Mon Dec 30 10:20am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Higgins comes up huge Week 17
It was a fitting end to the season with several huge performances from fantasy players once again. It made for some high-scoring fantasy championships. We had a receiver top 40 points and eight other players had 30 or more fantasy points. The only bad news with those big scorers were some of them weren’t in fantasy lineups because they were fringe players. But if you took a chance them, you likely won big! Hopefully, your championship games turned out well and you were able to take advantage of some of these big performances.
Chiefs 29, Steelers 10
Fantasy Stud: Travis Kelce. Kelce was down the last few weeks but came back in a big way in Week 17. He had eight receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. Kelce scored 22.4 fantasy points, topping 20 points for the first time since Week 10. Some might think his season is a little down, but he is three catches shy of 100 and has four games with 20-plus fantasy points.
Fantasy Dud: George Pickens. There was hope for Pickens to return to the lineup and have one of his huge games in his first game back, but that didn’t happen. He was targeted seven times but caught three passes for just 50 yards. He scored just eight fantasy points, which wasn’t a big help for fantasy owners at all.
Game Notes: Patrick Mahomes had a three-touchdown performance, finishing 29-of-38 for 320 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. He has two straight games with 26-plus fantasy points.
Xavier Worthy found the end zone for the third straight game. He had eight receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Ravens 31, Texans 2
Fantasy Stud: Derrick Henry. It was fitting for Henry to have another one of his huge performances during championship week. He ran 27 times for 147 yards and a touchdown. Henry also caught two passes for 18 yards. Henry had 24.5 fantasy points, his highest total since Week 9. It was his seventh game this season with 20-plus fantasy points. A move to Baltimore was a great one for Henry, posting huge numbers on a consistent basis.
Fantasy Dud: Joe Mixon. The entire Texans offense was a dud but Mixon led the way, considering his production throughout the season. The Ravens really held him in check, though. Mixon rushed nine times for just 26 yards and caught two passes for 13 yards. Mixon had a season-worst 5.9 fantasy points.
Game Notes: Lamar Jackson attempted just 15 passes and ran four times but produced huge numbers once again despite his limited workload. He was 10-of-15 for 168 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. Jackson rushed four times for 87 yards and another touchdown.
Mark Andrews found the end zone for the fifth straight game. He had two receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Seahawks 6, Bears 3
Fantasy Stud: Seahawks defense. The Seahawks defense had a completely dominating performance, holding the Bears to just three points and 179 total yards of offense. Seattle had seven sacks and an interception in the game. The Seahawks scored double-digit fantasy points in nearly every fantasy format. This unit has taken a huge step forward this year and becoming a top weekly fantasy starter.
Fantasy Dud: Jaxon Smith-Njigba. There were duds across the board for both teams in this one, but Smith-Njigba tops the list for us. He had been producing such great numbers lately that this performance was really unexpected. He had just three catches for 32 yards. This game broke a streak of 70-plus yards seven straight games.
Game Notes: Caleb Williams had his struggles, missing on some throws once again. He was 16-of-28 for just 122 yards and failed to score a touchdown.
D.J. Moore had six receptions for 54 yards, giving him at least six catches seven straight games.
Chargers 40, Patriots 7
Fantasy Stud: Ladd McConkey. McConkey is clearly the top target in the Chargers passing game. He had eight receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns on 10 targets. He has scores two of three games. He is over 1,000 yards for the season. McConkey is going to be a top player in this offense for years to come. The best is likely yet to come for the talented rookie.
Fantasy Dud: Hunter Henry. Henry failed to catch a pass for the first time all season. He was targeted two times in the game. Henry has been consistent in this offense nearly all season but didn’t show up in Week 17. He had at least four catches five straight games before this one.
Game Notes: J.K. Dobbins returned from his knee injury and looked good. He ran 19 times for 76 yards and a touchdown, and caught a pass for seven yards.
Justin Herbert continued his great play, going 26-of-38 for 281 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. Herbert has multiple scores three straight games.
Bengals 30, Broncos 24
Fantasy Stud: Tee Higgins. Higgins had a game-winning fantasy performance. He had an absolutely monster game, catching 11 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns. There was even some thought he might not play in this game because of his ankle injury. Higgins had season highs across the board, scoring 41.1 fantasy points. He has been huge down the stretch, having scores three straight and six of the last seven games he has played.
Fantasy Dud: Chase Brown. Brown wasn’t awful but wasn’t great, either. He had 20 carries for just 67 yards and caught four passes for 24 yards. You were hoping for a bigger week from him in such a crucial week of games. Plus, he had a chance to score late in the game but pulled up at the goal line to take more time off the clock. He also hurt himself on that play, injuring his ankle. He didn’t return to the game, which was insult to injury for his fantasy owners because the game ended up going to overtime.
Game Notes: Mike Gesicki had double-digit receptions for the first time all season. He had 10 receptions for 86 yards on 12 targets.
Marvin Mims continued to show some signs of life after a terrible start to his season. He had a season-high eight receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets.
Rams 13, Cardinals 9
Fantasy Stud: Trey McBride. McBride picked a good time to finally find the end zone, scoring his first touchdown of the season. It was a long time coming for all his fantasy owners. He had a huge game, catching 12 passes for 123 yards and a score. He scored a season-best 30.3 fantasy points. McBride has double-digit receptions three of six games.
Fantasy Dud: James Conner. Conner was able to play but aggravated his knee injury and left the game early. He had four carries for just four yards before getting hurt once again. He also had two receptions for four yards. Conner burnt all the fantasy owners that used him in Week 17.
Game Notes: Puka Nacua had 10 receptions for 129 yards. Nacua has double-digit receptions two of four games.
Cooper Kupp had just a catch for 29 yards. Kupp has just four receptions for 53 yards his last three games. He has been targeted just nine times during that three-game stretch.
Jaguars 20, Titans 13
Fantasy Stud: Brian Thomas. Thomas continued his great rookie season, catching seven passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Thomas scored a touchdown for the third straight game. He had 23.9 fantasy points, topping 20 points for the sixth time this year. Thomas is nearing 1,200-receiving yards for the year, which is impressive considering the passing woes of the Jaguars this season.
Fantasy Dud: Chig Okonkwo. Okonkwo wasn’t terrible but you expected much better after his last two monster performances. He had five receptions for 42 yards in this one, putting up some pretty mediocre numbers. Okonkwo had 17 receptions his last two games.
Game Notes: Tyjae Spears had a solid showing in a starting role for the Titans. He ran 20 times for 95 yards and caught three passes for eight yards. He even left the game early because of a concussion so his numbers could have been even better.
Mac Jones had his best showing in a starting role for the Jaguars. He missed on just seven passes, going 15-of-22 for 174 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover.
Bucs 48, Panthers 14
Fantasy Stud: Baker Mayfield. Mayfield had a huge, huge performance. He was nearly flawless, going 27-of-32 for 359 yards and five touchdowns without a turnover. Mayfield scored a season-high 38.15 fantasy points. Mayfield is having another huge season, having 42 total touchdowns and nearly 4,300-passing yards. He has been a solid No. 1 fantasy quarterback all season.
Fantasy Dud: Rachaad White. White was one of the few Bucs that didn’t produce big fantasy numbers. He had six carries for just 30 yards and a catch for four yards. You expected much better from White in a game the Bucs scored nearly 50 points and racked up a ton of yards offensively. He is taking a backseat to Bucky Irving more and more, though.
Game Notes: Bucky Irvin had another big-time performance, racking up 190 total yards. He ran 20 times for 113 yards and caught four passes for 77 yards.
Adam Thielen reached the 100-yard mark for the second time in four games. He had five receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns.
Eagles 41, Cowboys 7
Fantasy Stud: DeVonta Smith. Smith had a really impressive showing, catching six passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He has 100-yard games two of three and touchstones three of four games. Smith has been a little up and down this year but produced plenty of big games like this along the way.
Fantasy Dud: Cooper Rush. Rush was starting to gain some fantasy value with his play of late, but he came back down to earth in this one. He was 15-of-28 for 147 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. Rush showed why it is hard to trust a player like this at this time of the fantasy season.
Game Notes: Kenny Pickett was knocked from the game because of an injury. He looked pretty good before leaving, though, going 10-of-15 for 143 yards and a touchdown without a turnover. He also ran in a score, giving him two total scores.
Saquon Barkley went over 2,000-rushing yards for the season in this game. He ran 31 times for 167 yards and caught two passes for two yards.
Giants 45, Colts 33
Fantasy Stud: Drew Lock. There were just 1.1 percent of teams that used Lock on our site but for those owners, great work. He had the game of his career and one of the best fantasy games for a quarterback this season. He was 17-of-23 for 309 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. He also ran in a score, giving him five total touchdowns. Lock scored 37.45 fantasy points.
Fantasy Dud: Tyrone Tracy. Tracy got his work but didn’t produce big numbers. He ran 20 times for just 59 yards and caught two passes for 14 yards. Tracy failed to reach double-digit fantasy points, scoring just 9.3 points. He has failed to reach double-digit points two of three games.
Game Notes: Malik Nabers had another big game, finishing with seven receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Nabers has at least seven receptions three straight games and four of five.
Jonathan Taylor had multiple touchdowns for the second straight game. He ran 32 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns. He has 100-yard games three straight.
Bills 40, Jets 14
Fantasy Stud: Josh Allen. Allen played his usual solid football, scoring three more touchdowns. Allen was 16-of-27 for 182 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. He ran in a touchdown, rushing five times for 17 yards and a score. Allen has three-plus scores four of five games. He is having another MVP season.
Fantasy Dud: Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers had a poor showing, throwing for just 112 yards with two interceptions. He also failed to score a touchdown. Rodgers scored a horrible 3.6 fantasy points, his lowest total of the season. He had 20-plus points two of three games before this terrible performance.
Game Notes: Garrett Wilson was a bright spot for the Jets, catching seven passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. Wilson has scores two of three games.
James Cook scored a touchdown for the third straight week. He had 15 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Raiders 25, Saints 10
Fantasy Stud: Jakobi Meyers. Meyers had five receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown. He scored 17.1 fantasy points. It was his first touchdown since Week 8. Meyers has been good as the top target for the Raiders, though, having double-digit fantasy points five of six games.
Fantasy Dud: Kendre Miller. Miller started but didn’t last long, going down with a concussion. He ran three times for just three yards before getting hurt. And he caught a pass for 16 yards. Miller was a huge bust for any owner that used him in what looked like a favorable matchup for him.
Game Notes: Ameer Abdullah continued his late-season surge, having his first 100-yard rushing game of the season. He ran 20 times for 115 yards and caught three passes for 32 yards.
Brock Bowers had seven receptions for 77 yards. He is up to 108 catches and 1,144 yards on the season, having arguably the best rookie season for a tight end.
Dolphins 20, Browns 3
Fantasy Stud: Jerry Jeudy. His team lost but Jeudy produced big numbers, finishing with 12 receptions for 94 yards. He didn’t score a touchdown but managed 21.4 fantasy points. He was targeted 18 times in the game, catching a season-high 12 passes. Jeudy has double-digit receptions two of three games.
Fantasy Dud: Devon Achane. Achane had his second-worst fantasy game of the season, scoring just 5.8 fantasy points. He ran 10 times for just 25 yards and caught two passes for 13 yards. He was used sparingly in the second half, so you have to wonder if he was battling some sort of injury. Either way, his poor game likely did in a lot of fantasy owners.
Game Notes: Tyler Hunter got the start and played a very good game, going 22-of-26 for 225 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team in rushing, running seven times for 52 yards and another touchdown.
Tyreek Hill was iffy to play but played and had his third 100-yard game of the season. He had nine receptions for 105 yards on nine targets.
Vikings 27, Packers 25
Fantasy Stud: Sam Darnold. Darnold continued his resurgence, showing up big in a crucial game for the Vikings. He was 33-of-43 for 377 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. He has two straight three-score games and hit that mark three of four games. Darnold has 36 total touchdowns on the season to 12 interceptions.
Fantasy Dud: Jordan Love. Love struggled some in this big division game, failing to throw for even 200 yards. He was 19-of-30 for 185 yards and a touchdown. Love scored just 15.85 fantasy points. He has failed to reach 20 fantasy points four straight games and five of six. He is not having near the fantasy season most hoped.
Game Notes: Jordan Addison scored a touchdown for the second straight game and has scores six of nine games. Addison has 13-plus points four straight games.
Romeo Doubs had a season-high 11 targets, catching seven passes for 58 yards. He has 14-plus fantasy points two of three games.
Commanders 30, Falcons 24
Fantasy Stud: Jayden Daniels. Daniels had some big-time performance once again, playing more like a seasoned veteran than a rookie quarterback. He was 24-of-36 for 227 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. Daniels led the Commanders in rushing, running 16 times for 127 yards. Daniels scored 35.5 fantasy points, giving him 30-plus fantasy points four of five games.
Fantasy Dud: Terry McLaurin. McLaurin was completely shut down in this one, catching a pass for five yards. He had a tough matchup but you still expected better from him based on his performances throughout this season. McLaurin had touchdowns four straight games before this one.
Game Notes: Olamide Zaccheaus continues to emerge as a big factor in the Commanders passing game. He had eight receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Bijan Robinson had multiple touchdowns for the second straight game. He had 17 rushes for 90 yards and two touchdowns.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver David Sills V caught six of his 10 targets for 78 yards during Thursday's Week 15 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sills was heavily targeted by Kirk Cousins in the victory, and he continued to earn the quarterback's trust even after a potential touchdown pass hit off his hands. The 29-year-old made up for it with six total catches, including a key reception that moved the chains and kept Atlanta's hopes alive on fourth-and-long during the final, game-winning drive. Sills' rapport with Cousins has been thrust into the spotlight ever since it was reported that the two have lockers next to each other. He has taken on a much bigger role with Drake London sidelined, playing at least 94% of the snaps in each of his last two games. He has at least 9.5 fantasy points (PPR) in three of his last four games with London inactive, as well as a touchdown in two of those four. Sills' fantasy value will presumably decline when London returns, but until that happens, he has streaming appeal as a high-volume WR3/flex in deeper leagues.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans caught six of his 12 targets for 132 yards during Thursday's Week 15 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The 32-year-old was activated from injured reserve earlier this week after recovering from a broken collarbone, and he wasted no time playing an enormous role in his return to action. Managers did hold their breath momentarily as Evans suffered an injury scare and left midgame with an apparent shoulder issue, but he returned shortly after and played the remainder of the game. After watching the star receiver step up as Baker Mayfield's favorite and best target once again on Thursday, managers should trust that Evans will remain in the WR1 tier for the remainder of the season. He should be started in all fantasy leagues next week against the Carolina Panthers.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. caught four of his five targets for 20 yards, a touchdown, and a two-point conversion during Thursday's Week 15 loss against the Atlanta Falcons. Godwin scored an octopus, which is when a player is responsible for eight points in a sequence of two plays -- a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion. Although his yardage total was relatively low, the 29-year-old maintained decent volume even amid the return of Mike Evans, which bodes well for Godwin's fantasy outlook over the final few weeks of the season. He has scored double-digit fantasy points (PPR) in each of his last three games, and he should remain in the mid-to-low WR2 tier heading into Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 19 of his 34 pass attempts for 277 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception during Thursday's Week 15 loss against the Atlanta Falcons. He also took five sacks in the defeat. Mayfield was decent for most of the game, but he threw a costly interception in the fourth quarter that allowed the Falcons to mount an improbable comeback. The 30-year-old has really struggled to hit his receivers in the back half of the season, completing just 54.7% of his passes over the Bucs' last five games. He ranks 21st among quarterbacks in fantasy points per game during that span. Managers will hope that he can bounce back in a key divisional battle against the Panthers next week, but it won't be easy. Carolina has intercepted five passes over its last two games. Mayfield remains outside the top 12 fantasy quarterbacks for the time being.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson had 19 carries, 93 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown during Thursday's Week 15 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also caught eight of his 11 targets for an additional 82 receiving yards. The lone blemish on Robinson's final stat line was a fumble in the third quarter. Outside of the turnover, the former first-round pick had an enormous showing on Thursday Night Football, playing a major role in the Falcons' comeback victory. He was efficient on the ground, heavily involved and productive as a receiver, and contributed to the scoring with a nifty rushing touchdown. Unlike in some previous weeks, Robinson was able to fend off Tyler Allgeier from having much of a role in Week 15. Robinson played 90.1% of the snaps with 27 total touches, whereas Allgeier played just 16.9% of the snaps with two touches. Allgeier's 16.9% snap share was his second-lowest mark of the season, trailing only Week 3 when he played fewer than 10%. Long story short, Robinson remains the undisputed workhorse here, and he's going to play a massive role in helping managers pursue a fantasy championship over the next few weeks. He should continue to feast against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. caught 11 of his 12 targets for 166 yards and three touchdowns during Thursday's Week 15 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pitts turned in the best game of his career, showing flashes of why the Falcons made him the No. 4 pick back in 2021. The 25-year-old had just one touchdown this season prior to Thursday, and he hadn't exceeded more than 90 yards in a game yet. He shattered both of those marks in the win, and he also registered the first double-digit catch total of his career. While Pitts probably won't replicate this breakout game every week, it's encouraging to see that he's capable of producing such a superstar-caliber performance. He firmly ranks in the mid-to-high TE1 tier ahead of Week 16 against the Arizona Cardinals.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 30 of his 44 pass attempts for 373 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions during Thursday's Week 15 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also took one sack and recovered his own fumble. Cousins led five scoring drives on Thursday, including the game-winner with less than two minutes left to play. The veteran quarterback shook off the old narrative that he's incapable of thriving in the primetime slot, and in doing so, he kicked off his candidacy for the top-scoring fantasy quarterback in Week 15. It's unlikely that many managers started Cousins in the first week of the fantasy playoffs, but his big game could be enough to justify deploying him as a fringe top-12 fantasy option heading into a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals next week.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (concussion) upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday. He had previously opened the week in a limited capacity. It appears that Thornton is trending in the right direction to clear concussion protocol and play in Sunday's Week 15 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 23-year-old has been underwhelming in his first NFL season, even after teammate Jakobi Meyers was traded away. He ranks as the overall WR138 in PPR leagues with 25 targets, eight catches, and 123 yards so far this year. Even if he's confirmed as active on Sunday, Thornton can be avoided in all fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (knee) missed a second consecutive practice on Thursday. The rookie is trending in the wrong direction ahead of Week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts, and he'd likely need to get on the field in some capacity on Friday to have any shot at playing on Sunday afternoon. The Seahawks invested a second-round pick in Arroyo this year, but he has consistently operated in the No. 2 tight end role behind A.J. Barner. He has just 15 catches, 179 yards, and one touchdown in his rookie campaign, ranking as the overall TE53 in PPR leagues. Assuming Arroyo doesn't play this week, the Seahawks could activate Eric Saubert (calf) from injured reserve to back up Barner against the Colts.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (ankle) was a full participant in practice on Thursday. This was an upgrade for the backup tight end after he logged a limited practice session on Wednesday. Mayer is working his way back from a two-game absence, and it looks like he should suit up against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15, barring any sort of setback. The 24-year-old is one of the better backup tight ends in the NFL, but he still doesn't handle enough volume in his role behind Brock Bowers to justify starting him in fantasy football. To make matters worse, Mayer will likely be catching passes from Kenny Pickett this week with Geno Smith (shoulder, back) not expected to play.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (ankle) remained limited for a second consecutive practice on Thursday. Demercado is working his way back from a three-game absence, and it looks like there's at least a chance that he could suit up against the Houston Texans on Sunday in Week 15. The 26-year-old was solid when healthy, amassing 182 scrimmage yards and playing more than 40% of the offensive snaps over his last two healthy games. Friday's practice will provide more clarity on his status for Week 15. Even if he does play, though, he'll have to compete for touches with Michael Carter and Bam Knight. For now, Demercado isn't a dependable running back or flex option in the fantasy football playoffs.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (concussion) was a limited participant in practice on Thursday, and he remains in concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's Week 15 contest against the Miami Dolphins. Washington exited last week's game early after catching just one pass for 12 yards. He had looked solid in his nine previous contests, though, totaling 22 catches, 276 yards, and one touchdown during that span. The 24-year-old has quietly passed Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth in terms of snap count, but his fantasy production has still left a lot to be desired. He can be dropped in redraft leagues and stashed in deeper dynasty formats.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (toe) was limited for a second consecutive practice on Thursday. He has not yet missed a game this season, and he's trending in the right direction for Week 15 given that he has been able to get on the field in some capacity for two days in a row. Johnson has impressed in his second pro season, ranking as the overall TE13 in PPR leagues with 42 catches, 456 yards, and five touchdowns. He commanded a season-high eight targets last week, but caught just three passes. Johnson takes on the Commanders this Sunday. Washington has allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends in 2025, putting Johnson in the low-end TE1 tier for this week.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Devin Neal (abdomen) remained a limited participant in practice for the second consecutive day on Thursday. The rookie has handled an increased workload lately with Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) sidelined and Kendre Miller (knee) on injured reserve. He's averaging 71.3 scrimmage yards as the starter and scored his first career touchdown last week. Kamara is trending toward missing another game, leaving Neal in line to start against the Carolina Panthers, assuming he's healthy enough to play. At this rate, Neal has a decent chance to suit up in Week 15 as long as he logs a limited or full practice on Friday. If Neal is confirmed as active and Kamara is out, the rookie will rank as a mid-to-low RB2 in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (ankle) upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday. He had been limited on Wednesday. The 26-year-old should play in Sunday's Week 15 contest against the New York Jets, barring any sort of setback during practice on Friday. Lawrence has played very clean football lately, amassing 473 passing yards, 41 rushing yards, four touchdowns, and zero turnovers over his last two games. He is the overall QB12 in fantasy football scoring this season and is a worthy starter in deeper leagues this week. The Jets have allowed the 14th-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this year, and they're the only defense that has not intercepted a pass yet this season.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor (neck) did not practice on Thursday in preparation for Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This was the second day in a row that the rookie tight end was sidelined. Taylor has not yet missed a game this season, but it looks like he's trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's contest in Florida. He picked up the injury last week against the Miami Dolphins when he played just 68% of the offensive snaps but still caught five of his eight targets for 51 yards. The 21-year-old ranks as the overall TE24 in PPR leagues this season, and he has been a matchup-based streamer in deeper leagues at times this season. If Taylor can't play in Week 15, Jeremy Ruckert would step up as the primary tight end in New York's Tyrod Taylor-led offense.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (left hand) was limited for a second consecutive day on Thursday. This is the same left hand injury that required surgery prior to Week 14, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Herbert continues to appear on the injury report. Given that he was able to play last Monday against the Eagles, he remains on track to play this upcoming Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. The injury clearly hindered Herbert last week as he completed just 14 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. He also had one interception, one fumble lost, and seven sacks. On a more positive note, he did rush for 66 yards on 10 carries, perhaps because his passing ability was limited by the left hand injury. We should expect a similar performance from Herbert in Week 15. He has dropped to the QB22 spot in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (foot) was limited for a second consecutive day on Thursday. McConkey is coming off a busy game in which he played 86 percent of the snaps, which was his highest mark since Week 7. Despite the increased usage, his volume was held in check as he caught just one of five targets for 12 yards. On a more positive note, he has a touchdown in every other game dating back to Week 6, so he could be a scoring threat this upcoming Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. In his last outing against Kansas City, McConkey caught six of his nine targets for 74 yards. He remains in the WR2 tier for this week. The Chiefs represent a tough matchup, but we should see plenty of pass attempts in this competitive game between two divisional foes.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (illness) was a limited participant during practice on Thursday. This was an improvement in status for McCaffrey, who missed practice entirely on Wednesday. He's trending in the right direction to play against the Tennessee Titans in Week 15, but managers should check back on Friday for additional confirmation on his status. If he's able to practice in full, he could avoid any sort of injury designation heading into the weekend. However, if he remains limited, the 49ers may list him as questionable. With that being said, the fact that McCaffrey was able to get on the field in some capacity on Thursday bodes well for his Week 15 availability. If active, he'll rank as a high-end RB1 against the Titans, who have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to running backs in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) missed practice for a second consecutive day on Thursday. The veteran receiver picked up the injury in Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals and ultimately played less than half of the offensive snaps. While it's not uncommon for a veteran player to sit out the first practice of the week as a precaution, it's more concerning to see Adams miss two practice sessions in a row. He'd likely need to log a limited or full practice on Friday in order to have any chance of playing against the Detroit Lions in Week 15. If active, the touchdown threat would rank as a mid-to-low WR1 in fantasy football. If he's sidelined, Tutu Atwell and Konata Mumpfield would earn more snaps as the Rams' No. 2 wide receiver behind superstar Puka Nacua. We should have more clarity on Adams' status when the Rams publish their final injury report on Friday.
From RotoBaller