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.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers has a "very real chance" of starting versus the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15. The 44-year-old signed with the team's practice squad earlier this week after a successful workout with the organization on Monday. With Daniel Jones (Achilles) out for the year, Rivers appears to have a legitimate chance at taking snaps this upcoming weekend. Rivers hasn't played in the NFL since the 2020 season with the Colts. He threw for 4,169 passing yards with 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions during that season while leading Indy to the playoffs. Rookie quarterback Riley Leonard (knee) would be the next man up, but he suffered a Grade 1 PCL sprain in Week 14. With his availability up in the air, Rivers and Brett Rypien are the only healthy options on the Colts' roster. Rivers is probably the preferred choice given his experience in head coach Shane Steichen's offensive scheme. This is a strange situation, but the Colts are desperate for a QB with the injuries piling up under center. Rivers would be a desperation QB2 play in superflex leagues if he makes the start.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (collarbone) was a limited participant in practice for the second straight day on Tuesday. The veteran wideout has been on Injured Reserve since suffering a broken collarbone in Week 7. Before that, Evans missed three games due to a lingering hamstring injury. When healthy, Evans has recorded 14 receptions for 140 yards and one touchdown in four games. It appears Evans is trending in the right direction, but fantasy managers will need to check back on Wednesday for the final injury report ahead of the Thursday night matchup versus the Atlanta Falcons. The veteran pass-catcher is a future Hall of Famer, but he could be on a snap count if he returns in Week 15, which would make him a volatile fantasy option in what is the first week of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) was able to log a limited practice session on Tuesday. McMillan has now logged back-to-back limited practice sessions to begin the week. The 24-year-old appears to be almost ready to make his season debut. McMillan has been sidelined all year due to a serious neck injury that he suffered in mid-August in a preseason game. Fantasy managers will need to check back for the final injury report on Wednesday. The Buccaneers could also be getting wideout Mike Evans (collarbone) back from IR for a Thursday night matchup against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. If McMillan is active in Week 15, he won't be a recommended fantasy football option in his season debut, and he could struggle for consistent snaps to close out the regular season in a crowded WR corps that also includes Chris Godwin Jr. and rookies Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has given some underwhelming performances over the last few weeks. In fact, Tagovailoa has thrown for fewer than 200 passing yards in four straight games. The 27-year-old hasn't posted a multi-score game since Week 10 versus the Buffalo Bills, either. Tagovailoa does have a plus matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15, though. The Steelers' defense has given up nearly 250 passing yards per game this season. However, it's worth noting that Tagovailoa has notoriously struggled in cold weather. He hasn't thrown for over 200 yards in a road game since Week 8 in Atlanta, which was indoors. The sixth-year quarterback could be worth a look in two-quarterback leagues, but his ceiling for fantasy purposes remains low.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) was unable to participate during Tuesday's practice. This is now back-to-back days that Otton has been sidelined due to a knee issue. There is now some doubt surrounding whether Otton will be able to suit up on a short week for Thursday's Week 15 matchup against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. If Otton sits out, Payne Durham should take over as the No. 1 tight end in Tampa Bay. Durham has been non-existent with one reception for 11 yards on the season. The third-year tight end won't be a recommended streaming option, even if Otton is inactive against Atlanta.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers finally found some success through the air during last week's win over the Baltimore Ravens. Rodgers threw for 284 yards with one touchdown, which was good enough for top-10 QB value in Week 14. He also had a rushing TD. Before that, Rodgers was held to under 240 passing yards in his previous five contests. The expectation is that Rodgers will continue having success this weekend, assuming the Steelers remain aggressive through the air. He'll draw a favorable matchup against a Miami Dolphins defense that ranks 21st in fantasy points allowed to QBs. Rodgers isn't an elite option, but he should offer more streaming value than usual in Week 15. He's certainly worth a look in two-quarterback leagues, at a minimum.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has had his share of ups and downs in his first year in Seattle, but overall, it's been another strong season while leading the Seahawks to a 10-3 record going into Week 15 action. Darnold had a disastrous four-interception game in the loss to the Rams on Nov. 16 and also failed to throw a touchdown in last week's shutout win over the Vikings. The 28-year-old bounced back in Sunday's 37-9 rout of the Falcons, though, going 20-for-30 for 249 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception while adding 23 rushing yards on three carries. Darnold has a 22:11 TD:INT ratio in 13 games in 2025 and ranks as the QB19 in fantasy points per game. Overall, he's the QB14, and he'll be a high-end QB2 for fantasy managers in the first week of the playoffs in most leagues. Darnold will be facing a fading Colts team that has allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (246.3). He's rostered in only 54% of Yahoo leagues.
From RotoBaller
The Arizona Cardinals offense has been much more productive with quarterback Jacoby Brissett under center since Kyler Murray (foot) went down with a sprained foot back in Week 5. In terms of fantasy points per game, Brissett ranks as the QB16 in his 10 games played, with 2,459 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions on 346 attempts. Overall, he ranks as the QB20 in only 10 games played in 2025. In the blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, the 32-year-old veteran went 25-for-44 for 271 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception while adding 22 rushing yards on four carries. Brissett has had at least 258 passing yards and two touchdowns in all eight of his starts, and he's tossed exactly two TDs in all but one of his starts. Before Week 14, Brissett had a three-game streak of at least 301 passing yards. He has become a strong QB2 streamer for his volume -- he's attempted 40-plus passes in five straight games -- although a Week 15 date with the Texans and their No. 1 defense will certainly be a challenge.
From RotoBaller
We knew that Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Jack Bech would have a bigger role in the Week 14 game against the division-rival Denver Broncos on Sunday, with fellow rookie Dont'e Thornton Jr. ruled out with a concussion. In the 24-17 loss, Bech played a season-high 82% of the offensive snaps and led the team in targets (six), catches (six), and receiving yards (50). Four of the 22-year-old's six targets on the day came late in the fourth quarter after quarterback Kenny Pickett had already replaced the injured Geno Smith (shoulder). Bech's day wasn't huge by any means, but it marked the best performance of his rookie season, and he could continue to stay more involved in Week 15 on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles if Thornton is forced to miss another game. The second-rounder out of TCU is rostered in only 1% of Yahoo leagues.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (knee) was listed as a non-participant for the second straight day this week on Tuesday, according to the team's official website. London suffered a sprained PCL in his knee back in Week 11 and hasn't practiced or played since. The 24-year-old still has one more day to get back on the practice field, but as of now, it's not looking good for his chances of returning to play in Week 15 against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football. If London misses a fourth straight game, tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. will maintain midrange TE1 status in fantasy football, with receiver Darnell Mooney also having more boom upside as a WR4/flex. In the last two weeks, Pitts has come on strong with London sidelined, catching 13 of his 18 targets for 172 yards as one of quarterback Kirk Cousins' top targets. London's next chance to play will be in Week 16 versus the Cardinals if he's ruled out for this Thursday night.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson has scored in four of the past five games and is establishing himself as a legitimate fantasy option. Parkinson has collected 17 receptions for 155 yards and four touchdowns on 21 targets in the last five contests, ranking as the TE5 in total PPR points during that span. He's emerged as the Rams' TE1 over the second half of the season with Tyler Higbee (ankle) on Injured Reserve, and he notably posted a 71% route share in the Week 14 win over the Arizona Cardinals, his highest of the season. The 26-year-old's previous high in a game this year was just 50%. If Parkinson maintains a similar rate over the final stretch of the regular season, he profiles as a viable TE1 with his favorable usage in the red zone in one of the NFL's best offenses. For fantasy managers in need of a tight end for this week and the fantasy playoffs, Parkinson is a player to add and immediately plug into lineups for a potential Week 15 shootout against the Detroit Lions.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns rookie running back Dylan Sampson is expected to see an uptick in opportunities after Jerome Ford (shoulder) was placed on Injured Reserve on Tuesday. Sampson has been playing ahead of Ford since Cleveland's Week 9 bye anyway, but the backfield touches should consolidate between Sampson and fellow rookie running back Quinshon Judkins the rest of the way. The rookie fourth-rounder has been more involved in the offense over the past three weeks, especially as a receiver. He's handled 13 carries for 50 yards while adding seven receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. All three of those receiving marks are in the top three among Browns skill position players during that time. Sampson could be a useful player over the final stretch of the regular season in PPR leagues and is worth consideration off the waiver wire this week in 12-team leagues for RB depth.
From RotoBaller
The Cleveland Browns have placed running back Jerome Ford (shoulder) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday. With only four games remaining, Ford's season will come to an end after suffering a shoulder injury during Cleveland's Week 14 loss to the Tennessee Titans. The 26-year-old totaled 24 carries for 73 yards to go with 26 receptions (32 targets) for 103 yards in 13 games this season as Cleveland's primary passing-down back. His role gradually faded as the season went along, playing just 21.8% of the offensive snaps since Week 7. Rookie Quinshon Judkins will continue to lead Cleveland's backfield, while rookie Dylan Sampson will be the main beneficiary of Ford's absence and should be considered as a waiver-wire pickup in deep PPR leagues this week as RB depth.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) was placed on Injured Reserve on Tuesday after suffering a season-ending torn Achilles in Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Head coach Shane Steichen said Jones is expected to undergo surgery "within the week." It's a devastating injury for Jones and the Colts after an incredible start to his tenure in Indianapolis. The 28-year-old was on pace for a career-best season, completing 68% of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while adding 45 carries for 164 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. With rookie quarterback Riley Leonard (knee) considered week-to-week with a PCL sprain and Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) on Injured Reserve, the Colts signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers to their practice squad on Tuesday. Rivers is expected to be the starter eventually, but it's to be determined if he or Brett Rypien will start in a tough Week 15 matchup on the road against the Seattle Seahawks.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is expected to see a "heavy dose" of work in the coming weeks after starting quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) tore his Achilles in the Week 14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Taylor, who is currently second in the league with 282 total touches, will have an even bigger workload as the Colts look to take some pressure off of 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers, who will be expected to start for the Colts sooner rather than later. The superstar running back has slowed down from his torrid early-season pace over the past three games, handling 58 carries for 217 yards and a touchdown with five receptions (eight targets) for 44 yards as a receiver. It remains to be seen if Taylor will be taking hand-offs from Rivers or Brett Rypien in Week 15, but he'll look to get back on track in a tough matchup on the road against the Seattle Seahawks.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson rushed 20 times for 86 yards in Sunday's 37-9 loss to the Seahawks, adding two catches for eight yards. While it was a solid effort, the team was unable to record a single touchdown in the contest, leaving Robinson well outside the RB2 ranks for the week. With Kirk Cousins playing mediocre football right now, and with Tyler Allgeier eating into Robinson's red zone opportunities, the 23-year-old has been less consistent than he was earlier in the season. Nevertheless, he's talented enough to bust loose at any moment, as he had done the week prior (193 total yards, one touchdown), and season-long fantasy managers will need to continue to plug in the former first-rounder as the fantasy playoffs descend on many leagues this week. Week 15 brings a Thursday night matchup against a pretty stout Buccaneers rush defense, which held the third-year pro to his lowest rushing output of the season way back in Week 1, but Robinson also managed to rack up 100 yards through the air in that game. He'll still likely be an RB1 for this week's matchup.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller has not looked the same in two games since his return from a stint on Injured Reserve for a pectoral injury. In the last two contests, Waller has three receptions for 60 yards and no touchdowns on six targets. The 33-year-old veteran played only 37% of the snaps in the Week 14 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, which was down from 47% in his return in Week 13. Not only did he see fewer snaps, but he was outsnapped by both Greg Dulcich and Julian Hill at the position. Waller had one catch on three targets for 13 yards and added one carry for four yards versus the Jets. After coming out of retirement to play for Miami, he scored four touchdowns in his first four games. It's possible that Waller needs some time to get back up to speed, but fantasy managers can't afford to wait. He will be a risky, touchdown-dependent TE2 streamer in fantasy in Week 15 versus the Steelers, especially if Dulcich continues to be involved.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs' recent downturn over the last four games has coincided with Christian Watson's ascension in the Packers' offense as the top target. Doubs continues to run routes at a fairly solid clip, with over 72% routes per dropback in the last four games. Despite that, Doubs has just 10 receptions and 101 yards in his previous four games combined. In Week 14 against the Bears, Doubs posted his worst full-game performance of the season, with just two catchless targets. Doubs had some trust in the middle of the season when tight end Tucker Kraft went down with his season-ending injury, but since Watson's return, Doubs has been largely irrelevant for fantasy football. In a tough Week 15 matchup in Denver against the Broncos, Doubs is a desperation flex play at best.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce has become the team's WR2 behind Michael Pittman Jr. this year in Indy and led the team with 80 receiving yards in their Week 14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. He actually leads the Colts with 769 receiving yards on 38 receptions through 14 weeks. However, Pierce's situation in Indy has taken a turn for the worse following quarterback Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles tear. Rookie backup Riley Leonard (knee) has a sprained PCL, too, and will likely miss some time. The 25-year-old Pierce has been a reliable deep threat for the Colts this year and is averaging a league-high 20.2 yards per catch on 67 targets in 2025. Pierce is rostered in 65% of Yahoo leagues, but he's going to be a pretty shaky starting option for fantasy managers in a tough Week 15 matchup against the Seahawks, with either Philip Rivers or Brett Rypien leading Indy's offense.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson caught one of J.J. McCarthy's career-high three touchdown passes in a Week 14 win over the Commanders, all of which went to tight ends, with Josh Oliver bringing in the other two. With the Vikings cruising to an easy victory, there was little passing volume to go around, but Hockenson's three targets tied for third on the team. Unfortunately, leading into a Week 15 matchup against an improved Cowboys defense, Hockenson provides an almost non-existent floor if he can't find the end zone again. In his last five games with McCarthy under center, he has averaged fewer than 18 yards on 2.6 receptions per game. With all NFL teams now past their bye weeks, there should be more reliable waiver options for any fantasy managers streaming the position through the playoffs.
From RotoBaller