-3476) starting at $42.95 and is set to be priced for e-commerce at $79.95, including shipping and a gift box.

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It’s that time of year when twinkle lights and tinsel bring folks through the door of local restaurants.

The bar at Nico’s Tacos in Uptown, transformed for the restaurant’s holiday pop-up Nico’s Navidad. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

To that end, holiday pop-ups are springing up like daisies throughout the Twin Cities, and I had a chance to check out a few of them over the past week.

Hitting one of these decked-out bars is a great excuse for a holiday friends’ get-together or a festive date night, but they are popular, so I recommend reservations if you can get them.

Nico’s Navidad at Nico’s Tacos

This local taqueria and tequila bar has expanded its over-the-top Nico’s Navidad to all three locations (St. Paul, Uptown, and 50th and Penn) this year.

My daughter, who loves Christmas, was in town, and I wanted to meet up with a friend who lives in Uptown, so we hit the Hennepin Avenue location.

We were greeted by lights and greenery outside, giving way to a life-sized Grinch on the porch of the historic home the restaurant is in.

The restaurant takes advantage of its numerous rooms, with each sporting a different vibe. The upstairs bar was probably my favorite, with cotton-candy clouds over blinking lights, red and white garland, candy canes, and Santa hats everywhere.

The food menu is the same as always, but the drink menu has been updated to include tons of holiday flavors and cute names like Sleigh Queen, Claus’ Kiss and Grinch Guzzler. I tried all three of those, and can highly recommend any of them. They’re served in adorable ceramic Christmas-themed tiki mugs, too.

Nico’s Tacos: 2516 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis; 2260 Como Ave., St. Paul; and 4959 Penn Ave. S., Minneapolis; nicostacobar.com

Jingle Giles at Earl Giles Distillery

Earl Giles Distillery in Northeast Minneapolis, all decked out for its Jingle Giles holiday pop-up. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
Rick’s Pickle Dip at the Jingle Giles pop-up at Earl Giles Distillery in Northeast Minneapolis. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

Every inch of this cavernous distillery has been covered in lights, garland, inflatable Christmas characters, bows, snowflakes and more.

And the food and drink menu have both been been transformed. Glittery drinks infused with all the flavors of the season — evergreen, gingerbread, candy canes, cranberries and more — are as tasty as they are Instagrammable.

And the fairly extensive food menu is like a Midwestern potluck holiday table and a trendy eatery had a baby. We loved Rick’s Pickle Dip, loaded with pickles, dill and bacon, and the fried Brussels sprouts, dressed for Christmas with dried cranberries and an airy walnut crema.

And no Minnesota holiday menu would be complete without Swedish meatballs, which are served in a little cast-iron skillet.

Earl Giles: 1325 Quincy St. N.E., Minneapolis; 612-345-5305; earlgiles.com

King Coil

A cocktail at King Coil Distillery in St. Paul. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

The decor here might be a little sparse compared with some of the Christmas-threw-up-in-here aesthetics on this list, but there’s plenty of sparkle, and the drink menu is fully festive, featuring flavors ranging from burnt cookies to cranberries to blue-cheese-washed vodka to sugar plums.

In addition, King Coil is hosting a variety of holiday events, including “Elf” and “The Muppets Christmas Carol” trivia, ornament painting, and a last-minute holiday market. Check their website for details.

King Coil Spirits: 550 Vandalia St., St. Paul; 651-243-0380; kingcoilspirits.com

Dorit’s Tavern at Surly Brewing

The 3 Rules pizza at the Surly Brewing holiday pop-up, called Dorit’s Tavern. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

The creative minds at Surly have transformed the Pizza Upstairs space into a Gremlins-inspired dive bar (the name is a play on Dorry’s Tavern, where Kate works).

Besides the over-the-top Christmas decor and Gremlins decals, there is a stellar 1980s playlist, the movie playing on a loop, and some special holiday drinks. Green and red seltzers (this is a brewery, so in Minnesota, they can’t serve actual cocktails) can be served in a single serving or in a giant tin can and lit on fire — the cost is $84, because the movie was made in 1984. That concoction serves 6-8 people. But I prefer the Grinchy Jell-O shots, topped with a little dollop of whipped cream.

Food-wise, there’s a special 3 Rules pizza (named for the three rules that must be followed when caring for mogwai), topped with soppressata, pepperoncini, red sauce, garlic, basil and cheese, a jalapeno popper dip, a trio of pickle roll-ups and house-made pork rinds. We tried the pizza (fabulous) and the pickle rolls (just like grandma made).

The brewery doesn’t usually take reservations, but they do for this pop-up.

Surly Brewing: 520 Malcolm Ave. S.E., Minneapolis; 763-999-4040; surlybrewing.com

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