Fantasy Football News

Audric Estime • RB • Saints

Audric Estime Worth a Look on Waivers With Teammate Injured

At least in deeper fantasy football leagues, New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime is worth looking at on waivers going into Week 16 action after rookie RB Devin Neal injured his hamstring in the Week 15 upset win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Estime played a season-high 36% of the offensive snaps and split backfield work with Evan Hull after Neal was injured in the second quarter. The 22-year-old handled three carries for 11 yards and also caught all three of his targets for an additional 39 yards. Hull had just one more carry than Estime and wasn't involved at all in the passing game. Estime could be in play as a deep-league RB3/flex option in a great Week 16 matchup against the New York Jets if both Alvin Kamara (ankle, knee) and Neal are unable to play. Keep in mind that both rookie quarterback Tyler Shough (team-high eight carries on Sunday) and tight end Taysom Hill could take valuable carries away from both Estime and Hull if Kamara and Neal are out this weekend.

55 minutes ago

Jayden Higgins • WR • Texans

Jayden Higgins Still Worth Rostering After Back-to-Back Duds?

Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins was held to just one target for the fifth time this season in Sunday's 40-20 blowout win over the visiting Arizona Cardinals. He caught one pass for a gain of four yards. The 23-year-old has four receptions on six targets for just 38 yards and no touchdowns in the last two games. The last time that Higgins had only one target came on Nov. 2 against the Denver Broncos. Higgins had a streak of five games with at least five targets from Weeks 9 to 14 before seeing just one look from quarterback C.J. Stroud on Sunday. The second-rounder from Iowa State ranks third on the team with 397 receiving yards in 14 games this year, adding four touchdowns. While Higgins has been quiet the last two games, he's a good bet to bounce back with a strong game for fantasy managers in deeper leagues as a flex play in an excellent Week 16 matchup against the last-place Raiders. Higgins is rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available.

1 hour ago

Bam Knight • RB • Cardinals

Cardinals Unsure if Bam Knight Will Play in Week 16

The Arizona Cardinals are unsure if running back Bam Knight (ankle) will be able to play in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons, according to Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. "Not sure. It's an ankle, though. He was sore today," head coach Jonathan Gannon said when asked if he expects Knight to play this week. The 24-year-old was carted off the field in Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans and is believed to be dealing with a "bad sprain." The diagnosis alone should lead fantasy managers to believe that Knight probably won't play in Week 16, especially with the Cardinals eliminated from playoff contention. It wouldn't be a surprise if Knight doesn't play in the final three weeks of the season. James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) are out for the season, so the backfield would be split by Michael Carter and Emari Demercado if Knight is unable to play against Atlanta. We should have a better idea of Knight's Week 16 status in a few days.

1 hour ago

Troy Franklin • WR • Broncos

Troy Franklin Back on the Fantasy Radar With Teammate Injured

Denver Broncos second-year wide receiver Troy Franklin went quiet in Weeks 13 and 14, with rookie wideout Pat Bryant (hamstring) taking on a bigger role in the passing attack. Franklin resurfaced in Sunday's 34-26 win over the visiting Green Bay Packers, though, with Bryant sidelined with a hamstring injury. Although he played only 50% of the offensive snaps, the 22-year-old from Oregon caught all six of his targets for 85 yards and his sixth touchdown of the year. In the previous two games, Franklin had just five catches (seven targets) for 32 yards and no scores. With Bryant out in Week 15, Franklin finished second on the team in catches, targets, and receiving yards. His touchdown was a beautiful 23-yard hookup with quarterback Bo Nix to end the third quarter. Franklin's Week 16 fantasy value will largely hinge on whether Bryant can return to face the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars.

1 hour ago

Oronde Gadsden • TE • Chargers

Oronde Gadsden Delivers in Tough Matchup, Usage Still Trending Down

Los Angeles Chargers rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden led the team in receiving in the team's 16-13 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, with four catches for 61 yards on five targets, posting a 19% target share against a tough defense. However, his route participation dropped to 64%, the first time below 80% since becoming the starter, as the Chargers focused on extra pass protection and a run-heavy approach. Gadsden has now gone four straight games without a red-zone target, limiting his touchdown upside. Week 16 features a matchup against a Dallas Cowboys defense that has struggled significantly against receivers but has only allowed four touchdowns to tight ends all season. Gadsden remains a low-end TE1 or streaming option offering a modest floor but limited scoring upside.

1 hour ago

Ladd McConkey • WR • Chargers

Ladd McConkey Quiet Again, Time to Panic?

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey had another quiet game in the team's 16-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, catching just two passes for 20 yards and posting one of his lowest target shares of the season at 11.5%. Despite ranking near the top of the league in routes run, McConkey's production has declined as the Chargers shift to a run-heavy offense to compensate for offensive line issues and an injured Justin Herbert. Even with Quentin Johnston out, McConkey saw fewer targets and no red-zone targets, as opportunities were distributed elsewhere. Week 16 offers a potential rebound against a Dallas Cowboys secondary that ranks last in passing yards and touchdowns allowed, but game script remains a concern. McConkey remains a volatile, low-end WR2 with upside in a possibly favorable matchup.

1 hour ago

Jonathan Greenard • OLB • Vikings

Jonathan Greenard to Miss the Rest of the Season

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) will miss the rest of the season with a left-shoulder injury, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. Greenard originally injured his left shoulder in Week 10 and missed two games. Greenard had been playing on a part-time basis in the last three games before aggravating the injury in the 34-26 Sunday night win over the hosting Dallas Cowboys. He will undergo surgery and is expected to be at full strength for the start of next season. The 28-year-old pass-rusher was limited to 12 games this year due to his shoulder injury, and he will finish with three sacks while ranking fifth in the league with a 13.5% pressure rate. Second-year linebacker Dallas Turner should have a full-time role in Minnesota for the final three games with Greenard out. Greenard signed a four-year, $72 million contract in 2024 and recorded 12 sacks in 17 games to earn Pro Bowl honors.

1 hour ago

Kimani Vidal • RB • Chargers

Kimani Vidal's Volume Holds, But Production Remains a Question

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal led the backfield in snaps, routes, and two-minute offense in the team's 16-13 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, but struggled to produce efficiently, rushing 12 times for just 33 yards while being outgained per carry by Omarion Hampton. Vidal's value continues to come from his role rather than explosiveness, as he remains the preferred back on passing downs. The Chargers' focus on a ground-heavy approach keeps Vidal relevant in fantasy, but his weekly output stays unpredictable. In Week 16, the Cowboys present a mixed matchup, allowing rushing touchdowns at a high rate but limiting overall efficiency. Vidal is seen as a low-end RB2 or flex option, especially in PPR formats, though his ceiling is limited by sharing the backfield.

1 hour ago

Ricky Pearsall • WR • 49ers

Ricky Pearsall's Week 16 Status in Doubt After Aggravating Knee Injury

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) aggravated his PCL injury in the Week 15 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday and also sprained his ankle, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he's unsure if Pearsall will practice this week as the team prepares to face the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night in Week 16. The 25-year-old former first-rounder will have an extra day to recover this week, but based on the fact that he missed six games earlier this year after spraining his PCL initially in Week 4, it seems highly unlikely that Pearsall will be cleared to play on Monday. It's really bad timing for Pearsall and his fantasy managers, as he caught six of seven targets for 96 yards in the win over the Titans on Sunday while battling through his knee injury and a low-ankle sprain. If Pearsall misses additional time, Kendrick Bourne could be on the flex radar again in deeper fantasy leagues behind Jauan Jennings.

1 hour ago

Omarion Hampton • RB • Chargers

Omarion Hampton Runs Hard, Still Trapped in a Split Backfield

Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton continued to showcase explosiveness in the team's 16-13 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, rushing 15 times for 61 yards and leading the backfield with 54% of the carries. Hampton often looked more dynamic than Kimani Vidal, but the workload remains split, as Vidal led snaps and handled all of the two-minute offense. With the Chargers relying heavily on the run game to protect Justin Herbert, Hampton stays a part of the weekly rotation. Week 16's matchup against the Cowboys is interesting, as Dallas has improved against the run but still ranks tied for second in rushing touchdowns allowed. Hampton's ceiling is limited by the timeshare, but he remains a decent low-end RB2 or flex option in run-heavy game plans.

1 hour ago

Tre' Harris • WR • Chargers

Rookie Tre' Harris Steps Up in Chargers Win

Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Tre' Harris took advantage of Quentin Johnston's absence in the team's 16-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, catching three passes for 49 yards on five targets while reaching a season-high 82% route participation and a 19% target share. Harris made his most notable impact late in the first half with a 37-yard catch that set up the Chargers' only touchdown, and his increased usage was evident in a low-volume passing game. Week 16 presents a prime matchup against a Dallas Cowboys secondary that ranks last in passing yards and touchdowns allowed. Harris' fantasy value depends on Johnston's health, but if his role remains elevated, he could serve as a deep-league flex or DFS punt with upside in a favorable matchup.

1 hour ago

Matt Prater • K • Bills

Matt Prater Won't Kick in Week 16 Due to Quad Injury

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that kicker Matt Prater (quadriceps) will be out in Week 16 versus the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. McDermott described Prater's injury as week-to-week, meaning there's a chance he could miss multiple games. The Bills will bring in a new kicker for this week and possibly beyond. Prater was successful on all five of his extra-point opportunities in the win over the New England Patriots in Week 15, but he picked up a quad injury along the way and will now be sidelined for at least one game. Fantasy managers still battling in the playoffs this week will need to search for a replacement for the 41-year-old placekicker. Prater has filled in nicely for Tyler Bass (hip), who is out for the entire season, making 18 of his 20 field-goal tries and 43 of his 46 extra points in 14 games.

1 hour ago

Tory Horton • WR • Seahawks

Tory Horton's Rest-of-Season Availability is Unclear

The Seattle Seahawks don't have an answer on whether rookie wide receiver Tory Horton (shin) will be able to make it back this year, according to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. "We'll see about Tory. He's taking it as he improves right now. He's got some hurdles he's got to get over. We'll wait to see him get over those hurdles, but if he gets over them, we can get him back," head coach Mike Macdonald said. The 23-year-old is eligible to return for the team's Week 16 contest against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, but that's unlikely to happen, and Horton could end up missing the rest of the regular season. If he cannot play in the next three weeks, it's unclear if he'd be ready to return for the postseason. The fifth-round selection out of Colorado State wasn't involved all that much in his first eight NFL games, but he did score five touchdowns on 13 receptions. Horton is unlikely to be on the fantasy radar in the next couple of weeks.

2 hours ago

Luther Burden III • WR • Bears

Luther Burden III Considered "Day-to-Day"

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said on Monday that rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III's ankle is a "day-by-day" situation, according to Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune. Biggs goes on to write that it sounds like Burden's availability for Saturday night's divisional clash against the Green Bay Packers "will remain a question until later in the week." Chicago's receiving room could be thin in Week 16 after Burden got hurt in Sunday's win over the visiting Cleveland Browns. Fellow wideout Rome Odunze is dealing with a stress fracture in his foot and is in danger of missing a third straight game this weekend. If both Burden and Odunze are inactive against Green Bay, Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay would start in three-wide sets next to DJ Moore. In two games with Odunze out, Burden has 10 grabs for 151 yards on 13 targets, which makes him flex-worthy in Week 16 if he's active and Odunze misses another contest.

2 hours ago

Rome Odunze • WR • Bears

All Options on the Table for Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said on Monday that "all options are on the table" for wide receiver Rome Odunze in terms of his foot injury, according to Bears insider Michal Dwojak. Johnson said the team will do what is best for Odunze so that he "can help them down the road." The 23-year-old second-year wideout has missed the last two games with a stress fracture in his foot. It looked like he was going to be active for Sunday's blowout win over the Cleveland Browns, but the Bears scratched him just before kickoff as a precaution. It's unclear what his status will be for the crucial Week 16 rematch against the division-rival Green Bay Packers, but it certainly sounds like Odunze could miss more time. Rookie Luther Burden III (ankle) is day-to-day after getting injured on Sunday, too, so the Bears could need Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay to step up alongside DJ Moore. Fantasy managers shouldn't be planning on getting Odunze back this week.

2 hours ago

Bhayshul Tuten • RB • Jaguars

Bhayshul Tuten to Miss a Few Weeks With Finger Injury

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten (finger) will have surgery to fix a finger injury that he suffered in Sunday's blowout win over the New York Jets, sources told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Tuten will miss a few weeks but should be back for the playoffs. There are only three games remaining in the regular season, so the Jags might shut Tuten down until the start of the postseason. The 22-year-old fourth-round selection has been a nice, explosive complement in Jacksonville's backfield this season next to starter Travis Etienne Jr., carrying the ball 78 times for 284 yards (3.6 yards per tote) and four rushing touchdowns, adding 10 catches for 79 yards and two more scores in 14 games. Tuten touched the ball only twice on Sunday, but one of those touches resulted in a one-yard TD reception. Fellow rookie LeQuint Allen Jr. will serve in the RB2 role for the Jags behind Etienne for however long Tuten is sidelined.

3 hours ago

Joe Burrow • QB • Bengals

Joe Burrow Will Start the Rest of the Season

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed on Monday that quarterback Joe Burrow will start the rest of the season despite the team being officially eliminated from the playoffs, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. When asked why Burrow will continue to play, Taylor said, "Because we want to win." Burrow suffered a turf-toe injury in Week 2 that required surgery, and the 29-year-old didn't make his return until Week 13. The former first overall pick threw for 545 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions on 49-for-82 passing in his first two games back before going 25-for-39 for 225 yards, no touchdowns, and two picks in Sunday's 24-0 shutout loss to the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Burrow has thrown costly pick-sixes in each of the last two weeks and seemed to question his long-term future in Cincy last week. For fantasy football purposes, Burrow will be a strong QB1 option in Week 16 versus the Miami Dolphins.

3 hours ago

Jayden Daniels • QB • Commanders

Jayden Daniels to be Shut Down for Final Three Games

The Washington Commanders have decided to shut down quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) for the final three games of the 2025 season, sources tell Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Daniels was re-evaluated on Monday and was not cleared, so the Commanders have decided to sit the second-year signal-caller for the rest of the year since they are eliminated from postseason contention. Veteran Marcus Mariota will close out the year running Washington's offense. The 24-year-old missed his seventh game of the year in Sunday's win over the New York Giants. Daniels suffered a gruesome dislocation of his left elbow in Week 9 and didn't return until Week 14, when he aggravated the injury. The former second overall pick had an amazing rookie campaign, but he'll end 2025 with only 1,262 passing yards, eight TDs, and three interceptions in seven games. Daniels could easily bounce back in 2026, but there are some serious concerns about his durability now after he missed time with elbow, hamstring, and knee injuries this year.

3 hours ago

Teddye Buchanan • ILB • Ravens

Teddye Buchanan Done for the Year With Torn ACL

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh confirmed on Monday that rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan (knee) has a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Harbaugh is hoping that Buchanan will be back for training camp next summer. The 23-year-old linebacker suffered the serious injury in Sunday's 24-0 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. It's a notable loss for Baltimore's defense, as Buchanan was the team's second-leading tackler this year. Buchanan will finish his first year in the NFL with 93 tackles (49 solo), half a sack, five tackles for loss, and a forced fumble in 14 games played (13 starts). With Buchanan done for the year, expect Trenton Simpson to take over for the Ravens as their starting inside linebacker, beginning with a Sunday night battle against the Patriots in Week 16.

4 hours ago

Geno Smith • QB • Raiders

Geno Smith's Week 16 Status Unclear

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) has a chance to return to practice this week and play in the team's Week 16 game against the Texans, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Smith was unable to practice in any capacity leading up to the Raiders' Week 15 contest with the Eagles and was officially ruled out on Saturday, leaving Kenny Pickett to make his first start for Las Vegas. Pickett was unable to throw for even 65 yards in the shutout loss to the Eagles, rendering all Raiders players unusable for fantasy. Carroll noted that the team will know more about Smith's status on Wednesday. Whether or not he's able to suit up carries major fantasy implications for managers who were able to slip into the semifinals with Brock Bowers or Ashton Jeanty and are now wondering if they'll need to make the difficult decision to leave them on the bench.

4 hours ago

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