Mon Sep 18 12:21pm ET
Field Level Media
Brandon Staley has long been one of the NFL's most polarizing head coaches.
Known for his penchant for taking risks on fourth down, it's his team's ongoing habit of turning wins into losses that could land Staley in the unemployment line.
The Los Angeles Chargers decided to keep Staley despite blowing a 27-point lead at Jacksonville in last season's playoffs -- with the Jaguars staging the third-largest postseason comeback in NFL history.
The Chargers have also held fourth-quarter leads in both games to open the 2023 season, only to walk away with losses to Miami and Tennessee. They're only a game out in the AFC West, where Kansas City and Las Vegas are 1-1, but Staley is now the +200 favorite by SportsBetting.ag to be the first coach fired this season.
He opened the season at +1600, tied for the ninth-shortest odds. That was slightly behind Chicago's Matt Eberflus, whose odds have shifted from +1400 to +400 following the Bears' own 0-2 start. While Staley is in Year 3 in L.A., Eberflus is in just his second season in the Windy City, but has just three wins through his first 16 games.
Their stories differ significantly from that of Washington's Ron Rivera. Despite the Commanders' 2-0 start, Rivera's odds at the book of being the first coach fired this season have actually shortened from +700 to +400.
The Commanders have opened with victories against Arizona and Denver, a pair of 0-2 teams that held leads against Washington. Rivera is also playing under a new ownership group that didn't hire him, and the Commanders face a daunting schedule ahead that begins with Sunday's home game against Buffalo followed by a trip to Philadelphia.
The next-shortest odds belong to Las Vegas' Josh McDaniels. He was one of the co-favorites preseason, and is being offered at +500 despite the Raiders' 1-1 start.
FIRST NFL COACH FIRED ODDS
Brandon Staley (+200)
Matt Eberflus (+400)
Ron Rivera (+400)
Josh McDaniels (+500)
Kevin O'Connell (+1200)
Robert Saleh (+1400)
Dennis Allen (+2500)
Mike Vrabel (+2500)
Todd Bowles (+2500)
Jonathan Gannon (+3300)
Kevin Stefanski (+3300)
Mike Tomlin (+3300)
Sean Payton (+3300)
Zac Taylor (+3300)
Bill Belichick (+4000)
Pete Carroll (+5000)
Frank Reich (+6600)
Matt Lafleur (+6600)
Mike McCarthy (+6600)
Sean McDermott (+6600)
Shane Steichen (+6600)
Arthur Smith (+10000)
Brian Daboll (+10000)
Dan Campbell (+10000)
DeMeco Ryans (+10000)
Doug Pederson (+10000)
John Harbaugh (+10000)
Sean McVay (+10000)
Mike McDaniel (+20000)
Nick Sirianni (+25000)
Andy Reid (+50000)
Kyle Shanahan (+50000)
Staley said following Sunday's loss against the Titans that last season's loss to the Jaguars "hasn't carried onto the season whatsoever."
The fact remains the Chargers are 0-2 and it won't take much for their season to spiral out of control.
They travel to Minnesota for a Week 3 game against an equally desperate 0-2 Vikings team. Following a home game against McDaniels' Raiders, the Chargers play host to Dallas and return home to face Kansas City.
Whether Staley survives to see the conclusion of his third season in L.A. could well ride on where the Chargers are sitting after Week 6.
"It's a convenient storyline for you and for everybody else, but it's not the truth," Staley said of any potential carryover from the Jacksonville loss. "We've lost two tough games but the guys in that locker room, the men in that locker room they are finishers and they have what it takes and we're excited to prove ourselves."
Meanwhile, the two men McDaniels shared the shortest odds with ahead of the season have seemingly worked their way to cooler chairs thanks to 2-0 starts.
Dallas has begun the season with a pair of impressive blowout victories, leading coach Mike McCarthy's odds to go from +600 to +6600. And Tampa Bay's Todd Bowles is now +2500 following the Buccaneers' opening two wins against Minnesota and Chicago.
Seattle Seahawks rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo has been placed on injured reserve ahead of Seattle's Week 15 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Arroyo was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury that forced him to exit early in their Week 14 win in Atlanta. The 22-year-old rookie has played in 13 games this season, catching 15 passes for 179 yards and one touchdown. Arroyo was selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft after garnering a lot of hype during the predraft process. With Arroyo landing on injured reserve, expect Eric Saubert and Nick Kallerup to see more work in the Seahawks offense for the remainder of the regular season. The move will end Arroyo's regular-season rookie campaign, but he can return for the playoffs.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has been the next receiver to fall victim to an inconsistent offense. Mitchell was a part of the blockbuster trade where the Indianapolis Colts sent him and two future first-round picks to the Jets in exchange for cornerback Sauce Gardner. The trade took place right before the deadline, and at the time, it shook up both teams' long-term and short-term plans. Since arriving in New York, Mitchell has seen only one game with over three catches despite seeing six or more targets in every game. The Jets offense will also have rookie quarterback Brady Cook, a 2024 undrafted free agent, starting for the first time in his NFL career against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mitchell will remain an unreliable fantasy option for fantasy managers heading into Week 15.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton has taken back the WR1 role in the Broncos' offense over the last two weeks. The 30-year-old has been able to rekindle his connection with Bo Nix and has taken advantage of positive matchups against the Washington Commanders and Las Vegas Raiders. In back-to-back games, Sutton has had 11 catches for 124 yards with one touchdown on 16 targets. Sutton was also able to reach double-digit targets in last Sunday's game for the first time since Week 7. This performance was able to boost his season-long stats and now leads the Broncos in every receiving statistical category. Sutton will face tougher competition on Sunday against a Green Bay Packers defense that has allowed the fewest yards per reception. Despite this, Sutton's reemergence in the Broncos' offense allows fantasy managers to fire him up as a dependable flex option in Week 15.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams got off to a slow start in 2025, but has emerged as one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the league in the second half of the season. The 24-year-old wideout is one of only six receivers and tight ends to post more than 500 yards since Week 9, along with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Nico Collins, Michael Wilson, Puka Nacua, and Trey McBride. Williams has taken full advantage of his increased opportunities with Sam LaPorta (back) on Injured Reserve. He possesses weekly upside for long touchdowns that few players in the league can match. He profiles as a borderline WR1 in fantasy for a potential Week 15 shootout against the Los Angeles Rams.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is looking to bounce back after a few lackluster games. Purdy has been held to under 200 passing yards with three interceptions over his last two contests. The 25-year-old hasn't been an ideal fantasy option lately, but could be on the upswing. Purdy heads into a favorable matchup against the Tennessee Titans in Week 15. A defense that gave up over 350 passing yards to Shedeur Sanders last week. The Titans are currently allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. All signs are pointing to Purdy having a bounce-back performance this weekend. He should be put in the QB1 conversation for this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller hasn't been able to find the same success that he experienced earlier in the season. Since returning from injury, Waller has been held to three receptions for 60 yards over the last two games. The good news is, Waller is heading into a plus-matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15. A defensive unit that is allowing over 16 PPR fantasy points to tight ends this season, according to Yahoo Sports. Waller has proven he is capable of making big plays when he's given the chance. He could be worth a look as a deep league option for fantasy managers who are desperate for help at tight end.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift is in the midst of his best season as a runner, averaging a career-high 69.8 rushing yards per game with six total touchdowns. Swift has been Chicago's lead back for most of the season, but has been splitting carries with rookie seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai in recent weeks. The 26-year-old back's workload has remained consistent, even as Monangai has earned more work with the Bears leaning more into the ground game, which has proven to be one of the best in the league this season. Swift has double-digit touches in all but one game this season, delivering solid value for fantasy managers with 14.4 PPR points per game. Swift can be viewed as a low-end RB2 in Week 15 in a tough matchup against the Cleveland Browns, who have allowed just 3.8 yards per carry, the second-best mark in the league.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown wasn't as efficient as a runner in Week 14's loss to the Buffalo Bills, but he made up for it with the fourth multi-touchdown game of his career. Brown has been on a heater over the past few weeks after a slow start to the season. Since Week 8, the 25-year-old running back has totaled 87 carries for 417 yards and two touchdowns while adding 29 receptions (40 targets) for 205 yards and two more touchdowns as a receiver, ranking as the RB6 with 19.2 PPR points per game over that time. Brown has been a high-variance running back this season, posting five games with at least five yards per carry and four games with less than three yards per carry in games where he recorded at least 10 rush attempts. He remains a high-end option in the Bengals' potent offense for Week 15 against the Baltimore Ravens.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai has taken on a significant role in the team's backfield over the second half of the season. The rookie seventh-rounder posted only one game with more than 10 carries over the first eight weeks of the season, but has cleared that mark in five out of six games since Week 9. Monangai has working in tandem with D'Andre Swift and has been a key part of one of the best rushing attacks in the league. The workloads between the two backs have been similar since Week 9, with Monangai averaging 16.3 touches per game to Swift at 16.6. Swift earns more work as a receiver, while Monangai's bruising running style has granted him more opportunities near the goal line. The Rutgers product has a tough matchup on Sunday against a stout Cleveland Browns run defense, but Monangai can still be viewed as a viable flex play in Week 15.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has excelled since being acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders at this year's trade deadline. Meyers has scored in three straight games and has totaled 22 receptions for 284 yards on 31 targets in five games with the team. The Jaguars are 4-1 since trading for him, with the 29-year-old wideout emerging as Trevor Lawrence's favorite target. Brian Thomas Jr.'s return in Week 13 hasn't slowed Meyers down, as he's compiled 16 targets in the past two weeks. Meyers should remain productive on Sunday against a New York Jets defense that has struggled all season. Fantasy managers can confidently fire him up as a solid WR2 option in Week 15.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) underwent surgery to repair his Achilles, which will sideline him for six to eight months. This should give Jones the ability to get fully cleared in time for training camp next summer. Jones is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but the two sides have reportedly not been discussing a contract extension. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Colts are expected to try to re-sign Jones, but the question is at what cost. Before going down in Week 14, Jones was experiencing a bounce-back season. The 28-year-old threw for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, eight interceptions, while rushing for 164 yards on 45 rushing attempts and five scores over 13 games in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins kicker Riley Patterson has been solid but not spectacular this season, while filling in for Jason Sanders (hip), who remains on IR. Patterson has made 23 of his 25 field goal attempts and 28 of his 29 extra point attempts. He didn't have any issues on the road in the cold against the Jets last week, making all four of his kicks. This week, he'll be on the road for a night game in Pittsburgh with very cold temperatures again in the forecast. While it won't be ideal conditions for long field goals, Patterson has been consistent enough from short range to not be a total "must avoid" option, especially since the Steelers have been a top-10 matchup for kickers. Patterson is the No. 19 kicker in RotoBaller's Week 15 rankings, so there are potentially kickers with more upside on the waiver wire in most standard-sized leagues this week.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (back) popped up on the injury report on Saturday due to a back issue. According to Adam Schefter, McCaffrey is expected to suit up for the Week 15 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. This issue doesn't appear to be severe enough to keep McCaffrey on the sideline. If he suffers a setback, Brian Robinson Jr. and Isaac Guerendo would likely split up a majority of the snaps in the backfield. Fantasy managers should expect McCaffrey out there on Sunday, but there probably won't be official word until closer to kickoff. The 49ers don't play until 4:25 pm ET, so his official announcement might not be made until sometime in the afternoon.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) was placed on the reserve/left squad list on Saturday. This move will make Aiyuk ineligible to return and will end his season. Aiyuk has been out all season while recovering from ACL and MCL tears in his right knee, which he suffered during the 2024 season. All signs are pointing to the two sides splitting apart this offseason. The 27-year-old should draw interest on the free agent market, but he's likely taken his last snap in San Francisco. Aiyuk is worth stashing in dynasty formats, but it's unclear how this knee injury is going to impact his performance on the field in the future. He can safely be dropped in all redraft formats with his 2025 season being officially over.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller flashed enough upside in the early part of the season to get some attention, but he hasn't been as involved since returning from IR in Week 13. He and the Dolphins are taking on the Steelers on Monday Night Football, and he can be a deep-league flier if you're desperate at the position. Waller played only 47% and 37% of snaps in his two games since returning and has only had three catches on six targets for 60 yards in the two games combined. He and Tua Tagovailoa showed a decent connection early in the season, especially near the end zone, as Waller scored four touchdowns in his first three games. Since then, though, he hasn't gotten back into the end zone, and his reduced role makes him very hard to trust as a starter in standard-sized leagues. He's ranked as the No. 22 TE in RotoBaller's rankings for this week, even though he's in a positive matchup aginst the Steelers, who have been generous to tight ends. While he does have touchdown-dependent upside, there are better options likely available in most leagues this week.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington has flashed some play-making ability and upside this season, but he is not getting enough downfield chances to be a strong fantasy play this week against the Steelers. The Dolphins are relying on their run game, led by De'Von Achane, and their defense to win them games lately, leaving Washington without much production. He does have multiple catches in every game this season and 10 catches on 12 targets over the last three contests, but he is averaging only eight yards per catch and hasn't reached 50 yards in any game he has played this season. He has two touchdowns this season, but unless the Dolphins open the offense or Washington gets into the end zone, he'll have a hard time putting up enough fantasy points to be a good flex play in Week 15 against Pittsburgh, even though the Steelers have been a good matchup for receivers. Washington is RotoBaller's No. 62 WR in Week 15, so he's safely left on the bench or waiver wire in most formats this week.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders tight end Colson Yankoff should slide up to No. 3 on the TE depth chart with Zach Ertz (knee) suffering a torn ACL last week against the Minnesota Vikings. Yankoff has played predominantly as a special-teamer in his two seasons in the league, and he's posted an 11.7% snap share on offense this season. The 25-year-old has earned a target in each of the past three games, recording two receptions for 18 yards. Yankoff and fellow second-year tight end Ben Sinnott profile better than John Bates to step into Ertz's role as the primary receiving tight end, but it remains to be seen who will see the most opportunities on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. The former undrafted free agent has some intriguing athletic traits as a former highly-touted, dual-threat quarterback in high school, and he could be a name to monitor as a potential player to fill Ertz's void in Washington's passing game the rest of the season.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will try to help the Dolphins secure their fifth straight win this Monday when they visit the Steelers. While the Dolphins have had a very low-volume passing attack in recent weeks, Waddle has remained a solid starting option in most formats because he is clearly the top option in the offense. Waddle has at least three catches and at least six targets in six straight games with three touchdowns and an average of 67.8 yards per game during that span. He had five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown last week against the Jets, and he will be in a solid matchup against the Steelers, who rank in the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to receivers this season. The Steelers have allowed 12 receiver touchdowns in 13 games, so Waddle has good potential for another productive week if he continues to get so many targets. In RotoBaller's Week 15 rankings, Waddle is the No. 11 WR, making him a low-end WR1 or a high-end WR2 in standard-sized leagues. He should be started in almost all formats since his production has been so reliably consistent.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott is expected to see an uptick in snaps after Zach Ertz (knee) tore his ACL in last week's blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The 2024 second-round pick hasn't seen many opportunities as a receiver since being drafted, with Ertz locking down that role and not missing any games. But the door has opened for Sinnott to earn more opportunities and potentially establish himself as Washington's tight end of the future. The Kansas State product has caught all nine of his career targets for 69 yards and two touchdowns in 29 games. It will be interesting to see if Sinnott sees the bulk of the snaps as the receiving tight end, or if Washington opts to split the reps between Sinnott, John Bates, and Colson Yankoff. For the season, Sinnott ranks firmly behind Bates as the TE3 in snaps and routes, with a 27.6% snap share and a 10.9% route share. Bates is used primarily as a blocker, and with Sinott being a high second-round pick last year, it seems like a great opportunity for the Commanders to see what they have in the athletic tight end. It remains to be seen what Sinnott's role will look like on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. Sinnott is a solid speculative addition off the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues, but he profiles as a desperation TE streamer in Week 15.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright has been buried on the Dolphins' depth chart this season, and it looks like he'll return to a minimal role after making the most of his chance last week and posting a breakout game. Wright and the Dolphins face the Steelers on Monday, but De'Von Achane (ribs) is on track to return, relegating Wright back to a reduced role. While filling in against the Jets in Week 14, Wright ripped off 107 rushing yards with a touchdown on 24 carries. He only had 18 carries before that game in the whole season, though, so if Achane returns, Wright's role will be too limited for him to be a strong fantasy play. In RotoBaller's Week 15 rankings, Wright is the No. 51 RB, so he can be left on the bench or the waiver wire in almost all formats, despite reminding everyone of his potential ceiling if he gets playing time.
From RotoBaller