December 15, 2025
Toronto Raptors guard
Immanuel Quickley (illness) will return from a one-game absence on Monday against the Miami Heat. Due to illness, Quickley missed his first game of the season last week against the New York Knicks.
Jamal Shead started in Quickley's place and will return to the second unit on Monday night. However, the continued absence of
RJ Barrett (knee) means Shead will likely remain a significant piece in the rotation. Quickley has blown hot and cold in December, averaging 19.5 points and 5.5 assists. He finds himself in a great spot to make noise on Monday, as the Heat allow the fifth-most fantasy points in the league to point guards.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 15, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
December 15, 2025
Toronto Raptors guard/forward
RJ Barrett (knee) will remain out on Monday against the Miami Heat but is expected to return soon. According to Sportsnet's Blake Murphy, Barrett will begin "return-to-play" activities this week. The Canadian star has missed nine games due to a right knee sprain. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection for his knee last week.
Jamal Shead has had a larger role in the rotation during Barrett's absence, averaging 8.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.4 steals across 24.4 minutes per game in December.
--Taavi PailkSource: Blake Murphy
December 15, 2025
Orlando Magic guard
Jalen Suggs (hip) was diagnosed with a left hip contusion, ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk reports. This is a positive update, considering Suggs left the arena in a wheelchair after being injured in Saturday's loss to the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup semifinals. However, it remains unclear when Suggs will be available to return to the court. Orlando will be back in action on Thursday, facing the Denver Nuggets on the road.
Tyus Jones appears to be the most likely option to fill Suggs' place in the starting lineup, while
Tristan da Silva could see increased minutes coming off the bench.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 15, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
December 15, 2025
Boston Celtics guard
Payton Pritchard (neck) will play on Monday against Detroit. He popped up on the injury report because of neck spasms. Fortunately, the 27-year-old won't miss his first game of the 2025 campaign. Pritchard is having a fantastic season, averaging 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, all career-highs. While he's shot a career-low 33.7% from behind the arc, he remains a must-start in all fantasy formats despite a tough matchup on the horizon.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
December 15, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
December 15, 2025
San Jose Sharks forward Will Smith (undisclosed) was placed on Injured Reserve on Monday, along with fellow forward Philipp Kurashev (upper body). Both players were hurt during Saturday's win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Losing Smith is a bigger blow for the Sharks, as the 20-year-old has been the team's second-highest scorer in 2025-26. Across 33 outings, Smith has produced 12 goals and 29 points. Smith and Kurashev skated alongside teenage phenom Macklin Celebrini on the top line against Pittsburgh. With both sidelined, players such as William Eklund and Jeff Skinner may now have an opportunity to step into the top six.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 15, 2025
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.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
December 15, 2025
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.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
December 15, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (undisclosed) will remain out on Monday against the Florida Panthers but is nearing his return. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper told reporters on Monday morning that he's hopeful Vasilevskiy will return to action before Christmas. After Monday night, Tampa Bay has three more games scheduled before the holiday break. Jonas Johansson will remain between the sticks on Monday. Although Johansson has gone 2-3-1 over his last six starts, he has posted a strong 2.19 goals-against average with a .916 save percentage. The Swedish netminder will face a sharp offense on Monday, as the Panthers are averaging 3.13 goals per game this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 15, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Kevin Seifert
December 15, 2025
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.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
December 15, 2025
St. Louis Blues forward Dylan Holloway (ankle) has been ruled out for six weeks. He injured his right ankle at Sunday's practice. The injury is set to keep Holloway sidelined until at least late January. Very few things have gone right for Holloway in 2025-26, as he has totaled only 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 33 games. Alexey Toropchenko (leg) will replace Holloway in the lineup on Monday against the Nashville Predators, returning to action after a seven-game absence. Robby Fabbri will move into the top six. Since signing with the Blues earlier this month, Fabbri has posted assists in back-to-back games, and a spot on a scoring line elevates his fantasy value.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 15, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Francisco Standard - David Lombardi
December 15, 2025
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.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
December 15, 2025
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.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
December 15, 2025
Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane (upper body) is expected to miss at least the next two games. The former MVP is considered day-to-day after he sustained an upper-body injury in Saturday's 4-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Kane had a goal and an assist against his former team, boosting his tally for the season to 23 points. He has registered six goals and 17 helpers in 24 appearances. Chicago plays a back-to-back next, facing the New York Islanders on Tuesday and the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday. John Leonard was recalled from the minors on Monday and is set to take Kane's spot on the second line. While Leonard has never made a significant impact in the NHL, he leads the AHL with 19 goals this season and should draw some interest among DFS managers until Kane returns.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 15, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Alaina Getzenberg
December 15, 2025
Los Angeles Kings forward Quinton Byfield (illness) will miss his first game of the season on Monday night against the Dallas Stars. The Kings camp is currently dealing with an illness bug, and Byfield will join Phillip Danault (illness) on the shelf. The latter will be unavailable for a second consecutive game. Sitting out some action might do good for Byfield, as he hasn't scored a single point in six games. Despite the December slump, Byfield remains on track for a third straight 50-point year. On the Kings squad, Byfield ranks second with 15 assists and has amassed 19 points in 31 games. Andrei Kuzmenko is expected to re-enter the lineup in a first-line role on Monday, while Alex Turcotte will operate as the second-line center.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 15, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
December 15, 2025
New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad won't be in the lineup on Monday against the Anaheim Ducks after missing a team meeting. He will likely rejoin the action on Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks. With Zibanejad missing from the lineup against Anaheim, the Rangers will head out without their third-highest scorer. It took a while to get going for Zibanejad this season, but he is now on track for another 60-point campaign. In 33 contests, the veteran forward has tallied 11 goals and 25 points. Jonny Brodzinski is expected to fill in for Zibanejad on Monday. At the same time, the Rangers will welcome Matt Rempe (upper body) back into the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 15, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Chicago Tribune - Brad Biggs
December 15, 2025
Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (upper body) won't return to action until January. The team placed him on Injured Reserve and plans to re-evaluate Bedard in early January. Due to an upper-body injury, Bedard missed his first game of the season on Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings. The injury had paused Bedard's sensational campaign, in which he has recorded 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) over 31 games. With Bedard unavailable, Frank Nazar will work as the first-line center, flanked by Tyler Bertuzzi and Andre Burakovsky. Meanwhile, Jason Dickinson has joined the second line.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 15, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: Bears Insider - Michal Dwojak
December 15, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
December 15, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
December 15, 2025
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
December 15, 2025
The New York Mets are open to trading infielder/designated hitter
Mark Vientos this winter, sources told Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated. Vientos could draw plenty of interest, as he has four years of club control as a pre-arbitration player. He won't be a free agent until after the 2029 season. However, it remains to be seen how many MLB teams would be interested after Vientos regressed to a .233/.289/.413 slash line with a .702 OPS, 97 OPS+, 17 home runs, 61 RBI, and a -0.2 bWAR in 121 games in 2025. The year prior, Vientos broke out with 27 long balls, 71 RBI, an .837 OPS, and 3.0 bWAR in 111 games.
Brett Baty is likely to be the starter at third in 2026, and the Mets just signed
Jorge Polanco to take over at first base to replace
Pete Alonso, who signed with Baltimore in free agency. Vientos was able to drop his strikeout rate to a career-low 24.8% in 2025, but he isn't great defensively and still has a lot to prove.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Pat Ragazzo
December 15, 2025
The Kansas City Royals are still interested in trading for Boston Red Sox outfielder
Jarren Duran, but only if Boston lowers their asking price, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Royals have signed
Lane Thomas in free agency and also acquired
Isaac Collins from the Milwaukee Brewers, but they remain open to adding another outfielder. KC believes they'd have to give up left-hander
Cole Ragans to land Duran. The Royals see Ragans as a player with greater value as a potential Game 1 starter in a playoff series. Both Ragans and Ruan are under team control for three more seasons, with Ragans under contract for a combined $12 million the next two years and Duran for $7.75 million in 2026. If the Royals were to land Duran, he'd play left field with
Jac Caglianone getting most of the playing time in right. The 29-year-old regressed offensively and defensively in 2025, slashing .256/.332/.442 with 16 homers and 24 steals in 157 games, but he's still a highly coveted commodity with 20-20 potential that figures to be moved this offseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
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