December 18, 2025
When asked about tight end
Harold Fannin Jr.'s involvement in the game plan during the team's 31-3 loss to the Bears, Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees gave the rookie a vote of confidence. "The
Harold Fannin well is a good one to go to," Rees replied when asked about the 21-year-old's spike in targets. In fact, Fannin accounted for a whopping 40% of quarterback
Shedeur Sanders' looks in their Week 15 defeat and has commanded at least 11 in consecutive contests. The third-round pick of April's draft has been on the field for at least 90% of Cleveland's offensive snaps across the past four weeks, and is on the rise with an elevated opportunity share since teammate
David Njoku (knee) went down with injury.
--Alex CiullaSource: Scott Petrak
December 18, 2025
Houston Texans second-year running back
Jawhar Jordan could have a significant workload for the second straight week this Sunday in an excellent matchup against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders with Houston's backfield beat up at the moment.
Nick Chubb (ribs) missed the Week 15 win over the Arizona Cardinals, and rookie
Woody Marks (ankle) was forced from Sunday's game and never returned. In his NFL debut against Arizona after Marks left, Jordan carried the ball 15 times for 101 yards and also caught two passes for 17 yards as the lead back over
Dare Ogunbowale. Chubb has returned to practice this week and Marks apparently could have gone back into Sunday's game if it wasn't a blowout, but it's unclear if either back will be available in Week 16. That puts the 26-year-old Jordan on standby for potential lead-back duties for the Texans if Chubb and Marks cannot go. Jordan is still only rostered in 7% of Yahoo leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
According to head coach Shane Steichen, the Indianapolis Colts are opening the 21-day practice window for third-year quarterback
Anthony Richardson Sr. (orbital). Richardson has been sidelined since fracturing his orbital bone before Indianapolis' Week 6 win against Arizona, reportedly due to an accident with a training band. While it's unclear if the team will have him practice ahead of Week 16's home matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, it's excellent news for his potential to return to the field, particularly if the Colts make a playoff run. With veteran
Philip Rivers in the picture, the 23-year-old is unlikely to garner another chance at starting under center for the team in 2025. That said, fantasy managers should still stash him in dynasty formats.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam Schefter
December 18, 2025
Despite having to deal with a new quarterback in Week 16, Miami Dolphins tight end
Darren Waller (knee, rest) is expected to maintain a critical role in the team's passing game when they line up with the Cincinnati Bengals at home. The 33-year-old is fresh off his best outing of the campaign, hauling in a season-high seven passes and two more touchdowns, giving him six scores in seven appearances. Unfortunately for Waller, any rapport he'd built up with quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa won't translate when rookie signal-caller
Quinn Ewers takes the field for his first NFL start. With the current state of Miami's offense, there's little reason to believe the veteran's role would shrink, although it's fair to expect diminished production. Favorably, Cincinnati's defense has allowed the most fantasy points per game to TEs (22.66), leaving Waller as a back-end TE1 for the outing.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 18, 2025
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz has quietly had a solid season for the team, and figures to be productive again in Week 16's home matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. Schultz is coming off one of his better games of the season last Sunday (8/76/1). Despite just two trips to pay dirt in 2025, the Stanford alum has not been short of opportunity. Since Week 3, Schultz has had at least six targets in all but three appearances, and eight or more in six of his last nine. Additionally, he leads Houston in receptions (70) and is well on his way to surpassing his personal best in that category (78). While the veteran doesn't offer much in the way of YAC, he's been a reliable target for quarterback
C.J. Stroud and should continue to work as the second option in the passing game behind wide receiver
Nico Collins. For what it's worth, Las Vegas has been tough against tight ends, but Schultz should be involved enough to matter for fantasy.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 18, 2025
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Chicago Bears wide receiver
Rome Odunze (foot) is expected to miss this Saturday night's clash with the visiting Green Bay Packers. Odunze has been shelved for a few weeks now. Unfortunately, he was scheduled to suit up for the Week 15 win against the Browns, but he aggravated his stress fracture during pre-game warmups and seems to be trending toward being inactive again, considering he's yet to log even a limited practice session since. It's an unideal situation for the Bears' offense, particularly with rookie
Luther Burden III (ankle) also in danger of missing with an injury of his own. As it stands,
DJ Moore,
Olamide Zaccheaus,
Devin Duvernay, and
Jahdae Walker are the only wideouts heading into this weekend sans a designation.
--Alex CiullaSource: Ian Rapoport
December 18, 2025
Green Bay Packers running back
Josh Jacobs (knee) is expected to play in Week 16, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Jacobs has been fighting through a knee injury since Week 11, when he slammed his knee onto the turf against the New York Giants. While he may be fighting through an injury, his production hasn't changed, putting up 92 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 14 attempts against the strong Denver Broncos defense. He faces the Chicago Bears in Week 16, who have been middle-of-the-pack against the run this season. While Jacobs will likely be limited in practice this week, he should be able to play and be an RB1 for fantasy managers this week.
--Nathan HarveySource: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network
December 18, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Rashid Shaheed had the most productive game of his Seahawks career in Week 15, hauling in five of seven targets for 74 yards in the 18-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Shaheed was traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Seahawks at the trade deadline, but hasn't quite seen his former production until recent weeks. In Week 14, Shaheed had 67 yards and a huge kick return for a touchdown that changed the game against the Atlanta Falcons, and his best receiving output in Week 15. Shaheed faces the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16, which should be one of the biggest games of the regular season in 2025. The Rams have allowed he fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, so watch for Shaheed to make an impact on this game.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Mike Evans exploded in his first game back from injury, hauling in six of 12 targets for 132 yards in the 29-28 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Against the defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to outside receivers this season, Evans took advantage, putting up his best stat line of the 2025 season. While his 1,000-yard streak is likely to come to an end this season, that doesn't mean he can't win fantasy managers' championships. Despite being limited to just 51% of the snaps in Week 15, Evans produced as the WR1 in this offense. He faces a Carolina Panthers defense in Week 16, which he has decimated in recent seasons. Evans has tallied over 90 receiving yards in eight of his last ten games against Carolina and has scored 10 touchdowns during that span. The Buccaneers are in must-win mode, so expect Evans to play a ton this week and beyond.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (hip) was a full participant in both Tuesday's and Wednesday's practice sessions and is expected to return in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Rodriguez missed Week 15's game against the New York Giants with a hip injury but was reportedly close to playing last week. Even if the third-year back is fully healthy entering Week 16, rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a big game on the ground in Week 15 and may have cut into Rodriguez's workload. Rodriguez has played only 30% of the snaps this season, and with Washington's offensive struggles with quarterback
Jayden Daniels, it's hard to trust any back on this team. Assuming he's good to go for their divisional showdown against the Eagles, Rodriguez offers low-end FLEX value in Week 16.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
New Orleans Saints running back
Evan Hull could see an expanded workload this week when the Saints host the New York Jets. In three games with the Saints this season, Hull has only had 10 carries for 31 yards, while adding one reception for six yards. However, with
Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) still not practicing and rookie
Devin Neal (hamstring) already ruled out for Week 16, Hull has a chance to play a significant role this week. After Neal left the game in Week 15, both Hull and second-year back
Audric Estime carried the backfield, with Estime playing 39% of the snaps while Hull played 31%. Even if it's a committee in New Orleans, they face a Jets defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs this season. Both backs carry fantasy value this week and are worth monitoring heading into Week 16.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
With the Los Angeles Rams unlikely to have receiver
Davante Adams (hamstring) available on Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks, tight end
Colby Parkinson is emerging as an increasingly important pass catcher for one of the NFL's top offenses. Under head coach Sean McVay, the Rams haven't exactly been renowned for their favoritism of tight ends. Lately, however, Parkinson's production has been unavoidable. In the six weeks since
Tyler Higbee (ankle) sustained an injury, the veteran tight end has finished among the top 15 among PPR tight ends five times, including two games in the top five. After a monster Week 15 in which he caught two touchdowns in a win against Detroit, Parkinson is a viable option in all formats in a massive game against Seattle.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Troy Franklin was one of the biggest surprises of Week 15, going for six catches, 85 yards, and a touchdown in a victory against Green Bay, though changes could be coming. Franklin's increase in targets was correlated to the absence of fellow wide receiver
Pat Bryant (hamstring), who was unavailable last week but practiced in full on Wednesday and looks likely to return for Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Franklin is a top-30 PPR receiver on the season, but he's been a boom-or-bust player throughout. He has three top-10 finishes among receivers, but five outside the top 50. Against a Jags' defense that ranks 20th against fantasy receivers, Franklin has a quality matchup, but remains a volatile option prone to big swings in production.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department charged
Samson Nacua, the brother of Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Puka Nacua, with taking a vehicle belonging to L.A. Lakers forward Adou Thiero without the latter's consent, according to NBC4 in Los Angeles. Police allege that Samson Nacua and another man took Thiero's SUV, which police tracked to a hotel in West Hollywood, where surveillance footage showed the duo had valeted the vehicle and entered the premises. Authorities arrested both men, who remain jailed and face charges relating to the theft. According to the station, police are unsure where the SUV was originally stolen.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: NBC4 Los Angeles
December 18, 2025
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon gave running back
Michael Carter a vote of confidence on Wednesday, saying that the team was "very comfortable" with Carter serving as the team's top option out of the backfield as the team prepares for a Week 16 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Gannon's comments have merit, as the fifth-year back played a commanding 80% of the team's offensive snaps a week ago. Injuries have absolutely ravaged the Arizona backfield in 2025, as
James Conner (ankle),
Trey Benson (knee), and now
Bam Knight (ankle) are all out for the remainder of the season. While Arizona is out of the playoff picture, Carter will be a hot commodity who could be a valuable lineup option with favorable matchups against Atlanta in Week 16 and Cincinnati in Week 17.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Arizona Cardinals
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