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FFL: Week 15 | NFL: Week 15

49ers say LB De'Vondre Campbell refused to enter game

Fri Dec 13 2:32am ET
Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers have endured the absence of numerous players due to injury all season.

On Thursday, they were down a player who merely didn't want to participate.

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said linebacker De'Vondre Campbell wouldn't go in the game in the second half as the 49ers fell 12-6 to the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, Calif.

Campbell, 31, had made 12 starts in 13 games this season prior to Thursday, when Dre Greenlaw took his position after recovering from an Achilles tear he sustained during the Super Bowl in January.

With Greenlaw experiencing foot soreness, Shanahan asked Campbell to take over in the third quarter.

"He said he didn't want to play today," Shanahan said, adding that Campbell gave no reason.

Shanahan said, "When someone says that, you move on. You don't deal with that anymore. That's somebody who doesn't want to play football, that's pretty simple. I think our team and myself, we know how we feel about that. I don't think we need to talk about him anymore."

Niners tight end George Kittle said, "I don't like distractions on the sideline. I think it's ignorant and I think it's just dumb. It's just stupid. It's very immature. I just don't see how you can do something like that to your team."

San Francisco cornerback Charvarius "Mooney" Ward said of Campbell, "He's a professional, he's been playing for a long time. If he didn't want to play, he shouldn't have dressed out. He could have told them that before the game. ... It definitely hurt the team because (Greenlaw) went down and we needed a linebacker, you know? ... So for him to do that, that's some selfishness.

"He's probably going to be cut soon, so it is what it is with that."

Campbell, in his first season with the 49ers, has 79 tackles and two passes defensed. He previously played for the Atlanta Falcons (2016-19), the Arizona Cardinals (2020) and the Green Bay Packers (2021-23). He made first-team All-Pro in 2021 when he had 146 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, five passes defensed and two sacks.

In 128 career NFL games (122 starts), Campbell has 858 tackles, seven interceptions, eight forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 30 passes defensed and 9.5 sacks.

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Player Notes
Keon Coleman Dec 13 9:00am CT
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Odell Beckham Jr. Dec 13 8:40am CT
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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will be looking for a new team to help through the end of the season into the playoffs. The two sides mutually agreed to part ways, and Tom Pelissero reports that the release should become official on Monday. Pelissero pointed out that two of his former teams, the Rams and Ravens, are in playoff contention, but there haven't been any official reports of interested parties. Beckham posted 18 targets, nine receptions, and 55 yards with no touchdowns in nine appearances for Miami.

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Deebo Samuel Dec 13 12:00am CT
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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. had his woes continue during a 12-6 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. The frustrated former Gamecock caught three of seven targets for 16 yards and took two carries for three yards. Not every unfulfilled target was Samuel Sr.'s fault, but one certainly was. With the game tied midway through the third quarter on a 3rd-and-10 just outside the red zone, Samuel Sr. dropped a wide-open pass on a crossing pattern which would have been a certain first down, and perhaps a touchdown. It doesn't get much cringier than that after he complained about his usage on social media early in the week. Samuel Sr. will carry an average of 4.7 half-PPR points over his last five games into a matchup in Week 16 versus one of the toughest defenses against wide receivers in Miami.

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Jake Moody Dec 12 11:50pm CT
Jake Moody

San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody went 2-for-2 on field goals during Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams. His conversions came from 47 and 53 yards out, giving some fantasy managers yardage-based scoring boosts. Moody's six points represented the entirety of the Niners' scoring on Thursday Night Football as they fell to the Rams, 12-6. Although this was a frustrating outcome for San Francisco, it's promising to see that Moody's fantasy value can survive even when the offense struggles to find a rhythm. The 25-year-old now ranks 12th among kickers in fantasy points per game this year, making him a fringe option for managers heading into the 49ers' Week 16 battle against the Miami Dolphins.

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Nick Bosa Dec 12 11:50pm CT
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The San Francisco 49ers defense held the Los Angeles Rams to 12 points but failed to record a turnover or sack on Thursday Night Football in Week 15. The 49ers have one of the NFL's more imposing defensive fronts with Nick Bosa anchoring the unit, but while Bosa did log a whopping three quarterback hits on Thursday, the entire defense failed to register a turnover or sack. Statistically, Fred Warner led the way with 15 tackles while Deommodore Lenoir defended a pair of passes. With the 49ers' defense seemingly losing some of its dominance this season, the unit can be benched in most fantasy leagues next week against the Miami Dolphins.

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Ricky Pearsall Dec 12 11:40pm CT
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall caught just one of his four targets during Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams, finishing Week 15 with 16 yards. The rookie pass-catcher has struggled to emerge as a relevant option in redraft leagues given his No. 3 role behind Deebo Samuel Sr. and Jauan Jennings. The 24-year-old has just 13 catches for 153 yards this year, and most of that production came in a singular game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in Week 10. As long as Pearsall remains third on the depth chart, he should be benched or left on waivers in fantasy football. That trend continues next week against the Miami Dolphins, who have been quite stingy against opposing wide receivers in 2024.

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Jauan Jennings Dec 12 11:40pm CT
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings caught just two of his nine targets against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, finishing Week 15 with 31 yards through the air. He managed to lead the team in targets while finishing second to George Kittle in receiving yards. Thursday's loss to the Rams was a rough showing for the Niners, who mustered just two field goals and zero touchdowns on primetime television. That led to a rare dud game from Jennings, who had not previously recorded fewer than nine fantasy points (PPR) since taking over as the de facto No. 1 wide receiver following Brandon Aiyuk's season-ending knee injury. Despite Thursday's frustrating performance, Jennings appears to still be the 49ers' No. 1 wide receiver as he continues to get more looks in the passing game than Deebo Samuel Sr. However, fantasy managers should proceed with caution ahead of next week's matchup against the Miami Dolphins, who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2024.

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George Kittle Dec 12 11:30pm CT
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle caught four of his seven targets for a team-most 61 yards during Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Even as the 49ers struggled to mount scoring drives in this primetime divisional battle, Kittle found ways to get involved and salvage his fantasy performance. The 31-year-old now has double-digit fantasy points (PPR) in 10 of his 12 games, ranking as the overall TE2 in fantasy football. He's on pace to have his second-best fantasy season ever, giving managers a major boost down the stretch and potentially helping them advance in the fantasy playoffs. Kittle should continue to be started in all leagues as the 49ers take on the Miami Dolphins in Week 16.

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Isaac Guerendo Dec 12 11:20pm CT
Isaac Guerendo

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo was inefficient during a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara on Thursday night. There was some question coming into the game about whether Guerendo -- who spent the week questionable with a foot injury -- could fulfill head coach Kyle Shanahan's typical bell cow usage. Guerendo answered those questions emphatically by taking 16 of San Francisco's 18 carries, but he struggled to make them count, finishing with 57 yards and no touchdowns. He also caught all four of his targets for 18 yards, keeping his night in line with fantasy projections in PPR leagues. Assuming no aggravation of his injury, the fourth-rounder will be in play for lineups in Week 16 versus the Dolphins in Miami, who have been a mildly favorable matchup for running backs this season.

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Dre Greenlaw Dec 12 11:20pm CT
Dre Greenlaw

San Francisco 49ers linebacker De'Vondre Campbell "said that he didn't want to play" during the second half of Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. In his postgame press conference, Shanahan said that he asked Campbell to enter the game as a substitute for Dre Greenlaw in the third quarter, but the veteran linebacker told him he didn't want to play and subsequently went to the locker room. The decision drew criticism from plenty of football fans, as well as teammate Mooney Ward, who said, "If he didn't want to play, he shouldn't have dressed. That was selfish. [...] He's probably going to get cut soon, so it is what it is." The 31-year-old had previously registered 79 tackles through the first 13 games of the season, but he didn't show up on the stat sheet Thursday night. He owns a 58.3 PFF defense grade, which ranks second-worst among 49ers linebackers.

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Brock Purdy Dec 12 10:50pm CT
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy never got much going during a deflating 12-6 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. Purdy finished 14-for-31 for 142 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. He scrambled once for three yards. While the Rams' secondary made more than a few nice plays on the ball, Purdy struggled with accuracy in this one. Bad throws may have been understandable during a rainy first half but they continued even after the rain had stopped. It's hard to trust Purdy as a fantasy asset moving forward, as he has now sandwiched a productive game between two week-killing games. Purdy-starting managers who somehow survive to see another round in the fantasy playoffs should consider quarterback shopping after this weekend, as he'll draw two tough matchups coming up. He'll get the Dolphins in Miami next week and the Lions at home in Week 17.

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Marshon Lattimore Dec 12 10:30pm CT
Marshon Lattimore

For the second straight day this week on Thursday, Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) practiced in full as the team prepares to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday in Week 15. Lattimore was acquired by the Commanders from the Saints on Nov. 5 but he hasn't made his debut for Washington yet due to his hamstring injury. As long as the 28-year-old defensive back doesn't suffer a setback on Friday at practice, he seems well on his to making his debut this weekend. If Lattimore is active on Sunday, he should start on the outside at cornerback, but the veteran could have his snaps limited given his long layoff. The former first-rounder is a four-time Pro Bowler and had 30 tackles (22 solo) in seven starts for the Saints to begin the year. Lattimore's impending return will be a welcomed boost to Washington's secondary down the stretch for a playoff push.

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Zane Gonzalez Dec 12 10:20pm CT
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Washington Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez (foot) returned to a full practice on Thursday after being limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday while dealing with a left-foot injury. Gonzalez should now be good to go to kick for the Commanders again in Week 15 in a strong matchup against the New Orleans Saints on the road in the Caesars Superdome with Austin Seibert (groin) still sidelined due to injury. In his return to the NFL this year for the first time since 2021, Gonzalez has gone 3-for-5 on field goals and has made all 10 of his extra points in his three games with Washington in place of Seibert. The 29-year-old kicker is by no means a must-start in fantasy lineups in the first round of the playoffs in most leagues, but he could be a decent streamer in a Commanders offense that has scored 28.9 points per game, the fourth-most in the NFL.

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Derek Carr Dec 12 9:50pm CT
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Unsurprisingly, New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (concussion, hand) sat out of practice for the second straight day this week. Carr suffered a concussion and broke his left (non-throwing) hand in the Week 14 win over the New York Giants on Sunday. He hasn't officially been ruled out for Week 15 against the Washington Commanders, but interim head coach Darren Rizzi said on Thursday that Jake Haener will start under center this weekend. While the 33-year-old Carr will not be placed on Injured Reserve, there's a chance that he won't play again this year, depending on how the team plays in the next couple of weeks. The expectation is that Carr will officially be ruled out for Week 15 on Friday. Carr has dealt with various injuries again in 2024 and is currently the QB22 in overall fantasy points with 15 TD passes and 17 picks in 10 games played.

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Cedric Tillman Dec 12 9:40pm CT
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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) remained limited in the second practice of the week on Thursday and remains in the league's concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in the Week 12 win over the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Tillman has recovered slowly from his concussion and has missed the last two games. The 24-year-old still has work to do in order to play on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs and will need clearance from an independent neurologist. The former third-rounder in 2023 out of Tennessee saw his role increase before his concussion when the Browns traded Amari Cooper to Buffalo. In five games before the concussion, Tillman had 26 catches on 44 targets for 330 yards and three touchdowns to put him into the weekly flex conversation in fantasy. Given his injury and the tough matchup against KC, Tillman is a shaky WR4/flex in Week 15.

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Darnell Mooney Dec 12 9:00pm CT
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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (foot) was listed as a limited participant during Thursday's practice. Fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked by this news considering Mooney has been banged up for a few weeks now. Despite that, Mooney continues to play and is coming off one of his best performances of the season. Last week, Mooney hauled in six of his seven targets for 142 yards in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Fantasy managers shouldn't read too much into Mooney sitting out on Thursday, but should stay tuned for more information. The 27-year-old could offer WR2 value for a plus matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders defense in Week 15.

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Jakobi Meyers Dec 12 8:50pm CT
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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (ankle) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned about Meyers considering he played through the issue last week. Meyers hauled in seven receptions for 67 yards while battling the same ankle issue during the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Meyers sitting out on Thursday could just be the Raiders being cautious with him ahead of the Week 15 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. If he plays, Meyers should be able to offer WR2 value, but the quarterback situation in Las Vegas is uncertain right now. Meyers might lose some value if Desmond Ridder ends up under center on Monday.

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Maxx Crosby Dec 12 8:40pm CT
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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (ankle) was unable to participate in Thursday's practice session. Crosby missed his first game of his career in Week 4 due to an ankle issue. It's unclear if the issue is related, but regardless it's going to take a lot to get Crosby to sit out of a game. This season, Crosby has 45 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks through 12 games. There is still plenty of time for Crosby to heal up before Monday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. The loss of Crosby would be a huge hit to this defense, but we'll have to wait and see how he progresses throughout the week.

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Aidan O'Connell Dec 12 8:30pm CT
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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) was unable to get on the practice field on Thursday. Despite his absence in practice, O'Connell is hopeful to suit up for the Monday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Last week, O'Connell suffered a bone bruise in his left knee during the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The organization feared O'Connell would miss the rest of the season, but now he has a chance to play in Week 15. If he sits, Desmond Ridder would be tasked with making his first start of the season. The fact that O'Connell sat out on Thursday isn't a great sign heading into Monday's game, but there is still plenty of time for him to still get cleared to play.

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Alexander Mattison Dec 12 8:20pm CT
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Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (ankle) was a full participant during Thursday's practice session. This is good news as it appears Mattison is ready to get back on the field for the first time since Week 11. However, Mattison is expected to be demoted to the backup role, according to head coach Antonio Pierce. Mattison was struggling on the ground before the injury, so it's not shocking to see the Raiders going in another direction. Sincere McCormick has looked solid in back-to-back games and should see increased chances down the stretch of the season. The expectation is Mattison will still remain involved as the receiving back, but he could see a decrease in fantasy value going forward. The 26-year-old appears to be trending in the right direction ahead of the Week 15 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, but is looking like a desperation flex option.

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