Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (back) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's meeting with the New England Patriots. The second-year rusher will miss his first game of the season this weekend after picking up a back injury in Week 14's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Demercado played only seven snaps last Sunday, hauling in all four of his receptions for 15 yards. Though, he did not record a carry. His inactive designation isn't a surprise, considering he was listed as a non-participant for each of the Cards' practices leading up to the weekend. With the 25-year-old shelved, backfield mates James Conner and Trey Benson should each garner a few extra touches and snaps this weekend against the visiting Pats.

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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for a season-high 339 yards in a Week 14 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He will look to stay hot in a road matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15. The Jaguars have been an excellent matchup for quarterbacks this season as they are allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to the position. That being said, Rodgers' play for the majority of the season has not inspired much confidence from a fantasy perspective as he has thrown for more than 300 yards only once and for three touchdowns once. Rodgers settles in as a low-end QB2 in fantasy heading into Week 15.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) has been removed from the injury report ahead of the Week 15 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Evans missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday before returning for a limited session on Friday. It appears that was enough for the team to clear Evans for this weekend. The veteran wideout has racked up three straight games of 68 receiving yards or more since returning from injury. He does have a tougher challenge this week against a solid Chargers secondary. Despite that, Evans should be able to produce low-end WR1 value for this Week 15 matchup.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin hasn't been much of a fantasy option lately outside of his four field goal effort in Week 13. Last week, McLaughlin knocked down all four of his extra point attempts in the win over the Las Vegas Raiders. McLaughlin didn't attempt a field goal as the Bucs continued to cash-in on their red zone trips. That could be a different story this weekend against a stingy Los Angeles Chargers secondary. McLaughlin could be called upon more often this weekend with the Bucs not having easy access to touchdowns. Fantasy managers who are on the fence about McLaughlin might want to give him one more chance.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce drew the second-most looks of any Colt receiver in Week 13 with six targets, but was only able to secure two of them for 16 yards. His fantasy day was saved, however, on a last-second touchdown that helped Indy to a late-game come-from-behind win. The 24-year-old was averaging four targets per contest coming into the matchup, but Josh Downs' absence likely aided the small boost in targets. With Downs having a bye week to recover and logging two full practices to close the week, he looks to be on the more favorable side of questionable, so Pierce will likely return to his usual workload. While he's not a good bet to haul in many passes, his targets are usually of the deep variety, as the speedy wideout leads the entire NFL in average depth of target (aDOT) at 21.98 yards, so he's got a good chance to break off a couple of chunk plays, especially with star cornerback Patrick Surtain II focusing on Michael Pittman Jr. and the aforementioned Downs drawing coverage away. The former second-round draft pick sets up as a boom/bust WR5/6 in this matchup.

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Per the NFL's Ian Rapoport, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) should make his return by the end of the regular season. The veteran wideout has been out since the preseason after sustaining an SC-Joint injury (sternoclavicular) that required surgery to heal correctly. Brown gained final clearance from his surgeon on Thursday, and Kansas City opened his 21-day practice window just a day later. Though he has been ruled out for Sunday's road tilt against the Cleveland Browns, Rapoport noted that the team intends to attempt to get him up to speed during the last few weeks of the regular season so that he'll be rounding into form for the playoffs. It's undoubtedly good to see the 27-year-old return to the Chiefs. However, as of now, he'll be a long shot to contribute during the fantasy playoffs.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has at least seven targets and five catches in the last three games since Anthony Richardson was reinserted under center for Indy. It's an encouraging trend after a rough stretch of relative underperformance midseason and after missing Week 10's contest due to a back injury. The 27-year-old was a full participant in practice all week and with the issue seemingly behind him, especially after a bye week to rest up, he'll look to keep the momentum going in Week 15. However, that will be a challenge as the Colts take on the Broncos this week in Denver, with the Broncos holding opposing wide receivers to the ninth-fewest fantasy points so far this season. Pittman in particular has some things working against him, as the 6-foot-4 wideout will likely draw shadow coverage from star corner Patrick Surtain II and teammate Josh Downs (shoulder) looking like he'll return to action after getting two full practices in to end the week so there will again be more competition for targets. Combined with the fact that Richardson has completed 12 passes or fewer in six of his eight full games played in 2024 with a 7:9 TD:INT, Pittman looks like a risky borderline WR3/4 option.

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton had a slow start to the season as rookie quarterback Bo Nix got acclimated to the NFL, but the veteran wideout has come on strong since a zero-target Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints and has ascended to must-start status in fantasy entering a pivotal Week 15 contest in Denver against the Indianapolis Colts. Since Week 8, Sutton has gone on a tear, catching 42 of 57 targets for 569 yards and three touchdowns. The 29-year-old is tied as the WR12 in overall half-PPR points in 2024, but in the last five weeks, he's been the WR9. He hit the century mark in receiving yards for the third time in last week's win over the Browns and scored twice the previous week. Indy's defense has been stingy against opposing wideouts in their last four games, allowing the fourth-fewest PPR points per game to the position, but Sutton's high target share in Denver gives him a safe floor.

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Going into a Week 15 game with all kinds of playoff implications this Sunday in Denver against the visiting Indianapolis Colts, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix will maintain low-end QB1 appeal in the first round of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues. The 24-year-old 12th overall pick out of Oregon ranks as the No. 15 QB in overall fantasy points through 14 weeks in his first NFL season, and he's also been the QB15 in the last five games, throwing for 1,089 yards on 140 pass attempts with nine touchdowns and only two interceptions. The young signal-caller did throw two picks in last week's thrilling win over the Cleveland Browns -- his first two INTs since throwing one in Week 9 -- but he fell just shy of 300 yards passing and has at least 273 passing yards in the last three games. Nix has plenty of upside against a Colts defense that has allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to QBs per game in 2024.

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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra will aim to build on his first NFL touchdown as the team prepares to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15. Filling in for the injured Dallas Goedert (knee), Calcaterra recorded three catches for 16 yards and a touchdown in last week's win over the Panthers. The Steelers present a challenging matchup, allowing just 218.6 passing yards per game and only 14 passing touchdowns this season, tied for the fifth-fewest in the league. While Calcaterra has shown flashes, finishing as a top-10 PPR tight end three times in five starts, his upside is limited by just one touchdown and a single red-zone target in that span. Pittsburgh has been tough against tight ends, giving up the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position over the last five weeks. Calcaterra profiles as a low-end streaming option in Week 15.

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The Philadelphia Eagles defense/special teams unit will look to impose their will as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Week 15 matchup that could turn into a defensive battle. They also lead the NFL yards allowed per game (284.2) and rank eighth in total sacks, though their takeaway production has been relatively average. The Steelers, averaging 24.8 points per game (10th in the league), could present a challenge, but the potential absence of wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) may force Pittsburgh to rely more heavily on their ground game, led by Najee Harris. The Eagles' ability to contain the run and apply pressure to quarterback Russell Wilson could be crucial to their Week 15 success. Start them as a mid-tier D/ST option.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith will look to build on last week's performance as the team hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15. Returning from a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury, Smith caught four passes for 37 yards and a touchdown in last week's narrow win over the Panthers. The matchup against Pittsburgh offers some potential, as the Steelers have allowed 218.6 passing yards per game, but have been stingy in the red zone, surrendering just 14 passing touchdowns (fifth-fewest). Over his last seven appearances, he has averaged 4.6 targets and 44.9 receiving yards per game. Pittsburgh has also been vulnerable to perimeter receivers, allowing the third-most receiving yards per game since Week 9. Smith remains a WR3/flex option with upside in Week 15.

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Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott will look to regain his consistency against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15. Elliott missed a 52-yard attempt in the third quarter last week, marking his sixth missed field goal this season. Despite his struggles from long rangegoing 0-for-5 on kicks over 50 yardsElliott remains reliable inside 40 yards, where he has been perfect this season. The Steelers defense is one of the toughest in the league, allowing just 18.3 points per game, which ranks fifth in the NFL. While opportunities may be limited in this defensive battle, Elliott's accuracy on shorter kicks keeps him in consideration for fantasy managers, though his ceiling is capped in a matchup where points may come at a premium.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown will aim to rebound as the team hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15. Brown has scored only once in his last seven games, and his involvement has taken a back seat to the dominant rushing attack led by Saquon Barkley. Last week against the Panthers, Brown managed just 43 yards on four targets and was held out of the end zone. The Steelers' defense has been somewhat forgiving through the air, allowing 218.6 passing yards per game. However, Pittsburgh's secondary has also been opportunistic, recording 15 interceptions this season. Brown remains a turbulent WR1 due to his limited target volume but undeniable talent. Fantasy managers should cautiously expect a better performance, especially if the Eagles need to lean on their passing game.

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley heads into Week 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers after breaking the Eagles' single-season rushing record. Barkley rushed 20 times for 124 yards in last week's 22-16 win over the Panthers, marking his fourth consecutive 100-yard game and ninth of the season. The top-scoring fantasy RB in 2024 remains on pace to challenge Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. However, the Steelers defense poses a significant challenge, ranking fourth in the league with only 91.5 rushing yards allowed per game. They've also conceded just 12 rushing touchdowns this season. Yet, Pittsburgh has been more generous to running backs overall, surrendering 113.2 scrimmage yards per game. Despite the tough matchup, Barkley's high volume and consistent production make him a locked-in RB1 for Week 15.

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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor received 25 carries in Week 13, even with Anthony Richardson logging nine rush attempts of his own, nearly topping the century mark in rush yards with 96. It was the sixth time this season that the 25-year-old was given 20 or more carries in the 10 games he's played, however, he's been almost entirely phased out of the passing attack. Even though the former second-round draft pick caught a touchdown pass in Week 13, it was his only target in the contest after not receiving even a single target the prior week. Without consistent receiving work, the former Pro Bowler is reliant on high volume in the running game as Richardson has monopolized the goal line work, tallying three rushing touchdowns and a two-point conversion on the ground over the last three weeks since being reinserted as the starting QB. High volume is not a given in Week 15 against a Denver defense that has allowed the 12th-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs and with the Colts as five-point road underdogs, they may be in catch-up mode for the latter part of this game. As talented as he is, the fifth-year pro projects only as a mid-to-low-end RB2 this week.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will face the Pittsburgh Steelers at home on Thursday night in Week 15. Hurts has relied on his rushing prowess to remain a top fantasy quarterback, with 13 rushing touchdowns this season, just two shy of his previous season-high. Through the air, Hurts has thrown for under 200 yards in three consecutive games but still managed multiple touchdowns in all but three outings this season. Pittsburgh's secondary has allowed 218.6 passing yards per game but is tough in the red zone, with 15 interceptions compared to only 14 passing touchdowns allowed. Despite the tough matchup, Hurts' dual-threat ability and red-zone dominance keep him in QB1 territory for Week 15. Fantasy managers should temper expectations but confidently start him.

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The Green Bay Packers defense and special teams unit suffered a setback last week against the Detroit Lions but look to bounce back on the road against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15. The Packers D/ST prior to last week had been a top 10 fantasy defense for three weeks in a row, but ran into the Lions' potent offense in Week 14 as the Packers could only muster a sack and an interception of Jared Goff. In that three-week stretch of top 10 performances, the Packers averaged just over 15 points allowed, 8.7 fantasy points per game, three sacks and a fumble recovery. Against the Seahawks, the Packers can get back to their playmaking ways against a team that will pass quite a bit. They're still a startable unit this week in the hope they can sack Geno Smith and force some turnovers.

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson had a great fantasy day in Week 13, throwing two touchdown passes, rushing for a touchdown, and scoring a two-point conversion. Fresh off their bye week, the 22-year-old has had an extra week to prepare for Sunday's matchup, although it remains to be seen whether or not that was enough time to fix the problems that have led to a 47.4% completion rate on the season. The former first-round draft pick will take on a Denver defense that has been generally good against the pass, having allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, however, the Browns' Jameis Winston torched the defense for 497 yards and four touchdowns their last time out (albeit with three INTs as well). Holding Richardson's fantasy value afloat is his legs, averaging nearly nine attempts, 47 yards, and a TD per contest in the three games since being reinserted as the starter. View the second-year pro as a mid-range QB2 this week who has some upside with his legs given his nose for the end zone.

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The Miami Dolphins have been one of the best defenses in the NFL against wide receivers, but Nico Collins of the Houston Texans remains a must-start option in Week 15. Since returning from Injured Reserve, the fourth-year receiver is averaging nine targets and 88 receiving yards, putting him in elite fantasy territory. The Dolphins allow the lowest average depth of target in the league and rank second against fantasy receivers, but Collins has played more than half of Houston's snaps six times this season and finished in the top 15 in five of those games. He's one of the few matchup-proof options, and until he proves otherwise, he should be started in any format this week.

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