December 15, 2025
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn announced on Monday that the team has fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. New York's defense was embarrassed by Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback
Trevor Lawrence in Week 15, who recorded six touchdowns in a 48-20 rout of New York. Through 15 weeks, the Jets' defense ranks 29th in total rushing yards allowed (1,921), 23rd in yards per pass attempt allowed (7.2), and 30th in opponent points per game (28.4). Wilks was in his first season in New York and has now lasted one season or less in each of his last three stints as an NFL defensive coordinator. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn served as the Detroit Lions' defensive coordinator for four seasons before taking over in New York, so he could assume defensive play-calling duties for the remainder of the 2025 season.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
December 15, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a late scratch before his team's Week 15 win over the New York Giants due to a groin injury. In his absence, Commanders back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the way with 18 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown. However, Rodriguez Jr. had emerged as the lead rusher in Washington before getting hurt. Across three games leading into Week 15, the 25-year-old racked up 172 rushing yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. Croskey-Merritt's stellar performance against the Giants may lead to more of a split backfield in Washington going forward. Still, in fantasy leagues where Rodriguez Jr. is available on the waiver wire, he should be targeted heading into his team's Week 16 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 15, 2025
ESPN's Rob Demovsky reports that Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Christian Watson (chest) "does not have any long-term injury" and that his status for his team's Week 16 matchup against the Chicago Bears will be "determined later in the week." Watson suffered a chest injury that knocked him out of Green Bay's Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos and required a trip to the hospital following the game. The 26-year-old had been playing some of his best football before suffering the injury. Across four games leading into Week 15, Watson had recorded 17 receptions for 264 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 26 targets. If he misses time, Packers wideouts
Romeo Doubs,
Jayden Reed,
Dontayvion Wicks, and
Matthew Golden could all see expanded roles. The Packers play the Bears on Saturday night, so Watson will have one fewer day of recovery time than usual heading into Week 16.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Rob Demovsky
December 15, 2025
After missing three games with an ankle injury, Arizona Cardinals running back
Emari Demercado returned to the lineup in Week 15 against the Houston Texans. The 26-year-old played a minimal role against Houston, recording one scrimmage yard on three touches. However, Cardinals running back
Bam Knight (ankle) suffered an ankle injury that knocked him out of the game and required him to be carted off the field. If Knight misses further time, Demercado could step into a more prominent role in the Arizona backfield alongside
Michael Carter, who led the team with 18 touches in Week 15. Across 10 games this season, Demercado has racked up 306 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 42 touches. Before suffering the ankle injury, he had out-snapped Carter in two consecutive games. The Cardinals' backfield remains one of the league's more difficult lineup situations to parse. Still, Demercado could be a player to target on the waiver wire heading into his Week 16 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 15, 2025
Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports that Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) has been medically cleared from the orbital fracture he sustained in mid-October, and the "hope is to have him back practicing in the near future." The 23-year-old has been on Injured Reserve since Week 6 after getting injured in a freak accident in pre-game warmups. Richardson Sr. opened the season as the backup to Colts quarterback
Daniel Jones (Achilles). However, with Jones suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Week 14, Richardson Sr. could be back in the starting mix once healthy. Veteran quarterback
Philip Rivers got the start for the Colts in Week 15 and completed 18 of 27 pass attempts for 120 yards, one touchdown, and one interception against the Seattle Seahawks. If Richardson Sr. can return this season and the Colts turn the starting job over to him, his rushing ability gives him clear fantasy upside. Across 17 career NFL games (15 starts), Richardson Sr. has rushed for 634 yards and 10 touchdowns. His progress should be closely monitored heading into the team's Week 16 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
--Will BradySource: CBS Sports - Matt Zenitz
December 15, 2025
Denver Broncos running back
Jaleel McLaughlin played second fiddle to rookie running back
RJ Harvey in Week 15's 34-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers, as he only had two rushes for four yards and played 13 percent of the snaps in the game. At this time, McLaughlin, at best, is a handcuff to Harvey fantasy managers as over the past four games that Harvey has taken over as the lead back after
J.K. Dobbins (foot) was injured, McLaughlin has earned a total of 18 carries for 69 yards (3.83 YPC), and is playing only 15 percent of the snaps, which provides no standalone fantasy value outside of being a safety net for Harvey fantasy managers. If you do not own Harvey on your team, it makes no sense to roster McLaughlin for the final few weeks of the fantasy season.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 15, 2025
Heading into Week 15, Houston Texans running back
Jawhar Jordan had yet to record his first NFL carry. However, the 26-year-old got his opportunity in Week 15 and delivered, logging 118 scrimmage yards on 17 touches against the Arizona Cardinals. The Texans entered the game without veteran running back
Nick Chubb (ribs) and lost RB1
Woody Marks (ankle) to an ankle injury, opening up the door for Jordan. Neither injury is expected to lead to a long-term absence, so Jordan's surge to the top of the depth chart may be short-lived. However, if Chubb and Marks are sidelined for Houston's Week 16 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, Jordan could see another week of high-volume touches. Particularly in deeper fantasy leagues, Jordan may be worth targeting on the waiver wire and holding until more information is released around the status of Marks and Chubb for Week 16.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 15, 2025
Los Angeles Rams second-year back out of Michigan,
Blake Corum, continues to impress in Week 15, as he scored for a third straight week, and had 11 carries for 71 yards (6.45 YPC) and one touchdown. Corum has now rushed for a ridiculous 280 yards and four touchdowns over the past three weeks. More impressively, he has done it on 30 carries, which is suitable for a 9.33 YPC. Corum is still the clear backup to
Kyren Williams, who had 15 carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns in Week 15. Still, the Rams offense, led by MVP candidate
Matthew Stafford, is potent enough to score so much that both running backs have fantasy value as we move into the final weeks of the season. At this point, Corum is the top handcuff option in fantasy football and has standalone RB3/flex value even with Williams taking a majority of the carries. The Rams will face stiff competition in Week 16 on Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 15, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie running back out of Arizona,
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, is officially back on the fantasy football radar as
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a game-time decision in Week 15 and was eventually ruled out shortly before the game. Croskey-Merritt, aka Bill, earned 18 carries, which he turned into 98 yards (5.33 yards per tote) and a touchdown in the Commanders' 29-21 win over the New York Giants. JCM looked good running the football, and his score came from 16 yards out. All of a sudden, this Commanders backfield gets a bit shaky after it had finally cleared up for us the past few weeks, with Rodriguez being the only one worth rostering. After JCM's performance in Week 15, the Commanders may want to give JCM some more run after an impressive performance, so if Rodriguez Jr., who had been playing well, returns in Week 16, all of a sudden, we are back to the three-running-back committee of Rodriguez, JCM, and
Jeremy McNichols. All of which would become desperate plays in Week 16 of the fantasy football season. Regardless, JCM would be worth a waiver-wire pickup in case Rodriguez can't suit up in Week 16.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 15, 2025
ESPN's senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported Monday morning, based on sources, that the belief is that Baltimore Ravens rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan (knee), the team's second-leading tackler, tore his ACL during Sunday's 24-0 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Buchanan will undergo additional testing today to confirm the injury; however, it is not a great sign for the Ravens defense, which has been playing better of late since its Week 7 bye. Buchanan is a rookie who has played in all 14 games this season and has 85 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. Trenton Simpson is his backup and is likely to see additional snaps moving forward. The Ravens (7-7) are sitting in second place in the AFC North and duking it out with the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6), who are currently sitting atop the division and play the Miami Dolphins (6-7) on Monday Night Football. Once confirmed, Buchanan will begin his rehab process and prepare for the 2026 season.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: Adam Schefter
December 15, 2025
The Arizona Cardinals' running back room got a little thinner after their 40-20 Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, as running back
Bam Knight (ankle) was carted off the field and did not return.
Michael Carter stepped up as the team's primary running back, and after Knight's departure, he had 78% of the backfield carry share, a 10% target share, and got the only carry inside the 10-yard line. He finished the contest with 14 carries for 56 yards (4.0 YPC) and hauled in all four of his targets for an additional 38 yards, and will have fantasy value moving forward, as he appears to be their No. 1 running back option if Knight misses any extra time and would become a must-add off the waiver wire. The Cardinals take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16 and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17. It will be important to monitor Knight's status, as that will determine Carter's overall value moving forward. Still,
Trey Benson (knee) was not activated from the IR on December 10, and because of that, his season is over, leaving Carter as the only healthy option at this time.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 15, 2025
Minnesota Vikings tight end
T.J. Hockenson caught four passes on five targets for 66 yards, which led the way for his team in a 34-26 victory against the Dallas Cowboys. The veteran tight end appears to be developing a rapport with young quarterback
J.J. McCarthy, with whom he connected for a touchdown the week prior. As the Vikings have struggled massively throughout portions of the season, Hockenson has been a fantasy disappointment who still ranks outside the top-20 PPR tight ends. But with Minnesota prioritizing its running game and tight ends in recent weeks, Hockenson will look to continue his strong finish in Week 16 at the New York Giants.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: ESPN
December 15, 2025
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver
Jalen Nailor found the end zone twice to help his team score a 34-26 victory against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Nailor caught three of five targets for 47 yards and was on the receiving end of both of quarterback
J.J. McCarthy's passing touchdowns. The Michigan State product has developed a nice connection with his quarterback, with whom he also connected on a key fourth-down conversion that led to a touchdown later on the same drive. For fantasy purposes, however, Nailor remains a tough sell. The Vikings have raved about Nailor, but as a secondary pass catcher, he's still averaging fewer than two catches per game as Minnesota prepares to play the New York Giants in Week 16.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: ESPN
December 15, 2025
For the second straight week, the Minnesota Vikings put together an excellent offensive day with modest output from wide receiver
Justin Jefferson, who was held to only two catches in his team's 34-26 victory against the Dallas Cowboys. The Vikings targeted Jefferson a team-high eight times, but the result was two catches for 22 yards. It was a hard-luck night for Jefferson, who caught a touchdown from quarterback
J.J. McCarthy that was negated by an illegal formation penalty in the first half, missed out on a would-have-been big play when McCarthy overthrew him in the fourth quarter, and then dropped a touchdown later on the same drive. Managers who survived into Week 16 will see Jefferson in a favorable setting against the New York Giants, yet with just six catches in the past three games, it's getting more and more difficult to trust Minnesota's offense to get Jefferson the ball.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: ESPN
December 15, 2025
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy delivered another encouraging outing in Sunday night's win over the Dallas Cowboys, completing 15 of 24 passes for 250 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while adding four carries for 15 yards and another score on the ground. McCarthy threw an interception on his first pass of the game, but he settled in nicely afterwards and had arguably his best game as a pro. McCarthy has established a legitimate connection with
Jalen Nailor, as they connected for two scores, while he continues to struggle to get on the same page with top wideout
Justin Jefferson. The second-year quarterback has totaled 413 passing yards, 34 rushing yards, and six total touchdowns with one turnover over the past two weeks. McCarthy will look to build on his recent improvement in Week 16 in another great matchup against the New York Giants on the road.
--Kyle McCarthySource: ESPN.com
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