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NFL roundup: Lions’ 11-game winning streak ends at hands of Bills

Mon Dec 16 1:13am ET
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Josh Allen passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more and the visiting Buffalo Bills halted the Detroit Lions' franchise-record 11-game winning streak with a 48-42 victory on Sunday.

Allen, who has 10 total touchdowns in the past two games, passed for 362 yards and rushed for 68 against Detroit. James Cook rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns for the Bills (11-3).

Jared Goff passed for 494 yards and matched his career high of five touchdown passes for the Lions (12-2). Amon-Ra St. Brown hauled in a touchdown while establishing career bests of 14 catches and 193 receiving yards.

The teams combined for 1,080 yards. Buffalo had 559, Detroit totaled 521. With the loss, the Lions are now tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the best record in the NFC, with the Minnesota Vikings also at two losses ahead of a meeting with the Chicago Bears on Monday night.

Texans 20, Dolphins 12

C.J. Stroud threw two touchdown passes to Nico Collins and Houston clinched the AFC South title with a victory over visiting Miami.

Will Anderson Jr. forced a turnover with a key strip-sack, Derek Stingley Jr. recorded two interceptions and Calen Bullock also had a pick for Houston (9-5). The Texans formally clinched the division when the Indianapolis Colts lost to the Denver Broncos later Sunday.

Tua Tagovailoa completed 29 of 40 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown for Miami, but he lost a fumble and matched his career worst of three interceptions for the Dolphins (6-8), who are two games out in the AFC wild-card race.

Eagles 27, Steelers 13

Jalen Hurts passed for two touchdowns and ran for one as Philadelphia beat visiting Pittsburgh for its franchise-record 10th consecutive win.

Reportedly playing with a broken finger on his left (non-throwing) hand, Hurts completed 25 of 32 passes for 290 yards and TDs to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. He ran for 45 yards and recorded his 14th rushing score of the season. The Eagles (12-2) leaned on a passing game that was under fire all week amid drama regarding the relationship between Hurts and Brown (eight catches for 110 yards).

The Steelers (10-4) have lost 11 consecutive road games in this Pennsylvania rivalry, with their most recent win in Philadelphia coming in 1965. Pittsburgh still clinched a playoff berth courtesy of losses by the Dolphins and Colts. Russell Wilson completed 14 of 22 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown for the Steelers, who were held to 163 yards of offense.

Cowboys 30, Panthers 14

Cooper Rush threw for two of his three touchdowns in the third quarter as Dallas pulled away from Carolina for a victory at Charlotte.

CeeDee Lamb had 116 receiving yards and a touchdown on nine catches and Rico Dowdle rushed for a career-high 149 yards on 25 carries for the Cowboys (6-8), who are trying to stay in playoff contention. Brandon Aubrey kicked three field goals.

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young committed four turnovers -- two interceptions and a pair of fumbles. He threw for 219 yards on 19-for-28 passing, but Carolina (3-11) lost its fourth consecutive game. Young ran for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Chiefs 21, Browns 7

Patrick Mahomes threw for a pair of touchdowns before injuring his ankle as Kansas City beat host Cleveland.

Mahomes completed 19 of 38 passes for 159 yards but had to be replaced by veteran signal-caller Carson Wentz after getting caught up under Cleveland defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson with 7:57 left in the game. Kansas City (13-1) had already built its 21-7 lead, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid said afterward that he vetoed Mahomes' request to return to the game.

The Browns (3-11) also switched quarterbacks after Jameis Winston had 146 yards and three interceptions on 16-for-25 passing. Dorian Thompson-Robinson passed for 18 yards and a pick once he came in. Jerome Ford rushed for a 62-yard TD in the third quarter for the Browns, and Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game that star running back Nick Chubb broke his foot in the third quarter.

Jets 32, Jaguars 25

Breece Hall ran for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:05 left as visiting New York rallied in the fourth quarter for a win over Jacksonville.

Hall's run capped a 70-yard drive that featured two critical connections between Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. The duo hooked up for third-down gains of 23 and 41 yards that got the ball just shy of the end zone, teeing up Hall's game-winning score for the Jets (4-10).

Rodgers finished 16-of-30 passing for 289 yards and three scores, finding Adams nine times in the second half for 198 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Jacksonville (3-11) had a chance to force overtime on its last possession, but Mac Jones' deep pass down the left side was intercepted by Sauce Gardner at the New York 13 with 37 seconds left.

Commanders 20, Saints 19

Jayden Daniels threw two touchdown passes to Terry McLaurin and visiting Washington held on to defeat New Orleans after the Saints scored as time ran out but failed on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt.

Daniels completed 25 of 31 passes for 226 yards without an interception and rushed 11 times for 66 yards for the Commanders (9-5), but he was sacked eight times.

After second-year quarterback Jake Haener struggled in his first NFL start in place of an injured Derek Carr, the Saints (5-9) turned to rookie Spencer Rattler, who completed 10 of 21 passes for 135 yards and the touchdown with no time left. But Rattler's pass on the ensuing two-point conversion try sailed wide of diving tight end Juwan Johnson.

Ravens 35, Giants 14

Lamar Jackson threw for 290 yards and tied a career high with five touchdown passes, including a pair to Rashod Bateman, to boost Baltimore over skidding New York in East Rutherford, N.J.

Baltimore (9-5) stayed in the thick of the AFC playoff race while moving within one game of AFC North-leading Pittsburgh. Jackson had more TDs than incompletions, finishing 21-for-25 passing before yielding to backup Josh Johnson.

New York (2-12) tied a franchise record with its ninth consecutive loss and remained winless at home. Back at quarterback, Tommy DeVito suffered a concussion and left the game in the second quarter. He was 10-for-13 passing for 68 yards while getting sacked twice.

Bengals 37, Titans 27

Cincinnati took advantage of four turnovers by Tennessee quarterback Will Levis while getting three touchdown passes from Joe Burrow to win in Nashville.

The two teams combined for 10 turnovers and 26 penalties in the mistake-filled game. The 10 total turnovers, including six by the Titans, are the most in an NFL game since a 2007 contest between the Lions and Minnesota Vikings.

The Bengals (6-8) won back-to-back games for just the second time this season while the Titans (3-11) lost two fumbles and had two quarterbacks who combined to throw four interceptions.

Cardinals 30, Patriots 17

James Conner rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns as Arizona stayed in the NFC West title race with a win over New England in Glendale, Ariz.

Conner blew the game open in the fourth quarter with a pair of 1-yard scores as Arizona (7-7) snapped a three-game losing streak. Quarterback Kyler Murray completed 23 of 30 passes for 224 yards as the Cardinals outgained New England 395-311.

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye hit on 19 of 23 passes for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Patriots, who fell to 3-11. Rhamondre Stevenson led New England's rushing attack with 69 yards on 13 attempts.

Broncos 31, Colts 13

The Denver defense shut out visiting Indianapolis in the second half, forcing five turnovers and scoring a touchdown en route to a win.

Bo Nix completed 20 of 33 passes for 130 yards and threw three touchdowns and three interceptions for Denver (9-5). Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins and Courtland Sutton caught touchdowns for the Broncos. Brandon Jones and Patrick Surtain II had interceptions, while Nik Bonitto and D.J. Jones recovered fumbles.

Anthony Richardson was 17-of-38 passing for 172 yards with a rushing touchdown and two interceptions for the Colts (6-8).

Buccaneers 40, Chargers 17

Mike Evans notched two second-half touchdowns to lead Tampa Bay's rout over offensively inept Los Angeles in Inglewood, Calif.

Evans caught scoring passes of 57 and 35 yards as the Buccaneers (8-6) outscored the Chargers 27-0 in the second half. Evans finished with 159 yards on nine catches. Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield went 22-for-27 passing for 288 yards and four touchdowns.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's streak of 357 consecutive passes without an interception ended in the third quarter as he battled a lingering ankle injury and withering pressure. Herbert finished 21-for-33 passing for 195 yards and two touchdowns as Los Angeles (8-6) was outgained 506-206.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 15

Player Notes
Noah Fant Dec 16 3:00am CT
Noah Fant

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.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Dec 16 3:00am CT
Tyler Lockett

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.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Dec 16 2:50am CT
Travis Etienne

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.

From RotoBaller

Brenton Strange Dec 16 2:40am CT
Brenton Strange

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.

From RotoBaller

Mac Jones Dec 16 2:30am CT
Mac Jones

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.

From RotoBaller

Brian Thomas Jr. Dec 16 2:20am CT
Brian Thomas Jr.

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.

From RotoBaller

James Conner Dec 16 1:20am CT
James Conner

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.

From RotoBaller

Juwan Johnson Dec 16 1:10am CT
Juwan Johnson

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.

From RotoBaller

Foster Moreau Dec 16 1:00am CT
Foster Moreau

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.

From RotoBaller

Cedrick Wilson Dec 16 1:00am CT
Cedrick Wilson

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.

From RotoBaller

Marquez Valdes-Scantling Dec 16 12:50am CT
Marquez Valdes-Scantling

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.

From RotoBaller

Kendre Miller Dec 16 12:40am CT
Kendre Miller

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.

From RotoBaller

Spencer Rattler Dec 16 12:30am CT
Spencer Rattler

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.

From RotoBaller

Matt Gay Dec 16 12:00am CT
Matt Gay

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.

From RotoBaller

Jaleel McLaughlin Dec 15 11:50pm CT
Jaleel McLaughlin

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.

From RotoBaller

Kyler Murray Dec 15 11:40pm CT
Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray finished the game after leaving in the third quarter due to a hit to the head in the 30-17 win over the New England Patriots. Murray had a solid day in the win, but he did not record a touchdown, which limited his fantasy output. Murray's official stat line was 23-for-30 for 224 passing yards and he added five carries for 11 rushing yards. The Cardinals offense got a much-needed bounce-back win, scoring 30 points in the Week 15 triumph. However, all those touchdowns came on the ground. The Cardinals' passing attack is still working out the kinks after the bye week, but Sunday's performance was a step in the right direction. The Cardinals will travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers in Week 16, where Murray should be able to move the ball through the air.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Dec 15 11:40pm CT
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (shoulder) returned from injury on Sunday, but was only able to corral three of his eight targets for 32 scoreless yards in Sunday's 31-13 loss to the Broncos. With quarterback Anthony Richardson completing less than 50% of his passes in the contest, no receiver had a big day in this offense. The eight targets were second to Michael Pittman Jr.'s nine, but it was at least an encouraging sign that more bountiful fantasy days could be ahead if Richardson can fix the accuracy issue. With the fantasy football playoffs upon us, there isn't much time to resolve it though and the 23-year-old is probably too risky to play in most leagues. The Titans, next week's opponent, are middle of the pack versus wide receivers in terms of fantasy points allowed, and just allowed 14 catches for 182 yards to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but Downs will be a dicey WR option given his environment.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Taylor Dec 15 11:40pm CT
Jonathan Taylor

The Denver Broncos defense/special teams unit showed why they are a top-five fantasy unit in the Week 15 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Empower Field. After letting the Colts drive down on their opening possession in the first quarter to score a touchdown, Denver's D stiffened and finished with another impressive showing thanks to four turnovers (two interceptions, two fumble recoveries), two sacks and another pick-six in the 31-13 win. Colts running back Jonathan Taylor gift-wrapped one of the fumbles by letting go of the ball before crossing the goal line while celebrating. Linebacker Nik Bonitto jumped a trick play to pick off receiver Adonai Mitchell for his second straight game with a pick-six. The Broncos' defense is riding high as a top-five unit, but they'll have a less-than-ideal matchup in Week 16 against a Chargers offense that has taken care of the football all year.

From RotoBaller

Courtland Sutton Dec 15 11:30pm CT
Courtland Sutton

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton was quiet by his recent standards in the team's 31-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Empower Field in Week 15. Sutton led the Broncos in targets yet again with nine, but he only hauled in three catches for team-high 32 yards. However, a 20-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter to put the game away salvaged his line for fantasy managers. Quarterback Bo Nix struggled to get going in this one for the first time in a while and finished with only 130 total passing yards. Sunday's outing was Sutton's first with under 70 receiving yards since his zero-target performance in the Week 7 win over the Saints. Fantasy managers can't really complain. Sutton has seen at least eight targets in seven straight games and should remain a must-start with a high target share in a big divisional clash against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16 on Thursday night.

From RotoBaller

Romeo Doubs Dec 15 11:20pm CT
Romeo Doubs

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs made his return from concussion protocol and made a huge statement for the Packers in their 30-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15. Doubs, who hadn't played since Week 12, cleared concussion protocol without an injury designation after three consecutive full practices to score twice and catch three passes for 40 yards on five targets on the evening. Doubs' second touchdown in the fourth quarter was an excellently thrown ball by Jordan Love where Doubs had to reach low to where only he could make a play on it, cementing the Packers' victory to put them up by three scores. With Doubs back in the fold for the Packers, Green Bay will host the New Orleans Saints in Week 16. For fantasy managers, Doubs is a solid flex option in a good matchup.

From RotoBaller