• Tank Dell scores earlier than struggling a critical leg harm: Houston Texans receiver Tank Dell delivered his finest fantasy efficiency of the season earlier than exiting with a knee harm. The setback is predicted to sideline him for the rest of the season.
• Hollywood Brown returns: Brown caught 4 passes for 41 yards in his Kansas City debut, contributing as a part of the crew’s huge receiver rotation.
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Estimated studying time: 5 minutes
PFF’s fantasy soccer recap focuses on participant utilization and stats, breaking down all of the very important info it’s good to obtain fantasy success in 2024.
Houston Texans @ Kansas City Chiefs
- Tank Dell: 6 receptions, 98 yards, 1 landing
- Xavier Worthy: 7 receptions, 65 yards, 1 landing; 3 carries, 10 receiving yards
Hollywood Brown makes his Chiefs’ debut: Brown had been coping with a shoulder S/C joint separation.
Brown, who had been sidelined since struggling a shoulder S/C joint separation on the primary play of the preseason, lastly made his debut for Kansas City. He was initially anticipated to start out this season alongside Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, however his return added one other layer to the Chiefs’ huge receiver rotation.
In latest weeks, Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy have solidified themselves as the highest two receiving choices, whereas DeAndre Hopkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson, and tight finish Noah Gray have all seen constant enjoying time at over 50% of snaps. Brown’s return didn’t considerably have an effect on the Chiefs’ high choices however did lead to fewer snaps for Smith-Schuster, Watson, and Gray.
Gray, particularly, noticed a notable decline in enjoying time, making him a much less viable choice for these searching for a decent finish from the waiver wire. While Brown made a number of good performs in his debut, his snap charge will doubtless enhance within the coming weeks.
If this had been the center of the season, Brown can be a transparent waiver wire goal. However, with the fantasy season ending subsequent week and Kansas City going through a tricky Pittsburgh Steelers secondary in 4 days, Brown is a dangerous begin in most fantasy leagues regardless of the potential for a powerful efficiency.
Monitor Tank Dell’s well being: Dell had certainly one of his finest video games of the season in underneath 35 minutes however suffered a leg harm on a landing catch.
The Texans entered this sport with out certainly one of their high huge receivers, as John Metchie III was inactive on account of a shoulder harm. Metchie has been one of many three major receivers in 11 personnel. In his absence, Xavier Hutchinson stepped into a bigger function, with Robert Woods additionally seeing elevated snaps in three-receiver formations.
Dell and Woods cut up snaps in 12 personnel — an uptick for Dell, who had performed simply 39% of 12 personnel snaps this season. Some of this enhance was on account of Metchie’s absence, however it was evident that Dell was a focus of the sport plan. Dell’s effectivity, highlighted by his sturdy yards per route run towards man protection, made him notably beneficial towards a Chiefs protection that employs man protection closely
The Texans launched Steven Sims on Friday and elevated Jared Wayne from the apply squad. Wayne served as Nico Collins’ backup at X receiver, a task he additionally performed in Week 13 when Hutchinson was inactive. As anticipated, Collins performed most snaps, persevering with to anchor the receiving corps when wholesome.
Dell’s harm, which occurred on his landing catch, was to the identical leg he injured final season. He was down for a number of minutes earlier than being carted off the sphere. Based on the looks, it appeared season-ending, making it a scenario to watch heading into the offseason.
After Dell’s exit, Woods and Hutchinson joined Collins in three-receiver units. The Texans face a positive matchup towards the Baltimore Ravens subsequent week, doubtless requiring a pass-heavy method. Any of Woods, Hutchinson, or Metchie might step up, relying on Metchie’s well being. Woods affords the most secure flooring, however Metchie would supply extra upside if he can play.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Chiefs’ Isiah Pacheco led the working again rotation with Kareem Hunt. They would every take 5-6 performs in a row, ignoring third downs, earlier than getting changed by the opposite again. Samaje Perine took third-down snaps, as he’s finished all season.
- Texans backup tight finish Cade Stover was inactive for a second straight week after having an emergency appendectomy per week in the past. The Texans have three different backup tight ends on injured reserve.
- Houston signed tight finish Irv Smith Jr. to the energetic roster as the first backup. Fullback/tight finish hybrid Andrew Beck was activated from the apply squad for Houston for the primary time this season. Beck began 11 video games for the Texans final season however had spent most of this season with the Green Bay Packers apply squad, enjoying three video games for them.
- Tight finish Anthony Firkser was elevated from the Chiefs apply squad for the third time this season. The Chiefs equally have three backup tight ends on injured reserve.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens
- Derrick Henry: 24 carries, 162 yards; 2 receptions, 27 receiving yards
- Zay Flowers: 5 receptions, 100 yards; 1 carry, 3 dashing yards
Monitor Justice Hill’s Health: Justice Hill suffered a concussion after a sort out and was rapidly dominated out of the sport.
The Ravens opened the sport with Derrick Henry enjoying barely extra snaps than standard and Hill barely fewer, largely on account of Henry’s success on the bottom. Henry racked up 58 yards on 10 carries over the primary 4 drives, whereas Hill contributed 30 yards on simply two carries.
After Hill’s harm, Henry assumed an every-down function. Prior to this sport, Henry had solely taken three third-down snaps in conditions requiring seven or extra yards for a primary down all season. He doubled that whole by halftime. Fifth-round rookie Rasheen Ali was activated because the third working again and commenced spelling Henry in early-down conditions to offer transient relaxation.
The Ravens face a fast turnaround, enjoying once more in 4 days, making Hill’s return unlikely for fantasy championship week. Henry stays a must-start, however Hill’s absence might elevate his ceiling. Backup working again Keaton Mitchell has been a wholesome inactive for 3 consecutive video games however is prone to be energetic for Week 16. Either Mitchell or Ali might see extra work with extra preparation time.
Ravens Adjust Without Nelson Agholor: Nelson Agholor, usually the Ravens’ third huge receiver, was inactive on account of a concussion.
Agholor had performed 88% of offensive snaps in 11 personnel and was the first wideout in single-receiver units, logging 61% of these snaps this season. Without him, Tylan Wallace stepped into the function of third receiver in three-wide units. Normally, Agholor and Zay Flowers cut up slot duties, however on this sport, Flowers and Wallace shared these duties. Flowers additionally turned the first huge receiver in 22 personnel, although that grouping was used sparingly.
The Ravens elevated their utilization of 12 personnel, leading to extra snaps for Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Wallace. Flowers led the crew in receiving yards, whereas Bateman, Andrews, and Likely every scored touchdowns.
If Agholor is unavailable for Wednesday’s sport, Flowers and Andrews stay protected beginning choices. Bateman is a high waiver wire goal this week and a viable starter, given the favorable matchup towards the Texans.
Jaylen Warren Takes Over the Steelers’ Backfield: Jaylen Warren performed over 60% of the offensive snaps for the primary time this season and simply the second time in his profession.
For the previous three seasons, Najee Harris has been the first early-down again, with Warren serving because the third-down choice and backup. Playing time has usually trusted sport script: Warren has performed over 53% of snaps in losses however underneath 52% in wins (excluding video games he missed).
Performance has additionally been an element. Over the previous six video games, Harris has averaged 3.2 yards per carry in comparison with Warren’s 4.4. This week’s early deficit and Warren’s effectivity led to his largest workload of the season. Warren set a season-high with 5 receptions, whereas Harris was held with no catch. Warren additionally led the crew in dashing makes an attempt and yards.
The Steelers face the Chiefs subsequent, a tricky matchup as Kansas City has allowed the fewest fantasy factors to working backs this season. Neither again is probably going a powerful fantasy choice in Week 16.
Harris, set to grow to be a free agent this offseason, may even see a diminished function going ahead, because the Steelers appear to be leaning extra on Warren.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Steelers backup QB Justin Fields was inactive on account of an stomach harm.
- George Pickens missed his third straight sport with a hamstring harm.
- Calvin Austin III continued to step up, enjoying on the skin in two- and three-receiver units and main the crew in receiving yards.
- The Ravens launched WR Diontae Johnson on Friday after he refused to enter a sport two weeks in the past, leading to a suspension for Week 14. He is predicted to be claimed off waivers on Monday.
Table Notes
• Snaps embody performs known as again on account of penalties, together with offensive holding or defensive go interference. The different three stats have these performs eliminated.
• Targets could differ from official NFL sources. The more than likely discrepancy can be from a transparent thrown-away go, the place the NFL could give the goal to the closest receiver, whereas this information is not going to.
• Carries are solely on designed performs. Quarterback scrambles received’t rely for the entire variety of carries within the sport.