Guest of the League
Greatest Show on Turf Est. 2020
Dynasty $125 - FFL: Playoff Week 1 | NFL: Week 15

Saints QB Jake Haener to get first start

Thu Dec 12 9:11pm ET
Field Level Media

The New Orleans Saints will give quarterback Jake Haener his first NFL start on Sunday against the Washington Commanders, according to multiple media reports on Thursday night.

Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi was choosing between second-year player Haener and rookie Spencer Rattler to replace starter Derek Carr, who has not practiced this week because of a fracture in his left (non-throwing) hand and also a concussion.

The two reserves have been sharing reps at practice, and Rizzi confirmed that they are competing to start for the host Saints (5-8) against the Commanders (8-5).

"They're both guys that throw the ball well, they're both similar size guys, athletic ability is very similar," Rizzi said this week. "There'll be some nuances in the game plan, depending on which guy starts, naturally. ... But it's not going to be this wholesale deal."

The Saints selected Haener in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Fresno State. He did not appear in a game last season.

Haener, 25, has played as a reserve in seven games this season and is 14 of 29 (48.3 percent) for 177 yards and one touchdown.

Rattler, 24, started all three games that he has played this season in place of the injured Carr (oblique) and was 59 of 99 (59.6 percent) for 571 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Saints lost all three games.

New Orleans drafted Rattler in the fifth round this year out of South Carolina.

Carr, 33, was injured when he tried to leap for a first down late in the final quarter of a 14-11 road win against the New York Giants on Sunday. He was near the sideline and went airborne, landing hard on the left hand with his face then slamming into the turf as he landed out of bounds with 3:59 left in the game.

Carr completed 20 of 31 passes for 219 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Haener finished up the game for the Saints.

Overall, Carr has passed for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions this season.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 15

Player Notes
Marshon Lattimore Dec 12 10:30pm CT
Marshon Lattimore

For the second straight day this week on Thursday, Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) practiced in full as the team prepares to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday in Week 15. Lattimore was acquired by the Commanders from the Saints on Nov. 5 but he hasn't made his debut for Washington yet due to his hamstring injury. As long as the 28-year-old defensive back doesn't suffer a setback on Friday at practice, he seems well on his to making his debut this weekend. If Lattimore is active on Sunday, he should start on the outside at cornerback, but the veteran could have his snaps limited given his long layoff. The former first-rounder is a four-time Pro Bowler and had 30 tackles (22 solo) in seven starts for the Saints to begin the year. Lattimore's impending return will be a welcomed boost to Washington's secondary down the stretch for a playoff push.

From RotoBaller

Zane Gonzalez Dec 12 10:20pm CT
Zane Gonzalez

Washington Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez (foot) returned to a full practice on Thursday after being limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday while dealing with a left-foot injury. Gonzalez should now be good to go to kick for the Commanders again in Week 15 in a strong matchup against the New Orleans Saints on the road in the Caesars Superdome with Austin Seibert (groin) still sidelined due to injury. In his return to the NFL this year for the first time since 2021, Gonzalez has gone 3-for-5 on field goals and has made all 10 of his extra points in his three games with Washington in place of Seibert. The 29-year-old kicker is by no means a must-start in fantasy lineups in the first round of the playoffs in most leagues, but he could be a decent streamer in a Commanders offense that has scored 28.9 points per game, the fourth-most in the NFL.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr Dec 12 9:50pm CT
Derek Carr

Unsurprisingly, New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (concussion, hand) sat out of practice for the second straight day this week. Carr suffered a concussion and broke his left (non-throwing) hand in the Week 14 win over the New York Giants on Sunday. He hasn't officially been ruled out for Week 15 against the Washington Commanders, but interim head coach Darren Rizzi said on Thursday that Jake Haener will start under center this weekend. While the 33-year-old Carr will not be placed on Injured Reserve, there's a chance that he won't play again this year, depending on how the team plays in the next couple of weeks. The expectation is that Carr will officially be ruled out for Week 15 on Friday. Carr has dealt with various injuries again in 2024 and is currently the QB22 in overall fantasy points with 15 TD passes and 17 picks in 10 games played.

From RotoBaller

Cedric Tillman Dec 12 9:40pm CT
Cedric Tillman

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) remained limited in the second practice of the week on Thursday and remains in the league's concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in the Week 12 win over the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Tillman has recovered slowly from his concussion and has missed the last two games. The 24-year-old still has work to do in order to play on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs and will need clearance from an independent neurologist. The former third-rounder in 2023 out of Tennessee saw his role increase before his concussion when the Browns traded Amari Cooper to Buffalo. In five games before the concussion, Tillman had 26 catches on 44 targets for 330 yards and three touchdowns to put him into the weekly flex conversation in fantasy. Given his injury and the tough matchup against KC, Tillman is a shaky WR4/flex in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Darnell Mooney Dec 12 9:00pm CT
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (foot) was listed as a limited participant during Thursday's practice. Fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked by this news considering Mooney has been banged up for a few weeks now. Despite that, Mooney continues to play and is coming off one of his best performances of the season. Last week, Mooney hauled in six of his seven targets for 142 yards in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Fantasy managers shouldn't read too much into Mooney sitting out on Thursday, but should stay tuned for more information. The 27-year-old could offer WR2 value for a plus matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders defense in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Jakobi Meyers Dec 12 8:50pm CT
Jakobi Meyers

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (ankle) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned about Meyers considering he played through the issue last week. Meyers hauled in seven receptions for 67 yards while battling the same ankle issue during the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Meyers sitting out on Thursday could just be the Raiders being cautious with him ahead of the Week 15 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. If he plays, Meyers should be able to offer WR2 value, but the quarterback situation in Las Vegas is uncertain right now. Meyers might lose some value if Desmond Ridder ends up under center on Monday.

From RotoBaller

Maxx Crosby Dec 12 8:40pm CT
Maxx Crosby

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (ankle) was unable to participate in Thursday's practice session. Crosby missed his first game of his career in Week 4 due to an ankle issue. It's unclear if the issue is related, but regardless it's going to take a lot to get Crosby to sit out of a game. This season, Crosby has 45 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks through 12 games. There is still plenty of time for Crosby to heal up before Monday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. The loss of Crosby would be a huge hit to this defense, but we'll have to wait and see how he progresses throughout the week.

From RotoBaller

Aidan O'Connell Dec 12 8:30pm CT
Aidan O'Connell

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) was unable to get on the practice field on Thursday. Despite his absence in practice, O'Connell is hopeful to suit up for the Monday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Last week, O'Connell suffered a bone bruise in his left knee during the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The organization feared O'Connell would miss the rest of the season, but now he has a chance to play in Week 15. If he sits, Desmond Ridder would be tasked with making his first start of the season. The fact that O'Connell sat out on Thursday isn't a great sign heading into Monday's game, but there is still plenty of time for him to still get cleared to play.

From RotoBaller

Alexander Mattison Dec 12 8:20pm CT
Alexander Mattison

Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (ankle) was a full participant during Thursday's practice session. This is good news as it appears Mattison is ready to get back on the field for the first time since Week 11. However, Mattison is expected to be demoted to the backup role, according to head coach Antonio Pierce. Mattison was struggling on the ground before the injury, so it's not shocking to see the Raiders going in another direction. Sincere McCormick has looked solid in back-to-back games and should see increased chances down the stretch of the season. The expectation is Mattison will still remain involved as the receiving back, but he could see a decrease in fantasy value going forward. The 26-year-old appears to be trending in the right direction ahead of the Week 15 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, but is looking like a desperation flex option.

From RotoBaller

Nick Folk Dec 12 7:00pm CT
Nick Folk

Tennessee Titans kicker Nick Folk (groin) was a full-go in the team's practice on Thursday, one day after he was listed as a non-participant due to a groin injury. The Titans signed kicker Brayden Narveson to their practice squad on Wednesday, signaling that there was uncertainty as to whether Folk would be able to kick in Week 15 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The 40-year-old veteran still isn't guaranteed to play this weekend, but a return to a full practice after a DNP on Wednesday is definitely a good sign. Folk was Tennessee's entire offense in last Sunday's 10-6 loss to the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars, making his only two field-goal attempts. Folk enters Week 15 action as the No. 18 fantasy kicker in terms of overall points and should be avoided in most leagues, even though the matchup against Cincy is a nice one. His 22 FG attempts on the year have him tied for 22nd among all kickers in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Jake Haener Dec 12 6:50pm CT
Jake Haener

New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi named quarterback Jake Haener as the team's starter under center for this Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, according to a source. Although the Saints are bullish on rookie Spencer Rattler, it will be Haener getting the first starting nod with regular starter Derek Carr (concussion, hand) potentially missing multiple weeks after fracturing his left (non-throwing) hand and suffering a concussion in the Week 14 win over the New York Giants. The 25-year-old Haener replaced Carr late in last week's game but didn't attempt a single pass. Despite being drafted last year, Haener didn't debut until this year, and he's gone 14-for-29 for 177 yards and a TD in part of seven games. At best, he's a low-end QB2 consideration in two-QB superflex leagues with limited upside this weekend against the Commanders.

From RotoBaller

Marquise Brown Dec 12 6:50pm CT
Marquise Brown

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) has received final clearance to practice and could make his return before the end of the regular season, according to sources. Brown is recovering from surgery to fix an SC joint in his shoulder but should have his 21-day window to be activated from Injured Reserve opened on either Friday or Monday. It's encouraging news for the Chiefs as they look to become the first team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl three times in a row, but fantasy managers are still probably not going to get much, if anything at all, out of Hollywood in the next three weeks if they make it to the fantasy championship. The Chiefs are going to be extremely cautious with Brown's return, so even if he's active in Week 16 against the Houston Texans, he'd probably see limited snaps. Brown hasn't played all year after getting injured in the preseason.

From RotoBaller

Kenneth Walker III Dec 12 6:40pm CT
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (calf) missed his second straight day of practice this week on Thursday. Walker was considered day-to-day earlier this week after missing the Week 14 divisional win over the Arizona Cardinals with a calf injury. The 24-year-old hasn't been ruled out for this Sunday night's primetime showdown against the Green Bay Packers, but it's starting to look more likely that he'll miss a second straight game. Making it even more difficult to roll the dice on Walker in starting fantasy lineups this week is the fact the Seahawks won't kick off until late Sunday night. If Walker is given a questionable tag, most fantasy managers will be forced into sitting him in the first round of the playoffs in most leagues. If Walker misses a second straight game, Zach Charbonnet could come to the rescue yet again after gaining 193 scrimmage yards with two TDs on 29 touches last week.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Dec 12 6:40pm CT
D.K. Metcalf

After putting in a full practice on Wednesday, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (shoulder) was listed as limited on Thursday. Metcalf has been listed on the team's injury report with a shoulder issue for three straight weeks now, but it hasn't kept him from playing on Sundays, which means his downgraded practice participation this week is likely for rest purposes. As long as the 26-year-old wideout doesn't miss practice on Friday, he's most likely going to be removed from the final injury report and be good to go for Sunday night's clash against the visiting Green Bay Packers. In the last two games, Metcalf has reeled in eight of his 15 targets for 115 yards and no touchdowns. The veteran pass-catcher's fantasy ceiling has been lowered in 2024 due to the emergence of second-year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba -- JSN leads the team in catches, yards and TDs -- dropping Metcalf to more of a WR2/3.

From RotoBaller

Davis Allen Dec 12 6:30pm CT
Davis Allen

Los Angeles Rams tight end Davis Allen (shoulder) came into Thursday night's game against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers in Week 15 as questionable with a shoulder injury, but he is active and will play. Fellow tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) will have to wait at least another week to make his season debut, so it will be Allen and Colby Parkinson again splitting the TE work for the Rams against San Francisco. The 23-year-old Allen hasn't played over 50 percent of the offensive snaps since Week 11 and has seen just one target in the last four games, so there's no reason for fantasy managers to trust him in starting lineups, even in the deepest of formats. Parkinson, meanwhile, has only four receptions on five targets for 53 yards and one touchdown in the last four games. Fantasy managers are better off avoiding the Rams' TE situation.

From RotoBaller

Nick Bosa Dec 12 6:20pm CT
Nick Bosa

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (oblique) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) are both officially active for Thursday night's contest against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. Bosa came into Week 15 listed as questionable but will end his absence at three games. It's great news for the 49ers' pass rush going up against a high-powered Rams offense, but fantasy managers in IDP formats should seriously consider leaving the 27-year-old All-Pro on your bench. Both Bosa and Greenlaw are expected to be on a strict snap count in their return from respective injuries. Greenlaw will especially eased in for his 2024 debut after tearing his Achilles in the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The 49ers defensive unit, which hasn't been as strong this season, will be a fringe starting unit against a Rams offense that put up 44 points on the Buffalo Bills last week.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Whittington Dec 12 6:20pm CT
Jordan Whittington

Los Angeles Rams wide receivers Demarcus Robinson (shoulder) and rookie Jordan Whittington (shoulder) are both officially active for Thursday night's divisional contest against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Robinson injured his shoulder during the Week 14 win over the Buffalo Bills but was able to return to the game, which was a good sign for his status despite being on a quick turnaround this week. The 30-year-old will continue to serve as the WR3 in LA's offense behind stud wideouts Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, who get the vast majority of looks from quarterback Matthew Stafford in this offense. Robinson has still had a role, though, catching 28 passes for 433 yards, and he's had a nose for the end zone with a career-high seven touchdowns. In Week 3 against the Niners, Robinson had one catch for 32 yards. Treat him as a low-floor, touchdown-dependent WR4/flex in deep leagues.

From RotoBaller

Isaac Guerendo Dec 12 6:10pm CT
Isaac Guerendo

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo (foot) is officially active for Thursday night's divisional clash in Week 15 versus the visiting Los Angeles Rams. Guerendo suffered a mild foot sprain in the first start of his career in the Week 14 blowout win over the Chicago Bears but will be active on a short week. Before hurting his foot on Sunday, Guerendo had 15 carries for 78 yards (5.2 yards per tote) and two rushing touchdowns, also catching both of his targets for 50 yards through the air. The 24-year-old sure looked good in the lead-back role for San Fran with both Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) out. Guerendo will likely be the Niners' lead back the rest of the season, although he'll certainly come with more risk on Thursday night and could share more of the backfield work with Patrick Taylor Jr. Consider Guerendo a volume-based RB3/flex in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Joshua Dobbs Dec 12 5:53pm CT
Joshua Dobbs

The San Francisco 49ers have declared CB Rock Ya-Sin, DT Khalil Davis, S Malik Mustapha, OT Trent Williams, QB Joshua Dobbs and RB Israel Abanikanda inactive for Week 15.

From TheHuddle

Ladd McConkey Dec 12 5:10pm CT
Ladd McConkey

Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Ladd McConkey (knee, shoulder) was limited again in practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. McConkey was inactive for the team's Week 14 loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. It's good news that the 23-year-old second-round rookie is practicing at all, but it doesn't necessarily mean he'll return for a Week 15 clash against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fantasy managers would really like to see the Georgia product return to a full practice on Friday. With McConkey out last week, receivers Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer both saw added involvement in the aerial attack. If McConkey gets the green light to play this weekend, he should be returned to starting fantasy lineups. He leads the Bolts in most receiving categories and is tied for 32nd among all wideouts in average half-PPR points per game in 2024.

From RotoBaller