I’m in the “guide but don’t direct” phase of parenting with my 11- and 13-year-old boys. I’ll set expectations with a few realistic boundaries, maybe show them how I do things once or twice, and then leave them to it. The results are, well, mixed. Our dishes get “cleaned” with only minimal streaks of grease left behind. The carpets look at least half vacuumed. Maybe if I gave them enough time, they’d get the job done right.

A few NFL contenders had me thinking the same after Tuesday. We all knew what they should do. Other teams even showed them the blueprint for improving at the deadline on their road to the Super Bowl. But some stood pat. I’m sure there were reasons and in January, we’ll look back in hindsight and grade both the active and inactive front offices.

However, for now, let’s dig into what that means for the skill players stuck in their roles. 

Denver Broncos Didn’t Get Their TE

Trades Linked to the Team:

• Denver tried to acquire Jonathan Taylor but balked at the price

• The Broncos’ front office checked in on Trey McBride

I mean, credit to George Paton for at least making the calls. There’s nothing wrong with shopping in the name-brand section of the store. But both interactions signal that HC Sean Payton wanted to improve both phases of the offense. And not with half measures. Either way, the McBride inquiry hits at a specific part of Bo Nix’s game that could use a boost.

As always, I’ll use one rep to highlight a larger point. Check out not just the distance, but the target location on Pat Bryant’s (crucial) TD catch in the highlight above. Between the numbers is where passing games live and die. And Nix can create efficient plays in that area of the field with the best of them. But it’s just not that often.

• EPA per Att. to the MoF: 0.35, 9th (out of 31 qualifiers – min. 150 targets)

• MoF Throw Rate: 44.1%, 26th 

Funnily enough, that’s where Trey McBride thrives. He has a 30.7% target rate on throws between the numbers (seventh-most among all pass-catchers) with a 2.62 YPRR (ninth-most among all TEs). Theoretically, McBride would’ve been the ideal complement to Jaylen Waddle, who leads the Broncos when Nix has looked to the middle of the field. But if Waddle’s injuries persist through the bye, Pat Bryant (82% route rate, 15% target share), who immediately became one of the top options for Nix, should be on our radar as a depth piece.

Cincinnati Bengals Stand Behind Joe Burrow

On top of not completing a trade, my team winds up embarrassing themselves on the national stage. Anyway, the larger point is, despite the urges from media insiders, there were no credible links between an offensive skill player and the Bengals before the deadline. In short, this is the roster that will (hopefully) deliver Joe Burrow his first MVP. But there’s still one glaring gap in offense.

I have Chase Brown on a few rosters, and it’s been a rollercoaster. I get excited when the team gets inside the five-yard line, irate when Brown inevitably runs into a wall and a mix of both when Burrow sneaks it in on the next play. But since Brown doesn’t have to worry about Taylor or Tony Pollard coming for his job, there’s a path for him to get back into our good graces.

• Rushing Success Rate: 31.0% (Pre-Bye), 43.8% (Post-Bye)

• Adj. Yards after Contact per Att.: 2.54, 3.72

• Yards Before Contact per Att.: 0.9, 1.5

Brown’s YPC has been on the rise since Cincinnati came out of its bye (3.5 in Week 7, 4.6 and 6.3). On the one hand, explosives have juiced his per-carry averages (two against the Falcons alone). But last Sunday was his first game with two carries to go for more than 10 yards since Week 3. In addition, even when defenders have met Brown at or behind the LoS, his yards after contact per attempt are up by 41.3%. 

Brown has just one game with a target rate under 10.0%. And before the Bengals turned their trip to Madrid into a blowout, he controlled 63.6% of the backfield totes. As the schedule continues to favor Cincinnati, the fantasy points will come for Chase Brown.

Seahawks Leave the Offense to Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Trades Linked to the Team:

• Rumored to have interest in Brian Thomas Jr.

• Explored a trade for Jonathan Taylor

I understand why Seattle passed on Josh Downs. There’d be too much of an overlap with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. If anything, they need a field stretcher. However, on the bright side, Smith-Njigba remains in the best position to end the season as the Offensive Player of the Year.

If Week 18 ended today, Smith-Njigba would have the Triple Crown. He’s one of three WRs with a 30+% target rate, and he leads the league in both YPRR and first downs per route run. But the offense could use another gear. I just can’t see it coming from any of the remaining WRs.

• Cooper Kupp: 0.91 (YPRR), 5.73% (1D/RR)

• Tory Horton: 1.07, 8.41%

Neither Kupp nor Horton offer the downfield element missing from Seattle’s passing game. Horton has just three targets of 15+ air yards. Kupp has more targets at or behind the LoS than in the intermediate or deep range. But since Drew Lock is nursing an elbow injury, short-area targets should be in large supply. However, before you try to chase last week’s results, a couple of points to keep in mind. 

AJ Barner has been the Tush-Push option at the goal line and is running routes at the ninth-highest rate among all TEs. But Seattle’s PROE fell even further in Zach Charbonnet’s second game back (-8.9%, 26th- lowest). Its Week 10 opponent is allowing a league-high 132.1 YPG to enemy rushers. Also, Sam Darnold and Rashid Shaheed should be back out on the field after its Week 11 bye.

As such, if you’re looking for any reliable fantasy production out of this offense … better hope you have No. 11 on your roster.

‘And With the 13th-Overall Pick in the 2026 Draft, the Rams Select…’

Trades Linked to the Team:

• Tried to execute a blockbuster trade for Ladd McConkey

• Called the Browns about Jerry Jeudy

Apologies to the Rams fans for the hindsight jab. And, to be fair, Denzel Boston, Makai Lemon or KC Concepcion alone couldn’t cover for the loss of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. However, being rational doesn’t change how L.A.’s receiver corps looks heading into Week 10.

• Konata Mumpfield: 49% (Route Rate), 6% (Target Share)

• Tutu Atwell: 48%, 5%

• Xavier Smith: 49%, 1%

Matthew Stafford has the same problem as Joe Burrow. With two high-end receivers constantly demanding targets, there’s less work for the ancillary WRs. All three didn’t catch a pass from Stafford until Week 2. But I understand the “next man up” mentality. And, of course, volume is king. With Mumpfield showing out earlier in the season and Atwell liable for an explosive play, both have a place on rosters. However, looking at the schedule, they shouldn’t be in any fantasy starter slot unless the situation is dire.

• Cardinals: 16th (FPPG Allowed), 25th (Success Rate Allowed), 15th (Completion % Allowed)  

• Packers: 6th, 21st, 11th  

• Chiefs: 32nd, 4th, 32nd 

Surprisingly, Arizona’s defense has given up just one TD to a WR over its last four games. And that’s after facing the Seahawks, Cowboys and Rams. The last 100-yard receiver was Malik Nabers in Week 4. The Packers will have DE Micah Parsons back, and the Chiefs are the toughest matchup for opposing WRs.

The Rams’ PROE has been below expectations in three of their last four games. TEs and RBs have dominated Stafford’s targets in two of them. And the defense is getting healthier. The Packers will be the first true test for the offense to fight back against Jordan Love. But if Adams is back by then, you’ll have burned a bench spot on Mumpfield or Atwell for nothing.