Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) will start on Sunday against the Houston Texans, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Smith practiced in full every day this week and will return in Week 16 after sitting out last week's blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles due to a right shoulder injury. The 35-year-old has struggled this season, with the second-most interceptions and tied for the most sacks taken, but he is an upgrade over Kenny Pickett, who led the Raiders to the lowest total yards (75) in any NFL game this season last week against the Eagles. Smith will return for another brutal matchup in Week 16 against the vaunted Houston Texans defense, and profiles only as a desperation play in superflex leagues.

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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) likely won't play in Week 17's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, per Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. The 33-year-old wideout missed Thursday night's matchup against the Seattle Seahawks after aggravating a hamstring injury during Week 15's win over the Detroit Lions. The star wideout has had an incredible first season in Los Angeles, hauling in 60 receptions for 789 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns on 114 targets in 14 games. Star receiver Puka Nacua should continue to see a heavy dose of targets in Adams' absence, with Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith, Tutu Atwell, and Jordan Whittington vying for opportunities behind him.

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers will be making his first NFL start this week, when his team hosts the Bengals on Sunday afternoon. Ewers was a seventh-round pick for the Dolphins out of Texas last season, and the 22-year-old will now get a chance to make his first NFL start. He played a few series in Cleveland earlier this season, completing five of his eight passes for 53 yards and taking a pair of sacks. He will have a favorable matchup against the Bengals, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Ewers is likely playing for an increased opportunity next season, since the team seems ready to move on from Tua Tagovailoa, even though he signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract only last summer. Ewers has a favorable matchup, but he's so unproven that he's still only the No. 27 QB in this week's rankings, making him not a good option in all but the very deepest formats.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was heavily involved in Week 15, catching seven passes for 70 yards, but it was not enough to pull out the win and save their playoff hopes. The 35-year-old will now face the Tennessee Titans in Week 16 with essentially nothing to play for since the team has been eliminated from playoff contention. That said, the Titans are middle-of-the-pack in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season, making him a neutral matchup for Kelce. Kelce will likely be the first or second option in passing situations with Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton ruled out this week, so he could find success through sheer volume of opportunities. Kelce will now have to deal with Gardner Minshew at quarterback, as Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in Week 15. Minshew and Kelce don't have the same established chemistry, but Kelce is talented enough to get it done. Kelce is ranked TE10 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a low-end TE1 option this week.

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Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker was perfect in Week 15, cashing in on both of his field goal attempts and his only extra-point attempt. Butker has been serviceable this season, but he has not reached the level of upside he once had when the Chiefs were one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league. Butker's value could take yet another hit with the loss of Patrick Mahomes in Week 15. Gardner Minshew will now lead the Kansas City offense, which means more stalled drives and fewer scoring opportunities. Given the state of the offense and the fact that the team has already been eliminated from playoff contention, there is not much for the Chiefs to play for this season. Kansas City is not expected to push the pace of play and increase scoring now to end the season, which hurts Butker's chances to get more kicking opportunities. Butker is ranked K24 in our RotoBaller rankings, making him a very low-end option at the position this week.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown missed Week 15 and was listed on this week's injury report with a personal issue, but practiced fully and does not have a designation for this week. Brown should step into a larger role with Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton ruled out with concussions this week. While Xavier Worthy should be the featured player in the wide receiver room, Brown may still be able to find success against the Tennessee Titans in Week 16. The Titans have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season, so Brown is set up with an advantageous matchup. The veteran receiver has had some good fantasy performances this season, but now he will have to do it with Gardner Minshew leading the offense. Brown is ranked WR54 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a desperation flex option in the fantasy playoffs.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy caught two passes for 35 yards in last week's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but he should step into the lead role for the Chiefs this week. With fellow receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton ruled out with concussions, there should be plenty of opportunities for Worthy to shine against the Tennessee Titans in Week 16. The Titans have given up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season, which means this could be a smash spot for Worthy if he hits. Worthy has had an up-and-down season, but he should be able to produce with the runway cleared for him. That said, he does have a quarterback downgrade, going from Patrick Mahomes to Gardner Minshew this week. Minshew has proven capable in the past and should be able to deliver the ball to Worthy. Worthy is ranked WR39 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a low-end WR3/flex option this week.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco led the backfield in the Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Pacheco handled 11 carries for 21 yards and did not earn a single target. The 26-year-old supplanted Kareem Hunt as the back with the most opportunities, but Pacheco only averaged 1.9 yards per carry with those opportunities. That said, he should retain the lead role in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season, so Pacheco should have an easier time finding success on the ground. The Chiefs could also lean on the run game more with Patrick Mahomes out for the season. Minshew will step into the lead role at quarterback, which could decrease the overall efficiency of the offense. So, Pacheco may end up getting more work, but the scoring opportunities could be less frequent. Pacheco is ranked RB40 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a low-end flex option this week.

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For fantasy managers still playing into the money weeks of the season, the decision to start or sit Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson against the New York Giants might come with a bit of heartburn. A prolonged slump has Jefferson in risky WR2 territory, which sounds baffling, given his past production. The former LSU Tiger has just six catches for 37 yards in the past three weeks, has not scored a touchdown since Week 9, hasn't eclipsed 80 yards since Week 5, and missed out on two touchdowns last week -- one called back because of a penalty and one he dropped. Overall, however, the Vikings and quarterback J.J. McCarthy have played significantly better during the past two weeks with back-to-back wins in which the offense scored more than 30 points. Additionally, the matchup is great, as the Giants have surrendered the fourth-most air yards and rank 30th against half-PPR receivers. Managers have surely been burned, but Jefferson still has an ever-present week-winning potential that figures to eventually make an appearance again.

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As the Minnesota Vikings' offense has looked markedly improved during the past two weeks, an increased commitment to the running game offers great potential for running back Aaron Jones Sr. in Week 16 against the New York Giants. The Vikings ran the ball on nearly 57% of snaps the past two games, did damage with play-fakes, and saw quarterback J.J. McCarthy play his best football of the year. Jones has 15 touches in back-to-back weeks, which could mean good things against a Giants defense that ranks dead last in yards per carry allowed. Additionally, New York ranks a lowly 30th against half-PPR running backs and has allowed the fifth-most rushing touchdowns, presenting a terrific matchup at a great time for managers who roster the veteran running back. Jones can be considered a solid RB2 with the potential for more in Week 16.

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In the midst of the best stretch of his young career, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy can be considered a high-potential QB2 option for managers in Superflex leagues as the Vikings look to continue their winning streak in Week 16 at the New York Giants. He'll see another good matchup against the 2-12 Giants, who rank 27th in scoring percentage and 30th in turnover percentage, but could see a patchwork Minnesota offensive line. The Vikings will be without left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) and could also be missing right tackle Brian O'Neill (heel), who is questionable. McCarthy, who has been limited to eight starts in two years due to injuries, looked significantly improved during the past two games, in which he completed 66% of passes, accounted for six touchdowns, committed only one turnover, and finished among the top 10 fantasy quarterbacks both times. McCarthy is still raw and prone to volatility, but the past two weeks vindicated managers who kept the faith, giving them a quality option with a favorable matchup deep in the fantasy playoffs.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt took a backseat to Isiah Pacheco in last week's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, and his value should also decrease without Patrick Mahomes leading the offense. Hunt rushed six times for 12 yards and caught one pass for eight yards in Week 15. Hunt handled five fewer carries than Pacheco, but neither back was able to average more than 2.0 yards per carry in the contest. Gardner Minshew is now set to be the starting quarterback for the Chiefs for the rest of the season, which could decrease the number of scoring opportunities in this offense. Since most of his value is tied to finding the endzone, Hunt will be very difficult to trust this week. That said, Hunt will have a softer matchup in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have given up the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Hunt is ranked RB33 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him an RB3/Flex option this week. Given his reduced role last week and fewer expected scoring opportunities moving forward, Hunt is a tough player to project.

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Coming off his best yardage output of the season last week, Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson will see a tougher matchup in Week 16 when his team travels east to play the New York Giants. While the Giants are 2-12 and nobody's idea of stingy, they've been best against tight ends from a fantasy perspective. New York has struggled against other skill-position groups, but ranks eighth against PPR tight ends. Hockenson went for 66 yards on four catches last week at Dallas, but has been held under 40 receiving yards 10 times in 14 games as the Vikings have been erratic because of injuries and underperformance at quarterback. Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy has looked significantly better in the past two weeks, but Hockenson has been quiet in so many games this year that managers should consider him a lower-end option with fantasy playoffs on deck.

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A week ago, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (back) came up big on national TV with two touchdown catches in a victory at Dallas, but he should be considered more of a desperation option in Week 16 at the New York Giants. Nailor appears to be developing a connection with quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and he's earning regular playing time, having played at least half of the Vikings' snaps in 13 of 14 games. Though he came off the injury report and should play on Sunday, Nailor just isn't earning enough targets to rely upon in the majority of fantasy formats. The Michigan State product had one or zero catches in seven of 14 games, and he's caught more than three passes in a game three times in three years. While the Giants rank a lowly 29th against half-PPR receivers, Nailor's inconsistent volume makes him challenging to rely upon in Week 16.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew replaced Patrick Mahomes after he suffered his season-ending knee injury against the Los Angeles Chargers last week. Minshew completed three of his five pass attempts for 22 yards and an interception in the loss. It was a difficult spot for the backup to be thrust into, but he should have the opportunity to bounce back this week against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have given up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season, putting Minshew in an advantageous situation this week. The last time Minshew started a game was over a year ago when he was a member of the Las Vegas Raiders. The 29-year-old completed 25 of 42 pass attempts (60%) for 230 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a loss to the Denver Broncos. Minshew has proven to be a capable starter when given the opportunity, but the Kansas City offense should still take a hit without Mahomes at the helm. Minshew is ranked QB26 in our RotoBaller rankings, making him a backend QB2 option in Superflex and 2QB leagues this week.

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For managers still playing, the decision to start or sit Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison against the New York Giants is a riddle. This week, the former USC and Pitt standout qualifies as an ultimate high-risk, high-reward WR3/flex option. He has an outstanding matchup against a poor Giants pass defense that has allowed the fourth-most points to half-PPR receivers and fourth-most air yards, both great signs for a home-run hitter like Addison. Additionally, the Vikings' offense has been markedly better during the past two weeks, during which the offense scored 30-plus points, and Addison recorded more than 60 yards both times. But there is also the downside: Minnesota still ranks among the league's worst in turnover percentage, sacks allowed, and scoring percentage. In the six games preceding back-to-back wins, Addison averaged a paltry 27.5 receiving yards. Managers in the fantasy playoffs will have to evaluate the full picture of their roster to gauge whether the possibility of Addison having a big game is worth the risk of a dud.

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Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason should be considered an RB3/flex option when his team takes on the porous run defense of the New York Giants in Week 16. The Vikings have found an excellent run-pass balance in victories the past two weeks that has been a positive development overall, but also has led to more work for Mason. The former San Francisco 49er drew double-digit carries in both games, and even more notably, earned six carries and a touchdown in the red zone. The Giants have allowed the fifth-most rushing touchdowns and rank dead last in yards per carry allowed, which bodes well for the Minnesota running game. Though he is touchdown-dependent and still behind fellow running back Aaron Jones Sr., Mason's workload and quality matchup are enough to consider for a flex spot.

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New York Giants running back Devin Singletary has seen an uptick in workload since Week 8, when rookie back Cam Skattebo (ankle) went down with a season-ending ankle injury. However, fellow Giants back Tyrone Tracy Jr. has emerged as the clear feature back in New York in recent weeks. In the Giants' Week 15 loss to the Washington Commanders, Singletary recorded just 14 scrimmage yards on six touches, compared to 97 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 18 touches for Tracy Jr. Tracy Jr. also dominated from a snap share perspective, out-snapping Singletary 52 to 16. Tracy Jr.'s emergence has pushed Singletary back to a secondary role, which drastically lowers his utility for fantasy managers. At best, he profiles as a low-end deep-league flex option for fantasy managers heading into matchups against the Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders over the next two weeks.

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As the Minnesota Vikings appear to have turned a corner offensively by scoring 30-plus points in back-to-back weeks, kicker Will Reichard can be viewed as a fringe fantasy starter for a Week 16 matchup with the New York Giants. Though Minnesota has struggled immensely on offense at times this year, Reichard has been among the most consistent kickers in the league. The second-year man from Alabama is the No. 7 overall fantasy kicker on the strength of 24 makes from 26 attempts, including nine field goals from beyond 50 yards. The Giants rank among the bottom five against fantasy kickers, and in an upset for this time of the season, the weather on Sunday is projected to be borderline pleasant at MetLife Stadium. Given the host of green lights, Reichard is worthy of lineup consideration in Week 16.

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers has spent most of the 2025 season in a reserve role behind veteran QB Tua Tagovailoa. However, with Tagovailoa struggling and the team now eliminated from playoff contention, Miami announced that Ewers will take over as the starter for the team's Week 16 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The 22-year-old is a rookie who was drafted in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft after three seasons as the starting quarterback at the University of Texas. Across 14 games for the Longhorns in 2024, he completed 65.8% of his pass attempts for 3,472 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. While Ewers's lack of draft pedigree should limit expectations for his production, he could have a multi-game runway as the starter in Miami. After facing Cincinnati in Week 16, the Dolphins will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17. In deep, two-quarterback fantasy leagues, Ewers could be worth a look as a streamer.

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