We’re rolling into Week 13 of the 2024 NFL season, and league insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano are here to break down the biggest questions, latest news and notable buzz heading into the slate of games. They’ve been making calls around the league all week long to get the newest information. Plus, they pick out which players should — or shouldn’t — be in your fantasy football lineups.

How are the tightest division races shaping up, and who could emerge? Have Bryce Young and/or Anthony Richardson played well enough to stick with their current teams in 2025? Who are other interesting quarterbacks who potentially will be available in the offseason? And as the coaching carousel begins to heat up, what are the chances Bill Belichick lands a job for next season?

It’s all here, as our insiders answer big questions and empty their reporters’ notebooks with everything they’ve heard heading into Week 13.

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Division races | Young and Richardson
QB moves | Belichick’s future
Fantasy tips | Latest intel and notes

Which division race will end up being the closest, and who will win it?

Graziano: The NFC West is a four-way mess and probably will stay that way. The preseason favorite and defending NFC champion 49ers are in last place and have lost to each of the other teams, but they’re only a game behind Arizona and Seattle for the division lead. If the 49ers can just get healthy, their pedigree would make them the favorite. But they are a long way from being healthy right now, so I’m not picking them to come out on top. They’re tied with the Rams at 5-6, and the Rams were my pick this time last week before the Eagles made them look terrible Sunday night. Los Angeles is the only one of these teams with a negative point differential for the season, and it’s an ugly minus-43.

Arizona was easy to like before it lost to Seattle last week, but the way the Cardinals lost makes us question whether their offense is consistent enough to finish the job. And Seattle had lost five out of six (including a home game to the 2-9 Giants) before beating the Niners and Cardinals the past two weeks. I’ll tentatively pick the Seahawks, because it appears their defense is coming together under first-year coach Mike Macdonald.

Fowler: All these teams have a case. The promise I saw from Seattle’s defense during training camp is starting to crystallize, which should provide an advantage. But I’m going to answer this question with the best division in football — the NFC North.

Sure, the 10-1 Lions are not only the favorite to win the division but also the top seed in the NFC playoffs. But the Packers (8-3) and Vikings (9-2) have chances to change things up when they face the Lions in Weeks 14 and 18, respectively. Along with beating Detroit themselves, the Packers and Vikings need the reeling Bears (4-7) to knock off Detroit on Thanksgiving at Ford Field or on Dec. 22 at Soldier Field. Chicago hasn’t done much to validate that sort of faith as of late, but it is certainly capable.

This is the most complete division, with three ascending teams primed for deep playoff runs. Detroit is the most versatile of the bunch, which should give it the division crown, but I’m open to Minnesota and Green Bay, too.

Which head-to-head divisional matchup piques your interest the most, Dan: Steelers vs. Ravens in AFC North, or Falcons vs. Buccaneers in NFC South?

Graziano: I have to say AFC North because I think Pittsburgh and Baltimore are better, more interesting teams. I think the Ravens win that one, but the pesky Steelers won’t make it easy.

In the NFC South, I can absolutely see the Falcons falling apart and the Bucs sneaking in for a fourth straight division title. But it’s important to remember that the Falcons have a one-game lead and have already won both head-to-head matchups. If the Buccaneers are going to win this division, they will have to outright pass the Falcons. Meaning, if Atlanta goes 3-3 the rest of the way, Tampa Bay likely must go 5-1 to come out ahead. That’s a lot to ask.

Fowler: It is a big ask, but I have the Bucs pressing Atlanta into late December and making this interesting. Tampa’s remaining opponents have a combined record of 23-43 (.348 winning percentage), which is the easiest remaining schedule, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. The Bucs nearly pulled off several upsets through the challenging part of their schedule, and now comes the payoff. The Falcons need at least three wins, maybe four, to secure the division crown.

What are you hearing on whether Bryce Young and/or Anthony Richardson could still be on their current teams in 2025?

Fowler: A month ago, I would have said the chance of Young remaining on the Panthers’ roster was slim. And while Young being their 2025 starter is hardly a slam dunk — the Panthers have a lot to sort through — he has certainly given Carolina something to think about. He has had a good month, starting games out of merit instead of necessity.

The Panthers have made Young earn the job week to week, but he’s making a case to be the starter for the rest of the season. He’s coming off his best game with 263 yards and one touchdown pass against a strong Chiefs defense. But if Carolina believes it can replace Young with better talent in 2025, it will. There’s no need to make that determination yet, and Young could serve as a good bridge or competition with another quarterback.

Graziano: Agreed. He’s playing better and given that he’ll be entering only Year 3 of a four-year, fully guaranteed rookie contract, there’s little reason to think the Panthers will move on unless they get blown away by a trade offer. I reserve the right to change my mind if Young falls apart down the stretch, but he appears to have turned a bit of a corner.

As for Richardson, I think he returns in 2025 as long as GM Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen do. As with Carolina, things still could turn ugly again and change, but the Colts have a lot invested in Richardson. If he turns out to be a bust, that’s bad news for the futures of the people who made that pick.

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Why Dopp says better days are ahead for Anthony Richardson

Daniel Dopp explains why he is optimistic about Colts QB Anthony Richardson in fantasy despite a lackluster performance in Week 12.

Fowler: These final five games will be crucial for Richardson’s development. He has 10 NFL starts, which isn’t enough to get a full evaluation — especially because he had only one season as a college starter. Richardson’s game-changing ability and upside should make his 2025 case compelling, and he has shown improvement since he was reinstated as Indy’s starter. Despite his 11-for-28 stat line against Detroit on Sunday, Richardson made a series of impressive throws. Improving his accuracy should be his focus over these final five games.

Graziano: That’s the thing. What does Richardson have to show to make the Colts believe he could pop in 2025? His rookie season was basically lost to injury, and the first half of this season was basically lost to the benching. They see something in terms of his talent and especially his character, but the Colts need to go into next season with some level of confidence that he’s more than a talented developmental player and can be their long-term franchise quarterback. Could a division title/playoff berth and a strong postseason performance get him there?

Who will be the most interesting quarterback available in the offseason?

Graziano: Assuming the Vikings continue to play like a top team in the NFC and Sam Darnold’s resurgence continues, he’ll be a fascinating free agent at age 27. The Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy in the first round of this year’s draft, and I guess it’s possible that Darnold plays well enough and McCarthy takes long enough to recover from his season-ending training camp injury that Minnesota brings Darnold back. But McCarthy is going to be the starter there at some point when he’s healthy, and if Darnold finishes strong, he’s going to require a bigger contract than the Vikings will likely want to give a veteran backup. What do you think, Jeremy?

Fowler: Yeah, Darnold is probably pricing himself out of Minnesota, which was all part of the plan. The Vikings are totally comfortable with Darnold using one season in Minnesota as a springboard to a bigger contract elsewhere. He’s fourth in the NFL in touchdown passes (21) and ninth in passing yards (2,717). Those numbers justify putting him in that Baker Mayfield/Geno Smith weight class of midtier quarterback contracts.

You know who else could be enhancing their value? Jameis Winston. He has been reenergized in Cleveland, which is 2-2 in games he has started this season. Wide receivers Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman and Elijah Moore have increased their numbers since Winston took over. He is comfortable working from under center and running play-action off Kevin Stefanski staples. If the Browns intend for Deshaun Watson to have to compete for the job next season, re-signing Winston could be a step in that direction.

Graziano: No doubt about it, and who knows where Cleveland will turn at quarterback? It can’t move on from Watson without a significant financial penalty, and it’s really hard to imagine the Browns making him the starter again, so they have some limitations on who they can bring in. Does Winston like it in Cleveland enough to go back, provided he has a chance to start?

What about Kirk Cousins? It remains to be seen how things turn out in Atlanta, but they haven’t gone as great as the Falcons imagined they would. And first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. is sitting there behind him and about to turn 25 in May. Could the Falcons make Cousins available in a trade after only one season if they think Penix is ready to go? He’d be an interesting veteran pickup for a team that thinks it’s close.

Fowler: The next six games could determine a lot about Cousins’ future. He had shown the ability to get hot, throwing for at least three touchdowns in three of his first nine games with the Falcons before the recent two-game slide. I expect Atlanta to have a defined plan for Cousins that maximizes the passing game coming off the bye. But to your point, the results have been pretty good but not optimal.

Cousins would have a trade market, but I can’t think of a natural fit right now. The Raiders and Giants are in desperate need of a quarterback upgrade, but Cousins would prefer a contender, and neither team qualifies. Luckily for Atlanta, it doesn’t have to do anything right now. And Cousins very well could remain in a Falcons uniform if the next six games go well.

What is your sense on whether Bill Belichick will be an offseason coaching candidate, and where could he fit?

Fowler: My sense is Belichick will be somewhere in that second tier of candidates. The hot coordinator pool, highlighted by Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, typically takes precedence. After that, the pool is wide open, and both Belichick and his former linebacker, Mike Vrabel, will be in the mix. I’ve talked to people in the league who believe Vrabel, fresh off a successful run in Tennessee, will have the edge over Belichick due to age (49 compared to 72) and his culture-building ability. But they also believe that Belichick’s chances to land a head-coaching job this cycle will be stronger than they were in January, when he spoke extensively with Atlanta but nothing materialized.

Graziano: I also think there will be interest in Belichick. I don’t buy the idea of him in Dallas, where Jerry Jones is and always will be the GM and likes being the face of the franchise. And I don’t buy him with the Giants, who don’t know who their quarterback is going to be and have always kept their coach and GM in separate responsibility silos.

The place that makes the most sense for Belichick, to me, is Jacksonville, if/when it moves on from Doug Pederson. It has a quarterback (though I admittedly don’t know what Belichick thinks of Trevor Lawrence) and an owner with a track record of turning over the keys and telling his hires, “Do what you need to do to fix this.” Shad Khan did this with Tom Coughlin. He did it with Urban Meyer. It doesn’t always work, but it’s a place where Belichick likely would have the level of control over the roster and offseason that he had in New England.

Fowler: Jacksonville makes sense, and though the roster has underachieved, it’s not barren. A turnaround wouldn’t take long. One thing I learned in last offseason’s cycle is that Belichick is open to relinquishing some level of control. At this stage of his career, he needs help with personnel. It’s too big of a job. Look at Andy Reid, who, at age 66, has trusted general manager Brett Veach to do heavy lifting on that side. So that could broaden his pool of options.

As for Dallas, some candidates will be turned off by the spotlight and all that goes into working for Jones. But the Joneses have a strong relationship with Belichick, who values what the NFL’s historical brands bring. The Cowboys are certainly that, and if anything, a Belichick-Cowboys marriage would be high entertainment. Belichick — if the Cowboys moved on from Mike McCarthy — would also inherit a roster that’s not far away.

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Can Mike McCarthy save his job, and is Bill Belichick a good fit for the Cowboys?

Stephen A. Smith, Shannon Sharpe and Tedy Bruschi debate whether or not Mike McCarthy might be able to still save his job or if Bill Belichick would be a good fit for the Cowboys.

Speaking of tradition, the Bears have plenty of that. They would have every reason to go for an offensive-minded coach should they move on from Matt Eberflus, but would Belichick work in Chicago?

Graziano: I think Bears team president Kevin Warren, who’s trying to get a new stadium built, would be interested in a splashy hire if they moved on from Eberflus. And yes, that’s still an if. Remember, this time last year the whole league was sure Eberflus wouldn’t be back in 2024. That said, while I hear you on Belichick potentially being OK giving up some control, I’ll believe it when I see it. Warren and GM Ryan Poles have a lot of power in that building, and bringing in Belichick would require some sort of change in the power structure.

I’m fascinated by the hilarious concept of the Raiders hiring Belichick so Tom Brady could be his boss, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. As for other options, would the Saints turn the whole operation over to him, and would he even want to go there if the QB situation is unsettled? Is it even remotely possible that he could reconcile with the Jets? Belichick Watch will be the most interesting part of this coaching cycle, even if he isn’t hired.

What’s your top fantasy football tip of the week?

Graziano: No byes this week, which might lessen your desperation, but if one of your guys got hurt in Week 12 — such as Brian Robinson Jr. or J.K. Dobbins — you might want to take a shot on Dallas’ Rico Dowdle in the RB spot. It’s not exciting, but Dowdle is getting a lot of work in the Cowboys’ backfield. Dallas will want to run the ball with its questionable quarterback situation, and the Giants are, to use a technical scouting term, not good. The Buccaneers shredded the Giants’ defense last week with three different backs, and the Cowboys mostly use one. Dowdle could pile up some numbers.

Fowler: Washington’s Jeremy McNichols has RB2 potential for Week 13. The Commanders’ backfield is depleted coming out of Sunday’s loss to Dallas, with Robinson spraining his ankle and Austin Ekeler hospitalized after absorbing a massive hit. McNichols, an NFL journeyman, has been opportunistic in spot duty, averaging nearly 5 yards per carry on 44 attempts and scoring four total touchdowns. Tennessee is stout against the run, but the Commanders have been a top-five rushing offense for most of the season, which bodes well for McNichols.

What else are you hearing this week?

Fowler’s notes:

• The Jets held meetings upon returning from their bye, and the feeling coming out of those is that the 3-8 team plans to finish the season on a positive note — which would all but negate sweeping changes, at least in the short term. “I didn’t sense that these guys want to do anything other than go out and play well,” a team source said. “Net positive.” That plan would include Aaron Rodgers, whose future with the Jets is shrouded in uncertainty. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Rodgers will start Sunday vs. Seattle and that he doesn’t plan to shut Rodgers down. While it’s now well known that owner Woody Johnson broached the possibility of benching Rodgers to team officials — and it might have occurred more than once — the coaching staff has not wavered from its belief that Rodgers should continue to start, a source said. While a tumultuous year that resulted in the firings of coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas has worn on just about everyone at One Jets Drive, this does not appear to be a tank scenario, at least in the locker room. And based on the way the roster is constructed, playing it out and hoping for the best is really the only path.

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Aaron Rodgers: No decision on future, but if he returns, Jets remain top choice

Aaron Rodgers tells Pat McAfee that he hasn’t decided on his playing future but that the Jets would be his first option if he returns.

• I spoke to multiple people Tuesday who considered the 49ers a viable contender for free agent quarterback Daniel Jones, who could make his decision on a team soon. Whichever way this goes — the Vikings and Ravens have also shown interest, via ESPN’s Adam Schefter — the sense I get is the 49ers made an impression, with Jones intrigued by Kyle Shanahan’s track record with quarterbacks. Clearly, Jones is opting for the chance to play for a stable winning franchise, either learning behind the scenes or getting a chance to make an on-field impact. The Raiders were interested, and one of their quarterbacks coaches, Fred Walker, coached Jones at Duke. But Jones opted against going to the 2-9 Raiders. (Update: Jones signed with Minnesota on Wednesday.)

• The Bengals’ slim playoff hopes hinge on whether the defense can provide a spark after a rough stretch due to injuries and poor performance. Options are scarce at this stage. They can’t get Trey Hendrickson more support up front, and injuries have ravaged the secondary. A recent acquisition at corner, Marco Wilson, could be thrust into action early; he has 37 career starts. But the Bengals really need better play from Cam Taylor-Britt and hope he provides it starting this week.

• Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi’s chances to earn the permanent job seemed slim when he took over three weeks ago. They still might be — interim coaches are typically long shots — but he has made an early impression in winning his first two games. He relates well with the players and takes their input into account. He has scaled back practices to try to avoid injuries. And he has New Orleans playing with a purpose. If he can finish the season at 5-3 — meaning winning three more games before the season ends — his case would be strengthened. And the schedule is somewhat manageable, with four of the Saints’ final six opponents sitting below .500.

• Jacksonville is in a tough spot with Trevor Lawrence (shoulder), who has wanted to play through his injury and help the Jaguars rebound. But their 2-9 record and inevitable changes after the season loom large. Jacksonville will see how Lawrence feels mid-to-late week before making any decisions, but if the team shuts him down, surgery would seemingly be on the table.

Graziano’s notes:

• The 49ers are hopeful quarterback Brock Purdy’s shoulder issue won’t keep him out long term, but they didn’t know that with any certainty when they were in Green Bay on Sunday. Purdy was described by multiple sources as either “day-to-day” or “week-to-week.” The 49ers were surprised that the shoulder bothered him enough Thursday to where he couldn’t finish practice. They sent him for MRIs, but the results were encouraging. He threw some Monday and took Tuesday off, and their plan is to assess how he feels Wednesday and plan from there. It’s truly unknown whether Purdy will be available Sunday night in Buffalo.

• As much fun as the Jameis Winston story is, there has been a lot of chatter coming out of Cleveland that the Browns might want to get a look at Dorian Thompson-Robinson before the end of this season to see whether and how he might fit into their future QB plans. Don’t be surprised to see Thompson-Robinson get a start or two before the season is over.

• Daniel Jones’ contract with the Giants included offset language against his guaranteed 2024 salary, so any money he gets from a new team would be credited back to the Giants. For that reason, expect Jones’ deal with a new team, assuming there is one this season, to be for a prorated portion of the veterans minimum, much like Russell Wilson’s deal with the Steelers for this season. That means any team signing Jones right now would have to pay him roughly $375,000 for the remainder of this season. The 2025 injury guarantee that was in Jones’ Giants contract does not follow him to his new team. This would be a new deal completely, with no commitment for 2025 or beyond. (Update: Jones signed with Minnesota on Wednesday.)