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NFL Playoffs League - FFL: Week 1 | NFL: Week 14

Saints concerned over QB Derek Carr's hand injury

Sun Dec 8 6:27pm ET
Field Level Media

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr sustained a left hand injury and possible concussion in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 14-11 victory over the New York Giants.

The Saints feared Carr fractured the hand, per reports, and he was slated to undergo further testing. He reportedly had a cast on the hand when exiting the stadium.

Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi said Carr may have to enter the concussion protocol.

Carr was injured when he tried to leap for a first down late in the final quarter. He was near the sideline and went airborne, landing hard on the left hand with this face then slamming into the turf as he landed out of bounds with 3:59 left in the game.

Jake Haener finished up the game for the Saints.

Carr completed 20 of 31 passes for 219 yards, one touchdown and one interception for New Orleans.

Overall, Carr has passed for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He missed three games earlier this season due to an oblique injury.

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Player Notes
Mike Williams Dec 8 6:30pm CT
Mike Williams

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams logged three receptions for 36 yards on four targets in a 27-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns. With George Pickens (hamstring) inactive, Williams stepped up for quarterback Russell Wilson, particularly down the field in contested catch situations. If Pickens were to miss extended time, Williams would likely become an intriguing fantasy asset, but it's difficult to project him for consistent opportunities otherwise. It is possible, however, that the veteran is more involved going forward. He is worth rostering in bestball and dynasty formats, but Williams will remain off the fantasy radar in most redraft leagues heading into a Week 15 meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith Dec 8 6:30pm CT
Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith completed 24 of 30 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown in Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals. Smith looked poised all game. He only took what the defense gave him and led the Seahawks on several long drives. Smith saw low passing volume for the fourth game in a row as the Seahawks continue to try and commit to their running game. The formula is working, though, as the team has now won four straight games with this strategy. The shift in philosophy is certainly hurting Smith in fantasy. Earlier in the season, Smith relied on heavy passing volume and delivered with high yardage output. His yardage totals have still been solid, but he is sorely lacking in the touchdown department. That trend projects to continue as we head into hard-hitting winter football down the stretch. Smith is simply a low-upside streamer at this point in the season and likely is not even worth a roster spot most weeks.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Dec 8 6:30pm CT
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett caught no passes on one target in Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals. Lockett has been completely phased out of the Seahawks' offense. He dropped a would-be touchdown in the end zone on his only target. Otherwise, quarterback Geno Smith was focused entirely on wide receivers DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running back Zach Charbonnet. Lockett is a completely forgotten man in the Seahawks' offense. He is a great locker-room presence and a savvy veteran on the field. However, he is not integral to the game plan any longer. At this point, Lockett should not be rostered in fantasy. He will only find relevance should Metcalf or Smith-Njigba go down due to injury.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Dec 8 6:30pm CT
D.K. Metcalf

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf finished second on the team in targets with six in Week 14. He only caught four passes for 49 yards. Metcalf has historically not had the best games against the Arizona Cardinals and that continued in Week 14. Seattle's passing game continues to run primarily through fellow wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Metcalf has not exceeded 70 receiving yards or caught a touchdown since Week 7. He has played second fiddle to Smith-Njigba consistently, but the connection between quarterback Geno Smith and Metcalf has simply not been the same over the last several weeks. Metcalf started the season as a top-10 wide receiver in fantasy but has faded to flex value since he returned from a sprained MCL in Week 11. The Seahawks need Metcalf to produce in order to fully unlock their offense. As such, he is always a good bet to bounce back. He will have a tough task to do so in Week 15 against the Green Bay Packers.

From RotoBaller

Darnell Mooney Dec 8 6:20pm CT
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney hauled in six of seven targets for 142 yards in Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Vikings. Mooney ripped off chunk plays of 24, 28, and 49 yards on the way to logging the highest yardage total of the season and of his career. The 27-year-old has now recorded six or more targets in 10 of 13 games this season, catching six or more passes in three of them, and now has a slight edge for the team lead in receiving yards with 873 compared to Drake London's 866 yards. The fifth-year pro will look to keep rolling in Week 15 against the Raiders who allowed three different wide receivers to catch four passes for at least 59 yards while allowing two touchdowns to wideouts in Week 14. Mooney figures to be in the WR3 range again for that matchup.

From RotoBaller

Isaac Guerendo Dec 8 6:20pm CT
Isaac Guerendo

San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (foot) is questionable to return to Sunday's matchup versus the Bears. With Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) on the shelf, Guerendo took over as the team's top option out of the backfield. He has played well, too, running for 78 yards and two scores off 15 carries, adding two grabs for 50 yards. If the 24-year-old doesn't return, Patrick Taylor Jr., who already has a touchdown, will likely continue to lead the way.

From RotoBaller

Calvin Austin III Dec 8 6:20pm CT
Calvin Austin III

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III hauled in just one of his four targets for four yards in a 27-14 win over the Cleveland Browns. Austin was questionable earlier in the week due to a concussion he suffered in Week 13 but managed to clear the league's protocols and suit up on Sunday. However, he failed to make much of an impact, even with George Pickens (hamstring) sidelined. Austin, who has four touchdowns this season, has flashed potential as a vertical threat but has not been nearly consistent enough to warrant weekly consideration for fantasy purposes. With Mike Williams getting more involved this week, Austin is only worth rostering in deeper dynasty formats ahead of a Week 15 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles.

From RotoBaller

Cade Otton Dec 8 6:10pm CT
Cade Otton

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton was able to break out of his slump during Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Otton hauled in three of his last four targets for a team-high 70 yards in the win. It's worth noting that a majority of Otton's yardage came on a 44-yard reception, but at least fantasy managers were able to get something out of Otton. The third-year tight end has taken a backseat in this offense since wide receiver Mike Evans returned to the mix. At this point, fantasy managers shouldn't consider Otton anything more than a TE2 going forward.

From RotoBaller

Keeanu Benton Dec 8 6:10pm CT
Keeanu Benton

The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense held the Cleveland Browns to 14 points while recording two interceptions, three sacks, and a fumble recovery in a Week 14 victory. Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward led the way with two sacks while defensive back James Pierre and nose tackle Keeanu Benton came away with picks off Browns quarterback Jameis Winston. Pittsburgh has proven to be a matchup-proof fantasy option this season as its defense is capable of making game-altering plays on any given Sunday. That said, fantasy managers who want to play it safe may want to look for another DST in Week 15 when the Steelers travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles.

From RotoBaller

Kirk Cousins Dec 8 6:00pm CT
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has now gone four consecutive weeks without a touchdown pass after Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Vikings. The 36-year-old completed 23 of 37 passes for 344 yards and threw an additional two picks, now with a 0:8 TD:INT over this four-game stretch in which Atlanta has lost each game. The Falcons have gone from 6-3 and in first place in the division to 6-7 and a game behind Tampa Bay while falling out of even qualifying for a Wild Card spot. Calls for Michael Penix Jr. may grow louder, but in the postgame press conference, head coach Raheem Morris reaffirmed that Cousins will be the team's quarterback. If that remains true, the veteran will get the Raiders in Week 15, a team that had allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to QBs coming into the week and allowed Baker Mayfield to throw for almost 300 yards and three TDs on Sunday. Even so, with the prospect of being benched combined with continued poor play, Cousins looks like he'll be a risky, low-end QB play again in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Sterling Shepard Dec 8 6:00pm CT
Sterling Shepard

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard has seen his role increase in the offense over the last three games. On Sunday, Shepard hauled in four of his six targets for 63 yards in the win over the Las Vegas Raiders. This marks the third game in a row that Shepard has finished with at least four receptions. The 31-year-old has done a nice job when called upon, but isn't offering a ton of fantasy value right now. Shepard should continue to be treated as a flex option heading into next week's matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Shepard has shown that he is capable of at least a handful of catches each week.

From RotoBaller

Ladd McConkey Dec 8 6:00pm CT
Ladd McConkey

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (shoulder, knee) won't play in Sunday night's meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs. The wideout was labeled as a "true game-time decision." Unfortunately, the latest update just confirms what most fantasy managers had already anticipated. Without McConkey, who has had a quality rookie season, Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer are in line for more attention from Justin Herbert. Will Dissly should also get more involved.

From RotoBaller

Chris Boswell Dec 8 6:00pm CT
Chris Boswell

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell drilled both of his field goal attempts and all three of his extra-point tries in a 27-14 win over the Cleveland Browns. Per usual, Boswell was money on Sunday and delivered when called upon from 30 and 54 yards out. He was quiet in the second half as Pittsburgh managed to find the end zone twice but extended his streak to 29 consecutive successful PATs this season. Although the imposing Philadelphia Eagles defense is on tap for Week 15, Boswell will remain a must-start throughout the fantasy playoffs.

From RotoBaller

Jalen McMillan Dec 8 5:50pm CT
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan has been a disappointment throughout most of the season but finally broke out in Week 14. The rookie wideout hauled in four of his seven targets for 59 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Las Vegas Raiders. This was a nice surprise for fantasy managers who held onto McMillan. The 23-year-old hasn't surpassed 35 receiving yards in a single game until Sunday. Possibily, McMillan has finally earned more trust in the offense or it was just a fluke-game. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect this to be weekly type of performance especially with a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers next week. Fantasy managers should treat McMillan as a low-end flex option for that one.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Warren Dec 8 5:50pm CT
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren turned nine carries into 47 yards and two receptions into 25 yards in a Week 14 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Although he only managed to catch two passes, Warren saw a season-high five targets on Sunday while backfield mate Najee Harris was not utilized in the passing game. Warren's role as a complementary back has been relatively steady as of late, giving him a floor for fantasy purposes in PPR formats. However, he has just one touchdown on the season as Harris has been the preferred option near the goal line. While his matchup next week against the Philadelphia Eagles is a difficult one, it should be noted that the Eagles have allowed a fair amount of production through the air to running backs, giving Warren some flex appeal.

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Dec 8 5:40pm CT
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth finished with three receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown on three targets in a Week 14 win over the Cleveland Browns. In the absence of George Pickens (hamstring), Freiermuth didn't see a significant uptick in opportunities, but he still capitalized on his looks and continued to build rapport with quarterback Russell Wilson. His 20-yard score in the third quarter was his fifth of the campaign and gave Pittsburgh a 27-7 lead. While he isn't getting the volume needed to be considered a must-start for fantasy purposes, Freiermuth has proven to be a capable TE1 option with touchdown upside over the past three weeks. That said, he'll need to overcome a difficult matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles next week to keep up this positive trend.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr Dec 8 5:40pm CT
Derek Carr

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (hand) finished with 219 yards, one touchdown, and one pick in Sunday's win over the New York Giants. He added two carries for 12 yards. Unfortunately, Carr exited the contest late, with NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reporting that the signal-caller was seen leaving the stadium in a cast. Even worse, there's concern he fractured his non-throwing hand. Either way, Carr may miss some time. There's also a chance he's done for the year. But in the meantime, Jake Haener would presumably start in Week 15 versus Washington if Carr isn't active.

From RotoBaller

Wan'Dale Robinson Dec 8 5:30pm CT
Wan'Dale Robinson

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson had a quiet but heavily targeted outing in Sunday's 14-11 loss to the New Orleans Saints, catching four passes for 38 yards on a team-high 11 targets. Robinson averaged 9.5 yards per reception, with his longest catch going for 18 yards, but his inability to secure an end-zone target capped his fantasy output at 5.8 points. Despite the lack of production, his target volume underscores his integral role in the Giants' passing attack, even as the offense struggled to find rhythm. Fantasy managers should note his involvement, though his Week 14 performance left much to be desired for those who started him.

From RotoBaller

Demarcus Robinson Dec 8 5:30pm CT
Demarcus Robinson

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (shoulder) is questionable to return to Sunday's game versus the Buffalo Bills. The wideout came down hard after catching a deep throw from Matthew Stafford. Unfortunately, offsetting pass interference calls resulted in the catch being wiped off the board. If Robinson doesn't return, he'll finish without a catch (one target), with Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, and Tutu Atwell likely in line for a few more targets.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Dec 8 5:30pm CT
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans was fairly quiet during Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The veteran wideout hauled four of his five targets for 69 yards in the win. A majority of his production came on a 32-yard reception, which ended up being the second longest of the game for the Bucs. The good news for fantasy managers is that Evans has finished with 68 receiving yards or more in his first three games since returning from injury. Evans will head into a more difficult matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers defense next week. Despite that, Evans should remain a WR1 for Week 15.

From RotoBaller