Sun Nov 30 4:27pm ET
Field Level Media
All of a sudden, there is a race in the AFC South after the Houston Texans won their fourth consecutive game 20-16 on the road against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday afternoon.
With quarterback C.J. Stroud back in the lineup, the two-time defending South champion Texans (7-5) got back in the division race and bumped the Colts (8-4) down a rung and into second place behind the Jaguars.
Stroud completed 22 of 35 passes for 276 yards and one interception and Nico Collins caught five passes for 98 yards and ran for a score. Stroud was 9-of-13 passing in the second half, including 3 of 3 on third down.
Houston's defense held the NFL's No. 1 scoring offense to under 20 points for the first time this season and kept Colts running back Jonathan Taylor out of the end zone. Taylor had 85 rushing yards and 36 yards receiving.
The Colts were stopped on seven of 10 third-down attempts.
Taylor was dropped for a 5-yard loss and the Colts had to settle for Michael Badgley's 42-yard field goal, tightening Houston's lead to 20-16 in the fourth quarter.
Stroud hit Collins for 29 yards to start the ensuing drive, which ended with the Colts' defense stopping the Texans on three consecutive run plays -- Woody Marks on second-and-1 and tight end Cade Stover on successive direct snaps -- from the Colts' 17. The turnover on downs put the ball back in Jones' hands with 4:45 remaining.
Taylor moved the chains on two first-down carries on the drive. Jones found Alec Pierce for 22 yards over the middle before Taylor's tote for 11 yards and a 1-yard loss brought the two-minute warning.
On 3rd-and-9, Jones evaded the blitz and floated a pass to Josh Downs in the right flat, but his second drop of the game and Michael Badgley's missed extra point off the left upright in the second quarter set up a make-or-break fourth down with 1:49 to play. Jones fired high and wide to Michael Pittman Jr.
Jones completed 14 of 27 passes with 201 yards and two touchdowns. Pierce had a team-high 78 receiving yards on four catches.
Playing with a left leg injury -- reportedly a hairline fracture in his fibula -- Jones' mobility was limited. He took multiple direct shots, including a shot on the left leg with 12 minutes left in the game that was ruled roughing the passer on Texans defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr.
Houston regained the lead with 12:38 to play. A run fake up the gut froze the Colts' defense and Stroud flipped the ball to Collins looping from the right side of the formation to win a race to the front-left corner of the end zone. Ka'imi Fairbairn's extra point appeared to sail wide to the left, but officials deemed the PAT good and the Texans took a 20-13 lead.
Jones found his touch and the Colts tied the game at 13-13 with 2:51 left in the third quarter on a 12-yard TD pass to rookie tight end Tyler Warren. The score came one play after a 32-yard pass interference flag on Texans safety Caden Bullock placed the ball in the red zone.
On the previous possession, Houston trekked to the Colts' 14 but Indianapolis stuffed Nick Chubb for no gain and Adetomiwa Adebawore sacked a backpedaling Stroud on third down to limit the Texans to Fairbairn's 43-yard field goal on fourth-and-21.
Chubb bullied his way into the end zone and shoved Colts safety Cam Bynum out of his path for 4-yard touchdown and a 10-6 lead for the Texans in the second quarter. The touchdown answered Jones' 19-yard TD pass to Pierce.
Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner watched the final three quarters of the game from the sideline with his left foot in a boot. He was helped off the field on Indianapolis' second defensive snap and ruled out with a calf injury.
Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair spent time in the medical tent for a concussion test and treatment for a foot injury in the fourth quarter but was back on the field after the two-minute warning.
The Colts play at Houston to end the regular season in January. Indianapolis visits Jacksonville next week. The Jaguars throttled Tennessee on Sunday to improve to 8-4.
Five Fantasy Takeaways: Week 13
Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass (groin, hip) underwent surgery on his groin/hip and will not kick again this season, according to head coach Sean McDermott. Bass will end up missing the entire 2025 season and will close out the year on Injured Reserve. Veteran Matt Prater has been filling in for Bass all year in Buffalo and has made 17 of his 19 field-goal attempts (89.5%) and 34 of his 37 extra-point tries in 12 games played. In fantasy football, Prater has been the No. 14 kicker in terms of overall points, and he'll definitely be in play for the upcoming Week 14 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals and their generous defense. Bass signed a four-year contract extension with Buffalo in 2023, so he should be back with the team next year if he's recovered from his injuries.
From RotoBaller
The Indianapolis Colts are not considering putting All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) on Injured Reserve at the moment, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN. Head coach Shane Steichen said that Gardner did not damage his Achilles in Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans, but his calf injury is expected to sideline him for an undetermined length of time. If the 25-year-old defensive back went on IR, he'd be required to miss at least four games. Overall, it's good news for Gardner, but the Colts are prepared for him to miss some time, potentially several weeks. In his three games in Indy since being acquired in a trade from the New York Jets, Gardner has 13 tackles (11 solo) and two pass breakups. The Colts' secondary will be more vulnerable this weekend for a huge divisional contest against the first-place Jacksonville Jaguars.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that running back Kyren Williams' ankle was "pretty good" on Monday after he had an injury scare in Sunday's upset loss to the Carolina Panthers, according to Nate Atkins of The Athletic. Williams hurt his ankle in the second quarter on Sunday but returned following halftime and finished with 13 rushing attempts for 72 yards and a touchdown while playing 67% of the snaps. Backup Blake Corum finished with seven carries for 81 yards and a touchdown while playing 33% of the snaps. Williams said the scar tissue from previous injuries made it easier for him to deal with on Sunday. It sounds like the 25-year-old should be just fine for Week 14 against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, although Corum could take on a larger workload as the Rams look to keep Williams healthy and fresh for a postseason run.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said on Monday that quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) has not been cleared for contact, and he does not expect to make a final decision on the QB's Week 14 status until Friday, according to Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. Quinn added that Daniels is going through "functional movements" this week as the next step for his return to action following a gruesome dislocation of his left (non-throwing) elbow in Week 9. The second-year signal-caller has a chance to return in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings, but his status still seems very much up in the air, and with the Commanders well out of the playoff picture, it doesn't make sense for the organization to rush their franchise QB back. We'll have a better idea of Daniels' Week 14 status later this week, but we wouldn't be surprised if Marcus Mariota makes another start this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday that even though wide receiver Jayden Reed (foot, shoulder) is back at practice, he has to be given medical clearance to play, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. "The plan is to see where he's at by the end of the week," LaFleur said. Reed has been back at practice for over a week now, but he's still up in the air to be officially activated from Injured Reserve to play in a big Week 14 divisional game against the Chicago Bears. The 25-year-old is recovering from a broken foot that required surgery and a broken collarbone that he suffered back in Week 2. Reed should have a key role eventually in Green Bay's offense, and his nose for the end zone (18 total touchdowns through two-plus seasons) makes him a stash candidate in fantasy football leagues. However, expect Reed to be eased back into the Packers' offense when he's finally activated.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that the team expects to get Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn (concussion) back after their Week 14 bye, according to David Newton of ESPN. Horn suffered a concussion in Week 12 and did not suit up for a surprising Week 13 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The 26-year-old defensive back will have an extra week to rest during the team's bye, though, and the team is hoping he'll be ready to return in Week 15 against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. Getting Horn back will be a massive boost to the Panthers' defense, as he's played at a Pro Bowl level in 2025 with 25 tackles (15 solo), a career-high five interceptions, and six pass breakups in 12 starts. The Panthers' defense/special teams unit will be a popular streaming option in Week 15 in the first week of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday that defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip) remains week-to-week and is doubtful to play in Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills in Week 14, per ESPN's Ben Baby. Hendrickson aggravated a hip injury in the Week 8 loss to the New York Jets and has missed the last four games. The 30-year-old All-Pro pass-rusher is on track to miss a fifth straight game, and it's fair to wonder if he'll end up having season-ending surgery on his hip instead of waiting until the offseason. The four-time Pro Bowler has been a huge disappointment for fantasy managers in IDP formats this year after he had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in both 2023 and 2024. Hendrickson has played in seven games in 2025 and has 16 tackles (11 solo), four sacks, eight QB hits, and a forced fumble.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday that he didn't have an update on quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles), and the team has yet to open his 21-day practice window as he continues to rehab while on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The 30-year-old is making progress from a torn right Achilles that he re-ruptured in January, but he's still not ready to practice with the rest of the team and is a long shot to take any snaps under center for the Browns this year. Watson will be in the final season of a five-year, $230 million guaranteed deal in 2026, but the expectation is that he won't play for the Browns again. Cleveland started the year with veteran Joe Flacco under center before trading him to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. Rookie Dillon Gabriel got his chance as the starting QB before suffering a concussion, opening the door for Shedeur Sanders to take the gig the last two weeks. If he plays well enough, Sanders could finish the year as the Browns' QB.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday that wide receiver Tee Higgins (concussion) is still in the league's concussion protocol, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Higgins suffered a concussion late in the Week 12 loss to the New England Patriots and was ruled out on a short week in last Thursday night's Thanksgiving Day win over the Baltimore Ravens. The 26-year-old is still in the concussion protocol, but that doesn't mean he won't be cleared later this week in order to play on Sunday, Dec. 7, versus the Buffalo Bills. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on Higgins' practice status from Wednesday through Friday. If Higgins is forced to miss a second straight game, both Andrei Iosivas and Mitchell Tinsley will take on elevated roles in the passing game again behind target hog Ja'Marr Chase. Higgins has 40 receptions (70 targets) for 575 yards and seven touchdowns this year.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday that running back Justice Hill (neck) will be out three to four weeks with a disc issue in his neck, but there's still a chance that he will return this year, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun. Hill injured his neck in practice early last week and landed on Injured Reserve before the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night. The 28-year-old pass-catching back will miss at least three more games, but he will be eligible to return from IR in Week 17 on the road at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. Keaton Mitchell was starting to take on a bigger role behind starter Derrick Henry even before Hill was injured, so if he does return before the end of the 2025 regular season, Hill could be Baltimore's RB3 on passing downs. He only has 18 rushing attempts on the year for 93 yards and two TDs, adding 169 receiving yards and one score.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry carried the ball only 10 times in a primetime Thanksgiving loss to the Bengals. In a season that has not played out as most had prognosticated for the Ravens, this marked the fourth time that Henry was held to 12 carries or fewer. While it was the first such occurrence since a Week 4 loss to the Chiefs, head coach John Harbaugh stressed on Monday that he wants the Ravens to be a running team. With quarterback Lamar Jackson clearly hampered by a growing list of ailments, much of that identity will presumably fall on Henry's shoulders. Henry himself has also visibly lost a step from his fantasy MVP days, but he has still been a serviceable RB1 for most of the season, and if given a full workload, especially as temperatures drop and the frequency of on-field business decisions increases, he remains one of the safest plays in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said on Monday that wide receiver Drake London (knee) is moving to "day-to-day" this week and "certainly has a chance" to play this weekend against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14, according to Tori McElhaney of AtlantaFalcons.com. London has missed the team's last two games due to a PCL sprain in his knee, but the 24-year-old is making progress and could be active this weekend if he can do enough in practice this week to be cleared. It would be a huge boost for the 4-8 Falcons, but considering they aren't in playoff contention, it doesn't make sense for the team to rush their best receiver back. London will be a must-start in fantasy football when he returns, but his ceiling will be lowered with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins running the offense for the rest of the year. London has a 60-810-6 line on 94 targets in nine games played in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Still in the NFL's concussion protocol, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (concussion) is symptom-free, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. McCarthy will need to log a full practice on Wednesday to clear the league's protocol, but barring unforeseen circumstances, O'Connell has said he will start the team's Week 14 game against the Commanders. McCarthy reported concussion symptoms following a Week 12 loss to the Packers, and in his absence, the Vikings turned to undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who led them to a disastrous loss to the Seahawks. Brosmer threw for under 130 yards with zero touchdowns and four interceptions. While the subpar play of McCarthy has had a profoundly negative impact on Justin Jefferson and the rest of the Vikings' pass catchers, Sunday represented rock bottom. Jefferson's four receiving yards marked a career low that was undoubtedly felt by fantasy managers fighting for a playoff spot, but with McCarthy expected back under center for Week 14, Jefferson slots back in as a low-end WR2/Flex, far from the must-start status he generally carries into the fantasy playoffs.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) was not present for the team's Monday practice after exiting early from a Thanksgiving loss to the Packers. He has since been diagnosed with a low-ankle sprain, casting doubt on his availability for a Week 14 matchup with the Cowboys that now carries heavy playoff implications. With only one week remaining in most fantasy regular seasons, the extra rest after Thursday night's game could put him back in play for another must-win Week 15 affair with the Rams. St. Brown's rare combination of consistency and ceiling has once again made him one of the most valuable fantasy assets of 2025, so any missed time in the fantasy playoffs would be a difficult blow to overcome. With St. Brown sidelined for nearly the entire game on Thursday, Jameson Williams recorded a career-high 144 receiving yards, and although much harder to trust than his All-Pro teammate, he remains a must-start for as long as St. Brown is out.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for 149 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions in a Week 13 loss to the 49ers, and head coach Kevin Stefanski is pleased with the progress of his rookie signal-caller. In speaking with the media on Monday, Stefanski said that Sanders had some really good moments but also some plays he would want back. Sunday marked Sanders' second career start and his third appearance of the season. While his yards per attempt were down considerably from his Week 12 win over the Raiders, it was the first time he completed more than 60% of his passes, while also avoiding a turnover for the first time in his young career. Sanders has already been named the starter for the Browns' Week 14 matchup with the Titans, and though he is still far from consideration in most fantasy formats, a promising showing against a struggling Tennessee squad could help to cement his role and boost his dynasty value, especially in Superflex leagues.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales was really impressed with how running back Chuba Hubbard looked in Sunday's upset victory over the visiting Los Angeles Rams, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. "I just love the way Chuba went right back to work. He looked amazing," Canales said. Hubbard led the Panthers with 83 rushing yards (4.9 yards per carry) on one fewer rushing attempt (17) than Rico Dowdle, and he also caught both of his targets for 41 yards and a touchdown. The 26-year-old's 59% snap share was his highest number since back in Week 3, before he missed time due to injury and lost RB1 duties to Dowdle. It was the first time that Hubbard had over 100 scrimmage yards this year and the first time he scored since Week 8. Hubbard's TD came on a 35-yard screen pass in the first quarter. The Panthers will be on bye in Week 14, but it's possible Hubbard shares more of the backfield with Dowdle for a Week 15 divisional date with the Saints.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday that rookie running back Dylan Sampson (calf) is being considered day-to-day after suffering a calf injury in Sunday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Sampson was injured in the third quarter of the 26-8 loss and never returned, giving way for Jerome Ford to see more work as the RB2 behind rookie starter Quinshon Judkins. Before leaving, the 21-year-old had four carries for 23 yards on the ground. It sounds like Sampson will have a chance to play in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans, but it will depend on how much he's able to do in practice this week. Sampson doesn't have any standalone fantasy value while working behind Judkins in Cleveland's backfield, but he's a viable handcuff in deeper leagues. The Tennessee product has averaged just 2.7 yards per carry on 42 rushing attempts in his first 12 NFL games and has yet to score a rushing touchdown in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said on Seattle Sports on Monday that quarterback Sam Darnold (ankle) had a little bit of an ankle issue during Sunday's blowout win over the Minnesota Vikings, but that he "should be good to go" for Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons, according to Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune. Darnold was seen going into the medical tent on the sideline several times on Sunday, but the injury wasn't serious, and it shouldn't keep the 28-year-old from playing this weekend. He didn't need to do much in the easy 26-0 win over the Vikings, as Darnold went 14-for-26 passing for a season-low 128 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions in Week 13. Darnold should be able to bounce back against Atlanta and will be in play as a QB streamer in fantasy football as long as he doesn't aggravate his ankle issue.
From RotoBaller
The Minnesota Vikings do not think that running back Aaron Jones Sr. (shoulder) suffered a serious shoulder injury in Sunday's blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13, and he is likely to be considered day-to-day, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Jones injured his shoulder in the third quarter on Sunday and never returned in the 26-0 loss. Jordan Mason took over the bulk of the backfield duties the rest of the way, with Zavier Scott backing him up. The 30-year-old Jones finished with only six carries for three yards (and a lost fumble) while catching all four of his targets for 22 yards through the air. Jones' injury isn't serious, but fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on his practice status this week as the team heads into a Week 14 clash against the Commanders. Even if Jones can play against Washington, he could cede more work to Mason in Minnesota's backfield if he's not 100%.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins is deserving of more attention off the waiver wire as he cements himself as the team's WR2 behind Nico Collins for the final stretch of the season. In the 20-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Higgins caught all five of his targets for 65 yards, which was second behind only Collins. It was another solid showing for the 22-year-old pass-catcher out of Iowa State after he had four catches on a season-high nine targets for 38 yards and his fourth touchdown of the year in last week's win over the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night. It was nice to see Higgins show plenty of chemistry in quarterback C.J. Stroud's first game back from a three-game absence due to a concussion. He now has 32 receptions for 359 yards and four TDs in his first 12 games, and Higgins should be viewed as an ascending WR4/flex option for fantasy managers going into a Week 14 showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.
From RotoBaller