Week 15 MNF: Dolphins-Steelers Preview, Props, Prediction

Mon Dec 15 1:30pm ET
Field Level Media

The Pittsburgh Steelers and visiting Miami Dolphins each are working to improve their chances of making the playoffs as they prepare to clash on Monday night.

The Dolphins (6-7) are riding a four-game winning streak and need to extend that run to keep their slim playoff hopes intact.

The Steelers (7-6) hold first place in the AFC North and are ahead of the Ravens by a half-game after ending a two-game losing skid with a 27-22 win at Baltimore last week. Pittsburgh also faces pressure to keep winning since its best route to the postseason is to win the division.

ODDS AND TRENDS

Pittsburgh is a consensus 3.0-point favorite, essentially due to being at home where the game-time temperature is expected to be in the teens.

The Steelers have been backed by 62% of the spread-line money at BetRivers, where Pittsburgh's -180 moneyline to win the game outright has drawn 83% of the money.

The 42.0 total points line has seen the Over backed by 67% of the total bets while the Under has drawn 76% of the money. Each of the Steelers' past eight home games against AFC teams have gone Under the total points line, according to the book.

KEY STAT

Pittsburgh has won 22 of its past 23 Monday night home games.

PLAYER PROPS

--Dolphins RB De'Von Achane 80+ Rushing Yards (-128 at DraftKings): Achane will play after leaving last week's win over the Jets with a rib injury. He had already rushed for 92 yards in a game Miami controlled easily, and Achane enters with 1,126 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground this season. This has been the most popular player prop at the book, perhaps in part due to the Steelers' defense being charged with an NFL-high 65 broken tackles this season. A higher potential payout is available with Achane at +124 to rush for at least 90 yards, which he has done in four consecutive games.

--Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers Under 0.5 INTs (-129 at BetRivers): Rodgers has not thrown an interception in his past six home games and was not picked off in his past three games overall. Pittsburgh figures to have a run-heavy approach in frigid conditions and when Rodgers does go to the air, he will be attacking a Miami defense that has produced just seven interceptions this season.

INSIDE EDGE

Rodgers has completed just 57.4% of his passes thrown over the middle of the field this season, the fifth-worst mark among qualified quarterbacks, according to Inside Edge's Remarkable engine. By comparison, he completed 70.7% of such passes last season.

INJURY REPORT

Steelers star linebacker T.J. Watt is out after undergoing surgery for a collapsed lung sustained at the team practice facility last Wednesday.

Pittsburgh has multiple players either dealing with injuries or in concussion protocol. Offensive lineman Andrus Peat (concussion) and cornerback James Pierre (calf) will not play Monday. Running back Jaylen Warren was a late addition to the injury report on Monday morning and, like defensive lineman Derrick Harmon (knee), is considered questionable. Wide receivers DK Metcalf (rest) and Ben Skowronek (hand), as well as tight end Darnell Washington (concussion), were limited in practice Saturday.

Dolphins cornerback Elijah Campbell (ankle/knee) was listed as doubtful to face Pittsburgh. Offensive lineman Andrew Meyer (tricep), the only other limited participant in Saturday's practice, was questionable.

THEY SAID IT

--"The good news is that how he makes a living is avoiding tacklers. And that's what he'll have to do. The bumps and bruises in the National Football League -- if you don't have something in December, you're probably playing football wrong." --Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on Achane's rib injury.

PREDICTION

The Dolphins have picked themselves up off the mat this season, but quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is 0-5 all-time in games where the temperature is below 40 degrees at kickoff. Miami's 27th-ranked run defense, which allows an average of 131.9 yards per game on the ground, will see a heavy dose of Warren and Kenneth Gainwell as Pittsburgh plays the field position game while capitalizing on a few Tagovailoa mistakes. --Steelers 23, Dolphins 20

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 16

Player Notes
Woody Marks Dec 16 9:10pm CT
Woody Marks

Houston Texans running back Woody Marks (ankle) exited early from his team's Week 15 blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals due to an ankle injury. However, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans indicated on Monday that Marks could have re-entered the game had the score been closer. While Marks' status for Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders is still up in the air, Ryans' comments would seem to point to his running back avoiding missed time. Before getting injured against Arizona, Marks appeared to be emerging as the clear RB1 in Houston. Across a five-game stretch from Week 10 to Week 14, Marks recorded 313 rushing yards and a touchdown on 93 carries. Fellow Texans running back Nick Chubb (ribs) is also dealing with an injury that caused him to miss Week 15. If Chubb misses additional time and Marks can make his return in Week 16, he could be in line to continue dominating backfield work in Houston down the stretch of the season.

From RotoBaller

Leonard Williams Dec 16 9:03pm CT
Leonard Williams

Seattle Seahawks OT Charles Cross (hamstring) did not practice on Tuesday Dec. 16 ahead of a Week 16 game with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday. LB DeMarcus Lawrence (quadricep), WR Cody White (abdomen), LB Derick Hall (finger), OT Abraham Lucas (neck), DE Mike Morris (knee), S Ty Okada (shoulder), NT Jarran Reed (wrist, thumb), DT Leonard Williams (wrist) and WR Dareke Young (quadricep) all practiced in full.

From TheHuddle

Omarion Hampton Dec 16 9:00pm CT
Omarion Hampton

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton missed seven games in the middle of the 2025 season due to an ankle injury, but he made his return to the field in Week 14. The Chargers have worked Hampton back in slowly, as he's split backfield snaps with Kimani Vidal over each of the past two weeks. Even with the limited playing time, Hampton has provided modest production. Over his last two games, the 22-year-old has recorded 132 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 31 touches. In his final two full games before suffering the ankle injury, Hampton demonstrated his explosive upside by logging 294 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 42 touches. If the Chargers continue to increase his workload as he gets healthier, Hampton could get back to his pre-injury levels of production. Los Angeles will face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16 before hosting the Houston Texans in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Luther Burden III Dec 16 8:50pm CT
Luther Burden III

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (ankle) is dealing with an ankle injury that caused him to miss practice on Tuesday ahead of Chicago's Week 16 matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. If Burden III can get back on the practice field and prove healthy enough to play, he could see his best opportunity of the season to make an impact in Chicago. Bears wideout Rome Odunze (foot) also missed practice on Tuesday and is considered week-to-week with a stress fracture in his foot. With Odunze sidelined in Week 15, Burden III recorded six catches for 84 yards on seven targets despite being limited to just 29 offensive snaps due to the ankle injury. Burden III's role has been steadily growing over the second half of the season, as he's earned at least five straight targets in five straight games after failing to hit that mark in any of his first eight contests. Depending on Odunze's return timeline and his own health, Burden III could emerge as a league-winner over the final weeks of the fantasy season.

From RotoBaller

Von Miller Dec 16 8:43pm CT
Von Miller

Washington Commanders DT Eddie Goldman (concussion), LB Von Miller (rest), DT Daron Payne (rest), OT Laremy Tunsil (oblique), LB Bobby Wagner (rest), and TE Colson Yankoff (ankle) did not practice on Tuesday, Dec. 16 ahead of a Week 16 game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. QB Jayden Daniels (left elbow) was a limited participant Tuesday. OT George Fant (knee), DE Drake Jackson (groin, knee), CB Jonathan Jones (rib) and RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) practiced in full.

From TheHuddle

Jaxson Dart Dec 16 8:40pm CT
Jaxson Dart

After missing two games due to a concussion, New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart recorded a season-low four rush attempts in his first game back against the New England Patriots in Week 14. However, Dart got back to his aggressive style of play in Week 15 against the Washington Commanders, recording 63 rushing yards on nine attempts. The 22-year-old also completed 20 of 36 pass attempts for 246 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Across 11 games (nine starts) in 2025, Dart has thrown for 1,802 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for an additional 400 yards and seven scores. When healthy and let loose, Dart has proven to be one of the NFL's premier dual-threat quarterbacks. As long as New York continues to let him run, Dart's legs give him fantasy upside every week. The Giants will face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16 and the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Harold Fannin Jr. Dec 16 8:30pm CT
Harold Fannin Jr.

Across 14 games this season, Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has recorded 66 catches for 667 yards and four touchdowns on 99 targets. While the 21-year-old has played an important role in his team's offense all season long, he's seen his usage ramped up to a new level in recent weeks. Over his last two games, Fannin Jr. has hauled in 15 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown on a whopping 25 targets. Fannin Jr. has played at least 90% of Cleveland's offensive snaps in four straight games, including a season-high 96% in Week 15 with fellow Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) sidelined by a knee injury. Even if Njoku returns for the team's Week 16 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Fannin Jr. should have a path to production. Across four games since Shedeur Sanders has taken over as the starting quarterback in Cleveland, he's targeted Fannin Jr. on 29.5% of his pass attempts. Fannin Jr. profiles as a must-start fantasy tight end down the stretch of the season.

From RotoBaller

Tank Bigsby Dec 16 8:20pm CT
Tank Bigsby

Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby (illness) was listed as a limited practice participant on Tuesday due to an illness. With Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (stinger) a non-participant in practice due to a stinger he suffered in Week 15, Bigsby could be in line for more work in Philadelphia's Week 16 matchup against the Washington Commanders. The 24-year-old recorded 17 carries for 57 yards in Week 15 and has rushed for 225 yards on 36 carries across 13 games with Philadelphia this season. While Bigsby's status for the weekend is not yet under threat, he will have one fewer day than usual to recover, as the Eagles and Commanders square off on Saturday. If Barkley and Bigsby were both sidelined, Philadelphia would likely turn to the combination of Will Shipley and A.J. Dillon to handle backfield reps in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Saquon Barkley Dec 16 7:53pm CT
Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (stinger), did not practice on Tuesday, Dec. 16 ahead of a Week 16 contest with the Washington Commanders.

Fantasy Spin: Barkley still has four days to recover but with teh Eagles close to clinching the NFC East, they may be cautious with him. Barkley, who rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries against Las Vegas in Week 15, is not coming close to matching last season's monster campaign but needs just 60 rush yards for 1,000 and has scored eight touchdowns.

From TheHuddle

Kyle Monangai Dec 16 7:00pm CT
Kyle Monangai

Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai has had some impressive performances during his first year in the NFL. Monangai has rushed for over 100 yards twice but has been held in check lately. Even though D'Andre Swift remains Chicago's primary back, Monangai continues to get consistent playing time in the backfield. The 23-year-old has 10 carries or more in five straight contests. The biggest problem is that Swift has been the much more effective runner lately. The Bears have shown they will ride with the hot hand, which is Swift right now. Monangai is worth holding, but he shouldn't be considered as much more than a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex in fantasy for the rematch against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16 on Saturday night.

From RotoBaller

Younghoe Koo Dec 16 6:50pm CT
Younghoe Koo

New York Giants kicker Younghoe Koo was waived by the organization on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero. This doesn't come as a total shock after Koo's struggles this past Sunday. The 31-year-old missed three kicks during the 29-21 loss to the Washington Commanders. He connected on six of nine field-goal attempts while making 13 of 14 extra points during his five-game span with the Giants. It's unclear if Koo will get another opportunity this season with only three games left in the regular season. The Giants are expected to elevate Ben Sauls off the practice squad to serve as their kicker for the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Fantasy managers should avoid Sauls everywhere.

From RotoBaller

Saquon Barkley Dec 16 6:50pm CT
Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (neck) was a non-participant during Tuesday's practice session with a stinger that he suffered in the Week 15 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. This was only a walkthrough, so fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried yet. Barkley is coming off a solid performance, where he rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in the blowout win over the Raiders. He's a little banged up to begin the week, but he should be fine with a few days of rest. Barkley has another plus matchup ahead of him against the Washington Commanders defense in Week 16. As long as he's active on Saturday, Barkley is a must-start, as always, in fantasy lineups.

From RotoBaller

TreVeyon Henderson Dec 16 6:50pm CT
TreVeyon Henderson

New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson had arguably his best performance of the season last week in the loss to the Buffalo Bills. Henderson rushed the ball 14 times for 148 yards and scored two touchdowns versus Buffalo. The rookie back put the league on notice when he took over as the lead RB when Rhamondre Stevenson missed three games earlier in the season. Since Stevenson returned, the two backs have been splitting the workload in the backfield. Henderson has been the much more productive option with 60 rushing yards or more in each of his last five games. The expectation is that Henderson will continue to be fed the ball often because of his explosive playmaking abilities. He'll have RB1 upside against the Baltimore Ravens defense in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Sam Darnold Dec 16 6:40pm CT
Sam Darnold

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has only turned in two solid fantasy days in his last six outings. Darnold and the Seahawks' offense have failed to do well to find the end zone in recent weeks. Additionally, Darnold has been turning the ball over far too much. Although the Seahawks continue to win, their recent success is largely attributed to their stellar defensive play. Based on what we saw earlier in the season, we know what Darnold and this offense are capable of. However, NFL defensive coordinators are very adaptable, and they may have figured out the ticket to stopping Seattle. With matchups against the Rams, Panthers, and 49ers remaining, Darnold will face three solid-to-great defenses in a row. Streaming Darnold was fun earlier in the season, but it may not be feasible in the fantasy playoffs.

From RotoBaller

Saquon Barkley Dec 16 6:33pm CT
Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (stinger), DT Jalen Carter (shoulders), G Landon Dickerson (calf), OT Fred Johnson (ankle) and OT Lane Johnson (foot) did not practice on Tuesday, Dec. 16. RB Tank Bigsby (illness) was a limited participant. LB Zack Baun (hand), OLB Jaelan Phillips (knee) and OT Cameron Williams (shoulder) practiced in full.

From TheHuddle

Chris Rodriguez Jr. Dec 16 6:20pm CT
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a full participant in practice on Tuesday. Rodriguez was limited twice in practice last week before being ruled out for Sunday's win over the New York Giants. He appears to be trending in the right direction with a full session to begin Week 16 preparation. In his absence on Sunday, rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries during Sunday's victory. The return of Rodriguez would likely reduce Croskey-Merritt's role for the upcoming matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. If healthy, Rodriguez should offer low-end flex appeal in deep leagues this weekend in a bad matchup.

From RotoBaller

Dontayvion Wicks Dec 16 6:20pm CT
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) was a non-participant during Tuesday's walkthrough practice. Wicks was on the injury report last week with a lingering ankle issue. He ended up playing on Sunday but was ineffective with one catch for six yards in the loss to the Denver Broncos. Wicks has been a non-factor since his two-touchdown performance against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. The 24-year-old could see an increased role in Week 16 with Christian Watson (chest, shoulder) banged up to begin the week. The absence of both wideouts could mean bigger roles for Romeo Doubs,Jayden Reed, and rookie Matthew Golden. Fantasy managers will need to monitor the Packers' injury report throughout the week ahead of the Week 16 rematch against the Chicago Bears on Saturday.

From RotoBaller

RJ Harvey Dec 16 6:00pm CT
RJ Harvey

Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey (rib) left Sunday's win over the visiting Green Bay Packers with a rib injury, according to Jon Heath of Broncos Wire. However, there has been no official update on Harvey's injury or whether it could impact his status for the upcoming Week 16 matchup in Denver versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 24-year-old's injury came late in the Week 15 contest, and he did not return in the final two minutes with the Broncos salting the clock away. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Harvey's status on Wednesday after the team's first practice of the week. The Broncos claimed RB Cody Schrader off waivers on Tuesday, potentially indicating a serious injury for Harvey. If Harvey is limited or out this weekend, Jaleel McLaughlin would most likely be the team's early down back, with Tyler Badie handling third-down duties.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Dec 16 5:50pm CT
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings scored two touchdowns in Sunday's 37-24 win over the Titans. Jennings' day was propped up by the scores as he finished with just three catches for 37 receiving yards on five targets. This fits the mold of a trend that has been in the works for the last several weeks. Jennings is now up to six touchdowns in the 49ers' last six games, but in that span, he has averaged 47.2 yards and 4.3 receptions per game, making his fantasy production extremely reliant on touchdowns. Jennings may be in for a more balanced game in Week 16, when the 49ers face the Colts. Indianapolis has given up the most receptions and second-most receiving yards to opposing wide receivers in 2025. He projects as a WR2 candidate for the semi-final round of the fantasy football playoffs.

From RotoBaller

Christian Watson Dec 16 5:50pm CT
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (chest) was listed as a non-participant on Tuesday's estimated injury report, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Watson was injured in the second half of Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos and was sent to the hospital for evaluation after the game. The 26-year-old was cleared of a long-term injury, but his status for Week 16 against the division-rival Chicago Bears on Saturday is up in the air. Head coach Matt LaFleur said Watson could be "fighting to make it by game time." Watson has been quarterback Jordan Love's favorite target since making his season debut in Week 8, catching 28 of 43 targets for 481 yards and five touchdowns in eight games. He had four grabs for 89 yards and two TDs in the first game against Chicago. If Watson is unavailable on Saturday, all of Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and rookie Matthew Golden could see more targets.

From RotoBaller