December 15, 2025
Houston Texans rookie running back
Woody Marks (ankle) aggravated an ankle injury in Sunday's win over the visiting Arizona Cardinals and didn't finish the game, but head coach DeMeco Ryans later said that Marks could have continued playing, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Practice-squad RB
Jawhar Jordan rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries in Week 15 in his NFL debut after Marks left in the 40-20 win.
Dare Ogunbowale and Jordan combined for 143 rushing yards on 33 carries --
Nick Chubb (ribs) was inactive. Marks finished with 30 yards on seven carries, but he salvaged his day for fantasy managers with a goal-line touchdown before aggravating his ankle injury. The 24-year-old will almost certainly be on the Week 16 injury report, but it sounds like he will have a chance to play and serve as the team's lead back in a great matchup next Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
--Keith HernandezSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
December 15, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kenneth Gainwell could be slated for a considerable boost in workload for his Monday night home matchup with the Miami Dolphins in Week 15. Pittsburgh's backfield has been a pleasantly surprising source of fantasy output in 2025, with both Gainwell and teammate
Jaylen Warren (illness) ranking as low-end PPR RB2s on the campaign as a whole. However, the former appears poised for a significant touch share when his team hosts the Dolphins on MNF, given Warren was downgraded to questionable after coming down with an illness early Monday. If the latter fails to suit up, Gainwell's upside would be massive, presuming that he assumes a workhorse role as he did the last time Warren sat out in Week 4. In that outing, the former Philadelphia Eagle popped off for 134 yards and two scores on 77% of the team's snaps.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 15, 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing veteran wide receiver
Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the active roster ahead of their matchup on Monday Night Football with the visiting Miami Dolphins. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the news. Pittsburgh intended to elevate the 31-year-old from its practice squad for their meeting with Miami, but will instead choose to make him a fixture on their roster for the remainder of the season. Valdes-Scantling made his first appearance with the team in Week 14, playing 31% of snaps and failing to bring in his lone target. He doesn't figure to be involved enough to matter for fantasy, and can likely be avoided in all formats.
--Alex CiullaSource: Gerry Dulac
December 15, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Jaylen Warren (illness) has been downgraded to questionable for his team's Monday night home game with the Miami Dolphins due to an illness, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. It's ill-timed for the 27-year-old, who has an excellent matchup slated for Week 15 in a sieve-like Dolphins' rush defense. If Warren is eventually unable to suit up due to his illness, teammate
Kenneth Gainwell projects to handle a majority of the backfield work in his place, considering the two had split snaps fairly evenly over the previous three contests. Gainwell would immediately slot in as a strong RB2 play in Warren's absence, with rookie rusher
Kaleb Johnson likely to spell him on occasion as a chance-of-pace option.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam Schefter
December 15, 2025
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Arizona Cardinals running back
Bam Knight (ankle) is trending toward being inactive for Week 16's home game in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons. Knight was out there for just one snap in the team's 40-20 loss to the Houston Texans, handling one carry for negative two yards before injuring his ankle and being carted off the field. Schefter notes that Knight will undergo an MRI on Monday to assess the severity, although it's being described as a "bad sprain." It's good news that initial testing revealed no breaks. Either way, it seems that his chances of suiting up against the visiting Falcons are slim at best. Teammate
Michael Carter stepped up in Week 15 (14/56), with the 24-year-old unable to continue, though it's possible he splits more work with
Emari Demercado as the latter regains health from an ankle injury of his own.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam Schefter
December 15, 2025
Detroit Lions wide receiver
Isaac TeSlaa entered Week 15 on a two-game touchdown-scoring streak, but he was targeted just once and failed to record a catch in his team's Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. TeSlaa saw a slight reduction in playing time thanks to the return of veteran wideout
Kalif Raymond, who had missed Detroit's two previous games due to an ankle injury. Across 14 games this season, TeSlaa has now hauled in eight receptions for 120 yards and four touchdowns on 15 targets. While he's flashed high-end contested catch ability, the 23-year-old has simply been unable to carve out a consistent role as a target-earner when the Lions' wide receiver corps is healthy. The lack of reliability makes TeSlaa very difficult for fantasy managers to trust heading into his Week 16 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
December 15, 2025
According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall (ankle, knee) was hampered by multiple injuries during Sunday's 37-24 win over the visiting Tennessee Titans. Pearsall's 6/96 line was his best output since Week 3, and he played nearly 60% (58) of snaps despite apparently dealing with an ankle issue and potential aggravation of the PCL injury that forced him from six games earlier in the campaign. "We'll know for sure tomorrow, but he hurt the ankle on the first play...and played with that the whole game," noted Shanahan. "And then, the knee thing, I think, was just him most likely irritating his PCL from the past. Those linger...he was battling through a lot today." Shanahan's sentiment seems to be positive, but there's no guarantee Pearsall's playing time won't be affected. Fantasy managers should remain watchful of his status over the next few days, particularly after a useful outing in Week 15.
--Alex CiullaSource: Myles Simmons
December 15, 2025
Detroit Lions running back
David Montgomery recorded just seven carries for 32 yards in his team's Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but he salvaged his fantasy production by recording his eighth rushing touchdown of the season. The 28-year-old has now recorded a rushing touchdown in three straight games. However, his workload in Detroit continues to be limited as he plays a backup role to Lions running back
Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery has recorded double-digit touches just once in his last five games and has not played more than 39% of Detroit's offensive snaps in any game since Week 10. Montgomery has touchdown upside every week, but he also remains entirely reliant on touchdowns for fantasy production as long as Gibbs remains healthy. The Lions will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
December 15, 2025
Detroit Lions running back
Jahmyr Gibbs posted an underwhelming performance in his team's Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, recording 58 scrimmage yards and zero touchdowns on 17 touches. The 23-year-old's 3.4 yards per touch against Los Angeles was his third-worst mark of the season and his worst since Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings. On the bright side, Gibbs continues to be a featured player in the Lions' passing game. He saw seven targets in Week 15 and has earned 38 targets across five games since Detroit tight end
Sam LaPorta (back) was placed on Injured Reserve with a back injury. Gibbs also out-snapped fellow Lions running back
David Montgomery 52 to 18 in Week 15, marking the fifth straight game where Gibbs has logged at least 20 more snaps than his backfield running mate. Despite the frustrating showing against the Rams, Gibbs remains a must-start fantasy running back in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
December 15, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed recorded five catches for 55 yards on six targets in his team's Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos. In his second game back after missing nearly three months due to collarbone and foot injuries, Reed saw his snap share increase from 47% of Green Bay's offensive snaps in Week 14 to 65% in Week 15. The 25-year-old's playing time outlook was also improved by an injury to Packers wideout
Christian Watson (chest), who left the game early with a chest injury. Watson has reportedly avoided a long-term injury, but his status is in question for the team's Week 16 matchup against the Chicago Bears. If Watson is sidelined, Reed could operate as the team's top target-earner in Week 16. Even if Watson can play, Reed has upside as he works his way back to full health and gets re-integrated into the Green Bay offense. In fantasy leagues where he remains available, Reed is a must-add waiver wire target heading into Week 16.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 15, 2025
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn announced on Monday that the team has fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. New York's defense was embarrassed by Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback
Trevor Lawrence in Week 15, who recorded six touchdowns in a 48-20 rout of New York. Through 15 weeks, the Jets' defense ranks 29th in total rushing yards allowed (1,921), 23rd in yards per pass attempt allowed (7.2), and 30th in opponent points per game (28.4). Wilks was in his first season in New York and has now lasted one season or less in each of his last three stints as an NFL defensive coordinator. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn served as the Detroit Lions' defensive coordinator for four seasons before taking over in New York, so he could assume defensive play-calling duties for the remainder of the 2025 season.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
December 15, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a late scratch before his team's Week 15 win over the New York Giants due to a groin injury. In his absence, Commanders back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the way with 18 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown. However, Rodriguez Jr. had emerged as the lead rusher in Washington before getting hurt. Across three games leading into Week 15, the 25-year-old racked up 172 rushing yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. Croskey-Merritt's stellar performance against the Giants may lead to more of a split backfield in Washington going forward. Still, in fantasy leagues where Rodriguez Jr. is available on the waiver wire, he should be targeted heading into his team's Week 16 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 15, 2025
ESPN's Rob Demovsky reports that Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Christian Watson (chest) "does not have any long-term injury" and that his status for his team's Week 16 matchup against the Chicago Bears will be "determined later in the week." Watson suffered a chest injury that knocked him out of Green Bay's Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos and required a trip to the hospital following the game. The 26-year-old had been playing some of his best football before suffering the injury. Across four games leading into Week 15, Watson had recorded 17 receptions for 264 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 26 targets. If he misses time, Packers wideouts
Romeo Doubs,
Jayden Reed,
Dontayvion Wicks, and
Matthew Golden could all see expanded roles. The Packers play the Bears on Saturday night, so Watson will have one fewer day of recovery time than usual heading into Week 16.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Rob Demovsky
December 15, 2025
After missing three games with an ankle injury, Arizona Cardinals running back
Emari Demercado returned to the lineup in Week 15 against the Houston Texans. The 26-year-old played a minimal role against Houston, recording one scrimmage yard on three touches. However, Cardinals running back
Bam Knight (ankle) suffered an ankle injury that knocked him out of the game and required him to be carted off the field. If Knight misses further time, Demercado could step into a more prominent role in the Arizona backfield alongside
Michael Carter, who led the team with 18 touches in Week 15. Across 10 games this season, Demercado has racked up 306 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 42 touches. Before suffering the ankle injury, he had out-snapped Carter in two consecutive games. The Cardinals' backfield remains one of the league's more difficult lineup situations to parse. Still, Demercado could be a player to target on the waiver wire heading into his Week 16 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 15, 2025
Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports that Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) has been medically cleared from the orbital fracture he sustained in mid-October, and the "hope is to have him back practicing in the near future." The 23-year-old has been on Injured Reserve since Week 6 after getting injured in a freak accident in pre-game warmups. Richardson Sr. opened the season as the backup to Colts quarterback
Daniel Jones (Achilles). However, with Jones suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Week 14, Richardson Sr. could be back in the starting mix once healthy. Veteran quarterback
Philip Rivers got the start for the Colts in Week 15 and completed 18 of 27 pass attempts for 120 yards, one touchdown, and one interception against the Seattle Seahawks. If Richardson Sr. can return this season and the Colts turn the starting job over to him, his rushing ability gives him clear fantasy upside. Across 17 career NFL games (15 starts), Richardson Sr. has rushed for 634 yards and 10 touchdowns. His progress should be closely monitored heading into the team's Week 16 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
--Will BradySource: CBS Sports - Matt Zenitz
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