NFL Player News

In what has to be considered the most anticipated return of the season, Burrow retook the field in Baltimore after sitting out eight games with a nasty turf toe injury. While it wasn’t a perfect game from franchise passer, Burrow moved well, put the ball on the money, and stayed out of harm’s way. Bengals fans couldn’t ask for a better game in his first game back. The only hiccup was an inability to cash in once Burrow got his team into the red zone. Burrow had completed just 1-of-9 passes in the red zone heading into halftime. He eventually broke the curse with a 14-yard strike to Tanner Hudson for his first touchdown of the day. Burrow only ran for eight yards on three carries, but two of his attempts resulted in first downs. One was a sneak and the other looked like a read option play. At 4-8, the Bengals need to win out to have any shot at making the playoffs. Burrow gives them a chance to do just that, even is the odds remain slim. He is back in the QB1 ranks for his upcoming matchup with the Bills.

Hockenson found the end zone on a two-yard pass from J.J. McCarthy after the Vikings opted to go for it on fourth-and-goal while up 24-0 in the fourth quarter. The veteran tight end has now found the end zone three times this season, but has left much to be desired for fantasy managers this season. The 59 yards he produced in Week 13’s loss to the Seahawks were his most in any game this season. Hockenson shouldn’t be viewed as anything more than a desperation play in Week 15 against the Cowboys.

Raheem Morris stayed committed to his ground game as long as possible, loading Robinson up with touches despite the Falcons eventually losing by 28. Even Tyler Allgeier managed 11 carries plus two catches. Allgeier also stole goal line work from Robinson, though he failed to convert on his opportunities in the paint. Red zone theft aside, Robinson’s role remained elite in this game. It’s simply going to be hard for Robinson to get home for fantasy managers every week with Kirk Cousins sinking the offense. Robinson will remain in the middle of the RB1 pack for his Week 15 date with the Bucs.

He did manage to convert a third-and-long deep in garbage time, but it’ll be hard to see Riley Leonard making the deeper Colts options worthwhile plays going forward. Downs is probably best approached as a WR5 against the Seahawks in Week 15.

Waddle was the lead receiver for the Dolphins yet again, tallying seven targets and also getting one carry for 21 yards. He caught a three-yard touchdown on the first possession of the game and was mostly quiet in the second half with the Dolphins up big. Waddle was briefly grabbing his calf and limping on the sidelines, but he quickly returned to the game. As the No. 1 receiver in the Dolphins offense, Waddle is a low-end fantasy WR2 for Week 15 against the Steelers.

Pierce appeared to catch a garbage time touchdown, but instant replay overruled the catch after it was decided that he was fumbling control of the ball as he hit the ground. After the play he was sent to the bench and evaluated for a concussion. Pierce was on video talking to reporters after the game in the locker room, which is a good sign for his status going forward, but we’ll probably get something more firm on that on Monday. He’s continued to be the best receiver the Colts have, but with Riley Leonard now leading the quarterback room, it’s probably more of a WR3 package against the tough Seahawks defense in Week 15.

The first half of this game was played in some pretty intense snow, and the field remained slippery for much of the second half, but the Bengals had 338 yards of offense, so, surprisingly, Chase couldn’t get there. Part of it is that Tee Higgins had a good day, but the other aspect of it is that Christian Benford has been really good for Buffalo since playing through an injury to start the season. He shadowed Chase all of the field on Sunday, so Joe Burrow took easier throws elsewhere. Chase should be in for a much bigger day next week against the Ravens.

In fact, Brown could have had a third touchdown on a 25-yard pass from Joe Burrow in the fourth quarter. The pass hit him in the hands, but the ball was ripped away at the last second by a Bills’ defensive back. Buffalo has actually defended the run relatively well since the bye week, especially when Shaq Thompson has been healthy, but Semaje Perine ran much harder and more physically in the snow than Brown did. Brown tried to set up too many cuts and jukes on a day when footing was hard to come back. Perine will continue to sap some of his upside, but Brown remains an RB2 heading into next week against the Ravens.

Gordon did not get into the game until after De’Von Achane left with a rib injury. He fumbled his first touch but was able to recover the ball for the Dolphins. Jaylen Wright took on the workhorse role after Achane left, though all three backs scored on the day. Gordon’s touchdown was a seven-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the game away for good. He still has a role as the Dolphins’ short-yardage back, but Wright seems to be the primary beneficiary of Achane missing time. Gordon has FLEX upside if Achane is out in Week 15 against the Steelers.

Ward added just 2/4 on the ground. The Titans’ second victory of the year didn’t come in spite of Ward, but it definitely wasn’t because of him. Tennessee churned up 35/184/2 on the ground in snowy Cleveland conditions. Ward did notch his first multi-score game through the air since ... ever. Shocking. He hit Elic Ayomanor for a nifty 14-yard score in the first quarter before finding Chimere Dike for a five-yarder three frames later. Shockingly, Ward took a season-low one sack. This, against Myles Garrett’s defensive line. That was probably the biggest sign of progress, though Ward still isn’t hitting nearly enough throws despite his prodigious arm talent. Perhaps that will change in Week 15 against a banged up, leaky 49ers defense.