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NFL roundup: Rams hold on to edge Bills in high-scoring contest

Mon Dec 9 1:01am ET
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Puka Nacua finished with 178 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns, and the Los Angeles Rams held on for a 44-42 win over the visiting Buffalo Bills on Sunday despite Josh Allen's record-setting six-touchdown performance.

Nacua caught 12 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown, and he rushed for 16 yards and another score for Los Angeles (7-6). Kyren Williams added 87 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and Cooper Kupp finished with five catches for 92 yards and a score.

Allen became the first player in NFL history to pass for three touchdowns and rush for three touchdowns in a single game for Buffalo (10-3). Allen completed 22 of 37 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns, and he carried the ball 10 times for 82 yards and three touchdowns.

Matthew Stafford completed 23 of 30 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns for the Rams, who have won two games in a row and three of their past four.

Eagles 22, Panthers 16

Jalen Hurts threw 4 yards to Grant Calcaterra for Philadelphia's only second-half scoring drive as the Eagles held off visiting Carolina.

Hurts threw for two touchdowns and finished with 108 yards on 14-for-21 passing. He also ran for a score. Saquon Barkley rushed for 124 yards as the Eagles (11-2) won their ninth game in a row.

Bryce Young was 19-for-34 for 191 yards, a touchdown pass and an interception for Carolina. The Panthers (3-10), who outgained the Eagles 302-292, lost their third game in a row, including their previous two losses on game-ending field goals at home to Kansas City and Tampa Bay.

Chiefs 19, Chargers 17

Patrick Mahomes threw for 210 yards and a touchdown, Matthew Wright made a 31-yard field goal off the left upright as time expired and Kansas City clinched another AFC West title with a victory over visiting Los Angeles.

Mahomes guided a 14-play, 47-yard drive, which was capped by Wright's game-winning kick, as the Chiefs extended their NFL record to 15 consecutive one-score victories going back to last season, counting playoff games. Isiah Pacheco had 55 yards rushing and Travis Kelce finished with five receptions for 45 yards. Kansas City won its ninth consecutive division title.

Justin Herbert had 213 yards passing with a touchdown, and Joshua Palmer had six receptions for 78 yards for the Chargers. Quentin Johnston had five receptions for 48 yards and a TD for Los Angeles, which lost for just the second time in its past seven games.

Steelers 27, Browns 14

Russell Wilson threw two touchdown passes to help Pittsburgh cruise to a victory over visiting Cleveland.

Najee Harris rushed for a touchdown and Van Jefferson and Pat Freiermuth caught scoring passes for Pittsburgh (10-3), which has won seven of its last eight games. Cameron Heyward had two sacks and Keeanu Benton and James Pierre had interceptions for the Steelers. Wilson completed 15 of 26 passes for 158 yards.

Jameis Winston completed 24 of 41 passes for 212 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Browns. Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku caught touchdown passes for Cleveland (3-10), which has lost two straight games and nine of its last 11. Myles Garrett recovered a fumble and registered a sack to raise his career total to 99.5.

Dolphins 32, Jets 26 (overtime)

Tua Tagovailoa tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith on the first possession of overtime as Miami defeated visiting New York. Tagovailoa passed for 331 yards and two touchdowns as Miami (6-7) kept its playoff hopes alive.

The game featured six lead changes, and it was the ninth straight year that the Dolphins beat the Jets at home. Tyreek Hill caught 10 passes for 115 yards and one TD. Jaylen Waddle caught nine passes for 99 yards and a two-point conversion.

Aaron Rodgers passed for 339 yards and one touchdown, but New York (3-10) still lost its fourth straight game.

Vikings 42, Falcons 21

Sam Darnold completed 22 of 28 passes for 347 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, and Minnesota pulled away to beat Atlanta in Minneapolis.

Jordan Addison had eight catches for 133 yards and a career-high three touchdowns for the Vikings (11-2), who won their sixth consecutive game. Justin Jefferson had seven catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns.

Tyler Allgeier (nine carries for 63 yards) and Bijan Robinson (22 attempts for 92 yards) rushed for one touchdown apiece for the Falcons (6-7).

49ers 38, Bears 13

Brock Purdy passed for 325 yards and two touchdowns, Isaac Guerendo ran for two scores and Leonard Floyd registered two sacks against his former team as host San Francisco routed skidding Chicago. San Francisco (6-7) stopped a three-game losing streak while remaining in the hunt in the NFC wild-card race.

Chicago lost its seventh in a row, stumbling through its first game under interim coach Thomas Brown, who took the reins after the organization fired third-year coach Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29. The Bears (4-9) were outgained 452-162.

The 49ers reached the end zone on three of their first four possessions and scored on four of their five first-half drives overall, excluding their kneel-down on the final play.

Saints 14, Giants 11

Derek Carr passed for 219 yards and a touchdown before being injured and New Orleans defeated reeling New York in East Rutherford, N.J. Carr completed 20 of 31 passes, but left the game late in the fourth quarter after injuring his left arm while being tackled.

The Saints (5-8) secured the victory when Bryan Bresee blocked Graham Gano's 35-yard field-goal attempt with eight seconds left.

Drew Lock completed 21 of 49 passes for 227 yards for the NFC-worst Giants (2-11), who lost their eighth consecutive game. New York was penalized 12 times for 112 yards and penalties negated a touchdown and a field goal.

Seahawks 30, Cardinals 18

Zach Charbonnet rushed for a career-high 134 yards and scored two touchdowns as Seattle remained atop the NFC West with a win over Arizona in Glendale, Ariz.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught a 19-yard scoring strike from Geno Smith and Jason Myers kicked three field goals for the Seahawks (8-5), who have won four consecutive games since their bye week -- including two against Arizona.

Arizona's Kyler Murray was 25-of-38 passing for 259 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. James Conner rushed for 90 yards on 18 carries and Trey McBride made seven receptions for 70 yards for the Cardinals (6-7), who lost their third in a row.

Jaguars 10, Titans 6

Tank Bigsby ran for an 8-yard touchdown with 6:46 left and visiting Jacksonville held off Tennessee in Nashville.

Jones completed 23 of 31 passes for 220 yards and two interceptions in his first start since quarterback Trevor Lawrence went on injured reserve Wednesday with a concussion. The Jaguars (3-10) ended a five-game losing streak.

Will Levis went 19-of-32 passing for 168 yards for Tennessee (3-10), which dropped its second game in a row. The Titans made it to the Jacksonville 9 but Levis' fourth-down pass for Nick Westbrook-Ikhine rattled in and out of his hands in the back of the end zone with 1:11 remaining.

Buccaneers 28, Raiders 13

Rachaad White and Jalen McMillan each produced two touchdowns in host Tampa Bay's win, extending Las Vegas' losing streak to nine.

Tampa Bay (7-6), which has won three in a row, took over first place in the NFC South. Shut down for the second and third quarters, the Bucs got a 3-yard scoring run from White and a 29-yard touchdown catch from McMillan in the fourth to finish it. Mayfield finished 18-for-29 passing for 295 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Las Vegas quarterback Aidan O'Connell was carted to the locker room with an air cast on his right leg in the third. O'Connell, who was 11-for-19 passing for 104 yards and an interception, was replaced by Desmond Ridder, who completed 12 of 18 passes for 101 yards.

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Player Notes
Mac Jones Dec 9 10:10am CT
Mac Jones

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones led the team to a 10-6 victory over the Tennessee Titans despite a mediocre performance. The former Patriot finished with 23 completions on 31 attempts for 220 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Jaguars were able to move the ball decently well, but struggled to get in the end zone, producing just 10 points. All of their points came in the fourth quarter. Jones's top target was standout rookie Brian Thomas Jr., who had eight catches for 86 yards on 12 targets, 9 coming in the fourth quarter alone. After BTJ, the next best receiver was Travis Etienne Jr. with four catches for 50 yards. The Jaguars face the New York Jets in Week 15, where Jones will look to put the ball in the end zone instead of the defense's hands.

From RotoBaller

Brian Thomas Jr. Dec 9 10:10am CT
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. started slow but finished strong in a 10-6 victory over the Tennessee Titans. The rookie receiver finished with eight receptions and 86 yards on 12 targets, nine of which came in the fourth quarter. BTJ has been boom-or-bust for a lot of the season, so it was looking like a bust game for him early on. However, he got hot late to become Mac Jones's top receiver, doubling the next most receptions on the team. Usually, BTJ has a low amount of catches but high yards per catch. However, he produced a highly productive PPR outing with a backup QB, making this performance possibly his most impressive of the season. BTJ will look to continue producing with Jones under center in Week 15 against the New York Jets.

From RotoBaller

Josh Oliver Dec 9 10:00am CT
Josh Oliver

Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver caught one of two targets for 26 yards during Sunday's Week 14 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He had been averaging 10.9 fantasy points (PPR) over his last four games, but then he missed two weeks due to injury and came back down to earth in his return to the field on Sunday afternoon. Perhaps part of the reason for his reduced production was that he played just 50 percent of the offensive snaps; that was his lowest mark since Week 3. Oliver remains the clear No. 2 tight end behind T.J. Hockenson, which lowers his floor significantly and keeps him off the fantasy radar in most redraft leagues.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith Dec 9 9:50am CT
Geno Smith

The Arizona Cardinals defense had a rough outing against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14. The Cardinals were stuck with short fields due to interceptions and an injury to punter Blake Gillikin and could not generate any pressure on Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. Despite racking up 19 sacks in the four weeks leading up to this matchup, the Cardinals did not record a single sack throughout the game. The Cardinals also struggled to stop the run, allowing Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet to record a season-high 134 yards on the ground. The Cardinals' defense should still have potential, as they have two upcoming matchups against the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers.

From RotoBaller

AJ Barner Dec 9 9:50am CT
AJ Barner

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner converted his lone target into a 13-yard reception during Sunday's Week 14 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The rookie continued to have a reduced workload with Noah Fant back in the lineup, but he did still record at least one reception for the 11th game in a row. Barner has carved out enough of a role that we can trust him to command a couple of looks every week, but he should be left on waivers in redraft leagues as long as Fant remains healthy and in the lineup.

From RotoBaller

DeAndre Hopkins Dec 9 9:40am CT
DeAndre Hopkins

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught four passes for 32 yards and a touchdown in the 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Hopkins saw a team-high nine targets on Sunday night but reeled in just four and averaged eight yards per catch. The veteran receiver was the only Chief to find the endzone against the stingy Chargers defense, demonstrating Patrick Mahomes' trust in him. Hopkins has provided a safe floor over his last three games and will look to continue that trend next week against the Cleveland Browns. The Browns rank 24th in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season, making them one of the more advantageous matchups. Hopkins has seen nine targets in the last two games, meaning Mahomes often looks in his direction. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable with Hopkins in their starting lineups.

From RotoBaller

Michael Wilson Dec 9 9:40am CT
Michael Wilson

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson caught a 41-yard touchdown pass to give the Cardinals the lead on their opening drive. Wilson finished the day with two catches for 57 yards, having commanded only three targets. While he has become a potential streaming flex option, he is still yet to receive a consistent workload to make him truly fantasy-relevant. The Cardinals have two upcoming matchups against the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers, both of which have struggling defenses, making Wilson a potential option in the coming weeks.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Dec 9 9:40am CT
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy caught five passes for 41 yards in the 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Since his one-catch performance in Week 10 against the Broncos, Worthy has been a more consistent member of the Kansas City passing attack. The rookie now has four straight games of at least four catches and 40 receiving yards. The 21-year-old will look to find the endzone next week against the Cleveland Browns, who rank 24th in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season. Worthy has provided a consistent floor over the past month but has yet to demonstrate the potential for ceiling performances. Worthy has only scored over 14 PPR fantasy points in three of his 13 games this season. Fantasy managers hope Worthy and Patrick Mahomes will connect on a long touchdown next week.

From RotoBaller

Van Jefferson Dec 9 9:40am CT
Van Jefferson

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson converted his lone target into a 10-yard touchdown reception during Sunday's Week 14 victory over the Cleveland Browns. With George Pickens (hamstring) inactive, Jefferson played 74 percent of the offense snaps, which was his highest mark since Week 8. Although he was targeted just once, the 28-year-old took advantage of his lone opportunity and scored a third-quarter touchdown that gave Pittsburgh a two-possession lead over its divisional opponent. Jefferson's reduced offensive role keeps him off the fantasy radar, especially with Pickens looking like he'll return to action in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Marvin Harrison Jr. Dec 9 9:40am CT
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. received eight targets in a Week 14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Harrison Jr. again finished near the top for targets behind tight end Trey McBride. However, he only converted those targets into four catches for 49 yards. It's been a tough season for Harrison Jr., as he and quarterback Kyler Murray are still working out their chemistry. The Cardinals' passing attack as a whole has lacked downfield shots, which has limited the effectiveness of the Cardinals' wide receivers. Harrison Jr. remains a solid fantasy option, as he is tied for sixth in the NFL in touchdown receptions and is a touchdown-dependent WR2 or WR3 moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Noah Fant Dec 9 9:30am CT
Noah Fant

Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant caught three of four targets for 18 yards during Sunday's Week 14 win over the Arizona Cardinals. This was Fant's third game in a row with exactly four targets and three catches, but it was his lowest yardage output during that span. The 27-year-old played a modest 59 percent snap share, which led the Seahawks' tight end position but still doesn't inspire much confidence about his ability to get consistent, meaningful looks going forward. As Fant continues to lose some opportunities to A.J. Barner, he ranks outside the top 24 fantasy tight ends.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Nailor Dec 9 9:30am CT
Jalen Nailor

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor continued to see minimal involvement in the team's 42-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The 25-year-old didn't see any targets in this contest even though Sam Darnold threw the ball 28 times with five touchdowns. Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson, and T.J. Hockenson saw 24 of the 28 total targets, which didn't leave much for the rest of the team. Nailor will look to get more involved in Week 15 against the Chicago Bears.

From RotoBaller

Patrick Mahomes Dec 9 9:30am CT
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 24 of 37 pass attempts (65%) for 210 yards and a touchdown in the 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The matchup against the Chargers was difficult for Mahomes as he was sacked three times and did not score a touchdown in the entire second half. That said, the Chiefs did just enough to secure the win and the division. The 29-year-old had his worst fantasy performance since Week 7 against the 49ers when he passed for 154 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. Mahomes will look to bounce back from a statistical standpoint next week against the Cleveland Browns, who rank 17th in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks this season. The hope is that Jameis Winston will push the tempo on the other side of the ball and force the Chiefs offense to score more points. Fantasy managers will have to hope Mahomes leaves this lackluster performance in the rearview mirror.

From RotoBaller

Travis Kelce Dec 9 9:30am CT
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught five passes for 45 yards in the 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The 35-year-old was held under 60 receiving yards for the second time since Week 8 and has not found the endzone since Week 10. Kelce's performances have been serviceable from a fantasy perspective, given the landscape of the tight end position, but he has not been delivering high-end TE1 numbers over the past month. The emergence of backup tight end Noah Gray has also limited Kelce's fantasy ceiling, but he will try to right the ship next week against the Cleveland Browns. The Browns rank 22nd in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season, making them one of the more advantageous matchups. The hope is that the Browns offense pushes the pace of the game and makes the Chiefs offense play in a back-and-forth affair. The Chiefs have been doing enough to squeeze out wins, and Kelce's touchdown upside has taken a hit. Fantasy managers will hope for a vintage Kelce performance in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Foster Moreau Dec 9 9:30am CT
Foster Moreau

New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau caught each of his two targets for a total of 40 yards during Sunday's Week 14 win over the New York Giants. His highlight of the day was a 32-yard reception over the middle of the field. The 27-year-old now has multiple catches in each of his last three games, but he still ranks as the overall TE41 in fantasy football during that span. As long as fellow tight end Juwan Johnson remains healthy, Moreau can be left buried on waivers, especially now that quarterback Jake Haener might be in line to start a couple of games for New Orleans.

From RotoBaller

Trey McBride Dec 9 9:30am CT
Trey McBride

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride finished the day with seven catches for 70 yards in the Week 14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. There is no doubt that McBride is the focal point of the Cardinals' passing attack. McBride logged 14 targets, leading the team in that category for the game. He has yet to find the end zone through the air this season, but he continues to dominate targets for the Cardinals and remains one of the top tight ends in fantasy football. The Cardinals passing attack should have an advantageous matchup with the New England Patriots next week.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Dec 9 9:30am CT
Isiah Pacheco

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco had 14 carries for 55 yards and two catches for six yards in the 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The 25-year-old was the clear lead back for the Chiefs in Week 14, as Kareem Hunt handled just five carries and one catch for 29 total yards. Neither back was incredibly efficient on the ground, as they both averaged under four yards per carry, but Pacheco's 14 carries bode well for his fantasy performances moving forward. The Chiefs running back will look to have more success next week against the Cleveland Browns, who rank seventh in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. The Browns front seven is a strong unit at rushing the quarterback back and stopping the run, leading most teams to throw against the secondary, but Pacheco should still have touchdown upside in any matchup. Fantasy managers should be encouraged by Pacheco's role in his second game back and expect that role to continue to grow.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Dec 9 9:20am CT
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall remained lower in the pecking order of targets during the team's 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears. The rookie finished the game with two targets, one reception, and five yards. Jauan Jennings and George Kittle commanded over half of the targets in this game, leaving Pearsall behind Isaac Guerendo and Deebo Samuel Sr. The 49ers now have a short week and will take on the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night for Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Cam Akers Dec 9 9:20am CT
Cam Akers

Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers rushed for 37 yards on five carries during Sunday's Week 14 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He also had a 24-yard kick return. Akers averaged an impressive 7.4 yards per carry in the victory, although that number was skewed by a 25-yard run midway through the fourth quarter. He also logged his second-highest snap share (32 percent) since Week 5. On a less positive note, the 25-year-old was held without a target in the passing game for the second week in a row. Akers has firmly established himself as the Vikings' No. 2 running back behind Aaron Jones, but he's merely a handcuff and should be benched in all fantasy leagues for the time being.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Allgeier Dec 9 9:10am CT
Tyler Allgeier

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier scored his third touchdown of the season in a 42-21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The third-year back finished the game with nine carries for 63 yards and a score but didn't post any stats in the passing game. Allgeier now has two weeks as an RB2 or higher after this performance. He's not very reliable for fantasy managers in the playoffs unless injuries pile up. The Falcons will take on the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15.

From RotoBaller