| |
 |
| Sunday, December 17, 2023 |
| We had three games Saturday, which means two things: First of all, of course, it means we had multiple significant injuries, because it wouldn't be 2023 without them; and secondly, it means your playoff matchups might already have a lot of points accrued. |
Hopefully that means you're sitting on a lead, but if you had Michael Pittman, Zack Moss or Ja'Marr Chase , all of whom left Saturday's games earlier, it might mean you're in a hole. We had massive showings from the Lions offense, Jordan Addison, and Ty Chandler -- not to mention the Raiders Thursday night! -- but if you were on the wrong side of some of those big games, it means you're stuck chasing points. |
And, of course, as of Sunday morning, we've still got some big injury concerns, not to mention weather issues in many spots around the league. It's less-than-ideal circumstances for the Fantasy playoffs, but we still have to try to win, and that's our goal this morning. In today's newsletter, we've got the latest injury updates you need to know about along with my updated rankings for every position, plus my flex top-125. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
C.J. Stroud wasn't able to clear the concussion protocol in time to be cleared for Sunday's game against the Titans, and didn't even make the trip with the team. The hope is he'll be able to return for Week 16, and the Texans will try to keep their playoff hopes alive with veteran Case Keenum leaping up the depth chart to start Sunday ahead of Davis Mills . It's a significant downgrade for the offense as a whole, especially with several of the top weapons in the passing game dealing with injuries as well. |
| The biggest complication as of Sunday morning is Jalen Hurts' status. He was added to the injury report Saturday with an illness, and is officially considered questionable for Monday's game. He is traveling separately from the team, but will be in Seattle, with the hope that he'll be able to play -- Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that, if the game had been played Sunday, Hurts may not have been able to go. As it stands, I'm assuming he'll play, but I'd be adding Marcus Mariota as an insurance policy if I have Hurts. |
The Seahawks could be without their starter as well, as Geno Smith (groin) is questionable for Wee 15. He'll be a game-time decision, but the problem here is that this game is Monday night. If you're in a 2QB league, you could wait for Smith to be cleared and pivot to Drew Lock, who did at least have a decent Fantasy effort last week against the 49ers. He has decent weapons and a better matchup than he did a week ago, but this is a downgrade for the offense as a whole if Smith is out. |
| |
| |
| |
We've got plenty of injuries to deal with at the running back position, but thankfully not too much is up in the air as of Sunday morning. Brian Robinson (hamstring), Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle), and Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) have already been ruled out, with Antonio Gibson moving into the RB2 range of the rankings, Chris Rodriguez a decent "pray-for-a-TD" RB3/4, Ezekiel Elliott a solid RB2, and the Chiefs backups both in the RB3/4 range. |
AJ Dillon is also expected to sit out Sunday's game, though he hasn't yet been ruled out due to his broken thumb. He suffered the injury last week and was hoping to be able to play through it after getting a limited practice on Friday, but according to Sunday morning reports, he's not expected to go. The good news for the Pacers is Aaron Jones (knee) is expected to play after missing three games. Jones will probably be worked in somewhat slowly given the absence and number of injuries he's dealt with this season, but I'm still using him as an RB2 where I have him. Kenyan Drake and Patrick Taylor should be in line for some work, but neither is anything more than a desperation play for deeper leagues. |
Probably the biggest lingering question for Sunday morning is De'Von Achane's status as he deals with a toe injury. Achane practiced on a limited basis Friday, and that was the only time he got out on the field this week. The explosive rookie has dealt with several injuries that have held his breakout somewhat in check. If Achane plays, he's been too good to just declare a sit, but I'm a bit wary of relying on him in a game the Dolphins will hopefully be able to win fairly easily. I'm ranking him as a low-end RB2 if he plays, with huge upside but also a considerable risk that he either suffers a setback (it wouldn't be the first time) or just has a limited role to try to keep him healthy. |
| |
| |
| |
We've got some pretty massive injuries to deal with at the WR position, and none bigger than Tyreek Hill's ankle. According to reports, the Dolphins are leaving the decision of whether Hill will play in his hands, and my general assumption when we hear something like that is that the player will usually opt to play if they can at all; Hill has also talked often about his goal of hitting 2,000 receiving yards, and missing a game would seriously jeopardize that. We'll know when inactives are released whether he can go, but for now, I'm assuming Hill plays vs. the Jets. It's a tough matchup for someone who is less than 100%, obviously, but i don't think you can sit the best player in Fantasy if they are active. |
I'm a bit more skeptical about Chris Olave's (ankle) chances of playing. He hasn't been ruled out, and is also a game-time decision, but Sunday reports have expressed a lot less optimism about his chances of playing. Olave didn't practice at all this week, and is a significant risk even if he does play of just being a decoy -- or of suffering a setback. If Olave plays, I'll view him as a boom-or-bust WR2/3, but I'm not expecting him to at this point. Rashid Shaheed (thigh) will play and is a decent roll of the dice with some upside if Olave is out. |
It sounds like Nico Collins (calf) is in much the same boat as Olave. He's listed as questionable but didn't practice all week and isn't expected to play, per reports. Noah Brown, Robert Woods , John Metchie, and Xavier Hutchinson will all see bigger roles, but none are recommended as anything more than desperation plays with Keenum as the expected starting QB for the Texans. |
Christian Watson (hamstring) is also not expected to play after being listed as doubtful. It would be his second straight missed game, and seeing as Watson hasn't practiced since suffering the injury, it's not guaranteed he'll be back out there for Week 15. It comes at a bad time for Watson, who looked like he was starting to figure things out, and it keeps Jayden Reed in line for his do-it-all role for the Packers, making him a viable WR3 with upside. |
D.J. Moore (ankle) and Chris Godwin (knee) are both expected to play after getting up to full practices Friday, and Demario Douglas (concussion) has cleared the protocol and will return from a two-game absence against the Chiefs. Moore is a fringe WR1, though there is some ugly weather in the forecast for that game in Cleveland; Godwin and Douglas are more like WR3s for their matchups. Marquise Brown (heel) is in the same range of the rankings as he's expected to play, while Brandin Cooks (illness) is more of a true desperation play. |
| |
| |
Darren Waller (hamstring) looks like he has a pretty good chance to make his return from IR, so if you're a TE-needy team, go make sure he's not still sitting there on your wire this week. We don't know what to expect from Waller as far as playing time, nor how he'll fair with Tommy DeVito at QB, but he should see plenty of targets if he's healthy, and has to be viewed as a No. 1 TE whenever he's active. He was averaging 11.3 PPR points before his injury. |
Taysom Hill (food/hand), Dalton Schultz (hamstring), and Tyler Higbee (neck) are all off the injury report after missing last week's games. Schultz and Hill are top-12 TEs, while Higbee is a high-end TE2 for this week. |
| |
| Flex top 125 rankings |
| |
| |
 | |  | | | | | Catch up and stream all episodes from Season 1 of Fire Country, only on CBS and Paramount+. Stream Now
| | Stay up to date on all the sports you love with CBS Sports HQ. We bring you the top stories, news, picks, highlights and more anywhere, anytime, all the time. Watch Free
|
|
| |
| |
