NFL roundup: Chargers KO Chiefs from playoff race; Patrick Mahomes tears ACL

Sun Dec 14 10:38pm ET
Field Level Media

Justin Herbert threw for 210 yards and one touchdown while counterpart Patrick Mahomes tore the ACL in his left knee while leading a drive in the final two minutes as the Los Angeles Chargers ensured the host Kansas City Chiefs will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014 with a 16-13 win on Sunday.

Herbert hit 19 of 29 passes for the Chargers (10-4), who won their third in a row to stay in the AFC West chase. KeAndre Lambert-Smith caught his first touchdown pass and Cameron Dicker booted three field goals, including a 49-yarder late in the third quarter that gave Los Angeles its first lead.

Mahomes rushed for a 12-yard touchdown in the first quarter and hit 16 of 28 passes for 189 yards. He had the Chiefs driving in Chargers' territory in the final two minutes, but he injured his knee and left the game when he was tackled by Da'Shawn Hand. Gardner Minshew entered and, on his fifth play, tossed an interception to Derwin James Jr. at the Los Angeles 18 with 14 seconds left.

The Chiefs said after the game that an MRI exam confirmed Mahomes' injury and he and the club "are currently exploring surgical options."

Bills 35, Patriots 31

Josh Allen passed for three touchdowns, James Cook accounted for three scores and Buffalo overcame a 21-point deficit to beat New England on a snowy afternoon in Foxborough, Mass.

Dawson Knox caught two touchdown passes as the Bills (10-4) snapped the Patriots' 10-game winning streak and prevented them from clinching the AFC East. Buffalo scored the first 21 points of the second half, then took a decisive lead with 6:48 remaining on Cook's 11-yard scoring run.

TreVeyon Henderson rushed for 148 yards on 14 carries and scored on runs of 52 and 65 yards for New England (11-3). Drake Maye also rushed for two touchdowns as the Patriots built an early 21-0 lead.

Seahawks 18, Colts 16

Jason Myers kicked a franchise-record six field goals, the last a 56-yarder with 18 seconds remaining, as host Seattle defeated Indianapolis and spoiled the return of quarterback Philip Rivers.

The 44-year-old Rivers, who retired after the 2020 season, was signed earlier in the week to replace the injured Daniel Jones. He completed 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The pick came on a desperation heave with 4 seconds left. Blake Grupe booted three field goals, with his 60-yarder with 47 seconds to go giving the Colts (8-6) a 16-15 lead.

But quarterback Sam Darnold completed a pair of passes to Rashid Shaheed to get the Seahawks (11-3) into range for Myers' winner. Myers also kicked a 30-yarder with 2:27 left to give Seattle its first lead of the day. Darnold was 22 of 36 for 271 yards, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba making seven receptions for 113 yards as the Seahawks won their fourth game in a row.

Broncos 34, Packers 26

Bo Nix tied a career high with four touchdown passes, Courtland Sutton had seven receptions for 113 yards and a TD catch and host Denver beat Green Bay.

Nix finished 23-for-34 for 302 yards passing for the Broncos (12-2), who have won 11 straight, hold the top seed in the AFC and clinched a playoff spot with the victory. Troy Franklin, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Michael Bandy each caught touchdown passes, while RJ Harvey scored another on the ground.

Jordan Love completed 24 of 40 passes for 276 yards and threw a touchdown to Josh Jacobs, who also scored on the ground for the Packers (9-4-1). Love was intercepted twice. It was a costly game for Green Bay, which lost wide receiver Christian Watson to a chest injury and defensive end Micah Parsons to a left knee injury in the third quarter.

Rams 41, Lions 34

Matthew Stafford threw for 368 yards, including two touchdowns to Colby Parkinson, as host Los Angeles held on to defeat Detroit.

Kyren Williams rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns, while Blake Corum rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown for the Rams (11-3), who totaled 159 yards on the ground. Puka Nacua caught nine passes on 11 targets for 181 yards and Davante Adams hauled in four passes for 71 yards before he left the game in the fourth quarter due to a hamstring injury.

Jared Goff passed for 338 yards and three touchdowns for the Lions (8-6). Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 13 passes on 18 targets for 164 yards and two touchdowns, while Jameson Williams made seven receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown.

Jaguars 48, Jets 20

Trevor Lawrence threw for 330 yards and five touchdowns while adding a sixth score on the ground as host Jacksonville stayed atop the AFC South with a walloping of New York.

Lawrence completed 20 of 32 passes while adding a team-high 51 yards rushing despite suffering an injury to his right index finger in the second quarter. Trainers taped up his finger, enabling Lawrence to stay in the game. Jaguars running back Travis Etienne scored touchdowns on each of his three receptions as Jacksonville improved to 10-4, a game ahead of Houston in the AFC South with three weeks remaining.

Jets quarterback Brady Cook hit on 22 of 33 passes for 176 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions in his first NFL start. Cook got the call with Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor sidelined due to injuries. New York, which last week was eliminated from playoff contention for the 15th straight year, dropped to 3-11.

Ravens 24, Bengals 0

Lamar Jackson tossed two touchdown passes as visiting Baltimore earned a victory over Cincinnati to claim its first shutout in seven seasons, dating to a blanking of the Tennessee Titans 21-0 on Oct. 14, 2018.

On a 10-degree Ohio day, the coldest game in Ravens history, Jackson completed eight of 12 passes for 150 yards with touchdown passes to Rasheen Ali and Zay Flowers as the Ravens (7-7) split their season series with the Bengals (4-10).

Joe Burrow was 25 of 39 for 225 yards and two interceptions for Cincinnati, which lost for the sixth time in seven games and fell to 2-5 at home. Ja'Marr Chase had 10 receptions for 132 yards.

Eagles 31, Raiders 0

Jalen Hurts threw two of his three touchdown passes to Dallas Goedert and NFC East-leading Philadelphia halted a three-game skid by posting its first shutout since the 2018 season.

The Eagles (9-5) handed Las Vegas (2-12) its eighth straight loss. Hurts' 175 passing yards helped his club outgain the Raiders 387-75. Saquon Barkley ran for 78 yards and a score and 37-year-old Brandon Graham, who came out of retirement last month, tallied two sacks.

Kenny Pickett, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles last season, became the seventh starting quarterback for Las Vegas since 2023. He completed 15 of 25 passes for 64 yards with one interception, and Maxx Crosby collected his 10th sack.

Bears 31, Browns 3

D'Andre Swift rushed for two touchdowns, D.J. Moore hauled in two TD passes and Chicago cruised to a win over visiting Cleveland.

Caleb Williams completed 17 of 28 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears (10-4), who reached double-digit victories for the first time since 2018. The Chicago defense forced three turnovers and racked up five sacks.

Shedeur Sanders completed 18 of 35 passes for 177 yards and three interceptions for the Browns (3-11). Pass rusher Myles Garrett moved within one sack of matching the all-time single-season record. Garrett finished with 1 1/2 sacks against the Bears to give him 21 1/2 sacks on the season. He can surpass co-record holders Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt next weekend at home against the Buffalo Bills.

Texans 40, Cardinals 20

C.J. Stroud threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns as host Houston raced to a 17-0 lead in the opening nine minutes against Arizona to collect its sixth win in a row.

Nico Collins caught two touchdown passes and Dalton Schultz notched eight receptions for 76 yards and a score for the Texans (9-5). Jawhar Jordan rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries in his NFL debut.

Trey McBride caught 12 passes for 134 yards and two scores to become the NFL's first tight end to record back-to-back 100-catch seasons. Jacoby Brissett completed 27 of 40 passes for 249 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for the Cardinals (3-11), who trailed 17-0 before earning their initial first down.

Commanders 29, Giants 21

Jaylin Lane returned a punt 63 yards for a score and Terry McLaurin caught a 51-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter as Washington snapped an eight-game losing streak with the NFC East victory over New York in East Rutherford, N.J.

The Commanders (4-10) never trailed as Marcus Mariota completed 10 of 19 passes for 211 yards and one score. Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown and Washington's defense kept the Giants from scoring on first-and-goal from the 1 in the fourth quarter.

Jaxson Dart hit 20 of 36 passes for 246 yards and two scores for the Giants (2-12), who have lost eight in a row. Tyrone Tracy Jr. rushed for 70 yards and one score while adding a touchdown catch.

Saints 20, Panthers 17

Tyler Shough passed for 272 yards and a touchdown and helped set up Charlie Smyth's go-ahead field goal, and host New Orleans defeated Carolina for a season sweep, having won 17-7 on Nov. 9 in Charlotte.

Shough and the Saints (4-10) drove 62 yards in 51 seconds before giving way to Smyth for a 47-yard field goal, which split the uprights with 2 seconds left.

Bryce Young threw for 163 yards and rushed for 49 to lead the Panthers (7-7), who fell into a tie with Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South. Carolina and the Buccaneers face each other twice in the final three weeks, beginning with a game in Charlotte next Sunday.

49ers 37, Titans 24

Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes, two to Jauan Jennings, while Christian McCaffrey rushed for 73 yards and a score as San Francisco outlasted Tennessee for a fourth straight win in Santa Clara, Calif.

George Kittle had eight catches for 88 yards and a TD for the 49ers (10-4) and Eddy Pineiro made two of his three field goals in the fourth quarter to help San Francisco finalize the win.

Purdy went 23-for-30 passing for 295 yards for the Niners, while Tennessee's Cam Ward was 18 of 29 for 170 yards and two touchdowns. The Titans (2-12) made a game of it by scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons' 1-yard scoring catch.

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The Paur Report

Five Fantasy Takeaways: Week 15

Player Notes
Jaylen Warren Dec 15 10:50am CT
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (illness) has been downgraded to questionable for his team's Monday night home game with the Miami Dolphins due to an illness, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. It's ill-timed for the 27-year-old, who has an excellent matchup slated for Week 15 in a sieve-like Dolphins' rush defense. If Warren is eventually unable to suit up due to his illness, teammate Kenneth Gainwell projects to handle a majority of the backfield work in his place, considering the two had split snaps fairly evenly over the previous three contests. Gainwell would immediately slot in as a strong RB2 play in Warren's absence, with rookie rusher Kaleb Johnson likely to spell him on occasion as a chance-of-pace option.

From RotoBaller

Isaac TeSlaa Dec 15 10:30am CT
Isaac TeSlaa

Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa entered Week 15 on a two-game touchdown-scoring streak, but he was targeted just once and failed to record a catch in his team's Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. TeSlaa saw a slight reduction in playing time thanks to the return of veteran wideout Kalif Raymond, who had missed Detroit's two previous games due to an ankle injury. Across 14 games this season, TeSlaa has now hauled in eight receptions for 120 yards and four touchdowns on 15 targets. While he's flashed high-end contested catch ability, the 23-year-old has simply been unable to carve out a consistent role as a target-earner when the Lions' wide receiver corps is healthy. The lack of reliability makes TeSlaa very difficult for fantasy managers to trust heading into his Week 16 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

From RotoBaller

Zonovan Knight Dec 15 10:30am CT
Zonovan Knight

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Arizona Cardinals running back Bam Knight (ankle) is trending toward being inactive for Week 16's home bout with the Atlanta Falcons. Knight was out there for just one snap in the team's 40-20 loss to the Houston Texans, handling one carry for negative two yards before injuring his ankle and being carted off the field. Schefter notes that Knight will undergo an MRI on Monday to assess the severity, although it's being described as a "bad sprain." It's good news that initial testing revealed no breaks. Either way, it seems that his chances of suiting up against the visiting Falcons are slim at best. Teammate Michael Carter stepped up in Week 15 (14/56), with the 24-year-old unable to continue, though it's possible he splits more work with Emari Demercado as the latter regains health from an ankle injury of his own.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Dec 15 10:20am CT
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery recorded just seven carries for 32 yards in his team's Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but he salvaged his fantasy production by recording his eighth rushing touchdown of the season. The 28-year-old has now recorded a rushing touchdown in three straight games. However, his workload in Detroit continues to be limited as he plays a backup role to Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery has recorded double-digit touches just once in his last five games and has not played more than 39% of Detroit's offensive snaps in any game since Week 10. Montgomery has touchdown upside every week, but he also remains entirely reliant on touchdowns for fantasy production as long as Gibbs remains healthy. The Lions will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Dec 15 10:20am CT
Ricky Pearsall

According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (ankle, knee) was hampered by multiple injuries during Sunday's 37-24 win over the visiting Tennessee Titans. Pearsall's 6/96 line was his best output since Week 3, and he played nearly 60% (58) of snaps despite apparently dealing with an ankle issue and potential aggravation of the PCL injury that forced him from six games earlier in the campaign. "We'll know for sure tomorrow, but he hurt the ankle on the first play...and played with that the whole game," noted Shanahan. "And then, the knee thing, I think, was just him most likely irritating his PCL from the past. Those linger...he was battling through a lot today." Shanahan's sentiment seems to be positive, but there's no guarantee Pearsall's playing time won't be affected. Fantasy managers should remain watchful of his status over the next few days, particularly after a useful outing in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Dec 15 10:10am CT
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed recorded five catches for 55 yards on six targets in his team's Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos. In his second game back after missing nearly three months due to collarbone and foot injuries, Reed saw his snap share increase from 47% of Green Bay's offensive snaps in Week 14 to 65% in Week 15. The 25-year-old's playing time outlook was also improved by an injury to Packers wideout Christian Watson (chest), who left the game early with a chest injury. Watson has reportedly avoided a long-term injury, but his status is in question for the team's Week 16 matchup against the Chicago Bears. If Watson is sidelined, Reed could operate as the team's top target-earner in Week 16. Even if Watson can play, Reed has upside as he works his way back to full health and gets re-integrated into the Green Bay offense. In fantasy leagues where he remains available, Reed is a must-add waiver wire target heading into Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Dec 15 10:10am CT
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs posted an underwhelming performance in his team's Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, recording 58 scrimmage yards and zero touchdowns on 17 touches. The 23-year-old's 3.4 yards per touch against Los Angeles was his third-worst mark of the season and his worst since Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings. On the bright side, Gibbs continues to be a featured player in the Lions' passing game. He saw seven targets in Week 15 and has earned 38 targets across five games since Detroit tight end Sam LaPorta (back) was placed on Injured Reserve with a back injury. Gibbs also out-snapped fellow Lions running back David Montgomery 52 to 18 in Week 15, marking the fifth straight game where Gibbs has logged at least 20 more snaps than his backfield running mate. Despite the frustrating showing against the Rams, Gibbs remains a must-start fantasy running back in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

From RotoBaller

Chris Rodriguez Jr. Dec 15 9:50am CT
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a late scratch before his team's Week 15 win over the New York Giants due to a groin injury. In his absence, Commanders back Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the way with 18 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown. However, Rodriguez Jr. had emerged as the lead rusher in Washington before getting hurt. Across three games leading into Week 15, the 25-year-old racked up 172 rushing yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. Croskey-Merritt's stellar performance against the Giants may lead to more of a split backfield in Washington going forward. Still, in fantasy leagues where Rodriguez Jr. is available on the waiver wire, he should be targeted heading into his team's Week 16 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

From RotoBaller

Christian Watson Dec 15 9:40am CT
Christian Watson

ESPN's Rob Demovsky reports that Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (chest) "does not have any long-term injury" and that his status for his team's Week 16 matchup against the Chicago Bears will be "determined later in the week." Watson suffered a chest injury that knocked him out of Green Bay's Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos and required a trip to the hospital following the game. The 26-year-old had been playing some of his best football before suffering the injury. Across four games leading into Week 15, Watson had recorded 17 receptions for 264 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 26 targets. If he misses time, Packers wideouts Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Matthew Golden could all see expanded roles. The Packers play the Bears on Saturday night, so Watson will have one fewer day of recovery time than usual heading into Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Richardson Dec 15 9:30am CT
Anthony Richardson

Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports that Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) has been medically cleared from the orbital fracture he sustained in mid-October, and the "hope is to have him back practicing in the near future." The 23-year-old has been on Injured Reserve since Week 6 after getting injured in a freak accident in pre-game warmups. Richardson Sr. opened the season as the backup to Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles). However, with Jones suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Week 14, Richardson Sr. could be back in the starting mix once healthy. Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers got the start for the Colts in Week 15 and completed 18 of 27 pass attempts for 120 yards, one touchdown, and one interception against the Seattle Seahawks. If Richardson Sr. can return this season and the Colts turn the starting job over to him, his rushing ability gives him clear fantasy upside. Across 17 career NFL games (15 starts), Richardson Sr. has rushed for 634 yards and 10 touchdowns. His progress should be closely monitored heading into the team's Week 16 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

From RotoBaller

Emari Demercado Dec 15 9:30am CT
Emari Demercado

After missing three games with an ankle injury, Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado returned to the lineup in Week 15 against the Houston Texans. The 26-year-old played a minimal role against Houston, recording one scrimmage yard on three touches. However, Cardinals running back Bam Knight (ankle) suffered an ankle injury that knocked him out of the game and required him to be carted off the field. If Knight misses further time, Demercado could step into a more prominent role in the Arizona backfield alongside Michael Carter, who led the team with 18 touches in Week 15. Across 10 games this season, Demercado has racked up 306 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 42 touches. Before suffering the ankle injury, he had out-snapped Carter in two consecutive games. The Cardinals' backfield remains one of the league's more difficult lineup situations to parse. Still, Demercado could be a player to target on the waiver wire heading into his Week 16 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Jawhar Jordan Dec 15 9:20am CT
Jawhar Jordan

Heading into Week 15, Houston Texans running back Jawhar Jordan had yet to record his first NFL carry. However, the 26-year-old got his opportunity in Week 15 and delivered, logging 118 scrimmage yards on 17 touches against the Arizona Cardinals. The Texans entered the game without veteran running back Nick Chubb (ribs) and lost RB1 Woody Marks (ankle) to an ankle injury, opening up the door for Jordan. Neither injury is expected to lead to a long-term absence, so Jordan's surge to the top of the depth chart may be short-lived. However, if Chubb and Marks are sidelined for Houston's Week 16 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, Jordan could see another week of high-volume touches. Particularly in deeper fantasy leagues, Jordan may be worth targeting on the waiver wire and holding until more information is released around the status of Marks and Chubb for Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Jaleel McLaughlin Dec 15 9:20am CT
Jaleel McLaughlin

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin played second fiddle to rookie running back RJ Harvey in Week 15's 34-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers, as he only had two rushes for four yards and played 13 percent of the snaps in the game. At this time, McLaughlin, at best, is a handcuff to Harvey fantasy managers as over the past four games that Harvey has taken over as the lead back after J.K. Dobbins (foot) was injured, McLaughlin has earned a total of 18 carries for 69 yards (3.83 YPC), and is playing only 15 percent of the snaps, which provides no standalone fantasy value outside of being a safety net for Harvey fantasy managers. If you do not own Harvey on your team, it makes no sense to roster McLaughlin for the final few weeks of the fantasy season.

From RotoBaller

Blake Corum Dec 15 9:10am CT
Blake Corum

Los Angeles Rams second-year back out of Michigan, Blake Corum, continues to impress in Week 15, as he scored for a third straight week, and had 11 carries for 71 yards (6.45 YPC) and one touchdown. Corum has now rushed for a ridiculous 280 yards and four touchdowns over the past three weeks. More impressively, he has done it on 30 carries, which is suitable for a 9.33 YPC. Corum is still the clear backup to Kyren Williams, who had 15 carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns in Week 15. Still, the Rams offense, led by MVP candidate Matthew Stafford, is potent enough to score so much that both running backs have fantasy value as we move into the final weeks of the season. At this point, Corum is the top handcuff option in fantasy football and has standalone RB3/flex value even with Williams taking a majority of the carries. The Rams will face stiff competition in Week 16 on Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks.

From RotoBaller

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Dec 15 9:00am CT
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Washington Commanders rookie running back out of Arizona, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, is officially back on the fantasy football radar as Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a game-time decision in Week 15 and was eventually ruled out shortly before the game. Croskey-Merritt, aka Bill, earned 18 carries, which he turned into 98 yards (5.33 yards per tote) and a touchdown in the Commanders' 29-21 win over the New York Giants. JCM looked good running the football, and his score came from 16 yards out. All of a sudden, this Commanders backfield gets a bit shaky after it had finally cleared up for us the past few weeks, with Rodriguez being the only one worth rostering. After JCM's performance in Week 15, the Commanders may want to give JCM some more run after an impressive performance, so if Rodriguez Jr., who had been playing well, returns in Week 16, all of a sudden, we are back to the three-running-back committee of Rodriguez, JCM, and Jeremy McNichols. All of which would become desperate plays in Week 16 of the fantasy football season. Regardless, JCM would be worth a waiver-wire pickup in case Rodriguez can't suit up in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Lil'Jordan Humphrey Dec 15 8:50am CT
Lil'Jordan Humphrey

Denver Broncos wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey had his best game of the season in the 34-26 victory against the Green Bay Packers in Week 15. Since Broncos rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant (hamstring) was out for Week 15, Humphrey had more opportunities and filled in efficiently with three catches on four targets for 42 yards and a touchdown. This marks Humphrey's first touchdown of the season, as he has only seen the field for seven games so far in 2025. If Bryant is ruled out again, Humphrey might see more opportunities again, but will remain a dart-throw option as the Broncos host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Teddye Buchanan Dec 15 8:50am CT
Teddye Buchanan

ESPN's senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported Monday morning, based on sources, that the belief is that Baltimore Ravens rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan (knee), the team's second-leading tackler, tore his ACL during Sunday's 24-0 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Buchanan will undergo additional testing today to confirm the injury; however, it is not a great sign for the Ravens defense, which has been playing better of late since its Week 7 bye. Buchanan is a rookie who has played in all 14 games this season and has 85 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. Trenton Simpson is his backup and is likely to see additional snaps moving forward. The Ravens (7-7) are sitting in second place in the AFC North and duking it out with the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6), who are currently sitting atop the division and play the Miami Dolphins (6-7) on Monday Night Football. Once confirmed, Buchanan will begin his rehab process and prepare for the 2026 season.

From RotoBaller

Michael Carter Dec 15 8:30am CT
Michael Carter

The Arizona Cardinals' running back room got a little thinner after their Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans 40-20 on Sunday, as running back Bam Knight (ankle) was carted off the field in Sunday's contest and did not return. Michael Carter stepped up as the team's primary running back, and after Knight's departure, he had 78% of the backfield carry share, a 10% target share, and got the only carry inside the 10-yard line. He finished the contest with 14 carries for 56 yards (4.0 YPC) and hauled in all four of his targets for an additional 38 yards, and will have fantasy value moving forward, as he appears to be their No. 1 running back option if Knight misses any extra time and would become a must-add off the waiver wire. The Cardinals take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16 and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17. It will be important to monitor Knight's status, as that will determine Carter's overall value moving forward. Still, Trey Benson (knee) was not activated from the IR on December 10, and because of that, his season is over, leaving Carter as the only healthy option at this time.

From RotoBaller

Jawhar Jordan Dec 15 7:36am CT
Jawhar Jordan

Dynasty | Texans running back Jawhar Jordan had 101 rushing yards, two catches and 17 receiving yards in a win against the Cardinals. Dynasty Analysis: Woody Marks left the game with an apparent ankle injury, paving the way for an unlikely contributor in the form of Jordan. Should Marks' injury prove to be serious, he would be a waiver priority as a possible starting running back in the playoffs if Nick Chubb is out again. Jordan's dynasty value is about zero but dynasty managers should pay attention here.

Trey McBride Dec 15 7:35am CT
Trey McBride

Dynasty | Cardinals tight end Trey McBride had 12 catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the Texans. Dynasty Analysis: Remember that long touchdown-less streak McBride had a year ago? Well, that's long gone as the stud tight end has put it all together this year with 105 catches for 1,071 yards and ten scores on the season. You can split hairs on who you might want between McBride and Brock Bowers but McBride clearly has Hall of Fame talent and has put on a show this season. He'll remain an elite level target this off-season in dynasty leagues.