DFS Alerts
Tevin Coleman has still not cleared concussion protocol
Coleman should be considered questionable for week 16, as he still has not cleared the concussion protocol. In his absence, Devonta Freeman had 194 total yards on 27 touches last night in a win vs the Buccaneers. If Coleman is unable to play vs the Saints this weekend Freeman should once again be the focal point of this Falcons offense. In games without Coleman, Freeman is averaging almost 8 more DraftKings points per game.
Other tagged players: Devonta Freeman
Doug Martin inactive Monday for violating team rules
Martin won’t play against Atlanta due to a violation of team rules, and it’s looking like an up-and-down tenure as the Bucs lead back is quickly coming to an end. Peyton Barber will draw the start at RB tonight and now becomes a much stronger value target with Martin completely out of the picture – it was thought that the two would continue sharing work after a relatively split bag in Week 14. Barber is the only piece of the TB backfield worth targeting this evening, although Charles Sims could see a little more work with Martin out of the picture.
As reported by: Greg Auman Other tagged players: Charles Sims, Peyton Barber
Per Adam Schefter, Peyton Barber will start at RB over Doug Martin on Monday
Barber is expected to start at RB on Monday night against the Falcons, per Schefter. In the Bucs last game against Detroit, Barber out-carried Martin 12-to-10 and finished with a YPC nearly twice as high as Martin’s (4.8 to 2.6), although Martin did corral the only touchdown between the two. We should again expect Barber to be the most involved of the Tampa Bay backs, but he’s likely going to need to rack up some production through the air if he’s going to be a notable fantasy producer – Barber had just one target in Week 14 compared to three apiece for both Martin and Charles Sims.
As reported by: Adam Schefter Other tagged players: Doug Martin James Conner could miss a few weeks
The Steelers have made an effort to mix in James Conner to the backfield rotation this season. Conner would relieve DFS superstar Le’veon Bell at times this season, thus ensuring rest for the Steelers star running back. The team announced today that Conner will miss a few weeks with a bad knee. With Conner expected to miss a few weeks and Antonio Brown banged up with a calf injury, Bell should get more work than he can handle moving forward. As the best dual threat, RB in the game Bell should see an increase in both the passing and ground game until Brown returns.
Other tagged players: Le'Veon Bell Hunter Henry could be done for the year
Just as he was starting to take on a bigger role in the offense news came down today that Hunter Henry has a lacerated kidney. The team has Henry listed as questionable for week 16, and there is a small chance that he could be done for the year. Henry’s absence would make veteran Antonio Gates the team’s number one tight end. The Chargers did get a bit of good news on Monday as Keenan Allen is expected to be ready to go for a week 16 matchup vs the Jets.
Jeremy Maclin questionable this week
The Ravens announced today that Maclin is questionable with a knee injury but remain hopeful that he can suit up and play in Week 16. The matchup vs the Colts is a great spot for the entire Ravens passing game, as the defense is ranked 30th in pass DVOA. Even if healthy, Maclin’s role in the offense has been extremely up and down, as he’s received more than five targets in just five of 12 games this season. Baltimore’s passing offense isn’t typically all that enticing, but this matchup will warrant attention on Maclin’s status the rest of the week as Mike Wallace would become a viable value play if he sits.
Thomas Davis suspended two games
For the second time this season, the Packers Davante Adams suffered a brutal hit by an opposing team’s defensive player. Panthers start linebacker Thomas Davis delivered a hit to Adams during the game on Sunday sending the Packers number one receiver into the concussion protocol. The league announced today that it will suspend Davis for two games due to the nature of his hit on Adams. The loss of Davids would be a big blow to the Panthers defense. Davis plans to appeal his suspension.
Drew Stanton to start in week 16
The Cardinals announced that Drew Stanton will start for the team in week 16. In a season that has been defined by injuries, the team will look to give the unproven Stanton a chance to show what he can do. Stanton will have the benefit of facing a below average Giants pass defense. The Cardinals have only scored over 21 points once since week 7.
Marqise Lee hopeful to be back before playoffs
Lee suffered a sprained ankle on Sunday leaving the door wide open for any Jaguars wide receiver not named Dede Westbrook to have a great day. The team expects Lee to return prior to the playoffs, but he will most likely rest this week thus opening the door for both Dede Westbrook and Keelan Cole. In the absence of Lee last week, Cole produced a 7-186-1 line on nine targets as the Jaguars beat up on the injured Texans defense. With Alan Hurns struggling to get healthy and Lee expected out, both Cole and Westbrook should see an increased role in the passing game.
Tom Savage could be done for the season
Tom Savage is still in the concussion protocol and isn’t expected to suit up for the team’s Week 16 matchup against the Steelers. T.J. Yates is expected to get another start this week. As expected Yates struggled against a very good Jaguars defense last week. He failed to surpass 130 passing yards and will have another tough matchup against the Steelers’ 10th-ranked defense in pass DVOA. DeAndre Hopkins should continue to be another target monster and will continue to have appeal based upon his tremendous upside.
Rex Burkhead could miss a few weeks
The very deep Patriots backfield will likely be without one of it’s more versatile players for the next few weeks. Burkhead hurt his knee during the Patriots win on Sunday, and the team expects him to miss a few weeks, but they are hopeful that he can return in time for the playoffs. Moving forward we can expect Mike Gillislee to work his way back into the rotation of running backs. Gillislee has been a healthy scratch since week 8 but should resume his role as a goalline and short yardage back for the next few weeks. It’s never easy to try and figure out what the Patriots will do with running backs, but we should see both James White and Dion Lewis continue their roles prior to the Burkhead injury. Lewis should start and White will see most of his work as a passing down back. If used Gillislee should find himself in play around the goalline.
Other tagged players: Mike Gillislee, James White, Dion Lewis Come check out the interview with Tony Niehaus (BigT44) on the NFL Week 15 Sunday Sweat Show!
Word on the street is Tony Niehaus, better known as BigT44, will be joining the GrindersLive hosts to discuss the Damiere Byrd “TD”, how the slate is going for him thus far, and much more! Be sure to tune in to NFL Week 15 Sunday Sweat Show now airing on GrindersLive!
As reported by: RotoGrinders GrindersLive
Chris Hogan (shoulder) officially inactive Sunday
Hogan is inactive and won’t play in today’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after previously being listed as questionable on the New England Patriots’ injury report and, as of this morning, was not expected to play with a shoulder injury. With Hogan inactive, newly-signed Kenny Britt will make his Patriots debut and will play a part in a limited portion of the gameplan. He should end up forming a committee with Philip Dorsett on the outside opposite of Brandin Cooks, while Danny Amendola will primarily handle the slot receiver duties. This game has the highest total of the week, but the Patriots will need to find a way to exploit the Steelers sixth-ranked pass defense DVOA in order to find success through the air.
As reported by: Mike Reiss via Twitter Juju Smith-Schuster (hamstring) active Sunday; CB Joe Haden inactive
Smith-Schuster is active and will play in today’s game against the New England Patriots after previously being listed as questionable on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ injury report with a hamstring injury but expected to play. Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell are obviously the main cogs in this Steelers offense and have averaged nearly 21 targets a game combined over the past six weeks, but Smith-Schuster has played 83 percent of snaps and averaged just over seven targets per game over his last four healthy games, ranking third on the team, and sets him up as an interesting pivot off of either Brown or Bell in tournaments if deciding to load up on the Steelers passing attack.
As reported by: Ed Bouchette via Twitter Other tagged players: Pittsburgh Steelers Come check out live lineup building for the late slates on the NFL Week 15 Sunday Sweat Show!
Our roundtable of experts are currently breaking down roster construction and discussing their favorite plays for the afternoon and late slates on DraftKings and FanDuel. Be sure to tune in to NFL Week 15 Sunday Sweat Show now airing on GrindersLive!
As reported by: RotoGrinders GrindersLive