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Dynasty $250 - FFL: Playoff Week 1 | NFL: Week 15

Steelers star LB T.J. Watt (ankle) hurt vs. Eagles

Sun Dec 15 9:04pm ET
Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker T.J. Watt injured his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and didn't return.

Watt told reporters after the game that he rolled the ankle. Watt said he underwent X-rays and the results were negative.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said that Watt will be evaluated throughout the week. Pittsburgh visits the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC North showdown on Saturday.

Watt said he was unsure if he would be able to play against Baltimore.

Watt was injured while rushing around the edge in an effort to reach Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. He began to limp during the play and then fell to the ground with 4:46 left in the contest and reached for the ankle.

The 30-year-old Watt had two sacks and a forced fumble to go with seven tackles on Sunday. He has 11 1/2 sacks this season to reach double digits for the sixth time in his eight-year career.

Watt, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, has 108 career sacks in 118 games with Pittsburgh. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 when he had a career-high 22.5 sacks to match the official league record (since 1982).

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 15

Player Notes
Patrick Mahomes Dec 15 8:10pm CT
Patrick Mahomes

Per NFL reporter Albert Breer, the Kansas City Chiefs believe that quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) picked up a high-ankle sprain in Sunday's 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. The Texas Tech alum got awkwardly twisted up during the second half of the contest in what looked like it could have been an ugly injury. Fortunately, Mahomes was able to hobble off the field. X-rays were negative, which is good news for the 29-year-old. However, he'll undergo further testing on Monday to determine the severity of the injury. While no presence of a fracture is excellent, high-ankle sprains have been known to take a few weeks to heal and could potentially linger longer than that. Fantasy managers will want to keep tabs on the three-time Super Bowl champ as he'll be operating on back-to-back short weeks with a game on Saturday in Week 16 and Wednesday the following week. Quarterback Carson Wentz came into the game in relief of Mahomes on Sunday and figures to be his fill-in should he miss time.

From RotoBaller

Cade Otton Dec 15 8:10pm CT
Cade Otton

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton took a backseat in the offense during Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Otton finished with a 70-yard performance last week, but was unable to keep the momentum going this weekend. He hauled in two of his three targets for 24 yards in the win. His biggest contribution was a key block on the Jalen McMillan touchdown grab in the first quarter. Otton has finished with 30 receiving yards or less in three of the last four games. Fantasy managers can keep him on the TE2 radar for next week against the Dallas Cowboys.

From RotoBaller

Sam LaPorta Dec 15 8:00pm CT
Sam LaPorta

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta saw a season-high 10 targets in Week 15's loss to the Buffalo Bills. LaPorta caught seven passes for 111 yards in the contest but did not find the end zone. It was his first game this season with more than 100 receiving yards and the seven catches were also a season-high. LaPorta had a productive game in this one as the Lions were forced to throw the ball a lot in this game. The versatile tight end was held out of the end zone but had his most productive statistical night of the season. In a thin tight-end landscape for fantasy, LaPorta looks like one of the more reliable options at the position.

From RotoBaller

Jalen McMillan Dec 15 8:00pm CT
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan has been quiet throughout most of the season until he posted a 59-yard performance last week. At first glance, this outing seemed like a fluke, but McMillan proved that he's a legitimate threat on Sunday. The rookie wideout hauled in five of his six targets for 75 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The 23-year-old has come out of nowhere and posted three touchdowns in his last two games. The third-round rookie looks to keep the good times rolling against the Dallas Cowboys next weekend. Fantasy managers should consider McMillan a flex option for that one.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Dec 15 7:50pm CT
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White was able to find some success on the ground during Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. White rushed 15 times for 64 yards while hauling in both his targets for 17 yards and a touchdown in the blowout win. This marked the third game in a row that White has rushed for over 60 yards. It's worth noting that White did exit the game, but returned and appeared to be fine the rest of the way. Fantasy managers who stuck with White through his early struggles are finally being rewarded at playoff time. White is going to continue splitting up the carries with Bucky Irving, but White still remains a flex play for next week's matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Dec 15 7:50pm CT
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery carried the ball five times for four rushing yards in Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. Montgomery was stymied by the Bills defense on his limited rushing opportunities but he did haul in four passes for 31 receiving yards. The Lions were chasing points for much of this game and largely abandoned the run game. Montgomery's pass-game involvement helped salvage his statistical night in a small way but it was a largely disappointing outing for the normally reliable fantasy running back. Jahmyr Gibbs was more involved in the passing game and had a much more productive night out of the backfield. It was a game to forget for Montgomery mostly due to the game script.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Dec 15 7:50pm CT
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans had seemingly no issues against the Los Angeles Chargers defense on Sunday. The veteran wideout gave a somewhat disappointing outing last week, but came ready to play in Week 15. Evans hauled in nine of his 11 targets for 159 yards and two touchdowns in the blowout win. The 31-year-old missed some practice time this week due to a hamstring issue, but it didn't look like it bothered him on Sunday. Evans and quarterback Baker Mayfield have great chemistry together and it showed this weekend. Fantasy managers should continue to lean on Evans as a WR1 for next week's matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. The same Cowboys that just lost top defensive back Trevon Diggs (knee) for the season.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Dec 15 7:40pm CT
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was up in the air to play against the Chargers in Week 15 due to back and hip injuries, but he ultimately suited up on Sunday. The rookie back didn't show any signs of being injured, as he rushed for 117 yards on 15 attempts in the win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Irving continues to split up the workload with Rachaad White in the backfield. Both players saw 15 carries on Sunday, but Irving looked much better on the ground, just like he has all year. It wasn't a great fantasy day for Irving, though, as he wasn't able to find the end zone this weekend. However, fantasy managers who stuck with him still got pretty decent results on a 117-yard day. Irving should remain on the RB2 radar for next week's matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Dec 15 7:40pm CT
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed eight times for 31 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 83 yards and a receiving touchdown in the team's Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Gibbs and the Lions struggled to run the ball most of the game and threw the ball often in comeback mode. Gibbs did manage to score the team's only rushing touchdown and ended up being the third-leading receiver in the game for Detroit. The versatility of the running back was on display in this game as his heavy pass-game involvement led to a productive fantasy output. Gibbs is one of the top fantasy running backs in the NFL and will continue that trend for the rest of this season.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Dec 15 7:30pm CT
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff turned in his best fantasy performance of the season in the team's 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Goff lit up the Bills for 494 passing yards and five passing touchdowns in what turned out to be the highest-scoring NFL game of this season. The Lions' signal caller threw early and often as he completed 38-of-59 passing attempts in the game. Goff spread the ball around to five different players who caught touchdowns including offensive lineman Dan Skipper. With the Lions trailing much of the game, Goff was in catch-up mode and his stats benefitted big time.

From RotoBaller

Baker Mayfield Dec 15 7:30pm CT
Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield came ready to play during Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mayfield completed 22-of-27 passing attempts for 288 yards for four touchdowns and one interception in the blowout victory. Mayfield started to lose some steam coming out of the bye week, but has been a strong fantasy contributor in each of the last two games. Fantasy managers who continued to ride with Mayfield received a big payoff for what was likely a playoff game. Mayfield will get another plus-matchup next week against the Dallas Cowboys. After this performance, Mayfield needs to be locked in as a QB1 for Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Dec 15 7:30pm CT
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a 66-yard touchdown pass as part of a very productive statistical game in Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. St. Brown hauled in 14 passes for 193 receiving yards and a score on 18 targets. His 14 catches were a season-high and his 18 targets tied for his season lead. The talented wide receiver took advantage of his many looks and his long catch and run for a TD in what turned out to be a huge performance during the fantasy playoffs. It was the first game with a touchdown for St. Brown in his last four outings as he bounced back in a big way for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Waddle Dec 15 7:20pm CT
Jaylen Waddle

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (knee) had zero receptions on two targets before exiting the game with a knee injury in the 20-12 Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans. The injury came when a defender landed on the back of his leg, causing him to land awkwardly and limp immediately after. It's disappointing for fantasy managers, especially considering how suspect the Texans defense has been at stopping wide receivers in 2024. It will be worth monitoring his status for Week 16 leading up to their matchup next Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

From RotoBaller

Jonnu Smith Dec 15 6:40pm CT
Jonnu Smith

Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith caught nine of 11 targets for 48 yards and a touchdown in the 20-12 Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans. The touchdown came from seven yards out on a beautiful throw from Tua Tagovailoa in the back of the endzone. Smith continues to be one of the most reliable tight ends in 2024, with his fifth game in a row with 13+ PPR fantasy points. This also marks the fourth time in the last five games that he has scored a touchdown. He now ranks as the TE4 overall and is a premier option for the fantasy football playoffs. Week 16 presents a matchup against a now-healthy San Francisco 49ers defense.

From RotoBaller

Baylon Spector Dec 15 6:40pm CT
Baylon Spector

Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano (groin) is questionable to return on Sunday against the Lions. The 30-year-old injured his groin, so he'll finish with three tackles in Week 15 if he can't get back on the field. The Bills have a comfortable lead. But with the Lions working their way back, Buffalo could certainly use him back on the defensive side of the ball. If Milano is done, Baylon Spector could see more work. However, Milano is tough to replace.

From RotoBaller

Bryce Young Dec 15 6:30pm CT
Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young threw for 219 yards and one touchdown off 19-for-28 passing in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys. He also had two picks and added 12 yards and a score off three touches. The signal-caller has played better of late compared to the start of the 2024-25 campaign. However, he seemingly took a small step backward in Week 15. But it appears Young will have an opportunity to turn it around, with head coach Dave Canales stating the 23-year-old would remain under center in Week 16 versus the Arizona Cardinals. With that in mind, that won't necessarily make him a trustworthy fantasy option.

From RotoBaller

Alim McNeill Dec 15 6:20pm CT
Alim McNeill

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill (knee) won't return to Sunday's game against the Bills. It hasn't been a good day for the Lions defense, with Carlton Davis III (jaw) and Khalil Dorsey (ankle) both also suffering game-ending injuries. There is long-term concern regarding McNeill's health, with the 24-year-old totaling 3.5 sacks entering Week 15. If he isn't available versus the Chicago Bears in Week 16, Levi Onwuzurike could see more work.

From RotoBaller

Jason Sanders Dec 15 6:20pm CT
Jason Sanders

Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders made 2-of-2 field goal attempts and missed his only extra point in the 20-12 loss to the Houston Texans. That's now 18 straight field goals made by the 29-year-old. His long came from 55 yards out to make it 3-3 early in the second quarter, and he is now 9-11 from 50+ on the season. Sanders looks like he did in his 2020 season, during which he had a career year. The only downside to his day was the missed extra point; he made two straight attempts he's missed. His next matchup will come at home against the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Justin Herbert Dec 15 6:10pm CT
Justin Herbert

Los Angeles Chargers offensive guard Zion Johnson (ankle) is questionable to return on Sunday versus the Bucs. The 25-year-old sustained an ankle injury. However, with the game presumably out of reach, he likely won't be back for the remainder of Week 15. Unfortunately, Johnson won't have much time to get healthy, considering the Chargers will meet the Broncos on Thursday night. The team certainly needs him out there, especially with Justin Herbert taking a beating of late. But if he misses time, Jamaree Salyer is the only healthy guard on the roster behind Trey Pipkins III.

From RotoBaller

Devon Achane Dec 15 6:10pm CT
Devon Achane

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane carried the ball 12 times for 41 yards and caught all seven of his targets for 35 yards in the 20-12 Week 14 loss to the Houston Texans. The Miami offense's struggles to run the ball effectively continue with only 52 total rushing yards. This is the first time he has not gotten into the endzone in four games. Despite the poor rushing totals, his receiving output again saved Achane's fantasy day. This marks the sixth time in the last seven games that Achane has gone over 14+ PPR fantasy points. He once again paced the Miami backfield in touches by a wide margin and figures to continue that for the rest of the season. His next matchup will be back at home against the San Francisco 49ers.

From RotoBaller