In the final week of the fantasy football regular season, fantasy owners would do anything to have their full complement of players available, giving them the best chance to end the season with a win. Unfortunately, in a physically demanding sport like the NFL, it's virtually impossible for everyone to be healthy this late in the season. Nevertheless, there is hope that several impactful wideouts (Christian Kirk, Justin Jefferson, Demario Douglas, Rashid Shaheed) could potentially return from injury in Week 14.
Below, we'll give you the latest news on these pass-catchers and break down how their injuries could potentially affect the Week 14 fantasy landscape.
WEEK 13 FANTASY: Full waivers list | FAAB budget planner
Christian Kirk injury update, Week 14 fantasy outlook
UPDATE: Jaguars' coach Doug Pedersen said Kirk will require surgery and will miss "some time."
Kirk (core) exited in the first quarter of Monday's overtime loss to the Bengals after hauling in a 26-yard completion on his first and only target of the game, ending his night much earlier than anticipated.
It's unclear whether Kirk's injury will keep him out of this Sunday's road tilt in Cleveland, but we'll have a better idea of his playing status as we receive word of his practice status later in the week. Right now, it doesn't look good. If Kirk is held out in Week 14, look for fellow pass-catchers Evan Engram, Calvin Ridley, and Zay Jones to dominate the target share from QB C.J. Beathard, who's in line to make the spot start for the banged-up Trevor Lawrence (ankle). Engram, Ridley, and Jones have starting appeal in 12-team formats, but their ceilings takes a hit with Lawrence out.
WEEK 14 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Justin Jefferson injury update, Week 14 fantasy outlook
Jefferson (hamstring) was activated off injured reserve last week, signifying his return to play in Week 14. Jefferson is gearing up to start for the first time since Week 5, and although fantasy owners have waited long enough for last season's WR1 to get healthy, he's back just in time for the stretch run of the season.
Despite some potential rocky QB play, Jefferson returns to must-start WR1 status, as he figures to dominate Minnesota's target share. The Raiders do rank above the league average in fewest fantasy points per game (FPPG) allowed to the position, but Jefferson has proved time and time again that he's virtually matchup-proof.
WEEK 14 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Demario Douglas injury update, Week 14 fantasy outlook
After missing New England's Week 13 matchup with a concussion, Douglas was listed as a "DNP" during Monday's practice session. Douglas remains in the league's concussion protocol, and while players have typically cleared the protocol before missing a second straight game, the fact that New England plays on Thursday night complicates his status.
If Douglas isn't able to clear the protocol ahead of Thursday night's road matchup against the Steelers, fellow WRs DeVante Parker and JuJu Smith-Schuster should see a steady workload in his absence. That said, with Parker and Smith-Schuster set to see the bulk of the Patriots' receiving work, it's tough to trust anyone in fantasy on one of the league's most inefficient offenses. If Douglas can clear the protocol in time for Thursday, he garners some PPR flex value against a middle-of-the-pack Steelers pass defense.
Rashid Shaheed injury update, Week 14 fantasy outlook
Shaheed didn't play last week after suffering a thigh injury in Week 12. He failed to practice all week leading into New Orleans' Week 13 loss to Detroit, and it's unclear whether he'll be healthy enough to play in Week 14.
If Shaheed is trending toward returning to play, his boom-or-bust nature could make him a potential flex play in standard formats. Shaheed's field-stretching abilities could pair nicely with backup QB Jameis Winston, who's likely to start on Sunday against Carolina with Derek Carr currently in the league's concussion protocol. Winston's propensity to chuck the ball deep gives Shaheed plenty of upside for a team needing an offensive spark to keep their playoff hopes alive.
