Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert racked up 21 carries for 96 yards and two TDs in Monday night's loss to the Titans. He played 64% of Miami's offensive snaps and tripled up RB De'Von Achane in carries. Mostert has now carried 20+ times in three of his last four games. The other was the blowout win over the Commanders when he barely played in the second half. Miami gets tough pass defenses in the Jets, Cowboys, and Ravens the next three weeks. All three of those teams rank better in pass defense DVOA than rush defense DVOA. So we could see the Dolphins lean a bit more toward the run -- especially with WR Tyreek Hill banged up. Mostert needs the rushing volume (and TDs) because he's totaled just five targets over his last four games. That lowers his weekly floor. But the rushing volume has been strong enough to keep him in must-start territory.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa failed to throw a TD in Monday night's loss to the Titans for the first time this season. He completed 70% of his passes but for just 240 yards. His 7.3 yards per attempt was his fourth-lowest mark of the season. Miami's usually machine-like offense looked out of sync right from the start of this game. C Connor Williams left early with an injury, joining LT Terron Armstead on the sidelines. Tagovailoa also lost WR Tyreek Hill for more than a quarter with an ankle injury -- and Hill was clearly at less than 100% when he eventually returned. We'll keep an eye on all of these injuries this week. Tagovailoa also has a difficult schedule to contend with the rest of the way: vs. Jets, vs. Cowboys, at Ravens. It's the toughest remaining QB schedule, according to our adjusted fantasy points allowed. Tagovailoa looks more like a low-end QB1 -- and not a must-start -- over these final three weeks.
Colts HC Shane Steichen said Tuesday that the team is still planning for RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb) to play again this season. He's two weeks removed from a thumb surgery that's expected to keep him out for 3-5 weeks. Indianapolis dropped to 7-6 with the Week 14 loss to the Bengals but is still squarely in the mix for a Wild Card spot. Fantasy owners can't be counting on Taylor for Week 15, but a Week 16 return seems possible.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert will miss the rest of the season after fracturing the index finger in his right (throwing) hand, according to multiple reports. That leaves fifth-year QB Easton Stick to pilot the offense over the final four games. Stick has been with the Chargers since they drafted him in Round 5 back in 2019, but he had attempted just one regular season pass before Sunday. Stick went a forgettable 13 of 24 passing for 179 yards after taking over against the Broncos, throwing no TDs or INTs but fumbling twice (losing one). His 2023 preseason also proved unimpressive, including a 60.3% completion rate, 5.2 yards per pass attempt, 1 TD, 2 INTs, and a 9.0% sack rate. The QB situation obviously downgrades everyone on the Chargers' offense. WR Keenan Allen should remain usable. Stick targeted Allen on 37.5% of his attempts against Denver. He threw another 20.8% toward RB Austin Ekeler, the only other Chargers offensive piece you should still consider using. WRs Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer and TE Gerald Everett look droppable for other options. Herbert should have plenty of time to recover ahead of the 2024 season.
Packers WR Jayden Reed is starting to heat up. The rookie racked up 8 catches on 10 targets for 27 receiving yards in Week 14 vs. the Giants. In addition to his pass-catching, he also recorded 4 carries for 38 yards and a TD as a runner on Monday night. The Packers have been more creative in utilizing Reed on end-around plays and getting the ball in his hands as a rusher of late, as Reed is averaging 20 rushing yards per game over the past five weeks. On top of his 5 catches and 41.4 receiving yards per game in that span, Reed is posting an average of 15.9 PPR points weekly and becoming an underappreciated difference-maker in lineups. He should be a solid flex value again in Week 15 vs. the Buccaneers (fifth-best WR matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed) and needs to be on fantasy managers’ radar(s) in both season-long and dynasty formats.
Ravens S Kyle Hamilton suffered a low-grade MCL sprain in Sunday's win over the Rams. HC John Harbaugh told reporters Monday that Hamilton "looks like he'll be day-to-day" and added that "he'll have a chance to play" Sunday against the Jaguars. If Hamilton can't go, S Geno Stone would gain playing time.
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill is questionable to return to Monday night's game vs. the Titans with an ankle injury. He went down awkwardly after a catch near the end of the first quarter. Hill was down for a bit but eventually sprinted off the field. He's remained on the sidelines but doesn't have his helmet. Stay tuned for an update.
Update: Hill returned midway through the third quarter.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert is "very likely" to undergo surgery to repair his fractured right index finger on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. That surgery will determine whether Herbert has a chance to play again this season. HC Brandon Staley said Monday that Herbert's long-term outlook will take precedence over his short-term availability for the 5-8 Chargers. We're not expecting to see Herbert on the field again this season, but we'll update his status when we know more.
Niners LB Dre Greenlaw is considered "day-to-day" as he deals with hip and ankle injuries, according to Niners Nation. Greenlaw temporarily left Sunday's win over the Seahawks but played 95% of snaps. He seems like a good bet to be ready for Week 15. DL Arik Armstead "might miss one more game," HC Kyle Shanahan told reporters Monday. DT Javon Hargrave (hamstring) and CB Charvarius Ward (groin) have a "chance" to play. Both left Sunday's game early and did not return. We'll check their statuses through the practice week.
Dolphins S Jevon Holland (knees) is inactive for tonight's game against the Titans. Brandon Jones should get a second straight start in his place. He posted just 5 tackles (4 solo) in the Week 13 win over Washington but added a QB hit. That came on Jones' only pass-rushing attempt so far this season, though. So he's not a strong bet for production in that category.
Giants DL Dexter Lawrence (hamstring) is active for tonight's game against the Packers. Use him as planned in IDP lineups, but there's likely some re-injury risk. Lawrence remained limited in practice all week despite a Week 13 bye since he missed Week 12.
Giants TE Daniel Bellinger (illness) is active for tonight’s game vs. the Packers. He’s averaged 2.5 targets, 2.3 catches, and 31 yards per game with TE Darren Waller out the last four contests.
Packers RB Aaron Jones (knee) is inactive for tonight’s game vs. the Giants. RB A.J. Dillon has totaled 32 carries sans Jones the past two weeks and should be busy in this one with the Packers 5.5-point favorites. The Giants are allowing 4.6 yards per carry to opposing RBs.
The Giants have activated QB Tyrod Taylor (ribs) from IR. That should return him to the backup role behind Tommy DeVito. Don't be surprised if Taylor's return makes HC Brian Daboll less patient with QB mistakes, but this isn't a situation affecting too many fantasy lineups regardless of who's behind center.
The Packers have elevated RB Kenyan Drake from the practice squad for tonight's game against the Giants. He joins AJ Dillon and Patrick Taylor on the roster for a game RB Aaron Jones is expected to miss. We're not expecting a lot of work for Drake in a backfield that has leaned heavily on Dillon when Jones is out.
The Commanders are placing LB Jamin Davis on IR because of a shoulder injury that will require surgery. Davis still has one year left on his rookie contract, and Washington will have to decide this spring on his fifth-year option for 2025. Davis seems like a weak bet for that option, but we'd also bet that decision will come after the team hires a new coach (and maybe GM). Davis has disappointed vs. his first-round draft status but has at least seen his playing time increase in his third season. He's an unspectacular dynasty asset. David Mayo should operate as the No. 2 LB alongside Cody Barton the rest of this season.
Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell labeled WR Justin Jefferson "day-to-day" with his chest injury and said Jefferson has a "good chance" to play vs. the Bengals on Saturday, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert. We'll track Jefferson's status throughout the week, but he can be penciled into Week 15 fantasy lineups for now. O'Connell did not announce a starting QB on Monday, but we're projecting Nick Mullens to get the nod.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (ankle) is out for Saturday's game vs. the Colts, HC Mike Tomlin said Monday. The fact that Pickett has been ruled out this early in the week means he's nowhere close to returning. QB Mitchell Trubisky gets another start this weekend after a miserable showing vs. the Patriots this past Thursday.
Cardinals WR Marquise Brown "feels a lot better" coming off the bye week, HC Jonathan Gannon said Monday. Brown battled a heel issue the past two games, making it through just 36 snaps (53%) last time out. It sounds like he'll be ready for this weekend's game vs. the 49ers, but Brown can't be considered more than a WR3 in that matchup. He gets easier draws vs. the Bears and Eagles in Weeks 16 and 17.
ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms that Chargers QB Justin Herbert (finger) is not expected to play vs. the Raiders on Thursday night. Herbert is consulting with Dr. Steven Shin to determine exactly how long he'll be sidelined with his fractured right index finger, Schefter adds. We should get a timeline for Herbert's return within the next 24 hours. QB Easton Stick will start on Thursday night -- and likely beyond.
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