NFL Player News

One year after injuries decimated the Chargers’ offensive line, things are starting to look up. Jared Gaither and Tyronne Green have been jelling on the left side while Vasquez’s improvement is key to the right side. If this unit can play at an average level, Philip Rivers gets a boost.

Mooney took a significant backseat to alpha wide receiver Drake London in this one, the latter of whom saw a robust 13 targets as Michael Penix’s top target. Mooney will look to get back into good fantasy graces in Week 18 when the Falcons aim to save their season against the Panthers.

Pitts committed a drop late in the fourth quarter on the team’s penultimate drive of the game which forced the first fourth down of the drive for the Falcons. Quarterback Michael Penix would convert that fourth down to sustain the drive, one that ultimately concluded with a fourth down touchdown reception by Pitts to tie the game with just over a minute remaining to play. They would force a quick three-and-out and drove into field goal position via a defensive pass interference penalty, but the 57-yard field goal attempt ultimately fell just short to send the game into overtime. Jayden Daniels would ensure the Falcons would not see the ball again, sending the team to the No. 8 seed in the NFC. They now require a win over the Panthers and a Buccaneers loss to the Saints in Week 18 to make the postseason.

London served as rookie quarterback Michael Penix’s top target after departing the team’s Week 16 game with a hamstring injury, an injury that typically forced pass-catchers to miss time considering what is asked of them during a game. He made several spectacular catches for the Falcons, two of which extended the team’s penultimate drive which eventually resulted in them tying the game. They would get the ball back late in the game after a quick three-and-out from the Commanders but a 57-yard field goal came up just short to send the game into overtime. The Falcons enter a Week 18 meeting with the Panthers in need of a win and a Buccaneers loss to the Saints to reach the postseason.

Bijan Robinson handled the bulk of the opportunities for the Atlanta backfield in the first half and both backs failed to see many opportunities after the break as the Falcons struggled to move the football. Even so, Allgeier’s three touches paled in comparison to the 20 of Robinson, with the former likeliest to see additional run in second halves of games the team controls handily.

Robinson did the bulk of this damage before halftime, scoring both touchdowns in the first two quarters as the team took a 17-7 lead into the break. The Falcons would then struggle to sustain drives in the second half, something the nuked Robinson’s opportunities in the process. The Falcons ultimately fell in catastrophic fashion in overtime after missing a 57-yard field goal as time expired in regulation, dropping them to the No. 8 seed in the NFC with one game remaining in the regular season. Their path to the postseason now involves a win over the Panthers in Week 18 and a Buccaneers loss to the Saints.

Penix watched from the sideline as the Commanders controlled the fourth quarter, ultimately kicking a field goal with just over four minutes remaining to take a seven point lead. He then drove the length of the field to tie the game with just over a minute remaining, a drive in which he converted two fourth-and-long situations to tie the game. The Falcons would then force a quick three-and-out and had a chance to steal the victory in regulation following a defensive pass interference call, but the 57-yard attempt fell just short to send the game to overtime. The Commanders won the toss and Jayden Daniels would ensure the Falcons would not see the football again. The loss drops the Falcons into the No. 8 seed in the NFC, now requiring a win over the Panthers in Week 18 and a loss by the Buccaneers to the Saints to reach the postseason.

Foreman may have exited this game as the Browns’ only healthy running back. Both Jerome Ford (ankle) and Pierre Strong Jr. (head) suffered injuries and Ford logged just one offensive snap after returning. Foreman is a touchdown-dependent RB4 against the Ravens in Week 17.

Ford suffered an apparent ankle sprain, possibly eversion, in the first half and initially struggled to put any weight on it. He was taken to the locker room and the broadcast later announced Ford’s impending return but it was only nominal. He tallied just one offensive snap in the second half. Ford was essentially a ghost in the second half. He looked great on a 19-yard run up the middle early on though. Fantasy managers should treat him as a shaky RB4 against the Ravens in Week 18.

Moore was stuck in the fantasy-unfriendly role of being the only Browns pass catcher to be consistently sent on downfield routes. He (12.5 yards) was the only player to earn an aDOT greater than 7.0 yards and Dorian Thompson-Robinson was simply not ready to meet Moore halfway. Moore cannot be started against the Ravens in Week 18.

Akins was tough for Dolphins defenders to bring down, flashing the size-speed traits that have kept him in the league for his age-32 season. Akins is unlikely to repeat the feat against the Ravens’ defense in Week 18 but he could be TE2-viable.