Packers RB Aaron Jones (knee) is out for Sunday night's game vs. the Chiefs. He remained sidelined in practice all week. RB A.J. Dillon will again operate as Green Bay's primary ball carrier this weekend, but he'll also likely cede most passing-down work to RB Patrick Taylor. That's a concern with the Packers 6-point underdogs.
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb) is officially out for Sunday’s game vs. the Titans. HC Shane Steichen said earlier this week that the team is not considering an IR stint for Taylor, which would knock him out for four games. Owner Jim Irsay said the "hope" is that JT can return in two to three weeks. His absence will put RB Zack Moss back in a feature role. He averaged 22.0 carries and 2.7 targets in three games without Taylor earlier this season.
Panthers WR Jonathan Mingo (Achilles) is not listed on the final Week 13 injury report. He was limited in Thursday’s practice but a full-go on Friday. He’ll play vs. the Bucs this weekend but would be a desperation fantasy start. The rookie has yet to top 10.2 PPR points in a game this season.
Panthers TE Hayden Hurst (concussion) is out for Sunday’s game against the Bucs. TE Tommy Tremble (hip) is listed as doubtful, which will leave Carolina with TEs Ian Thomas and Stephen Sullivan. Neither is a viable fantasy play.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles labeled WR Chris Godwin (neck) a game-time decision for Sunday's meeting with the Panthers. Godwin was added to Thursday's injury report with the neck issue. We'll look for further updates on Godwin but won't get Tampa Bay's inactives until a little after 2:30 pm ET on Sunday. The neck injury adds risk to a guy who only looked like a WR3 anyway.
Update: Godwin did not practice on Friday and is officially listed as questionable.
Dolphins RB De'Von Achane (knee) will play vs. the Commanders this weekend, HC Mike McDaniel said Friday. The rookie shapes up as a risk/reward Week 13 fantasy play. He returned from this knee injury two weeks ago but lasted just three snaps before aggravating the injury. Achane has remained limited in practice this week. That's the downside. The upside? How about 518 total yards and seven TDs in his last three healthy games. Achane's return is just a slight knock against RB Raheem Mostert but knocks RB Jeff Wilson out of RB3 or flex consideration.
Update: Achane was a full participant in Friday's practice and is not listed on the final injury report.
Cowboys RB Tony Pollard was bottled up for most of Thursday night's game vs. the Seahawks, totaling just 68 yards on 20 carries (3.4 YPC). But he turned in a solid fantasy outing thanks to a 6-yard score in the third quarter. It was Pollard's third straight game with a TD -- after going eight straight games without one. It's just the latest reminder of the fickle nature of TDs. While Pollard's efficiency remains a concern, his volume and the strength of Dallas' offense should keep him locked into fantasy lineups the rest of the way. Pollard racked up 24 opportunities (20 carries, 4 targets) in Week 13 and has 17+ in four of his last five outings. The Cowboys, meanwhile, look unstoppable at this point, scoring 33+ points in four straight games and five of the last six.
Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team and set a season-high with 11 targets in Thursday night's loss to the Cowboys. He parlayed the volume into seven catches and 62 yards. It looked like he'd have a much bigger night when he hauled in a 30-yard TD late in the first half -- but it was (questionably) ruled incomplete on review. It was still an encouraging game for JSN from a volume perspective, although it was likely at least partly matchup-induced against a Dallas defense tougher against outside WRs than slots. Smith-Njigba will likely remain behind WRs D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in the pecking order going forward. But the rookie is trending up, with four games of 12+ PPR points over his last seven outings. He'll be a shaky Week 14 fantasy play against a tough 49ers defense that just held him to a 2-41-0 line on Thanksgiving. But Smith-Njigba gets plus matchups the following two weeks against the Eagles and Titans.
Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf single-handedly won fantasy matchups on Thursday night with a massive 6-134-3 outing. He got going on Seattle's very first possession when he split the seam between two Cowboys defenders and raced to the end zone for a 73-yard score. Metcalf hit 22.23 mph on the play, per Next Gen Stats -- the fastest speed by a ball carrier this season, and flat-out ridiculous for a 235-pounder. Metcalf's other two TDs came from one and three yards out. It was a much-needed scoring binge from a guy who had just three TDs on 43 receptions (7.0%) over his first 10 games. D.K. drew eight targets vs. Dallas, giving him 38 total targets on a 24.5% share over his last four games. Don't expect another outing like this the rest of the way, but Metcalf should stay glued into fantasy lineups going forward. Not only has the volume been strong, but he also gets the single easiest WR schedule from Weeks 14 through 17.
Seahawks QB Geno Smith ripped the Cowboys for 334 yards and three TDs on Thursday night. Smith got rolling on his very first drive, threading a pass between two Dallas defenders to WR D.K. Metcalf, who took off for a 73-yard score. Smith's other two TDs also went to Metcalf, from one and three yards out. He added a five-yard rushing TD for a truly monstrous fantasy outing. The 334 passing yards were Smith's second-most of the season -- and the most by a Cowboys opponent this year. It was also Smith's first game of the season with more than two passing scores. The big game came when Smith, Metcalf, and WR Tyler Lockett were finally all off the injury report. If those guys can stay healthy the rest of the way, there should be plenty of fantasy goodness to be had. Week 14 brings a rematch against a tough 49ers defense. But that's followed by plus matchups against the Eagles and Titans. Smith closes the fantasy ceiling against the Steelers' eighth-ranked QB defense.
Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet suffered a knee injury late in Thursday night's loss to the Cowboys. HC Pete Carroll said afterward that Charbonnet bruised the knee when he banged it against the turf and that it shouldn't be an issue going forward. The rookie operated as Seattle's feature back before the injury, finishing with 19 carries for 60 yards and a score. He added one catch on two targets for 39 yards, showing good burst on a well-designed screen. Charbonnet and backfield mate Ken Walker (oblique) get 10 days to heal up for a Week 14 rematch with the 49ers. Charbonnet was limited to 58 scoreless yards in their Thanksgiving meeting.
Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon (groin) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. It gives him a shot to play vs. the Packers on Sunday night. McKinnon isn't a fantasy option, but his return would knock Isiah Pacheco from high-end RB1 status to lower-end RB1 status.
Jaguars RB Travis Etienne (ribs) was limited in Thursday's practice. He briefly left last week's game with this injury but was able to return. He told insider Mia O'Brien that he fully expects to play vs. the Bengals on Monday night. We'll keep an eye on Etienne's status over the next few days, but he can stay penciled into Week 13 fantasy lineups.
Browns RB Kareem Hunt (groin) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He should be available for this weekend's game vs. the Rams, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin was added to Thursday's injury report with a neck and limited in practice. Godwin was on the injury report with a neck back in Week 8 but wound up playing. We'll see what he does on Friday and how he's listed on the final injury report for this weekend's game vs. the Panthers.
Panthers WR Jonathan Mingo was added to Thursday's injury report with an Achilles and limited in practice. Mid-week additions are always worrisome. Achilles injuries are always worrisome. We'll look for further updates on Mingo's situation.
Cardinals TE Trey McBride (groin) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He should be available for this weekend's game vs. the Steelers, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow.
Saints WR Chris Olave (concussion) remained limited in Thursday's practice. He still has some work to do to clear the protocol but at least has a chance to play vs. the Lions on Sunday. We'll update his progress again tomorrow.
Chargers WR Keenan Allen (quad) missed practice again on Thursday. The Athletic's Daniel Popper did spot Allen working off to the side of practice. We're still expecting Allen to play vs. the Patriots this weekend, but his status is certainly worth checking back on Friday afternoon.
Texans TE Dalton Schultz (hamstring) remained sidelined on Thursday. He's seemingly in real danger of missing this weekend's game vs. the Broncos. Schultz's absence would leave Brevin Jordan as Houston's lead TE -- and likely push more targets to the WRs.
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