| | | | Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | | Every week when recapping the previous week's action, I always make a point of saying something like this when talking about injuries: | | "These are the injuries we know about. Over the next few days, we'll surely find out more." | | I'm always hoping it's not true, but the nature of football is that players get hurt. Sometimes, it's obvious, like when Chris Olave was pulled from last week's game because of the concussion protocol. Sometimes, guys will leave the game briefly and return, like when Baker Mayfield left Sunday's game for a few snaps to get his ankle checked out – an MRI Monday showed no structural damage, so he should be good to go. | | And then there are injuries that we don't hear about at all during the games that end up actually being serious. We've had a few of those injuries this season, and we learned about another one Tuesday. Jonathan Taylor apparently suffered a thumb injury during Sunday's game against the Buccaneers that will require surgery, sidelining him for at least a few weeks. | | Or, potentially longer. A decision hasn't been made on Taylor going on IR, but he's going to miss at least two games, according to Colts owner Jim Irsay. That pushes Zack Moss back into Fantasy prominence for at least the push to the Fantasy playoffs, and potentially longer. | | It's a shame we didn't know about this before yesterday's newsletter went out, because Moss was still available in 30% of CBS Fantasy leagues (higher in other providers' games) and was absolutely worth emptying out your remaining FAB budget to add if he was out there. We've seen Moss as the lead back in this Colts offense in eight games since the final month of last season, and he's averaged 16.3 PPR points per game in those games – and he was even better when he was the focal point this season, as I wrote about here. | | Unfortunately, the trade deadline has come and gone in most Fantasy leagues, so if you lost Taylor and don't have Moss, you're kind of stuck. As I wrote about in yesterday's newsletter, there just aren't a ton of viable starting options on the waiver wire right now, and if you had Taylor and someone like Josh Jacobs or Saquon Barkley (as I do in multiple leagues), you're in an especially tough spot this week. | | Of course, a lot of folks are in tough spots this week with six teams on bye in Week 13. That's the silver lining here, I suppose. In today's newsletter, we've got previews for each position to try to help you overcome whatever absences you might be dealing with. With just two weeks until the playoffs in most Fantasy leagues, you can't afford to let injuries or the schedule trip you up. | | My Week 13 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | | | 🔍Week 13 Position Previews
| | Every Tuesday, Heath Cummings previews each position, providing injury insights, key stats to know, the best waiver-wire adds, DFS targets, and more for quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end. Here's a brief rundown of each position, along with some key details you need to know before you go read Heath's full breakdowns: | | | | QB Preview | | "Dak Prescott is on another heater. In his last five games he has thrown for 1,602 yards, 17 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He's added 66 yards and a score on the ground. In that five week stretch he's outscored every other QB in football by at least 30 Fantasy points. Maybe the most shocking thing is that this isn't exactly unprecedented for him. | | In the 2020 season, Prescott came out of the booth with 1,690 passing yards, 86 rushing yards, and 12 total touchdowns in the first four weeks of the season. Then a Week 5 injury cost him the rest of the year. He started the 2021 campaign with 1,813 yards and 16 touchdowns in his first six games, cooled off, and then finished the year with 851 yards and 12 scores in the final three weeks of the season. Prescott is prone to hot streaks and the only question is when this one will end. | | Or maybe, if it will end." | On a bye: Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Justin Fields , Joshua Dobbs, Aidan O'Connell and Tommy DeVito Injuries: Baker Mayfield (ankle) and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (concussion)Number to know: 47.3 -- Sam Howell is averaging 47.3 drop backs per game, five more than any QB in the league. I would not expect that to change as he chases the score against the Dolphins.
Matchup that matters: Gardner Minshew @TEN (4th vs. QB)Waiver add/streamer: Gardner Minshew , Colts: "The bar is extremely low at QB this week, that is one of two reasons to consider streaming Minshew. The other is that it is easier to throw on Tennessee than run, and two of the last three QBs to face the Titans have scored at least 22 Fantasy points."Stash: Joe Flacco, Browns: "Flacco needs to be rostered in two-QB leagues just in case the Browns decide to turn to him instead of P.J. Walker." | | | | RB Preview | | "On Tuesday we heard the surprising news that Jonathan Taylor has a significant thumb injury and will have surgery. The hope is that he will only miss the next two to three weeks. This is obviously a massive development as Taylor has been a top-10 running back on a per-game basis over the last month and the Fantasy playoffs are rapidly approaching. | | Unfortunately, with the trade deadline past in most leagues the waiver wire is the only way to Taylor managers to address the potential issue. And the waiver wire isn't great this week as you will see below. But one thing that does need to be addressed is Zack Moss. | | Moss saw his first three targets since Week 8 on Sunday and played his highest snap share since Week 7. Even if Taylor plays through this injury Moss could have flex value in a timeshare once again. If Taylor misses time, Moss would vault back into the top 12 running backs, he was RB4 from Week 2 through Week 5." | On bye: Gus Edwards, Keaton Mitchell, Justice Hill , James Cook, Latavius Murray, Ty Johnson, Roschon Johnson, Khalil Herbert, D'Onta Foreman, Josh Jacobs, Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler and Saquon BarkleyInjuries: Aaron Jones (knee), Kenneth Walker III (oblique), De'Von Achane (knee), D'Onta Foreman (ankle), Rico Dowdle (ankle), Jerick McKinnon (groin), Jonathan Taylor (thumb) and Kendre Miller (ankle)Number to know: 3.15 -- Zack Moss is averaging 3.15 yards after contact per attempt this season. That ranks top 10 amongst running backs.
Matchup that matters: Najee Harris vs. ARI (20th vs. RB)Waiver add: Jeff Wilson, Dolphins: "Wilson is a good stash just because of the injury history of Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane. If Achane misses Week 13 against Washington then Wilson would also be a good flex play. Wilson played a season-high 33% of the snaps in Week 12 and turned 14 touches into 73 yards and 10.3 PPR Fantasy points."Stash: Elijah Mitchell, 49ers: "Mitchell is fully healthy and back in his RB2 position in San Francisco. If something happens to McCaffrey during the Fantasy playoffs, Mitchell will be a league winner. He's exactly the type of player first and second place teams should be stashing." | | | | WR Preview | | "Fantasy managers who drafted Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, and Cooper Kupp thought that they would be free of lineup decisions in at least one position this season. And honesty, after the way Adam Thielen played the first two months of the season, his managers did as well. As he prepare for the Fantasy playoffs that doesn't appear to be the case at all. | | None of those four wide receivers are must-sit players (well besides Jefferson since he has a bye Week 13) but none feel like surefire starters either. For me, Kupp is the riskiest. He has two good games all season and is playing through an ankle injury that was clearly hampering him on Sunday. He projects outside of my top-20 for Week 13 and if we see another single-digit performance, he may not be a top-30 wide receiver in Week 14." | On a bye: Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir, D.J. Moore, Darnell Mooney, Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, K.J. Osborn, Jalin Hyatt and Darius Slayton Injuries: Chris Olave (concussion), Rashid Shaheed (quadriceps), Justin Jefferson (hamstring), Amari Cooper (ribs), Tee Higgins (hamstring), Noah Brown (knee), Demario Douglas (head), Michael Thomas (knee), Josh Palmer (knee), Quentin Johnston (ribs), Michael Wilson (shoulder), Treylon Burks (concussion) and Kadarius Toney (ankle) Number to know: 149.9 -- Keenan Allen is on pace for 149.9 receptions this season. The NFL record is 149. The Chargers may not have much else to play for down the stretch.
Matchup that matters: Jaylen Waddle @WAS (12th vs. WR)Waiver add: Demario Douglas, Patriots: "The waiver wire is greatly impacted by injuries this week. Douglas is dealing with a head injury, but not a concussion. If he's cleared he is a must-add and a No. 3 wide receiver this week and rest of season. If he's not, DeVante Parker is pretty interesting in deeper leagues. Douglas' 27% TPRR ranks top-10 on the season." Stash: Odell Beckham, Ravens: "Beckham's 41.4% TPRR leads the NFL and ranks sixth in the NFL over the past two weeks. If the bye week allows him to get healthy he could be a full-time player and a must-start receiver in the Fantasy playoffs." | | TE Preview | | "As of Tuesday evening it looks as if the Saints are going to go marching in to the Superdome next Sunday without their top three wide receivers. Michael Thomas is already on injured reserve, Chris Olave is in the concussion protocol, and Rashid Shaheed is looking doubtful with a quad injury. If the names A.T. Perry and Keith Kirkwood don't get you excited, then you should expect a large role for the tight ends. | | All of those injuries are enough for me to project Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill as top-12 tight ends. Hill has been there many times this season, but I expect the increased targets to mean a higher floor than he's typically had. Johnson was a sleeper tight end candidate coming into the year before injuries derailed that hype train. | | I have Johnson projected for seven targets in Week 13 and that's been more than enough. In the six career games he's seen at least six targets he's averaged 12.3 PPR FPPG and he's never scored fewer than eight Fantasy points. He's a superb bye week replacement as long as the injury picture doesn't change by Sunday." | On a bye: Isaiah Likely, Dalton Kincaid, Cole Kmet , Michael Mayer, T.J. Hockenson and Daniel Bellinger Injuries: Dallas Goedert (forearm), Luke Musgrave (abdomen), Darren Waller (hamstring), Zach Ertz (quadriceps), Dawson Knox (wrist) and Greg Dulcich (hamstring).Number to know: 16 -- The Texans and Broncos are the only two teams allowing more than 16 PPR Fantasy points to tight ends. They're playing each other this week.
Matchup that matters: Tyler Higbee vs. CLE (32nd vs. TE)Streamer: Pat Freiermuth, Steelers: "Freiermuth is the top add at any position if Zack Moss is already rostered in your league. He's proven his ability in the red zone and as a target earner. He'll be a top-10 tight end rest of season." | | | | | | | | CBS Sports Golazo Network | | UEFA Champions League | CBS Sports Golazo Network, the first-of-its-kind, free, 24/7 channel dedicated exclusively to global soccer coverage is NOW STREAMING on the CBS Sports App, Pluto TV and Paramount+!
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