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

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.
The Houston Texans signed second-year running back Jawhar Jordan from their practice squad to the active 53-man roster on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Jordan, a sixth-round selection in 2024 out of Louisville, made his NFL debut in Sunday's blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals after rookie Woody Marks left with an ankle injury. Veteran Nick Chubb (ribs) was inactive, so the Texans were down to Jordan and Dare Ogunbowale. Jordan ended up leading Houston with 15 carries for 101 yards (6.7 yards per tote) while catching both of his targets for 17 yards. He played seven more snaps than Ogunbowale and will likely operate as the Texans' lead back for a plus matchup in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders if neither Marks nor Chubb is cleared to play. The 26-year-old deserves serious waiver-wire consideration this week.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas continued to disappoint coming out of the team's Week 14 bye, playing only 19% of the offensive snaps while not being targeted at all in the passing game for the second time this year in the 35-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The only action that Douglas saw on offense was one rushing attempt that went for five yards. The 25-year-old pass-catcher's 10 snaps were his second-fewest on the season. Douglas continues to take a back seat in the WR room to Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kayshon Boutte, making him very hard to trust for fantasy football purposes, especially in the fantasy playoffs. The former sixth-rounder in 2023 out of Liberty hasn't topped three catches or 37 receiving yards since his only 100-yard performance of the year on Nov. 2 against the Falcons.
From RotoBaller
The Arizona Cardinals announced on Tuesday that they placed running back Bam Knight (ankle) on Injured Reserve, which will end his season. Knight was carted off the field in Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans and is nursing a "bad sprain." The 24-year-old took over lead-back duties after both James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) suffered injuries earlier this season. He hasn't been very efficient (3.3 yards per carry) on a team-high 82 rushing attempts this year, but he currently leads the Cardinals with 269 rushing yards while also scoring four touchdowns on the ground. In the final three weeks of the season, fantasy managers should expect Michael Carter to take over on early downs for the Cardinals, with Emari Demercado serving in the pass-catching role in a pass-happy offense. Knight can safely be dropped in redraft leagues.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis wasn't involved much on offense in the team's come-from-behind victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday, but he still made his presence felt on special teams, returning four kickoffs for a total of 164 yards. The 26-year-old former fourth-round selection caught his lone target in the passing game for a gain of 13 yards. He did not have a rushing attempt. Davis took over the team's primary kick-return duties in Week 9, and since then, he hasn't had much of a role on offense behind Cook and Ty Johnson. Still, he's worth stashing for insurance at the RB position in deeper leagues, as he'd likely be sharing backfield touches with Johnson if anything were to happen to Cook in the final three weeks of 2025. Davis leads the NFL with 32.4 yards per kick return. On offense, he hasn't had a carry since seeing a season-high nine rushing attempts in Week 13 versus the Steelers.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington (back) could be worth a look on the waiver wire this week in deeper fantasy football formats, with Davante Adams (hamstring) up in the air to play on a short week this Thursday night against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. Whittington also found himself on the Week 16 injury report, though, and was listed as limited during the team's walkthrough practice on Monday. The 25-year-old played a season-low four offensive snaps in Sunday's win over the Detroit Lions, but that could have been due to his back injury. Whittington was targeted only once and failed to haul it in. He is probably a long shot for production this week against a tough Seattle defense, even if Adams is inactive, but he should be in on starting three-wide sets if he's on the field. Hurting Whittington's chances to make an impact is the fact that Tutu Atwell returned from IR last week.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox has come alive the last two weeks, catching nine of his 11 targets for 130 yards and two touchdowns in two high-scoring, come-from-behind wins over the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots. Perhaps even more surprising has been the fact that Knox has put up those numbers with Dalton Kincaid also on the field. Knox didn't exactly take advantage of a window where Kincaid missed some time due to a hamstring injury, but he's come alive the last two weeks and now has at least three catches in four straight games. The big question is, will the 29-year-old be able to stay on this path through the rest of the 2025 season? Knox has stepped up with receiver Keon Coleman continuing to disappoint, but as long as Kincaid stays healthy, he will likely continue to be a low-end, touchdown-dependent TE2 for fantasy managers heading into a Week 16 contest against the Browns.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson was forced into meaningful snaps in his first year in the NFL this year due to injuries to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan. In a five-game stretch from Oct. 5 to Nov. 9, Johnson was on the fantasy football map with 18 receptions on 27 targets for 247 yards and four touchdown catches. In five games since then, though, as the Buccaneers' receiving corps has inched closer to full health, Johnson has caught just five of 10 targets for 32 yards and one touchdown. Evans, Godwin, and McMillan have all returned from their injuries, leaving the seventh-rounder out of Oregon near the bottom of the WR depth chart to close out the season. Johnson has not caught a pass in the last two games on just one target, and he has just one catch for five yards in the last three games. The 23-year-old played 15 snaps in last Thursday's loss to Atlanta, his lowest snap count since his Week 1 debut.
From RotoBaller
After having another injury setback recently with his hamstring, Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring, calf) is unlikely to come off Injured Reserve and play this year, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today Sports. "I'm not going to say no, but I think you can use deductive reasoning on that one," head coach Matt LaFleur said when asked if Lloyd can return this year. "It's very, very, very unfortunate, because this guy has worked his ass off." The 24-year-old second-year RB suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason and then injured his calf while rehabbing, forcing him to IR before the start of the 2025 campaign. The Packers opened Lloyd's 21-day practice window at the beginning of December, but a recent setback with his balky hamstring has put an end to hopes that he'd be an asset for the Packers late in the year. He has played in just one career game for the Packers in two seasons, and his future in the league is in doubt going into Year 3.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (knee) took another big hit in Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos, and if the team were practicing on Tuesday, he would not be on the field, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Jacobs went into Sunday's game in Denver with a questionable tag, but he ended up suiting up while scoring two touchdowns, including just the second receiving score of his career. The 27-year-old had 12 carries for 73 yards and a TD on the ground, adding two receptions on three targets for 19 yards and a second score. Jacobs only played 55% of the offensive snaps, but he was still effective, busting a 40-yard touchdown run while also catching a 14-yard pass for an impressive TD in the back of the end zone. Fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he misses more practice time this week, but he should be active for another big divisional contest against the Bears this Sunday, where he'll be a must-start fantasy RB. Jacobs had 20 carries for 86 yards and a TD in the win over Chicago two weeks ago.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel labeled safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf) as "week-to-week" after he was injured in Monday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Travis Wingfield of MiamiDolphins.com. The Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention with their loss in Week 15, but Fitzpatrick could be back in the final three weeks. The 29-year-old star safety probably won't play in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he could be back for Week 17 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or in the Week 18 regular-season finale versus the division-rival New England Patriots. Fitzpatrick continues to be an asset for fantasy managers in IDP leagues, as he ranks as the No. 12 defensive back in 2025 with 59 total tackles, one sack, six pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 14 games played.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard was active for the team's Week 15 Thursday night loss to the Falcons, but he did not log a single snap. With Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan both available, Shepard failed to get off the sidelines for the first time this season. Already finding himself pushed down the depth chart in recent weeks, Shepard had topped 25 receiving yards only once in his last seven games before Thursday night's blanking, while being held to single digits in three of those contests. The return to health of Evans and McMillan has now made him a non-factor for fantasy purposes, and the 32-year-old can be comfortably dropped in all league formats.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich caught both of his targets in a Week 15 Monday night loss to the Steelers, turning both into chunk plays and finishing the game with 46 yards. He's now topped 40 yards in back-to-back games, and while it was his teammate Darren Waller who grabbed the headlines with two touchdowns against the Steelers, Dulcich remains in play as a desperation start against a historically bad Bengals defense in Week 16. By a wide margin, Cincinnati has allowed the most receptions, yards, and touchdowns to the tight end position, making them the only team that fantasy managers could actually entertain the thought of starting a team's second tight end against. With most leagues whittled down to four teams and waiver activity less competitive at this point in the season, there are likely better streaming options available, but in an absolute pinch, Dulcich could be viewed as a low-floor play for fantasy semifinals.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman was kept off the stat sheet in a Week 15 win over the Patriots, and has now caught a total of four passes for 25 yards in his three games since returning from a very public benching. He managed to convert one of those grabs into a touchdown, masking just how bad it's been of late, but he should now be viewed as unplayable in just about all formats, while his dynasty value is at an all-time low. Still only 22 years old and tied to a perennial MVP candidate, this could be viewed as a buy-low opportunity. Unfortunately, he's shown very little to suggest that his value won't stay low for the foreseeable future.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw his league-leading 15th interception early in the team's Week 15 Monday Night loss to the Steelers and led a hapless offense that struggled to sustain drives until the game was out of hand. When asked if he is considering a quarterback change, head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Tuesday, "The QB play last night was not good enough. So everything is on the table." With the loss, the Dolphins fell to 6-8 and were eliminated from playoff contention. Tagovailoa signed a lucrative contract extension before the 2024 season, complicating any potential moves the team intends to make at the position. However, after another disappointing season, it appears that changes are coming to Miami in some form or fashion.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) avoided serious injury to his shoulder, according to Nick Underhill, but he is still considered week-to-week, leaving his availability for the rest of the season in question. Vele exited during the fourth quarter of a Week 15 win over the Panthers, having caught five of six targets to that point for 69 yards. He had formed a notable connection with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough of late, averaging 5.3 catches for 67.3 yards over the past three games while adding a touchdown. With Vele likely unavailable or limited for the duration of the fantasy playoffs, Chris Olave, who has quietly been the WR8 in Half-PPR scoring, should see an abundance of targets against the Jets and Titans, keeping him in must-start territory.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew is in line to start the rest of the season after Patrick Mahomes (knee) suffered a torn ACL in the Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Minshew completed three of five passes for 22 yards and a game-ending interception in relief of Mahomes in the fourth quarter. The 29-year-old has been serviceable in the past as a starter, with his best season coming in 2023 with the Indianapolis Colts. He completed 62.3% of his passes for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 13 starts. Minshew most recently started for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, where he wasn't quite as effective in a worse offensive environment, throwing more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (nine) over nine starts. Minshew doesn't profile as a fantasy option in standard formats, but he has appeal in superflex leagues for a favorable Week 16 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan made his season debut in Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons, catching both of his two targets for 38 yards. McMillan spent the entire season up until that point on Injured Reserve after suffering multiple fractures and ligament damage in his neck during a preseason game, but he made a full recovery and will be a factor in the Bucs' passing game over the final few games. The second-year wideout's upside in fantasy football is limited with all of Tampa Bay's wide receivers healthy at the same time for the first time this season. McMillan's 47.5% route share last week ranked fourth on the team behind Chris Godwin Jr., Mike Evans, and rookie Emeka Egbuka. While McMillan ended his rookie season on a high note with seven touchdowns over the final five games, his opportunities will likely be too inconsistent to rely on in standard-sized leagues to end this season.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders WR Chris Moore was elevated to the active roster on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
From TheHuddle
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp hauled in five of his seven targets for 46 yards in the Week 15 win over the Indianapolis Colts. It marked Kupp's most receptions in a game since Week 5, and his most receiving yards since Week 10. The former Los Angeles Rams wideout hadn't recorded more than three receptions in a game since Week 5 versus Tampa Bay, with Seattle's passing game flowing almost entirely through Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With newcomer Rashid Shaheed's role growing in Seattle's offense, Kupp feels like the clear third option in a low-volume passing game, which caps his upside in fantasy. The 32-year-old is still a tough player to trust in 12-team formats, but he'll be a decent flex option in deeper leagues on Thursday night against his former team.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale has largely been a special-teamer during his nine-year career, but he has seen more work as a runner in the past two weeks. With Nick Chubb (ribs) and Woody Marks (knee) dealing with injuries, Ogunbowale scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 14. He handled a season-high eight touches in Week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals, with five carries for two yards and three receptions (four targets) for 32 yards as a receiver. The 31-year-old was in just a complementary role after Marks exited against the Cardinals, though, with second-year running back Jawhar Jordan seeing the bulk of the carries. Jordan handled 15 carries for 101 yards, becoming the first Texans running back to go over the century mark in rushing yards this season. Ogunbowale profiles as the receiving back if Chubb and Marks remain unavailable in Week 16 against the Raiders, limiting his fantasy appeal to just deeper PPR leagues.
From RotoBaller