Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Adam Thielen Active for Steelers Debuts
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen are active for Sunday's Week 14 contest against the Baltimore Ravens. Both players are making their team debuts. Valdes-Scantling was signed from the Steelers' practice squad earlier this week after previously playing for the Buffalo Bills. In five games with Buffalo, he caught four of his eight targets for 40 yards. Meanwhile, Thielen was claimed off waivers after he and the Minnesota Vikings mutually agreed to part ways. The 35-year-old had caught just eight passes through 11 games. He is one year removed from a solid 2024 campaign with the Carolina Panthers in which he caught 48 passes for 615 yards and five touchdowns. Neither player is much of a hot commodity in fantasy football, but they both have the potential to carve out significant roles. After all, the Steelers have been underwhelmed by the wide receiver position across the entire depth chart, including receivers DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III, and could be looking for meaningful contributions from new faces.
Source: Alan Saunders
Source: Alan Saunders
Steelers Won't Fire Mike Tomlin This Year
The Pittsburgh Steelers are approaching a major decision on head coach Mike Tomlin's future, but he won't be fired this year, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Instead, organizational leadership will conduct a thorough review of Tomlin next offseason before deciding whether to pick up his 2027 contract option by March 1, 2026. The 19th-year head coach has won more than 62% of his games with the team, going 189-113-2. He is the NFL's longest-tenured head coach, but the Steelers haven't made a Super Bowl in 15 years and could be looking for a change in leadership. Any change won't come lightly, as Pittsburgh is known for keeping its head coaches under contract for a long time. They've had just three different head coaches since 1969. While no decision on Tomlin is imminent, this will be a very interesting storyline to monitor in the offseason window between February's Super Bowl and March's contract option deadline.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Christian Darrisaw Active Against Commanders
Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) is officially active for Sunday's game against the visiting Washington Commanders in Week 14. The Vikings will also have rookie offensive guard Donovan Jackson (ankle) available. Both offensive linemen were listed as questionable. The 26-year-old Darrisaw will return from a three-game absence due to knee and foot injuries, giving the Vikings a notable upgrade at left tackle to help protect second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy's blind side. Justin Skule will move back to a bench role for Minnesota with Darrisaw back in the fold. Jackson will return after missing last week's blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks due to an ankle injury and should reclaim his role as the starting left guard. It's good news for a struggling Vikings offense.
Source: Vikings.com - Craig Peters
Source: Vikings.com - Craig Peters
Bengals Suspend Jermaine Burton for Week 14
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton has been suspended by the team for Sunday's Week 14 contest against the Buffalo Bills, according to Charlie Clifford of WLWT. The 2024 third-round pick has previously faced discipline for off-the-field issues, and his team-issued suspension is the latest example of Burton's personal choices costing him meaningful playing time. Burton has not played an offensive snap this season, and he did not travel with the team to Buffalo. As a rookie last year, he caught four of 14 targets for 107 yards. He should be left on waivers in all fantasy leagues.
Source: Charlie Clifford
Source: Charlie Clifford
Bobby Wagner Suiting Up for Commanders Defense
Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner (knee) is officially active for the Week 14 contest on Sunday in Minnesota against the Vikings. Wagner will be available despite dealing with a knee injury this week and being listed as questionable on the final injury report on Friday. The 35-year-old veteran is no longer in his prime, but he's still very valuable in IDP fantasy leagues, as he enters Week 14 action as the No. 3 linebacker in overall fantasy points with 56 solo tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and three pass breakups. Wagner could have another strong day on Sunday against the Vikings and second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who has mostly struggled in what is essentially his first year in the NFL. The Commanders' defense has been pretty generous to opposing offenses in 2025, but the matchup this week against Minnesota puts them on the streaming radar in fantasy.
Source: Washington Commanders
Source: Washington Commanders
Zach Wilson Active as Backup Quarterback for Week 14
Miami Dolphins quarterback Zach Wilson (illness) is officially active for Sunday's Week 14 contest against the New York Jets. Wilson had been listed as questionable after being a late addition to the injury report on Saturday. In the end, though, the former No. 2 pick will suit up against his old team. He will continue to operate as the backup quarterback behind Tua Tagovailoa. Meanwhile, third-string rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers is a healthy scratch once again.
Source: Dennis Waszak Jr.
Source: Dennis Waszak Jr.
Tristan Wirfs Inactive on Sunday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers left tackle Tristan Wirfs (oblique), who was listed as questionable for Week 14, is officially out for Sunday's divisional clash against the New Orleans Saints. It will be the fourth game that Wirfs has missed this year due to injury. With the 26-year-old sidelined, Graham Barton is expected to kick out to left tackle to protect quarterback Baker Mayfield's blind side. Ben Bredeson will likely start at center. It's a notable shake-up for Tampa's offensive line against a decent Saints defense in a must-win game as the Bucs look to stay atop the NFC South division.
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Olave Officially Active in Week 14
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (back) is officially active for Sunday's divisional game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14. Olave dealt with some back spasms late last week but was eventually cleared to play against the Miami Dolphins and finished with four catches on seven targets for 47 yards and a touchdown in the 21-17 loss. The 25-year-old was listed as questionable on the final Week 14 injury report, but he will be active again and should be considered a must-start in all fantasy football lineups. Olave ranks as the WR9 in half-PPR fantasy points in 2025 with 73 catches for 781 yards and five touchdowns on 115 targets despite having to work with quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough. The former first-rounder caught eight of 12 targets for 63 yards in the first game against the Bucs this year, back on Oct. 26.
Source: New Orleans Saints
Source: New Orleans Saints
Dylan Sampson Active for Week 14 Against Tennessee
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (calf) is officially active for Sunday's Week 14 contest against the Tennessee Titans. He had been listed as questionable after upgrading to a limited participant in practice on Friday. Sampson has consistently operated as the Browns' No. 2 running back behind fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins, but he has started to carve out more of a role for himself lately. He had 82 scrimmage yards and a receiving touchdown in Shedeur Sanders' first career start two weeks ago, and he added 5.8 yards per carry on four rushing attempts last Sunday. Judkins plays too much to justify starting Sampson in fantasy lineups, but the Tennessee product is still a solid handcuff worth stashing in all dynasty formats, as well as redraft leagues with at least 12 teams.
Source: Kelsey Russo
Source: Kelsey Russo
Joshua Palmer Officially Inactive for Week 14
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle, knee) is inactive for Sunday's Week 14 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. His absence was expected after he didn't practice this past week, and he was listed as doubtful heading into the weekend. Injuries have limited Palmer to just eight games in his first season with the Bills, and he has been underwhelming with just 18 catches, 272 yards, and zero touchdowns. Even when healthy, he's not a reliable fantasy football option. In Palmer's absence, Gabe Davis and Brandin Cooks should earn more volume in the passing game behind Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Tyrell Shavers.
Source: Joe Buscaglia
Source: Joe Buscaglia
Dalton Kincaid Suiting Up Against Bengals
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring, knee) is officially active for Sunday's Week 14 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. Kincaid returns from a three-game absence and will reclaim his role atop the depth chart. He has a fantastic opportunity to produce this week against a Bengals team that has been historically poor when defending opposing tight ends. In fact, the Bengals have allowed the most catches, receiving yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points to tight ends in 2025. Assuming Kincaid is healthy enough to handle a full or near-full workload, he'll be a mid-range TE1 with high-end upside. He's not a lock to play a full dose of snaps, but even if he's limited, this matchup is too favorable not to take advantage of. Kincaid should be started in all fantasy leagues.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Nick Sirianni More Involved in Eagles Offensive Game-Planning
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has been more involved in offensive preparations this week as the team prepares to face the Los Angeles Chargers on the road in Week 14 on Monday Night Football, team sources told Tim McManus of ESPN. Sirianni has been more vocal in offensive meetings alongside coordinator Kevin Patullo and has been addressing the group for longer than usual at the top of meetings before ceding to Patullo, who will continue to call the plays, at least for another week. The Eagles currently rank 24th in total yards (304.8 yards per game), 23rd in passing (196.3), 22nd in rushing (108.5), and 19th in points (22.5) despite having the highest-salaried offense in the league. Philly has averaged 15.5 points over its last four games and is looking to snap a two-game skid. Patullo is calling plays for the first time in his career in 2025, and the Eagles' offense has lacked imagination for most of the season.
Source: ESPN.com - Tim McManus
Source: ESPN.com - Tim McManus
Vikings Could Bring in Veteran QB to Push J.J. McCarthy
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said that he would not be surprised if the Minnesota Vikings brought in a veteran quarterback next season to enhance their QB room and "maybe push J.J. McCarthy a little bit." After moving on from Sam Darnold following a career-best season in 2024, the Vikings added veteran Carson Wentz as insurance behind McCarthy to begin the 2025 campaign. Wentz suffered a season-ending shoulder surgery, leaving undrafted rookie Max Brosmer as the backup for McCarthy. Brosmer was forced into action in Week 13 against Seattle after McCarthy suffered a concussion, and he had a disastrous four-interception performance last weekend. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season in 2024 following knee surgery, and he has mostly struggled in his first six NFL starts, completing 54.1% of his 159 pass attempts for 929 yards, six touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. If McCarthy continues to struggle to close out 2025, he might not be a lock for the starting QB job going into the 2026 season.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Alec Pierce Remains a High-Upside Fantasy Starter for Week 14
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce's strong season continues with a favorable matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14. The 25-year-old is this year's WR41 with 33 catches, 689 yards, and two touchdowns, but he has come on particularly strong lately with an average of 13.5 fantasy points per game (PPR) over his last six contests. He has established himself as Daniel Jones' second-favorite target behind Michael Pittman Jr., though we also have to factor in the strong presence of Jonathan Taylor, who commands heavy volume on the ground. Still, despite losing opportunities to Pittman and Taylor, Pierce is having the best season of his young career and continues to find himself on the fantasy radar every week. This week, he ranks as the WR33 in RotoBaller's fantasy rankings, making him a strong WR3/flex in most leagues. He also gets a relatively favorable matchup against the Jaguars, who have allowed the 15th-most fantasy points and 11th-most touchdowns to wide receivers in 2025.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Monangai a Strong Fantasy Starter Despite Tough Matchup
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai remains the No. 2 option on the depth chart behind D'Andre Swift, but he should still be viewed as a high-end RB3/flex with additional upside heading into Sunday's Week 14 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The Bears have emerged as a run-heavy offense, allowing both Monangai and Swift to carry fantasy relevance in any given week. Now, with wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) inactive, Chicago may be more motivated than ever to run the football early and often. Monangai handled 22 carries last week, and we would not be surprised to see him register at least another 15-20 rushing attempts this week. A matchup against the Packers' run defense isn't ideal, but Monangai's impressive efficiency so far this year (4.88 YPC) should be enough to counteract the effect of Green Bay's defense. He ranks as the overall RB25 in this week's RotoBaller fantasy rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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