Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell could be slated for a considerable boost in workload for his Monday night home matchup with the Miami Dolphins in Week 15. Pittsburgh's backfield has been a pleasantly surprising source of fantasy output in 2025, with both Gainwell and teammate Jaylen Warren (illness) ranking as low-end PPR RB2s on the campaign as a whole. However, the former appears poised for a significant touch share when his team hosts the Dolphins on MNF, given Warren was downgraded to questionable after coming down with an illness early Monday. If the latter fails to suit up, Gainwell's upside would be massive, presuming that he assumes a workhorse role as he did the last time Warren sat out in Week 4. In that outing, the former Philadelphia Eagle popped off for 134 yards and two scores on 77% of the team's snaps.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the active roster ahead of their matchup on Monday Night Football with the visiting Miami Dolphins. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the news. Pittsburgh intended to elevate the 31-year-old from its practice squad for their meeting with Miami, but will instead choose to make him a fixture on their roster for the remainder of the season. Valdes-Scantling made his first appearance with the team in Week 14, playing 31% of snaps and failing to bring in his lone target. He doesn't figure to be involved enough to matter for fantasy, and can likely be avoided in all formats.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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