Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco missed Wednesday's practice with what HC Andy Reid labeled a shoulder contusion. Reid added that Pacheco is getting the shoulder "checked out," according to Arrowhead Pride's Pete Sweeney. If it's just a contusion, Pacheco should be available for this weekend's game vs. the Bills. We'll look for further updates on his status and see if he practices on Thursday.
Giants TE Darren Waller (hamstring) told reporters Wednesday that he's hoping to return for Week 15 vs. the Saints. Waller said that he’s been running routes and that his hamstring is feeling good, per The Athletic's Dan Duggan. We'll track Waller's practice participation next week, but he'd be a risky fantasy start in his first game back from a multi-week hamstring injury. Waller would get positive matchups in Weeks 16 and 17 vs. the Eagles and Rams, so he still has a chance to help fantasy teams this season.
The Vikings will continue starting QB Josh Dobbs this week against the Raiders, NFL Network reports. It's not a surprising revelation, and that's how we already had our Week 14 rankings set. Of course it'd be nice if Minnesota could go with a steadier QB than the journeyman who threw 4 INTs against the Bears his last time out. But the other options are Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall. Dobbs gets a fine matchup with the Raiders and will carry fantasy upside. The risk, however, is that he enters the game on a short leash. A turnover or two could motivate HC Kevin O'Connell to pull an in-game switch. We've factored some of that risk into Dobbs' projection for Week 14. But you'll need to make a personal call on his situation before setting your fantasy lineup with or without him. It can only help the whole offense to (likely) get WR Justin Jefferson back.
Jets HC Robert Saleh announced Wednesday that he's going back to QB Zach Wilson as the starter for Week 14 vs. the Texans and for the rest of the season. Wilson was bad over the first 10 games of the season, completing 59% of his passes at 6.1 yards per attempt. But QBs Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian combined for 5.2 yards per attempt on a 60.5% completion rate over the last two weeks. Consider Wilson's return a small upgrade for the Jets passing game. WR Garrett Wilson and RB Breece Hall, of course, remain the only viable fantasy starters in this offense.
Bills TE Dawson Knox (wrist) has been designated to return from IR and will practice on Wednesday. HC Sean McDermott when asked whether Knox will play vs. the Chiefs this weekend only said, "We'll take it one day at a time." We'll keep tabs on Knox's status for that one. He's not a fantasy option, but his return would put a dent in TE Dalton Kincaid's fantasy value. Kincaid averaged 7.4 targets over the last five games without Knox vs. 4.5 with Knox over his first six outings.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport calls it an "uphill battle" for Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (ankle) to play vs. the Browns this weekend. "I'm not saying he's not gonna play. I'm just saying he has to get a lot better very quickly in a short week to actually be out on the field" on Sunday, Rapoport adds. Fantasy owners should certainly be working under the assumption that it'll be C.J. Beathard at QB for Jacksonville this weekend. We'll keep you updated on Lawrence's status.
The Chargers are designating WR Joshua Palmer to return from IR, opening his 21-day practice window. HC Brandon Staley just last week described Palmer's situation by saying "there's still a possibility" that he'd return from IR, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper. That suggests we can't assume Palmer will be ready to return from his knee injury and play in Week 14. And it'll be tough to throw him into fantasy lineups right away, unless we get word from Chargers coaches that he's all the way back. Still, we have mentioned Palmer in our waiver wire article each of the past two weeks on this chance of return. If he does make it back to full participation, we'd bet on Palmer re-emerging as the No. 2 wideout in an offense that needs him. Stash Palmer early if you can ... if that makes sense for your roster, of course.
The Rams are signing K Mason Crosby to their practice squad with the expectation that he'll be elevated to the active roster in the "near future," according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. The 39-year-old Crosby spent the previous 16 seasons with the Packers, most recently connecting on 86% of his FGs in 2022. We'll see if Crosby gets the call for this weekend's game vs. the Ravens, or if K Lucas Havrisik gets another game. Regardless, it's a situation to avoid in fantasy lineups with the Rams sporting a 16.5-point implied total in Baltimore.
Vikings OC Wes Phillips said Tuesday that HC Kevin O'Connell will announce the starting QB Wednesday. Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says, "Based on everything I've heard this week, I expect the Vikings to start Josh Dobbs against the Raiders." That's how we have it projected in the Week 14 QB rankings, but we'll obviously be watching for any change. Dobbs has showed plenty of fantasy upside and will get a fine matchup if he stays in the lineup. There figures to be some risk he gets pulled, though, if he struggles anywhere near how he did against the Bears before the bye.
Patriots WR Demario Douglas (concussion) remained sidelined for Tuesday's practice. He has virtually no chance to be cleared in time for Thursday night's game vs. the Steelers. Douglas' absence will again leave DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton as New England's top three WRs.
Steelers RB Najee Harris (knee) did not practice on Tuesday. He wasn't listed on Monday's estimated injury report. This is certainly something to monitor on the short week. We'll see how Harris is listed on the final injury report tomorrow for Thursday night's game vs. the Patriots. His absence would be a huge boost to RB Jaylen Warren's fantasy value.
Multiple reports say Jaguars WR Christian Kirk is expected to need surgery for a core-muscle injury he suffered on the first play of Monday night's loss to the Bengals. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says "rehab for a core muscle issue is generally about eight weeks." The fantasy season, of course, has just four (in most leagues) or five weeks left. Kirk hasn't finalized the surgery plan yet and is still getting medical opinions. So you might want to wait for confirmation before dropping him. But plan on missing the Jacksonville wideout for the rest of the year. Zay Jones gets a boost in Kirk's absence, but he must also contend with QB Trevor Lawrence's injury and a challenging matchup with the Browns and Ravens the next two games. His Week 17 matchup with Carolina has also been bad for WR scoring this season. Week 16 at Tampa Bay looks good, at least. Jones currently sits just 52nd in our Week 14 PPR WR rankings. He's not likely to climb a lot higher even if Lawrence gets cleared. And he's not likely to climb beyond WR4 territory (if that high) in our Week 15 rankings. Keep all that in mind as you decide whether to go after Jones on the waiver wire this week. Rookie WR Parker Washington also came out of nowhere for a 6-61-1 receiving line against the Bengals after Kirk's injury. He might remain relevant for PPR leagues while Kirk is out, but we'd like to see at least one more game before trusting him in redraft lineups outside of deep leagues.
Eagles TE Dallas Goedert (forearm) confirmed in a Tuesday radio appearance that he expects to return for Sunday night's showdown with the Cowboys. “It’s been healing really well," Goedert said of his broken forearm. “It’s probably feeling like 85-90 percent of the way there. Feeling really good back to normal. ... I’m able to do everything I need to do in my position group, so I’m planning on going down to Dallas and playing every snap that they allow me to. Hopefully I don’t have a limit on my snaps. I know when I came back last year I didn’t, so hopefully it’s kinda the same thing.” We'll look for further updates on Philadelphia's plan for Goedert in his first action since Week 9. He'll come with a bit more risk in fantasy than usual this week, but Goedert will belong in plenty of starting lineups. See where he currently sits in the Week 14 TE Rankings.
Jaguars HC Doug Pederson said Tuesday that WR Christian Kirk will miss time with the groin injury he suffered in Monday night's loss to the Bengals. We'll look for a more concrete timetable for Kirk's return, but we can at least rule him out for this weekend's game vs. the Browns. Rookie WR Parker Washington replaced Kirk vs. Cincinnati, catching all six of his targets for 61 yards and a score. But he's not a viable fantasy play assuming it's QB C.J. Beathard at the helm this weekend. WR Calvin Ridley, WR Zay Jones, and TE Evan Engram should pick up extra targets with Kirk out.
Jaguars HC Doug Pederson said Tuesday that QB Trevor Lawrence has a high-ankle sprain. Pederson, though, did not rule Lawrence out for this weekend's game vs. the Browns. Skill-position players usually miss multiple weeks with high-ankle sprains, but it's possible that Lawrence is back sooner -- with limited mobility, of course. Fantasy owners should still work under the assumption for now that it'll be QB C.J. Beathard starting for Jacksonville on Sunday, but we'll keep a close eye on Lawrence's status.
The Jets will release QB Tim Boyle, according to CBS Sports' Josina Anderson. QB Brett Rypien is being signed off the Seahawks' practice squad in a corresponding move. We'll see who the Jets toss under center for this weekend's game vs. the Texans, but the passing game will continue to stink regardless.
Giants HC Brian Daboll said Tuesday that he doesn't expect to get TE Darren Waller (hamstring) back for Monday night's game vs. the Packers. Waller is eligible to come off IR this week but either isn't ready or just doesn't want to push it in a lost season. It's not a lock that Waller plays again this year. We'll keep you updated on his status.
Giants HC Brian Daboll said Tuesday that QB Tommy DeVito will start Monday night's game vs. the Packers. QB Tyrod Taylor (ribs) was designated to return from IR and will practice this week. It's unclear if the Giants are just sticking with DeVito or if Taylor isn't cleared for game action yet. DeVito has played better than expected the past three games, completing 63% of his passes at 6.7 yards per attempt with six TDs vs. one INT. He's finished QB18, QB7, and QB20 in fantasy points those three weeks and is in the mix in 2-QB and Superflex leagues. DeVito has also taken a sack on a whopping 20.4% of his dropbacks over the past three games, so the Packers DST makes for a nice Week 14 spot start.
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. A source tells Schefter that Stevenson is expected to miss "a few weeks." High-ankle sprains generally cost RBs 4+ games, so don't be surprised if Stevenson misses the rest of the season. He's droppable in most fantasy leagues without an IR spot. Stevenson's absence will leave Ezekiel Elliott as New England's clear lead back -- in a true test of whether pure volume can support a fantasy RB. New England has RBs Jamycal Hasty and Ty Montgomery behind Elliott on the active roster, with RB Kevin Harris on the practice squad.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has a sprained right ankle and will undergo additional testing on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Lawrence was in a walking boot after the loss to the Bengals but was able to stand at his locker, per NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe. We should get an update on Lawrence's injury and timeline for return later today. QB C.J. Beathard played pretty well in relief of Lawrence on Monday, completing nine of 10 passes for 63 yards. Still, Lawrence's absence would be a significant downgrade for all of Jacksonville's skill-position players.
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