Keenan Allen is out for Sunday's game against the Giants after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list this week. That should allow the Chargers to have other players step up in his place and create some sleepers for Week 14.
The obvious player to benefit is Mike Williams, who should be considered a starter in all leagues. He also was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list this week, but he's expected to be active against the Giants.
Williams broke out of his slump in Week 13 at Cincinnati with five catches for 110 yards on seven targets, and he's done well this year when he's had at least seven targets in a game. That's happened six times this season, and he scored at least 16 PPR points in five of those outings. Allen averages 10.3 targets per game this season, so Williams should get an uptick in targets with Allen out.
You can also look at Jalen Guyton and Josh Palmer as sleepers with Allen out. Guyton just had a big game in Week 13 at Cincinnati with four catches for 90 yards and a touchdown on four targets, but that's his only game this season with more than seven PPR points. And Palmer hasn't scored more than nine PPR points this year either.
But both should be more involved with Allen out, and I would consider Guyton as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in deeper leagues, with Palmer more of a desperation play. The Giants have allowed 18 receivers to score at least 11 PPR points this year, so hopefully Williams, Guyton and Palmer can step up with bigger roles.
Jared Cook could also be considered a sleeper tight end. He only has two games with exactly 10 PPR points in his past six outings, including one touchdown over that span, but Cook could be more involved with Allen out. The Giants have allowed three tight ends to score at least 11 PPR points in their past four games.
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I'm still confident in Justin Herbert even with Allen out. Austin Ekeler will be heavily involved in the passing game, and Williams should have a big week. We'll also see if guys like Guyton, Palmer and Cook can step up with Allen not playing.
Allen will be missed by Fantasy managers in Week 14, but there are many other injuries that we're also dealing with at all positions. It's created plenty of sleeper options, so let's show you some replacement players who could turn into starters this week.
Editor's Note: Projections are provided by CBS Sports and not Jamey Eisenberg. Projected points are for PPR leagues.
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Week 14 Sleepers
Sleepers
It's been a bad year for Tannehill, who has just four games with at least 20 Fantasy points, but hopefully he can finish the season strong. Julio Jones (hamstring) is expected to return this week, and Tannehill has the chance for a quality outing against the Jaguars at home. He only scored 15 Fantasy points at Jacksonville in Week 5, but Derrick Henry (foot) was healthy then. We'll see if D'Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard can run over the Jaguars, but Tannehill might have to do more heavy lifting. And Jacksonville has allowed two of its past three opposing quarterbacks to score at least 20 Fantasy points. Tannehill is worth using as a streaming option in deeper leagues.
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Heinicke has scored more than 18 Fantasy points just once since Week 7, but I'm going to give him the chance as a streamer in Week 14 against Dallas in what hopefully turns into a shootout. Heinicke did just have two touchdowns in Week 13 at Las Vegas, and the Cowboys have allowed three of their past five opposing quarterbacks to score at least 24 Fantasy points, including Teddy Bridgewater in Week 9, Derek Carr in Week 12 and Taysom Hill in Week 13.
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Hubbard will start in place of Christian McCaffrey (ankle), and hopefully Hubbard can repeat his performance from Week 8 against the Falcons when McCaffrey was out then also with a hamstring injury. Hubbard had 24 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown against Atlanta, along with one catch for 9 yards. The Falcons have allowed a running back to score at least 14 PPR points in three of their past four games, so Hubbard has the chance to be a low-end starter in all leagues. You can also use Ameer Adullah as a sleeper as well in PPR. In that first meeting with the Falcons, Abdullah had six carries for 25 yards, along with three catches for 35 yards on five targets.
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Penny looked like Seattle's best running back in Week 13 against San Francisco, and hopefully he can be the top option for the Seahawks to close the season. He'll share touches with Alex Collins and DeeJay Dallas -- Adrian Peterson (back) and Travis Homer (calf) are out -- and I would gamble on Penny as a flex option this week. Against the 49ers in Week 13, Penny had 10 carries for 35 yards, along with one catch for 27 yards on one target, and he led Seattle with a 40-percent snap share. Now, Homer and Peterson both scored, although Homer's touchdown was on a fake punt, but Penny should have the most upside. You can use Penny and potentially Collins as flex options this week, and the Texans have allowed four running backs to score at least 16 PPR points in their past five games.
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The 49ers won't have Elijah Mitchell (knee/concussion) for Week 14 at Cincinnati, so Wilson should start and get the majority of touches, along with JaMycal Hasty getting some work. Wilson already had one start in place of Mitchell in Week 11 at Jacksonville and got 20 total touches. Now, he only managed 58 total yards in that outing, but I like Wilson to improve this week against the Bengals, especially if receiver Deebo Samuel (groin) is also out. Keep in mind the Bengals are without standout linebacker Logan Wilson (shoulder), and the 49ers could lean on Wilson much like they have with Mitchell, who had at least 20 total touches in four games in a row. Wilson could be looking at extended action in a positive situation.
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Jones is expected to return to action this week after being out since Week 9 with a hamstring injury, and hopefully the best of Jones is yet to come. He's been a disappointment this season, scoring more than eight PPR points just once with no touchdowns, but I'm hoping that he can finish strong, especially with A.J. Brown (chest) out for two more games. Jones should get the majority of targets from Ryan Tannehill, and Jones is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues for Week 14 against Jacksonville if he plays.
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Jefferson and Odell Beckham are both worth using this week as No. 3 Fantasy receivers. Like last week, I like Jefferson slightly better than Beckham, but Matthew Stafford should lean on both guys in what's expected to be a high-scoring game with the Cardinals (the over/under is 52 points). Jefferson has 17 targets in his past two games for nine catches, 134 yards and two touchdowns, and Beckham has 15 targets for seven catches, 109 yards and two touchdowns over that span.
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Valdes-Scantling will hopefully continue to stay involved in the offense coming off his bye in Week 13, and it should help that Randall Cobb (groin) is out. Valdes-Scantling had 19 targets in his past two games against Minnesota and the Rams, and he did well against the Vikings with four catches for 123 yards and a touchdown in Week 11. He's never going to be a high-volume catch guy, but he does have game-winning upside for Fantasy managers. He's worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues for Week 14 against Chicago.
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Corey Davis (groin) is out, and Elijah Moore (quad) is banged up. We hope Moore is able to play, and he's become a must-start Fantasy receiver in all leagues when healthy. But if Moore is out then Crowder should see plenty of targets from Zach Wilson. Even if Moore plays, Crowder should be heavily involved since Davis is out. He just had six targets in Week 13 against the Eagles and finished with four catches for 62 yards. I would expect a little better production from him this week against the Saints, who are No. 5 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers.
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You won't feel comfortable with Smith as long as Taysom Hill is the quarterback, but he does have the chance for an increase in production with Deonte Harris (suspension) now out for the next three games. Smith has at least seven targets in three of his past four games, and he scored at least 11 PPR points in two of them. Now, both of those were with Trevor Siemian under center, but hopefully Hill can connect with Smith, starting in Week 14 with a favorable matchup against the Jets, who have allowed six receivers to score at least 13 PPR points in their past five games.
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Kmet gets Justin Fields (ribs) back under center this week, and hopefully they can pick up where they left off before Fields got hurt. In Week 9 at Pittsburgh, Kmet had six catches for 87 yards on eight targets from Fields. Kmet had mixed results with Andy Dalton under center, but I'll use Kmet as a low-end starter this week against the Packers with Fields. Kmet had four catches for 49 yards on five targets against Green Bay in Week 6, and the Packers have allowed three tight ends to score at least 11 PPR points in their past six games.
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Everett had a miserable game in Week 13 against San Francisco with four catches for 7 yards on six targets with two fumbles and a bobble that led to an interception, but hopefully the Seahawks stick with him. He's had at least six targets in three of their past four games, and he has two games with 14 PPR points over that span. Unless we find out that Will Dissly is going to get a bigger role, you can use Everett as a low-end starter in deeper leagues based on his recent (positive) production.
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Hooper has the chance to help Fantasy managers this week with David Njoku (COVID-19) and Harrison Bryant (ankle) both out. Hooper should get an uptick in targets, and Njoku just had three catches for 35 yards and a touchdown on five targets against the Ravens in Week 12. Hooper only has two touchdowns on the season, but any chance for more targets should help his outlook enough to make him a streamer in deeper leagues. And the Ravens are No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to tight ends this year.
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DFS LINEUPS
DraftKings
QB: Taysom Hill (at NYJ) $5,600
RB: Javonte Williams (vs. DET) $5,900
RB: D'Onta Foreman (vs. JAC) $5,700
WR: Chris Godwin (vs. BUF) $7,100
WR: Amari Cooper (at WAS) $5,900
WR: Jalen Guyton (vs. NYG) $3,400
TE: Travis Kelce (vs. LV) $7,400
FLEX: Antonio Gibson (vs. DAL) $6,000
DST: Seahawks (at HOU) $3,100
Hill is my Start of the Week, and I'm expecting him to have a huge game against the Jets. You don't need to stack him with anyone, and he should have a dominant game with his legs.
I'll stick with Williams this week despite Melvin Gordon (hip) coming back for the Broncos, and Foreman is my favorite Titans running back against the Jaguars. I also love the ability to have Gibson in the flex spot, and I'm not worried about him losing production if J.D. McKissic (concussion) is able to play.
At receiver, I'm expecting huge weeks from Godwin and Cooper, and Cooper has a fantastic history against Washington. I also love the potential of Guyton with Keenan Allen out, especially at Guyton's minimal cost. And any time you can play Kelce it's great, and he should be awesome against the Raiders at home.
FanDuel
QB: Dak Prescott (at WAS) $8,100
RB: Alvin Kamara (at NYJ) $9,000
RB: D'Onta Foreman (vs. JAC) $5,900
WR: CeeDee Lamb (at WAS) $7,800
WR: Terry McLaurin (vs. DAL) $7,100
WR: Hunter Renfrow (at KC) $6,700
TE: Austin Hooper (vs. BAL) $5,000
FLEX: Russell Gage (at CAR) $6,200
DEF: Chiefs (vs. LV) $3,700
The Cowboys should put up points against Washington, and Prescott will connect in a big way with Lamb in this matchup. He's one of my favorite receivers this week, along with Renfrow and McLaurin, who should break out of his recent slump against Dallas.
Kamara should help Hill run through the Jets, and it's great having him back after he's been out with a knee injury since Week 9. He should benefit with Mark Ingram (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Hooper has huge upside with Njoku and Bryant out, and Gage has been awesome for the Falcons of late. He's an excellent flex option to complement this stacked lineup.
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