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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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