Brandon LaFell Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

Brandon LaFell has been placed on IR after rupturing his achilles in the team's Week 11 matchup with the Cardinals. The loss is just another blow to an already banged-up Raiders receiving corps, who were missing Martavis Bryant and Jordy Nelson last week as well due to injuries of their own. Jared Cook and Seth Roberts continue to function as two of the team's most heavily targeted pass-catchers, with Marcell Ateman also seeing some looks as well. Look for Cook and Roberts to once again lead the passing attack if Nelson and Bryant miss any more time, with LaFell now done for the season.

Gaines (shoulder) was able to get in limited sessions for the past two days. Gaines could cause problems for A.J. Green and Brandon LaFell on the outside this Sunday. He's currently PFF's 18th-ranked CB and he's limited opposing quarterbacks to a 41.0 passer rating after being targets 23 times (11/95/0 line with a pick). Green lines up on Gaines' side for roughly 50% of his routes and the receiver will also have to contend with Tre'Davious White on the other side, who's earned the eight-best cover grade this season. On top of that, this game has the second-lowest total of the week (39.5) and Green has averaged 5.5 fewer PPR points per game when playing at home over the course of his career. LaFell hasn't topped 30 yards all season, nor has he found the end zone - this doesn't look like a good spot for him to turn things around, Buffalo currently ranks fourth in WR2 DVOA (per FO). Humber's absence is an upgrade for Joe Mixon; the linebacker has been excellent in run defense, producing the second-best run-stop rate among linebackers (per PFF) and earned the 15th-best run defense grade. Mixon has topped 20 touches in each of the past two games as he's taken over as the featured back and should continue to receive a solid workload. Buffalo's defensive line will pose a formidable challenge though, they're currently seventh in adjusted line yards per carry (per FO)

He's missed practice two days in a row and isn't expected to suit up this weekend against the Packers. They're already likely going to be without Tyler Eifert, which should push A.J. Green's market share very high. Of course, Green Bay will be expecting that and with the dearth of playmakers on Cincinnati's offense, the Packers will probably throw a ton of double teams at Green. It's going to be challenging for the receiver to be efficient with his opportunities but he should be involved all over the field, including in and around the end zone. His primary defender will be Damarious Randall, who's allowed 0.48 fantasy points per route defended this season (per PFF), the second-most among starting CBs this week. Fellow starter Brandon LaFell could make some sense in fantasy; his market share should rise due to the injuries and he won't draw the same type of attention Green will attract. He hasn't topped 30 yards yet this season but he's also faced two challenging defenses and the Bengals are hoping their new offensive coordinator, Bill Lazor, can spark some life into Andy Dalton and the rest of their offense.

After nearly playing last week, it was expected by most that Green would play this week and his statement to local media today would seem to confirm that. He'll be a viable, but risky (given he's returning from a prolonged absence due to injury), option facing a Texans defense that is 20th in WR1 DVOA. His return is a hit to the value and viability of both Brandon LaFell and Tyler Boyd.

Green is not ready to return, which leaves Brando LaFell, Tyler Boyd, and Tyler Eifert as Andy Dalton's primary passing targets once again. Eifert has scored four touchdowns in the three full games he's played without Green. He's in a decent spot against the Steelers, who have allowed the 11th-most FanDuel points to tight ends over the past four weeks, but the Bengals have an implied total of just 21.25 points. Eifert will have to compete with Jeremy Hill for touchdown opportunities.