Fri Dec 5 2:59pm ET
Field Level Media
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins cleared concussion protocol and will be available to play on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., head coach Zac Taylor announced Friday.
Higgins was injured when his head landed hard on the turf in Cincinnati's 26-20 loss to the visiting New England Patriots on Nov. 23. He was motionless for several minutes before eventually being carted to the locker room with 4:45 left in the game.
"It's been a minute, man," Higgins said of his return to the field. "I'm definitely looking forward to (playing on Sunday). It's going to be great."
Higgins was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday before turning in a full level of participation in Thursday's and Friday's sessions.
"It was just getting through concussion protocol, seeing how I'm feeling with working out, running routes and things like that," Higgins said. "So it's basically all just on me, see how I'm feeling and then passing those tests as well."
The Bengals (4-8) reside two games in back of the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6) and Baltimore Ravens (6-6) in the AFC North. The latter two teams play each other in Baltimore on Sunday.
Higgins, 26, has 40 catches for 575 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games (all starts) this season.
Cincinnati selected Higgins in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has 370 receptions for 5,170 yards and 41 TDs in 81 career games (73 starts).
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be the team's starting QB for the rest of the 2025 season, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Monday. The announcement comes a day after Sanders had by far his best performance in his third career start in Sunday's 31-29 loss to the visiting Tennessee Titans. The 23-year-old went 23-for-42 passing for 364 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception while adding three carries for 29 yards and a fourth touchdown. His TD passes went to receiver Jerry Jeudy and tight ends Harold Fannin Jr. and David Njoku. Sanders nearly led the Browns to a comeback in the fourth quarter, but they failed on a two-point conversion to tie the game. The fifth-rounder out of Colorado can extend plays with his legs and has been aggressive in pushing the ball down the field. Sanders will have a stiff test in Week 15 on the road against a ball-hawking Bears defense.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Rob Demovsky writes that Green Bay Packers rookie first-round wide receiver Matthew Golden (wrist) was limited by his wrist injury in the Week 14 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) was also limited, allowing Bo Melton to step into the No. 4 receiver role. Melton's only catch of the game was a big 45-yard touchdown. The 22-year-old Golden returned to action on Sunday and disappointed, failing to haul in his only target while playing just five offensive snaps. The Texas product had missed the previous two games with shoulder and wrist injuries. Golden should have a bigger role in a Week 15 matchup on the road against the 11-2 Denver Broncos, but fantasy managers just cannot trust him in a tough matchup while being buried in a crowded receiving corps that just got Jayden Reed back from Injured Reserve.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is exactly a year removed from tearing his right ACL for a second time, but he said that he feels "pretty much almost 100 percent again," according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Brooks is doing straight-line running and hopes to start mixing in full-speed cutting and route running soon. Barring a setback, he could return to the practice field in the spring for organized team activities (OTAs). The 22-year-old was the team's second-round pick back in 2024 out of Texas. Since his injury, the Panthers signed Rico Dowdle in free agency and took Trevor Etienne in the fourth round of this year's draft. Dowdle has been one of the best backs in the NFL this year and has formed a dangerous 1-2 punch in Carolina's backfield with Chuba Hubbard. Any expectations fantasy managers holding Brooks might have in dynasty/keeper leagues must be tempered by concerns of injury risk.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Rob Demovsky says that both Green Bay Packers wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) and Matthew Golden (wrist) were limited due to their injuries in the Week 14 win over the Chicago Bears, allowing Bo Melton to move into the No. 4 receiver spot. Melton caught a big 45-yard touchdown pass on his only reception of the day. Wicks only played 11% of the offensive snaps on Sunday, with Golden playing 9% of the snaps. Wicks wasn't targeted at all, while Golden was unable to secure his lone target on the day at Lambeau Field. Both Wicks and Golden figure to be on the field more if they can put their respective injuries behind them, but Green Bay's receiving corps is now as healthy as it has been all year with the return of Jayden Reed. Wicks' six-catch, 94-yard, two-touchdown performance on Thanksgiving will most likely end up being an outlier performance in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) had not been cleared for football activities as of last week, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. Richardson's status is suddenly worth watching now that the Colts fear that Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 23-year-old Richardson needed orbital surgery after he was hit in the eye when a resistance band snapped before the team's Oct. 12 game against the Arizona Cardinals. With no timetable for his return, it's looking like Richardson might not be able to return at all this year. Rookie Riley Leonard was forced into action in Week 14 after Jones' injury, and he went 18-for-29 passing for 145 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. He added five rushing yards and a TD on the ground. The 23-year-old is in line to make his first career NFL start in a tough Week 15 matchup on the road in Seattle.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz corralled 3-of-4 targets for 22 yards in his team's 20-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. The veteran -- along with the rest of Houston's pass-catchers sans Nico Collins -- couldn't find much room to operate against the hosting Chiefs in Week 14. In spite of the aerial attack's poor performance, Schultz remained involved, placing second on the team in catches and third in yards and targets. Rookie Jayden Higgins' ascension caps the former's weekly upside, but there's still some PPR appeal here on a squad that ranks eleventh in overall pass rate (58.23%). Even with Sunday's lowly fantasy output, the 29-year-old had recorded at least five catches and six looks in eight of his last 11 appearances. He's a stable option ahead of Week 15's waivers.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell was a hot waiver-wire pickup last week after his eight-catch, 102-yard performance on a season-high 12 targets that included his first touchdown of the season in the Week 13 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Fantasy managers who picked him up and started him in Week 14 against the Miami Dolphins were disappointed, though, as he caught just one of six targets for 24 yards in Sunday's 34-10 loss. The 23-year-old wasn't helped by the fact that quarterback Tyrod Taylor injured his groin early in the game and never returned. Justin Fields (knee) was inactive, so third-stringer Brady Cook was forced into action and struggled mightily. Mitchell will continue to get opportunities in New York's offense with Garrett Wilson (knee) potentially done for the year, but outside of his strong Week 13 performance, Mitchell has caught only four of 19 targets for 76 yards in his other three games for the Jets. He'll be a low-floor WR4/flex in deeper fantasy leagues heading into a Week 15 matchup against the first-place Jaguars with New York's QB situation unsettled.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy stepped up during Thursday night's loss to the Detroit Lions after CeeDee Lamb (concussion) exited early due to a concussion. Flournoy collected a team-high nine receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown on a team-leading 13 targets. It marks the 26-year-old's second game this season with over 100 receiving yards, with the other coming back in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers when Lamb was sidelined with an ankle injury. Flournoy's ability to level up with a star teammate out of the lineup is worth paying attention to. His nine receptions and 13 targets in Week 14 are tied for the second-most in a game by a Dallas pass-catcher this season. With Lamb in the concussion protocol, his status for Week 15's game against the Minnesota Vikings is uncertain. If he can't get cleared, Flournoy would be a strong plug-and-play option in Dallas' high-volume passing attack.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. deserves to be rostered in more than 40% of Yahoo leagues, especially after his big eight-catch, 114-yard performance in Sunday's loss to the Tennessee Titans that included his fourth touchdown of the year, and second in as many weeks. The 21-year-old third-rounder out of Bowling Green led Cleveland in targets (11), catches, and receiving yards in a surprisingly high-scoring game between the Browns and Titans in snowy conditions in Cleveland. Fellow TE David Njoku also found the end zone on Sunday, but he was injured on the play and never returned due to a knee injury. Fannin hadn't cleared 50 receiving yards in a game before Week 14 since Oct. 26, so it was nice to see him targeted early and often by rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Even if Njoku can play in Week 15 against the Bears, Fannin will be on the TE1 radar in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange could churn out just 27 yards on 3-of-6 receiving in Sunday's 36-19 home win over the Indianapolis Colts. Strange took a slight step back in the yardage department this past weekend, but was still decently involved in Jacksonville's game plan, tying two other pass-catchers for second on the team with his opportunity share. Fantasy managers may quibble with the Penn State product's meager output. However, he's been decently involved all year, quietly ranking third on the team in receiving yards (369) despite missing five complete games. The Jaguars' pass attack features a few too many mouths to feed, but only WR Jakobi Meyers appears to be separating from the rest of the pack. Fantasy managers with tight end trouble can look to the 24-year-old as a strong option at the position, especially if teammate Parker Washington (hip) is inactive for a second straight game.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike has earned steady usage in recent weeks and notched his third touchdown of the season in Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns. Dike finished with a team-leading five receptions for 24 yards on eight targets, with no other Titans pass-catcher recording more than two catches or four targets. The rookie fourth-rounder hasn't put up gaudy fantasy numbers in an overall poor Titans offensive environment, but he's emerged as rookie quarterback Cameron Ward's most reliable target. For the season, Dike has totaled 34 receptions for 284 yards and three touchdowns on 55 targets while also being one of the most dynamic kick returners on special teams. Due to the limited upside of the Titans' offense, Dike profiles as a low-end flex option heading into Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Monday that wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (concussion) is "doing good and is "progressing nicely," following his head injury in Thursday's 44-30 loss to the hosting Detroit Lions. The former Oklahoma Sooner put up a strong performance in Week 14, notching six catches and 121 yards (eight targets), despite participating in fewer than half of the team's snaps. It's excellent news that the sentiment surrounding him seems to be positive. Still, fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on his status over the coming days, as he'll need to check a few boxes before clearing the league's protocol. If Lamb is forced to miss Sunday night's home bout with the Minnesota Vikings, teammates Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, and Jonathan Mingo would comprise the list of pass-catchers operating behind George Pickens in his stead.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland hauled in 4-of-5 passes for 29 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-21 divisional loss to the Green Bay Packers. The rookie was again productive, recording his eighth straight outing with at least four targets. There are quite a few mouths to feed in Chicago's offensive attack, and Loveland hasn't exactly overtaken veteran Cole Kmet in terms of playing time. That said, the former has out-targeted (31-16), out-caught (24-13), and out-gained (319-138) the latter cumulatively since Week 9. It's too early to call for a changing of the guard at the position in Chicago, but fantasy managers in need of help at TE can give the 21-year-old a chance on waivers, particularly if teammate Rome Odunze (foot) is made to miss another game.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele led the team in receiving for the second straight game in Week 14's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hauling in three of his five targets for a team-high 40 yards. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough totaled just 144 passing yards on 20 attempts, so there wasn't much volume for Vele and the Saints' pass-catchers to work with. Vele matched No. 1 wideout Chris Olave for the team lead in targets, and he seems to be establishing a connection with Shough over the past three games. The 27-year-old receiver has been the most productive Saints pass-catcher for fantasy during that stretch, averaging 12.3 PPR points per game with 14 receptions for 170 yards and a touchdown on 20 targets. In leagues where he is available, Vele is worth targeting as an emerging player in the Saints offense heading into Week 15's matchup against the division-rival Carolina Panthers.
From RotoBaller
While New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) is eligible to return from IR in Week 15, head coach Aaron Glenn has offered no update on his status. Wilson has been shelved since Week 10 after reaggravating a knee injury he picked up back in Week 6. Although he's technically available to be reinstated from injured reserve, Glenn notes that "it will be a medical decision between Wilson and the doctors" that would afford him clearance to return to the field. As it stands, it's no guarantee that the Ohio State alum suits up again this season, particularly with New York's playoff dreams officially quashed. If he's forced to miss a fifth straight game, teammates John Metchie III and Adonai Mitchell would continue leading the Jets' pass attack when they square off with the hosting Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins posted a modest game in his team's Week 14 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, recording three catches for 34 yards on five targets. Still, the 22-year-old has established himself as the clear WR2 in Houston alongside Nico Collins, as he's earned at least five targets in five consecutive games and six out of his last seven contests. For the season overall, Higgins has hauled in 35 catches for 393 yards and four touchdowns on 55 targets across 13 games. With Houston's offense playing better football in recent weeks and its stellar defense consistently providing short fields, Higgins could be on the verge of a breakout game. Higgins profiles as a must-add wide receiver with a stable production floor heading into his Week 15 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed returned from foot and shoulder injuries that had sidelined him since Week 2 in his team's Week 14 win over the Chicago Bears. Reed recorded four catches for 31 yards on four targets and also logged 22 rushing yards on two carries. The 25-year-old played 47% of Green Bay's offensive snaps, third-most among Packers wide receivers behind Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson. Green Bay may up Reed's snap share as he re-integrates himself into the offense, but his upside is limited by the Packers' run-heavy offense and their crowded wide receiver room. Still, Reed has proven he can be a playmaker in the past, recording 1,020 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns across 17 games in 2024. In leagues where he is available, Reed is worth targeting as an upside play heading into his Week 15 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
From RotoBaller
With Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) sidelined by a foot injury for his team's Week 14 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, rookie wideout Luther Burden III stepped into a larger role. The 21-year-old earned six targets for the second straight week and hauled in four receptions for 67 yards. After failing to reach five targets in any of his first eight games this season, Burden III has now seen at least five targets in four straight weeks. On a more negative note, Burden III was out-snapped by veteran wideout Olamide Zaccheaus in Week 14. That signals Odunze's absence doesn't mean an automatic promotion for Burden III into Chicago's WR2 role alongside DJ Moore. Still, Burden III has flashed big-play upside throughout the season, and his workload remains on an upward trajectory. He's worth rostering in deeper fantasy formats and could be a solid flex option in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns if Odunze remains sidelined.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard opened the season as his team's RB1. However, he missed time due to injury in early October, and his role was usurped by Panthers back Rico Dowdle, who exploded with a pair of 200-plus scrimmage-yard outings. Across a four-game stretch from Week 9 to Week 12, Hubbard failed to record more than seven touches in a contest. However, in Carolina's final game before its Week 14 bye, Hubbard broke out for 124 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 19 touches against the Los Angeles Rams. Hubbard was still out-touched by Dowdle (20 touches), but he out-snapped Dowdle for the first time since Week 8. If Carolina plans to work with a more even split between their two backs coming out of the bye, Hubbard could re-emerge as a flex option for fantasy managers. In leagues where he may have been dropped, Hubbard is a must-add player heading into his Week 15 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) has been on Injured Reserve since Week 4 due to a knee injury. The team opened up Benson's 21-day activation window leading into Week 12. However, Benson has yet to be activated, and he will revert to season-ending IR if not activated before Arizona's Week 15 matchup against the Houston Texans. Given that the 3-10 Cardinals are in the midst of a lost season, they may choose to be cautious with the 23-year-old running back. Still, if Benson can return, he could immediately take over as the RB1 in Arizona. The Cardinals are currently splitting backfield reps between Bam Knight and Michael Carter, but the two backs combined for 29 rushing yards on 10 carries in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams. Benson is worth holding for one more week or adding off the waiver wire in leagues where he is available heading into Week 15.
From RotoBaller