NFL Player News

Getting pressure is paramount on defense. Getting pressure before two seconds have gone by, well, that is even better. Marshall, a massive man at 6-foot-3 and 317 pounds, has been a wrecking ball playing up front for the Razorbacks. Particularly in the team’s match against Mississippi State, Marshall was instrumental in the defense’s ability to get home with just three pass-rushers while dropping eight defenders into coverage against Mike Leach’s Air Raid passing attack. If Marshall keeps this up all year, he will propel himself further and further up draft boards.

Otton’s biggest contribution to his team’s victory was serving as the DB roadblock on a rub route for Jalen McMillan’s 26-yard first-quarter score. With Mike Evans dominating targets, Otton is relegated to touchdown-dependent TE1/2 status. He remains such against the Cowboys in Week 16.

Playing in his second-straight game without George Pickens, Wilson and the Steelers saw their vertical passing game put on lockdown by the Eagles. Of the 14 passes he completed, only five had an ADOT of 10.0 or longer. His lone touchdown pass on the day came on a nine-yard pass in the end zone to Pat Freiermuth. Wilson was also credited with a “fumble” on a pitch that hit Najee Harris right in the chest, but Wilson otherwise played turnover free football in the defeat. Wilson has thrown for just 286 yards in his two games without Pickens. He’ll hope to have his WR1 back in next week’s pivotal AFC North matchup against the Ravens, where he’ll be a mid QB2.

Dortch broke off a 39-yard reception just before the end of the first half on a speedy catch-and-run. The chunk gain was somehow not even close to his most interesting play of the day. That was his six-yard carry. Dortch came across the formation in motion, took a handoff from Kyler Murray, and sprinted toward the end zone, only to cough up the football inches away from the goal line. Luckily for Dortch, right tackle Jonah Williams scrambled onto the football in the end zone for a touchdown. Dortch’s 60 yards were easily a season-high. He last topped nine yards in Week 6 and is not on the fantasy radar for Week 16’s matchup with the Panthers.

Taylor had a touchdown on an untouched 41-yard gallop in the third quarter before a video review showed he dropped the football at the one yard line, before breaching the goal line. It was a devastating turn for a Colts team that would have taken a two-possession second half lead and were instead blown out, 31-13. Taylor’s gaffe could very well cost the Colts a trip to the playoffs, depending on how the final few weeks of the regular season unfold for the Colts and their AFC rivals. Taylor dominated touches in the Indy backfield, accounting for 22 of 24 running back rushing attempts on the day. He’ll be a top-15 option in Week 16 against Tennessee.

Evans finishes with touchdowns of his own and contributed directly to a third. He and Cade Otton helped free up Jalen McMillan on a rub route in the first quarter that sent the rookie WR flying down the sideline for a 26-yard score. Evans looks every bit the crafty route runner he has always been, deftly shaking CB Kristin Fulton on his 35-yard fourth-quarter score. Evans is a WR1 next week, facing a Cowboys defense that just lost CB Trevon Diggs (knee) for the season.

Williams had missed almost half game after suffering an elbow injury in the second quarter of the game; however, with Matt Milano suffering a groin injury in the fourth quarter, the Bills made sure to get Williams back on the field. There’s no indication yet how serious Milano’s groin injury is, but if it were to keep him out, Williams look step back into the starting lineup for him.

David Njoku (hamstring) was out, but this has been about Akins’ ceiling all year long. Njoku tried to give it a go today, suggesting he will likely be back for Week 16 against the Bengals. If Njoku remains sidelined, Akins would have some streamer appeal against the horrid Bengals ... if Jameis Winston remains starter. Coach Kevin Stefanski is mulling starting Dorian Thompson-Robinson. That would render Akins a clear no-go.

Wilson only caught two balls last week but came down with a 41-yard score to save the few fantasy managers still starting him. The second-year wideout couldn’t recreate the magic this time around and ended the day with fewer than 40 yards for the eighth time this year. Wilson is good for the occasional big play but doesn’t see the ball enough to crack most fantasy lineups. He is stuck in the WR5/6 range for Week 16.

Hurts and the Eagles got the passing game going early in this one. On the Eagles’ first offensive drive of the game, Hurts connected with Grant Calcaterra and DeVonta Smith for games of 22 and 21 yards, and then found AJ Brown for gains of 16 and 20 yards two drives later. He capped their third offensive drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Brown. Hurts completed six passes that went for 20-plus yards on the afternoon, and also connected with Smith on a two-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Hurts would put the game out one a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth via his signature Tush Push and now has 14 rushing touchdowns on the season. Hurts and the Eagles now prepare for a Week 16 matchup against the Commanders with a chance to clinch the NFC East. He’ll be a top-12 fantasy option next week.

Richardson had what may have been his worst game of the season as a passer. At one point he had seven consecutive incompletions, missing routine throws in the short and intermediate areas. He now has four interceptions over his past two outings. Only the Browns had a lower expected points added (EPA) on drop backs in Week 15. Richardson (sorta) saved his fantasy day with a touchdown run in the first quarter — before the Broncos got out to a lead and forced the Colts into a heavy passing script. Richardson was sacked twice and was pressured consistently in the second half. He’ll have an easier matchup in Week 16 against the Titans.