Unlike at running back, where the absences are mostly concentrated among the RB2 types, the wide receiver absences in Week 13 due to the bye weeks are going to be hard to replace. Justin Jefferson, Stefon Diggs, Davante Adams, and DJ Moore are all must-start Fantasy options who won't be available, and the likes of Zay Flowers, Jordan Addison, and Jakobi Meyers will all be missed, too.
There are plenty of injuries at the wide receiver position to cover heading into Sunday of Week 13, too, but the nice thing is, most of the biggest names are expected to play at this point. That includes Keenan Allen (shoulder), Chris Olave (concussion), Tee Higgins (hamstring), Tank Dell (calf), Marquise Brown (heel), Chris Godwin (neck), and Noah Brown (knee).
Now, of course, all of those names are of equal quality, nor or their health statuses equal just because they're all expected to play. Higgins is a WR3 with Jake Browning replacing Joe Burrow since the last time he played, and Godwin feels especially risky, both given his middling production and reports that he still has to test it out before the game to be sure he'll play. I'm viewing both in the WR3 range, with decent upside, but also very low floors. I don't mind trying to avoid them even if they do play.
Allen is a must-start, obviously, but I do have a bit of concern here. He's been on the injury report several times over the past few weeks with various injuries, including to his shoulders. He's played through them and mostly played well, but it's fair to wonder how long he can keep that up given the injuries. And, given the matchup against a Patriots team the Chargers should beat fairly easily (famous last words with the Chargers, I know), in what figures to be pretty cold, wet conditions, the Chargers might be able to get away from leaning on Allen quite as heavily as they typically do. That doesn't mean I'm sitting Allen, but I'm probably avoiding him in DFS if I can, at least.
Among the players' whose status we're more unsure of entering Sunday's games, Jayden Reed (chest) is probably the most relevant one. He managed a limited practice Friday due to this lingering injury, but seemed to suggest throughout the week that his absence was more of a precaution than anything else. Reed has shown some really strong playmaking chops in both the running and receiving game, and the Packers clearly want to get the ball in his hands, but he's a risky WR3 for me this week.
Here are my full rankings for Week 13 at wide receiver for PPR leagues:
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Week 13 Wide Receiver Rankings
- Tyreek Hill @WAS
- Amon-Ra St. Brown @NO
- AJ Brown vs. SF
- Michael Pittman @TEN
- Keenan Allen @NE
- Jaylen Waddle @WAS
- Garrett Wilson vs. ATL
- Mike Evans vs. CAR
- Devonta Smith vs. SF
- Deebo Samuel @PHI
- Tank Dell vs. DEN
- Ja'Marr Chase @JAX
- Brandon Aiyuk @PHI
- Chris Olave vs. DET
- Adam Thielen @TB
- Terry McLaurin vs. MIA
- Puka Nacua vs. CLE
- Nico Collins vs. DEN
- Rashee Rice @GB
- Cooper Kupp vs. CLE
- Calvin Ridley vs. CIN
- Christian Kirk vs. CIN
- Diontae Johnson vs. ARI
- Drake London @NYJ
- Josh Downs @TEN
- Amari Cooper @LAR
- Courtland Sutton @HOU
- DeAndre Hopkins vs. IND
- Marquise Brown @PIT
- Chris Godwin vs. CAR
- Jayden Reed vs. KC
- Christian Watson vs. KC
- George Pickens vs. ARI
- Tee Higgins @JAX
- Curtis Samuel vs. MIA
- Jahan Dotson vs. MIA
- Elijah Moore @LAR
- Romeo Doubs vs. KC
- Greg Dortch @PIT
- Zay Jones vs. CIN
- Dontayvion Wicks vs. KC
- Noah Brown vs. DEN
- Rondale Moore @PIT
- Jonathan Mingo @TB
- Tyler Boyd @JAX
- Lil'Jordan Humphrey @HOU
- Quentin Johnston @NE
- Tutu Atwell vs. CLE
- DJ Chark @TB
- AT Perry vs. DET
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine vs. IND
- Jalen Guyton @NE
- Marvin Mims @HOU
- Terrace Marshall @TB
- DeVante Parker vs. LAC