Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Sam Howell did not do much to inspire confidence when called upon in Week 15. Howell replaced Geno Smith (knee) in the second half of Seattle's loss to the Green Bay Packers. He completed 5/14 passes for 24 yards and an interception. His QBR of 3.3 was about as low as you can go. Howell was turnover-prone with the Commanders in 2023 but his yardage totals were solid. To see him struggle in a way that suggests substantial regression in 2024 is concerning. With fantasy managers relying on Seattle's running backs and wide receivers in the fantasy playoffs, Howell's performance does not inspire much confidence should Smith miss time. Smith's injury severity is unknown so it is too early to tell what will happen. If Smith does need to miss time, at least Howell will have a whole week to prepare for Seattle's final home game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (knee) suffered a knee injury in the team's Week 15 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Smith had only managed 149 passing yards and an interception prior to his injury. The Seahawks' offense was not able to do anything against a solid Packers defense. Their only hope was to try to control the game on the ground and avoid throwing at an excellent Packers secondary. However, the Packers jumped out to a big first-quarter lead and forced Seattle to air it out. The severity of Smith's injury is unknown. Early tests suggest that it is structurally intact but he will undergo imaging on Monday. Smith's injury does not affect his fantasy value so much as it does that of the Seahawks' skill position players. The offense was abysmal when Sam Howell replaced Smith which could significantly affect the fantasy production of Seattle's running backs and wide receivers. However, Smith has a solid matchup in Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings if he can make it back to the field.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf's value has cratered this season. He only caught three passes for 28 yards in Seattle's Week 15 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Metcalf has been overtaken by fellow wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the receiving pecking order. Smith-Njigba has consistently seen more targets and production than Metcalf over the second half of the season. Still, Metcalf was always seemingly within a target or two of JSN's total in each game. In Week 15, Metcalf earned nine fewer targets than Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks offense struggled as a whole so it could be partially due to a lack of total offensive production. However, Metcalf has not caught a touchdown since Week 7. He has not exceeded four receptions since Week 11. Those are not numbers that one would associate with a starting-caliber wide receiver in fantasy football. On the bright side, Metcalf has a great matchup in Week 16 when the Seahawks host Minnesota.

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Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet only received eight carries in Week 15, but he recorded 54 yards and a touchdown with the limited opportunities. The Green Bay Packers jumped out to an early lead against the Seahawks forcing Seattle to largely abandon the running game. Charbonnet did receive four targets as well but he only caught one of them for 12 yards. Luckily Charbonnet was able to find the end zone to deliver RB2 value. However, it is concerning that Seattle's offense stalled so poorly. What is more, it seems likely that starting running back Kenneth Walker III (calf) will return in Week 16. Walker's return would crater Charbonnet's value even if Charbonnet were to begin receiving more touches than he was before. Given that Sunday's solid 13.6 PPR fantasy points were Charbonnet's worst in his four starts this season, he deserves a bench spot just in case Walker is limited or continues to miss time.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught 10 of 12 targets for 83 yards in a Week 15 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Smith-Njigba was one of the lone bright spots for the Seahawks in this game. He was the only pass catcher to record more than three receptions or 28 receiving yards. The performance indicated that Smith-Njigba may be moving into more of a No. 1 wide receiver role rather than a No. 2 in this offense. He has consistently outperformed wide receiver DK Metcalf over the last several weeks. Additionally, he earned nine more targets than Metcalf in Week 15. Smith-Njigba's role is steady at this point and the only thing that could hurt his fantasy output is if quarterback Geno Smith (knee) is forced to miss time. Sam Howell replaced Smith in the second half of Sunday's game and did not look ready for the moment. For now, Smith-Njigba managers must monitor Smith's status as we approach another week of the fantasy playoffs.

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Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant caught three passes for 15 yards in Week 15. The Seahawks could not get much going against a relentless Green Bay Packers defense. Fant has not been much of a fantasy-relevant player all season and his performance was on par with most of his performances this year. With quarterback Geno Smith (knee) going down due to injury, Fant's production could continue to fall. Quarterback Sam Howell did not fare well in Smith's stead. He only completed 5/14 passes. With fantasy managers squarely in the fantasy playoffs, Fant is not someone anyone should be looking at to fill their tight end slot. He has only recorded 329 receiving yards and no touchdowns in ten games this season. Leave Fant to waivers.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett only caught one pass for 22 yards in Week 15 against the Green Bay Packers. Lockett's 22 yards marked a game-high dating back to Week 9. In his defense, fellow wide receiver DK Metcalf did not fare much better in Week 15. The Seahawks' offense as a whole was disjointed. Only running back Zach Charbonnet and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba found any success against a relentless Packers defense. Hopefully, Lockett is on waivers in your fantasy league. He simply cannot even deliver flex value at this point. It is disappointing considering how many years of high-end fantasy relevance Lockett enjoyed before the last season or two.

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. took hold of the lead-back role in Week 15 against the New York Jets. He finished with 85 total yards on 18 touches which consisted of 65 yards on 14 carries and four catches for 20 yards. The 25-year-old back has been mostly overshadowed by fellow back Tank Bigsby, but in this week's matchup with the Jets, he out-touched Bigsby 18 to 11. While it isn't surprising Etienne Jr. was more involved in the passing game, it is surprising he out-carried Bigsby given recent games. That might be because Etienne Jr. has become more efficient at running the ball. In Week 15, Etienne averaged 4.6 yards per carry, while Bigsby averaged 3.8. Etienne Jr. will look to continue separating himself from Bigsby in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange had a fantastic game in Week 15 against the New York Jets. He finished with 11 catches for 73 yards on 12 targets. In a game with multiple receiving options out with injuries, Strange stepped up big time. Starting tight end Evan Engram was put on injured reserve after last week's game, putting Strange in a great position to be more involved. This was a breakout performance for the young tight end, easily the best game of his young career. Rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr.'s outstanding 10-catch, 105-yard, two-touchdown performance will overshadow Strange's, but fantasy managers should be more intrigued by Strange given this outlier output. Strange will be looking to build on this breakout game in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones had a solid statistical outing in a 32-25 loss to the New York Jets. The former Patriot hadn't thrown a touchdown in any of his previous three starts, but that changed this week with a first quarter and fourth quarter passing touchdown to rookie Brian Thomas Jr. Jones finished with 31 completions on 46 attempts with two passing touchdowns but two interceptions. Jones has been struggling with turnovers, but at least moved the offense pretty well, which to be fair is more of a big deal in real football than in fantasy football. Along with Thomas Jr., Jones heavily relied on backup tight end Brenton Strange, who caught 11 passes for 73 yards. Jones will look to continue improving in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. had his best game of the season at just the right time for fantasy managers in a 32-25 loss to the New York Jets. In a surprisingly offensive affair, BTJ was one of the standouts, finishing with 10 catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 14 targets. The rookie receiver was dominant from the get-go, leading the team in receiving yards and catching both of Mac Jones's passing touchdowns, one in the first quarter and one in the fourth. The most impressive part of this performance is that BTJ has all the defensive attention on him and is catching passes from a backup quarterback. BTJ will look to continue dominating despite the cards being stacked against him in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner delivered another massive performance in the 30-17 win over the New England Patriots. It is no secret that the Cardinals' offense goes as James Conner goes, and in this matchup, the Cardinals' rushing attack was firing on all cylinders. Conner's official stat line was 16 carries for 110 yards, two touchdowns, and five catches for 28 yards. He is the workhorse of the Cardinals' offense, adding another 20+ touch game to his total for the season. Backup running back Trey Benson (ankle) left the game with an injury, increasing Conner's already high workload. As the Cardinals continue their playoff push, they will continue to rely on Conner, who will have a rushing advantage when the team travels to Carolina in Week 16.

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New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson was a non-factor for most of the day in Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Commanders. He finished with two catches for 12 yards on three targets. Johnson did not see his first target until the fourth quarter, on a shot over the middle that was well off the mark and nearly picked off. Johnson's receptions came on the Saints' final drive of the game that culminated in a touchdown to fellow tight end Foster Moreau as the game clock expired. Quarterback Spencer Rattler looked to Johnson on the ensuing two-point attempt to give New Orleans the win but sent his pass wide and Johnson had to dive just to get a hand on it. Johnson now has 36 receptions for 375 yards and three touchdowns on 47 targets this season. He will continue to serve as the Saints' primary pass-catching tight end though he should not be expected to return much fantasy value going forward, especially if Derek Carr (concussion, hand) remains sidelined.

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New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau caught a one-yard touchdown pass as the game clock expired in Sunday's loss to the Commanders. The Saints could not convert the ensuing two-point attempt and lost 20-19. Moreau saw four targets, all in the fourth quarter, and caught all of them for 39 receiving yards and the score. His four receptions matched his season high, set back in Week 1 against the Panthers and Sunday's work marked the third time in four games that Moreau saw four targets. The 27-year-old vet has been good for the occasional chunk play this season but does not see enough action in the passing game to be a reliable fantasy asset. His 4-46-1 line from Week 15 gave him his first double-digit PPR score since Week 1. On the season, Moreau has 23 catches for 302 yards and four touchdowns on 31 targets.

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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. had a greater impact throwing the football than catching it in Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Commanders. Wilson threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Alvin Kamara in the third quarter. In his typical role as a pass catcher, he failed to log a reception and was targeted just once. Wilson did have a 15-yard catch early in the first quarter but it was wiped out due to a holding penalty. Even in the wake of the injuries that have cost the Saints the services of Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee), Wilson has been unable to command significant attention. In his last four games, he has two receptions for 37 yards on three targets and he has a season-long line of 13-159-1. There is not much hope for Wilson as a fantasy asset in 2024.

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Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the Saints in targets and receiving yards in Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Washington Commanders. MVS drew seven targets but only logged two receptions for a total of 64 receiving yards. He also had one carry for four rushing yards. With Derek Carr (concussion, hand) sidelined with his injuries sustained in Week 14, expectations that MVS would make another big play this week were low. However, he did manage to reel in a deep shot over the middle for a 39-yard gain in the third quarter, the Saints' longest play of the game. Valdes-Scantling took a helmet-to-helmet hit on his other reception in the fourth quarter and left the game temporarily but returned after it was determined he did not suffer a concussion. This was the second game in a row that MVS drew seven targets but he will be hard to trust against the Packers in Week 16, especially if Carr is forced to miss another game.

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Running back Kendre Miller ended up as the Saints' leading rusher in Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Washington Commanders. Miller's 46 rushing yards on his nine carries were enough to lead the team in both categories. He did not catch his one target but handled three kickoffs, gaining a total of 83 return yards. Miller had one carry in the first quarter but was not used again until the fourth quarter. Miller had a carry on the first play of the fourth, after which Alvin Kamara (groin) exited due to injury. With Kamara sidelined, the backfield was left to Miller. Fellow running back Jamaal Williams did not see a touch nor a target and finished with six snaps to Miller's 26 for the game. Kamara's status for Week 16 is not yet known but if he is forced to miss time Miller is a must-add. The Saints play the Packers in Week 16 followed by the Raiders in the fantasy championship round.

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The New Orleans Saints brought in quarterback Spencer Rattler to replace spot starter Jake Haener at halftime of Sunday's game against the Commanders. Haener proved ineffective in the first half, going 4-for-10 for 40 pass yards and one interception, and losing 29 yards on three sacks. After coming in, Rattler went 10-for-21 for 135 yards and one touchdown. The touchdown pass went to tight end Foster Moreau as the game clock expired, bringing the Saints within one point of the Commanders. His pass on the ensuing two-point conversion was wide of intended target Juwan Johnson's reach and New Orleans ended up losing 20-19. Rattler did seem more poised in the pocket than Haener but many of his throws were off the mark, as was the case during his three-game stretch as the Saints' starter earlier this season. It is too soon to tell which of the two backups will start in Week 16 if Derek Carr (concussion, hand) remains sidelined. Neither should be considered an option in the second round of the fantasy playoffs.

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Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay knocked through both of his field goal attempts on Sunday and converted his extra point attempt in the 31-13 loss to the Broncos. The 30-year-old has now made at least two field goals in 10 of the last 11 games and has gone a perfect 23-for-23 on extra points this season. The Colts seem to move the ball just well enough to get him a couple of chances per game but they also turn the ball over so much that he doesn't have big fantasy days. Nevertheless, the sixth-year pro has been a steady source of points for the bulk of the season and should be in line for a few more successful tries next week versus the Titans. The game will be at home for the Colts so he won't have to contend with the elements either.

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Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin (quadriceps) picked up a quadriceps injury in the 31-13 Week 15 win over the visiting Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Before leaving, McLaughlin handled seen carries (a team-high among RBs) for 21 yards (3.0 yards per carry) while adding three catches on three targets for an additional 13 yards through the air. Neither Javonte Williams nor Audric Estime were able to capitalize on McLaughlin's injury, as they combined for 11 carries and 28 yards and three catches (four targets) for 13 yards. It was a disappointing performance from McLaughlin against a Colts defense that has been gashed on the ground all year, but then again, Denver's rushing attack hasn't really done much of anything all season. Heading into a short week on Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers, McLaughlin's availability could be in question. If active, he'll be an avoidable RB3/flex.

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