December 16, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver
Tez Johnson was forced into meaningful snaps in his first year in the NFL this year due to injuries to
Mike Evans,
Chris Godwin Jr., and
Jalen McMillan. In a five-game stretch from Oct. 5 to Nov. 9, Johnson was on the fantasy football map with 18 receptions on 27 targets for 247 yards and four touchdown catches. In five games since then, though, as the Buccaneers' receiving corps has inched closer to full health, Johnson has caught just five of 10 targets for 32 yards and one touchdown. Evans, Godwin, and McMillan have all returned from their injuries, leaving the seventh-rounder out of Oregon near the bottom of the WR depth chart to close out the season. Johnson has not caught a pass in the last two games on just one target, and he has just one catch for five yards in the last three games. The 23-year-old played 15 snaps in last Thursday's loss to Atlanta, his lowest snap count since his Week 1 debut.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
December 16, 2025
After having another injury setback recently with his hamstring, Green Bay Packers running back
MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring, calf) is unlikely to come off Injured Reserve and play this year, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today Sports. "I'm not going to say no, but I think you can use deductive reasoning on that one," head coach Matt LaFleur said when asked if Lloyd can return this year. "It's very, very, very unfortunate, because this guy has worked his ass off." The 24-year-old second-year RB suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason and then injured his calf while rehabbing, forcing him to IR before the start of the 2025 campaign. The Packers opened Lloyd's 21-day practice window at the beginning of December, but a recent setback with his balky hamstring has put an end to hopes that he'd be an asset for the Packers late in the year. He has played in just one career game for the Packers in two seasons, and his future in the league is in doubt going into Year 3.
--Keith HernandezSource: USA Today Sports - Ryan Wood
December 16, 2025
Green Bay Packers running back
Josh Jacobs (knee) took another big hit in Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos, and if the team were practicing on Tuesday, he would not be on the field, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Jacobs went into Sunday's game in Denver with a questionable tag, but he ended up suiting up while scoring two touchdowns, including just the second receiving score of his career. The 27-year-old had 12 carries for 73 yards and a TD on the ground, adding two receptions on three targets for 19 yards and a second score. Jacobs only played 55% of the offensive snaps, but he was still effective, busting a 40-yard touchdown run while also catching a 14-yard pass for an impressive TD in the back of the end zone. Fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he misses more practice time this week, but he should be active for another big divisional contest against the Bears this Sunday, where he'll be a must-start fantasy RB. Jacobs had 20 carries for 86 yards and a TD in the win over Chicago two weeks ago.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
December 16, 2025
Despite being eliminated from the playoffs for a third straight season in Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati Bengals are unlikely to fire head coach Zac Taylor right now, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. Dehner also doesn't expect the Bengals to cut ties with director of player personnel Duke Tobin, who is viewed as family in the organization. "There is zero thought that his job is in jeopardy." Taylor signed a five-year extension with Cincy following the Super Bowl season and then signed another five-year extension after reaching the AFC Championship Game in 2022, so he has two years remaining on his deal. Additionally, quarterback
Joe Burrow continues to speak openly in support of the coaching staff. They've had a top-10 offense over the last four seasons under the offensive-minded Taylor.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
December 16, 2025
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel labeled safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf) as "week-to-week" after he was injured in Monday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Travis Wingfield of MiamiDolphins.com. The Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention with their loss in Week 15, but Fitzpatrick could be back in the final three weeks. The 29-year-old star safety probably won't play in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he could be back for Week 17 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or in the Week 18 regular-season finale versus the division-rival New England Patriots. Fitzpatrick continues to be an asset for fantasy managers in IDP leagues, as he ranks as the No. 12 defensive back in 2025 with 59 total tackles, one sack, six pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 14 games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: MiamiDolphins.com - Travis Wingfield
December 16, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Sterling Shepard was active for the team's Week 15 Thursday night loss to the Falcons, but he did not log a single snap. With
Mike Evans and
Jalen McMillan both available, Shepard failed to get off the sidelines for the first time this season. Already finding himself pushed down the depth chart in recent weeks, Shepard had topped 25 receiving yards only once in his last seven games before Thursday night's blanking, while being held to single digits in three of those contests. The return to health of Evans and McMillan has now made him a non-factor for fantasy purposes, and the 32-year-old can be comfortably dropped in all league formats.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 16, 2025
Miami Dolphins tight end
Greg Dulcich caught both of his targets in a Week 15 Monday night loss to the Steelers, turning both into chunk plays and finishing the game with 46 yards. He's now topped 40 yards in back-to-back games, and while it was his teammate
Darren Waller who grabbed the headlines with two touchdowns against the Steelers, Dulcich remains in play as a desperation start against a historically bad Bengals defense in Week 16. By a wide margin, Cincinnati has allowed the most receptions, yards, and touchdowns to the tight end position, making them the only team that fantasy managers could actually entertain the thought of starting a team's second tight end against. With most leagues whittled down to four teams and waiver activity less competitive at this point in the season, there are likely better streaming options available, but in an absolute pinch, Dulcich could be viewed as a low-floor play for fantasy semifinals.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 16, 2025
Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Keon Coleman was kept off the stat sheet in a Week 15 win over the Patriots, and has now caught a total of four passes for 25 yards in his three games since returning from a very public benching. He managed to convert one of those grabs into a touchdown, masking just how bad it's been of late, but he should now be viewed as unplayable in just about all formats, while his dynasty value is at an all-time low. Still only 22 years old and tied to a perennial MVP candidate, this could be viewed as a buy-low opportunity. Unfortunately, he's shown very little to suggest that his value won't stay low for the foreseeable future.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 16, 2025
Miami Dolphins quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa threw his league-leading 15th interception early in the team's Week 15 Monday Night loss to the Steelers and led a hapless offense that struggled to sustain drives until the game was out of hand. When asked if he is considering a quarterback change, head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Tuesday, "The QB play last night was not good enough. So everything is on the table." With the loss, the Dolphins fell to 6-8 and were eliminated from playoff contention. Tagovailoa signed a lucrative contract extension before the 2024 season, complicating any potential moves the team intends to make at the position. However, after another disappointing season, it appears that changes are coming to Miami in some form or fashion.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jordan Schultz
December 16, 2025
New Orleans Saints wide receiver
Devaughn Vele (shoulder) avoided serious injury to his shoulder, according to Nick Underhill, but he is still considered week-to-week, leaving his availability for the rest of the season in question. Vele exited during the fourth quarter of a Week 15 win over the Panthers, having caught five of six targets to that point for 69 yards. He had formed a notable connection with rookie quarterback
Tyler Shough of late, averaging 5.3 catches for 67.3 yards over the past three games while adding a touchdown. With Vele likely unavailable or limited for the duration of the fantasy playoffs,
Chris Olave, who has quietly been the WR8 in Half-PPR scoring, should see an abundance of targets against the Jets and Titans, keeping him in must-start territory.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Nick Underhill
December 16, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
Gardner Minshew is in line to start the rest of the season after
Patrick Mahomes (knee) suffered a torn ACL in the Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Minshew completed three of five passes for 22 yards and a game-ending interception in relief of Mahomes in the fourth quarter. The 29-year-old has been serviceable in the past as a starter, with his best season coming in 2023 with the Indianapolis Colts. He completed 62.3% of his passes for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 13 starts. Minshew most recently started for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, where he wasn't quite as effective in a worse offensive environment, throwing more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (nine) over nine starts. Minshew doesn't profile as a fantasy option in standard formats, but he has appeal in superflex leagues for a favorable Week 16 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 16, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Jalen McMillan made his season debut in Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons, catching both of his two targets for 38 yards. McMillan spent the entire season up until that point on Injured Reserve after suffering multiple fractures and ligament damage in his neck during a preseason game, but he made a full recovery and will be a factor in the Bucs' passing game over the final few games. The second-year wideout's upside in fantasy football is limited with all of Tampa Bay's wide receivers healthy at the same time for the first time this season. McMillan's 47.5% route share last week ranked fourth on the team behind
Chris Godwin Jr.,
Mike Evans, and rookie
Emeka Egbuka. While McMillan ended his rookie season on a high note with seven touchdowns over the final five games, his opportunities will likely be too inconsistent to rely on in standard-sized leagues to end this season.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 16, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Cooper Kupp hauled in five of his seven targets for 46 yards in the Week 15 win over the Indianapolis Colts. It marked Kupp's most receptions in a game since Week 5, and his most receiving yards since Week 10. The former Los Angeles Rams wideout hadn't recorded more than three receptions in a game since Week 5 versus Tampa Bay, with Seattle's passing game flowing almost entirely through
Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With newcomer
Rashid Shaheed's role growing in Seattle's offense, Kupp feels like the clear third option in a low-volume passing game, which caps his upside in fantasy. The 32-year-old is still a tough player to trust in 12-team formats, but he'll be a decent flex option in deeper leagues on Thursday night against his former team.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 16, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Dare Ogunbowale has largely been a special-teamer during his nine-year career, but he has seen more work as a runner in the past two weeks. With
Nick Chubb (ribs) and
Woody Marks (knee) dealing with injuries, Ogunbowale scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 14. He handled a season-high eight touches in Week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals, with five carries for two yards and three receptions (four targets) for 32 yards as a receiver. The 31-year-old was in just a complementary role after Marks exited against the Cardinals, though, with second-year running back
Jawhar Jordan seeing the bulk of the carries. Jordan handled 15 carries for 101 yards, becoming the first Texans running back to go over the century mark in rushing yards this season. Ogunbowale profiles as the receiving back if Chubb and Marks remain unavailable in Week 16 against the Raiders, limiting his fantasy appeal to just deeper PPR leagues.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 16, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Rashid Shaheed had five catches for 74 yards on seven targets in the Week 15 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Shaheed hadn't been a big part of the offense in the first four games after being acquired from the New Orleans Saints at the trade deadline, playing 47.9% of the snaps and totalling just four receptions for 37 yards on 11 targets. His role has expanded in the past two games as he's gotten more acclimated in the offense, with nine catches for 141 yards on 12 targets. Notably, his snap share spiked to 68.3% in Week 15, his highest mark with Seattle by 12 percentage points. Shaheed's 18.2% target share in the past two weeks is second only to
Jaxon Smith-Njigba for Seattle, and his big-play ability makes him worth a look off the waiver wire, as he could be in for a nice finish to the season.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
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