Studs and Duds: Week 15

Mon Dec 15 8:45am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Pitts had a game for the ages


It was definitely an interesting week of fantasy games. We had some unfortunate injuries to a host of players, which really marred some big-time fantasy performances. And you have to think this week is a good indication of why you just want to get in the fantasy playoffs. Anything can happen. There are many fantasy teams that advanced even if they were not the best teams in their league all season long. Guys like Kyle Pitts and Trevor Lawrence carried fantasy teams to wins all by themselves. They could end up being league winners this fantasy season.

Falcons 29, Bucs 28

Fantasy Stud: Kyle Pitts. Pitts had one of the best games ever for a fantasy tight end, having the fifth-best game of all time. He was a monster, carrying fantasy teams to wins. Pitts had 11 receptions for 166 yards and three touchdowns. Pitts scored an amazing 45.6 fantasy points. He is red hot of late, having 15-plus fantasy points three straight games. Pitts could end up being a league winner for fantasy teams.

Fantasy Dud: Bucky Irving. Irving had a quiet game at a bad time for fantasy owners. He ran 16 times for 60 yards and had just a catch for 11 yards. Irving scored 8.1 fantasy points, which was his lowest fantasy point of the entire season. It was his first game failing to reach at least 13 fantasy points.

Game Notes: Bijan Robinson had a big showing, rushing 19 times for 93 yards and a touchdown. He also had eight receptions for 82 yards, finishing with 175 total yards.

Mike Evans returned from his broken collarbone and looked great, leading the Bucs in receiving. He had six receptions for 132 yards.

Eagles 31, Raiders 0

Fantasy Stud: Dallas Goedert. Goedert had maybe his best showing of the season. He had six receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns. He scored 25 fantasy points in the game. Goedert has been up and down throughout the season but has 15-plus fantasy points two straight.

Fantasy Dud: Ashton Jeanty. There were a lot of disappointing Raiders in this game but Jeanty tops the list. He was held in check once again, rushing nine times for 35 yards. Jeanty also had four receptions for seven yards. So he had 13 total touchdowns for just 42 yards. Jeanty is struggling to help fantasy teams in his erratic offense.

Game Notes: Kenny Pickett struggled as the starter for the Raiders. He didn’t give the offense a spark, going 15-of-25 for just 64 yards with an interception.

Jalen Hurt was near perfect, finishing 12-of-15 for 175 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. He also ran the ball seven times for 39 yards.

Ravens 24, Bengals 0

Fantasy Stud: Ja’Marr Chase. His team lost and got shut out but Chase had a huge game. He had 10 receptions for 132 yards. Chase scored 23.2 fantasy points, putting him over 20 points for the fifth time this season. He isn’t having quite the season as last year but still posting really good numbers. He is up to 101 receptions for the season.

Fantasy Dud: Joe Burrow. Burrow failed to score a touchdown in this one. He was 25-of-39 for 225 with two interceptions. Burrow managed just 9.75 fantasy points. It was a terrible showing for Burrow at a crucial point of the season. Not good.

Game Notes: Derrick Henry hit the 100-yard mark for the fifth time this season. He ran 11 times for 100 yards.

Zay Flowers scored a touchdown for the first time since the season opener. He has three receptions for 68 yards and a score.

Bills 35, Patriots 31

Fantasy Stud: TreVeyon Henderson. Henderson had another one of his huge games, running 14 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 13 yards, giving him 161 total yards. Henderson scored 30.1 fantasy points. He has 28-plus points three of five games.

Fantasy Dud: Stefon Diggs. Many thought Diggs could have a big showing in this revenge game for him. That didn’t happen, though. He had three receptions for 26 yards. Diggs had just 5.6 fantasy points. He has less than six fantasy points three straight games.

Game Notes: James Cook reached the 100-yard rushing mark for the third time in four games. He ran 22 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns.

Drake Maye failed to throw a touchdown pass but had two rushing scores. He was 14-of-23 for 155 yards with an interception. Maye rushed four times for 43 yards and two scores.

Texans 40, Cardinals 20

Fantasy Stud: Trey McBride. McBride just keeps posting huge numbers. He had 12 receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns. McBride scored a season-high 37.4 fantasy points. He has six games with 20-plus fantasy points, including four of his last six. McBride is looking like a league-winner for fantasy owners.

Fantasy Dud: Jayden Higgins. Higgins was one of the few Texans that did not do much. He had just a catch for four yards. It was his lowest point total since Week 9. He had just 1.4 fantasy points. Higgins has four receptions for 38 yards his last two games.

Game Notes: Woody Marks was banged up in this game, leaving early. He ran seven times for 30 yards and a touchdown before getting hurt. Jawhar Jordan had a 100-yard showing in his place, running 15 times for 101 yards.

Bam Knight also was banged up in this one, leaving with an ankle injury. He had just a carry before getting hurt. Michael Carter was the lead back much of the game and ran 14 times for 56 yards.

Bears 31, Browns 3

Fantasy Stud: D.J. Moore. Moore had four receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns. He scored 22.9 fantasy points, which was a welcome sight after his last two games. Moore had fewer than five fantasy points two straight before this one.

Fantasy Dud: Shedeur Sanders. Just when it looked like Sanders might be turning the corner, he really struggled in Week 15. He was 18-of-35 for 177 yards with three interceptions. Sanders proved he can’t be trusted at this time of the year for fantasy teams.

Game Notes: D’Andre Swift had his first two-touchdown game of the season. He ran 18 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

Luther Burden led the Bears in receiving, catching six passes for 84 yards. Burden has double-digit fantasy points two straight games.

Chargers 16, Chiefs 13

Fantasy Stud: Travis Kelce. There were not many good fantasy players in this game but Kelce was a bright spot. He had seven receptions for 70 yards. He scored 14 fantasy points and has 14-plus points three of four games. Kelce continues to produce solid numbers as the TE1 for fantasy teams.

Fantasy Dud: Omarion Hampton. Hampton ran 15 times for 61 yards and caught a pass for four yards. He scored just 7.5 fantasy points. He had at least 13 fantasy points four straight games before this showing. You hoped for much better this week from the emerging back.   

Game Notes: Patrick Mahomes was injured on their last drive of the game and suffered a dreaded torn ACL. He was 16-of-28 for 189 yards with an interception. He ran two times for 15 yards and a score. Gardner Minshew was intercepted in relief, ending the Chiefs hope for a comeback win.

Oronde Gadsden had his best showing in several weeks. He caught four passes for 61 yards.

Jaguars 48, Jets 20

Fantasy Stud: Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence had an incredible game for his fantasy owners. He was 20-of-32 for 330 yards and five touchdowns without a turnover. He also led the Jaguars in rushing, running five times for 51 yards and a touchdown. Lawrence had six total scores. Lawrence nearly scored 50 points, finishing with 47.6 fantasy points. He has been on fire, having 21-plus points four straight games.

Fantasy Dud: Breece Hall. Hall got his touches but really did next to nothing once again. He ran 12 times for just 23 yards and had two receptions for 14 yards. Hall didn’t even hit six fantasy points, scoring just 5.7. He has less than six points two straight, becoming a hard fantasy player to use at this point of the season.

Game Notes: Travis Etienne ran 12 times for just 32 yards but led the team in receiving yards. Etienne had three receptions for 73 yards and three touchdowns, scoring on all three of his catches.

Brady Cook got his first NFL start and was a little up and down. He finished 22-of-33 for 176 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions. He ran six times for 39 yards.

Commanders 29, Giants 21

Fantasy Stud: Tyrone Tracy. Tracy dominated much of the work at running back and played well. He ran 15 times for 70 yards and a touchdown. He also had three receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown. Tracy had 97 total yards and two scores. Tracy scored more than 20 fantasy points for the first time, giving him 16-plus fantasy points three of four games.

Fantasy Dud: Marcus Mariota. Mariota got a few fantasy starts in a favorable matchup but produced pretty ho-hum numbers for fantasy owners. He threw for 211 yards and a touchdown and ran for 43 yards. Mariota scored just 17.85 fantasy points, his lowest point total in a start since Week 8.

Game Notes: Terry McLaurin found the end zone for the second time in three games. He had three receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown.

Jaxon Dart had another solid fantasy showing, scoring 25.6 fantasy points. He threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 63 yards.

Seahawks 18, Colts 16

Fantasy Stud: Jason Myers. Myers carried the offense, scoring all of their points. The kicker made six field goals. Myers has at least 12 fantasy points six straight games. Myers is having a career season and is one of the elite kickers in the game right now in this offense.

Fantasy Dud: Tyler Warren. The entire Colts offense suffered with Philip Rivers the new starting quarterback. He had trouble pushing the ball down the field. Warren struggled to do much, catching three passes for 19 yards. Warren scored just 4.9 fantasy points, giving him less than five points two straight games. 

Game Notes: Philip Rivers performed admirably, but showed some rust. He finished 18-of-27 for 120 yards and a touchdown with an interception.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba continued his monster season, catching seven passes for 113 yards. He has nine 100-yard games on the season.

Saints 20, Panthers 17

Fantasy Stud: Chris Olave. It took a little while for Olave to get going, but he finished with a great game. Olave had six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. He has touchdowns two of three games. Olave has 14-plus fantasy points four of five games. He has been about as consistent as any fantasy receiver in the game. 

Fantasy Dud: Tet McMillan. McMillan was held in check, catching two passes for 25 yards. He had touchdowns three straight before this showing. McMillan has less than 45 yards three straight games. He is having a solid season but hasn’t been quite as consistent as fantasy owners hoped.

Game Notes: Devin Neal suffered a hamstring injury and was unable to finish the game. Neal ran seven times for 28 yards and a touchdown before getting hurt.

Jalen Coker found the end zone for the second straight game. He had three receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown.

49ers 37, Titans 24

Fantasy Stud: Brock Purdy. Purdy was 23-of-30 for 295 yards and three touchdowns. Purdy topped 30 fantasy points for the first time this year, scoring 30.15 fantasy points. He has four games with 21-plus fantasy points. Purdy is posting solid numbers now that he his healthy and starting in this explosive offense.

Fantasy Dud: Chimere Dike. Dike was a disappointment after posting some good fantasy numbers in recent weeks. He just couldn’t make a big play, catching four passes for just 17 yards. And to make matters worse, Dike lost Sven yards on his only rush. He managed to score 5.7 fantasy points.

Game Notes: Christian McCaffrey had a back injury but was able to play and got a pretty good workload. He ran 22 times for 73 yards and a touchdown. He caught just a pass for 14 yards.

Tony Pollard had his second straight 100-yard rushing game. He ran 14 times for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Rams 41, Lions 34

Fantasy Stud: Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown had one of the best games of the entire fantasy season, finishing with 13 receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns. St. Brown scored 41.5 fantasy points. He is up to 11 touchdowns on the season and has two games with 145-plus receiving yards.

Fantasy Dud: Jahmyr Gibbs. There was a ton of offense in this game but Gibbs was not part of the fun. He ran 13 times for just 38 yards and caught four passes for 20 yards. He failed to reach double-digit fantasy points for just the third time all year.

Game Notes: Davante Adams had four receptions for 71 yards but was unable to finish the game because of a hamstring injury. This is an injury to watch going forward.

Puka Nacua had nine receptions for 181 yards. He has two straight games with 160-plus yards. 

Broncos 34, Packers 26

Fantasy Stud: Bo Nix. Nix had an unbelievable performance against a solid defense, going 23-of-34 for 303 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. Nix scored 32.15 fantasy points, his third time this season scoring 30-plus points. Nix is having an uneven season but has been really good at times, showing his huge fantasy upside.

Fantasy Dud: Jordan Love. Love has been on a heater but cooled in this one, failing to hit 20 fantasy points. He was 24-of-40 for 276 yards and a touchdown with two turnovers. It was his first multiple-interception game of the season. 

Game Notes: Josh Jacobs was iffy to play but played and produced well. He ran 12 times for 73 yards and a touchdown. He also had two receptions for 19 yards and another score.

Courtland Sutton reached the 100-yard mark for the second time this season. He had seven receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets.

Vikings 34, Cowboys 26

Fantasy Stud: J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy played his second straight good game and had a season-high 27 fantasy points. He was 15-of-24 for 250 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. He also ran in a score, giving him three total touchdowns. McCarthy is starting to make strides after some rocky showings this season. His play the last two games has been very encouraging.

Fantasy Dud: Dak Prescott. Prescott didn’t play poorly but didn’t help fantasy teams. He was 23-of-38 for 294 yards without a touchdown. He scored just 14.9 fantasy points, his lowest point total since Week 8. Prescott had at least 24 fantasy points four straight games before this one. Prescott picked a bad time to have one of his few down games of the season.

Game Notes: Justin Jefferson finished with fewer than 25 yards for the third straight game. He had two receptions for 22 yards on eight targets.

Javonte Williams battled a shoulder injury in the game but was able to return. He lost out on some carries but still managed to finish with 15 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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The Paur Report

Five Fantasy Takeaways: Week 15

Player Notes
Brian Robinson Jr. Dec 15 9:30pm CT
Brian Robinson Jr.

Across 14 games this season, San Francisco 49ers running back Brian Robinson Jr. has recorded 349 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 81 carries. The 26-year-old has spent the entirety of the 2025 season in a backup role behind star 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. Robinson Jr. has yet to record double-digit carries in a game in 2025 and has just seven receptions on the season, so his standalone fantasy value is limited. However, if McCaffrey were to suffer an injury, Robinson Jr. would immediately become a viable starting fantasy running back. He's proven he can succeed in a lead-back role in the past, racking up 799 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 187 carries across 14 games with the Washington Commanders in 2024. In fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams, Robinson Jr. is worth rostering just in case McCaffrey goes down.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Golden Dec 15 9:20pm CT
Matthew Golden

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden has mostly had an underwhelming rookie season to this point, recording 27 catches for 341 yards on 37 targets across 11 games. The 22-year-old has not played more than 37% of Green Bay's offensive snaps in any game since Week 8. However, Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (chest) suffered a chest injury in Week 15 that has his status for the team's Week 16 matchup against the Chicago Bears in question. If Watson is sidelined, Golden could have an opportunity for increased playing time. In Week 15, three of Golden's four targets and two of his three receptions came after Watson exited the game. In PPR fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams where Golden remains available, he should be added off the waiver wire and stashed until more information is known about Watson's injury status.

From RotoBaller

Patrick Mahomes Dec 15 9:10pm CT
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) underwent successful ACL surgery in Dallas on Monday. Mahomes went under the knife with Dr. Dan Cooper to repair a torn left ACL that he suffered in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He'll immediately begin the rehab process, and his timetable to return is unknown right now. The 30-year-old is obviously out for the rest of this season and faces an uphill battle to be ready for the beginning of the 2026 campaign. In his absence, Gardner Minshew will take over under center for the final three games of the regular season with the Chiefs officially eliminated from playoff contention. With Mahomes out the rest of the way, KC's offensive weapons need to be downgraded in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Rome Odunze Dec 15 9:00pm CT
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) could be in danger of missing more time down the stretch. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Odunze is currently considered week-to-week. The second-year wideout missed his second straight game in Week 15 due to a stress fracture in his foot. The organization is keeping all options on the table in the final three weeks of the regular season. The Bears will likely need to lean on DJ Moore, Luther Burden III (ankle), and Olamide Zaccheaus over the next few games if Odunze misses more time. It seems unlikely that Odunze will be ready in time for the upcoming Week 16 rematch with the Green Bay Packers. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for updates, but they need another option lined up in case Odunze sits out another game.

From RotoBaller

Kayshon Boutte Dec 15 8:50pm CT
Kayshon Boutte

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was unproductive during Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills, tying his season low with one target in the defeat. The third-year wideout has hit a slump over the last few weeks. Boutte hasn't surpassed 35 receiving yards in a game since Week 8. The good news is that Boutte is heading into a plus matchup against the Baltimore Ravens defense in Week 16. The expectation is that the Patriots should have more success passing the ball in that one. Boutte isn't a high-end streaming option, but he should offer deep-league appeal in a flex spot. He has hauled in six touchdowns and is one of the better red-zone threats in this offense. Fantasy managers should expect a bounce-back outing from the 23-year-old this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Ollie Gordon II Dec 15 8:40pm CT
Ollie Gordon II

Miami Dolphins rookie running back Ollie Gordon II (ankle) is considered questionable to return to Monday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The rookie back suffered an ankle injury during the second quarter of this contest when he was tackled for a loss in the backfield and got his leg caught awkwardly underneath him. He limped off the field with the help of the training staff. Before exiting, Gordon had rushed the ball twice for no gain. His absence should mean an expanded role for backup Jaylen Wright. Lead back De'Von Achane figures to see a slightly larger role in the backfield as well.

From RotoBaller

Marcus Mariota Dec 15 8:30pm CT
Marcus Mariota

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota will remain under center for the rest of the regular season after the team officially shut down Jayden Daniels (elbow) for the final three games. Mariota has started seven games this season and has posted top-10 fantasy value in three of them. The 32-year-old had a less-than-ideal outing versus the New York Giants on Sunday, throwing for 211 yards with a touchdown while rushing the ball 10 times for 43 yards on the ground. He doesn't have the strongest arm, but his dual-threat ability gives Mariota streaming appeal the rest of the way. He'll head into a challenging matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16. Mariota should still offer superflex value as a QB2 in a difficult home matchup.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Dec 15 8:20pm CT
Jacoby Brissett

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett has quietly been putting together strong numbers since taking over as the starting QB in Week 6. Since he took over for the injured Kyler Murray (foot), Brissett has thrown at least two touchdowns in every game except one. The 33-year-old has surpassed 300 passing yards in three of his last five contests. Brissett is posting strong numbers in this pass-heavy Cardinals offense. It has helped that the Cardinals have been playing from behind quite often, forcing Brissett to pass frequently. Fantasy managers in need of a streaming option for Week 16 should take a hard look at Brissett. He'll draw a plus matchup against the Atlanta Falcons defense this weekend. Brissett has been posting nearly top-10 QB numbers every week since he took over under center, and he is a viable option for fantasy managers in need of help.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Jones Dec 15 7:20pm CT
Brandon Jones

The Denver Broncos placed safety Brandon Jones (pectoral) on Injured Reserve on Monday, according to Aric DiLalla of DenverBroncos.com. Jones will be forced to miss the final three regular-season games and the first postseason game for Denver after he was injured in Sunday's 34-26 win over the visiting Green Bay Packers in Week 15. It's a notable loss for the Broncos in their secondary to close out the regular season, but thankfully for Denver, they've already clinched a playoff spot. With Jones out for at least the next four games, Devon Key will be the team's starting free safety, beginning this Sunday against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars. The 27-year-old Jones is in his sixth year in the NFL (second with Denver) in 2025, and he has 78 tackles (43 solo), half a sack, one interception, seven pass breakups, and a fumble recovery in 14 games.

From RotoBaller

Davante Adams Dec 15 7:10pm CT
Davante Adams

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring), who left Sunday's win over the Detroit Lions with a hamstring injury, is considered week-to-week, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. It's an aggravation of a previous injury he was dealing with, but Rapoport writes that it will almost certainly "knock him out" for Thursday night's big divisional clash against the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams aren't ruling out the 32-year-old veteran just yet for Week 16, but unfortunately, fantasy managers in their league's semifinal matchup probably won't have him available this week. The six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro currently leads the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions in 14 games in his first year in L.A., so it will be a big loss for the Rams' offense if he's out. Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington will have bigger roles behind Puka Nacua, as will tight end Colby Parkinson, who had two touchdowns in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Mecole Hardman Dec 15 7:10pm CT
Mecole Hardman

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that the 21-day practice window for wide receiver Mecole Hardman (calf) could be opened this week, according to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com. Hardman is eligible to be activated to the 53-man roster from Injured Reserve for the team's Week 16 contest against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The 27-year-old has been on IR since Nov. 20 and has already missed the required four games. Even if he returns to practice this week, it won't be a lock that Hardman will be active this weekend against the Browns. And when Hardman returns to action, he'll probably only contribute on special teams as a kick returner. He's only been active for one game for the Bills this year and has no catches on one target.

From RotoBaller

Roman Wilson Dec 15 7:00pm CT
Roman Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson will be a healthy inactive for the Monday Night Football game against the visiting Miami Dolphins in Week 15, according to Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. It's the second straight game that Wilson will sit on the sidelines without dealing with an injury. It coincides with the team picking up veteran Adam Thielen for WR depth behind DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III. The 24-year-old former third-rounder in 2024 has only 12 receptions on the year on 21 targets for 166 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games in his second year in the NFL. In addition to Thielen, the Steelers have added veteran wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling to their active roster, pushing Wilson further down the WR depth chart in Pittsburgh.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Warren Dec 15 6:50pm CT
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (illness), who was a late addition to the Week 15 injury report due to an illness, is officially active for the Monday night game against the visiting Miami Dolphins, according to Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. Fantasy managers can leave the 27-year-old in their starting lineups, but Warren may be spelled a bit more by backfield mate Kenneth Gainwell against Miami. Warren has been Pittsburgh's primary RB all year and is averaging 12.0 half-PPR fantasy points per game on 652 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 159 rushing attempts. He's added 30 receptions for 277 yards and another two scores as a receiver. Warren has a pretty high ceiling as an RB2, as he's had double-digit touches in all 12 of his games in 2025 while averaging 15.8 touches and 77.4 scrimmage yards.

From RotoBaller

Trevor Lawrence Dec 15 6:20pm CT
Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is one of the hottest QBs in the league when it matters most for fantasy football managers. Lawrence took advantage of a great matchup against a bad New York Jets defense in Week 15 to go 20-for-32 passing for a season-high 330 yards and five passing touchdowns on Sunday. He added five carries for 51 yards on the ground and a sixth touchdown on the day. Since Week 12, Lawrence has thrown for 1,059 yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions on 119 pass attempts while running for 121 yards and another TD on 17 attempts. In the last five weeks, he's been the QB6 in overall fantasy points as he finally starts to click in head coach Liam Coen's offense. The addition of receiver Jakobi Meyers at the trade deadline has also helped Lawrence. The 26-year-old has become a popular waiver-wire pickup over this stretch. However, he could quickly come back down to Earth with a poor Week 16 matchup on the road in Denver against a strong Broncos defense.

From RotoBaller

Audric Estime Dec 15 5:40pm CT
Audric Estime

At least in deeper fantasy football leagues, New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime is worth looking at on waivers going into Week 16 action after rookie RB Devin Neal injured his hamstring in the Week 15 upset win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Estime played a season-high 36% of the offensive snaps and split backfield work with Evan Hull after Neal was injured in the second quarter. The 22-year-old handled three carries for 11 yards and also caught all three of his targets for an additional 39 yards. Hull had just one more carry than Estime and wasn't involved at all in the passing game. Estime could be in play as a deep-league RB3/flex option in a great Week 16 matchup against the New York Jets if both Alvin Kamara (ankle, knee) and Neal are unable to play. Keep in mind that both rookie quarterback Tyler Shough (team-high eight carries on Sunday) and tight end Taysom Hill could take valuable carries away from both Estime and Hull if Kamara and Neal are out this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Higgins Dec 15 5:30pm CT
Jayden Higgins

Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins was held to just one target for the fifth time this season in Sunday's 40-20 blowout win over the visiting Arizona Cardinals. He caught one pass for a gain of four yards. The 23-year-old has four receptions on six targets for just 38 yards and no touchdowns in the last two games. The last time that Higgins had only one target came on Nov. 2 against the Denver Broncos. Higgins had a streak of five games with at least five targets from Weeks 9 to 14 before seeing just one look from quarterback C.J. Stroud on Sunday. The second-rounder from Iowa State ranks third on the team with 397 receiving yards in 14 games this year, adding four touchdowns. While Higgins has been quiet the last two games, he's a good bet to bounce back with a strong game for fantasy managers in deeper leagues as a flex play in an excellent Week 16 matchup against the last-place Raiders. Higgins is rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available.

From RotoBaller

Zonovan Knight Dec 15 5:20pm CT
Zonovan Knight

The Arizona Cardinals are unsure if running back Bam Knight (ankle) will be able to play in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons, according to Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. "Not sure. It's an ankle, though. He was sore today," head coach Jonathan Gannon said when asked if he expects Knight to play this week. The 24-year-old was carted off the field in Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans and is believed to be dealing with a "bad sprain." The diagnosis alone should lead fantasy managers to believe that Knight probably won't play in Week 16, especially with the Cardinals eliminated from playoff contention. It wouldn't be a surprise if Knight doesn't play in the final three weeks of the season. James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) are out for the season, so the backfield would be split by Michael Carter and Emari Demercado if Knight is unable to play against Atlanta. We should have a better idea of Knight's Week 16 status in a few days.

From RotoBaller

Troy Franklin Dec 15 5:10pm CT
Troy Franklin

Denver Broncos second-year wide receiver Troy Franklin went quiet in Weeks 13 and 14, with rookie wideout Pat Bryant (hamstring) taking on a bigger role in the passing attack. Franklin resurfaced in Sunday's 34-26 win over the visiting Green Bay Packers, though, with Bryant sidelined with a hamstring injury. Although he played only 50% of the offensive snaps, the 22-year-old from Oregon caught all six of his targets for 85 yards and his sixth touchdown of the year. In the previous two games, Franklin had just five catches (seven targets) for 32 yards and no scores. With Bryant out in Week 15, Franklin finished second on the team in catches, targets, and receiving yards. His touchdown was a beautiful 23-yard hookup with quarterback Bo Nix to end the third quarter. Franklin's Week 16 fantasy value will largely hinge on whether Bryant can return to face the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars.

From RotoBaller

Ladd McConkey Dec 15 5:00pm CT
Ladd McConkey

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey had another quiet game in the team's 16-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, catching just two passes for 20 yards and posting one of his lowest target shares of the season at 11.5%. Despite ranking near the top of the league in routes run, McConkey's production has declined as the Chargers shift to a run-heavy offense to compensate for offensive line issues and an injured Justin Herbert. Even with Quentin Johnston out, McConkey saw fewer targets and no red-zone targets, as opportunities were distributed elsewhere. Week 16 offers a potential rebound against a Dallas Cowboys secondary that ranks last in passing yards and touchdowns allowed, but game script remains a concern. McConkey remains a volatile, low-end WR2 with upside in a possibly favorable matchup.

From RotoBaller

Omarion Hampton Dec 15 4:50pm CT
Omarion Hampton

Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton continued to showcase explosiveness in the team's 16-13 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, rushing 15 times for 61 yards and leading the backfield with 54% of the carries. Hampton often looked more dynamic than Kimani Vidal, but the workload remains split, as Vidal led snaps and handled all of the two-minute offense. With the Chargers relying heavily on the run game to protect Justin Herbert, Hampton stays a part of the weekly rotation. Week 16's matchup against the Cowboys is interesting, as Dallas has improved against the run but still ranks tied for second in rushing touchdowns allowed. Hampton's ceiling is limited by the timeshare, but he remains a decent low-end RB2 or flex option in run-heavy game plans.

From RotoBaller