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Raiders star Maxx Crosby (ankle) to undergo surgery

Sat Dec 14 9:00pm ET
Field Level Media

Las Vegas Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby will miss the rest of the season following arthroscopic ankle surgery and may undergo a second surgery, ESPN reported on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Crosby, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, first injured the ankle in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens and missed the first game of his career in Week 4.

Crosby aggravated the ankle last Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leading to the decision to go under the knife, which he revealed on Saturday via Instagram.

Per the report, Crosby on Monday will have surgery performed by Dr. Rob Anderson, which will determine the amount of damage to the ankle. A second surgery may need to be performed as doctors believe the injury could be more severe than originally thought.

It also remains to be seen whether Crosby will be a Raider in 2025, as several teams at the November trade deadline inquired about potentially acquiring the superstar. The Raiders have thus far rebuffed any outside interest in Crosby.

On a nine-game losing streak, Las Vegas (2-11) hosts the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night.

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The Paur Report

Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 15

Player Notes
Josh Downs Dec 14 11:00pm CT
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (shoulder) is anticipated to suit up for Sunday's contest versus the Denver Broncos. The wideout was battling a shoulder injury, keeping him off the field for the Week 13 meeting with the New England Patriots. Fortunately, the Colts were off in Week 14. But with Downs logging full practice sessions during the week, he's expected to be back, which is good news for fantasy managers. The 23-year-old has been productive in his 10 appearances this season, amassing 53 catches for 594 yards and four touchdowns, making him a starting fantasy option for the challenging matchup against the Broncos.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Carlson Dec 14 10:50pm CT
Daniel Carlson

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson made two short field goals and an extra point attempt in Week 14 after a terrible day in Week 13 that saw him miss three long field goals. He's an accurate kicker below those long distances, but the misses lower his value ahead of a Week 15 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. LV may be missing their starting quarterback, so we don't recommend you start Carlson. He would be a good option on a better offense. Atlanta's defense isn't great, so there's some room for a good amount of field goal attempts. That's great! Really awesome. But you should roll with someone else. Better to have a kicker on a good offense without so many question marks, because that makes it easier to project more volume.

From RotoBaller

Maxx Crosby Dec 14 10:40pm CT
Maxx Crosby

The Las Vegas Raiders D/ST is not worth starting in Week 15, nor have they been all season. They're the No. 31 rated defense on Sleeper, and outside of extremely deep or exotic leagues, there's no reason to put them in starting lineups for Monday, when they face the Atlanta Falcons. There are better options in free agency or on waivers in nearly all leagues. With star defensive end Maxx Crosby (ankle) likely to miss the rest of the season, and absolutely not playing in Monday night's game, there's even less reason to fire them up. They're a unit that's looking forward to next season, and they'll need to bolster their group at multiple positions to be more competitive in 2025. They'll hope to allow less than 27.8 points per game when that time comes.

From RotoBaller

Tony Pollard Dec 14 10:40pm CT
Tony Pollard

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (ankle) is expected to suit up for Sunday's matchup with the Bengals. The former Cowboy didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday because of an ankle injury. He practiced on Friday, although he was limited, resulting in a questionable designation heading into Week 15. It's certainly good news for fantasy managers, with Pollard on the verge of his third-straight 1,000-yard rushing season. There's a good chance he'll hit that mark on Sunday, assuming he plays, against an unreliable Bengals defense. With Pollard's anticipated availability, Tyjae Spears will lose nearly all of his fantasy value. Still, fantasy managers should hold on to Spears until Pollard officially gets the green light.

From RotoBaller

Sincere McCormick Dec 14 10:30pm CT
Sincere McCormick

Las Vegas Raiders running back Sincere McCormick, who took the starting job from RB Alexander Mattison (ankle), who took Zamir White's (quad) starting job, who took over for Josh Jacobs, who left for greener fields (literally), is the guy you want to start in Week 15. McCormick. He's the guy. He's a lot more explosive than the other backs in his backfield. It's not necessarily a great matchup, so perhaps many fantasy managers have their hopes high. Teams prefer to pass against the Falcons since they have an awful secondary and aren't great at getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. They've also had a productive offense for most of the season. McCormick's role is nice, though, and it necessitates consideration at RB2/RB3 slots for needy teams. He has a chance of being a key contributor down the stretch, and he's reasonably talented.

From RotoBaller

Tre Tucker Dec 14 10:10pm CT
Tre Tucker

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker logged just seven receiving yards on two receptions in Week 14. His usage wasn't horrible, as he was targeted five times, but he's struggled with consistency all season. With starting quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) questionable for Monday's game, it's hard to see that changing in a big way. He's still behind elite tight end Brock Bowers and excellent WR Jakobi Meyers in target priority, and he's more of a gadget player than anything. He has an excellent matchup, though. If O'Connell or backup QB Desmond Ridder end up getting in a rhythm, he could have a decent day. But his floor in fantasy football is extremely low, so outside of deeper leagues, he shouldn't be in starting consideration.

From RotoBaller

Brock Bowers Dec 14 10:00pm CT
Brock Bowers

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is set to continue his historic season when his team takes on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15. It's the first round of the fantasy playoffs for most leagues, and there's no one better to put in your TE spot than the rookie sensation. He's logged a ridiculous stat line of 87 catches on 118 targets for 933 yards and four touchdowns, and every quarterback who's played for the Raiders this year knows he's a great player to get the ball to. Even if QB Aidan O'Connell (knee) isn't able to go, backup Desmond Ridder should still sling the ball Bowers' way early and often. The Falcons defense hasn't been very good against the pass, either, so it's a solid matchup.

From RotoBaller

Jakobi Meyers Dec 14 10:00pm CT
Jakobi Meyers

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers logged a full practice on Saturday as expected, and he carries no injury designation heading into Monday night's game with the Atlanta Falcons. He's been managing an ankle issue with plenty of rest throughout the weekdays, so this ailment is of minimal concern. He'll face an Atlanta defense that's been shredded multiple times through the air over the past few weeks, and it's a great matchup for Meyers to see plenty of targets. He should be started in all PPR leagues regardless of who ends up playing at QB. While his ceiling is lower if backup quarterback Desmond Ridder ends up getting the nod, he's a great and highly underrated WR that consistently gets separation and wins on his routes, and that's what matters for fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Ray-Ray McCloud Dec 14 9:30pm CT
Ray-Ray McCloud

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III has had a consistent -- albeit small -- role in the offense all season long, but has seen it grow over the last three weeks, averaging nearly eight targets and six catches per game along with back-to-back performances of 95-plus yards. The 28-year-old is not a red zone threat having scored just once all season, which limits his upside, but the involvement makes him highly useful in PPR leagues. The Falcons take on the Raiders in Week 15 who have been generous to wide receivers as of late, allowing six touchdowns and the second-most receiving yards over the last four weeks. McCloud in particular has a favorable matchup with Darnay Holmes expected to cover him out of the slot. Atlanta is favored in this contest and with Drake London and Darnell Mooney attracting coverage, the Clemson product should again see a healthy workload. The veteran wideout has WR3 upside in PPR leagues and is a potential Flex option in all other formats for Monday Night Football.

From RotoBaller

Mike Boone Dec 14 9:10pm CT
Mike Boone

Carolina Panthers running back Mike Boone has been elevated to the team's active roster ahead of their Sunday meeting with the Dallas Cowboys. The 29-year-old has appeared in just one game this season -- the first -- registering four carries and seven yards. The move seemingly comes in response to fellow RB Raheem Blackshear (chest) being downgraded to out for Week 15, as he was the only other active back on the roster besides starter Chuba Hubbard. The Cowboys' defense has come around over the previous few weeks but could be without a few of their defenders this Sunday due to injury. Still, with Hubbard dominating the Panthers' snap share and backfield touches, Boone garners little more than handcuff status for the time being.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Reagor Dec 14 9:00pm CT
Jalen Reagor

The Los Angeles Chargers placed wide receiver Jalen Reagor (finger) on injured reserve Saturday ahead of their matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In a corresponding move, the team elevated WR Laviska Shenault from their practice squad. It's unfortunate news for the 25-year-old, who has yet to live up to his first-round selection. He'll now be shelved for at least the next four contests. With only four weeks remaining in the regular season, this could be the last we see of Reagor this year unless the Chargers retain their pace and make a playoff berth. The fifth-year wideout's injury opens up some extra playing time for teammates Derius Davis and DJ Chark

From RotoBaller

Tommy DeVito Dec 14 8:50pm CT
Tommy DeVito

According to Pat Leonard of The Daily News, quarterback Tim Boyle will be the backup QB for Tommy DeVito in Week 15. The 30-year-old was signed from the team's practice squad earlier this week and will now serve as second-string for New York's meeting with the visiting Baltimore Ravens. Teammate Drew Lock (heel/elbow), who is battling through injuries, will be the emergency QB. Boyle is now on his second squad of 2024, as he appeared in two games earlier this season for the Miami Dolphins. The veteran could get some playing time over the season's final stretch as the Giants continue to shuffle around quarterbacks due to injuries and poor play. However, none of New York's present quarterback options are particularly enticing for fantasy -- even against a Ravens defense that's allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to QBs in 2024 (22.3).

From RotoBaller

Johnny Wilson Dec 14 8:20pm CT
Johnny Wilson

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Johnny Wilson (illness) is officially questionable for Week 15 with an illness. The rookie wideout was a late addition to the team's injury report on Friday. Wilson missed Week 13 -- the first game of his career -- with a late-week hamstring injury and is now in danger of being inactive again. This year, he's had a decent snap share, particularly in his previous two outings. However, it has yet to amount to much in terms of statistics. The 23-year-old has recorded only nine targets on the season but just three since Week 6. If he cannot play, fellow wide receiver Ainias Smith projects to get some more playing time. With WR Britain Covey (neck) ruled out for Sunday, Philly could be down two of their six wideouts against their in-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

From RotoBaller

Breece Hall Dec 14 8:10pm CT
Breece Hall

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, New York Jets running back Breece Hall (knee) is expected to be active for Sunday's road matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The third-year back injured his knee before Week 11 but was able to get in some rest during the team's bye the following week. However, he re-aggravated the injury in Week 13 against the Seahawks before rattling off three straight DNPs and missing the subsequent contest. Hall kicked off this week labeled as a non-participant on back-to-back days but got in a full session on Friday and appears poised to be ready to go in Week 15. The 23-year-old has had an up-and-down year, but if he's fully healthy, he gets a smash matchup against a Jaguars defense that's allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to running backs in 2024 (28.6). New York may be cautious with the former second-round pick, being that his surgically repaired knee has the issue. Still, if he's active -- it will be hard to sit him in a juicy matchup. Hall is RotoBaller's PPR RB22 in this week's ranks.

From RotoBaller

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

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

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Wright Dec 14 6:10pm CT
Jaylen Wright

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

From RotoBaller

Maxx Crosby Dec 14 6:00pm CT
Maxx Crosby

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

From RotoBaller

Cole Kmet Dec 14 5:50pm CT
Cole Kmet

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

From RotoBaller

Rome Odunze Dec 14 5:40pm CT
Rome Odunze

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

From RotoBaller

Keenan Allen Dec 14 5:40pm CT
Keenan Allen

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

From RotoBaller