DFS Alerts
Tyrod Taylor (knee) inactive Sunday; Nathan Peterman will start at QB
Taylor won’t suit up for today’s game against the Indianapolis Colts after previously being listed as questionable on the Buffalo Bills’ injury report and considered a game-time decision with a knee injury. As expected, Nathan Peterman will be under center for the Bills and looks to bounce back from his brutal NFL debut where he threw five interceptions in one half against a stingy Los Angeles Chargers defense. Weather could play a big factor in his effectiveness but he does draw a great matchup against a Colts defense that ranks 28th in pass defense DVOA on the season.
As reported by: Adam Schefter via Twitter Other tagged players: Nathan Peterman
Ameer Abdullah (neck) officially inactive Sunday
Abdullah won’t suit up for today’s game against the Dallas Cowboys after previously being listed as questionable on the Detroit Lions’ injury report with a neck injury and was not expected to play. However, reports have surfaced that Abdullah was healthy enough to play this week but the coaching staff wants to get a longer look at Tion Green and Theo Riddick as the Lions’ running back duo, leading to his inactive status. Last week with Abdullah sidelined, Riddick ended up starting the game and logged nine carries to go along with five catches out of the backfield, while Green took on more of the two-down back role and tallied a line of 11-51-1 and could be in line for a larger workload this afternoon.
As reported by: Tim Twentyman via Twitter Amari Cooper (ankle) will play Sunday
Cooper will be active and will play in today’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs after previously being listed as questionable on the Oakland Raiders’ injury report with an ankle injury. The star wide receiver had expressed his desire to play and has been given the go-ahead from head coach Jack Del Rio despite not yet being spotted on the field for pregame warmups. That said, earlier reports stated that he will be utilized in the offense on a limited basis and will be subject to a “pitch count”. There has been no new information to suggest that still won’t be the case either, but just the presence of Cooper on the field, even as a possible decoy, is a bump to the projected fantasy value of Michael Crabtree, who returns from his one-game suspension to face a Chiefs secondary that ranks 24th in pass DVOA and will be without their top cornerback in Marcus Peters due to a team suspension.
As reported by: James Palmer via Twitter Sterling Shepard (hamstring) fully expected to play Sunday
There was an earlier report from NFL.com that Shepard was unlikely to play in today’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, but ESPN’s Jordan Raanan clarified the latest sentiment out the New York Giants’ camp is that Shepard is fully expected to play and has been running at full speed in practice all week with no pain or tightness in his injured hamstring. The Cowboys are going to be without their slot cornerback Orlando Scandrick, and have struggled with slot receivers all season even when Scandrick has been healthy, meaning that his absence is nothing but good news for Shepard, who will have the benefit of facing off with the Cowboys’ 26th-ranked defense in overall DVOA. Not only that but in the two games started by Eli Manning when Shepard was active, and following the decimation of the Giants receiving corps, he’s averaged 11 targets per game, putting him firmly in play for all formats at a depressed price tag across the industry.
As reported by: Jordan Raanan via Twitter Amari Cooper (ankle) wants to "give it a go" Sunday, will be on snap count if he plays
Cooper officially remains questionable on the Oakland Raiders’ injury report for today’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to an ankle injury, but the star wide receiver has expressed his desire to play and will test his ankle early in pregame warmups. Ultimately, the decision will be up to head coach Jack Del Rio and recent reports have surfaced that even if Cooper is cleared to play physically, he may still be inactive anyway. If Cooper does get the go-ahead from his head coach, he will be utilized in the offense on a limited basis and will be subject to a “pitch count”. That said, just the presence of Cooper on the field, even as a possible decoy, would be a bump to the projected fantasy value of Michael Crabtree, who returns from his one-game suspension to face a Chiefs secondary that ranks 24th in pass DVOA and will be without their top cornerback in Marcus Peters due to a team suspension.
As reported by: Dan Graziano via Twitter Schefter late-night reports: Funchess, G. Olsen, E. Sanders, Mike Williams, Jeremy Maclin all expected to play; Zach Ertz doubtful
The late-night hammer from Schefter has dropped. The biggest news here is that Zach Ertz is likely to be inactive on Sunday, but the Eagles still will test him pre-game which could create some uncertainty before main lock. Trey Burton is the biggest beneficiary among the Eagles TEs while Jeffery and Agholor also get bumps in value.
As reported by: Adam Schefter Other tagged players: Trey Burton
Nathan Peterman expected to start at QB for Buffalo on Sunday
Per Schefter, Peterman will get the nod on Sunday with Tyrod Taylor still ailing. This is a downgrade for all of the Bills skill-position players, but LeSean McCoy is still squarely in play against Indy’s suspect defense.
As reported by: Adam Schefter Other tagged players: Tyrod Taylor Chris Hogan (shoulder) and Dion Lewis (illness) questionable for Monday night
Hogan was limited in practice all week and has officially been listed as questionable for Monday night’s game against the Miami Dolphins due to a shoulder injury that has forced him to miss four consecutive games, while Dion Lewis returned to practice on Saturday and is also questionable due to an illness. Lewis is fully expected to play in Week 14’s matchup, but Hogan’s status is much more up in the air considering he has yet to practice in full, though that could be due to more of a maintenance plan than an actual limitation. If Hogan is able to give it a go, he would replace Phillip Dorsett as the Patriots’ outside wide receiver opposite Brandin Cooks and should be expected to resume his role as the team’s primary red-zone option sans Rob Gronkowski (suspension) and makes for an interesting tournament target on the primetime slates and as a late-swap candidate on the full Thursday-Monday slates.
As reported by: Armando Salguero via Twitter Other tagged players: Dion Lewis Dolphins RB Damien Williams (shoulder) ruled out for Monday night
Williams didn’t practice all week and has officially been ruled out for Monday night’s game against the New England Patriots after previously not being expected to play with a shoulder injury that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. His continued absence is nothing but good news for Kenyan Drake, who converted his 26 touches into 141 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in last Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, while out snapping backup running back Senorise Perry 53-12 and looks to be in prime position to handle a majority of the workload in a matchup with the Patriots’ 29th-ranked rush defense DVOA on the season.
As reported by: Tom Pelissero via Twitter Cowboys CB Orlando Scandrick (back) and DL David Irving (concussion) officially ruled out for Sunday
Scandrick has been downgraded to out on the Dallas Cowboys’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the New York Giants due to a back injury, while David Irving has also been ruled out with a concussion. The absence of Scandrick is nothing but good news for Sterling Shepard, who will have the benefit of facing off with the Cowboys’ 26th-ranked defense in overall DVOA. Not only that but in the two games started by Eli Manning, when Shepard was active, following the decimation of the Giants receiving corps, he’s averaged 11 targets per game, putting him firmly in play for all formats at a depressed price tag across the industry.
As reported by: Jon Machota via Twitter Old Man Value At TE
If you’re looking for value at tight end this week, consider taking Jason Witten, who has taken on a larger role offensively in the absence of Ezekiel Elliott. A model of consistency throughout his hall of fame career, Witten leads all NFL tight ends in snap percentage this season, logging 98% of his team’s offensive plays. Despite only recording four touchdowns last year, Witten was still a favorite target of Dak Prescott in the red zone where he ranked second among all NFL TEs in red zone market share. Taking on a familiar foe in the Giants, Witten has averaged 7.3 targets, 53.4 receiving yards, and has scored 14 touchdowns in 29 career games against New York.
Last Man Standing In A Pass-First Offense
Fresh off a monster 98 yard, one touchdown performance in which he hauled in all 10 of his targets, future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald should once again be the focal point of an Arizona offense that has been decimated by injuries this season. He draws a sneaky good matchup against a weak Tennessee secondary that ranks 25th in pass defense DVOA this season. Not your prototypical WR 1, Fitzgerald spends most of his time lined up in the slot, where ranks third among NFL wide receivers with 116 targets and trails only Golden Tate in reception rate among receivers that have played every game this season.
Pay Up For This Target Monster
Entering week 14 as the highest priced WR industry wide, Hopkins has not let up following the season ending injury to Deshaun Watson. Currently leading all NFL wide receivers with 139 targets, one might assume Hopkins loses the majority of his value with Tom Savage at the helm for the Texans. While it certainly won’t come without risk, Hopkins has averaged 12.8 targets and 83 yards per game in eight games Savage has played over the years. He should once again be heavily involved in his team’s offense this week against a depleted San Francisco secondary that ranks 30th in pass defense DVOA this season.
Cheap RB Pivot
If you’re looking to differentiate your lineup from the masses that will likely be rostering Gio Bernard this week consider taking C.J. Anderson, who regained the starting role in last week’s loss to Miami. Back home at altitude where he plays his best football, Anderson has averaged 81 total yards per game, 4.92 yards per carry, and has scored 19 of his 23 career touchdowns in 22 games in Denver. Run defense has been the strength of the Jets defense this season, but they have struggled to contain opposing ground games on the road; entering week 14 allowing 130.6 rushing yards per game on the road this year. With a positive game script likely in his favor throughout much of Sunday’s contest, look for Anderson to bounce back in a big way at a very reasonable salary.
Pay Up For This RB In Week 14
After a breakout 2016 campaign in which he rushed for 997 yards and 10 touchdowns, things are starting to trend in the right direction for Melvin Gordon after a slow start to the year. Finally healthy after dealing with a nagging knee injury, Gordon’s usage is bankable when healthy due to his involvement within the passing game. Woefully inefficient to open the year, Gordon will look to break out at home this week against a banged up Washington front seven that was shredded for 182 rushing yards against the Cowboys last week. In a game that should see plenty of plays between two inconsistent offenses, paying up for Gordon in a sneaky good matchup could pay dividends this week.