Fantasy Football Week 15 Recap: Immediate takeaways & analysis for every game

Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks (13) runs with the ball for a touchdown during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

PFF's fantasy football recap focuses on player usage and stats, breaking down all the vital information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2021.

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Table Notes
  • Snaps include plays called back due to penalties like offensive holding or defensive pass interference. The other three stats have these plays removed.
  • Targets may differ from official NFL sources. The most likely discrepancy would be from a clear thrown away pass, where the NFL may give the target to the nearest receiver, while this data will not.
  • Carries are only on designed plays. Quarterback scrambles won’t count for the total number of carries in the game.

NYJ @ MIA | CAR @ BUF | | TEN @ PIT | ARZ @ DET | HOU @ JAX | DAL @ NYG | CIN @ DEN | ATL @ SF |  GB @ BAL | NO @ TB |


New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins

  • Duke Johnson Jr.: 22 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD, (10 avoided tackles), 1 reception, 20 receiving yards
  • DeVante Parker: 4 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD, (30% threat rate)
New York Jets Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Jamison Crowder 51 33 7 0
Keelan Cole 43 25 2 0
Denzel Mims 23 17 2 0
Braxton Berrios 19 9 1 1
Vyncint Smith 18 9 0 0
TE
Tyler Kroft 36 17 2 0
Ryan Griffin 22 8 2 0
Trevon Wesco 14 4 1 0
HB
Michael Carter 31 17 2 8
Tevin Coleman 21 9 0 8
Austin Walter 6 2 0 2
Total 57 34 20 20

 

Miami Dolphins Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
DeVante Parker 63 30 9 0
Albert Wilson 42 17 2 1
Isaiah Ford 19 14 3 0
Mack Hollins 12 5 1 0
Preston Williams 6 2 0 0
TE
Durham Smythe 65 19 1 0
Mike Gesicki 45 24 7 0
Hunter Long 23 2 1 0
Cethan Carter 1 0 0 0
HB
Duke Johnson Jr. 41 9 1 22
Myles Gaskin 26 11 0 10
Total 71 31 26 38

The Dolphins crazy backfield: The Dolphins seemed like they would be in trouble at running back in the middle of the week, but they had both Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed return from the Covid-19 list on Friday. Miami still opted to make Duke Johnson Jr. the lead back on rushing plays. He put together the most impressive game by a Miami back on the ground this season. This is a backfield to avoid the rest of the season.

Phillip Lindsay remained on the Covid-19 list, but he could be back next week. Malcolm Brown is still on injured reserve, but he practiced all week. He could also be back next week. Miami could have any three of these five backs active in a difficult matchup against the Saints. Once we know who is active, we might not know who will start.

The quiet return of Michael Carter: Carter was activated from injured reserve earlier in the week, while Tevin Coleman returned to the team after suffering a concussion. Ty Johnson was surprisingly a healthy scratch after being part of the backfield rotation all season. The two healthy backs saw close to an even split in playing time, with Coleman breaking a 20-yard run giving him the more impressive stats. Chances are Carter can log a higher percentage of touches in a week once he’s even further recovered from his injury.

Return of Tyler Kroft: The Jets also had reinforcements in the form of their starting receiving tight end. He went right back into the role, taking it back from Ryan Griffin. Both tight ends had two catches for between 35-40 yards. This was enough to make them the second and third best receivers on the team for the day. Neither tight end is worth trusting in most formats with how much they can rotate, and the current quality of the offense.


Carolina Panthers @ Buffalo Bills

  • Gabriel Davis: 5 receptions, 85 yards, 2 TD, (19.0 aDOT)
  • Devin Singletary: 22 carries, 86 yards, (62 yards after contact), 1 TD, 1 reception, 10 yards
Carolina Panthers Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Robby Anderson 76 46 8 2
D.J. Moore 69 41 10 0
Brandon Zylstra 54 35 3 0
Terrace Marshall Jr. 8 6 1 0
Willie Snead IV 1 1 1 0
TE
Tommy Tremble 49 28 3 0
Ian Thomas 42 19 2 0
HB
Ameer Abdullah 40 24 4 4
Chuba Hubbard 36 14 1 8
Total 76 46 34 26

 

Buffalo Bills Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Gabriel Davis 63 34 7 0
Stefon Diggs 58 34 6 0
Cole Beasley 32 24 7 0
Isaiah McKenzie 20 9 2 1
Jake Kumerow 11 3 0 0
Marquez Stevenson 2 0 0 0
TE
Dawson Knox 63 30 5 0
Tommy Sweeney 22 7 1 0
HB
Devin Singletary 65 30 1 22
Matt Breida 3 0 0 1
Total 70 38 29 26

Add Gabriel Davis: Emmanuel Sanders suffered a knee injury a week ago and was ruled out of this game on Friday. Davis took over as the every snap starter as expected. The second-year receiver led the Bills receiver in yards thanks to his big play ability. He’s worth a waiver wire target in case Sanders misses another game. This also helped his chances of winning a starting job in Buffalo in 2022, as two of their three starters are 32 or older.

Drop Matt Breida: The Breida experiment seems to be over in Buffalo. He scored three touchdowns and ran for over 100 yards from Week 10-12. He’s gained 16 yards on the ground on five carries over the last three weeks. His playing time has also decreased significantly. He certainly can’t be trusted next week, and even if he has a big play or two, it will be hard to trust him in Week 17.

Tommy Tremble trending up: The third-round rookie tight end seemed like a good breakout candidate once Carolina traded Dan Arnold early in the season. He has hovered around 50% of offensive snaps since that point and has rarely been involved in the pass game. This game was promising for both his playing time and his targets. This was just the second time all season he saw over 60% of offensive snaps. It was also his fourth game with three or more targets, with two of them occurring in December. This isn’t enough to pick him up this year, but he could take a step forward and be the Panthers receiving tight end in 2022.


Tennessee Titans @ Pittsburgh Steelers

  • D’Onta Foreman: 22 carries, 108 yards, (3.5 yards after contact per carry), 2 receptions, 27 receiving yards
  • Diontae Johnson: 5 receptions, 38 yards, (17 yards after contact), 1 carry, 10 rushing yards
Tennessee Titans Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine 71 35 7 0
Cody Hollister 56 22 2 0
Chester Rogers 28 15 4 0
Julio Jones 27 18 1 0
Racey McMath 22 9 1 0
TE
Geoff Swaim 59 14 2 0
MyCole Pruitt 27 9 1 0
Anthony Firkser 17 15 2 0
HB
D'Onta Foreman 31 6 3 22
Dontrell Hilliard 29 17 6 9
Jeremy McNichols 23 12 3 6
Total 80 37 32 41

 

Pittsburgh Steelers Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Diontae Johnson 48 28 5 1
Ray-Ray McCloud III 33 22 2 0
Chase Claypool 31 17 2 1
James Washington 17 11 5 0
TE
Zach Gentry 37 16 1 0
Pat Freiermuth 22 13 4 0
HB
Najee Harris 49 21 5 12
Total 49 28 24 17

Monitor the Pat Freiermuth injury: The rookie tight end took a scary hit that left him with a concussion. Zach Gentry was the only other tight end on the active roster. Eric Ebron is on injured reserve, and he is eligible to return — although he might not be ready. If neither Freiermuth nor Ebron is available next week, this should mostly just leave more fantasy points for the wide receivers.

Monitor the Julio Jones injury: Jones has missed most of the 2021 season with various injuries. He returned to the Titans last week on limited playing time. He saw an increase in time over the first half, running a route on 18 of 21 pass plays before suffering a hamstring injury, which kept him out of the second half. He was targeted only once on those routes. Chester Rodgers took over most of his snaps in the second half. It’s fine to drop Jones at this point.

Don’t start Chase Claypool: Claypool had been playing at least 80% of offensive snaps in games he was healthy in during October and November. His playing time started to decline to around 60% each of the past three weeks. He had been on the injury report with a toe injury, which could have contributed, but he wasn’t on the injury report this past week. He has made headlines recently for celebrating while the clock was running late last week, as well as suggesting the Steelers need to have more fun at practice. It’s possible this has also contributed to him not playing as much.

He didn’t catch either of his targets today and played on only three of 16 snaps in the fourth quarter. James Washington played when Claypool was off the field. At this point, it would be hard to trust him unless head coach Mike Tomlin suggests he will go back to 80%-plus of snaps.


Arizona Cardinals @ Detroit Lions

Arizona Cardinals Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Christian Kirk 72 52 12 0
Antoine Wesley 64 44 7 0
A.J. Green 56 36 8 0
Rondale Moore 21 17 3 1
Andy Isabella 12 11 1 0
TE
Zach Ertz 67 47 11 0
Demetrius Harris 8 2 0 0
Darrell Daniels 3 1 0 0
HB
James Conner 32 16 2 8
Chase Edmonds 29 16 1 6
Jonathan Ward 11 8 1 1
Total 75 53 46 20

 

Detroit Lions Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Amon-Ra St. Brown 45 27 10 1
Kalif Raymond 45 24 3 0
Josh Reynolds 41 23 6 0
Tom Kennedy 14 6 0 0
TE
Brock Wright 50 15 1 0
Shane Zylstra 29 14 1 0
HB
Craig Reynolds 42 12 1 26
Godwin Igwebuike 12 8 2 2
Jermar Jefferson 6 1 0 5
Total 65 28 25 34

Add Craig Reynolds: The Lions were once again without running backs D’Andre Swift (shoulder) and Jamaal Williams (COVID-19), leaving Reynolds as the lead back for the second straight week. The game script fell in the Lions' favor this week, which gave Reynolds plenty of work on the ground. He gained 112 yards on 26 carries. There is no guarantee that either of the Lions' backs will be back next week. And with how well Reynolds is playing, they should be in no rush.

Add Amon-Ra St. Brown: The Lions' rookie wide receiver has been on fire in recent weeks, with a league-leading 26 receptions since the start of Week 13. He’s achieved this with a combination of a 30% target share and solid play. He not only is a waiver wire target but can go straight into starting lineups. Detroit has one of the most favorable schedules for wide receivers over the last two weeks, with games against the Falcons and Seahawks.

The return of Chase Edmonds: Edmonds had missed over a month of football while on injured reserve, but was able to return today. This should have been a game script where Edmonds led the backfield in snaps, but Arizona limited him. He looked fine on his carries with 53 yards on six carries but didn’t catch a pass. The backfield should be back to normal by next week.

Arizona without DeAndre Hopkins: The former All-Pro wide receiver is out at least for the rest of the regular season. Arizona utilized a similar strategy to other games Hopkins has missed, with Antoine Wesley taking over as one of the outside receivers. He only caught three of his seven targets for 19 yards. The Hopkins injury just allows the other three Cards receivers to be more trustworthy the rest of the season. All three tallied over 60 receiving yards.


Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Brandin Cooks: 7 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TD (3.52 YPRR)
  • James Robinson: 18 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD (2 explosive runs); 3 receptions, 13 receiving yards
Houston Texans Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Brandin Cooks 49 29 10 0
Chris Conley 38 15 3 0
Nico Collins 36 22 3 0
Jordan Veasy 15 3 0 0
Phillip Dorsett 15 13 3 0
TE
Pharaoh Brown 45 12 2 0
Jordan Akins 20 17 3 0
Antony Auclair 18 4 0 0
HB
Rex Burkhead 38 14 3 16
David Johnson 12 4 1 6
Royce Freeman 9 5 0 3
Total 59 31 29 26

 

Jacksonville Jaguars Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Laquon Treadwell 68 41 9 0
Marvin Jones Jr. 65 38 4 0
Laviska Shenault Jr. 47 28 6 1
Tavon Austin 16 15 3 0
Jaydon Mickens 1 1 0 0
TE
James O'Shaughnessy 44 24 4 0
Jacob Hollister 20 12 0 0
Chris Manhertz 18 8 1 0
HB
James Robinson 59 32 4 18
Dare Ogunbowale 10 7 2 1
Total 70 42 33 24

Jaguars changes at receiver: The Jaguars utilized 12 personnel at a much higher rate than they have in weeks past. And because Laviska Shenault Jr. stopped being used in this personnel group at the midpoint of the season, he played a lot less than usual. Marvin Jones Jr. served as an every-down receiver but tied his season-low in targets at three.

The Jaguars also rotated their tight ends a little more than usual, leaving less playing time for James O’Shaughnessy. It will be even harder to trust the Jacksonville receivers the rest of the season after the coaching change.

James Robinson’s big game: Robinson’s playing time and usage were a big topic of discussion in recent weeks, and things were definitely different in this game. He played in 84% of offensive snaps, which is more than any game he’s played in the last two months. He also tied his season-high in rushing attempts despite the game script. This was all promising, but it’s worth noting Carlos Hyde missed this game with a concussion. Robinson needs to be started next week, but it’s no guarantee he clears 80% of offensive snaps when Hyde is back.

Monitor the Brevin Jordan hand injury: The 21-year-old tight end didn’t practice on Friday and was questionable coming into the game. He was active, but Houston only needed to declare four players inactive. The Texans never ended up using him on offense, returning to Jordan Akins playing the primary receiving role. This was unfortunate for anyone who trusted the rookie today since he was active, but chances are he will get his job back once he’s 100%.


Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants

  • Ezekiel Elliott: 16 carries, 52 yards, (45 yards after contact), 1 TD, 3 receptions, 20 receiving yards
  • Dalton Schultz: 8 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD, (22.2% threat rate)
Dallas Cowboys Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Amari Cooper 66 39 4 0
Michael Gallup 65 38 4 0
CeeDee Lamb 49 29 9 0
Malik Turner 6 2 1 0
Cedrick Wilson 1 0 0 0
TE
Dalton Schultz 61 36 8 0
Jeremy Sprinkle 17 6 2 0
Sean McKeon 6 1 0 0
HB
Ezekiel Elliott 44 22 4 16
Tony Pollard 29 15 3 12
Total 71 40 35 30

 

New York Giants Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Kenny Golladay 57 36 7 0
Sterling Shepard 51 29 6 0
Darius Slayton 39 29 3 0
Collin Johnson 7 3 1 0
Pharoh Cooper 3 3 2 0
TE
Evan Engram 55 32 5 0
Kyle Rudolph 27 7 1 0
Chris Myarick 5 2 0 0
HB
Saquon Barkley 37 19 8 15
Devontae Booker 28 14 2 8
Total 63 37 35 24

The Cowboys trio of wide receivers at full health: The Cowboys wide receivers have dealt with injuries or Covid issues all season. This was the second straight game Dallas had all three receivers healthy for the entire game. Dallas’ strategy around CeeDee Lamb has reverted back to 2020. He was a clear third in offensive snaps for the second straight game. Lamb had played significantly on the outside for most of the season, but he’s also shifted to playing almost exclusively in the slot. This is all similar to what Dallas did at wide receiver last season. He was a clear leader in targets but only gained 50 yards. He is still a must-start wide receiver each week, but this will limit his upside.

Monitor the Sterling Shepard injury: Shepard had an excellent start to the season with 16 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown in his first two games. This was only his fifth game since that point as his season has been hampered with injuries. He suffered another one late in the fourth quarter with a non-contact Achilles injury that didn’t look good. If Shepard misses time, it would lead to more playing time for Collin Johnson. It is hard to trust any of the Giants receivers until Daniel Jones is back.

The return of Tony Pollard: Pollard missed last week and was a game-time decision today with a foot injury. He ended up seeing his usual amount of playing time. He out-performed Ezekiel Elliott in the rushing game albeit on fewer carries — something that has been a trend all season. Pollard remains a safe flex option the rest of the season.


Cincinnati Bengals @ Denver Broncos

  • Tyler Boyd: 5 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD, (2-for-2 on contested targets)
  • Tim Patrick: 3 receptions, 42 yards, 1 TD, (18.0 aDOT)
Cincinnati Bengals Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Ja'Marr Chase 51 29 3 0
Tee Higgins 46 28 4 0
Tyler Boyd 46 27 5 0
Mike Thomas 5 2 0 0
Stanley Morgan Jr. 2 0 0 0
TE
C.J. Uzomah 42 24 4 0
Drew Sample 16 3 1 0
Mitchell Wilcox 1 0 0 0
HB
Joe Mixon 31 12 1 17
Samaje Perine 16 11 2 4
Chris Evans 6 6 0 0
Total 53 29 20 22

 

Denver Broncos Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Tim Patrick 71 36 5 0
Courtland Sutton 69 35 7 0
Jerry Jeudy 52 30 4 0
Kendall Hinton 11 3 1 0
Diontae Spencer 2 1 0 0
TE
Noah Fant 60 29 6 0
Albert Okwuegbunam 30 13 4 0
Eric Saubert 3 0 0 0
HB
Javonte Williams 44 19 4 15
Melvin Gordon III 31 10 1 15
Total 75 38 32 33

Monitor the Teddy Bridgewater injury: The Broncos quarterback suffered a serious-looking injury in the third quarter and needed a cart to exit the field. Drew Lock took over as the starter. The Broncos have one of the easiest schedules remaining for quarterbacks, so Lock can be a waiver wire target in Superflex leagues.

Start Tyler Boyd: Boyd has spent this season as a low-floor, high-ceiling player. He’s talented, but he is the clear fourth option in the offense in neutral situations. He surpassed 50 receiving yards for the third consecutive game, and these next two games should be solid, as well. The Bengals face the Ravens and Chiefs — both teams where Cincinnati will likely need to pass a lot. Baltimore’s defense has been hurting recently, particularly in the secondary, which should make Boyd a safer play than usual next week.

Monitor the Joe Mixon injury: The Bengals star running back hurt his left ankle in the fourth quarter. He went to the locker room, returned, and had his ankle rolled up on again. It’s unclear if he would have been able to return to the game had Cincinnati needed him. Samaje Perine is a good option to have on your bench in fantasy football leagues in case Mixon misses time as he has the upside to see 20 carries if the Bengals are winning.


Atlanta Falcons @ San Francisco 49ers

  • Russell Gage: 8 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD, (32.4% threat rate)
  • Jeff Wilson Jr.: 21 carries, 110 yards, 1 TD, (3.3 yards after contact per carry), 2 receptions, 9 receiving yards
Atlanta Falcons Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Russell Gage 47 34 11 0
Olamide Zaccheaus 37 23 2 0
Tajae Sharpe 32 21 0 0
Christian Blake 7 5 1 0
Frank Darby 1 0 0 0
TE
Kyle Pitts 48 33 7 0
Hayden Hurst 24 15 2 0
Lee Smith 13 3 1 0
HB
Cordarrelle Patterson 36 22 2 11
Mike Davis 27 17 1 6
Qadree Ollison 3 2 1 1
Total 59 39 28 19

 

San Francisco 49ers Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Brandon Aiyuk 56 24 2 0
Deebo Samuel 46 21 5 6
Jauan Jennings 25 15 6 0
Trent Sherfield 5 2 0 0
Travis Benjamin 1 0 0 0
TE
George Kittle 55 21 6 0
Charlie Woerner 13 0 0 0
Ross Dwelley 1 0 0 0
HB
Jeff Wilson Jr. 50 15 2 21
JaMycal Hasty 3 1 1 1
Total 57 24 23 32

49ers changed RB strategy: San Francisco has consistently used one running back on first and second down and a different back on third down all season. Typically, it’s been Elijah Mitchell on early downs and Jeff Wilson Jr. when Mitchell is out, as was the case today. On third downs, it’s been JaMycal Hasty or Kyle Juszczyk.

Wilson played on both early downs as well as third downs in Week 15. This removes any fantasy value Hasty had and means Wilson will likely continue to see playing time once Mitchell is healthy again.

Start Russell Gage: The fourth-year receiver has been the focal point of the Falcons' passing game in recent weeks. This was his fourth straight game with at least 60 receiving yards. It was also his second time with double-digit targets in the past three weeks. Atlanta has one of the easiest schedules remaining for wide receivers.


Green Bay Packers @ Baltimore Ravens

Green Bay Packers Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Davante Adams 57 35 7 0
Allen Lazard 49 29 4 1
Marquez Valdes-Scantling 42 29 7 0
Juwann Winfree 14 6 1 0
Malik Taylor 1 0 0 0
TE
Josiah Deguara 35 21 5 0
Marcedes Lewis 31 10 3 0
Tyler Davis 19 6 1 0
HB
Aaron Jones 39 18 2 13
A.J. Dillon 23 12 1 7
Total 62 36 31 23

 

Baltimore Ravens Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Rashod Bateman 64 47 1 0
Marquise Brown 61 46 14 0
Devin Duvernay 22 14 3 0
James Proche 16 14 1 0
Tylan Wallace 14 11 1 0
TE
Mark Andrews 55 44 12 0
Eric Tomlinson 22 8 0 0
Nick Boyle 19 5 0 0
Josh Oliver 5 2 0 0
HB
Devonta Freeman 39 29 1 6
Latavius Murray 28 16 3 7
Total 69 49 36 18

Devonta Freeman trending down: The Ravens running back had consistently been handling double-digit carries and a clear majority of offensive snaps. But this week, we saw a backfield similar to early in the season, where two backs would be very close to one another in carries and routes run. Freeman had the lead in routes run but took fewer carries and was less effective on his runs. The Ravens have two difficult opponents remaining on the schedule, so Freeman might not have the opportunity to reach double-digit carries again this fantasy season.

The Ravens without Sammy Watkins: Watkins landed on the COVID-19 list less than 24 hours before the start of this game. This led to less of a rotation at wide receiver, with Rashod Bateman and Marquise Brown in for almost every pass play while Devin Duvernay played his three-receiver sets like usual. The combination of Lamar Jackson not playing and the Packers cornerbacks held all of the Ravens receivers to under 20 yards each up until garbage time. Watkins is a free agent after the season, so this could be how the Ravens distribute their wide receiver snaps in 2022.

Aaron Jones trending up: The Packers' starting running back led the team in carries for the first time since Week 9. A.J. Dillon had led in every other game either due to Jones being hurt or because Dillon was playing better. Jones put together a solid game with 58 yards on 12 carries, as well as a touchdown catch. This will make it easier to start Jones over these last two weeks.


New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

New Orleans Saints Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Marquez Callaway 52 26 9 0
Tre'Quan Smith 40 20 2 0
Ty Montgomery 20 11 2 0
Lil'Jordan Humphrey 16 9 0 0
Easop Winston Jr. 1 1 0 0
TE
Adam Trautman 35 12 2 0
Nick Vannett 35 11 1 0
Juwan Johnson 22 16 0 0
HB
Alvin Kamara 37 17 6 11
Mark Ingram II 30 15 2 9
Total 61 30 24 30

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Snaps Routes Run Targets Carries
WR
Tyler Johnson 70 50 7 0
Scotty Miller 58 40 3 0
Jaelon Darden 41 29 3 0
Mike Evans 17 15 1 0
Chris Godwin 16 15 7 0
TE
Rob Gronkowski 63 45 8 0
Cameron Brate 20 13 4 0
O.J. Howard 10 3 1 0
HB
Leonard Fournette 33 24 7 9
Ronald Jones 22 14 2 8
Ke'Shawn Vaughn 19 13 2 3
Total 74 53 45 20

Monitor the Buccaneers wide receiver injuries: Tampa Bay came into the game without Antonio Brown (injury and suspension) and Breshad Perriman (COVID-19). Tyler Johnson had been splitting snaps as the Buccaneers' third receiver but started this game as a clear third on the depth chart.

Both Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (knee) suffered injuries in the first half and were ruled out by halftime. Scotty Miller was the next man up, followed by Jaelon Darden. It wouldn’t be surprising if both wide receivers missed some time. Brown will likely be the top wide receiver next week, with Perriman and Johnson also playing a very high percentage of snaps. Perriman and Johnson both need to be waiver wire targets. 

Monitor the Leonard Fournette injury: Fournette suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter and was very quickly ruled out for the rest of the game. Ronald Jones took over as the early-down back, while Ke’Shawn Vaughn served as the third-down back. This will likely be how the Buccaneers use their backs if Fournette misses any time.

Jones is a quality waiver wire option, and he should dominate carries. He can go straight into fantasy starting lineups for both Week 16 and 17. Tampa Bay plays the Panthers and Jets over the last two weeks, which should be favorable games scripts even with all of the injuries.

The return of Mark Ingram II: The Saints had their top two running backs on the depth chart for the first time since Week 9. In the two previous games where both Alvin Kamara and Ingram were healthy, Kamara played roughly twice as many offensive snaps as Ingram. The two backs were even closer together in snaps tonight, which was terrible news for Kamara’s fantasy managers. He will still be a must-start, but his upside is much more limited with Ingram also on the roster.

The return of Adam Trautman: Before landing on injured reserve back in Week 12, the second-year tight end was improving with each passing game and consistently playing over 80% of offensive snaps. New Orleans eased him into action with a heavy rotation of tight ends, including Juwan Johnson getting most of the receiving work. It’s unlikely a fantasy manager can trust Trautman this season, but it would still be good for him to build momentum heading into 2022.

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