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QB Derek Carr officially ruled out for Sunday’s game by Saints

Sat Dec 14 7:16pm ET
Field Level Media

On Saturday, the New Orleans Saints officially ruled quarterback Derek Carr out for Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders.

Carr, who sustained a left hand injury and was placed in concussion protocol following a hard landing after a run in the Saints' 14-11 win against the New York Giants last Sunday, had not been expected to suit up for New Orleans for their home game against Washington, but his absence had yet to be made formal.

As reported by several outlets previously, he'll be replaced in the starting lineup by second-year player Jake Haener, 25, who has seen limited time in his career to date with no career starts.

Earlier this season, Carr missed three games following an oblique injury. Faced with the choice between Haener and rookie Spencer Rattler, the Saints turned to the rookie. Rattler, 24, went 0-3 as a starter, completing 59.6 percent of his passes for 571 yards and a single touchdown, with two interceptions.

Like Rattler, all of Haener's playing time has come this season. In spot duty, Haener has completed 48.3 percent of his throws for 177 yards and a touchdown.

Carr, 33, has completed 67.7 percent for 2,145 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions in 10 games this season, his second in New Orleans.

In other moves Saturday, the Saints activated defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon from the physically unable to perform list while placing linebacker D'Marco Jackson on injured reserve.

For Washington, Marshon Lattimore is slated to make his Commanders debut, against his former team, earning the start following the four-time Pro Bowl selection's recovery from a hamstring injury.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 15

Player Notes
Ja'Tavion Sanders Dec 14 6:10pm CT
Ja'Tavion Sanders

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders posted a dud during last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Sanders failed to haul in his lone target of the game as he only played 49 percent of the offensive snaps. To be fair, it was his first game back from a neck injury, so possibly the Panthers were being cautious with him. The expectation is that Sanders is going to continue splitting up the reps with Tommy Tremble. That being said, Sanders won't be too appealing of a fantasy option for the Week 15 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. He should be considered a TE2 as he figures to see more involvement this week.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Wright Dec 14 6:10pm CT
Jaylen Wright

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright has been mostly a non-factor in his rookie campaign. De'Von Achane has commanded the backfield, but there isn't any indication that head coach Mike McDaniel will split the touches moving forward. At this point in the season, he should be on the waiver wire in most redraft leagues. With Achane fully healthy, Wright will not be a starting option for the rest of the fantasy season.

From RotoBaller

Maxx Crosby Dec 14 6:00pm CT
Maxx Crosby

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (ankle) was already ruled out for Week 15, but appears to be done for the season. The superstar pass rusher is expected to undergo arthroscopic ankle surgery that will end his 2024 campaign. This is a tough blow for the three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher who hadn't missed an NFL game until this season. He'll finish with 45 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks in 12 games this season. The hope is that Crosby will ready to go by the time training camp rolls around. This is a huge loss for a Raiders defense that was already struggling to contain opposing offenses this season.

From RotoBaller

Cole Kmet Dec 14 5:50pm CT
Cole Kmet

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet has been a disappointment to fantasy managers outside of a few big performances. Last week, Kmet wasn't targeted at all during the loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Somehow, Kmet wasn't targeted during this game despite being on the field for over 90 percent on the snaps. It's tough for fantasy managers to insert Kmet into their lineups after that one. It's worth noting that Kmet finished with seven receptions on 10 targets for 64 yards during the Week 12 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Kmet will get a rematch with the Vikings this week, but remains on the TE2 radar.

From RotoBaller

Rome Odunze Dec 14 5:40pm CT
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze capitalized on his chances during last week's loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The rookie wideout hauled in four of his five targets for 42 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. This was the first time that Odunze has found the end zone since Week 3. The rookie wideout hasn't been as great as many thought coming into the season, but he is starting to see more involvement. Odunze has seen 31 targets over his last four games, which is a solid improvement from earlier in the season. He doesn't have great fantasy appeal, but warrants considering as a WR3 in PPR formats for the Week 15 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

From RotoBaller

Keenan Allen Dec 14 5:40pm CT
Keenan Allen

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen has picked up his performance after a slow start to the season. The veteran wideout was sluggish last week, but before that Allen had 41 receiving yards or more in each of his previous four games. His best performance during that span was against the same Minnesota Vikings that he'll be playing in Week 15. Allen hauled in nine of his 15 targets for 86 yards and a touchdown during that game. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect another 15-target game from Allen, but he should remain involved in the passing attack. He should be considered a boom-or-bust WR3 for this Week 15 matchup.

From RotoBaller

D.J. Moore Dec 14 5:30pm CT
D.J. Moore

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore has stepped it up for fantasy managers over the last month or so. Moore was a disappointment early in the season, but has six receptions or more over his last four games. Moore has also finished with 49 receiving yards or more over those last four contests. It finally appears that the 27-year-old is on the same page as rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Moore comes into a plus-matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15. A defense that he carved up for 106 yards on seven receptions earlier in the season. Fantasy managers should lower their expectations a bit, but Moore remains a solid WR2 for Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Dec 14 5:20pm CT
Caleb Williams

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has been a frustrating player to roster this season, but he appears to be turning a corner. Over his last three games, Williams has seven touchdowns without any interceptions. The includes a 340-yard performance against the same Minnesota Vikings that he's playing in Week 15. The rookie signal-caller is finally settling in and should be fine option for fantasy managers this weekend. The Bears have been playing from behind quite often lately, which has forced Williams to pass more frequently. Fantasy managers should consider Williams a low-end QB1 for Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Dec 14 4:40pm CT
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts continued his stretch fantasy futility last week, catching just a single ball from Kirk Cousins, which was the fourth time in the last five contests that the 24-year-old has caught one pass or fewer. The former first-round draft pick has fallen to a distant fifth option in the passing game, well below Ray-Ray McCloud III who earns nearly 17% of the team's targets compared to Pitts' 14%, with running back Bijan Robinson garnering 23 looks over the last five weeks compared to Pitts' 18. The Falcons play the Raiders this week, a defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to TEs on the season, so if there was any week to use him in the final weeks, this would probably be it. With the road to fantasy championships hanging in the balance, however, Pitts can't be trusted as a fantasy starter. The fourth-year pro is nothing more than a low-end TE2 for Monday Night Football, although the favorable matchup does give him some slight upside.

From RotoBaller

Aidan O'Connell Dec 14 4:10pm CT
Aidan O'Connell

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) is questionable to play against the Atlanta Falcons for Monday Night Football in Week 15. O'Connell did not participate in practice Thursday, Friday, or Saturday and has an official questionable tag heading into Monday night's contest. He has 899 yards passing and four passing touchdowns with three interceptions this season. Desmond Ridder is listed as the backup quarterback for the Raiders should O'Connell be sidelined on Monday. Ridder has 239 passing yards and a passing touchdown for Las Vegas this season.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Dec 14 4:00pm CT
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London has seen a drop in fantasy production as Kirk Cousins has failed to throw even a single touchdown pass in each of the last four games, however, the 23-year-old has remained heavily involved in the passing attack, garnering double-digit targets in three of the last four games. The former first-round draft pick has a robust 75 receptions and six touchdowns on the season, however, he's topped 100 yards just once in 13 games. Without big yardage totals, a quarterback struggling to throw the ball in the red zone, and the emergence of Darnell Mooney (57-873-5), London makes for more of a high-end WR2 than a WR1, although his matchup versus the Raiders on Monday should prove to be a favorable one. The Raiders have been poor against wide receivers over the last four weeks, allowing six touchdowns and the second-most yards allowed. The Falcons are 4.5-point favorites in this one with an implied total for the team of 24.5, suggesting there will be a few opportunities for the 6-foot-4 wideout to find paydirt.

From RotoBaller

Maxx Crosby Dec 14 4:00pm CT
Maxx Crosby

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (ankle) is listed as out for the Raiders' Week 15 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Crosby has 7.5 sacks this season and 28 solo tackles this season. The talented defensive end is a big name for the Raiders' defense who can turn up the team's defensive pressure against opposing quarterbacks, so it will be difficult to start the D/ST in a matchup with Atlanta in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Emari Demercado Dec 14 3:50pm CT
Emari Demercado

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (back) has been placed on the injured reserve. Demercado has 24 rushes for 223 yards and a rushing touchdown this season and has added 16 catches for 104 receiving yards. Demercado's absence will likely open the door for more involvement for backup running back Trey Benson behind starter James Conner. Benson has some sneaky speculative pickup value with Demercado out and Conner himself being pretty injury-prone.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr Dec 14 3:40pm CT
Derek Carr

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (hand, concussion) has been downgraded to out for Week 15 against the Commanders. Jake Haener will earn his first career start for the Saints on Sunday. Carr has passed for 2,145 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions this season. Haener has 177 passing yards and a passing touchdown in backup duties this season. Haener will get the nod at starting quarterback for the Saints ahead of Spencer Rattler. The Commanders' D/ST looks like a solid fantasy play against the Saints offense led by Haener.

From RotoBaller

Noah Brown Dec 14 3:30pm CT
Noah Brown

The Washington Commanders have placed wide receiver Noah Brown (internal injuries) on the injured reserve and have activated wide receiver Jamison Crowder from the reserve/injured list. Brown had 35 catches for 453 yards and a receiving touchdown this season. Crowder will now provide some depth at the wide receiver position for Washington behind Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown, and Luke McCaffrey in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints.

From RotoBaller

Trevon Diggs Dec 14 3:20pm CT
Trevon Diggs

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs will miss the Cowboys' Week 15 game against the Panthers and will have season-ending knee surgery according to a report from Jay Glazer. It's another big injury for Dallas which has been decimated by big-time ailments this season. Diggs has 42 tackles (35 solo tackles) this season with two interceptions in 11 games this season. The Cowboys, already without quarterback Dak Prescott for much of the season, take on Carolina in Week 15. Dallas' lost season is getting much bleaker on the injury front with Diggs' season-ending injury.

From RotoBaller

Stephon Gilmore Dec 14 3:20pm CT
Stephon Gilmore

Minnesota's D/ST is again an exceptional play when they square off against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The Vikings D has been excellent all season, amassing the second-most turnovers in the league (27) and leading the league in interceptions (20). Additionally, Minnesota has allowed the sixth-fewest points in the NFL (18.5). On the other hand, Chicago is affording an average of 10.3 fantasy points per game to D/STs -; the sixth-highest figure in 2024. The only thing working against them this week is defensive back Stephon Gilmore's (hamstring) injury could force him to miss another contest. Fantasy managers can confidently rely on the Vike's defense, ranking as RotoBaller's D/ST3 ahead of Monday night's matchup.

From RotoBaller

Will Reichard Dec 14 3:10pm CT
Will Reichard

Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard is a strong option this weekend when he lines up against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The rookie returned from injured reserve last Sunday to drive through all six extra-point attempts in the Vikings' defeat of the Atlanta Falcons. However, he did miss his lone field goal try. Reichard actually hasn't converted a field goal since missing both tries in Week 9 against the Colts -; the week he got injured. Still, he's yet to miss a point after attempt in his career. Chicago is letting up one of the higher average point-per-game numbers to placekickers (9.1) and has been a bit more porous overall on the defensive end over the last few weeks. The 23-year-old is RotoBaller's K4 for Week 15.

From RotoBaller

T.J. Hockenson Dec 14 3:00pm CT
T.J. Hockenson

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson will look to have another productive day against their division-rival Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The former first-round pick has yet to return to form since making his way back from a devastating knee injury, alternating subpar and strong performances. However, his first massive outing of 2024 came back in Week 12 against these very same Chicago Bears. The 27-year-old piled up seven receptions and 112 yards in the November matchup, playing a critical role in the Vikings' late-game push. Chicago is letting up 13.6 fantasy points per game to tight ends -; the eleventh-most in the league. Additionally, the veteran has been over a 62% snap share in each of his last three appearances after not eclipsing 50% in his first three. Hockenson is RotoBaller's PPR TE6 in this week's ranks.

From RotoBaller

Bijan Robinson Dec 14 2:50pm CT
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has gone over 100 total yards rushing and receiving in seven of the last eight games and nine of 13 overall. Heavy involvement in both the running and the passing attack, along with finding the end zone on nine occasions, has propelled the 22-year-old to top-five fantasy running back status on the season. The passing work in particular has provided a solid weekly fantasy floor for the second-year pro. He's hauled in the third-most receptions (53) out of all running backs in football to this point, with at least three receptions in 11 of 13 games. The former first-round draft pick will take on the Raiders on Monday night in Vegas, a defense that has been middle of the pack against the run this season and also over the last few weeks. Quarterback Kirk Cousins hasn't thrown a TD pass in four consecutive weeks, so should the Falcons get down close, they may again try to punch it in via the rush. Regardless, Robinson projects as a high-floor, high-end RB1 in Week 15 in a game that has the Falcons as 4.5-point favorites.

From RotoBaller