Raiders' Kenny Pickett, an ex-Eagle, to face former club

Fri Dec 12 9:51pm ET
Field Level Media

The Las Vegas Raiders made it official Friday, naming backup Kenny Pickett the starting quarterback for their Sunday game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Pickett played for the Super Bowl champion Eagles in 2024, backing up Jalen Hurts and starting one game, a 41-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17.

Regular starter Geno Smith has been nursing a right shoulder injury and couldn't practice this week after sustaining the injury in the Raiders' 24-17 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Pickett, 27, received first-team reps in practice this week after relieving Smith in the Broncos game, going 8 of 11 for 97 yards with a touchdown pass.

The Raiders (2-11) acquired Pickett from the Browns after training camp was completed in August. Cleveland previously acquired Pickett from the Eagles but ran out of room at the position.

Pickett has completed 481 of 769 passes (62.5%) for 4,870 yards, 16 TDs and 14 picks in 33 games (25 starts) for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2022-23), Eagles (2024) and Raiders. He is 15-10 as a starter.

The Steelers selected him 20th overall in the 2022 draft out of the University of Pittsburgh.

The Raiders have lost seven straight heading into Sunday against the Eagles (8-5).

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Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 15

Player Notes
Josh Allen Dec 13 4:20am CT
Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen enters Week 15 in elite form after posting 944 passing yards with seven touchdowns across his last four games while adding 176 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on the ground. The 29-year-old has been particularly dangerous in the red zone, accounting for 12 total touchdowns over the past month. Allen faces a Patriots defense that ranks middle-tier against opposing quarterbacks, allowing 220 passing yards per game and 23 touchdown passes through 14 games. The Bills' receiving corps has stabilized around Khalil Shakir, Gabe Davis, and Tyrell Shavers, with Dalton Kincaid expected back from his month-long absence. The matchup at Gillette Stadium sets up favorably for Allen's aggressive downfield approach, as New England's secondary has generated just six interceptions this season. Allen's dual-threat upside, combined with consistent volume, makes him a must-start, ranking as RotoBaller's QB1 for Week 15.

From RotoBaller

James Cook Dec 13 4:20am CT
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has handled 83 carries over his last four games, totaling 388 rushing yards and one touchdown while adding 11 receptions for 143 yards and another score. The 26-year-old ranks second in the NFL with 1,308 rushing yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Cook faces a formidable challenge against a Patriots defense that ranks third in the league, allowing just 89.5 rushing yards per game and five rushing touchdowns all season. New England surrendered just 49 yards on 15 carries to Cook in their Week 5 meeting. Despite the difficult matchup, Cook's workhorse role remains secure with Ray Davis and Ty Johnson serving as change-of-pace options behind him. His 20.8 carries per game over the last month demonstrate elite volume, though modest receiving usage limits PPR upside against a stingy Patriots front. Cook ranks as RotoBaller's RB10 in PPR formats for Week 15.

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Brock Purdy Dec 13 4:10am CT
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is back in the QB1 conversation in Week 15. On Sunday, Purdy and the Niners face the Titans, who have allowed 22.4 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks in 2025. Last week, Tennessee got torched by rookie Shedeur Sanders to the tune of 364 yards and three touchdowns through the air, and another 29 yards with an additional score on the ground. The Titans have given up multiple passing touchdowns in six of their last seven games and averaged 265 passing yards allowed during the same stretch. This is promising for Purdy, who has averaged just 187 passing yards per game since returning in Week 11 from a six-game absence managing turf toe. Purdy is a solid option in two-QB formats and is a good pivot from similar quarterbacks with more imposing matchups in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Brenton Strange Dec 13 3:20am CT
Brenton Strange

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange should lean on a lackluster Jets defense in Week 15 and return to the top end of the TE leaderboard. The 6-foot-4 Strange was the half-PPR TE5 in both Weeks 12 and 13 after missing five games due to a hip injury, but faltered with only 5.7 points last week, coming up just short of a touchdown. Strange would see six targets on the day, matching his average opportunity in '25. In fact, over the last three weeks, his 165 yards are fifth-best among TEs, and no other TE in the top 12 has an average depth of target above 10 in that span (his is 10.2). The Jets have tightened up on defense against the position lately, yet the seven TDs allowed to TEs is still a bottom-10 mark. Few others can boast a healthy red-zone role and a downfield presence for fantasy managers, making Strange a deserving top-10 option at TE.

From RotoBaller

Cam Little Dec 13 2:10am CT
Cam Little

Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little is itching to show off that big leg of his in a Week 15 date with a vulnerable Jets defense and perfect weather on tap. The 22-year-old kicker has only missed one extra point this year (and his two-year career), and no distance is too great for the current NFL record-holder for longest field goal. Little and the Jaguars are favored by nearly 14 points across the board against the Jets, who have allowed 28 field goals thus far. Only Baltimore has allowed more field goals this year. The forecast is set for about 70 degrees with clear skies and unremarkable wind, so we've got Little ranked comfortably in RotoBaller's top-10 at kicker. One of the biggest threats is that Little only gets chances to kick XPs in a tilted affair!

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Brian Thomas Jr. Dec 13 2:00am CT
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is poised to rebuild some fantasy football trust in this final month after an arduous campaign filled with drops and injuries. Last week, BTJ gained ground with three catches for 87 yards on six targets that compiled a whopping 148 air yards. Both he and Jakobi Meyers led the way with 29 routes run, with Tim Patrick playing the No. 3 role that Parker Washington (hip) had vacated. With Trevor Lawrence pushing the ball more aggressively over the last month and Jacksonville in a position to snowball the score against the Jets, Thomas could finally smash if those air yards are translated into the box score. His spot around WR30 in our ranks is due to the roller-coaster ride we've endured to date, but those needing to aim for high-risk, high-reward output should deploy Thomas.

From RotoBaller

Parker Washington Dec 13 2:00am CT
Parker Washington

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (hip) was upgraded from a pair of limited practices to full on Friday, resulting in a questionable designation with a decent chance to return to play in Week 15 against the Jets. We've yet to see what a full game's output from Washington looks like with both Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers on the field, but he should leapfrog Tim Patrick for No. 3 WR duties. It is possible that Patrick, who posted a strong 5-78-1 receiving line last week, doesn't just totally fade, and Washington also poses a re-injury risk. Even in a game the Jags could win by 40, Washington is very difficult to trust in a week where many of you are either opening your fantasy playoffs or fighting for a final berth. He's a deep-league, touchdown-dependent dart throw slotted around RotoBaller's WR70 mark.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Dec 13 1:50am CT
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. is in a prime spot to tally his sixth top-12 half-PPR finish in seven games and propel fantasy managers down the stretch. We've lost the early-season efficiency seen back in the first month of play, but steady volume on an offense averaging 30 points per game since Week 8 will suffice. His outlook is further bolstered by Bhayshul Tuten's poor recent form (2.3 yards per carry over the last three games) and drawing a top-five matchup against the Jets. Gang Green has surrendered rush TDs to everyone lately, including three different Miami RBs last week. The Jets are set to start third-stringer Brady Cook at quarterback, which has the Jags favored by roughly two TDs across all major sportsbooks. Etienne rosters should enjoy several scoring chances throughout the contests due to a positive gamescript and the advantageous matchup. As a result, Etienne is locked in as a top-10 option at the position per our ranks at RotoBaller.

From RotoBaller

Jeremy Ruckert Dec 13 1:50am CT
Jeremy Ruckert

New York Jets tight end Jeremy Ruckert will assume a starting role this Sunday when his team takes on the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road. Ruckert posted his highest snap share of the campaign in Week 14, but only came away with 19 yards on 2-of-3 receiving while teammate Mason Taylor (neck) dealt with an injury. With Taylor ruled out, the former third-round pick will get a chance to lead New York's TE room. However, he'll do so with rookie quarterback Brady Cook under center. Cook will get the starting nod this week, as fellow QBs Tyrod Taylor (groin) and Justin Fields (knee) have both been deemed out with their respective injuries, lowering the fantasy floor for all Jets' skill players. Even with the expected bump in opportunity, Ruckert can be safely avoided by owners looking for a tight end to stream in the first round of the fantasy playoffs.

From RotoBaller

Bhayshul Tuten Dec 13 1:50am CT
Bhayshul Tuten

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten has had a disappointing few weeks after a season-high 74 rushing yards in Week 11, but hope springs eternal this weekend thanks to a date with the Jets' generous rush defense. Pessimists will point to Tuten's failure to crack 20 total yards in each of the last three games, while optimists can hang their hat on how complementary backs have fared against the Jets lately. Both Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II scored last week, while Tyler Allgeier found paydirt the week before that, and all after the elite starters had scored themselves. It's been a few weeks since Tuten has appeared on Jacksonville's injury report with an ankle issue, so we must assume he's in a position to capitalize here. There's no skirting the low floor that he's shown in recent games, but Tuten's potential ceiling in a game that Jacksonville could run away with makes for a mighty double-edged sword for those needing a flex play to wield.

From RotoBaller

Jakobi Meyers Dec 13 1:50am CT
Jakobi Meyers

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is looking to score a touchdown in his fourth straight game with a robust matchup against the Jets. Meyers is fully integrated into the offense following the midseason trade from Las Vegas, clearing an 80% snap count in each of his last three games. The return of Brian Thomas Jr. to the field didn't cut into his role either, as Meyers just logged 10 targets last week. The Jets' opponents don't often log high passing volume, but they allow a top-10 touchdown rate with zero interceptions and a bottom-three QB hit tally. Fantasy managers can be encouraged by the low pressure and a consolidated target share at the top of Jacksonville's food chain, which all comes together to make Meyers a top-20 WR in RotoBaller's Week 15 rankings.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Davis Dec 13 1:50am CT
Isaiah Davis

New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis could be in line for more work in this weekend's road meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but it will remain difficult to trust him for fantasy. The second-year pro has seen his share of the backfield touch load taper off significantly over the last month or so, picking up just three targets and 11 carries over the previous five games. However, he could see an elevated workload in Week 15. Teammate Breece Hall carries no designation into Sunday's outing, although he dealt with a knee injury this week, potentially leading to the team scaling back his workload when they take on the hosting Jaguars. Furthermore, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Jets lean on the ground game with rookie signal-caller Brady Cook getting his first start under center. That said, Jacksonville has been one of the more challenging matchups for opposing rushers, yielding the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game (17.92) to the position. Even if Davis boasts an increased opportunity this Sunday, it doesn't figure to be impactful for fantasy. He'll rank as RotoBaller's PPR RB66 ahead of Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Adonai Mitchell Dec 13 1:40am CT
Adonai Mitchell

New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell will act as a primary option in the team's passing game for at least one more week as they take on the hosting Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday. Mitchell came crashing back down to Earth in Week 14 after a career day the week prior, hauling in just 1-of-6 looks for 24 yards. It was a disappointing outing for fantasy managers who took a chance on him. Despite being without teammate Garrett Wilson (knee) yet again in Week 15, Mitchell and the rest of the Jets' skill players will receive a significant downgrade with rookie quarterback Brady Cook getting the start. For what it's worth, Mitchell figures to garner the more valuable, downfield targets between him and John Metchie III. However, that also makes the former's opportunities more volatile and susceptible to poor outcomes. He'll land as RotoBaller's PPR WR48 in this week's ranks.

From RotoBaller

Trevor Lawrence Dec 13 1:40am CT
Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence enters the Week 15 fantasy slate with a friendly home matchup with the Jets. The Clemson alum has scored multiple touchdowns in four straight contests since Liam Coen instructed him to "let it rip," while also being turnover-free in his last two efforts. He's shown a particularly strong rapport with newcomer Jakobi Meyers, tossing a TD in three consecutive games to the 29-year-old wideout. Though the Jets have done well to limit opposing QBs to three combined TDs over four games, they've forced a league-low two turnovers all year (zero interceptions). Lawrence opened the week with an ankle injury designation and a limited practice on Wednesday, but has gotten in full sessions on Thursday and Friday. The rushing potential should be there alongside the improved passing on Sunday, planting him near the top-10 QBs in our RotoBaller ranks for the week.

From RotoBaller

John Metchie III Dec 13 1:40am CT
John Metchie III

New York Jets wide receiver John Metchie III is little more than a low-floor PPR option for Sunday's road meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. The 25-year-old appeared to be an ascending asset for New York a few weeks ago, but has since posted back-to-back four-catch outings while notching fewer than 35 receiving yards in each. Metchie will get another excellent matchup in Week 15 when they square off with Jacksonville. However, he'll be a riskier play than usual this week with first-year pro Brady Cook calling signals for the Jets. Even with Garrett Wilson (knee) missing another contest, Metchie only qualifies as a low-end flex play with Cook under center. The former Alabama Crimson Tide ranks as RotoBaller's PPR WR59 for his outing with the Jaguars.

From RotoBaller

Breece Hall Dec 13 1:30am CT
Breece Hall

New York Jets running back Breece Hall has a difficult matchup on tap for Week 15, when his team squares off with the hosting Jacksonville Jaguars. Hall was initially at risk of missing this weekend's contest after he began the week tagged with a DNP due to a knee injury. Fortunately, he'd elevate his practice status each of the following days, and carries no designation into Sunday's outing. Despite the minor issue, the Iowa State alum is trending toward being the focal point of New York's attack with rookie signal-caller Brady Cook under center. While Hall's volume should be significant, he'll slide down the fantasy rankings this week. Aside from a lower ceiling with Cook at the helm, he'll have to deal with a league-best Jacksonville rush defense (82.9 yards per game), further hindering his fantasy potential. Hall's volume should be nice, but he'll be a fringey RB2, and, officially, RotoBaller's PPR RB20 for Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Brady Cook Dec 13 1:20am CT
Brady Cook

New York Jets quarterback Brady Cook will garner his first start of his young career in Sunday's road outing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cook took the field for the first time in Week 14's 34-10 loss to the visiting Dolphins after veteran Tyrod Taylor (groin) left the contest with an injury. It wasn't a banner day for the 24-year-old, who completed just 14-of-30 pass attempts while tossing two interceptions and fumbling twice (none lost). With Taylor and Justin Fields (knee) both sidelined for Week 15, Cook will get a chance to build off his debut, but won't be afforded any favors in an underrated Jacksonville defense. The Jags are beatable through the air, although they've clamped down on the opposition's scoring chances, yielding the eleventh-fewest points per game in the NFL (20.9). Cook won't be in fantasy consideration outside of superflex and 2QB formats, and officially ranks as RotoBaller's QB34 for his matchup with Jacksonville.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Warren Dec 13 1:10am CT
Tyler Warren

Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren is only 13 games into his career at the professional level. However, he's already established himself as one of the top tight ends in the National Football League. The 2025 No. 14 overall pick has had a few rough showings, although he still ranks among the top names at the position in several statistical areas, including receptions (60), receiving yards (699), and touchdowns (four). With Indy hoping to remain in the playoff picture, the team will need a win over Seattle on Sunday. Without question, the Seahawks have one of the most imposing defenses in the NFL, meaning it could be a difficult day for the Colts offense, especially with Philip Rivers or Riley Leonard under center in place of Daniel Jones (Achilles), who is done for at least the remainder of the 2025 campaign. Still, there aren't many tight ends with as high of a ceiling as Warren, so fantasy managers should keep him starting and hope for the best. It's also worth noting that Seattle has struggled against opposing tight ends throughout the season, giving fantasy managers a reason to stay optimistic.

From RotoBaller

Alec Pierce Dec 13 12:50am CT
Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (rib) practiced in full all week and doesn't carry an injury designation heading into Sunday's clash with the Seahawks. Pierce finished the 2024 campaign with seven touchdowns, a career-high. However, he has only scored twice this season. While the decline in trips to the end zone is a significant concern, he at least appears well on his way to having his best year in terms of receptions and receiving yards. With Indy desperately trying to remain in the postseason conversation, the team will look for a win over Seattle on Sunday. The Seahawks have one of the most formidable defenses in the National Football League, which would make life difficult for anyone. Yet, it may be an even tougher week for Pierce and the rest of the pass-catchers, considering Philip Rivers or Riley Leonard (knee) will take over in place of Daniel Jones (Achilles), who will miss the remainder of the year. With that in mind, Pierce isn't the safest fantasy option by any means in Week 15, so managers might want to consider other options, especially with Jonathan Taylor rumored to be more involved than usual.

From RotoBaller

Raheem Mostert Dec 13 12:10am CT
Raheem Mostert

Las Vegas Raiders running back Raheem Mostert has spent most of this season backing up rookie Ashton Jeanty, and he should remain in that role ahead of Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 33-year-old battled a knee injury during practice this past week but has been removed from the injury report and will play on Sunday, barring a setback. He has been held to just one touch in each of his last two games, and he ranks as the overall RB75 in PPR leagues this season. On one hand, the Eagles present a favorable matchup for any running back. After all, Philadelphia has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points, fifth-most receiving yards, and second-most receiving touchdowns to opposing running backs in 2025. On the other hand, though, the Purdue product is clearly nothing more than a change-of-pace back behind Jeanty in this Vegas offense. He's averaging just 3.1 touches per game and has played fewer than one-third of the snaps in each of his last eight contests. Mostert ranks as the overall RB72 in this week's RotoBaller fantasy rankings, and he can be left on waivers in all leagues.

From RotoBaller