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Saints add QB Ben DiNucci in wake of injuries to Derek Carr

Tue Dec 10 2:40pm ET
Field Level Media

Injuries to starting quarterback Derek Carr have led the New Orleans Saints to sign journeyman Ben DiNucci, who announced the news on social media on Tuesday.

The team has not confirmed the signing or whether DiNucci would be on the active roster or practice squad. He provides depth behind Carr's backups, Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler.

Interim coach Darren Rizzi announced Monday that Carr suffered an injury to his left (non-throwing) hand and also entered the concussion protocol. Rizzi disputed an NFL Network report that Carr has a "major fracture" and said surgery isn't required.

The Saints (5-8), according to media reports, might not put Carr on injured reserve with four games remaining in the regular season, including at home on Sunday against the Washington Commanders (8-5).

Carr 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 this 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. He missed three games earlier this season due to an oblique injury.

DiNucci, 28, has appeared in three NFL games (one start), all with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 when starter Dak Prescott injured his ankle. DiNucci completed 23 of 43 passes (53.5 percent) for 219 yards. The Cowboys drafted him in the seventh round in 2020.

After the Cowboys released him in August 2022, DiNucci spent time with the Denver Broncos' practice squad during the 2023 season before his release in May. The Buffalo Bills signed him on Aug. 12 and released him on Aug. 27.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 15

Player Notes
Trenton Irwin Dec 10 2:40pm ET
Trenton Irwin

The Carolina Panthers signed veteran wide receiver Trenton Irwin on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. The former Cincinnati Bengal will start on the practice squad, but the belief is he will join the active roster in short order. The 29-year-old has hauled in 46 receptions for 601 yards and five touchdowns in 40 career games and was recently let go by the Bengals. The Panthers have a thin wide receiver group behind Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette, so don't rule Irwin out of making an impact over the next four games. That said, it would be surprising if he entered the fantasy football radar.

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Velus Jones Jr. Dec 10 2:30pm ET
Velus Jones Jr.

The Carolina Panthers signed wide receiver/running back Velus Jones Jr. to the active roster from the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The 27-year-old was a third-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2022 out of Tennessee and totaled just 135 receiving yards and 165 rushing yards in two-plus seasons with the organization. It will be interesting to see what plans Carolina has for him, as the team could use help and wide receiver and running back. Ball carriers Jonathon Brooks (knee) and Raheem Blacksheer (chest) were both injured in last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Either way, it would be a surprise if Jones ends up on the fantasy football radar.

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Henry Anderson Dec 10 2:20pm ET
Henry Anderson

Former Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Carolina Panthers defensive lineman Henry Anderson announced his retirement on Tuesday. The 2015 third-round pick by the Colts out of Stanford appeared in 89 NFL games and compiled 188 tackles, 11.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, eight pass deflections, and 20.5 run stuffs. Anderson last played for the Panthers in 2022, racking up 18 total tackles. He now heads into retirement at 33 years old after an eight-year professional career.

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Brayden Narveson Dec 10 2:20pm ET
Brayden Narveson

Free-agent kicker Brayden Narveson is signing with the Tennessee Titans practice squad, and starting kicker Nick Folk (undisclosed) is reportedly dealing with an injury. Narveson signed with Tennessee as an undrafted free-agent rookie this offseason but was released and signed with the Packers before the start of the season. The NC State product connected on 12 of his 17 field goal attempts and all 16 of his extra-point tries in six games for the Packers this season. If Folk cannot play against the Cincinnati Bengals this week, it can be assumed that Narveson will handle the kicking duties. He's not worth rolling the dice on in fantasy lineups.

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Trey Lance Dec 10 2:20pm ET
Trey Lance

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance has been backing up veteran Cooper Rush since starter Dak Prescott (hamstring) suffered a season-ending hamstring injury. Lance, the former No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, is not expected to start any games for America's Team over the next four weeks. "I don't think so, I thought for the most part we did some good things out there," team owner Jerry Jones said. "I still believe [Cooper Rush] gives us our best chance." Rush has tallied 1,191 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns, and three interceptions in nine game appearances this season. The Cowboys could be wise to see what they have in Lance before the offseason, but it sounds like the North Dakota State product will not get that opportunity.

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Zamir White Dec 10 1:20pm ET
Zamir White

The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Tuesday that they placed running back Zamir White (quadriceps) on Injured Reserve and signed quarterback Carter Bradley to the 53-man active roster from the practice squad in a corresponding move. The Raiders also signed quarterback Jake Luton and defensive tackle Tyler Manoa to the practice squad and released defensive tackle Marquan McCall from the practice squad. White is now done for the rest of the 2024 season with the move. The 25-year-old was in line for lead-back duties after Josh Jacobs left in free agency, but he fell flat with the opportunity and gave way to Alexander Mattison early in the year. White ends up being a massive disappointment in his third year in the league with 183 rushing yards and one touchdown on 65 carries through eight games. Sincere McCormick has become a bigger part of Vegas' backfield of late with Mattison also hurt.

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Joe Burrow Dec 10 12:40pm ET
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said after the Monday night win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14 that he is "confident we are going to do what it takes to get Tee Higgins back (in 2025)." Burrow also said he's willing to do what it takes to facilitate the team re-signing Higgins, who will become a free agent in March. Most folks fully expect Higgins to leave town and get out from under the shadow of All-Pro receiver Ja'Marr Chase, but it sounds like Burrow doesn't want to lose his No. 2 wideout. If Cincy is going to re-sign him, they'll need to shell out top dollar and outbid other receiver-needy teams in free agency. Higgins was quiet in Monday's win over Dallas with only two catches for 23 yards, but he entered the week with a three-game touchdown streak and 377 yards in his last four games. The 25-year-old has only played in eight games in 2024 due to injury, but he's been a must-start in fantasy when active.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Dec 10 12:30pm ET
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) has an outside chance of being able to suit up in Week 15 to face the Philadelphia Eagles. Tomlin said if he was pressed, he'd consider Pickens doubtful to play. Pickens suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain late last week in practice and didn't play in the Week 14 win over the division-rival Cleveland Browns. The 23-year-old deep threat is now looking unlikely for this weekend, so fantasy managers need to move him to their benches and look for backup options, if you don't have one already. Pickens is Pittsburgh's top wideout and quarterback Russell Wilson's favorite target, so a second straight absence will make things much more difficult against Philly. In Pickens' absence against Cleveland, tight end Pat Freiermuth scored and was the team's leading receiver, with receiver Van Jefferson also finding the end zone.

From RotoBaller

John Parker Romo Dec 10 12:30pm ET
John Parker Romo

The New England Patriots are expected to sign kicker John Parker Romo to their practice squad on Tuesday, one day after he cleared waivers from the Minnesota Vikings, according to sources. While filling in for Will Reichard when he was injured, Romo went 11-for-12 on his field-goal tries and 7-for-8 on his extra-point attempts in four games played. He will now head to the AFC East to join the Patriots and serve as kicking depth for starter Joey Slye, who has made only 22 of his 28 field-goal attempts (78.6%) while missing one of his 18 extra points in 13 games this season. That includes Slye missing three field-goal tries in the team's last two games, so if his struggles continue, don't be surprised if the Pats give Romo a shot with only several games remaining in the 2024 campaign.

From RotoBaller

K.J. Osborn Dec 10 12:20pm ET
K.J. Osborn

The New England Patriots waived wide receiver K.J. Osborn on Tuesday, according to a source. It was a mutual decision, with Osborn now having a chance to latch on with another team before the end of the season that will give him an opportunity for more playing time. The 27-year-old former Minnesota Vikings wideout was involved quite a bit in the offense earlier this year but dropped down the depth chart eventually as the season wore on as the Patriots prioritized getting some of their younger players involved on offense. He's been active for just three of the team's last nine games and will finish his only season in New England with seven receptions on 18 targets for 57 yards and one touchdown in seven games played. Osborn could latch on elsewhere down the stretch, but he'll be a long shot for fantasy relevance.

From RotoBaller

Marist Liufau Dec 10 12:10pm ET
Marist Liufau

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday that linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (knee) will require surgery after injuring his right knee in the Monday night loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Head coach Mike McCarthy said "it's of a serious nature" and "it's not good," with a source saying the belief is that Overshown suffered more than just an ACL tear. He is set for additional testing on Tuesday to confirm the severity of the injury, but in all likelihood, he will miss the last four games of the regular season. In addition, depending on how his rehab goes in the offseason, Overshown may not be ready for the start of next season. The 24-year-old entered the contest as the team's second leading tackler after missing his entire rookie campaign in 2023 due to a torn ACL in his left knee. Marist Liufau stepped in for Overshown and had 1.5 sacks against Cincy.

From RotoBaller

Rico Dowdle Dec 10 10:10am ET
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle was a bright spot on Monday night in the 27-20 loss to Cincinnati. Dowdle carried the ball 18 times for a career-high 131 yards while also catching a pass for 10 yards. Despite running behind a makeshift offensive line, Dowdle shined for the Cowboys. The 26-year-old has now rushed for 731 yards on the year. He projects as a high-end RB2 the rest of the season and is an automatic start in Week 15 against Carolina.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Dec 10 10:10am ET
CeeDee Lamb

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb started off Monday night's game with a bang as he scored a touchdown on fourth down on the first offensive drive. His night quieted from there on, but Lamb recorded six receptions for 93 yards and a score while rushing once for one yard on the night. It was a productive outing for the star receiver, who scored his first touchdown since Week 8 against San Francisco. Lamb will be in WR1 territory again in Week 15 as the Cowboys travel to Carolina.

From RotoBaller

Jake Ferguson Dec 10 10:10am ET
Jake Ferguson

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson returned on Monday night from a two-week absence due to a concussion. Ferguson was second on the team in receptions, targets, and receiving yards but did not have a very productive outing. He caught three passes for 32 yards on six targets in the 27-20 loss against Cincinnati. Ferguson lost some targets to Luke Schoonmaker, who grabbed two receptions for 22 yards, but remains the number two target in the offense behind star CeeDee Lamb. He will remain a dart-throw option going forward as the Cowboys travel to Carolina in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Brandin Cooks Dec 10 10:10am ET
Brandin Cooks

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks found the end zone in the 27-20 loss to Cincinnati on Monday night. Cooks was targeted three times, but his lone catch came on a three-yard house call. The 31-year-old will remain a deep league flex option but is best left on benches due to inconsistencies in his target share. Cooks and the Cowboys will travel to Carolina in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Cooper Rush Dec 10 10:00am ET
Cooper Rush

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush did not have his finest outing on Monday night in the narrow loss to Cincinnati. Rush completed just over 50% of his passes for 183 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He finished as the QB15 on the week in what was a very favorable matchup. The 31-year-old will be under center next Sunday as Dallas travels to Carolina to take on a surging Panthers team.

From RotoBaller

Andrei Iosivas Dec 10 2:20am ET
Andrei Iosivas

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas caught four of his five targets for 41 yards during Monday's Week 14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The Bengals' offense is quite crowded right now with strong performances from Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Mike Gesicki, and Chase Brown, but we can't ignore a solid string of productivity from Iosivas. He has 10 catches, 122 yards, and one touchdown during that three-game span, ranking 60th among receivers in terms of average fantasy points per game. He should be viewed as a solid WR4 option in deeper leagues ahead of Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans.

From RotoBaller

Chase Brown Dec 10 2:10am ET
Chase Brown

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown rushed for 58 yards on 14 carries during Monday's Week 14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. More importantly, he caught six of eight targets for an additional 65 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. The 24-year-old has been quite special since taking over as the Bengals' No. 1 running back, ranking as the overall RB7 in half-PPR leagues despite enduring a bye week. Brown's productivity and overall heavy volume make him a mid-range fantasy RB1 option despite next week's matchup against a strong Tennessee Titans run defense.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Dec 10 2:10am ET
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow completed 33 of his 44 pass attempts for 369 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception during Monday's Week 14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He also took two sacks and lost two rushing yards. All in all, the former No. 1 pick had another very impressive performance, largely thanks to his connection with Ja'Marr Chase. The star receiver caught 14 passes on Monday and accounted for nearly half of his quarterback's passing yards in the primetime victory. Burrow is the overall QB2 in fantasy football since Week 9 despite having a bye during that window.

From RotoBaller

Mike Gesicki Dec 10 2:10am ET
Mike Gesicki

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki caught all three of his targets for 24 receiving yards during Monday's Week 14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The veteran now has eight catches over his last two contests, but he's still just the overall TE19 in fantasy football during that span. Over the course of the full season, Gesicki ranks as the overall TE18. It's promising to see him continue to develop his rapport with Joe Burrow, but there's no question that his productivity continues to be overshadowed by Ja'Marr Chase's exceptional performances, seemingly every week. Gesicki should be viewed as a fringe top-18 fantasy tight end heading into Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans.

From RotoBaller