Category: Sport

Every Monday during the season, Justin Boone breaks down the recommended fantasy football waiver-wire pickups.

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Roster percentages are generated from Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

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Key injuries to consider

• Patrick Mahomes (ACL, season-ending)

• Javonte Williams (shoulder)

• Davante Adams (hamstring)

• Luther Burden III (ankle)

• Xavier Worthy (concussion)

Pickups by position

Week 16’s top-10 overall pickups

1. Blake Corum, Rams
2. Michael Carter, Cardinals
3. Jayden Reed, Packers
4. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders
5. Audric Estime, Saints
6. Colby Parkinson, Rams
7. Jawhar Jordan, Texans
8. Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos
9. Dalton Schultz, Texans
10. Colston Loveland, Bears

Quarterbacks

J.J. McCarthy, Vikings

McCarthy gets the featured quarterback spot in this column yet again, but it’s well deserved.

Despite an incredibly disappointing season overall, the sophomore passer is finally showing some signs of life down the stretch thanks to easy matchups with the Commanders and Cowboys the past two weeks.

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McCarthy has produced six total touchdowns during those games (five passing, one rushing) and finished as a top-10 fantasy QB on both occasions.

He’ll have another soft opponent to attack in Week 16. The Giants defense is one of the five easiest matchups for fantasy QBs on the year.

As I said last week, McCarthy is far from a must-start, but he’s likely the best waiver wire quarterback option for desperate managers.

C.J. Stroud is 48% rostered but would be the No. 1 QB add if available.

Risky streaming options

• Tyler Shough vs. NYJ (9% rostered)

• Bryce Young vs. TB (18% rostered)

Desperation streaming options

• Tua Tagovailoa vs. CIN (18% rostered)

• Kirk Cousins at ARI (8% rostered)

• Marcus Mariota vs. PHI (10% rostered)

• Aaron Rodgers at DET (27% rostered)

• Gardner Minshew at TEN (0% rostered)

• Philip Rivers vs. SF (6% rostered)

• Cam Ward vs. KC (8% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if healthy)

• Tyrod Taylor at NO (8% rostered)

Running Backs

Michael Carter/Emari Demercado, Cardinals

Bam Knight was carted off with an ankle injury that’s likely to keep him out of the lineup the rest of the fantasy season.

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Unfortunately for him, the Cardinals have a very favorable schedule with the Falcons and Bengals over the next two weeks. On top of being winnable games that could feature positive game scripts, both Atlanta and Cincinnati are friendly opponents for fantasy running backs.

Even with Demercado back in the lineup, Carter was the clear replacement for Knight, playing 80% of the snaps in Week 15 and delivering 94 scrimmage and four receptions on 18 total touches versus a tough Texans defense.

That makes Carter a top priority for fantasy managers in need of a low-end RB2/high-end RB3 moving forward.

Meanwhile, Demercado becomes an intriguing upside flex play.

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Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders

With Chris Rodriguez Jr. being a late scratch due to a groin injury, Croskey-Merritt stepped into the lead back role for the Commanders, handling 18 touches en route to 96 yards and a score.

Rodriguez was able to get in a limited practice last week, so we’ll need to monitor his availability. However, it’s possible Washington may continue to roll with JCM down the stretch of a lost season, in order to see what they have in the rookie.

The matchup with the Eagles will be much more difficult than what he faced on Sunday, but Croskey-Merritt has the potential to be an upside RB3 if he gets another start.

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Audric Estime/Evan Hull, Saints

Devin Neal left with a hamstring injury on Sunday, which could force him to the sidelines for Week 16 and possibly beyond.

In his absence, Estime saw more work but Hull was heavily involved in what amounted to a near 55-45 split.

Estime turned six touches into 50 scrimmage yards in the game, most of which came through the air. Hull had just 12 yards on four carries.

What makes this more enticing is their matchup in the fantasy semifinals against a Jets defense that’s given up 13 touchdowns to running backs in their last five games.

Estime should be added as an RB3 with RB2 upside if he can find the end zone. Meanwhile, Hull is a risky flex play.

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Jawhar Jordan, Texans

Woody Marks is day-to-day after suffering an ankle injury over the weekend. His normal backup Nick Chubb was held to just one limited practice last week due to a rib issue and was ultimately ruled out prior to Week 15.

Now, fantasy managers will be hitting the refresh button as they look for updates on this backfield throughout the week.

If Marks can play, then he’ll remain a low-end fantasy RB2, but a team with Super Bowl aspirations might not want to risk their young back.

That would put Chubb in line to start, if he can return to practice and prove he’s ready to contribute. In that scenario, the veteran would be a TD-or-bust RB3 versus the Eagles.

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However, if both players are inactive then Jordan would be the most valuable fantasy asset on Houston’s RB depth chart. The 26-year-old racked up 118 scrimmage yards on 17 touches in the win over the Cardinals this week and could be a sneaky RB3 with upside in Week 16.

Blake Corum is 40% rostered but would be the No. 1 RB add if available.

RB3/flex (if starter is out)

• Jaleel McLaughlin vs. JAX (1% rostered)

Risky flex options

• Devin Singletary vs. MIN (30% rostered)

• Tyler Allgeier at ARI (38% rostered)

• Jaylen Wright vs. CIN (25% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy)

• Samaje Perine at MIA (4% rostered)

• Ollie Gordon II vs. CIN (8% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options

• Malik Davis vs. LAC (1% rostered)

• Sean Tucker at CAR (22% rostered)

• Brian Robinson Jr. at IND (33% rostered)

• Emanuel Wilson at CHI (34% rostered)

• Tyjae Spears vs. KC (27% rostered)

• Isaiah Davis at NO (3% rostered)

• Keaton Mitchell vs. NE (3% rostered)

• Ameer Abdullah vs. SF (0% rostered)

• Jeremy McNichols vs. PHI (2% rostered)

• Rasheen Ali vs. NE (0% rostered)

• Ty Johnson at CLE (2% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy)

• Dylan Sampson vs. BUF (11% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out)

• Tyler Badie vs. JAX (0% rostered)

• Dare Ogunbowale vs. LV (1% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster

• Tank Bigsby at WAS (17% rostered)

Wide Receivers

Jayden Reed, Packers

As always, there are plenty of flex options that you could pick up off the waiver wire and slot into your lineup if you’re desperate. But fantasy teams with real title hopes are looking for more.

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Reed is the top receiver pickup this week after Christian Watson suffered a chest injury that doesn’t appear to be serious, but threatens his availability for Week 16.

The Packers tend to take a cautious approach with injuries, so Watson missing a game seems to be the most likely outcome.

Even with Watson in the lineup for most of the past two games, Reed has been productive with 108 scrimmage yards during that span.

The Packers insistence on a committee approach at receiver makes it hard to project massive stat lines for any of their wideouts, but Reed has shown us a quality fantasy ceiling in the past.

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Going back to his rookie year, Reed finished as the WR23, scoring 10 total touchdowns and adding 119 yards on the ground despite only seeing the field for 56% of the Packers’ snaps.

In 2024, he averaged WR14 fantasy stats through the first nine games while seeing an increase in playing time up to 66% of the snaps. But after the Packers’ Week 10 bye, his numbers fell off dramatically, topping 50 yards just once in the second half of the season and being the WR62 during that final eight-game sample.

There aren’t many players on the waiver wire with his kind of upside as a WR3/flex with top-20 potential if everything goes his way.

Troy Franklin is 51% rostered but would be the No. 2 WR add behind Jayden Reed — if available.

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Rashid Shaheed is 53% rostered but would be the No. 3 WR add behind Jayden Reed and Troy Franklin — if available.

WR4/flex options

• Adonai Mitchell at NO (16% rostered)

WR4/Flex options (if healthy)

• Luther Burden III vs. GB (17% rostered)

Flex options

• Jayden Higgins vs. LV (43% rostered)

• Jalen Coker vs. TB (5% rostered)

Risky flex options

• Darius Slayton vs. MIN (41% rostered)

• Jalen Nailor at NYG (2% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out)

• Matthew Golden at CHI (32% rostered)

• Olamide Zaccheaus vs. GB (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options

• Cooper Kupp vs. LAR (41% rostered)

• Josh Downs vs. SF (43% rostered)

• Chimere Dike vs. KC (16% rostered)

• John Metchie III at NO (7% rostered)

• David Sills V at ARI (0% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy)

• Pat Bryant vs. JAX (3% rostered)

• Devaughn Vele vs. NYJ (14% rostered)

Tight Ends

Colby Parkinson, Rams

Since Week 10, Parkinson is the fourth-highest scoring fantasy tight end on a per game basis thanks in large part to six touchdowns in his last six outings.

Parkinson reached his highest point of the season on Sunday with five receptions, 75-yards and two TDs.

Now, he gets to face his former club the Seahawks on Thursday night. Seattle’s defense is excellent, but does have a soft spot when it comes to fantasy tight ends.

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Don’t be surprised if Parkinson, who caught a TD against the Seahawks in Week 11, pops up for another strong fantasy outing this week.

Dalton Schultz is 49% rostered but would be the No. 2 TE add if available.

Colston Loveland is 40% rostered but would be the No. 3 TE add if available.

Streaming options

• Darren Waller vs. CIN (36% rostered)

• Theo Johnson vs. MIN (46% rostered)

Risky streaming options

• Oronde Gadsden II at DAL (49% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options

• Gunnar Helm vs. KC (0% rostered)

• Dawson Knox at CLE (3% rostered)

• Luke Musgrave at CHI (2% rostered)

• Isaiah Likely vs. NE (19% rostered)

• Chig Okonkwo vs. KC (16% rostered)

• AJ Barner vs. LAR (12% rostered)

• Mike Gesicki at MIA (5% rostered)

• Pat Freiermuth at DET (11% rostered)

Defenses

Bills D/ST is 54% rostered but would be the No. 1 D/ST add if available.

Chiefs D/ST is 57% rostered but would be the No. 2 D/ST add if available.

Week 17 stashes

• Patriots D/ST at NYJ (47% rostered)

• Saints D/ST at TEN (17% rostered)

• Cowboys D/ST at WAS (35% rostered)

• Giants D/ST at LV (5% rostered)

Kickers

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has found himself in an unusual position this season. Despite the team being 8-6 and leading the AFC North, Steelers fans have called for Tomlin’s job.

That fervor reached a point where one of the Steelers’ recent icons and a former player whom Tomlin coached even seemed on board with the idea. Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger seemed to be on board with Tomlin’s exit after Week 13. On his podcast, Roethlisberger said, “Maybe it’s a clean-house time.” He said he respected Tomlin, but that the move might be “best for him, too.”

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When asked about those comments Monday ahead of his Steelers Hall of Fame induction, Roethlisberger attempted to walk them back, saying Tomlin should decide whether he wants to move on, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.

“Just because I said there’s a time for some new things, that’s just saying that I think Coach Tomlin — if he wants to move on, he has every right to move on, it’s not they should,” Roethlisberger said Monday night before the Steelers’ 28-15 win over the Miami Dolphins. “It’s up to him, and he’s earned that right. If he wants to do something else, he can and he should and we should honor him whenever that time comes. Maybe he wants to coach here for another 10 years, that’s fine too.”

Roethlisberger made those comments before the Steelers picked up a 28-15 win over the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. With the victory, the Steelers (8-6) retained their lead on the AFC North and sit in the No. 4 seed in the postseason. After Week 15, the team has a 61 percent chance of making the playoffs, per NFL.com.

Getting into the postseason hasn’t been the main issue in Pittsburgh. Tomlin has famously never posted a season below .500, and has made the playoffs 12 times in 18 seasons. But success in the postseason has been spotty in recent years. Since 2017, the Steelers are 0-5 in playoff games. While the team has typically posted strong defenses during that stretch, its offenses have generally left a lot to be desired, and that’s been exposed in the postseason.

Longtime NFL veteran Aaron Rodgers was supposed to change that this season. Rodgers isn’t in his prime anymore, but has made a positive impact on the team’s offense. The Steelers rank 13th in points scored this season and are averaging nearly two more points per game compared to last season. That’s not a major upgrade, but it has made a difference.

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None of that will matter if the Steelers experience yet another early exit in the playoffs. Despite Tomlin’s success, frustration seems to have hit a high point among fans — and maybe even some former players.

There’s no indication Tomlin wants to leave, or that he would be fired if the team washes out of the playoffs early, but the fact that there’s even chatter about the possibility speaks to things being different in Pittsburgh this year … even if the team is headed for a similar result.

The USC and Brown University men’s basketball teams have agreed to cancel their Dec. 21 game following the shooting at Brown on Saturday that killed two students and injured nine others.

The two teams were scheduled for a non-conference matchup on Sunday at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. According to USC, the Trojans will schedule a different opponent for that night.

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“The entire USC community sends its support to Brown University following the tragedy that has impacted its students, staff, alumni and the city of Providence,” USC said in a statement.

Brown also announced the women’s basketball home game scheduled that day against Monmouth has been canceled.

The next scheduled game for Brown’s men’s team in at home on Dec. 31. The women are at home in their next game as well on Dec. 29.

On Monday, the Providence Police Department released photos and videos of a “person of interest” as it seeks help in identifying the person dressed in dark clothing while wearing a black mask and hat. Boston’s FBI field office also released new photos of a “person of interest” who “is described as a male, approximately 5’8” with a stocky build.”

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The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for any information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the university shooter.

Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, from Uzbekistan, and Ella Cook, 19, from Alabama were the two students who were fatally shot.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones may have traded Micah Parsons after the two had a falling out, but Jones isn’t going to rub salt in the wound. Jones said he was “sad for Micah” after hearing about the star pass rusher’s season-ending knee injury, according to The Athletic.

Jones made those comments during his weekly radio appearance on 105.3 The Fan. Jones wished Parsons the best on his recovery and directly addressed the former Cowboy, saying, “Micah, I wish you the very best.”

Jones could have responded a number of ways about Parsons’ injury, especially after the way things ended between the two in Dallas. After an offseason of contentious back-and-forth, Parsons was eventually shipped to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. During their spat, Jones often went on the offensive, tearing down Parsons and his agent at every opportunity. Jones didn’t go down that path Tuesday.

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Evaluating the trade 14 games into the season seems foolish. Parsons was phenomenal when he was on the field in 2025, racking up 12.5 sacks before the injury. The Cowboys briefly flirted with the playoffs before two straight losses dropped them out of contention. While they will wind up the more disappointing team following the trade, Dallas does have multiple draft picks to add future stars in the offseason. The Packers don’t have that luxury.

Whether Jones made the right move will be determined years down the line. If the Cowboys hit on their draft picks, maybe the whole thing will have been worth it. With the way Parsons was playing prior to the injury, though, it’s going to take a lot to replace him.

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Jones surely knew that when he boldly traded Parsons away in August. And while the injury might push things more toward the Cowboys, Parsons might not miss that much time if he can avoid setbacks during his recovery.

We’re back hoops fans with another Yahoo Fantasy x Arena Club drop for Week 9. Yahoo Fantasy Basketball Slab Packs are a brand-new weekly drop featuring real, graded trading cards of the hottest fantasy performers in the NBA.

If you’re new to Arena Club, here’s the lowdown. Arena Club is the premier online marketplace for sports cards, giving collectors a way to rip packs virtually, buy and sell graded cards and track their entire collection — all in one place. Whether you’re in it for the hobby, the thrill or the chase, Arena Club brings the excitement directly to your screen.

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[Rip your exclusive Yahoo Fantasy + Arena Club slab pack here]

Each week, Arena Club curates real, graded NBA cards and builds two types of Yahoo Fantasy Slab Packs:

Every pack contains a graded card of an active NBA player — but the real treasure is the weekly Chase Cards, featuring some of the top fantasy basketball performers from the past week. These limited-edition hits can reach values up to 20x the cost of the pack.

Weekly NBA Slab Packs go live every Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET and remain available through Thursday at 8 p.m. ET (or until they’re gone). It’s the ultimate mid-week boost for fantasy hoopers and collectors alike.

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To top it off, use promo code YAHOO at checkout for 20% off your first slab pack or card purchase on ArenaClub.com or the Arena Club app.

This Week’s Featured Players

Rip a slab pack today for a chance to pull one of the week’s biggest fantasy basketball stars:

Stephen Curry, Warriors

It was a solid end to the week for Steph fantasy basketball managers. The Dubs star dropped 48 points against the Trail Blazers on some lights out shooting.

Nikola Jokić, Nugget

Jokic started his week off right with a 39-point triple-double to help Denver win its fifth straight game.

Russell Westbrook, Kings

Westbrook has been one of the surprise fantasy assets this season and he turned it back with a vintage triple-double last Monday, posting 24 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists.

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De’Aaron Fox, Spurs (Gold only)

Fox has been a steady contributor for the Spurs, who are among the best teams in the West. Fox has scored at least 20 points in six of the past seven games.

Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks (Silver only)

KAT went big last week to help lift the Knicks to the NBA Cup Final by scoring 29 points in a win over the Magic.

Chet Holmgren, Thunder

The Thunder big has been a beast on the glass this season, entering this week with at least seven boards in nine straight games.

Weekly Drops. Real Cards. Real Value. Real Thrill.

With new cards releasing every week based on real fantasy performance, the Yahoo Fantasy x Arena Club partnership delivers a constantly refreshing lineup of NBA stars — and the chase cards you’ll be talking about all season.

Don’t miss this week’s release.

Rip your slab pack, hit a chase card, and upgrade your collection today!

[Get your Yahoo Fantasy Basketball Slab Pack now]

The Sacramento Kings could look to explore the trade market to unload multiple veteran players due to a disconnect between them and head coach Doug Christie’s coaching staff, according to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears.

“The Kings are struggling with the likes of [Keegan] Murray and veterans Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook. Sources told Andscape that there is a disconnect between some veteran Kings players and Christie and his coaching staff,” Spears wrote in a recent column for Andscape.

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Since winning 48 games and making the playoffs during the 2022-23 season, the Kings’ win total has decreased over the past two seasons. In 2023-24, Sacramento dropped to 46 wins and missed the playoffs, then failed to qualify again last season, finishing with 40 wins. A promising young roster that once seemed to have turned a corner now appears headed for a high lottery pick after starting 6-20 this season.

The future looked bright in Sacramento when De’Aaron Fox and Sabonis led the team, supported by Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter, then-rookie Murray and others. But after the organization decided to part ways with former head coach Mike Brown early last season, it paved the way for the Fox trade to San Antonio midway through the season.

LaVine was part of the three-team trade that sent Fox to the Spurs and brought him to the Kings. LaVine joined a trio that also included DeRozan, who was acquired in a trade during the 2024 offseason. Sacramento completed the trio by signing triple-double king Westbrook to a one-year deal in October.

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Now the Kings are at a crossroads with a veteran-heavy team that isn’t pulling its weight at the moment. While a player like Murray is viewed as the future, being just 25 years old, battling for shots with the likes of LaVine, DeRozan, Westbrook and even Dennis Schröder isn’t the best way to develop a young player. LaVine, DeRozan, Westbrook and Schröder are all 30 or older and not the players you’re building around for the long-term at this point in their careers.

With the NBA trade deadline approaching in February, these next couple of months could be quite busy for the Kings’ front office if reports are true. Sacramento is currently tied for the third-worst record in the NBA with no sign of relief on the horizon.

Sacramento is back in action on Thursday night in Portland to take on the Trail Blazers.

The Emirates NBA Cup in-season basketball tournament has been an NBA staple for two seasons now, and the previous two winners, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks, have been shut out. That means we’ll see a first-time winner in this week’s championship final between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. Victor Wembanyama returned to the court after nursing a calf injury for a month to help the Spurs hand the Oklahoma City Thunder their second loss of the season. That the Spurs beat the Thunder by breaking a lengthy winning streak would have been story enough; the fact that their win clinched their spot in the final only adds to the excitement. The Knicks defeated the Orlando Magic 132-120 in the semifinals, with a lot of help from MVP candidate Jalen Brunson’s 40 points.

The NBS Cup final on Tuesday, Dec. 16, will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. You can catch all the action on Prime Video, here’s what you need to know to tune in.

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How to watch the San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks NBA Cup Final:

Date: Dec. 16, 2025

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT

Streaming: Prime Video

What channel do I need to watch the San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks?

Tonight’s championship final between the Knicks and the Spurs will stream exclusively on Prime Video at 8:30 p.m. ET, with pregame coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.

How to stream the San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks NBA Cup game:

You can catch the Spurs vs. Knicks NBA Cup final on Prime Video.

What channel do I need to watch NBA Cup games live?

While many games in the group stage were televised on broadcast TV, Tuesday’s final is streaming exclusively on Prime Video.

How to stream the 2025 NBA Cup Final:

You can catch the Championship final, as well as replays of previous playoff games, on Prime Video.

It’s fantasy football playoff time and every season there are players who get you there and players who show up once you’re in. If you were fortunate enough to make your leagues postseason and advance, you likely started at least one of the players we’re about to go over — the top-10 players most commonly found on winning Yahoo Fantasy football teams from Week 15. Let’s dive in shall we?

Top-10 players most commonly found on winning playoff teams

1. Kyle Pitts Sr., TE, Falcons: (Won 83.7% of matchups)

We went into Pitts’ performance on TNF in Week 15 vs. the Bucs in a bit more detail here. Prior to that game, Pitts hadn’t had more than 15.5 fantasy points in a game all season. He exploded at the best time for managers with a 11-166-3 line to help the Falcons pull off the upset.

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2. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars (79.4%)

Didn’t anyone tell Lawrence and the Jaguars not to play with their food? Jacksonville devoured a lowly Jets squad in a 48-20 victory in which Lawrence threw five TDs and also ran for 51 yards and a score, the best game of his NFL career.

3. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jaguars (75.4%)

To piggyback on what Lawrence did, Etienne did almost equally, accounting for three of Lawrence’s five scores through the air. The back had 105 yards on just 15 touches for his best fantasy outing of the season.

4. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions (74.2%)

We all knew the Lions-Rams game would be up-and-down but no one expected 75 total points in a fantasy bonanza in Week 15. St. Brown accounted for nearly a 50% target share en route to a 13-164-2 line.

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5. Jason Myers, K, Seahawks (72.0%)

Shoutout to all you kicker haters in fantasy because don’t say the position never did anything for you. Myers topped the kicker leaderboard in Week 15 with 24 points, including the game-winner in an 18-16 victory over Indianapolis.

6. James Cook III, RB, Bills (71.8%)

It’s been a great season for you if you drafted Cook, someone who was taken around the second or third round. The Bills RB posted his second-highest total of the fantasy season with 111 total yards on 24 touches, plus two rushing scores in a comeback win over the Patriots.

7. Trey McBride, TE, Cardinals (71.8%)

There’s no better feeling each week than not having to worry about the tight end position. That’s exactly what McBride brought to the table all season and he showed up in the playoffs despite facing the toughest defense, the Houston Texans. He posted a season high in catches (12) and yards (134) with two TDs.

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8. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Patriots (70.7%)

Ahhhh, yes, it’s the man they call “league-winner.” No one has had a more unique journey than Henderson managers this season. After posting barely-startable numbers through Week 9, the rookie back broke out in Week 10 and hasn’t looked back. That all culminated in 16 touches for over 150 total yards and a pair of scores in Week 15 against the Bills.

9. Bears D/ST vs. Browns (68.2%)

Chicago was in a smash spot against Cleveland, which has allowed the second-most fantasy points to D/ST units this season. The Bears sacked rookie QB Shedeur Sanders five times and forced him to throw three interceptions while allowing just three points.

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10. Jameson Williams, WR, Lions (66.8%)

It was odd to see both of the Lions’ top wideouts on this list and not someone from the L.A. side of that game. Anyway, Williams has had a similar season to Henderson in that he’s peaking in the second half. In Week 15, he finished with a 7-134-1 line, his third straight game with seven catches. Williams has a goose egg sandwiched between six stellar fantasy outings the past seven games.

The High Score 100 — the top-100 players in Yahoo’s newest fantasy basketball format — is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production. Each weekly update captures who’s actually delivering value and who’s fading.

Here’s a breakdown of the biggest risers and fallers through the eighth week of fantasy basketball — with the complete High Score 100 at the bottom of the article. I’ll be updating my rankings every Tuesday throughout the fantasy basketball season.

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📈 Risers — Raise the Flagg

Cooper Flagg – G/FC, Dallas Mavericks: 40th overall (⬆️ 12)

The 18-year-old rookie has been on a tear over the last two weeks, averaging 24.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.2 stocks while shooting 54% from the floor and 82% from the line. He’s coming off a historical performance on Monday, where he became the youngest player to score 40 points in a game (he scored 42) and amassed 70 fantasy points in High Score.

How did he do it?

Flagg was in attack mode all night, going to the line 20 times! With his size and athleticism, that could unlock more scoring potential for the dynamic rookie in the future. He’s been over 40 fantasy points in six of his last 10 outings, a trend that could stick the more Dallas leans into Flagg as the top scoring option.

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Russell Westbrook – G, Sacramento Kings: 53rd overall (⬆️ 8)

Vintage Russ was on full display in Week 8, finishing as the highest-scoring guard in High Score with 73 fantasy points. Westbrook moves up eight spots because of that gaudy 24-12-14 triple-double, but also, he’s 30th overall over the last two weeks, averaging 45.8 fantasy points per game. Of all the vets in Sacramento, Westbrook’s value has been impacted the least in High Score because he still generates so many fantasy points from his rebounding and assists without being penalized for turnovers or inefficiency. As long as the minutes hold and he’s not traded, he’s a plug-and-play option with top-50 upside.

[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. It’s not too late to create or join a league]

Amen Thompson – G/FC, Houston Rockets: 44th overall (⬆️ 7)

Thompson’s subtle bump stems from his consistency. He’s been averaging 40 fantasy points per game for most of the season, but over the last couple of weeks, he’s moved up to 43 per game, which puts him inside the top 35 in High Score. His stocks production still hasn’t reached last year’s level, but it’s good to see him becoming a more efficient scorer and evolving as a point guard. Now we hope for a boost in stocks!

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📉 Fallers — Veterans Losing Steam

Nikola Vučević – FC, Chicago Bulls: 70th overall (⬇️ 17)

The Bulls’ offense is rightfully moving further away from the 35-year-old Vučević. His PER is the lowest since his rookie year, his usage is down to 21% and his shooting efficiency is fading. Chicago’s offense is flowing more through its guards, leaving Vučević as a complementary piece rather than a focal point. While still productive, he’s no longer the reliable top-50 fixture that fantasy managers drafted. Vuc hasn’t been over 30 fantasy points in four straight games.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. – G/FC, Miami Heat: 85th overall (⬇️ 16)

I waited too long to drop Jaquez in my rankings, so I’m finally catching up. There’s a stark difference in Jaquez’s numbers with and without Tyler Herro on the floor this season. In five games with Herro, Jaquez’s numbers dip to just 9.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 23 minutes. In the first 20 games of the season without Herro, he was at 17-6-5 in 31 minutes per game. I’m not writing him off completely, but a steady decline with an outlier performance once per week is the likely outcome.

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Myles Turner – FC, Milwaukee Bucks: 96th overall (⬇️ 8)

Turner is another bad week away from being off the High Score 100 altogether. For the season, he’s averaging 28.4 fantasy points per game, which ranks 131st overall. Over the past two weeks, it’s been even worse, scoring 18 fantasy points per game. Turner hasn’t hit 30 fantasy points in eight straight games. If you have him on your team, I’d keep him on the bench, but I wouldn’t drop him — yet.

Complete High Score 100 rankings

The High Score 100 is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production.

Stay tuned for the next look at the High Score 100!