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FFL: Week 15 | NFL: Week 15

Week 15 NFL Capsules

Fri Dec 13 2:05pm ET
Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys (5-8) at Carolina Panthers (3-10) 1 p.m. ET, FOX

What are the odds the Carolina Panthers are favorites in a game this season? This is the week. Oddsmakers for the first time since December 2022 are giving the Panthers the edge -- they're 2.5-point favorites as of Friday afternoon -- over the Cowboys. Dallas rolls into Charlotte on a short turnaround from a 27-20 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. Playoff prospects are dimming for Dallas after a botched blocked punt gave the ball back to the Bengals for their game-winning score. The Panthers are familiar with bum luck. Carolina lost its last three games but had chances to win each one late in setbacks to the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas has been in one-possession games for three consecutive weeks, winning the first two of those. Cooper Rush remains at quarterback with Dak Prescott out. He didn't reach the 200-yard mark in passing the past two weeks with RB Rico Dowell providing a boost with back-to-back games 100-plus-yard games on the ground. One name and face the Panthers know from their 33-10 loss to Dallas last season is LB Micah Parsons. Parsons had six tackles, including 2.5 sacks, in the 2023 meeting. Panthers QB Bryce Young threw an interception for the first time in four games last week and head coach Dave Canales continues to celebrate his progress and competitive fire.

Kansas City Chiefs (12-1) at Cleveland Browns (3-10) 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Andy Reid has a 9-0 record against Cleveland and has two wins over Kevin Stefanski with the Browns, including a playoff victory in 2021. The Chiefs (12-1) clinched the division for the ninth straight season by edging the Los Angeles Chargers 19-17 last Sunday night. They could add PK Harrison Butker back to the roster from injured reserve, a weapon Kansas City would be glad to have given its penchant for close games this season. Pass rush is a constant talking point for both coaches, and in turn, pass protection. Breakdowns have led to turnovers -- the starting quarterbacks have combined for 20 interceptions -- and flipped momentum throughout the season. Browns QB Jameis Winston has 1,975 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has a 68.1 completion rate with 3,189 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Cleveland increased production on offense with Winston at quarterback. But a 27-14 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week officially eliminated the Browns from playoff contention. The Chiefs are hoping to stockpile wins as they begin a stretch of three games in a 11 days sitting on a two-game lead in the AFC homefield race.

Miami Dolphins (6-7) at Houston Texans (8-5), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Slim and none are too harsh to describe Miami's playoff chances, but those might be applicable tags if the Dolphins drop an eighth game of the season on Sunday at Houston. The Dolphins have won four of their past five games, but they remain a long shot to qualify for the AFC playoffs. The Dolphins went 1-3 and averaged 10 points per game while standout quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined due to a concussion and are still trying to climb out. They lost their first two games after Tagovailoa returned from IR and have topped 30 points in three of their past four games. Hope stayed alive last week. The Dolphins, who trailed by eight entering the fourth quarter, received a tying 52-yard field goal from Jason Sanders with seven seconds left to force overtime and beat the Jets. Off a bye last week, Houston could claim consecutive division titles on with a win Sunday and a loss by the Indianapolis Colts against the Denver Broncos. The Texans lead the Colts by two games and swept the two-game season series to hold the all-important tiebreaker. Because of a challenging closing schedule -- Miami is the first of three opponents in a span of 11 days -- head coach DeMeco Ryans wants all of Houston's focus on Miami. The Texans visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 21 and then host the Baltimore Ravens four days later on Christmas Day, which falls on a Wednesday. The Texans are still trying to find firm footing with just two wins since a 5-1 start.

New York Jets (3-10) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

A matchup that feels quite draft-y, the Jaguars entered December in the race for the No. 1 overall pick for the third time in five years (2021, 2022). They're even with the Jets with three wins meaning the losing team would have the draft order advantage in April. A dose of positive news would be welcome on either side. Jacksonville won for the first time since Oct. 20 snapping a five-game losing streak. The Jets last won on Halloween and extended their own losing streak to four games at Miami last week. The Jets have lost nine of their last 10 games, including four in a row. They are 2-7 in one-score games and have lost the last three games by a total of 12 points. QB Aaron Rodgers turned 41 this month but Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson, a longtime Packers backup to Brett Favre, said he isn't showing his age. Rodgers passed for 339 yards and a score in a 32-26 overtime loss at Miami. He 2,966 yards and 20 touchdowns. He'll face Jaguars QB Mac Jones with Trevor Lawrence (concussion, shoulder) on IR.

Washington Commanders (8-5) at New Orleans Saints (5-8), 1 p.m., FOX

Saints fans, please welcome ... Jake Haener? It's possible New Orleans rolls out Haener for his first career start or turns to him early given the health of QB Derek Carr (hand). Maybe he'll borrow from Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels, who is back in Louisiana where he starred as the Heisman Trophy winner at LSU last season. Daniels can become the fourth rookie QB with 3,000 passing yards (2,819) and 500 rushing (589). It also could be a homecoming for Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who was acquired by Washington in a trade with New Orleans on Nov. 5. The four-time Pro Bowler has missed the past five games because of a hamstring injury sustained while with the Saints, but he practiced in full on Wednesday and Thursday. If you need a little inspiration to squeeze in a holiday workout, consider the career of Commanders LB Bobby Wagner. He has 104 tackles in 2024 at age 34, giving him 100 tackles for the 13th consecutive season. Only London Fletcher has a streak that long since 2000. He gets a matchup with Saints RB Alvin Kamara worth watching. Kamara leads all backs with 64 receptions this season, ranks third in the NFL with 1,423 yards from scrimmage yards and is 62 yards shy of his first-ever 1,000-yard rushing season. Kamara also needs only 15 yards to hit 500 receiving yards for the season for his fifth time.

Baltimore Ravens (8-5) at New York Giants (2-11), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

It will be a marathon 11 days for the Ravens. Currently fifth seed in the conference playoff picture, there's still time for Baltimore to make a jump in the standings. Just two games behind division-leading Pittsburgh with four games to go, the Ravens have a home date with the Steelers in Week 16 in the midst of a three-games-in-11-days gauntlet that includes a Christmas Day trip to Houston. One explicit focus for the Ravens is getting PK Justin Tucker fixed. He kicked outside in the rain this week while the Ravens were indoors working out in hopes of snapping a funk causing panic because of his existing legacy as one of the most reliable in the NFL. Tucker, who has a total of 10 missed kicks this season including two PATs, missed multiple kicks in the 24-19 loss to the Eagles in Week 13 before the Ravens' bye week. It's been an ultramarathon for the Giants already. With an eight-game losing streak, the Giants are making a QB change once more to start Tommy DeVito this week. DeVito was named starter after Daniel Jones was released last month. But he was battered by the Buccaneers in that game and Drew Lock started the Thanksgiving Day loss at Dallas. DeVito returns with the Giants still chasing their first win at home this season. First-round WR Malik Nabers wasn't targeted in the first half of DeVito's previous start. Still he's been incredibly consistent -- five-plus receptions in 10 of 11 games -- while the QB carousel spins. Nabers has 80 receptions more than an NFL player in league history through their first 11 career games.

Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) at Tennessee Titans (3-10), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Titans head coach Brian Callahan might be one of the few professionals who could pitch a believable plan to stop Joe Burrow's flame-throwing run through the NFL this season. Callahan became Titans head coach in January after serving as offensive coordinator of the Bengals and a direct tutor of Burrow. The student is glad to show his work on Sunday. Burrow leads the NFL with 3,706 pass yards & 33 TD passes in 2024. At Dallas on Monday, he posted his seventh game this season with three-plus TD passes, his sixth game with at least 300 yards passing and if Burrow overcomes a sore knee to do both Sunday in Nashville, he'll join former 49ers QB Steve Young (1998) as the only players with 300-3 in five consecutive games. There's another probable All-Pro on Callahan's mind this week: WR Ja'Marr Chase. While Titans leading receiver Calvin Ridley has 738 yards in 13 games, here's what Chase has done the past four games: 602 yards (150.5 per game), 8 TDs. Chase leads the NFL with 93 catches, 1,319 yards and 15 TDs. The Titans could soon be on the clock looking for their Burrow clone. Will Levis was thought to be a potential franchise quarterback but results in 2024 are uneven to date. There has been improvement from Levis taking care of the ball after struggling in that area to start the season. He's INT-free for the past two games.

New England Patriots (3-10) at Arizona Cardinals (6-7), 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

First-time general manager Eliot Wolf was on the clock with the No. 3 pick in the draft and two marquee players stood out: North Carolina QB Drake Maye and Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Wolf and the Patriots took the passer, and Maye is making strides. He hit 24 of 30 passes and one TD and rushed for 59 yards in Week 13 before New England's bye week. During the time off Wolf & Company had a chance to take a look at Harrison Jr., who went one spot after Maye in the draft to the Cardinals. He leads all rookies with seven TD catches in 2024. Harrison is not the lead option for Arizona. TE Trey McBride is in the midst of an unstoppable stretch with seven-plus receptions (31 total) in the past three games. His 80 catches are tops on the Cardinals by a wide margin. The Patriots and Maye want to avoid playmaking S Budda Baker, who had 18 tackles last week and is second in the NFL with 132 tackles in 2024. Arizona is two games out of both the NFC West lead and the last wild-card spot, giving them two options to chase. While they would need to jump three teams to land a wild-card berth, they have to slip past two teams -- the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams -- to take the division.

Indianapolis Colts (6-7) at Denver Broncos (8-5), 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

The Broncos hold a two-game lead over the Miami Dolphins (6-7) and Colts in the wild-card race, and they meet Sunday after a December bye week that opened additional time to prepare for what Colts head coach Shane Steichen is framing as a must-win in his own locker room. That's because the Colts are two games behind the Texans in the AFC South and Houston holds the tiebreaker. Colts RB Jonathan Taylor could hold the key to keeping his team from folding in a feisty road environment. He has six 100-yard games this season, but the Broncos are among the league's best at penetrating to disrupt timing in the backfield. That often means sending LB Nik Bonitto (11.0 sacks this season) and causing interior linemen to communicate protections to also account for DE Zach Allen (12 tackles for loss in 2024). Denver steps into the final four games of the season after a bye last week and the Broncos are riding a three-game winning streak. Not many projected the Broncos' Bo Nix-to-Courtland Sutton combination to be one of the best in the league this season, but here they are on the doorstep of the playoffs and five consecutive games with at least six connections and 70 yards. That's more than any QB-WR combo in the NFL this season.

Buffalo Bills (10-3) at Detroit Lions (12-1), 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX

A clash of conference frontrunners at Ford Field might point to a possible preview of the Super Bowl, but more imminently signals a lot of points. The Lions are the NFL's top-scoring team at 32.5 points per game and the Bills are first in the AFC with 30.5 ppg. Already safely in the postseason, neither team wants to drop a game at this juncture because of the likely ramifications on home-field advantage through the conference title games. Playing outside of their comfortable home environment, Buffalo already has three losses this season. The Bills lost on the road to the Rams in one of Josh Allen's top career performances -- 424 yards (342 passing, 82 rushing), career-high six TDs (three pass, three rush) -- and are trying to avoid back-to-back road defeats for the second time this season. Detroit is withstanding the gravity of losing several key defensive players to date. Explosive with depth on the offensive side of the ball, the Lions are already in playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1993-95. QB Jared Goff has 25 touchdown passes to seven receivers and one to himself (no, seriously) and Detroit can grind with the best of them behind a powerful offensive line and RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. The Lions compiled 1,964 rushing yards and averaged 4.6 as a team in 2024. The NFC homefield fight could be decided Jan. 5 at Ford Field when the Minnesota Vikings visit.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) at Los Angeles Chargers (8-5), 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

In the playoff field as of final play of Week 14, there's no ground to give for either team with four games remaining on the regular-season schedule. Up next for the Chargers is division rival Denver, which has a matching 8-5 record. Before the Chargers can get there, they'll need to deal with Tampa Bay's improved running game and QB Baker Mayfield. With Chargers leading receiver Ladd McConkey sidelined last week, WR Quentin Johnston seemed to awaken from a rough patch at Kansas City last week and has become a primary read for QB Justin Herbert again. Herbert rarely has put the ball in harm's way with a run of 11 consecutive games and an NFL-record 335 consecutive attempts without an interception. Tight margins are customary to the Chargers. Los Angeles leads the NFL in points allowed (15.9 per game) but half of its eight wins were decided by seven points or fewer. Tampa Bay is back on track with three wins in a row, but the Buccaneers built that streak against the Raiders, Giants and Panthers. Those teams own a combined 7-32 record. Often overlooked in the NFC playoff picture because the South is anchored by three sub-.500 teams, the Buccaneers have wins over the Lions, Eagles and Commanders -- two division leaders and one of the current wild-card spot holders. Tampa Bay has games with the Cowboys, Panthers and Saints left on the schedule.

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (11-2), 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX

It's feasible that Eagles WR A.J. Brown snuck a peek ahead at the schedule to see the Steelers coming and wanted a public decree to remind peers of his run of dominance against Pittsburgh. He had six catches for 153 yards and a career-high three TDs the last time he saw the Steelers and has consecutive games with at least 6-150-1 in the matchup. While "passing" has been backburnered, there's a good and epically productive reason Philadelphia is last in the NFL in pass attempts: Saquon Barkley. He leads NFL and already set a franchise-record with 1,623 rushing yards this season. That's the second-most all-time by a player in the first 13 games of season since 2000. Barkley leads the NFL with 1,890 scrimmage yards. The Eagles might appreciate the existing trend in this series with the home team winning nine of the past 10 meetings. But the Steelers are 6-1 with Russell Wilson at quarterback this season. Wilson is 5-0 in his career against the Eagles. He's down his top wideout in George Pickens on Sunday. Pittsburgh does have familiar defensive stalwarts back together. LB Alex Highsmith was back in the lineup last week and record a sack. He's the sidekick to T.J. Watt, who needs 0.5 sacks to hit 10 in a season for the sixth time in his career.

Green Bay Packers (9-4) at Seattle Seahawks (8-5), 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

The "12s" raise the flag on Sunday night encouraged to know the home team has won four straight in the often-dramatic Packers-Seahawks rivalry. The potential playoff preview brings added significance to possible tiebreaking -- and homefield -- scenarios in January. To ensure a home game in the playoffs, Seattle would like to stay a game ahead of the pack of NFC West teams in close pursuit following the Rams (8-6) win over the 49ers on Thursday. The Seahawks might have unintentionally unearthed an unstoppable backfield pairing with starter Kenneth Walker III idle last week. Zach Charbonnet set career highs in catches (seven), total yards (193), rushing yards (134) and two rushing TDs in a critical victory over Arizona. His emergence coincides with the rapid rise of WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba in a corps of receivers that also includes DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Given the newfound playmaking, it's a good time for Green Bay to have top corner Jaire Alexander (knee) healthy for the first time in a month and rookie LB Edgerrin Cooper expecting to play after a long absence. The Packers continue to push RB Josh Jacobs toward peak production. He has eight rushing touchdowns in the past four games. And in Jacobs' only career game against the Seahawks while he wore a Raiders' uniform, Jacobs delivered a career-high 229 rushing yards, 74 receiving and two TD runs. Seattle DT Leonard Williams plopped himself in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year conversation with a run of highlight reel games the past month.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 15

Player Notes
Hunter Henry Dec 13 1:10pm CT
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry has returned from the bye week and is a relevant fantasy option once again for Week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals. Henry has been the overall TE10 since Drake Maye took over at quarterback. The veteran has emerged as one of Maye's favorite targets, and that's a valuable connection to have in an offense that must throw the football to stay competitive in games. This week, Henry faces the Cardinals, who have allowed the fifth-fewest touchdowns to opposing tight ends in 2024. They've also allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the position, but their ability to reduce touchdown opportunities is largely baked into that total. A player like Henry, who has been a top-12 fantasy tight end despite scoring just one touchdown this season, should continue to be a dependable option in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Dec 13 1:00pm CT
David Njoku

According to Scott Petrak of the Chronicle-Telegram, Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's tilt against the Kansas City Chiefs. Njoku has been unable to practice all week, but the team is keeping the door open for the veteran tight end. Fantasy managers should continue to pay close attention to his status over the weekend. Over his past two games, Njoku has averaged an impressive 21.7 PPR points per game and found the back of the end zone three times over his stretch. Before this span, Njoku tallied just two scores during Weeks 7 through 12. If Njoku can turn the corner, fantasy managers should view him as a solid TE1, as the Chiefs have allowed the second-most PPR points to opposing tight ends this season. However, if Njoku cannot play, Jordan Akins would get the starting nod and would be worth a look in deeper formats as a replacement option.

From RotoBaller

Drake Maye Dec 13 12:50pm CT
Drake Maye

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye remains a low-end QB1 option in fantasy football ahead of Sunday's Week 15 battle with the Arizona Cardinals. Maye has nine turnovers over his last five games, but he has shown improvements as a passer and runner. In his last outing against the Colts, he completed an impressive 80 percent of passes for 238 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, plus 59 rushing yards. The Cardinals have allowed modest production to opposing quarterbacks this year. On a positive note, they've been one of the worst teams at intercepting passes, picking off the sixth-fewest passes in the NFL. However, on the other hand, they have excelled at containing mobile quarterbacks, allowing the fifth-fewest rushing yards to the position. Maye's ability to scramble may be reduced, but he's still a flashy threat to rack up yardage on the ground and through the air while keeping the Patriots competitive against Arizona.

From RotoBaller

Cedric Tillman Dec 13 12:50pm CT
Cedric Tillman

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's match against the Cleveland Browns, according to Scott Petrak of the Chronicle-Telegram. Tillman will now miss his third-straight contest since sustaining a concussion during their Week 12 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before this injury, Tillman was beginning to turn the corner on his slow start, averaging 15.4 PPR points per game with 66.0 yards per game during Weeks 7 through 12. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Jerry Jeudy to operate as the clear WR1 in the passing attack, with Elijah Moore moving up to the No.2 spot on the depth chart. Both are viable options this weekend in all formats, facing a Kansas City Chiefs secondary that has allowed the 16th-most PPR points to opposing wide receivers this season.

From RotoBaller

Dalton Kincaid Dec 13 12:40pm CT
Dalton Kincaid

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's match against the Detroit Lions. Kincaid has missed the past three games and could be in line to return to action this weekend. Kincaid was able to log three full practice sessions this week, which puts him in a great position to return to action. Before this injury, the 25-year-old has had an underwhelming season, averaging just 8.2 PPR points per game during the first ten weeks of the season. During this span, Kincaid averaged just 35.6 yards per game. If Kincaid cannot suit up, veteran Dawson Knox will continue to operate as the TE1. If he does return, fantasy managers should view him as a low-end TE1 facing the Detroit Lions, who have allowed the fewest PPR points to opposing tight ends this season.

From RotoBaller

Tony Pollard Dec 13 12:40pm CT
Tony Pollard

According to Terry McCormick of the Titans Insider, running back Tony Pollard (ankle) should play against the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend. Pollard has been unable to practice all week but is still trending positively. Fantasy managers should monitor the injury report later this afternoon, as Pollard will likely carry an injury designation, given his practice status throughout the week. Last weekend, Pollard tallied 102 yards on 21 attempts and added 22 yards on two receptions during their loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Pollard can suit up as expected, he should be viewed as a solid RB2 in all formats, facing the Cincinnati Bengals, who have allowed the 14th-fewest PPR points to opposing running backs this season.

From RotoBaller

Antonio Gibson Dec 13 12:30pm CT
Antonio Gibson

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson has emerged as a potential RB3/FLEX option in deeper leagues ahead of his Week 15 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. While Gibson has operated in a clear backup role behind Rhamondre Stevenson for essentially the whole season, his strong performance on the other side of the Patriots' bye could earn him some additional opportunities going forward. In that last outing against Indianapolis, Gibson rushed seven times for 62 yards (8.9 YPC) and one touchdown, finishing with just 0.2 fewer points than Stevenson in half-PPR and standard scoring systems. Gibson faces an uphill battle to produce given his 24 percent snap share, seven carries, and zero receptions back in Week 13, but we like his efficiency and touchdown upside moving forward. Managers should treat him as a potential RB3/FLEX option in leagues with at least 14 teams.

From RotoBaller

Trey McBride Dec 13 12:20pm CT
Trey McBride

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (knee) was seen practicing on Friday, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. McBride has logged two straight limited sessions to open the week, and seeing him practice again on Friday is a positive sign for his ability this weekend. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the injury report later on Friday, as McBride may carry a designation into the weekend. Over the past three games, the tight end has seen at least ten targets in each contest and averaged 100 total yards per game. Before this three-game stretch, McBride only saw double-digit targets one other time this season. If McBride can play, he should be viewed as a high-end TE1 in all formats, facing a New England Patriots secondary that has allowed the 16th-most PPR points to opposing tight ends this season.

From RotoBaller

Rhamondre Stevenson Dec 13 12:20pm CT
Rhamondre Stevenson

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson continues to be a risky RB3 option heading into Sunday's Week 15 contest against the Arizona Cardinals. While Stevenson remains the Patriots' lead back and had a 94-yard showing prior to last week's bye, a few factors should cause fantasy managers to at least consider other options for their Week 15 lineups. First, Stevenson could be headed for a reduced role this week. In Week 13, Antonio Gibson averaged 8.9 yards per carry and scored a touchdown, showing the coaching staff that he deserves more opportunities going forward. Additionally, we can't discount the Cardinals' run defense. While the unit has admittedly started to break down over the season, they've held players like Kyren Williams and Aaron Jones to 25 or fewer rushing yards. Managers shouldn't necessarily rush to bench Stevenson we still like his game script and receiving upside but they would be wise to at least explore some of the FLEX options on their bench or waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

Raheem Mostert Dec 13 12:10pm CT
Raheem Mostert

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said he's optimistic about running back Raheem Mostert's (hip) availability for the Week 15 contest on Sunday against the hosting Houston Texans. Mostert was not active for the Week 14 overtime win over the division-rival New York Jets last Sunday, but he appears to be on track to play this weekend after putting in limited practices. It's bad news for any fantasy managers in deeper leagues that were planning on using rookie Jaylen Wright in a flex spot. Mostert himself should be avoided as a flex play if he's active on Sunday in Houston, as the 32-year-old veteran has seen just 10 rushing attempts for 22 yards in his last four games, adding five catches for 46 yards. Even before Mostert's injury, Wright was beginning to take more and more valuable backfield touches away from Mostert behind starter De'Von Achane.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Dec 13 12:10pm CT
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (hamstring) remained sidelined during Friday's practice, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. This is not a good sign for the tight end's availability for this weekend, as he has not been able to practice once this week. Fantasy managers should monitor Friday's injury report, as Njoku will likely carry an injury designation into the weekend. Over the past two weeks, Njoku has enjoyed two big performances, averaging an impressive 21.7 PPR points per game during this stretch and scoring three touchdowns. If Njoku cannot turn the corner, fantasy managers should expect Jordan Akins to operate as the TE1 for Cleveland. Akins got a few starting opportunities earlier in the season when Njoku missed time and could be worth a look in deeper 14+ team formats facing the Kansas City Chiefs, who have allowed the second-most PPR points to opposing tight ends this season.

From RotoBaller

Colby Parkinson Dec 13 12:00pm CT
Colby Parkinson

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson caught two of his five targets for 21 yards during their victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night. Parkinson's five targets and 21 yards were the second-most on the team. Over his previous four games leading up to Thursday, Parkinson caught just one pass in each contest and never surpassed 20 receiving yards. With 31-year-old Tyler Higbee (knee) nearing a return to action, fantasy managers should expect Parkinson to soon revert to the No.2 role on the depth chart. Next weekend, Parkinson will face the New York Jets, who have allowed the seventh-fewest PPR points to opposing tight ends. If he is given another start, he should be viewed as a low-end TE2, given his low target share.

From RotoBaller

Joshua Karty Dec 13 11:50am CT
Joshua Karty

Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty went 4-for-4 on field goal attempts on Thursday evening during their victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Karty scored all 12 points for the Rams as the offense was unable to get into the end zone. Karty's longest kick came from 48 yards in the second quarter. Then in the fourth, Karty hit his three other field goals all from within 30 yards. After posting a 62.5% FG rate during Weeks 10 through 13, Karty has gone perfect on attempts over his past two games. However, he did miss one PAT last weekend. Despite his struggles, Karty remains a decent low-end K1 given Los Angeles' potent offense. Next weekend, he will face the New York Jets, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing kickers this season.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Dec 13 11:50am CT
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (knee) is officially good to go for Sunday's contest versus the Tennessee Titans in Week 15 and won't carry an injury designation into the game. Burrow was seen wearing a sleeve on his surgically repaired knee in Monday night's win over the Dallas Cowboys and dealt with some residual soreness the next day. He was limited in practice this week but is good to go and should be started as a top-five fantasy QB in lineups this weekend in what is the first week of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues. The Titans defense has been underrated this season, allowing the fewest passing yards (2,459) on the season. However, they've also allowed the 13th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks through 14 weeks, and Burrow enters Week 15 as the QB3 in overall fantasy points while leading the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Dec 13 11:40am CT
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that rookie running back Bucky Irving (back, hip) will be questionable for the Week 15 game on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Irving missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday and wasn't seen on the field in the portion of Friday's practice open to the media, but he must have later returned to the field to draw the questionable tag. The 22-year-old played through a questionable tag in the Week 14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders but made it only 10 offensive snaps before leaving. The fact that Irving barely played last weekend and hardly practiced at all in the lead-up to Sunday's game against the Bolts makes him a pretty risky RB3/flex in fantasy, even though he's been the team's most productive back in 2024. If Irving is ruled out entirely, Rachaad White, who had two TDs last week, will become a plug-and-play RB2.

From RotoBaller

Marquise Brown Dec 13 11:30am CT
Marquise Brown

The Kansas City Chiefs are opening wide receiver Marquise Brown's (shoulder) 21-day practice window on Friday for him to return from Injured Reserve, according to a source. The hope has been that Brown could return this week or next, so he's right on schedule after having surgery earlier this season for a shoulder injury he suffered in the preseason. Hollywood won't be available for this Sunday's contest versus the Cleveland Browns, but if he looks good in practice next week, he could make his debut with the Chiefs in Week 16 when they take on the Houston Texans. It's great news for KC's offense with the playoffs approaching, but the Chiefs are going to be extremely cautious with the 27-year-old wideout, making it more unlikely that he'll be worth a starting spot in fantasy in the next couple weeks with fantasy titles on the line.

From RotoBaller

Cooper Kupp Dec 13 11:30am CT
Cooper Kupp

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp was unable to catch any of his three targets during Thursday's divisional victory over the San Francisco 49ers. This was a frustrating night for the veteran wideout, as he was unable to impact the box score. This was the first time Kupp finished with zero fantasy points this season, and this was also his lowest target share of the campaign. Despite the disappointing results, fantasy managers should not be overly concerned with Kupp's fantasy outlook for the remainder of the season. Over his previous six games, the 31-year-old averaged 9.3 targets and 6.7 receptions per game. During this span, Kupp tallied 76.5 yards per contest and even scored four touchdowns during this span. While his matchup against the New York Jets next weekend is not ideal, given that they have allowed the fewest PPR points to opposing wideouts this season, it is hard not to expect a bounce-back given his stable production all season.

From RotoBaller

Drew Lock Dec 13 11:20am CT
Drew Lock

New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (heel) is out of his walking boot, according to head coach Brian Daboll, and could have a chance to serve as the emergency third QB for the Week 15 contest on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. Lock injured his heel in the Week 14 loss to the New Orleans Saints and will not start this weekend. Instead, Tommy DeVito will make his second start of the season after getting past a right-forearm injury that has bothered him the last couple of weeks. The Giants' QB situation could remain in flux for the rest of the season, depending on the health of Lock and how DeVito fares in his return to the starting role this weekend. One thing is clear: Lock didn't do much to inspire confidence from the coaching staff in his two starts against the Cowboys and Saints, going 42-for-81 for 405 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions, although he did run for 61 yards and a score on the ground.

From RotoBaller

Puka Nacua Dec 13 11:20am CT
Puka Nacua

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua brought in seven of his eight targets for 97 yards and paced all Los Angeles pass catchers in their victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Nacua's eight targets were three higher than all other pass catchers and five more than the other Los Angeles wide receivers. The sophomore's longest reception of the evening went for 51 yards. Despite Los Angeles not finding the end zone, their top wideout was able to enjoy another strong fantasy performance. Since returning to action in Week 8, Nacua has averaged an impressive 20.2 PPR points per game. Over his previous six contests, Nacua has caught at least seven passes in all but one game and has found the end zone three times over this span. Fantasy managers should continue to view Nacua as a high-end WR1 heading into a Week 16 matchup against the New York Jets, who have allowed the fewest PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.

From RotoBaller

Eric Murray Dec 13 11:20am CT
Eric Murray

The Houston Texans officially placed defensive back Jalen Pitre (pectoral) on season-ending Injured Reserve on Friday. Pitre is done for the year, even if the Texans advance deep into the postseason, and will have surgery to fix his ruptured pectoral muscle. The 25-year-old safety will end his third season in the NFL with 65 tackles (44 solo), six tackles for loss, one interception, eight pass breakups and a forced fumble in his 12 starts. In his absence the rest of the way, defensive backs Eric Murray, M.J. Stewart and Myles Bryant should all see more snaps on defense for the Texans. Losing Pitre at this critical juncture is definitely a downgrade for Houston's secondary as they get set for a Week 15 tilt against the visiting Miami Dolphins this Sunday.

From RotoBaller