NFL Player News

This is good news for the Panthers and newly minted head coach Dave Canales, who spoke glowingly of Evero. Having competed against Evero in 2023 as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator, Canales said Evero’s defense “was really hard to deal with,” and he’s “really excited to learn more about the ins and outs” of his calls and adjustments. Evero has been on the head coaching radar in back-to-back offseasons and probably isn’t long for Carolina beyond this season. His defense was the lone bright spot for the Panthers in 2023 and will likely be a highlight again next season. Another successful year could be enough for another team to hire him into a head coaching role in 2025.

Rice easily led the Chiefs in targets but didn’t make much of the opportunity with short-area look from Patrick Mahomes, who went down in the fourth quarter with a serious knee injury. Rice missed a portion of Week 15’s loss after taking a vicious shot to the upper body on an intermediate target in double coverage. Three of Rice’s past five outings have been ordinary, leaving doubts about whether Rice will have any upside in the season’s final two weeks. Rice will be a low-end WR2 option in Week 16 against the Titans.

Mitchell’s second touchdown in three weeks was a nine-yard strike from Brady Cook in the second quarter. It was an end zone laser where Mitchell displayed sure hands. All three of Mitchell’s catches, targets and yards were his second most as a Jet since arriving from Indianapolis. Good stuff, but this is probably about his ceiling right now with Gang Green down to its No. 3 quarterback. We have no idea who will be under center for Week 16 in New Orleans, but Cook is probably the favorite. Mitchell will be a passable WR4 no matter who gets the call.

Watson, who is questionable to return, was targeted on a deep ball by Jordan Love and fell hard to the ground. What appeared to be a shoulder injury was later listed as a chest injury. He remained down for several minutes before making his way to the sideline and later the locker room. If he doesn’t return, Watson’s day will end with a 3-29-0 line on five targets.

Bech’s 17 yards were actually second on the team, if you want to know how the Raiders’ road trip went. Things won’t get any better for Week 16, where they will visit Houston to face the Texans’ elite pass defense. Whether it is Kenny Pickett or Geno Smith under center for Vegas, Bech will be out of WR4 spots in fantasy.

It was Gadsden’s first game with more than two receptions since early November, and he led all Chargers pass catchers in receiving yards in another low-volume outing for Justin Herbert in an increasingly run-heavy LA offense. Gadsden logged a pass route on 22 of the Chargers’ 32 drop backs against KC. It’s a decent rate, but one that keeps Gadsden as a thin option in 12-team fantasy leagues. Gadsden should be in lineups next week against a vulnerable Dallas coverage unit.

With Kenny Pickett making his first start in place of Geno Smith, Tucker was held without a grab for the first time all season. Not that he, or really anybody in this Raiders offense, has been producing of late. With a limited floor and several months without a ceiling effort, Tucker is out of sight, out of mind for the fantasy playoffs.

The Ravens’ attempted only 12 passes on the day, with three of those going in Andrews’ direction. Andrews’ biggest gain came on a 14-yard pickup inside of the two minute warning in the first half, and helped set the offense up for a 28-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers. Andrews’ has caught four or fewer passes in his last 10 games and won’t be anything more than a TE2 in Week 16 against the Patriots.

Butker bounced back from his Week 14 miss against the Texans in a close loss. He’s missed just four of his 28 field goal attempts through Week 15. Butker’s fantasy prospects might be affected by Patrick Mahomes’ potential absence after Mahomes went down with a knee injury near the end of KC’s loss to the Bolts.

In a game that featured only 12 passes by the Ravens, Likely found himself starved of targets. It’s a brutal break for fantasy managers who were counting on Likely in a plus matchup after seeing six targets in back-to-back weeks. Likely narrowly out-snapped Mark Andrews and ran one more route than the veteran tight end. He shouldn’t be viewed as anything more than a TE2 in Week 16 against the Patriots.

Hunt played behind Isiah Pacheco, who had 11 rushes for 21 yards and did not have a reception as Hunt ran more pass routes on the day. Neither KC back has been anything more than a desperation flex option for most of the season, and with Patrick Mahomes (knee) possibly done for the season and the Chiefs’ postseason hopes dashed in Week 15, things could get worse for both Hunt and Pacheco. Hunt should remain on benches in Week 16.