Sun Dec 14 10:38pm ET
Field Level Media
Justin Herbert threw for 210 yards and one touchdown while counterpart Patrick Mahomes tore the ACL in his left knee while leading a drive in the final two minutes as the Los Angeles Chargers ensured the host Kansas City Chiefs will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014 with a 16-13 win on Sunday.
Herbert hit 19 of 29 passes for the Chargers (10-4), who won their third in a row to stay in the AFC West chase. KeAndre Lambert-Smith caught his first touchdown pass and Cameron Dicker booted three field goals, including a 49-yarder late in the third quarter that gave Los Angeles its first lead.
Mahomes rushed for a 12-yard touchdown in the first quarter and hit 16 of 28 passes for 189 yards. He had the Chiefs driving in Chargers' territory in the final two minutes, but he injured his knee and left the game when he was tackled by Da'Shawn Hand. Gardner Minshew entered and, on his fifth play, tossed an interception to Derwin James Jr. at the Los Angeles 18 with 14 seconds left.
The Chiefs said after the game that an MRI exam confirmed Mahomes' injury and he and the club "are currently exploring surgical options."
Bills 35, Patriots 31
Josh Allen passed for three touchdowns, James Cook accounted for three scores and Buffalo overcame a 21-point deficit to beat New England on a snowy afternoon in Foxborough, Mass.
Dawson Knox caught two touchdown passes as the Bills (10-4) snapped the Patriots' 10-game winning streak and prevented them from clinching the AFC East. Buffalo scored the first 21 points of the second half, then took a decisive lead with 6:48 remaining on Cook's 11-yard scoring run.
TreVeyon Henderson rushed for 148 yards on 14 carries and scored on runs of 52 and 65 yards for New England (11-3). Drake Maye also rushed for two touchdowns as the Patriots built an early 21-0 lead.
Seahawks 18, Colts 16
Jason Myers kicked a franchise-record six field goals, the last a 56-yarder with 18 seconds remaining, as host Seattle defeated Indianapolis and spoiled the return of quarterback Philip Rivers.
The 44-year-old Rivers, who retired after the 2020 season, was signed earlier in the week to replace the injured Daniel Jones. He completed 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The pick came on a desperation heave with 4 seconds left. Blake Grupe booted three field goals, with his 60-yarder with 47 seconds to go giving the Colts (8-6) a 16-15 lead.
But quarterback Sam Darnold completed a pair of passes to Rashid Shaheed to get the Seahawks (11-3) into range for Myers' winner. Myers also kicked a 30-yarder with 2:27 left to give Seattle its first lead of the day. Darnold was 22 of 36 for 271 yards, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba making seven receptions for 113 yards as the Seahawks won their fourth game in a row.
Broncos 34, Packers 26
Bo Nix tied a career high with four touchdown passes, Courtland Sutton had seven receptions for 113 yards and a TD catch and host Denver beat Green Bay.
Nix finished 23-for-34 for 302 yards passing for the Broncos (12-2), who have won 11 straight, hold the top seed in the AFC and clinched a playoff spot with the victory. Troy Franklin, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Michael Bandy each caught touchdown passes, while RJ Harvey scored another on the ground.
Jordan Love completed 24 of 40 passes for 276 yards and threw a touchdown to Josh Jacobs, who also scored on the ground for the Packers (9-4-1). Love was intercepted twice. It was a costly game for Green Bay, which lost wide receiver Christian Watson to a chest injury and defensive end Micah Parsons to a left knee injury in the third quarter.
Rams 41, Lions 34
Matthew Stafford threw for 368 yards, including two touchdowns to Colby Parkinson, as host Los Angeles held on to defeat Detroit.
Kyren Williams rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns, while Blake Corum rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown for the Rams (11-3), who totaled 159 yards on the ground. Puka Nacua caught nine passes on 11 targets for 181 yards and Davante Adams hauled in four passes for 71 yards before he left the game in the fourth quarter due to a hamstring injury.
Jared Goff passed for 338 yards and three touchdowns for the Lions (8-6). Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 13 passes on 18 targets for 164 yards and two touchdowns, while Jameson Williams made seven receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown.
Jaguars 48, Jets 20
Trevor Lawrence threw for 330 yards and five touchdowns while adding a sixth score on the ground as host Jacksonville stayed atop the AFC South with a walloping of New York.
Lawrence completed 20 of 32 passes while adding a team-high 51 yards rushing despite suffering an injury to his right index finger in the second quarter. Trainers taped up his finger, enabling Lawrence to stay in the game. Jaguars running back Travis Etienne scored touchdowns on each of his three receptions as Jacksonville improved to 10-4, a game ahead of Houston in the AFC South with three weeks remaining.
Jets quarterback Brady Cook hit on 22 of 33 passes for 176 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions in his first NFL start. Cook got the call with Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor sidelined due to injuries. New York, which last week was eliminated from playoff contention for the 15th straight year, dropped to 3-11.
Ravens 24, Bengals 0
Lamar Jackson tossed two touchdown passes as visiting Baltimore earned a victory over Cincinnati to claim its first shutout in seven seasons, dating to a blanking of the Tennessee Titans 21-0 on Oct. 14, 2018.
On a 10-degree Ohio day, the coldest game in Ravens history, Jackson completed eight of 12 passes for 150 yards with touchdown passes to Rasheen Ali and Zay Flowers as the Ravens (7-7) split their season series with the Bengals (4-10).
Joe Burrow was 25 of 39 for 225 yards and two interceptions for Cincinnati, which lost for the sixth time in seven games and fell to 2-5 at home. Ja'Marr Chase had 10 receptions for 132 yards.
Eagles 31, Raiders 0
Jalen Hurts threw two of his three touchdown passes to Dallas Goedert and NFC East-leading Philadelphia halted a three-game skid by posting its first shutout since the 2018 season.
The Eagles (9-5) handed Las Vegas (2-12) its eighth straight loss. Hurts' 175 passing yards helped his club outgain the Raiders 387-75. Saquon Barkley ran for 78 yards and a score and 37-year-old Brandon Graham, who came out of retirement last month, tallied two sacks.
Kenny Pickett, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles last season, became the seventh starting quarterback for Las Vegas since 2023. He completed 15 of 25 passes for 64 yards with one interception, and Maxx Crosby collected his 10th sack.
Bears 31, Browns 3
D'Andre Swift rushed for two touchdowns, D.J. Moore hauled in two TD passes and Chicago cruised to a win over visiting Cleveland.
Caleb Williams completed 17 of 28 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears (10-4), who reached double-digit victories for the first time since 2018. The Chicago defense forced three turnovers and racked up five sacks.
Shedeur Sanders completed 18 of 35 passes for 177 yards and three interceptions for the Browns (3-11). Pass rusher Myles Garrett moved within one sack of matching the all-time single-season record. Garrett finished with 1 1/2 sacks against the Bears to give him 21 1/2 sacks on the season. He can surpass co-record holders Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt next weekend at home against the Buffalo Bills.
Texans 40, Cardinals 20
C.J. Stroud threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns as host Houston raced to a 17-0 lead in the opening nine minutes against Arizona to collect its sixth win in a row.
Nico Collins caught two touchdown passes and Dalton Schultz notched eight receptions for 76 yards and a score for the Texans (9-5). Jawhar Jordan rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries in his NFL debut.
Trey McBride caught 12 passes for 134 yards and two scores to become the NFL's first tight end to record back-to-back 100-catch seasons. Jacoby Brissett completed 27 of 40 passes for 249 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for the Cardinals (3-11), who trailed 17-0 before earning their initial first down.
Commanders 29, Giants 21
Jaylin Lane returned a punt 63 yards for a score and Terry McLaurin caught a 51-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter as Washington snapped an eight-game losing streak with the NFC East victory over New York in East Rutherford, N.J.
The Commanders (4-10) never trailed as Marcus Mariota completed 10 of 19 passes for 211 yards and one score. Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown and Washington's defense kept the Giants from scoring on first-and-goal from the 1 in the fourth quarter.
Jaxson Dart hit 20 of 36 passes for 246 yards and two scores for the Giants (2-12), who have lost eight in a row. Tyrone Tracy Jr. rushed for 70 yards and one score while adding a touchdown catch.
Saints 20, Panthers 17
Tyler Shough passed for 272 yards and a touchdown and helped set up Charlie Smyth's go-ahead field goal, and host New Orleans defeated Carolina for a season sweep, having won 17-7 on Nov. 9 in Charlotte.
Shough and the Saints (4-10) drove 62 yards in 51 seconds before giving way to Smyth for a 47-yard field goal, which split the uprights with 2 seconds left.
Bryce Young threw for 163 yards and rushed for 49 to lead the Panthers (7-7), who fell into a tie with Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South. Carolina and the Buccaneers face each other twice in the final three weeks, beginning with a game in Charlotte next Sunday.
49ers 37, Titans 24
Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes, two to Jauan Jennings, while Christian McCaffrey rushed for 73 yards and a score as San Francisco outlasted Tennessee for a fourth straight win in Santa Clara, Calif.
George Kittle had eight catches for 88 yards and a TD for the 49ers (10-4) and Eddy Pineiro made two of his three field goals in the fourth quarter to help San Francisco finalize the win.
Purdy went 23-for-30 passing for 295 yards for the Niners, while Tennessee's Cam Ward was 18 of 29 for 170 yards and two touchdowns. The Titans (2-12) made a game of it by scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons' 1-yard scoring catch.
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