December 12, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco handled nine carries for 30 yards in last week's 10-20 loss to the Houston Texans. In his second game back from injury, Pacheco's opportunities ticked up closer to
Kareem Hunt, who handled 12 carries in the contest. Pacheco looked like the best back in the backfield before his knee injury, so the team may prefer to lean on him more as he gets healthier. Pacheco will have a chance to surpass Hunt this week against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers defense has been middle-of-the-pack in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season, meaning that it should not be a difficult matchup for Pacheco. That said, splitting carries with Hunt in a divisional matchup could be a difficult situation to succeed in. Pacheco is ranked RB48 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a difficult player to trust until he shows more upside.
--Joshua CostelloSource: ESPN.com
December 12, 2025
Minnesota Vikings tight end
T.J. Hockenson (shin) is coming off a highlight-worthy touchdown last week, but a decrease in passing volume will once again keep him as a low-end TE2 option when the Vikings travel to Dallas in Week 15. Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy played the best game of his NFL career last week, which coincided with a tight-end-friendly gameplan. All three of McCarthy's passing touchdowns went to tight ends -- two to
Josh Oliver and one to Hockenson -- but just three overall targets went Hockenson's way as Minnesota prioritized its running game. The Cowboys have been abysmal against the pass overall, surrendering the most passing touchdowns and second-most yards, but receivers have done much more damage: Dallas ranks a respectable 11th against half-PPR tight ends. While Hockenson is off the injury report, he's averaging just 3.5 catches and 28.5 yards per game, so he's best saved for formats that start more than one tight end.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
December 12, 2025
Despite going up against a struggling Dallas Cowboys defense in Week 15, Minnesota Vikings kicker
Will Reichard should be considered an average fantasy kicker option this week. Reichard, the 12th-ranked fantasy kicker, has been mostly reliable despite the Vikings' struggles on offense. He's 22-for-24 on field-goal attempts, which includes eight makes from 50 or more yards. Ironically, Dallas has been one of the poorer matchups for fantasy kickers, but mostly because its defense is having such a hard time getting to fourth down. The Cowboys have allowed 29 passing touchdowns and a 47.8% third-down conversion rate, both the worst marks in the NFL, and they are allowing red-zone touchdowns at the third-highest rate in the league. While Reichard has been consistent, managers may want to consider a stronger option if they're in the fantasy playoffs.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
December 12, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Kareem Hunt handled 12 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown in last week's loss to the Houston Texans. The veteran back once again found the endzone, but was inefficient with his opportunities. Hunt averaged 2.5 yards per carry and failed to bring in his only target of the contest. Hunt has been the unquestioned lead back in the absence of
Isiah Pacheco and retained that role in Pacheco's first game back from injury in Week 13, but things shifted last. Hunt had 12 carries for 30 yards, and Pacheco had nine carries for 30 yards (3.3 yards per carry). Pacheco's opportunities ticked up in his second week back from injury, putting Hunt's grip on the backfield in jeopardy. That said, Hunt should remain the back most likely to score a touchdown given the team's trust in him for goal-line chances. Hunt will have to fend off Pacheco for opportunities while taking on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15. The Chargers have been middle-of-the-pack in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season, so it should not be a difficult matchup. Splitting touches with Pacheco in a game with a 40.5 O/U may lead to a lower ceiling for both players. Hunt is ranked RB31 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a RB3/Flex option for this contest in the fantasy playoffs.
--Joshua CostelloSource: ESPN.com
December 12, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
Patrick Mahomes is coming off his worst game of the season in last week's 10-20 loss to the Houston Texans. Mahomes completed 14 of 33 pass attempts (42%) for 160 yards and three interceptions. Despite his ineffectiveness through the air, Mahomes was the team's leading rusher with 59 yards on the ground. The Kansas City Chiefs now sit at 6-7 with an 11% chance of making the playoffs, which hinges on them winning out the rest of the season. The Chiefs superstar will have to pull off a miracle to bring the team back from the brink of elimination, and he will have to start with the Los Angeles Chargers this week. The Chargers defense has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season, which means another difficult matchup for Mahomes this week. Mahomes was also listed on the injury report with a knee injury, but he practiced all week fully and does not have an injury designation for the game. Mahomes is ranked QB10 in our RotoBaller rankings, making him a low-end QB1 in a make-or-break game.
--Joshua CostelloSource: KCTV5.com
December 12, 2025
Buffalo Bills defensive end Joey Bosa (hamstring, wrist) was upgraded to a full practice participant on Friday and has been removed from the Week 15 injury report. He will be active on Sunday when the team takes on the division-rival New England Patriots on the road. The 30-year-old was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Bosa missed one game due to hamstring and wrist injuries, but he'll return this weekend for a big divisional clash as the Bills look to slow down the 11-2 Pats and split the season series. Getting Bosa back is great news for the Bills' defense, but they are still a defensive unit to avoid in fantasy football in Week 15 against a super-efficient New England offense that has limited their turnovers this year. Bosa has a total of 26 tackles (15 solo) and five sacks on the year in 12 games in his first year in Buffalo.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills PR
December 12, 2025
Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (calf) was unable to practice at all this week and has officially been ruled out for the Week 15 game in Chicago against the Bears on Sunday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. With Ward out, the Browns' secondary will be much more vulnerable against quarterback
Caleb Williams and the Bears' offense this weekend. This will be the first game that the 28-year-old Ward has missed in 2025. It's unclear if he'll be ready to return for a matchup against the visiting Buffalo Bills in Week 16 on Sunday, Dec. 21. Through 13 games played this year, Ward has posted 38 total tackles (29 solo), an interception, and eight pass breakups. The Browns' defensive unit has one of the best pass-rushers in football in Myles Garrett, but they allowed the Titans to score 30-plus points last week and will have their hands full in Chicago against one of the best rushing offenses in the league.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
December 12, 2025
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck) will not be activated from Injured Reserve to play this weekend against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15, according to head coach Shane Steichen. Buckner did have his 21-day practice window opened on Wednesday, though, and he was limited on Wednesday and Thursday. If he can continue to improve going into next week, Buckner could make his return on Monday Night Football in Week 16 against the San Francisco 49ers. The struggling Colts will be without Buckner, All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), and cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. (concussion) this Sunday for a tough road matchup against the Seahawks. Ward was placed on Injured Reserve this week after suffering his third concussion of the year. Buckner has recorded 42 total tackles and four sacks over 424 defensive snaps this season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Colts.com - JJ Stankevitz
December 12, 2025
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) will not play in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Gardner will miss a second straight game with a calf injury, but he's expected to return before the end of the regular season, and he could make it back as soon as Week 16 against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football on Dec. 22. The Colts paid a hefty price to land the 25-year-old defensive back from the New York Jets at the trade deadline, but he's only been able to play in three games for Indy. In 10 games this season, Gardner has 33 tackles (26 solo) and eight pass breakups. Mekhi Blackmon and Johnathan Edwards will continue to see more playing time in the Colts' defensive backfield with Gardner out. Not having Gardner against Seattle receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba this weekend could prove costly.
--Keith HernandezSource: Indianapolis Colts
December 12, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said All-Pro pass-rusher T.J. Watt (lung) has officially been ruled out for the Monday night game in Week 15 against the visiting Miami Dolphins, according to Teresa Varley of the team's official website. Watt had surgery on Thursday to fix a partially collapsed lung and is at home resting comfortably. The 31-year-old outside linebacker will be missing his first game of the year, and it's unclear if he can make it back to face the Detroit Lions in Week 16. The Steelers' defense won't have its leader on the field this Monday, but they'll still be in play for fantasy managers as a streaming unit against the Dolphins in primetime. Nick Herbig will need to pick up the slack as a starter for Pittsburgh's defense with Watt sidelined. Watt has had a down year in 2025 with only seven sacks in 13 starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Steelers.com - Teresa Varley
December 12, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston (groin) was a late addition to the Week 15 injury report on Friday due to a groin injury and is considered questionable to play on Sunday when the Bolts take on the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. Late-week additions to the injury usually are never a good sign, so fantasy managers are going to want to monitor the 24-year-old former first-rounder's status closely going into Sunday. The good news is that the Chargers play in the early window in KC. If Johnston is forced to sit out, it would mean more targets for receivers
Ladd McConkey,
Keenan Allen, and
Tre' Harris, as well as rookie tight end
Oronde Gadsden. Johnston was already teetering on the WR4/5 borderline in fantasy football. He does have seven touchdowns in 12 games, but only two of those have come since the start of November, and he's cleared 50 receiving yards in a game just once since Sept. 28.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Chargers
December 12, 2025
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Olamide Zaccheaus (hamstring) upgraded to a full practice on Friday and has been removed from the Week 15 injury report. Zaccheaus will be active on Sunday when the Bears host the Cleveland Browns. The 28-year-old played 79% of the offensive snaps -- his second-highest total of the year -- in last week's loss to the Green Bay Packers and also caught his second touchdown of the season with
Rome Odunze (foot) out. However, Zaccheaus only caught two of his three targets for seven yards. There's a chance that Odunze misses another game this weekend (he's questionable) due to a stress fracture in his foot, but Zaccheaus would still be nothing more than a WR5/flex option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues against a decent Browns defense. Zaccheaus hasn't caught more than two passes in a game since Nov. 2. Even without Odunze, Chicago's offense has plenty of weapons for quarterback
Caleb Williams.
--Keith HernandezSource: Bears Communications
December 12, 2025
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Davante Adams (hamstring) will carry a questionable designation into Sunday's Week 15 matchup with the Lions, according to head coach Sean McVay. However, McVay added that he would be very surprised if his All-Pro wideout is unable to play. In his first season in Los Angeles, Adams has paired with third-year receiver
Puka Nacua to form one of the most feared tandems in the league, helping to propel
Matthew Stafford into the MVP conversation. Adams has proven particularly dangerous near the goal line, where his 11 receiving touchdowns from inside the 10-yard line match the next two players (
Amon-Ra St. Brown and
Christian McCaffrey) combined. While he was unable to find the endzone in a Week 14 win over the Cardinals, Adams has still recorded 11 touchdowns across his last seven games and is RotoBaller's WR5 heading into Sunday.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Sarah Barshop
December 12, 2025
Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver
Rome Odunze (foot) is officially questionable for Sunday's matchup with the Browns after logging a week of limited practices. Odunze missed the team's Week 14 loss to the Packers with a foot injury that initially had him labeled as week-to-week. He was unable to practice in any fashion leading up to that contest, so the upgrade to limited participation is at least a step in the right direction. Odunze started his sophomore campaign with a bang, scoring five touchdowns in his first four games, but he has found the endzone only once more since then. The Bears' passing offense as a whole has been inconsistent for most of the year, and with a fantasy playoff schedule that includes the Browns and Packers, relying on an obviously banged-up Odunze may be too tall a task for most fantasy managers, even if he is able to suit up this week.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Chicago Bears Communications
December 12, 2025
New Orleans Saints running back
Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) has been ruled out for the third straight week with injuries to his knee and ankle. Sixth-round rookie
Devin Neal (abdomen), who is coming off an RB12 finish in a Week 14 win over the Buccaneers, has been limited at practice with an abdomen issue of his own, but he's been cleared to play. Carolina's defense has been a plus matchup for opposing running backs, so Neal should be viewed as a safe floor RB2/flex play as he gets another start in New Orleans' backfield.
Audric Estime and
Evan Hull will be backing him up, with tight end
Taysom Hill getting the occasional carry as well.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Nick Underhill
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