| | | | Thursday, December 17, 2020 | | I don't want to spend much time on an extended introduction today, because it's game day, and that means it's decision day. And, because we're in the Fantasy playoffs for nearly every league, the last thing you want is to read me blathering on about some such or other topic only tangentially related to the purposes of this newsletter, and … there I go, getting off on a tangent. Time to rein myself in. Time for football. | | The Chargers and Raiders are set to kick off Week 15 tonight, and the Chargers are where your first tough decisions are set to come. Keenan Allen (hamstring), Austin Ekeler (quad), and Mike Williams (back) were all limited at practice and are questionable for tonight's game, so you'll need to keep a close eye on inactives and news reports throughout the day. Here's where I stand on the Chargers guys right now: If Ekeler and Allen play, they are must-start options; I would try to avoid Williams if I can; if Ekeler can't play, Kalen Ballage probably gets the edge over Justin Jackson, and is a reasonable plug-and-play option if you're desperate. | | But, if you want a more informed take, join Adam Aizer, Frank Stampfl, and I on the Fantasy Football Today Twitch Start/Sit stream this afternoon at 4 p.m. -- we'll be taking your questions for an hour and a half, and we'll definitely make sure you know everything you need to know before the first lineups lock. Head to that link and subscribe so you'll get a notification when we go live. | | Speaking of answering your questions, that's where today's newsletter is starting. I took 10 of your reader questions from my inbox to answer for Week 15. I know at this time of the year, that direct, actionable advice is what you want, so if you want your questions answered, email me at Chris.Towers@CBSInteractive.com . All I want to do it help you win your Fantasy championship as a token of gratitude for subscribing all year long. Along with your questions, I have updates on all of the injury updates you need to know about from Wednesday's practice sessions, and here's the advice from the FFT team you need to read before you make your decisions: | | Jamey Eisenberg's Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: QB | RB | WR Dave Richard's Week 15 Preview: Starts & Sits, Sleepers & Busts Heath Cummings' position previews: QB | RB | WR | TE | Also, here's a something you should check out: CBS Sports is giving away a bunch of cool stuff in our Holiday Wishes Sweepstakes. Head here now for your chance to win one of 10 prize packs
| | | | #AskFFT Mailbag: Start/Sit Questions | | | | Dakota: Sit one of these three in .5-PPR league: Terry McLaurin vs SEA, Justin Jefferson vs CHI, or Cam Akers vs NYJ? | | It's either Jefferson or McLaurin. McLaurin has the better matchup but the worse QB situation, especially if Alex Smith (calf) can't play. Both are boom or bust plays, but it is worth noting McLaurin had at least 83 yards in three of four games Dwayne Haskins started earlier this season. I don't feel good sitting either, but I think I would start McLaurin over Jefferson. | | Shane: It looks like I lost Matthew Stafford for this week. After his performance yesterday, would you start Jalen Hurts over Kirk Cousins in Week 15? | | I think I would. It's no guarantee Hurts is as effective this week as he was last, but there's no guarantee Cousins is good in any given week. Hurts' rushing ability could really help separate him, the same way it has for Taysom Hill. On the other hand, Cousins is actually outsourcing Hill over the last four weeks, and I'm not 100% sure Hurts is better than Hill. I'll go with Cousins. | | Dan: Russell Wilson @WAS or Hurts @ARI? Amari Cooper, Chris Godwin, Kareem Hunt, or Clyde Edewards-Helaire at Flex in PPR? | | I like the enthusiasm for Hurts, everyone. You've really been taking my words to heart, and I appreciate that. But, while I do think he's a top-12 QB this week, if I'm not sitting Cousins for him, I'm definitely not sitting Russ for him. As for your flex spot, I'll take my chances with Godwin, who will hopefully be more involved a week removed from finger surgery. Godwin had 184 yards and two touchdowns against them last season and, though this isn't the same Bucs offense, Godwin is still the WR I trust most there against this primo matchup. | | Dave: I went into Week 12 with a 10-1 record and a secure spot in my playoffs. However, after week 14 I will be 10-4 having dropped the last three. I am not getting current production form my WRs and that's the challenge. Which two can I trust? Godwin, Diontae Johnson, Terry McLaurin, Tyler Boyd, or Josh Reynolds? | | Trust is not the word I would necessarily use to describe any of those players. Godwin might be the exception, but otherwise, it's between Johnson and McLaurin. I could go either way on them, but I think McLaurin is the better player and he doesn't run the risk of getting benched with another drop. | | Bill: Do you agree with these starters in Non-PPR league for Week 15? Kyler Murray over Jared Goff? Dalvin Cook and Nick Chubb over Cam Akers? Michael Thomas and one of Brandon Aiyuk, Jarvis Landry, Deebo Samuel, or Cooper? | | Murray over Goff: Check. Cook and Chubb over Akers: Check, as much as it hurts to leave Akers on the bench right now. As for that WR decision, I think it's gotta be Aiyuk, who is averaging 11.2 targets, 7.2 receptions, and 99 yards per game over the last five with three touchdowns. He's emerged as the 49ers No. 1 WR, and with Deebo Samuel potentially out again, he should feast against the Cowboys. | | Isaiah: 1) Who would you start at QB between Josh Allen and Justin Herbert? 2) Who would you start at Flex between Allen Lazard, Damien Harris or Phillip Lindsay? I also have Tee Higgins and Jerry Jeudy on my bench. | | 1). Allen over Herbert. 2) There's no god option there, but I think I would go with Harris and just hope he falls in the end zone. It would help if James White were out. If you don't want to trust him, Higgins is probably the best option. | | | | Nicky:A little help please: I need two RB and one flex in .5-PPR: Aaron Jones, Miles Sanders, Austin Ekeler, Cam Akers, and James Robinson. | | Wow. It turns out there is such thing as too much of a good thing. I think Sanders is probably the easiest sit of any of them -- he was ceding playing time as recently as two weeks ago, and there's at least a chance Jalen Hurts is a disaster in his second start and holds the entire offense back. The second sit is a much tougher call, but I think it's Robinson, given the matchup against the Ravens. The return of Gardner Minshew at QB for the Jaguars is the biggest thing giving me pause, but it's not like there's a good argument for sitting anyone else. | | Scott: To go along with Stefon Diggs and A.J. Brown at WR, who would you start at Flex: Diontae Johnson or Chris Godwin? | | I'm going Godwin over Johnson here. They're both probably the top target in their respective passing games, but I have more faith in Tampa's at this point, even without taking into consideration the chances of Johnson getting benched. | | Fabrizio: I'm tempted to use Mitchell Trubisky over Kyler Murray. In my league, QB get six points for passing touchdowns and only points for passing yards. No points for rushing production. What do you think? | | Well, that nullifies Murray's biggest edge. If you count only the games Trubisky has started and finished, he is averaging 22.4, compared to 19.2 for Murray -- I was as shocked as you probably are when I did the math, so much so that I had to do it twice. Of course, there's a reason you have to stipulate the "games started and finished" bit for Trubisky, because he might always be a bad half away from being benched. I would go with Trubisky in this format. | | Chris: I have Chris Carson, Mike Davis, Akers, J.K. Dobbins, and Melvin Gordon. Only three lineup spots for RB in non-PPR. Who are the must-starts? | | Davis and Akers are the easiest calls here, but neither Dobbins nor Gordon is close enough to Carson to make the third spot a particularly difficult call. And yes, that's true for Davis even in a non-PPR league. | Week 15 Injury Updates
| | | | Quarterback | | Matthew Stafford (rib) --Did not practice. Based on Stafford's history, if he can play, he will, and he pretty much said as much Wednesday. However, I wouldn't plan on using him either way this week, even with a solid matchup on the way. Drew Brees (ribs) -- Designated for return from IR and practice Wednesday. We'll have to see how he responds to the increase in activity, but early signs indicate it went well, meaning he has a chance to return for Sunday's big game against the Chiefs. Thursday and particularly Friday will be telling. Daniel Jones (hamstring/ankle) -- Limited practice. Jones suffered the ankle injury at some point before getting pulled from Sunday's game, and there is definitely some doubt about his availability. Even if he plays, he's not a recommended starter. Alex Smith (calf) --Did not practice. The team is reportedly optimistic about Smith's chances of playing, but this certainly isn't a good start. Whether it's him or Haskins, neither would be much of a starting option even against the Seahawks outside of 2QB or Superflex leagues. | | Running Back | | Christian McCaffrey (thigh) --Did not practice. It doesn't seem like McCaffrey is likely to make his return this week, though we don't want to rule it out just yet. Mike Davis remains a high-end RB with big upside in a pretty great matchup against the Packers. Ronald Jones (finger/Reserve/COVID-19) --Did not practice. Jones was originally in doubt after having surgery on his fractured pinky, and then he was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Even if he was a close contact, it's not clear he would be able to play Sunday, but at this point, you should be preparing as if Leonard Fournette will start for the Buccaneers Sunday -- and in my eyes, they're basically the same guy, so my expectations wouldn't be any lower for Fournette. He's a high-end No. 2 RB if Jones is out. Ezekiel Elliott (calf) --Did not practice. Elliott has been playing through this injury for a few weeks, and he admitted Wednesday he may have to play through it all season. He's still expected to play against the 49ers but is a risky No. 2 RB. Add Tony Pollard just in case. Antonio Gibson (toe) --Did not practice. Washington hasn't ruled him out, but it seems like Gibson is a long shot for Sunday, and I'm not necessarily expected him for Week 16, either. Raheem Mostert (ankle) --Did not practice. We're still waiting for word on Moster's MRI taken Tuesday, but for now, plan as if Jeff Wilson will start for the 49ers, and he's an intriguing fill-in against the Cowboys if Mostert is out. James Conner (quad) -- The Steelers won't practice until Thursday, so we'll get our first look at Conner's status then. For now, make sure Benny Snell isn't out there for your opponent to pick up, even if you probably won't want to start him yourself. Melvin Gordon (shoulder) -- Limited practice. Gordon is making progress and could be in line to play Saturday against the Bills, though he won't be a recommended start either way. Salvon Ahmed (shoulder) -- Limited practice. With Myles Gaskin likely to miss Week 15 as a result of his positive COVID-19 diagnosis, Ahmed could return to a starting job. DeAndre Washington is currently expected to start for MIami against the Patriots, but Ahmed would likely leap him in the depth chart and would be a borderline No. 2 RB -- remember, Ahmed had 16.0 and 12.4 PPR points in two starts in Gaskin's place before his injury. Chase Edmonds (ankle) --Did not practice. This is a new injury and it's one that could keep him out for Sunday's game against the Eagles -- coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Wednesday Edmonds will likely be a game-time decision. Adrian Peterson (forearm) -- Limited practice. This is a new one, but it doesn't seem to be much of a concern at this point. If Peterson is out, that would probably mean more work for D'Andre Swift, who is firmly in the No. 2 RB discussion. Duke Johnson (neck) -- Limited practice. David Johnson also missed practice Wednesday, though he has been activated from the COVID-19 list and was listed as a "not injury related" absence, so we're still assuming he'll be back this week. | | | | Wide Receiver | | Julio Jones (hamstring) --Did not practice. Jones can play without practicing, but at this point you should be assuming he's out until you get reason to think otherwise. D.J. Moore (not injury related) -- Limited practice. Moore was activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list and is on track to play against the Packers Saturday. In fact, coach Matt Rhule didn't mince any words when asked about Moore's status: "He'll play." I like a coach who doesn't play coy. Robert Woods (thigh) --Did not practice. You don't love to see this, but Sean McVay told reporters he does not expect Woods to be limited for Week 15 against the Jets. Brandin Cooks (neck) -- Limited practice. Cooks is expected to return against the Colts and should be viewed as a WR2. Kenny Golladay (hip) -- Did not practice. Like Jones, Golladay can play without practicing, but you should assume he's out until given reason to think otherwise. Deebo Samuel (hamstring) -- Did not practice. We'll see what the next few days of practice hold, but don't expect Samuel to play at this point. DeVante Parker (hamstring) -- Limited practice. Parker and Jakeem Grant (hamstring) were both limited Wednesday, a better sign than I expected. Parker is a flex play if he's healthy, while both Parker and Grant returning would likely return Lynn Bowden to the fringes of Fantasy relevance. John Brown (ankle) -- Designated to return from IR, so Brown could return this week. I think Week 16 is probably a more realistic goal, and I probably wouldn't trust him for Saturday's game even if he is able to play. Jamison Crowder (calf) --Did not practice. It sounds like Crowder is going to try to play through injuries in both calves, but it's awfully hard to trust him at this point even if he does play. | | Tight End | | Noah Fant (illness) -- Full participant at practice. Hopefully the illness that forced Fant from Sunday's game is in the rearview mirror. He's a borderline No. 1 TE against the Bills. Mike Gesicki (shoulder) --Did not practice. The Dolphins haven't ruled Gesicki out, but I would bet against him playing this week. If you're desperate, Adam Shaheen could have a bigger role in an offense that targets the tight ends a healthy amount, but he's just a desperation play. Austin Hooper (neck) -- Limited practice. A good sign for Hooper's chances of returning in Week 15, but we'd like to see him get a full practice in before starting him. Not that he's a must-start option or anything close; he's another fringe No. 1 TE. Kyle Rudolph (foot) --Did not practice. Just like Hooper and Fant, Irv Smith is a potential starting tight end if Rudolph is out. PPR points or less in three of his past four games." | | | | | | | | |
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