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News: According to The Dallas Morning News, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said after Sunday's win against the Steelers wide receiver Dez Bryant, who played through a fractured finger, will likely need a bone graft after the season to fix his injury. Jones said the procedure would involve taking bone tissue from Bryant's hip. Apparently, this was news to Bryant. “I haven’t heard anything like that,” Bryant said. “I don’t know if Mr. Jones was being sarcastic. I’m not letting anybody touch my hip.” Bryant finished with four receptions for 59 yards and one touchdown Week 15. “The finger felt fine,” Bryant said. “It felt way better than I thought. I feel like I can keep going with it.”
Analysis: Bryant seemed to be bothered early on by his fractured finger Week 15, but he settled into a groove after halftime, which is when he scored his touchdown. It wasn't a banner performance from Bryant, but he still did enough for Fantasy owners to have confidence in leaving him in active lineups heading into Week 16 against the Saints. Whatever procedure Bryant will have on his hand is expected to come after the season, so he will be available for Fantasy owners to start in the final weeks.
News: According to the team's official website, Chargers running back Ryan Mathews suffered broken left clavicle in Week 15 against the Panthers and will miss the remainder of the season. He left Sunday's contest in the second quarter and after being evaluated in the locker room, was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Mathews gained 22 yards on four carries and also caught three passes for 8 yards before the early exit. “I just hate it for him,” fullback Le'Ron McClain told the North County Times. “Just him bouncing back the way he did after the first one. Going into the game, he felt good today. I could see a different look in his eyes today. We were giving the ball a few times, seeing what he could do. He made a few plays, a few great runs. It sucks to come down with an injury like that.”
Analysis: Mathews endured a shoulder injury earlier in the year and while this one was to the other shoulder, his season appears to be over. Durability continues hinder his value in Fantasy as the 25-year-old has missed 10 games through his first three seasons in the NFL and had a down campaign in 2012. After a breakout campaign a year ago, he rushed for 707 yards with just one touchdown this season. Ronnie Brown, Jackie Battle and Curtis Brinkley will see a boost down the stretch but owners that are not in keeper leagues should feel free to part ways with Mathews.
News: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady endured a tough matchup but posted his first 400-yard performance of the season during Sunday's contest against the 49ers in Week 15. Down 28 points, Brady rallied in the second half as he rushed for a short 1-yard touchdown and connected with a 5-yard scoring strike with Aaron Hernandez, all in the fourth quarter. He failed to convert a 4th-and-2 play from his own 12-yard line with just over two minutes remaining in the game to end the comeback bid. Brady completed a season-high 36 of 65 passes for 443 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in a 41-34 victory. He was sacked three times and finished with a 68.9 passer rating.
Analysis: Brady had a hard time moving the chains early on against this stingy San Francisco defense and failed to get it going until midway through the third quarter. The 65 pass attempts are the most in his career. He also posted fourth career 400-yard performance of his career and his first since Week 2 of the 2011 season. Brady will try to get it going against the lowly Jaguars in Week 16. The Jaguars have allowed 248.8 yards passing per game this season, which is the ninth-most allowed in the league. Fantasy owners should the 35-year-old as a must-start option in all formats heading into Week 16 at Jacksonville.
News: San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick entered Week 15 with just three touchdown passes on the year. He turned in one of his best performances of the season as he fired four touchdowns passes during Sunday's contest at New England. Kaepernick threw a touchdown pass in each quarter, including a 24-yard strike to Randy Moss, a 34-yard connection to Delanie Walker and a pair of touchdown passes from 27 and 38 yards out in the second half to Michael Crabtree. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 216 yards with a career-high four touchdowns and an interception in a 41-34 victory. Kaepernick also rushed for 28 yards on seven carries. He was sacked once and fumbled four times on the night, all recovered by the 49ers.
Analysis: Kaepernick did not rack up as many yards passing as he would've liked but salvaged it by having a career night with four touchdown passes. He was able to make some throws that backup Alex Smith may have not been able to make, and also showed his ability to escape against a tough defensive line. Kaepernick seems poised and comfortable in the pistol offense and will try to keep his recent success going against a stingy Seattle defense that has allowed 196.3 yards passing per game this season, which is the fourth fewest allowed in the league. Fantasy owners should consider the 25-year-old as a low-end option in most formats heading into a tough Week 16 matchup at Seattle.
News: Saints defensive lineman Cameron Jordan totaled three tackles (two solo) and one sack Week 15 vs. Tampa Bay. He also had a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Analysis: Jordan has enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2012. He has 59 tackles and eight sacks in 14 games. He is showing why the Saints drafted him in the first round in 2011. After Week 15, Jordan is now the fifth-highest scoring Fantasy defensive lineman in IDP formats and obviously a must-start option.
News: Saints linebacker Curtis Lofton totaled three tackles (two solo) and one pass defense Week 15 vs. Tampa Bay. He has 114 tackles in 14 games.
Analysis: While Lofton has surpassed 100 tackles in 2012, his production lately has slowed down because of Jonathan Vilma's return to the lineup. Lofton has had more than four solo tackles just once in his last six games. Fantasy owners have noticed as Lofton was started in only 82 percent of IDP leagues Week 15. He can still be started in IDP formats, but he is not the must-start option he was earlier this season.
News: Bucs safety Mark Barron totaled a team-high 10 tackles (eight solo) and one pass defense Week 15 at New Orleans. He has 79 tackles and one pass defense in 14 games.
Analysis: Barron is having a productive rookie campaign and has the potential to be a star safety down the road. However, he is not a must-start Fantasy IDP option yet. He is at best a mid-level Fantasy start in deep formats.
News: Bucs linebacker Mason Foster totaled six tackles (three solo) Week 15 at New Orleans. He now has a career-high 89 tackles in 14 games.
Analysis: Foster's numbers have been pretty much on par with his rookie campaign in 2011, but obviously he will finish with more tackles in 2012. He is a viable mid-level Fantasy start in IDP formats.
News: Bucs safety Ronde Barber totaled seven tackles (four solo) Week 15 at New Orleans. He now has 84 tackles in 14 games.
Analysis: Barber has made a smooth transition to safety in 2012. His numbers haven't tailed off because of the position change and he remains a must-start Fantasy IDP option.
News: Bucs linebacker Lavonte David totaled seven tackles (four solo) Week 15 at New Orleans. He now has 124 tackles in 14 games.
Analysis: David is having an outstanding rookie campaign and has to be considered a strong candidate for defensive rookie of the year. He has emerged as a must-start Fantasy linebacker.
