This Week 15 WR injury update feels like it's been written about 10 times this year. Welcome back to our weekly newsbreak on Adam Thielen, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Will Fuller V, and T.Y. Hilton. Thielen, Fuller and Hilton made returns from their respective injuries only to make them worse and miss more time, which isn't encouraging as fantasy owners look for sure things in the fantasy playoffs. None have an exciting replacement, either, although the waiver wire could present options based on newer injuries.
For updates on injured QBs Patrick Mahomes, Jameis Winston, and Tom Brady, click here; for news on banged-up WRs Calvin Ridley, Mike Evans, DJ Chark, and DeVante Parker, go here; for the latest on injured RBs Derrius Guice, Derrick Henry, and more, go here; for the latest on ailing TEs Noah Fant, Ryan Griffin, Mark Andrews, and Jared Cook, click here; for updates on injured TEs Gerald Everett, Evan Engram, and Greg Olsen, go here; for news on RBs James Conner, Josh Jacobs, Le'Veon Bell, and more, click here. Follow us on Twitter for more news and updates @ SN_Fantasy.
WEEK 15 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Adam Thielen injury update
Thielen was a surprise absence for Week 13 due to what must have been a worsening of his hamstring injury, he didn't practice last week and missed his fourth straight game Sunday. A report late last week indiciated that Thielen is "frustrated" about the whole situation.
Until Thielen is back, you can keep relying on Stefon Diggs as a top-notch receiver, while Kyle Rudolph should continue to occasionally be productive as he's taken advantage of Thielen's absence. The Vikings play in the late afternoon slot Sunday, so hopefully some Thielen clarity comes sooner rather than later.
WEEK 15: Top Waiver Pickups
JuJu Smith-Schuster injury news
Smith-Schuster (knee) hasn't played or practiced since Week 11, but ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that JuJu is "eying a return" for Week 15 against the Bills. A return to the practice field this week would ease fantasy owners' worries ahead of a Sunday night kickoff.
(Update: Smith-Schuster is expected to return to practice this week, Mike Tomlin told reporters.)
The Bills have allowed the third-fewest passing yards to WRs this season, and JuJu would probably get a heavy dose of shutdown corner Tre'Davious White, so he's far from a sure play, especially coming off a multi-week knee injury. His return stunts any value that Diontae Johnson or James Washington might have had, too.
WEEK 15 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end
Will Fuller V injury status
Texans head coach Bill O'Brien didn't commit to anything for Fuller in regards to Week 15 after saying Fuller sitting Week 14 was in the wideout's best interest. Fuller had returned for two games from an earlier hamstring injury before it kept him out of action again.
The Titans aren't a great matchup for wideouts in Week 15, anyway, and the possibility of a hamstring injury being aggravated mid-game makes Fuller tough to play even if he's active. There is big-play upside here if you feel like the underdog, though. If Fuller is out, expect Kenny Stills to once again serve as his replacement after playing all but three snaps Sunday.
WEEK 15 DFS LINEUPS:
FD Cash | FD GPP | DK Cash | DK GPP | Y! Cash | Y! GPP
When will T.Y. Hilton be back?
Hilton (calf) was referred to as "week-to-week" when Colts head coach Frank Reich spoke to reporters Monday. Hilton, like Fuller, made his return from the injury only to have it pop up again and hold him out of action. Indianapolis doesn't play until Monday night in New Orleans in Week 15.
MORE WEEK 15:
Waiver pickups | FAAB planner | Stock watch | Snap counts | Fantasy playoff tips
Zach Pascal and Marcus Johnson both are in play as FLEX possibilities against an overrated Saints pass defense Monday, assuming Hilton is out. Even if Hilton made it back, he, too, runs the risk of aggravating the injury mid-game and ruining fantasy owners' days.