The San Francisco 49ers defense/special teams unit will clash with the division-rival Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night in Santa Clara. Last week, the 49ers posted their second-highest point total of the season in Yahoo default scoring by holding the Chicago Bears to 13 points while sacking quarterback Caleb Williams seven times and recovering a fumble. The sack total was a season-high for San Francisco despite missing edge Nick Bosa (hip/oblique). However, it's probably safe to chalk up the sacks to a mediocre Chicago offensive line and Williams' propensity for holding the ball for too long. On the plus side, Bosa has a chance to return after a three-game absence. Regardless of the momentum and possible power-up, the Niners are facing a healthy Rams offense that just dropped 37 offensive points on a competent Buffalo Bills defense. San Francisco is Rotoballer's 19th-ranked D/ST in Week 15, and there's not much of a reason to hold on to them for the rest of the fantasy playoffs as they go to Miami and host Detroit in Weeks 16 and 17, respectively.
Dec 12, 2024 1:46 AM EST
New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said on Wednesday that the team won't name a starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders until the end of the week. The Saints aren't ruling out Derek Carr (concussion, hand), and he won't be placed on Injured Reserve despite fracturing his left (non-throwing hand) in the Week 14 win over the New York Giants. Rizzi said that Jake Haener and rookie Spencer Rattler both took repetitions at Wednesday's practice and will likely do the same on Thursday. Carr is a long hot to be active this weekend, and it's anyone's guess as to whether it will be Haener or Rattler under center this Sunday. Haener, 25, has more experience, but Rattler has more upside. Either way, the Saints' QB in Week 15 will be a desperation low-end QB2 in superflex fantasy leagues.
Dec 11, 2024 10:33 PM EST
In a surprising move, six-time Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Belichick has decided to take the head coaching gig at North Carolina. This was being reported earlier in the week, but it now appears that the two sides are finalizing a deal. Belichick was chasing the all-time wins record before leaving the New England Patriots. Now, the 72-year-old will be the head coach of a college team for the first time in his career. The expectation is that Belichick will eventually return to the NFL, but regardless he'll be known as the greatest coach in NFL history.
Dec 11, 2024 6:14 PM EST
The Los Angeles Rams defense/special teams were torn apart last week by the Bills, and they're in another tough divisional contest on a short week this Thursday against the 49ers. The Rams did have one special teams touchdown on a blocked punt return, but they allowed 42 points to the Bills on three rushing touchdowns and three passing touchdowns from Josh Allen. The Rams did not have a sack or takeaway for a second straight week. The 49ers are a slightly better matchup than the Bills, and the Rams had one sack and one fumble recovery in their Week 3 matchup. The Rams are RotoBaller's D/ST24 for this week, so are not a starting option in most formats
Dec 11, 2024 5:18 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs left tackle D.J. Humphries (hamstring) will not practice on Wednesday after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 14's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Humphries was picked up by the Chiefs on November 25 and made his first start for the team last week. The nine-year NFL veteran was brought in to fill an important position and protect Patrick Mahomes' blind side, but he could be at risk of missing the Week 15 game against the Cleveland Browns. If he can't go, Wanya Morris will likely draw another start.
Dec 11, 2024 2:12 PM EST
The University of North Carolina is finalizing a contract to add future Hall of Fame NFL head coach Bill Belichick as their next head coach, according to multiple sources. Belichick will replace the fired Mack Brown after sitting out the 2024 NFL season after being let go as the New England Patriots' long-time head coach following the 2023 campaign. Belichick has more Super Bowl appearances (nine) and has more Super Bowl rings (six) than any other head coach in NFL history, and he's behind only Don Shula and George Halas on the all-time wins list. This will be the first time he has ventured into coaching at the collegiate level, and it could be a short stint if the NFL comes calling in 2026. The Tar Heels are hoping Belichick can bring more creativity and adaptability to their head-coaching position.
Dec 11, 2024 1:41 PM EST
The Philadelphia Eagles' struggles in the passing game continued in their narrow 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in Week 14. The Eagles have won nine straight games to improve to 11-2 on the season, and while their running game and defense has been electric, their passing attack continues to leave a lot to be desired. Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for only 108 yards on 21 pass attempts against Carolina, and Philly entered the week with an NFL-low 307 pass attempts on the year. The Eagles have stars at receiver in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but they just have not been able to get in a rhythm through the air this year with Philly committing to the run so much. Things won't get any easier for Hurts and the Eagles' passing attack in a Week 15 showdown next Sunday against a stingy Pittsburgh Steelers defense.
Dec 9, 2024 12:29 PM EST
Talks between future Hall of Fame NFL head coach Bill Belichick and the University of North Carolina for the school's open head-coaching position remain ongoing, according to sources. Some type of resolution between UNC and the 73-year-old is expected this week. Belichick has met with North Carolina officials at least once in New York last week, and their talks have continued. Tulane coach Jon Sumrall is no longer a candidate for the position, as he'll remain with Tulane. Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Iowa State's Matt Campbell are also out of the running. It's no secret that Belichick wants to get back into coaching after taking the 2024 season off, and while returning to the NFL to go after the all-time wins record would be ideal, he's clearly not just waiting for NFL owners to call him up for interviews.
Dec 9, 2024 12:25 PM EST
The Arizona Cardinals defense had a rough outing against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14. The Cardinals were stuck with short fields due to interceptions and an injury to punter Blake Gillikin and could not generate any pressure on Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. Despite racking up 19 sacks in the four weeks leading up to this matchup, the Cardinals did not record a single sack throughout the game. The Cardinals also struggled to stop the run, allowing Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet to record a season-high 134 yards on the ground. The Cardinals' defense should still have potential, as they have two upcoming matchups against the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers.
Dec 9, 2024 10:38 AM EST
The Los Angeles Chargers defense played well despite a tough matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in a Week 14 loss. The Bolts were able to limit Patrick Mahomes and his offense to 306 total yards and 19 points. They sacked the quarterback three times, but weren't able to record any turnovers or scores. In total, it was good for a five point performance in standard scoring leagues. They'll face the Tampa Bay offense in Week 15 coming up.
Dec 9, 2024 2:12 AM EST
The Tennessee Titans defense allowed 10 points, forced two turnovers, and registered one sack during Sunday's Week 14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Otis Reese IV led the way with his two quarterback hits, one tackle for loss, and one interception. Chidobe Awuzie also registered an interception. Meanwhile, Harold Landry picked up one sack and two total quarterback hits. Although the Titans defense didn't score any points themselves, they played well and kept their team in the game (even though the offense couldn't finish the job). The Titans D/ST is off the fantasy radar heading into Week 15 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dec 9, 2024 12:32 AM EST
The Philadelphia Eagles' defense allowed 16 points, registered one sack, and forced one turnover during Sunday's Week 14 win over the Carolina Panthers. Zack Baun delivered the sack, as well as 11 tackles. Meanwhile, C.J. Gardner-Johnson intercepted Bryce Young and defended two of his passes. It was an underwhelming day for an Eagles defense that had previously ranked 10th in fantasy points tallied this season. While a performance like this is concerning, it could be more of a testament to the Panthers' up-and-coming offense and less of an indictment on the Eagles' defense. Philadelphia will be a fringe top-12 option heading into next week's battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dec 9, 2024 12:09 AM EST
The New York Jets defense struggled in a 32-26 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 14. The Jets were unable to manage any sacks or force any takeaways while giving up 375 yards of total offense to Miami. That included allowing the Dolphins to put together a 70-yard touchdown-scoring drive on the first possession in overtime. Despite the rough outing, New York has a chance to bounce back in a plus matchup against a Mac Jones-led Jacksonville Jaguars team in Week 15.
Dec 8, 2024 11:02 PM EST
The Cleveland Browns defense allowed 27 points while picking up one sack and forcing one turnover in a 27-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14. Cleveland failed to take advantage of the Steelers being without one of their top playmakers as George Pickens (groin) did not suit up for the contest. The Browns got their lone sack from Myles Garrett, who now has 11 on the season, while they also recovered a fumble by Cordarrelle Patterson. Cleveland will look to regroup heading into a Week 15 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Dec 8, 2024 10:20 PM EST
The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense held the Cleveland Browns to 14 points while recording two interceptions, three sacks, and a fumble recovery in a Week 14 victory. Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward led the way with two sacks while defensive back James Pierre and nose tackle Keeanu Benton came away with picks off Browns quarterback Jameis Winston. Pittsburgh has proven to be a matchup-proof fantasy option this season as its defense is capable of making game-altering plays on any given Sunday. That said, fantasy managers who want to play it safe may want to look for another DST in Week 15 when the Steelers travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles.
Dec 8, 2024 7:07 PM EST
The Las Vegas Raiders' defense forced three turnovers, registered four sacks, and allowed 28 points during Sunday's Week 14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the defense struggled to keep points off the board, the unit did a good job taking advantage of Baker Mayfield's mistakes through the air and applying pressure frequently. Defensive standouts for the Raiders included Tre'von Moehrig (eight tackles, 0.5 sacks, three passes defended, one fumble recovery), K'Lavon Chaisson (0.5 sacks, one interception), and Amari Burney (one sack, one forced fumble). This unit will look to carry some of its momentum into a Week 15 meeting with the struggling Atlanta Falcons.
Dec 8, 2024 4:48 PM EST
The New York Jets quarterback saga continues as the team reportedly plans to draft a QB in the upcoming NFL Draft. Current quarterback Aaron Rodgers has said he wants to play next season, but his return to the Jets seems unlikely at this point. The Jets don't exactly have anyone waiting in the wings with veteran Tyrod Taylor as the second string option right now. It's worth noting that the Jets did select Jordan Travis (leg) during last year's draft, but he's still recovering from an injury he suffered in college. It doesn't sound like the Jets see Travis as the future and will continue their search for a franchise quarterback. The Jets 2024 season has gone poorly which puts them in decent position to draft a young QB in 2025.
Dec 8, 2024 9:35 AM EST
The Arizona Cardinals defense is a low-end starting option in fantasy as they host the Seattle Seahawks. Despite the loss the last time these teams played, the Cardinals defense performed well in that matchup. They recorded five sacks, forced an interception, and allowed just 10 points. This game will now be played in Arizona, with the home crowd supporting the defense. The Cardinals defense has started to come alive and should be trusted by managers in this divisional matchup.
Dec 7, 2024 10:02 PM EST
The Dallas Cowboys' defense showed out in Week 13's win over the New York Giants. They recorded six sacks, a fumble recovery, and a 23-yard pick-six by linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. After an atrocious start to the season, the unit has begun to find a rhythm over the past two weeks. Despite the recent explosions, they should be avoided in Week 14 as they take on Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in a Monday night showdown with the highest implied point total on the week. Look elsewhere for your fantasy defense this week.
Dec 7, 2024 4:00 PM EST
The Kansas City Chiefs defense will face the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday night in Week 14. The Chiefs defense was one of the stingier units to begin the season, as they allowed 20 or fewer points in six of their first seven games, but this group has been struggling lately. The Kansas City defense has allowed 24 or more points in three of the last five games and collected just two turnovers in that span. The Chiefs secondary will have their work cut out for them this week as they face Justin Herbert and the Chargers passing attack. The Chargers have won five of their last six games and scored at least 23 points in five of those games as well. The Kansas City defense is ranked as the 11th-best defense in our RotoBaller rankings this week, making them a start-worthy unit. Fantasy managers can start the Chiefs defense this week, but they may not have much upside in this matchup.
Dec 7, 2024 11:45 AM EST
Copyright 2024 Fantasy Football Calculator | Image Source: Icon Sportswire. Not affiliated with the National Football League (NFL).
Stats powered by FantasyData.com.
