December 19, 2025
New Orleans Saints wide receiver
Devaughn Vele (shoulder) has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season before the team's Week 16 matchup with the Jets. Vele suffered the season-ending shoulder injury during the fourth quarter of a Week 15 win over the Panthers and had already been ruled out for Sunday. Vele had established a strong rapport with rookie quarterback
Tyler Shough, regularly seeing target shares in the high-teens to mid-20s, and his absence should see tight end
Juwan Johnson step in as the team's number two pass-catching option behind
Chris Olave. Olave, who has seen double-digit targets only once since Shough took over as starter, but has found the endzone in three of his last five games, could once again see the type of heavy volume that defined his early season and is RotoBaller's WR11 for Week 16.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Nick Underhill
December 19, 2025
New Orleans Saints running back
Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) was not spotted during the open portion of Friday's practice, signifying a near certainty that he will miss his fourth consecutive game. With rookie
Devin Neal (hamstring) placed on Injured Reserve earlier this week, the Saints' backfield will now be led by second and third-year runners
Audric Estime and
Evan Hull. With Neal prematurely exiting the team's Week 15 win over the Panthers, it was Estime who out-snapped and out-touched Hull. Although Hull's calling card coming out of college was his receiving ability, it was also Estime who saw three targets to Hull's zero. It's always risky relying on in-game adjustments to predict how a backfield will be split with a full week of preparation, but Estime appears to be the New Orleans running back with the most value heading into a favorable Week 16 matchup with the Jets. Still, it should come as no surprise if Hull is worked in more as the team's dedicated passing back.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Katherine Terrell
December 19, 2025
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Drake London (knee) is listed as questionable heading into Sunday's matchup with the Cardinals, but head coach Raheem Morris told reporters on Friday that he expects his star receiver to suit up and play. London has missed the last four games with a knee injury, having last appeared in a Week 11 loss to the Panthers. In his absence, tight end
Kyle Pitts Sr. has been the main benefactor, finishing as the TE5, TE6, and TE1 over the past three weeks, with the best game of his career coming in a Week 15 Thursday night victory over the Buccaneers. With London back, Pitts' target share is sure to drop, but he remains in play against a Cardinals defense that has been near the bottom of the league at defending tight ends. London himself can also be trusted against an Arizona defense that just saw
Nico Collins finish as the WR4 in Week 15. London may face a limited snap count in his first game back, but he is still RotoBaller's WR7 for the week.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Tom Pelissero
December 19, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Treylon Burks hasn't recorded a reception since his spectacular one-handed touchdown catch in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos. His route share dropped from a season high of 67.3% in that game to 25% in Week 14 against the Vikings, with
Noah Brown back in the lineup. Brown suffered another injury to his ribs in last week's game against the Giants and will now miss the remainder of the season, so Burks should see more opportunities moving forward. Washington has trended much more run-heavy with quarterback
Marcus Mariota under center, limiting the fantasy appeal of their pass-catchers. Burks shouldn't be considered for fantasy football lineups in Week 16 against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 19, 2025
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that a decision on activating quarterback
Deshaun Watson (Achilles) to the 53-man roster will be made next week, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. The deadline for the Browns to activate Watson from the Physically Unable to Perform list is next Tuesday. Watson has been ruled out for the Week 16 contest against the visiting Buffalo Bills. Even if the 30-year-old is activated from the PUP list before the Week 17 divisional matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, rookie
Shedeur Sanders is expected to remain Cleveland's starter to close out the 2025 season. If the Browns don't activate Watson by next Tuesday, he'll be ineligible for the final two games of the year. The three-time Pro Bowler's NFL future remains incredibly murky, although he's expected to stick around in Cleveland next year and compete for the starting job with Sanders and
Dillon Gabriel.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
December 19, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie running back
Dylan Sampson (calf, hand) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the visiting Buffalo Bills in Week 16, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot. Sampson was unable to practice all week and will miss his second straight game due to a pair of injuries. It's unclear if the 21-year-old will be ready to play in Week 17 against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers. With Sampson out again, expect
Trayveon Williams and
Raheim Sanders to battle for backfield scraps behind rookie starter
Quinshon Judkins. Sampson has really only been valuable in fantasy for the Week 1 regular season opener when Judkins was out. In the 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Sampson had a season-high 12 carries for 29 yards and caught all eight of his targets for 64 yards. Since then, he's had only two games with more than three rushing attempts.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
December 19, 2025
Washington Commanders tight end
John Bates stepped into a near full-time role last week against the New York Giants with
Zach Ertz (knee) out for the year with a torn ACL. Bates played 42 of 61 snaps (69%) and ran a route on 13 of 26 dropbacks (50%) while recording one catch for 19 yards on one target. The 28-year-old has operated as Washington's top blocking tight end this season, but will take on more responsibility as a receiver with Ertz out of the picture. Bates has never been an impactful pass-catcher at the NFL level, though, with a career high of just four catches in a game, a single-game best of 46 yards, and two total touchdowns in 79 career games. He should continue to see steady playing time in Week 16 with third-string TE
Colson Yankoff (ankle) also out this week, but he could cede more receiving work to second-year tight end
Ben Sinnott down the stretch, given Sinnott's Day 2 draft capital and better athletic profile. Bates shouldn't be considered as a viable fantasy option for Saturday's divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 19, 2025
Cleveland Browns tight end
David Njoku (knee) has officially been ruled out for the second straight game and will not dress for the Week 16 contest this Sunday against the visiting Buffalo Bills, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Njoku has not practiced the last two weeks after suffering a knee injury on a touchdown grab in Week 14. It's unclear if he'll be able to play in the final two weeks of the 2025 regular season. The 29-year-old has taken a clear back seat to rookie
Harold Fannin Jr. this year, catching just 33 passes on 48 targets for 293 yards and four touchdowns. With Njoku out in last week's blowout loss to the Chicago Bears, Fannin had seven catches on a team-high 14 targets for 48 yards. Fannin will have more TE1 upside for a second straight week this Sunday against Buffalo with Njoku out again.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
December 19, 2025
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Friday that running back
Michael Carter will get the starting nod in the backfield on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons with
Bam Knight (ankle) done for the year, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports.
Emari Demercado is "expected to be involved as well." Carter should handle most of the early down work for Arizona in the final three games of the season, with Demercado serving as the team's passing-down specialist. The 26-year-old returned from a three-game absence due to an ankle sprain in last week's loss to the Houston Texans. Demercado played just 11% of the snaps and had one carry for one yard and two catches for no gain on three targets. In 10 games in 2025, he's averaged only 3.2 yards per carry for 242 yards, and no touchdowns on 32 carries on the ground, adding 10 catches for 64 yards and a TD. At best, Demercado will be a low-upside RB3/flex option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
December 19, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins (concussion) will be questionable for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins in Week 16, according to Mike Petraglia. Higgins was limited in practices on Wednesday and Thursday and still has one more hurdle to clear to pass through the league's concussion protocol. For context, the 26-year-old wideout has had two concussions in the last several weeks, and the Bengals could be extra hesitant to throw him back out there now that they've been eliminated from the playoffs. Higgins' first concussion occurred late in the Week 12 loss to the New England Patriots, and he experienced more concussion symptoms following the Week 14 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He's missed two of the last three games and could miss another contest this Sunday. When active, Higgins is a must-start in fantasy with a 46-667-9 line on 81 targets this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Mike Petraglia
December 19, 2025
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Friday that he would like to re-sign running back
Javonte Williams, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. "He's had an outstanding season," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. "I love the way he brings the wood, so to speak, when he runs. Looking forward to him hopefully being a Cowboy for a time to come." Williams is having his best NFL season in his first year in Dallas, as he enters Week 16 with career-highs in carries (230), rushing yards (1,113), and touchdowns (10) in 14 starts for the Cowboys. The 25-year-old former Denver Broncos RB has added 33 catches on 46 targets for 128 yards and another two TDs through the air. Williams suffered a neck injury in Week 15 in the first quarter, but he returned in the second half and should be good for Sunday's matchup against the Chargers. He'll be a low-end RB1 for fantasy managers this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jon Machota
December 19, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) has "looked pretty good" in his return to practice this week, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. "Getting his wind back a little bit. That's a tough injury, but particularly (for) a skill guy that runs fast and has to decelerate and accelerate. Our staff has done a good job with him. He's done a good job pushing through. We'll see how he does today," Gannon said. The head coach added that the team "will have a plan for him" when asked about any extra concern about getting his conditioning back for a return this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. After missing the last two weeks with a heel injury and four of the last five weeks due to an appendectomy, Harrison looks primed to return in Week 16. However, he could take a back seat to
Michael Wilson, who has gone nuclear for fantasy managers in Harrison's absence. If Harrison is active, treat him as a low-end WR2 in fantasy football.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
December 19, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver
Jaylin Lane has gone catchless in three straight games after recording at least one reception in 11 consecutive games to open the season. Lane hasn't proven to be a reliable receiver yet, but he's been one of the most impactful punt returners in the league. The rookie fourth-rounder scored his second touchdown on a punt return in last week's win over the New York Giants and is one of five players with multiple punt-return touchdowns this season, ranking sixth in average yards per return (14.3). The Virginia Tech product doesn't have a major role in the offense behind
Terry McLaurin and
Deebo Samuel Sr., though, and shouldn't be considered as a fantasy option for Saturday's divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 19, 2025
Carolina Panthers rookie first-round wide receiver
Tetairoa McMillan (ankle, foot) has been cleared from the final Week 16 injury report and will suit up on Sunday for a big divisional matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McMillan sat out of Wednesday's practice with ankle and foot injuries, but he returned to a full practice a day later and is ready to roll this weekend. The 22-year-old from Arizona has been the Panthers' clear WR1 all year after being selected in the first round back in April, and he's produced 59 receptions, 851 receiving yards, and six touchdowns on his 102 targets through 14 games. McMillan doesn't have more than two catches in any of the last three games, but he's also scored twice and has four total touchdowns in the last four games. Coming off a two-catch, 25-yard dud last week against the Saints, fantasy managers are counting on a bounce-back performance in a big contest in Week 16.
--Keith HernandezSource: Carolina Panthers
December 19, 2025
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Friday that cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) will likely need surgery and miss the rest of the 2025 season, according to Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News. Bland injured his foot in the Sunday night loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15 and will now miss the final three games of the regular season. The Cowboys have an extremely slim chance of making the postseason, but losing the 26-year-old defensive back is a big loss for the Cowboys as they head into a Week 16 matchup this Sunday against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers. If Bland is officially ruled out for the year, he'll finish his fourth year in the NFL with a career-high 73 tackles (45 solo), three tackles for loss, one interception returned for a touchdown, and six pass breakups in his 12 starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Dallas Morning News - Joseph Hoyt
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