Week 14: Start 'Em & Sit 'Em | Lineup Cheat Sheet
Need help dealing with an injury situation for Week 14? We're going to list the most impactful scenarios here as the injury reports pile up. For each one we'll give you some options to consider if you'd rather play it safe and go a different direction. Keep checking back:
Status: Questionable
We're officially in panic mode -- after missing practice all week with turf toe, Julio Jones is considered a game-time decision for the Falcons' Week 14 game at Los Angeles. Earlier in the week, ESPN believed Jones would play, but on Friday the Atlanta Journal Constitution suggested he'll miss the game even though coach Dan Quinn "anticipated" he would play.
"Sunday, we'll go out and let him run some full speed routes, go through the process," Quinn told the media on Friday. "It's not the catching, we just want to see the full speed routes. ... His intent is right to go and play. We are anticipating that, but we'll see where it goes on Sunday morning."
The injury is serious as it effects running, cutting and planting feet. For a receiver like Jones, being limited in that regard would impact his performance. Even being a decoy could impact him.
Fantasy owners must come to grips with either lowering expectations for Jones or benching him for someone else. Making matters worse, the Falcons play at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, so finding a replacement for Jones won't be simple.
Taylor Gabriel (70 percent owned) stands out as the most obvious fill-in. He's got great speed and should see a massive bump in playing time for the Falcons with both Jones and Mohamed Sanu out.
Other receivers who could be used in a pinch and play late on Sunday or on Monday include: Breshad Perriman (4 percent owned), Robby Anderson (1 percent), Tyler Lockett (29 percent), Tavon Austin (50 percent), Victor Cruz (25 percent), Russell Shepard (1 percent)and another Falcon, Justin Hardy (1 percent). Naturally, the talent pool opens wide if Jones is ruled out before Sunday.
Status: Questionable
Three days of limited practice have put Reed in position to play at Philadelphia on Sunday. He's missed one game recovering from a separated shoulder suffered on Thanksgiving. In five career games against the Eagles he has four games with less than 40 yards and one with 129 yards and two touchdowns, and that bonanza was his most recent meeting. Philly's given up a touchdown to a tight end in two of its last three but for the most part have been solid against tight ends.
If Reed is made active come Sunday, he's a good option, but it's tough to count on him for a monster stat line.
Status: Questionable
After not practicing on Wednesday, Watkins put in limited work on Thursday and Friday. He did the exact same thing last week before going on to play at Oakland, so it's likely the Bills have him on some sort of schedule to keep him fresh.
Does this mean they'll limit his usage like they did last week when he was on the field for 49 snaps? Probably, particularly since those 49 snaps were a season-high. The good news is that Watkins looked good and simply needs to find rhythm with Tyrod Taylor moving forward. In a game the Bills will pass a good amount, Watkins makes the cut as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy receiver.
Status: Questionable
Thomas was back at practice Friday for the Saints after missing two days with a foot injury. It's unclear when he got hurt -- he was in on the Saints' last drive and even the last play against the Lions last Sunday. Hopefully he just got some extra rest for this week's matchup at Tampa Bay -- he's one of the Saints players who doesn't seem to be impacted by surface, so being outdoors on grass shouldn't matter. The Bucs have allowed seven touchdowns to receivers over their last six games.
Status: Questionable
Ingram's toe kept him limited on Wednesday and off the field on Thursday, but by Friday he was back at practice and seems on track to play Sunday at Tampa Bay. This is a good thing -- he's scored in each of his last two against the Bucs and typically gets more carries when the Saints play on grass versus turf.
Perhaps the bigger issue is the state of his offensive line -- center Max Unger (foot) and left tackle Terron Armstead (knee, quad) are not locks to play. Their absences could have major ramifications for the entire offense on Sunday, particularly with the Bucs run defense starting to play much better against the run in recent weeks.
Status: Questionable
Why would the Eagles list Mathews (knee) as questionable when he practiced all week? Who knows, but Fantasy owners should expect the rusher to make his return Sunday against the Redskins' 22nd-ranked run defense.
And who knew just how important Mathews was? In two games without him, Eagles running backs averaged 2.8 yards per carry and had one touchdown on 28 rushes. Specifically, Wendell Smallwood has been a major disappointment, so chances are he'll hit the bench, Darren Sproles will stick to the passing downs and Mathews will get the rest.
Sounds great, but we've been burned by Doug Pederson's coaching decisions before. Because the matchup isn't half bad, Mathews is a borderline No. 2 Fantasy rusher.
Status: Questionable
Matthews is on track to play Sunday after being limited on Wednesday and up to full practice on Friday. That might not seem like hot news since he's been in single-digit Fantasy point territory for four straight games, but coach Doug Pederson called Matthews a "perfect" slot receiver on Friday, suggesting that the wideout won't line up out wide very often.
Considering the matchup against the Redskins, it might be considered good news. Slot receivers have done the most damage against Washington this season, including recently. He's not a bad No. 3 receiver, especially in PPR leagues.
Status: Questionable
Per Andrew Mason of DenverBroncos.com, Siemian split reps with rookie Paxton Lynch in practice on Thursday and Friday, reportedly looking comfortable as he ran. However, coach Gary Kubiak will wait until Saturday at the earliest to make a decision on Siemian's status.
This is obviously important for the Broncos' top two receivers, Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. The weakness of the Titans defense is in its secondary, so if they play with a halfway decent passer like Siemian then they'll have a shot at some good stats. But if it's Paxton Lynch then chances are they'll underwhelm. We should have a verdict on this by Sunday morning.
Status: Questionable
The only practice day Riddick missed was Wednesday as he nursed a wrist injury. He should be okay after getting after it on Thursday and Friday. The Lions are one of those teams that list a bunch of players as questionable, even if they aren't. Expect him to play on Sunday in a fair matchup against Chicago. He's a better start in PPR leagues.
Status: Questionable
Parker got in a full practice Friday after being limited in the two days before. He looks like he'll play against the Cardinals on Sunday, but the prospect of going one on one with shutdown cornerback Patrick Peterson will make Fantasy owners pause. Parker isn't a recommended start.
Status: Not on injury report
After practicing in full all week, Williams didn't even make Friday's injury report, meaning there's nothing to worry about regarding his status. Williams is playing through a torn labrum in his shoulder but it shouldn't keep him from taking on the Panthers' less-than-stellar secondary on Sunday.
