Saturday News

NFL stories to inform your fantasy playoff decisions … in two minutes or less.

Kyle Pitts Might Get the Franchise Tag

Alright, kicking off your Week 15 playoff weekend with a big one out of Atlanta…

Kyle Pitts is suddenly in the middle of contract buzz after Ian Rapoport said the Falcons might use the franchise tag on him this offseason. He’s in the final year of his rookie deal, and after that monster Thursday night (11 catches, 166 yards, three touchdowns), he definitely reminded everyone what he’s capable of. Rapoport even mentioned that Arthur Blank is evaluating everything, from the GM to the coaching staff, but Pitts may have just played his way into securing his spot. Only wrinkle? His agent hates the franchise tag and could push back. For fantasy managers rolling into do-or-die Week 15, this matters because Pitts is peaking at the perfect time. A locked-in role and contract motivation? That’s a nice little boost heading into next weekend.

Philip Rivers Trending Toward Starting for the Colts

Ian Rapoport said it “certainly seems like” Philip Rivers will be the Colts’ Week 15 starter against Seattle. He hasn’t officially been named QB1 yet, but he’s getting some first-team reps and apparently throwing the ball well. Rookie Riley Leonard brings the rushing upside we’d normally want in fantasy, but Indy seems to prefer Rivers' veteran pocket presence right now. For fantasy playoff lineups, the big takeaway is what this means for the Colts’ skill players. There’s no telling how Rivers will look after 5 years away from the game. Just something to keep in mind if you’re starting a Colt with your season on the line.

Christian McCaffrey Good to Go

Christian McCaffrey was cleared from the injury report and is set to go against the Titans. He logged a full practice Friday after being limited the day before, and nothing in the report suggests any kind of snap count. He leads the league in touches and has forced 59 missed tackles. For fantasy? You already know. Lock him in and don’t overthink it during the playoffs. He’s your elite RB1 in a great spot.

Josh Jacobs Questionable; Emanuel Wilson Alert

Josh Jacobs is questionable with a knee issue heading into Week 15. He’s trending toward playing, but the team is being cautious, and Emanuel Wilson is the name to watch. When Jacobs missed time recently, Wilson stepped in and handled 28 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Denver’s defense isn’t soft, but volume is volume. If Jacobs can’t go, Wilson becomes one of those sneaky RB2 plays that can absolutely swing a fantasy playoff matchup. Even if you don’t need him, it’s a smart block on your opponent.

Aaron Jones Removed From Injury Report

And wrapping it up with another injury update right as lineups are locking… Aaron Jones is off the injury report and will play against the Cowboys in Week 15. He’s still battling a shoulder issue and hasn’t posted anything higher than RB26 over the past month, but the matchup with Dallas projects to be high-scoring, the type of game where he can slip into RB2 territory. For fantasy playoffs, you’re starting him if you drafted him to be part of the build. The workload’s been shaky, but the environment keeps him in the mix.

So that’s the news. Keep your eyes open as we head into NFL Sunday… as promised, in 2 minutes or less.

And by the way, if you're ready to actually win your league or even if you want to prepare for next year… The Fantasy Accelerator is my year-round fantasy system designed to help sharp players crush waivers, win more trades, and stack championships.

See you tomorrow,

-Joe

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