December 18, 2025
Atlanta Falcons tight end
Kyle Pitts Sr. (knee) was added to the injury report after practicing in a limited capacity on Thursday. The "limited" tag could mean that Pitts simply took some reps off Thursday, or it could mean that he injured himself midway through and didn't return. Without any sort of official clarification from the team, managers will likely have to wait for the Falcons' injury report on Friday before getting any updates on his status. Atlanta will include injury designations on Friday's report, offering some more clarity on whether Pitts will be able to play in Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Arizona Cardinals. He's arguably the hottest player in fantasy football right now, coming off a career-best outing in which he caught 11 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns. Pitts is a strong mid-range TE1 option for this weekend, and he could jump to the high-end TE1 tier if
Drake London (knee) is ruled out and he operates as
Kirk Cousins' top target. Of course, Pitts now has his own injury to deal with, so managers should stay tuned for updates as kickoff gets closer.
--Andersen PickardSource: Atlanta Falcons
December 18, 2025
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Drake London (knee) was limited for a second consecutive day on Thursday. The superstar receiver's status remains uncertain heading into Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Arizona Cardinals. London is working his way back from a multi-game absence and hasn't played since Week 11. He's getting closer to returning, offering managers a boost as the fantasy playoffs continue. If he can suit up this week, he'll benefit from a favorable matchup against the Cardinals, who allowed 85 yards and two touchdowns to Houston's
Nico Collins last weekend. Managers should stay tuned to the Falcons' final injury report on Friday, which will provide more clarity on his status and a potential injury designation for Week 16. If he plays without any limitations, he'll be a high-end WR1.
--Andersen PickardSource: Atlanta Falcons
December 18, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulders) did not practice at all again this week and has been ruled out for Saturday's divisional game versus the Washington Commanders in Week 16, according to the team. Carter has not played for the Eagles since Week 13 after having surgery on both of his shoulders earlier this month. With the 24-year-old missing another game, Byron Young will continue to see more playing time on the interior of Philly's defensive line. Carter's absence is good news for the Commanders' ground game that should feature a split backfield on Saturday between
Chris Rodriguez Jr. and rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The Eagles' defense is more vulnerable on the ground without Carter on the field, but their defense/special teams unit should still be considered a strong fantasy option this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: Philadelphia Eagles
December 18, 2025
The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract extension for wide receiver
Jakobi Meyers on Thursday that will tie him to the organization through the 2028 season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The deal includes $40 million guaranteed. Meyers was scheduled to be a free agent after the 2025 season, but instead, the Jaguars will lock him up six weeks after acquiring him from the Las Vegas Raiders at the trade deadline. In the wake of rookie first-round two-way player
Travis Hunter's (knee) season-ending injury, the 29-year-old Meyers immediately came in and took Jacksonville's offense to a level it had been lacking in the first half of the season. Since arriving, the Jags have gone 5-1, while Meyers has caught 27 of his 38 targets for 355 yards and three touchdowns in six games. Meyers has become quarterback
Trevor Lawrence's top target, and together with
Brian Thomas Jr., they present a tough one-two WR punch for opposing defenses.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
December 18, 2025
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Davante Adams (hamstring) is officially inactive for the Thursday night divisional tilt against the hosting Seattle Seahawks, according to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN. Adams aggravated a nagging hamstring injury in Sunday's win over the Detroit Lions and wasn't able to practice on a short week. The 32-year-old was listed as doubtful on Wednesday's final injury report. L.A.'s offense still has enough firepower to sweep the Seahawks on the year on the road, but Adams' absence could be felt in the red zone on Thursday night. Adams has been a favorite of quarterback
Matthew Stafford's inside the 20s, and he currently leads all receivers with 14 touchdown receptions in 14 games. Star receiver
Puka Nacua should handle heavy volume in Seattle, with tight end
Colby Parkinson also having TE1 upside after his two-touchdown performance in Week 15. At receiver,
Konata Mumpfield,
Tutu Atwell, and
Jordan Whittington will be battling for Adams' vacated targets.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Lindsey Thiry
December 18, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie tight end
Gunnar Helm (toe) was limited in practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week with a toe injury, according to Turron Davenport of ESPN. Helm could draw a questionable tag in Week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs if he doesn't upgrade to a full practice on Friday. If the 23-year-old cannot gain clearance to play this weekend, it would set
Chig Okonkwo up for more targets in the passing game and make him a much more attractive TE2 streamer in fantasy football. Both Helm and Okonkwo have been low-upside TE2 streamers for most of 2025 in an inconsistent Titans offense, but Helm has had a bigger role of late. The fourth-rounder has had at least four catches in the last five games and caught all four of his targets for 49 yards and his second touchdown of the year in last week's loss to the 49ers.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Turron Davenport
December 18, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Terry McLaurin has scored a touchdown in two of three games since returning in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos. McLaurin hauled in a 51-yard catch-and-run touchdown in last week's win over the Giants for his longest play since Week 3 against the Raiders. The 30-year-old wideout leads the Commanders in targets (22), receptions (13), and yards (206) since returning, ranking as the WR14 in PPR points per game (15.2) in that span. McLaurin draws a tougher matchup in Week 16 against a stingy Eagles secondary, but he's historically played well against the division rival, averaging 5.3 catches with 76.4 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 12 career games against them. McLaurin ranks as RotoBaller's WR19 in PPR leagues in Week 16.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback
Geno Smith (shoulder, back) appears to be on his way to suiting up this Sunday on the road in Houston against the Texans in Week 16 after practicing in full for the second straight day this week on Thursday, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Head coach Pete Carroll said earlier this week that there was "a good chance" that Smith would be active this weekend after he sat out last week's blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles with a right-shoulder injury that he suffered in the Week 14 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Kenny Pickett fell flat against his former team, but Smith hasn't been much better in his 13 starts in his first year with the Raiders, completing 67% of his passes for 2,648 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Against the top-rated Texans defense, the 35-year-old Smith should only be thrown into starting lineups if you're desperate in two-QB superflex leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
December 18, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Jeremy McNichols surprisingly drew the start last week against the New York Giants with
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) sidelined and handled all the snaps on the opening drive of the game. Rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt took over the bulk of the carries for the remainder of the game and proved to be the far more effective runner, producing 96 yards on 18 carries compared to McNichols with six yards on nine carries. The veteran handled a season-high 10 touches, but totalled only 22 yards and also lost a fumble with less than three minutes remaining in the game with Washington up 29-21, giving the Giants a shot to tie the game. With Rodriguez set to play on Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles, McNichols should return to his normal duties as the primary third-down back. He profiles only as a deep-league dart throw in PPR formats in Week 16.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt delivered his best game in more than two months in the Week 15 win over the New York Giants, handling a season-high 18 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown. Croskey-Merrit took advantage of his opportunities with
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) out of the lineup, but Rodriguez will be back for Saturday's divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. It's to be determined if the rookie seventh-rounder earned a larger role with his strong performance, but he looked dynamic and reminded fantasy managers why he generated buzz earlier in the season. Croskey-Merritt struggled mightily after his breakout game in Week 5, ranking 38th out of 38 running backs with at least 40 carries with a 3.0 yards-per-carry average in Weeks 6-11. However, over the past three games, he's turned things around, averaging 5.1 yards per tote and ranking ninth among backs with at least 25 carries. It's another good matchup for Washington running backs in Week 16, as the Eagles have allowed the seventh-most yards per carry (4.5) this season, but with the uncertainty around Croskey-Merritt's role, he profiles only as a deep-league flex option.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a full participant in practice this week and doesn't have an injury designation heading into Saturday's divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Rodriguez missed last week against the Giants' 31st-ranked run defense and saw rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt record his best day on the ground since his breakout performance in Week 5. The third-year back still has a favorable matchup in Week 16 against an Eagles defense that has allowed 4.5 yards per carry and the 11th-most PPR points to running backs. The Kentucky product had recorded double-digit carries in each of the past five games, with him leaving early due to injury in Week 10 being the only exception, but it remains to be seen if Croskey-Merritt worked his way back into a more prominent role after his performance last week. Rodriguez is a consistent threat to find the end zone, but he doesn't have the highest ceiling in a split backfield and is a non-factor in the passing game. He's tough to trust as anything more than a low-end RB3/flex option for the second round of the fantasy playoffs.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
Updating a previous report, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins (concussion) was listed as a limited participant in practice again on Thursday, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Higgins has not been a full participant at practice since reporting concussion-like symptoms following the team's Dec. 7 loss in Week 14 to the Buffalo Bills. The 26-year-old suffered his first concussion of the year in Week 12 and did not play in the Thanksgiving night win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13. Higgins was held out of last week's shutout loss to the Ravens and remains in the league's concussion protocol. He will need clearance from an independent neurologist to play this Sunday in a meaningless game against the Miami Dolphins, with both teams eliminated from the postseason. Higgins' availability is up in the air, but he'd be a must-start in fantasy football if he's active in a great matchup.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
December 18, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Mike Evans (collarbone) was given the day off on Thursday after he put in a limited practice on Wednesday, according to the team's official website. Evans returned last week for the first time since breaking his collarbone in Week 7. He played only 55% of the offensive snaps, but when he was on the field, quarterback
Baker Mayfield was looking his way often. The 32-year-old veteran pass-catcher was targeted a season-high 12 times, catching six passes for 132 yards in the loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. The Bucs will most likely be resting the veteran during the week from here on out, but he should be ready to roll for a huge divisional game on Sunday on the road in Carolina against the Panthers. After Evans' big performance in Week 15, fantasy managers should have him slotted back into all starting lineups in Week 16.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buccaneers.com
December 18, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota has a tough matchup in Week 16 against his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Mariota will remain Washington's starter for the remainder of the regular season after the team shut down
Jayden Daniels (elbow) after aggravating his elbow injury in Week 14. The 32-year-old signal-caller has been solid all season while filling in for Daniels, completing 62% of his passes for 1,600 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while adding 49 carries for 298 yards and a touchdown as a runner in 10 games (seven starts). Mariota is averaging 18.4 fantasy points per game in his seven starts, which would be tied for QB11 on the season among quarterbacks with at least six games. Mariota profiles as a QB2 on Saturday against an Eagles defense that has allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was able to practice in full all week and has been cleared to play in the Week 16 divisional game this Saturday versus the Philadelphia Eagles, according to the team. Rodriguez was a surprise inactive for last week's win over the New York Giants due to a groin injury. With the 25-year-old out last Sunday, rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt saw a season-high 18 rushing attempts for 96 yards and a touchdown. Before C-Rod's injury, he had taken over lead-back duties in Washington and had double-digit carries in four of the last five games. However, after JCR's impressive performance in Week 15, it's possible the two could split backfield touches more evenly in a tough matchup against the Eagles' defense. With a potential timeshare in Week 16, Rodriguez loses a lot of fantasy value and will be more of a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex for fantasy managers in deeper leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Washington Commanders
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