Fantasy News

Peyton Barber scores in Week 15.

Barber carried 19 times for 85 yards and a touchdown along with two receptions for four yards in the Bucs’ loss to the Ravens. He was the only Tampa Bay running back to receive a carry, which is a great sign for his value the final two games of the season. This gives Barber a score in four of the last five weeks, and he’ll look to keep it going next week against the Cowboys. It’s a tough matchup, so he’s just a FLEX option in the first week of fantasy championships.

12/17/18 - 08:54 AM ET

The Falcons placed Ito Smith (knee) on inured reserve.

The 5-9 Falcons have been hit with yet another injury sending a player to injured reserve, and this is their second running back this has happened to after Devonta Freeman was also sent to IR earlier this season. Smith left yesterday’s game with a knee injury that he limped off with, and the injury isn’t thought to be something that will require surgery. But the rookie running back’s season is over, and it ends with 90 carries for 315 yards and four touchdowns along with 27 receptions for 152 yards. The numbers weren’t great, but it was a solid first NFL season for the fourth-round pick from Southern Miss. Atlanta’s backfield situation is as up in the air as any backfield in the league heading into 2019, as Tevin Coleman is set to become a free agent while Freeman remains under contract at a relatively big number. Smith’s 2019 fantasy value is difficult to gauge at this point. For the rest of this season, Coleman could receive a heavier workload with Smith out, but Brian Hill might just take most of Smith’s snaps in the final two games of the year.

12/17/18 - 03:43 PM ET

Ricky Seals-Jones contained as Cardinals drop to 3-11.

Seals-Jones caught three passes (on eight targets) for 22 yards. The athletic tight end hasn’t scored since Week 3, and he should stay out of fantasy lineups over the next couple weeks.

12/17/18 - 09:02 AM ET

Frank Gore (foot) is expected to miss the final two games of the season.

Perhaps Gore will somehow tough it out and play Week 16 or Week 17, but it’s unlikely. The future Hall of Famer might be placed on injured reserve sometime this week. Rookie Kalen Ballage looks set to become the primary ball-carrier the final two games, but Kenyan Drake and Brandon Bolden will also be in the mix. We’d like to see Drake get a heavier workload moving forward, but the Dolphins haven’t appeared eager to do that this year despite his strong end to last season.

12/17/18 - 01:16 PM ET

David Johnson scores in blowout loss to the Falcons.

Johnson rushed 11 times for 33 yards, including a one-yard touchdown on the team’s opening possession. He also caught three passes for 68 yards. Arizona did almost nothing after their first score, so fantasy owners were fortunate that DJ got into the end zone early. The superstar back gets a great matchup against the Rams next week, but Josh Rosen will likely hold the offense back, and Johnson could be in danger of a titled game script. Still, he should be on the better side of the RB1/RB2 borderline for the fantasy championship.

12/17/18 - 08:53 AM ET

Nelson Agholor catches one pass in Eagles’ win.

Agholor gained eight yards on his lone reception in the win over the Rams in the stadium where he played college ball at USC. He was targeted just two times in the game in a passing attack that spread things around in Nick Foles’ first game back as the starter. While the expected boost in fantasy value for Agholor did not work out in this first game with Foles under-center, it did for Alshon Jeffery, who caught eight passes for 160 yards. Things might look differently for Agholor’s outlook if he was the one that caught a 50-yard deep ball that Jeffery caught with them both open deep down the field on similar routes. Next week, Agholor has some upside against a Texans defense that has struggled against fast, explosive receivers, but ideally you’ll have stronger options for your lineup with a fantasy title on the line.

12/17/18 - 01:04 PM ET

Jacquizz Rodgers catches one pass against the Ravens.

Rodgers gained one yard on his lone Week 15 reception. Rodgers is difficult to trust in fantasy lineups entering championship weeks.

12/17/18 - 09:01 AM ET