Unsigned Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Colts HC Jeff Saturday announced on Wednesday that the team will start QB Nick Foles in Week 16 vs. the Chargers. ESPN's Dan Graziano also reports the plan is for the team to bench Matt Ryan for the remainder of the 2022 season. Fantasy managers can consider Foles a fringe QB2 option this week, though better options are likely available. The Chargers rank as the 13th-toughest matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. Going from Ryan to Foles is essentially a lateral move fantasy-wise.

Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman (abdomen) has a “good chance” of being available for Week 16 vs. the Seahawks according to Chiefs HC Andy Reid. Hardman has not played since being placed on IR following Week 9 vs. the Titans. The game against the Seahawks is on Saturday, so today’s news will provide some important clarity on this front.

Per insider Tom Pelissero, Titans QB Ryan Tannehill’s status is “in doubt” for Week 16. Tannehill played through another right ankle injury for parts of Sunday’s game against the Chargers, but it sounds like there’s a real chance he’ll miss Saturday’s matchup with Houston. If so, that’ll put QB Malik Willis back in the lineup vs. the same team he made his debut against in Week 8. The rookie is an easy avoid in season-long formats.

Rams RB Cam Akers led the team in both rushing and receiving in Sunday's loss vs. the Packers. The third-year back posted 12 carries for 65 yards on the ground in addition to reeling in all 3 of his targets for 35 yards in the receiving game. The only other Ram of note from this game is TE Tyler Higbee, a player who found the end zone on top of his 4 catches on 5 targets for 27 yards. At this stage of the fantasy season, it is tough to trust any Rams player (RB, WR, TE, or otherwise) with playoff hopes on the line in Week 16. The Broncos' defense ranks in the bottom 12 in adjusted fantasy points allowed to both RBs and WRs this season. Akers might be a decent flex option at best, but that's about it as far as the Rams are concerned.

The Packers are waiving WR Sammy Watkins, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Watkins hasn't caught a pass since Week 10 and is expendable with rookie WR Romeo Doubs set to return vs. the Rams tonight.

The Giants WRs are nothing to write home about in the aftermath of Sunday's win vs. the Commanders. Giants WR Richie James led all pass-catchers with 42 yards, hauling in 4 of 5 targets. Isaiah Hodgins was not far behind with 4 receptions and 37 yards. Darius Slayton also participated in the game and hauled in 5 of his 7 targets for 23 yards. Even with a plus-matchup on the horizon against a Vikings defense that presents the 2nd-best matchup for WRs this season, fantasy managers should not be champing at the bit to roll out any of these WRs in Week 16 lineups. James, Slayton, and Hodgins are nothing more than deep-league flex/WR4 options.

Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette carried the ball 11 times for 44 yards on top of hauling in 4 receptions for 30 yards in Sunday's loss to the Bengals. Rookie Rachaad White split the workload with Fournette in Week 15, logging 11 carries for 38 yards and a single catch for 5 yards. Neither Fournette nor White had particularly effective fantasy games as the Buccanners offense fell apart in the second half. However, managers should feel good about a Week 16 showdown against a Cardinals defense that ranks 6th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs this season. Both Bucs backs should be in RB2/flex consideration next week, with the edge going to Fournette.

Buccaneers QB Tom Brady completed 30 of 44 pass attempts in Sunday's loss vs. the Bengals, adding 312 yards with 3 TD, and 2 INTs. Brady's pair of picks accounted for half of the Bucs' 4 turnovers that set up the Bengals' offense with good field position each time. 2022 has not been kind to the aging superstar, though a Week 16 game against the Cardinals might help get him straight. The Cardinals D ranks as the 6th-best matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs, thus making Brady a low-end QB1/streaming option next week.

The Cardinals somehow managed to let Broncos RB Latavius Murray run for 130 yards and a TD on 24 carries in Sunday's Denver victory. Murray hit runs of 35 and 21 yards, averaging 5.4 per rush overall. RB Marlon Mack ran 5 times for 37 yards and a TD, adding 4 receptions for 26 yards on 4 targets. His target count tied for 2nd on the team, and Mack ranked 2nd along in catches. Murray caught his only target for 12 yards. RB Devine Ozigbo mixed in for 2 carries for 2 yards.

Jaguars WR Zay Jones racked up a monster 6-109-3 receiving line on 8 targets in Sunday's OT win against the Cowboys. It marked the 5th straight game of at least 7 targets for Jones and his 4th time with at least 6 catches in that span. It was just his 2nd 100-yard game of the year, though, and just his 3rd time north of 80 yards. The TDs also more than doubled Jones' season total. TE Evan Engram led the team with 8 receptions and tied WR Christian Kirk for the target lead (10). WR Marvin Jones claimed the team's other TD reception among 2 catches for 17 yards (on 6 targets).

Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon scored via run and pass in Sunday's win over the Texans. McKinnon carried 10 times for 52 yards, finding the end zone from 26 yards out. He also caught all 8 of his targets for 70 yards, including a 20-yard 2nd-quarter score. That makes 5 TDs in 3 games for McKinnon, who should probably just stay in fantasy football lineups. His 18 opportunities against Houston marked a season high for the 2nd straight week. RB Isiah Pacheco led the team with 15 carries for 86 yards against Houston, adding an 11-yard catch on his lone target.

Titans QB Ryan Tannehill injured his right foot or ankle in the 1st quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Titans. He made his way off the field but was eventually carted to the locker room. We'll update his status when we know more.

Update: Tannehill has an ankle injury, the team announced. It's the same right ankle he hurt back in Week 7, forcing him to miss the next 2 games.

Update: Tannehill returned in the 2nd quarter.

Bengals WR Tyler Boyd (finger) is active for today’s game vs. the Bucs. He carries elevated risk playing through the dislocated finger he suffered last week.

Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow (oblique) is active for today’s game vs. the Patriots. He came off IR and returned to practice this week. Renfrow has averaged just 4.8 targets, 3.5 catches and 32 yards across 6 games this season and isn’t a recommended Week 15 fantasy play.

Bears WR Equanimeous St. Brown sustained a concussion in the 1st quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Eagles and has been ruled out. That leaves Chicago with WRs Dante Pettis, Byron Pringle and Velus Jones.

Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman (abdomen) was not activated and won't play vs. the Texans today. Hardman got back on the practice field this week and is on track to return for this coming Saturday's game vs. the Seahawks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow (oblique) was activated, putting him on track to play vs. the Raiders on Sunday. He's been out since Week 9. Renfrow averaged just 4.8 targets, 3.5 catches and 32 yards across 6 games this season, so he’s not a recommended fantasy play.

Bills WR Cole Beasley was elevated from the practice squad for tonight's game vs. the Dolphins. We'll see how big a role he plays in his first game back with Buffalo, but he's nothing more than a flier in 1-game DFS contests.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook ran for 95 yards on 17 carries in Saturday's comeback win over the Colts. He added 4 catches for 95 yards and the final TD of regulation. Big plays were key, as Cook scored from 64 yards out late in the 4th quarter. He used a 40-yard run to pump up his rushing total as well. Cook gets strongly positive rushing matchups with the Giants and Packers the next 2 weeks.

Giants WR Richie James has cleared concussion protocol and will play vs. the Commanders on Sunday night. He caught 3 of 3 targets for 20 yards against Washington a couple of weeks ago. He's a basement-level PPR option.