Given how well quarterback Sam Darnold has played in 2024, the Minnesota Vikings have not ruled out offering him a contract for next season despite widespread belief that they will let Darnold walk and hand the job to J.J. McCarthy (knee), who was drafted in the first round in April, according to sources familiar with the team's thinking. Darnold is in the midst of a career season and has thrown for 1,158 yards, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in the last four games. In that span, he's led three game-winning drives and has led the NFL in completions on passes of at least 15 air yards. Darnold is on pace for a 4,100-yard, 35-touchdown season. "There's no other place I'd rather play. Just so grateful to be a Viking," Darnold said earlier this month. It remains to be seen where Darnold will be playing in 2025, but right now he has been a solid QB1 in fantasy heading into a Monday night game against the Bears.

From RotoBaller

Updating a previous report, Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (knee) suffered a torn MCL in the Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday and could miss the rest of the season, including the playoffs, according to sources. Montgomery is undergoing further testing on Monday and will also receive a second opinion to confirm the injury, but the Lions and fantasy managers are looking at not having Monty the rest of the way. At least in fantasy leagues, which typically end with the championship in Week 17, Montgomery won't be available for the rest of the year. It makes sense now why the 27-year-old only had five carries for four yards in Sunday's loss to Buffalo, adding four catches for 31 yards. Jahmyr Gibbs should now see the lion's share of touches in Detroit's backfield moving forward, with Craig Reynolds spelling him when needed.

From RotoBaller

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder is expected to make his first start of the season on Monday night against his old team, the Atlanta Falcons, according to sources. Aidan O'Connell (knee) is listed as questionable with a bone bruise in his knee. He's expected to work out before the game to test his knee, but the expectation is that the Raiders will go with Ridder in this one. The Raiders initially feared that O'Connell suffered a season-ending injury in last week's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it ended up just being a bone bruise, which means he could return in Week 16 to face the Jacksonville Jaguars if he can make more progress in practice on a short week. Ridder went 12-for-18 for 101 yards without a TD or interception in relief of O'Connell against the Bucs. The turnover-prone signal-caller has a good matchup against Atlanta but has limited fantasy upside as a low-end QB2 on Monday evening.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) is unsure if he'll be available for the Week 16 contest this coming Saturday against the Houston Texans after injuring his right ankle in the Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Head coach Andy Reid said Mahomes' ankle isn't broken, but it's believed he's dealing with a high-ankle sprain after going down midway through the fourth quarter in the eventual 21-7 win. Reid said Mahomes could have stayed in the game, but "there was no need for that." The superstar QB finished 19-for-38 for 159 yards and two touchdowns before leaving. He was replaced by backup Carson Wentz, who would be in line to start on Saturday against Houston if Mahomes isn't cleared by then. Fantasy managers relying on Mahomes need to formulate a backup plan in case the two-time MVP cannot play in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (knee) injured his MCL in the Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday and is now out indefinitely, according to sources. Montgomery is undergoing additional testing on Monday and will also get a second opinion, but he could be lost for the remainder of the season. It's a huge blow to the Lions and for fantasy managers that have advanced to their semifinal matchups. It remains to be seen if Monty will be available for the postseason, but this injury will most likely sideline him for at least the three remaining regular-season contests. It means that backfield mate Jahmyr Gibbs will now see as many touches as he can handle in Detroit's backfield, giving him even more fantasy upside in a high-octane offense. Meanwhile, Craig Reynolds will bump up to the No. 2 option in Detroit's backfield to help spell Gibbs.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams put up a dud in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Williams saw two targets and hauled in one catch for 15 yards. In a game where the Steelers were (+5.5) underdogs and expected to throw more playing from behind, they could only muster up 128 yards through the air. There was some optimism for a stronger performance from Williams because George Pickens (hamstring) was sidelined, but he couldn't deliver. The Steelers will try to re-group and prepare for a pivotal divisional matchup in Week 16 at the Baltimore Ravens. Williams is not a recommended start moving forward. He does not see the consistent targets and opportunities fantasy managers seek. Williams is a FLEX option at best in deep-league formats versus the Ravens in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (knee) suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game and was immediately ruled out. After the game, head coach Dan Campbell didn't reveal any specifics about the injury and just said it "didn't look good." According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, McNeill suffered an ACL injury and will miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign. It was an awful injury for this struggling Lions defense, as they are already without defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (leg) and a laundry list of other defensive players. The Lions hit the road for a few games against the Chicago Bears and the San Francisco 49ers before ending the season at home against the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions' defense has been reeling lately, allowing 48 points to the Bills last week and 31 to the Green Bay Packers the week before. The Lions will need to search for answers on the defensive side to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis (jaw) will undergo surgery on his broken jaw, which will sideline him indefinitely. The Lions' list of defensive injuries continues to pile up after their Week 15 loss against the Buffalo Bills. The Lions have ruled Alim McNeill (knee) out for the season. Khalil Dorsey (ankle) is dealing with an injury, and now Davis is sidelined indefinitely. With three games left in the regular season, the Lions will have to search for answers on the defensive side of the ball. They have been reeling late, allowing 31 points to the Green Bay Packers in Week 14 and 48 last week to the Bills.

From RotoBaller

Although it wasn't the best fantasy day for Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz in the 31-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Week 15, he did extend his streak of perfection to four straight games. Lutz nailed his lone field-goal attempt on the day from 44 yards out and was also successful on all four of his extra-point opportunities to send the Broncos to 9-5. The 30-year-old veteran has made 90 percent of his 30 field-goal tries in 14 games in his second year in Denver, with two of his three misses on the year being a blocked kick and a try from over 60 yards out. Lutz has been money in the bank, and with Denver's offense picking things up under rookie quarterback Bo Nix in the second half of the season, Lutz has become a top-10 fantasy kicker. Heading into a Thursday divisional showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers, he should once again be considered a top-10 option at the position.

From RotoBaller

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington had a respectable performance in Sunday's 32-25 loss against the New York Jets. He hauled in three of his six targets for 54 yards. With Evan Engram (shoulder) sidelined, there was optimism that Washington would receive an increase in targets and workload heading into Week 15. There is room for improvement heading forward, as Brenton Strange and Brian Thomas Jr. had 26 targets combined. On the bright side, quarterback Mac Jones threw for 294 yards, and the Jaguars (3-11) will likely be in pass-heavy game scripts for the remainder of the year. This will allow plenty of targets and opportunities for Washington and the Jaguar receivers. Washington will be on the FLEX radar heading into Week 16 as the Jaguars travel to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos tight ends Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins both found the end zone in the team's 31-13 victory over the visiting Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Empower Field in Week 15. Trautman and Adkins hauled in rookie quarterback Bo Nix's first two touchdown passes of the day in a huge victory that boosts Denver's chances of making the postseason for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50 with Peyton Manning. Trautman finished with two catches on two targets for 20 yards and the score, while Adkins only caught the one TD pass of 15 yards on the day. The Broncos haven't utilized their tight ends much in the offense this year, so neither Trautman nor Adkins should be in consideration for a waiver-wire pickup in the fantasy playoffs. Trautman has 11 catches for 178 yards and two TDs in 14 games, while Adkins has only eight grabs for 65 yards and three scores on the year.

From RotoBaller

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra caught his lone target for 22 yards in the team's 27-13 win over the Steelers. Despite his expanded role due to Dallas Goedert (knee) being placed on IR, Calcaterra has only seen four targets across two games as the team's primary tight end. With DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown earning the majority of targets, Calcaterra is unlikely to see a significant uptick in volume. As such, he remains off the fantasy radar heading into the Eagles' Week 16 road matchup against the Washington Commanders.

From RotoBaller

None of the Denver Broncos wide receivers were able to do much in the Week 15 win over the Indianapolis Colt on Sunday with rookie quarterback Bo Nix struggling and throwing for only 130 yards on the day. Marvin Mims Jr. caught all four of his targets but had only 20 receiving yards. He also had one carry that went for no gain. The disappointing performance comes on the heels of the 22-year-old's three-catch, 105-yard, one-touchdown performance in the Week 13 win over the Browns. Mims' big day before the bye week came thanks to a 93-yard touchdown strike against Cleveland. The Broncos have made it a point to get Mims involved in the second half of the season, but it's been only minimal involvement. Outside of his 100-yard game in Week 13, Mims hasn't cleared 50 yards or four receptions, making him a desperation flex option for fantasy managers in deep leagues.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele had only one target in Sunday's 31-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The Broncos offense looked sluggish after their bye week, and the offensive production showcased it. Quarterback Bo Nix only threw for 130 yards on the day, and no receiver on the Broncos had more than 32 yards. Heading into Week 15, Vele had put up 162 yards in his last three games. The silver lining for Vele is that he still played 60% of the snaps and is the clear slot choice for the Broncos offense. He will try to get back on track with a matchup versus the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night football. Vele is not a reliable fantasy option in 10-12-team leagues heading into Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams rushed six times for 15 yards and hauled in two of three targets for eight yards in the Broncos' 31-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Williams followed suit in a game where the Broncos offense could only put together 193 yards of total offense. The Bronco's running backs have been by committee for most of the season, and head coach Sean Peyton doesn't want to change that strategy. The silver lining for Williams is that Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin (quad) left the game in the second half. If he were to miss any time, that could make this Broncos running back room smaller with just Williams and Audric Estime. Regardless, Williams has not been a reliable running back for fantasy managers in 2024. He is a touchdown-dependent RB3 heading into Week 16 versus the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football.

From RotoBaller

Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott was perfect in Sunday's 27-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, converting both of his field-goal attempts from 34 and 41 yards while going 3-for-3 on extra points. Elliott's reliable performance helped ensure the Eagles capitalized on their scoring opportunities in a game where the offense was firing on all cylinders. While Elliott has struggled with longer-range kicks this season, he remains a consistent option for fantasy managers. This marked Elliott's fifth double-digit fantasy performance of the year, solidifying his value as a dependable fantasy kicker. He will look to build on this momentum in a Week 16 matchup against the Washington Commanders on the road.

From RotoBaller

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts delivered a stellar performance in the team's 27-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Hurts completed 25 of 32 passes for 290 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptionswhile adding 45 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Hurts silenced any doubts about the Eagles' passing game by averaging an impressive 9.1 yards per attempt and connecting on six passes of 20+ yards. His performance included his second-highest passing total of the season (290) and second-highest completion rate (78.1%). Hurts' dual-threat ability was on full display as he added his 14th rushing touchdown of the season, solidifying his position as an elite fantasy QB. Heading into a Week 16 matchup against the Commanders, Hurts remains a top-tier option, capable of delivering in both the passing and rushing game.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has etched his name in the franchise's record books with his touchdown catch in the lopsided victory over the New York Giants. After finishing the win with two catches for 24 yards and a touchdown, he moved into first place for most touchdowns in franchise history with 48 and counting. After the Ravens went up 28-7 near the end of the third quarter, a lot of the reserves came in and they started to waste some more time. So, Andrews didn't get a chance to notch any more scores. He'll go up against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16, and he'll look to redeem himself from his last performance against them.

From RotoBaller

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith caught 11-of-12 targets for 109 yards and a touchdown in the team's 27-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15. It was a season-best performance for Smith, who set new highs in receptions and yards while securing a touchdown for the second week straight. He played a key role in Philadelphia's aerial success, leading the team in targets and receptions while notching chunk gains of 22 and 20 yards. His short touchdown catch in the second quarter helped the Eagles establish control of the game early. Despite occasional inconsistency stemming from limited opportunitiesthis was his first game with over seven targets since Week 3Smith's ceiling was on full display. Heading into a Week 16 road matchup against the Washington Commanders, Smith profiles as a high-upside WR2 for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride set the record for most catches (87) in a single season without catching a receiving touchdown in the Week 15 win over the New England Patriots. McBride had another great performance, catching nine passes for 87 yards despite still not finding the end zone. McBride's record-setting catch came at the one-yard line, coming so close to ending the drought. Despite not being able to find the end zone through the air, McBride has still had a stellar fantasy season, ranking as a top-three tight end in fantasy football at the moment. It's hard to pinpoint one reason why McBride hasn't caught a touchdown pass this season, but with three weeks remaining in the season, there's still time to break through. The Cardinals will face the Carolina Panthers in Week 16, and McBride will, once again, be a lock in the starting tight end spot for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller