This past week proved that, in fantasy football, bad matchups and poor circumstances can ruin the best of lineups.

We opined last week that you might want to sit two NFL greats: Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Resumes aside, we thought fantasy mavens couldn’t count on them to produce in Week 13.

Jackson wound up going touchdown free, barely completing half of his passes. Jefferson did even worse: a two-catch, four-yard game in his most ineffective performance since Pony League.

We’re just one week from the three-week fantasy playoff run. Here are 10 guys whose matchups in Weeks 15-17 are far less than optimal:

Breece Hall (Jets RB) — He managed only his third rushing touchdown last week. And with Jaguars, Saints and Patriots coming up, he’ll have to work really hard to add his fourth.

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 13: Breece Hall #20 of the New York Jets is pursued by Christian Gonzalez #0 of the New England Patriots during the second half of a game at Gillette Stadium on November 13, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)

R.J. Harvey (Broncos RB) — Denver rookie looked great at times last Sunday night, but he has three tough run defenses ahead in Packers, Jaguars and Chiefs.

LANDOVER, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 30: RJ Harvey #12 of the Denver Broncos scores a rushing touchdown against the Washington Commanders during overtime at Northwest Stadium on November 30, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Rico Dowdle (Panthers RB) — He’s losing touches to teammate Chuba Hubbard lately, and neither will thrive in upcoming games against the Saints, Bucs and Seahawks.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 24: Rico Dowdle #5 of the Carolina Panthers is tackled by Jordan Elliott #92 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of the game at Levi’s Stadium on November 24, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Jaylen Warren (Steelers RB) — Another back sharing too much work with a teammate (Kenneth Gainwell). And the run defenses of Dolphins, Lions and Browns are all above average.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 16: Jaylen Warren #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

Xavier Worthy (Chiefs WR) — Easy game against Titans is sandwiched by games with Chargers and Broncos. It’s also obvious now he’s clearly behind Rashee Rice in the pecking order.

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 02: Maxwell Hairston #31 of the Buffalo Bills intercepts a pass intended for Xavier Worthy #1 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter in the game at Highmark Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Rome Odunze (Bears QB) — Sophomore has only one TD catch in his past eight games, and Bears’ next three foes (Browns, Packers, 49ers) will make QB Caleb Williams sweat.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 28: Rome Odunze #15 of the Chicago Bears runs out of bounds after a catch against Sydney Brown #21 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter in the game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Dalton Kincaid (Bills TE) — Has only nine catches in three games since returning from injury, and Buffalo has three tough defenses ahead in Patriots, Browns and Eagles.

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 05: Dalton Kincaid #86 of the Buffalo Bills makes a catch and is tackled by Craig Woodson #31 of the New England Patriots in the third quarter of the game at Highmark Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

Sam Darnold (Seahawks QB) — Former Viking has cooled off over the past month, and his next three are against Colts, Rams (who just intercepted him four times) and Panthers.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 30: Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks fumbles the ball while being hit by Dallas Turner #15 of the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter of a game at Lumen Field on November 30, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Caleb Williams (Bears QB) — As alluded to earlier, the Chicago sophomore will have his newfound proficiency tested by three of the NFL’s better defenses.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams reacts during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Jared Goff (Lions QB) — Detroit needs him to step up in order to claim a playoff berth, and with the next three against the Rams, Steelers and Vikings, it’s not a certainty he will.

Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons sacks Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Sitting stars

Don’t count on Chicago RBs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai repeating their Black Friday magic against the Packers’ tough defense. … Same goes for Chargers RB Kimani Vidal against a bruised Eagles D. … Vegas RB Ashton Jeanty has almost no blocking to speak of and will have another long day against Denver. … Tua Tagovailoa will continue to disappoint against the Jets’ defense, and that will make WR Jaylen Waddle “almost” unstartable. … Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson is again an iffy QB choice versus Pittsburgh. … And two quarterbacks we expect to be mostly kept in check are Arizona’s Jacoby Brissett against the Rams and … yes … the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes against Houston’s top-shelf defense.

Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift in action during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Matchup game

Someone is going to thrive for Cleveland this week against 1-11 Tennessee. It won’t be Shedeur Sanders. It very likely will be RB Quinshon Judkins. … The Lions will need to run roughshod through Dallas, and Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery will. … Tampa Bay RB Bucky Irving looked strong in his return from injury and will post strong numbers versus New Orleans. … Vikings have little choice but to rely on RB Jordan Mason against Washington. … Seattle wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba was mostly quiet against the Vikings, but he’ll rebound facing that Atlanta defense. … Two receivers that will stay hot are Houston’s Nico Collins against the Chiefs and Jacksonville’s Jakobi Meyers versus the Colts. … And the Bills’ defense better be ready, because Cincy quarterback Joe Burrow is BACK!

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (10) runs the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (Photo by Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)

Injury watch

Couple of big injuries over the long weekend. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert broke a bone in his non-throwing hand, and it remains to be seen if he will miss time. … Detroit star wideout Amon-Ra St Brown sprained his ankle early on Thanksgiving, and he’s considered week to week for the suddenly desperate Lions. … Players considered questionable include four running backs (Vikings’ Aaron Jones, New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara, Arizona’s Trey Benson and the Chargers’ Omarion Hampton) and four pass catchers (Dallas’ George Pickens, Atlanta’s Drake London, Arizona’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins).

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)

Deepest sleeper

Sleepers don’t get any deeper than Atlanta receiver David Sills V, the only NFL player we’re aware of who rocks the V in his name. He has caught a touchdown pass in each of the past two games in which former Viking Kirk Cousins has started at quarterback for the Falcons. So he’s hot. Those are also his only two scores since arriving in the league with the 2021 Giants. If you put your faith in him making it three straight, you’re a braver fantasy maven than I.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver David Sills V (87) celebrates hios touchdown against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The Thursday pick

Cowboys at Lions (-2½)
Pick: Lions by 3

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) pulls away from Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine (24) during the first half an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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.

Related Articles

The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 13: Last-minute moves

The Loop NFL Picks: Week 13

The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 12: Last-minute moves

The Loop NFL Picks: Week 12

The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 11: Last-minute moves

Today is Wednesday, Dec. 3, the 337th day of 2025. There are 28 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Dec. 3, 2015, Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the armed services to open all military jobs to women, removing the final barriers that had kept women from serving in combat.

Also on this date:

In 1947, the Tennessee Williams play “A Streetcar Named Desire” opened on Broadway.

Related Articles

Camp Mystic announces enhanced safety plans after death of 25 girls, 2 counselors

Why did the 2015 San Bernardino mass shooting happen?

Raccoon goes on drunken rampage in Virginia liquor store and passes out on bathroom floor

Arizona attorney general sues Chinese online retailer Temu over data theft claims

A look at the Thanksgiving shopping weekend and what’s next

In 1967, a surgical team in Cape Town, South Africa, led by Dr. Christiaan Barnard, performed the first human heart transplant on Louis Washkansky, who lived 18 days with the donated organ from a 25-year-old woman who had died in a traffic accident.

In 1979, 11 people were killed in a crush of fans at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum, where the British rock group The Who was performing.

In 1984, a cloud of methyl isocyanate gas escaped from a pesticide plant operated by a Union Carbide subsidiary in Bhopal, India, causing an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 deaths and more than 500,000 injuries.

In 1989, U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev concluded two days of positive bilateral discussions in Malta in a symbolic end to the Cold War.

In 1991, American hostage Alann Steen was freed by Shiite Muslim extremists in Lebanon. Steen was kidnapped from Beirut University College in January 1987. (He died in 2018.)

In 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, trying to overcome an opposition-dominated legislature that blocked his agenda. Yoon was later impeached, removed from office and rearrested in July 2025 after his conservative party lost a special election to choose his successor.

Today’s Birthdays:

Singer Jaye P. Morgan is 94.
Rock singer Mickey Thomas is 76.
Actor Daryl Hannah is 65.
Actor Julianne Moore is 65.
Olympic figure skating gold medalist Katarina Witt is 60.
Actor Brendan Fraser is 57.
Singer Montell Jordan is 57.
Actor Holly Marie Combs is 52.
Actor/comedian Tiffany Haddish is 46.
Actor Anna Chlumsky (KLUHM’-skee) is 45.
Actor Liza Lapira is 44.
Actor Dascha Polanco is 43.
Actor Amanda Seyfried is 40.
Rapper Lil Baby is 31.
Actor Jake T. Austin is 31.

Wild rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt had seen plenty of the Edmonton Oilers on TV in the past few years, and admitted that they looked impressive. But prior to Tuesday, Wallstedt had never seen them in person.

Likewise, the highly-regarded Oilers had never seen the NHL’s hottest young goalie in person. But after 60 minutes of hockey in big-city Alberta, they know Wallstedt much better.

Just hours after being named the NHL’s top rookie for November, Wallstedt began December in the same manner he went about his business last month, stopping all 33 Edmonton shots as the Wild won 1-0 to open a four-game road trip.

It was Wallstedt’s league-leading fourth shutout, as he improved to 8-0-2 as a starter. Jonas Brodin’s first period goal proved to be the eventual game-winner.

It was Wallstedt’s fourth shutout in his past six games.

The visitors took some time to find their legs, offensively, and were being out-shot 5-1 midway through the first. Then the Wild got the game’s first power play, and while they did not score on the man advantage, it seemed to light a fire under the puck-movers. They headed down the tunnel after 20 minutes with a lead – on Brodin’s blast from the blue line after Nico Sturm won an offensive zone faceoff – and a 9-7 advantage in shots.

It marked the 17th time in 27 games this season that the Wild have scored first.

Edmonton grabbed the momentum in the middle frame, helped in part by a pair of Ryan Hartman trips to the penalty box. The Oilers held a decided 15-6 shots lead in the second, but Minnesota’s penalty killers, and Wallstedt, met the challenge and Minnesota took its one-goal lead into the second intermission.

Minnesota got a third period power play and pressured the Edmonton net, but ended up 0-for-2 on the night with an Oiler in the penalty box.

The night’s best drama came in the final 41 seconds, when Matt Boldy went to the penalty box with Edmonton’s net empty, giving the Oilers a 6-on-4 advantage to end the game. But Joel Eriksson Ek got the puck out of the defensive zone twice, and the Wild held on.

Stuart Skinner, much-maligned as a scapegoat for the Oilers’ below-expectations start to the season, had 23 saves for Edmonton, which will face the Wild again in a few weeks, visiting Grand Casino Arena on Dec. 20

The Wild are one-fourth of the way through their current eight-day western road trip, and will face the Flames in Calgary on Thursday evening. It’s another 8 p.m. CT start. Minnesota blanked Calgary 2-0 last month in St. Paul, in their first meeting of the season.

Related Articles

Edmonton means home, and hockey, for Jared Spurgeon

Injury means Yurov will miss Oilers showdown

Sabres stun Wild with shootout win, snap seven-game win streak

Jesper Wallstedt’s hot start brings fans, a detractor, and a t-shirt

Wild keep rolling, besting Colorado in a shootout

As federal authorities under the direction of President Donald Trump prepare an enforcement operation targeted at Somali immigrants in Minnesota, local leaders and members of the Somali community Tuesday pushed back against what they see as an effort to sow “division and chaos.”

Last month the Trump administration suspended Temporary Protected Status for Somali immigrants in Minnesota — of which there are estimated to be around 400. Now immigration enforcement actions are expected in the Twin Cities for those with deportation orders.

Kassim Busuri, a former appointee to the St. Paul City Council who was born in Somalia, described the planned enforcement action as a political stunt, as only a few hundred of the 80,000 or so Somalis in Minnesota have TPS.

“We know Donald Trump is just playing with emotions. The numbers he’s thinking about, about illegal immigration and criminals — ask the police department. Most will say Somalis are model citizens and role models,” said Busuri, who is a volunteer executive director at the Minnesota Dawah Institute, a Muslim community organization.

‘Division and chaos’

“We should write letters to President Trump telling him why we are not garbage,” said Kassim Busuri to students after prayer in the mosque at the Da’wah Institute on Fairview Ave. in St. Paul on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Around 73% of Somali immigrants are naturalized U.S. citizens, per the U.S. Census Bureau. Jaylani Hussein with the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Minnesota told the Associated Press that 95% of Somalis in the state were U.S. citizens.

At a Tuesday cabinet meeting, Trump called Somali immigrants “garbage,” saying they “contribute nothing,” and that he didn’t want them in the U.S.

“Their country is no good for a reason,” said Trump, who has blamed Somali immigrants and Gov. Tim Walz for fraud in Minnesota.

The planned sweeps and Trump’s suspension of TPS come after an unconfirmed report that fraud funds in Minnesota may have ended up funding a terrorist group in Somalia. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday said the matter is now under investigation by his department.

“Everything is being put into the media to make us look bad,” Busuri said. “He’s pitting the community against each other. Trump is trying to start a ruckus in Minnesota, and cause division and chaos, as usual.”

Former Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson has said fraud in recent years could top $1 billion. Nearly 80 individuals have been charged in the Feeding Our Future case involving as much as $250 million in federal pandemic relief money administered by the state Department of Education. Meanwhile, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota also is prosecuting fraud cases in autism and housing stabilization service programs funded by Medicare and administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Local response

On Tuesday, state and local leaders, including Walz, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pushed back against what they have called the demonization of Somalis by Trump.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks during a news conference addressing the media following reports that the Trump administration will be targeting Somali immigrants in the Twin Cities, at City Hall in Minneapolis, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Leila Navidi/Star Tribune via AP)

“Targeting Somali people means that due process will be violated. Mistakes will be made. And let’s be clear, it means that American citizens will be detained for no other reason than the fact that they look like they are Somali,” Frey said. “For decades, the Somali community has added greatly to our city. The economic fabric, their hard work, their leadership. It has made Minneapolis a better place.”

The Council of American Islamic Relations has described the Trump administration’s recent targeting of Somalis as “political scapegoating.”

Amina Deble, came to the U.S. 25 years ago and, like many Minnesota-based members of Somalia’s diaspora, became a citizen a few years later. Deble owns Oasis Mediterranean restaurant in the West Bank/Cedar-Riverside neighborhood and raised six kids to adulthood in Minnesota.

“I just want to say thank you to the governor and the mayor, Jacob Frey, all the leaders who are standing up for the rights of Somalis,” she said. “If there’s fraud in this community, there’s specific people who did that, and for those specific people, we’re more than happy for them to face the law, just like other Americans.”

Deble noted that, like her, many Somali immigrants in Minnesota are naturalized U.S. citizens and have little to worry about.

“I don’t think they will have fear,” she said. “Those who aren’t, I think they’ll go through the law. The governor has already spoken about this, the mayor, others.”

ICE raids

The upcoming Twin Cities immigration sweep follows higher-profile immigration raids this year in the Twin Cities, which drew protests and resulted in clashes between demonstrators and police. Two November raids in St. Paul resulted in law enforcement using chemical spray and rubber bullets.

St. Paul has a separation ordinance barring the city from working with federal immigration enforcement, though last week, the St. Paul Police Department responded to a protest during an immigration raid on the city’s East Side.

Carter said his office was working with city police to work on “facilitating peaceful protests” in the future.

“The last thing that we need is federal agents coming to town attempting to turn us against each other … to turn us against ourselves,” the mayor said at a news conference Tuesday with Frey. “The last thing we need is federal agents coming in town to create chaos and challenge for us.”

Carter urged anyone with concerns in St. Paul to reach out to immigrant and refugee services, a list of which the City Attorney’s Office compiles on the city’s website.

Ramsey County sheriff: ‘We don’t do immigration enforcement’

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher said his agency hasn’t been involved with any recent immigration raids or protests, but that his office is in the process of reviewing recent events to develop a policy on how deputies should approach potential future incidents.

Fletcher said his agency patrols six cities that contract with the county, and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement could eventually show up in one of them — like Arden Hills, Little Canada or Vadnais Heights.

“We don’t do immigration enforcement,” Fletcher said. “We have very little — really — very little contact with ICE, but we want to be prepared for when an incident does occur.”

Asked about the Trump administration’s plans for targeted enforcement action against Somalis, Fletcher said he believed only a “very small number” would be affected.

“To my knowledge, there are very few Somalis who aren’t citizens,” he said. “I’m guessing ICE is also targeting other communities.”

Somalis in Minnesota

The first Somali refugees started to arrive in Minnesota after the collapse of the regime of President Siad Barre in 1991 and an ensuing civil war that forced close to a million Somalis to leave the country. Many still live in refugee camps in Kenya.

Minnesota became a popular destination for Somali refugees for several reasons, including quality of education, safety and affordability compared to other regions of the U.S., according to Jane Graupman, executive director of the International Institute of Minnesota.

Once a few families were in the state, more were attracted to the area. Many Somalis had first moved to the U.S. and later relocated to Minnesota. Church communities were particularly welcoming to Somali immigrants and played a significant role in helping them resettle.

“I think they felt supported by this community,” said Graupman, who has worked for the International Institute for 36 years. “They definitely found Minnesota to be a place where they thought that there was a future for their families and their community.”

Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, Catholic Charities, the Minnesota Council of Churches, were among the faith-based groups that helped. The International Institute also played a role.

Related Articles

Treasury Department investigating claims MN fraud funded terrorists

Attorney Chris Madel seeks Republican nomination in MN governor race

How will Kaohly Her’s legislative career shape her leadership of St. Paul?

How fraud swamped Minnesota’s social services system on Tim Walz’s watch

A look at St. Paul’s legal tangles with the Trump administration

Today, there are around 80,000 Somalis living in Minnesota, more than in any other state. The vast majority live in the Twin Cities, and most are citizens.

“Across sectors, they’re very integrated into our community,” said Graupman, noting large Somali participation in the health care workforce among other fields. “To have a president say Somalis are contributing nothing to our country — it couldn’t be further from the truth.”