December 8, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins (concussion) experienced concussion-like symptoms on Sunday night and Monday morning and is back in the league's concussion protocol, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Higgins suffered a concussion in the Week 12 loss to the New England Patriots and was held out of the Thanksgiving night win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13. The 26-year-old returned on Sunday in the loss to the Buffalo Bills and enjoyed having quarterback
Joe Burrow back, as he caught six of a season-high 11 targets for 92 yards and two touchdowns in the 39-34 loss. Higgins had a big game, but he slammed his head on the snowy turf late in the contest and is now in danger of missing the Week 15 divisional rematch with the Ravens. If Higgins misses another game,
Andrei Iosivas will be back on the flex map for the start of the fantasy football playoffs in most leagues. Iosivas had just one catch on Thanksgiving with Higgins out, but it was a 29-yard touchdown reception.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
December 8, 2025
Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback
Riley Leonard (knee) is dealing with a knee injury that leaves his status for Sunday's game in Seattle against the Seahawks uncertain, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's pretty concerning for a Colts team that unfortunately lost starting QB
Daniel Jones in the Week 14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars with a season-ending torn Achilles tendon. Former first-rounder Anthony Richardson Jr. (eye) remains on Injured Reserve and may not play again this season following orbital surgery, so the Colts are extremely thin at the most important position on the field. Leonard, 23, went 18-for-29 passing for 145 yards with no touchdowns and an interception on Sunday after taking over for Jones, and he added a rushing touchdown on two carries. If Leonard's knee injury keeps him from playing in Seattle,
Brett Rypien would be the next man up in Indy under center.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
December 8, 2025
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said on Monday that he wants to get wide receiver
Marvin Mims Jr. more involved in the offense, according to Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. "We got to find more touches on the offensive side of the ball. And we'll do that," Payton said, adding that the coaching staff talked about it in a staff meeting. Mims caught his only target in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, gaining five yards. Although he was barely a factor on offense, Mims still made an impact, returning a punt 48 yards for a touchdown in the first half. The Broncos continue to say that they want to get the 23-year-old big-play threat more involved, but they've failed to do so, as he has only 25 catches for 247 yards and one TD on 35 targets through 14 weeks after he had a 39-503-6 line in 17 regular-season games in 2024. Mims is a threat to score every time he touches the ball, but the volume just has not been there while being behind
Courtland Sutton,
Troy Franklin, and rookie
Pat Bryant on the WR depth chart.
--Keith HernandezSource: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
December 8, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year wide receiver
Jalen McMillan (neck) was one of a handful of players, along with
Mike Evans and Tristan Wirfs, that head coach Todd Bowles told reporters are in play for Thursday night's divisional game against the Falcons. Still on IR, McMillan returned to practice last week and was able to log a slate of limited participations after suffering multiple fractures in his neck as well as additional ligament damage in a gruesome-looking preseason injury. As a rookie in 2024, McMillan came on strong down the stretch and was a key piece to many fantasy championships. Expecting him to do the same this year is unreasonable, as he will likely slot in as the team's WR4/5 upon his return, but with the Buccaneers fighting for a playoff spot, he could be a cheap DFS play who has already demonstrated huge touchdown upside, coming down with seven touchdown grabs in his final five games last year.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Rick Stroud
December 8, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Mike Evans (collarbone) is reportedly in play to return to action on Thursday night, according to head coach Todd Bowles. Evans was able to return to practice and log a week of limited participation last week after breaking his collarbone and suffering a concussion in a Week 7 loss to the Lions. Tampa Bay hosts the Falcons on Thursday night, and with Evans limited to only four games this year, he sits at 140 receiving yards on the season with only one total touchdown. Unless the Buccaneers force-feed him targets to the tune of 215 yards per game, his impressive streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons will come to an unceremonious end in Year 12.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Rick Stroud
December 8, 2025
Miami Dolphins running back
De'Von Achane (ribs) left Sunday's blowout win over the Jets with a rib injury, which may now require additional rest, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. Achane has since had an MRI, and McDaniel told reporters on Monday that his star running back made it very clear that he could have returned to the game despite obvious discomfort. On only seven carries on Sunday, Achane recorded 92 rushing yards and a touchdown, while bringing in his only target for an additional 13 yards. On the season, he has been the overall RB4 in Half-PPR formats, and with one of the most favorable schedules for the fantasy playoffs, he will likely be part of many championship-winning rosters if he isn't forced to miss any time. The Dolphins play the Steelers on Monday night, so fantasy managers won't see an official injury report until Thursday.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Chris Perkins
December 8, 2025
An MRI on Monday officially confirmed that Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Daniel Jones (Achilles) has torn his Achilles and will miss the rest of the season. Jones suffered the non-contact injury in the first quarter of a Week 14 loss to the Jaguars and was replaced by 6th-round rookie
Riley Leonard.
Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) remains on IR and has not been cleared for football activities after a Week 6 pregame incident with a resistance band fractured his orbital bone, requiring surgery. Heading into Sunday, the only other quarterback in the building was practice squad veteran
Brett Rypien, so the team is expected to add additional depth before a Week 15 matchup with the Seahawks. Playing over 75% of the Colts' offensive snaps on Sunday, Leonard threw for 145 yards, zero touchdowns, and an interception, while adding five yards and a rushing touchdown on the ground. With an unenviable schedule against the Seahawks, 49ers, and Jaguars, pass catchers
Alec Pierce,
Michael Pittman Jr., and
Tyler Warren suddenly become less appealing plays for the fantasy playoffs, while
Jonathan Taylor will likely be tasked with handling an even larger workload down the stretch.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Mike Chappell
December 8, 2025
Updating a previous report, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Monday that wide receiver
CeeDee Lamb (concussion) is "doing a good job" after suffering a concussion in last Thursday night's loss to the Detroit Lions, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. "He's meeting all the thresholds that you need to meet that will get him to where he can play this week. So far, he's had no setbacks," Jones added. The 26-year-old had six catches on eight targets for a season-high 121 yards before getting hurt, but it remains to be seen whether he'll actually be cleared from the NFL's concussion protocol in time to play on Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15. Lamb is headed in the right direction, but fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on his progress this week.
Ryan Flournoy, who had nine catches, 115 yards and a TD last week, would be in play as an upside flex against Minnesota if Lamb is not cleared.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jon Machota
December 8, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback
Shedeur Sanders will be the team's starting QB for the rest of the 2025 season, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Monday. The announcement comes a day after Sanders had by far his best performance in his third career start in Sunday's 31-29 loss to the visiting Tennessee Titans. The 23-year-old went 23-for-42 passing for 364 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception while adding three carries for 29 yards and a fourth touchdown. His TD passes went to receiver
Jerry Jeudy and tight ends
Harold Fannin Jr. and
David Njoku. Sanders nearly led the Browns to a comeback in the fourth quarter, but they failed on a two-point conversion to tie the game. The fifth-rounder out of Colorado can extend plays with his legs and has been aggressive in pushing the ball down the field. Sanders will have a stiff test in Week 15 on the road against a ball-hawking Bears defense.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
December 8, 2025
ESPN's Rob Demovsky writes that Green Bay Packers rookie first-round wide receiver
Matthew Golden (wrist) was limited by his wrist injury in the Week 14 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) was also limited, allowing Bo Melton to step into the No. 4 receiver role. Melton's only catch of the game was a big 45-yard touchdown. The 22-year-old Golden returned to action on Sunday and disappointed, failing to haul in his only target while playing just five offensive snaps. The Texas product had missed the previous two games with shoulder and wrist injuries. Golden should have a bigger role in a Week 15 matchup on the road against the 11-2 Denver Broncos, but fantasy managers just cannot trust him in a tough matchup while being buried in a crowded receiving corps that just got
Jayden Reed back from Injured Reserve.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
December 8, 2025
Carolina Panthers running back
Jonathon Brooks (knee) is exactly a year removed from tearing his right ACL for a second time, but he said that he feels "pretty much almost 100 percent again," according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Brooks is doing straight-line running and hopes to start mixing in full-speed cutting and route running soon. Barring a setback, he could return to the practice field in the spring for organized team activities (OTAs). The 22-year-old was the team's second-round pick back in 2024 out of Texas. Since his injury, the Panthers signed
Rico Dowdle in free agency and took
Trevor Etienne in the fourth round of this year's draft. Dowdle has been one of the best backs in the NFL this year and has formed a dangerous 1-2 punch in Carolina's backfield with
Chuba Hubbard. Any expectations fantasy managers holding Brooks might have in dynasty/keeper leagues must be tempered by concerns of injury risk.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Joe Person
December 8, 2025
ESPN's Rob Demovsky says that both Green Bay Packers wide receivers
Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) and
Matthew Golden (wrist) were limited due to their injuries in the Week 14 win over the Chicago Bears, allowing Bo Melton to move into the No. 4 receiver spot. Melton caught a big 45-yard touchdown pass on his only reception of the day. Wicks only played 11% of the offensive snaps on Sunday, with Golden playing 9% of the snaps. Wicks wasn't targeted at all, while Golden was unable to secure his lone target on the day at Lambeau Field. Both Wicks and Golden figure to be on the field more if they can put their respective injuries behind them, but Green Bay's receiving corps is now as healthy as it has been all year with the return of
Jayden Reed. Wicks' six-catch, 94-yard, two-touchdown performance on Thanksgiving will most likely end up being an outlier performance in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
December 8, 2025
Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) had not been cleared for football activities as of last week, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. Richardson's status is suddenly worth watching now that the Colts fear that
Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 23-year-old Richardson needed orbital surgery after he was hit in the eye when a resistance band snapped before the team's Oct. 12 game against the Arizona Cardinals. With no timetable for his return, it's looking like Richardson might not be able to return at all this year. Rookie
Riley Leonard was forced into action in Week 14 after Jones' injury, and he went 18-for-29 passing for 145 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. He added five rushing yards and a TD on the ground. The 23-year-old is in line to make his first career NFL start in a tough Week 15 matchup on the road in Seattle.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
December 8, 2025
New York Jets wide receiver
Adonai Mitchell was a hot waiver-wire pickup last week after his eight-catch, 102-yard performance on a season-high 12 targets that included his first touchdown of the season in the Week 13 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Fantasy managers who picked him up and started him in Week 14 against the Miami Dolphins were disappointed, though, as he caught just one of six targets for 24 yards in Sunday's 34-10 loss. The 23-year-old wasn't helped by the fact that quarterback
Tyrod Taylor injured his groin early in the game and never returned.
Justin Fields (knee) was inactive, so third-stringer
Brady Cook was forced into action and struggled mightily. Mitchell will continue to get opportunities in New York's offense with
Garrett Wilson (knee) potentially done for the year, but outside of his strong Week 13 performance, Mitchell has caught only four of 19 targets for 76 yards in his other three games for the Jets. He'll be a low-floor WR4/flex in deeper fantasy leagues heading into a Week 15 matchup against the first-place Jaguars with New York's QB situation unsettled.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
December 8, 2025
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz corralled 3-of-4 targets for 22 yards in his team's 20-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. The veteran -- along with the rest of Houston's pass-catchers sans
Nico Collins -- couldn't find much room to operate against the hosting Chiefs in Week 14. In spite of the aerial attack's poor performance, Schultz remained involved, placing second on the team in catches and third in yards and targets. Rookie
Jayden Higgins' ascension caps the former's weekly upside, but there's still some PPR appeal here on a squad that ranks eleventh in overall pass rate (58.23%). Even with Sunday's lowly fantasy output, the 29-year-old had recorded at least five catches and six looks in eight of his last 11 appearances. He's a stable option ahead of Week 15's waivers.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
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