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Commanders shut down QB Jayden Daniels (elbow) for season

Mon Dec 15 4:48pm ET
Field Level Media

The Washington Commanders' injured star quarterback Jayden Daniels will not play again this season, coach Dan Quinn confirmed Monday.

Marcus Mariota will be the starting quarterback for the remainder of the Commanders' season. Washington is 4-10 and out of the playoff race.

"It was a lot -- part medical and part team," Quinn told reporters regarding the team's decision. "... We believe this decision allows (Daniels) to take advantage of the next few weeks in a different way. He wants to practice and he will practice. He also wants to support Marcus in a way that Marcus has demonstrated and helped him."

Daniels wanting to practice means that he will not be placed on season-ending injured reserve.

"He's not happy he's going to be out, but that's where we're at," Quinn said.

Daniels only started seven of the Commanders' first 14 games this season because of a trio of injuries. He missed two games with a knee sprain, one with a hamstring strain and four more with a dislocated left (non-throwing) elbow.

Daniels returned from the hamstring-related absence Nov. 2 against the Seattle Seahawks only to dislocate the elbow during a sack that same game. After missing a month (three games plus the team's bye week), he came back Dec. 7 at the Minnesota Vikings but re-injured the elbow in a 31-0 loss.

The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner at LSU and the second overall draft pick in 2024, Daniels immediately became the Commanders' long-sought franchise quarterback. He led the team to an NFC Championship Game berth against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles last season.

In 17 regular-season games as a rookie, Daniels threw for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns with nine interceptions while adding 891 rushing yards and six touchdowns, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Daniels ends his sophomore season with 1,262 passing yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions along with 278 yards and two scores on the ground.

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Five Fantasy Takeaways: Week 15

Player Notes
Tory Horton Dec 15 5:30pm ET
Tory Horton

The Seattle Seahawks don't have an answer on whether rookie wide receiver Tory Horton (shin) will be able to make it back this year, according to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. "We'll see about Tory. He's taking it as he improves right now. He's got some hurdles he's got to get over. We'll wait to see him get over those hurdles, but if he gets over them, we can get him back," head coach Mike Macdonald said. The 23-year-old is eligible to return for the team's Week 16 contest against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, but that's unlikely to happen, and Horton could end up missing the rest of the regular season. If he cannot play in the next three weeks, it's unclear if he'd be ready to return for the postseason. The fifth-round selection out of Colorado State wasn't involved all that much in his first eight NFL games, but he did score five touchdowns on 13 receptions. Horton is unlikely to be on the fantasy radar in the next couple of weeks.

From RotoBaller

Luther Burden III Dec 15 5:20pm ET
Luther Burden III

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said on Monday that rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III's ankle is a "day-by-day" situation, according to Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune. Biggs goes on to write that it sounds like Burden's availability for Saturday night's divisional clash against the Green Bay Packers "will remain a question until later in the week." Chicago's receiving room could be thin in Week 16 after Burden got hurt in Sunday's win over the visiting Cleveland Browns. Fellow wideout Rome Odunze is dealing with a stress fracture in his foot and is in danger of missing a third straight game this weekend. If both Burden and Odunze are inactive against Green Bay, Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay would start in three-wide sets next to DJ Moore. In two games with Odunze out, Burden has 10 grabs for 151 yards on 13 targets, which makes him flex-worthy in Week 16 if he's active and Odunze misses another contest.

From RotoBaller

Rome Odunze Dec 15 5:10pm ET
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said on Monday that "all options are on the table" for wide receiver Rome Odunze in terms of his foot injury, according to Bears insider Michal Dwojak. Johnson said the team will do what is best for Odunze so that he "can help them down the road." The 23-year-old second-year wideout has missed the last two games with a stress fracture in his foot. It looked like he was going to be active for Sunday's blowout win over the Cleveland Browns, but the Bears scratched him just before kickoff as a precaution. It's unclear what his status will be for the crucial Week 16 rematch against the division-rival Green Bay Packers, but it certainly sounds like Odunze could miss more time. Rookie Luther Burden III (ankle) is day-to-day after getting injured on Sunday, too, so the Bears could need Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay to step up alongside DJ Moore. Fantasy managers shouldn't be planning on getting Odunze back this week.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Dec 15 3:50pm ET
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed on Monday that quarterback Joe Burrow will start the rest of the season despite the team being officially eliminated from the playoffs, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. When asked why Burrow will continue to play, Taylor said, "Because we want to win." Burrow suffered a turf-toe injury in Week 2 that required surgery, and the 29-year-old didn't make his return until Week 13. The former first overall pick threw for 545 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions on 49-for-82 passing in his first two games back before going 25-for-39 for 225 yards, no touchdowns, and two picks in Sunday's 24-0 shutout loss to the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Burrow has thrown costly pick-sixes in each of the last two weeks and seemed to question his long-term future in Cincy last week. For fantasy football purposes, Burrow will be a strong QB1 option in Week 16 versus the Miami Dolphins.

From RotoBaller

Bhayshul Tuten Dec 15 3:50pm ET
Bhayshul Tuten

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten (finger) will have surgery to fix a finger injury that he suffered in Sunday's blowout win over the New York Jets, sources told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Tuten will miss a few weeks but should be back for the playoffs. There are only three games remaining in the regular season, so the Jags might shut Tuten down until the start of the postseason. The 22-year-old fourth-round selection has been a nice, explosive complement in Jacksonville's backfield this season next to starter Travis Etienne Jr., carrying the ball 78 times for 284 yards (3.6 yards per tote) and four rushing touchdowns, adding 10 catches for 79 yards and two more scores in 14 games. Tuten touched the ball only twice on Sunday, but one of those touches resulted in a one-yard TD reception. Fellow rookie LeQuint Allen Jr. will serve in the RB2 role for the Jags behind Etienne for however long Tuten is sidelined.

From RotoBaller

Marcus Mariota Dec 15 3:43pm ET
Marcus Mariota

Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (elbow) will be held out of the final three games of the season, and QB Marcus Mariota will be the starting quarterback for those games, according to sources.

Fantasy Spin: The Commanders have been eliminated from playoff contention, so they likely want to give Daniels plenty of time to recover from his elbow injury. He should be a No. 1 quarterback in fantasy leagues next season. Mariota has posted decent numbers in his limited playing time this season and can be a possible option in two-quarterback leagues for the final few games.

From TheHuddle

Jayden Daniels Dec 15 3:40pm ET
Jayden Daniels

The Washington Commanders have decided to shut down quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) for the final three games of the 2025 season, sources tell Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Daniels was re-evaluated on Monday and was not cleared, so the Commanders have decided to sit the second-year signal-caller for the rest of the year since they are eliminated from postseason contention. Veteran Marcus Mariota will close out the year running Washington's offense. The 24-year-old missed his seventh game of the year in Sunday's win over the New York Giants. Daniels suffered a gruesome dislocation of his left elbow in Week 9 and didn't return until Week 14, when he aggravated the injury. The former second overall pick had an amazing rookie campaign, but he'll end 2025 with only 1,262 passing yards, eight TDs, and three interceptions in seven games. Daniels could easily bounce back in 2026, but there are some serious concerns about his durability now after he missed time with elbow, hamstring, and knee injuries this year.

From RotoBaller

Mike Hughes Dec 15 3:13pm ET
Mike Hughes

Atlanta Falcons CB Mike Hughes (ankle) will be sidelined for at least one week because of a sprained ankle.

From TheHuddle

Geno Smith Dec 15 3:10pm ET
Geno Smith

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) has a chance to return to practice this week and play in the team's Week 16 game against the Texans, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Smith was unable to practice in any capacity leading up to the Raiders' Week 15 contest with the Eagles and was officially ruled out on Saturday, leaving Kenny Pickett to make his first start for Las Vegas. Pickett was unable to throw for even 65 yards in the shutout loss to the Eagles, rendering all Raiders players unusable for fantasy. Carroll noted that the team will know more about Smith's status on Wednesday. Whether or not he's able to suit up carries major fantasy implications for managers who were able to slip into the semifinals with Brock Bowers or Ashton Jeanty and are now wondering if they'll need to make the difficult decision to leave them on the bench.

From RotoBaller

Teddye Buchanan Dec 15 3:10pm ET
Teddye Buchanan

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh confirmed on Monday that rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan (knee) has a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Harbaugh is hoping that Buchanan will be back for training camp next summer. The 23-year-old linebacker suffered the serious injury in Sunday's 24-0 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. It's a notable loss for Baltimore's defense, as Buchanan was the team's second-leading tackler this year. Buchanan will finish his first year in the NFL with 93 tackles (49 solo), half a sack, five tackles for loss, and a forced fumble in 14 games played (13 starts). With Buchanan done for the year, expect Trenton Simpson to take over for the Ravens as their starting inside linebacker, beginning with a Sunday night battle against the Patriots in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Philip Rivers Dec 15 2:50pm ET
Philip Rivers

Forty-four-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers will once again draw the start for the Indianapolis Colts when they face the 49ers in a Week 16 Monday night contest, according to head coach Shane Steichen. Rivers' Week 15 start against the Seahawks was his first since 2020, and despite throwing for only 120 yards, the Colts were a last-minute field goal away from gutting out the win. The Colts won the coin toss on Sunday and elected to start on offense, making their game plan clear from the jump: run the ball, run the clock, and limit Seattle's offensive opportunities. Rivers ultimately attempted 27 passes, with his 5.2-yard ADoT ranking 28th out of 30 starting quarterbacks through Sunday and his 4.4 yards per attempt below everyone but Kenny Pickett for the week. With Indianapolis still mathematically alive for an AFC playoff spot, it seems unlikely they will deviate from that plan on Monday night, severely hurting the upside of all Colts pass catchers while leaving Jonathan Taylor in line for another huge-volume, likely low-efficiency outing.

From RotoBaller

Philip Rivers Dec 15 2:43pm ET
Philip Rivers

Indianapolis Colts QB Philip Rivers will be the starting quarterback for the Colts in Week 16, according to head coach Shane Steichen.

Fantasy Spin: Rivers came out of retirement this past week in order to start for the Colts and finished the game with 120 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. He should play better as he gets into game shape but will probably only be a possible option in some two-quarterback leagues.

From TheHuddle

Brandon Jones Dec 15 2:40pm ET
Brandon Jones

Denver Broncos starting safety Brandon Jones (chest) is believed to have suffered a pectoral injury in the team's Week 15 win over the Packers, and he will undergo an MRI, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. Jones' 78 tackles through 14 games rank 3rd on one of the most dominant defenses in the league. His fluid usage alongside Talanoa Hufanga has seen him line up frequently in the box, making him both a strong weekly IDP play and an important piece in what has been one of the highest-scoring DST units in fantasy. Jones left the game on Sunday and was unable to return, being replaced on the back end by veteran safety P.J. Locke. Losing Jones would be a serious blow to the Broncos' defense, though they will remain a must-start fantasy DST with their NFL-leading 58 sacks through Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Mario Edwards, Jr. Dec 15 2:23pm ET
Mario Edwards, Jr.

Houston Texans DT Mario Edwards Jr. (pectoral) will miss the rest of the season after suffering a ruptured pectoral muscle during the Week 15 game, according to head coach DeMeco Ryans.

From TheHuddle

Evan Hull Dec 15 2:20pm ET
Evan Hull

New Orleans running back Evan Hull was a trending name heading into the Saints' Week 15 matchup with the Panthers, and with Devin Neal (hamstring) exiting the team's upset win with a hamstring issue, his name will likely pop up again this week. Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) was ruled out before Sunday's divisional matchup, while Neal began the week limited by an abdomen issue, leaving Hull and second-year back Audric Estime as the presumptive next in line should Neal miss time. Ultimately, Neal played, and even though he left the game in the first half, Hull saw only a 32% snap share and finished with four total opportunities for 12 yards, leaving him behind Estime in the pecking order. Neal's status will need to be monitored throughout the week, but even if he's forced to miss what would be a favorable Week 16 matchup against the Jets, Hull's infrequent usage to this point makes him very difficult to trust heading into the fantasy semifinals.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Dec 15 2:10pm ET
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is "very hopeful" that wide receiver Drake London (knee) can return to face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. "Obviously got to get to the practice week. I'm very hopeful he can go out there and play for us," Morris said. London has missed the last four games after spraining the PCL in his left knee back in Week 11, but if he can return to practice this week, the 24-year-old could return on Sunday to face the Cardinals. Fantasy managers still alive in the playoffs will need to keep a close eye on his status this week. In London's absence, Kyle Pitts Sr. has finally broken out, going nuclear for 11 catches, 166 yards, and three touchdowns in last Thursday night's win over the Buccaneers. Pitts will lose valuable targets whenever London returns, possibly this weekend. It's unclear if London would face a snap count if he returns in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Patrick Mahomes Dec 15 2:00pm ET
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Monday that quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) is heading to Dallas for a second opinion on the surgery that is required to fix the torn ACL in his left knee that he suffered in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. It was a dark day in KC on Sunday, as not only did they lose Mahomes for the rest of the season, but they were also eliminated from the postseason for the first time in a decade. Regardless of when Mahomes has surgery on his knee, he'll likely be fighting an uphill battle to be ready for the start of the 2026 season. For the final three games of the year, Gardner Minshew will run the Chiefs' offense, which means all of the team's offensive skill players should be downgraded in fantasy football. Mahomes finishes his ninth year in the NFL with 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 14 games.

From RotoBaller

Colston Loveland Dec 15 1:40pm ET
Colston Loveland

Chicago Bears rookie first-round tight end Colston Loveland had another solid showing for his fantasy managers in the team's 31-3 blowout win over the visiting Cleveland Browns on Sunday, catching four of his five targets for 63 yards. Most of Loveland's damage in this game came on receptions of 24 and 19 yards, and he wasn't really involved late with the game already in hand. The 21-year-old 10th overall pick out of Michigan got off to a slow start in his first year in the NFL, but he's been more involved in the second half of the season and is worth rostering in most fantasy leagues. It started with a six-catch, 118-yard, two-touchdown breakout in Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Since then, Loveland has had at least 40 receiving yards in five of seven games, including all four of his touchdowns in 2025. He has had at least five targets in four straight games. More work could be coming for Loveland in Week 16 against the Packers, especially if receiver Rome Odunze (foot) misses a third straight game.

From RotoBaller

Micah Parsons Dec 15 1:20pm ET
Micah Parsons

An MRI exam on Monday confirmed that Green Bay Packers star pass-rusher Micah Parsons (knee) suffered a season-ending torn left ACL in Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. It's a devastating injury for Parsons and the Packers as they battle to make the postseason in the final three weeks of the 2025 regular season. The 26-year-old was having another All-Pro campaign in his first year with the Packers, recording 41 tackles (19 solo), 12.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 26 QB hits, and two forced fumbles in 14 games. Parsons suffered the non-contact injury in the second half of Sunday's game in Denver while rushing quarterback Bo Nix. Even if Parsons recovers ahead of pace following knee surgery, he will most likely not be ready for the start of next season. Green Bay's defense won't be nearly as formidable down the stretch without its best pass-rusher.

From RotoBaller

Bryce Young Dec 15 1:20pm ET
Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 15 of 24 pass attempts for 163 yards and a touchdown in the team's 20-17 loss to the Saints in Week 15 on Sunday. The Carolina QB also added a season-high 49 rushing yards on seven carries, totaling 15.4 Fantasy points. In 13 games played this season, Young has averaged 14.2 fantasy points per game. He has also registered more than 15 fantasy points in three of his last four starts. In Week 16, the Panthers will go up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the four weeks leading up to Week 15, the Buccaneers ranked last in the league in fantasy points per game allowed to QBs. Tampa Bay's pass defense also surrendered the second-most passing touchdowns against opposing QBs during that span (eight). Although his fantasy totals for the year have been mediocre, this matchup makes Young a more favorable starter in superflex leagues for Week 16. Those who are desperate in one-QB leagues can also consider streaming Young.

From RotoBaller