NFL Player News

Both red zone touchdowns happened as Stroud scrambled along keeping dead plays alive. John Metchie III dropped what looked like another sure touchdown in the third quarter. It’s not like there aren’t positives from Stroud as a player right now, but the offensive line and offensive coaching morass is swallowing any upside he has as a fantasy player whole. The Texans again got Stroud sacked four times and looked incapable of creating anything open or easy for him. After a 55-yard opening drive that was derailed by a Robert Woods fumble, the Texans went more than 28 yards on a drive just once more the entire day. Coming off a bye, even! Stroud will remain in the QB2 tier against the Chiefs on Saturday.

Hooper finished second on the team in catches and yards. He has at least three catches and 30 yards in five straight games. Hooper has caught every one of his targets since Week 10. The veteran tight end has established as TE2 floor but has no ceiling to speak of as the Patriots’ backup tight end.

The Bills used a heavy three-man rotation at running back on Sunday, but James Cook was able to rip off chunk plays seemingly at will. His first touchdown was an easy walk-in rush from six yards out with the defense focusing on Josh Allen, but he exploded for a huge 41-yard run in the second half that helped give the Bills a commanding lead. The Bills will continue to rotate their running backs because they complement each other so well, but Cook is their clear primary ball carrier, and he continues to get carries inside the ten-yard-line, which is huge for his fantasy value. He’s a borderline RB1 next week in what should be a strong gamescript for him against the Patriots.

Freiermuth hauled in a nine-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Eagles. Freiermuth has now scored in three-straight games, but is fantasy production is largely being carried by his scores. He’ll be a risky bet in Week 16 against the Ravens, who held him to two catches for 14 yards in their first meeting.

We do not yet know the injury’s severity but passing-down specialist Emari Demercado was already sidelined by a back injury and was fully unable to practice or play in Week 15. James Conner could have a monstrous Week 16 workload against the Panthers. Fantasy managers should closely monitor the Cardinals’ practice reports.

Boutte’s quiet day went from bad to worse in the third quarter when he tipped a low pass up into the air. The ball landed in the hands of Cardinals corner Sean Murphy-Bunting for an easy interception whose blame falls on the shoulders of Boutte. The second-year wideout has been held to three or fewer receptions in each of his past three games. He is stuck in the WR5/6 ranks for his Week 16 matchup with the Bills.

The Bills jumped out to an early lead on the Lions, which forced Detroit to have to throw early and often on Sunday, and Goff responded. With the Bills’ down multiple starters in the secondary and sitting in zone for basically the entire game, Goff just dissected the defense, finding open players all over the middle of the field. Goff was also elusive in the pocket, spinning out of multiple sacks and making plays down the field. There was not much more he could have done on Sunday, and he’ll get a chance to keep the momentum going next week against the Bears.

Allen is the runaway favorite for MVP as it stands right now. The 28-year-old looked poised and locked in, making his typical “wow” plays when he leaves the pocket, including a wild 64-yard bomb to Keon Coleman when he was just inches from the sideline. Allen also was surgical on throws in the pocket, including a huge third-and-four conversion to Dalton Kincaid for 29 yards that put the Bills in the driver’s seat. Allen did go for x-rays after the game but called those “precautionary” and said he was good to go. After a gauntlet of a recent schedule, the Bills finish the season with games against the Patriots, Jets, and Patriots, which should be good for Allen’s fantasy value.

Austin’s day was buoyed by a 31-yard reception that he made in the third quarter on a drive that ended with a Steelers fumble just three plays later. Austin has gone for 65 or more yards in two of his last five games but has a combined 32 receiving yards in the other three games. He’s well off the fantasy radar in Week 16 against the Ravens.

Henry led the team in catches once again but fell behind Kayson Boutte in targets. Three pass-catchers totaled more yards than Henry, who was used primarily as a check-down option today. The veteran tight end leads New England in catches and yards this year, though that says as much about the Patriots’ weapons as it does about Henry. With one touchdown to his name this season and no signs of that changing anytime soon, Henry is a high-end TE2 for Week 16 versus the Bills.

Shortly after beat reporter Ryan O’Halloran reported Allen landed “on [his] right shoulder late in [the] game and was flexing it out,” Allen told reporters that he requested X-rays for his own peace of mind, following the late-game “funky fall.” Allen may be a bit sore this week but fantasy managers should expect him to play in Week 16 against the Patriots.