| |
|
| Sunday, December 6, 2020 |
| It's the last week of the regular season for many Fantasy leagues, and one interesting side effect of this season's unprecedented injuries and COVID-related absences it's been harder than usual to separate from the pack in Fantasy. In our Fantasy Football Today staff league, only two teams have locked up a playoff spot heading into the final week, and only two have been eliminated; that leaves eight teams fighting for four spots at 7-5, 6-6, or 5-7. And it's like that in nearly all of my leagues, because, of course I can't enjoy a stress-free Sunday afternoon until January. |
| For all of you who still have something to play for, everything is at stake in Week 13. So, naturally, we're dealing with a ton of injuries, even while the number of COVID cases around the NFL seems to have diminished. Tough decisions abound, with questions surrounding the likes of Myles Gaskin, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Julio Jones, among many others. And, with two Monday night games and a Tuesday game, setting your lineup in this key week may be tougher than usual. Though at this point in this season, that's pretty typical. |
| Make sure you keep up with everything the Fantasy Football Today team is doing Sunday morning. In today's newsletter, I've got the latest on all of the injuries and replacements you need to know about for Week 13 and our expert consensus rankings for each position to help you make those lineup calls. Then you need to tune in to Fantasy Football Today live on CBS Sports HQ until kickoff for the latest news and analysis for today. We're also answering your questions on our Twitch stream starting at noon and going until kickoff — and you can always drop your questions on Twitter using the hashtag "#AskFFT" because the whole team is answering questions this morning. |
| More Week 13: Injury Updates | Start 'Em & Sit 'Em | Starts & Sits, Sleepers & Busts | PPR Cheat Sheet | Non-PPR Cheat Sheet | RB Preview | QB Preview | WR Preview | TE Preview | Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: QB | Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: RB | Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: WR | Trade Values Chart | FFT Newsletter Waiver Wire | Panic About Struggling Stars? | Winners and Losers | Believe It Or Not |
| |
| Week 13 Injury Updates |
| |
| Here are the key injury situations we're watching out for Sunday, along with some potential fill-in options if you need help: |
| Quarterback |
| In: Ben Roethlisberger (knee), Cam Newton (abdomen), Matthew Stafford (thumb), Tua Tagovailoa (thumb) Out: Daniel Jones (hamstring) Expected back: Lamar Jackson (Reserve/COVID-19) |
| This is an easier week than last, when were were missing Tagovailoa, Drew Lock, and Jackson; Jones is a fringe starter at best most weeks and we knew he was going to be out most of the week, so that's no big deal. The one thing to note is, with Tagovailoa back, Ryan Fitzpatrick is out of the streaming conversation, unfortunately. Hopes were high with the matchup against the Bengals, and Tagovailoa isn't quite as exciting for Fantasy (yet). |
| We did get some other good news Sunday: Drew Brees is recovering well from his fractured ribs and could be back in the lineup for Week 14 next Sunday against the Eagles. That would be good news for Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas. |
| Running back |
| In: David Johnson (concussion), Todd Gurley (knee), Jonathan Taylor (Reserve/COVID-19), Expected to be in: J.K. Dobbins/Mark Ingram (Reserve/COVID-19), Phillip Lindsay (knee), Carlos Hyde (toe), Kalen Ballage (ankle) Out: Josh Jacobs (ankle), D'Andre Swift (illness), Matt Breida (Reserve/COVID-19), DeAndre Washington (hamstring), Salvon Ahmed (shoulder), Alexander Mattison (appendectomy) Likely out: James Conner (Reserve/COVID-19) |
| Jacobs' absence is the big one here, and it opens up the opportunity for Devontae Booker to be the lead back for the Raiders. He probably isn't available in your league (84% rostered), but if you have him, you should be starting him. I view him as a borderline top-12 RB, and I'm starting him over Ezekiel Elliott, for one. |
| Myles Gaskin represents a tougher call for me. The only league where I have him is also a league where I have Alvin Kamara, James Robinson, and David Montgomery, which means I'm probably not starting him. Will I regret it? Possibly; Gaskin was a must-start RB before his injury, and the Dolphins are basically down to Gaskin and Patrick Laird at RB. Gaskin could get a ton of work against a great matchup, and he's a solid No. 2 RB, I just can't justify starting him in his first game back given my other options. You may not have the same luxury. |
| If you do need a starter, Benny Snell is probably the best option available with Conner not expected to play. He's rostered in 62% of CBS Fantasy leagues and just had 12.3 PPR points against the Ravens. Washington is an easier matchup. |
| Potential fill-ins: Benny Snell (62%) vs. WAS, Kalen Ballage (57%) vs. BAL, Frank Gore (50%) vs. LV, Jalen Richard (11%) @NYJ, Jeff Wilson (9%) vs. BUF |
| |
| Wide receiver |
| In: Adam Thielen (reserve/COVID-19), Julio Jones (hamstring), DJ Chark (ribs), Brandon Aiyuk (reserve/COVID-19), Danny Amendola (hip), Adam Humphries (concussion), Darnell Mooney (knee), Expected to play: Jerry Jeudy (ankle), Terry McLaurin (ankle) Out: Kenny Golladay (hip), Larry Fitzgerald (Reserve/COVID-19) |
| Thielen goes back in your lineup for sure, but the rest of the returning WR are a bit harder to make a call on. You probably can't afford to sit Jones with his upside, even though we know the injury risk is incredibly high; he has five games with at least 16 PPR points and three games with fewer than eight, and he left all three with injuries. When he's healthy, Jones is still as good as just about anyone, but it's been tough to trust him this season. I'll stick with the week-winning upside and keep some antacid by my side. |
| Chark is more of a boom-or-bust WR3 play. Mike Glennon found Collin Johnson for some big plays in his first start, and the Jaguars have been feeding Chark targets when healthy. But he's been inconsistent thanks to the QB play, and Glennon doesn't exactly instill a ton of confidence. Aiyuk is similarly a lower end starter, because we just don't know what his role will look like with Deebo Samuel active. I suspect he'll still be pretty good, and potential great, because he and Samuel operate in completely different roles in the offense, but it's not a guarantee. |
| Potential fill-ins: Sammy Watkins (65%) vs. DEN, Tim Patrick (54%) @KC, Henry Ruggs (45%) @NYJ, Keke Coutee (38%) vs. IND |
| Tight end |
| In: Zach Ertz (ankle) Out: Mark Andrews (Reserve/COVID-19), Jonnu Smith (knee), Irv Smith (back) |
| Andrews is not expected to be activated in time for Tuesday's game, so it's best to avoid that one if you can. The absences of the two Smiths make Anthony Firkser (9%) and especially Kyle Rudolph (40%) worth considering. Rudolph has 11 catches on 13 targets for 131 yards in the two games Irv Smith has missed this season. Firkser is more of a desperation play. |
| And I would treat Ertz as a low-end starting option in his first game back. The Eagles threw Dallas Goedert back into a full snap share when he came back from IR last month, but Ertz' absence was longer and Goedert still only had one target in that game. Ertz very well could be the Eagles top target this week, and at tight end you may not have a better option, but I'd prefer to let him prove he's back to 100% before I trust it. |
| |
|
| Expert Consensus Rankings |
| As of 12 p.m. EST from Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard, and Heath Cummings: |
| QB Rankings |
| Patrick Mahomes Aaron Rodgers Russell Wilson Josh Allen Justin Herbert Deshaun Watson Kirk Cousins Kyler Murray Ryan Tannehill Lamar Jackson Ben Roethlisberger Derek Carr Mitchell Trubisky Matt Ryan Taysom Hill Philip Rivers Jared Goff Baker Mayfield Cam Newton Tua Tagovailoa Matthew Stafford Nick Mullens Carson Wentz Drew Lock |
| RB Rankings |
| Derrick Henry Dalvin Cook James Robinson Austin Ekeler Nick Chubb Aaron Jones David Montgomery Alvin Kamara Jonathan Taylor Antonio Gibson Devontae Booker Myles Gaskin Chris Carson Miles Sanders Raheem Mostert J.K. Dobbins Kareem Hunt Kenyan Drake Clyde Edwards-Helaire Ezekiel Elliott David Johnson Benny Snell Nyheim Hines Damien Harris Wayne Gallman Todd Gurley Frank Gore Melvin Gordon J.D. McKissic James White Chase Edmonds Kerryon Johnson Giovani Bernard Latavius Murray Jamaal Williams Zack Moss Cam Akers Devin Singletary Adrian Peterson Carlos Hyde Phillip Lindsay Boston Scott Duke Johnson Darrell Henderson Jerick McKinnon Jeff Wilson Tony Pollard Malcolm Brown |
| WR Rankings |
| Tyreek Hill Davante Adams Stefon Diggs Keenan Allen DK Metcalf Allen Robinson A.J. Brown Calvin Ridley Brandin Cooks DeAndre Hopkins Adam Thielen Terry McLaurin DeVante Parker Justin Jefferson Robert Woods Cooper Kupp Amari Cooper Diontae Johnson Julio Jones Tyler Lockett JuJu Smith-Schuster Jarvis Landry Deebo Samuel Michael Thomas Chase Claypool Corey Davis Brandon Aiyuk D.J. Chark Michael Pittman Cole Beasley CeeDee Lamb Tim Patrick Breshad Perriman Marvin Jones Jamison Crowder Allen Lazard Denzel Mims Tyler Boyd Tee Higgins Christian Kirk Sterling Shepard Jakobi Meyers Sammy Watkins Mike Williams Jerry Jeudy Nelson Agholor Darius Slayton Keelan Cole |
| TE Rankings |
| Travis Kelce Darren Waller T.J. Hockenson Dallas Goedert Hunter Henry Evan Engram Eric Ebron Kyle Rudolph Robert Tonyan Mike Gesicki Hayden Hurst Zach Ertz Austin Hooper Noah Fant Jordan Akins Dalton Schultz Jordan Reed Trey Burton Logan Thomas Tyler Eifert Jimmy Graham Anthony Firkser Gerald Everett Tyler Higbee |
| K Rankings |
| Younghoe Koo Harrison Butker Wil Lutz Rodrigo Blankenship Jason Sanders Justin Tucker Jason Myers Mason Crosby Chris Boswell Matt Prater Daniel Carlson Tyler Bass Dan Bailey Greg Zuerlein Robbie Gould Ka'imi Fairbairn Nick Folk Mike Badgley Zane Gonzalez Matt Gay Dustin Hopkins Jake Elliott Randy Bullock Stephen Gostkowski |
| DST Rankings |
| Dolphins Steelers Seahawks Packers Ravens Rams Chiefs Saints Vikings Bears Raiders Colts 49ers Chargers Lions Falcons Bills Football Team Patriots Titans Browns Cardinals Cowboys Texans |
| |
| | | | | 24/7 Sports News | | Parlay Pick'em | ✔Scores & Highlights
✔Fantasy and Betting Advice
✔Interviews with Top Athletes
CBS Sports HQ has you covered. Stream anywhere, anytime, on any device.
Watch Now
| | Enter Parlay Pick'em now for your free chance to win weekly cash prizes and the $20,000 guaranteed season prize.
Play Now
|
|
| |
| |
