It's been a good news/bad news week at wide receiver. Elijah Moore (quad) and Keenan Allen (COVID) have already been ruled out, but Mike Williams (reserve/COVID list) and Julio Jones (hamstring) are expected to play. The good news/bad news theme might continue on Sunday, as key pass-catchers Deebo Samuel, Tee Higgins, Brandin Cooks, and Sterling Shepard are all "questionable." Week 14 fantasy start 'em, sit 'em decisions can't be locked in until we get the latest injury updates, which is why we'll be here throughout the day providing the latest news below.
For updates on banged-up RBs Joe Mixon, Tony Pollard, Melvin Gordon, and J.D. McKissic, click here; for news on Chase Edmonds, go here; for the Week 14 weather forecast, click here. For all the latest fantasy news, follow us on Twitter @SN_Fantasy.
WEEK 14 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Is Deebo Samuel playing Week 14?
UPDATE: ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Samuel will play against Cincinnati.
UPDATE 2: Samuel is officially ACTIVE.
After DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday, Samuel (groin) got in a limited practice on Friday. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that Samuel is a legitimate "chance to play" against the Bengals on Sunday.
If Samuel is playing, it's tough to know whether he'll get a full complement of touches. The 49ers have a void in their backfield with Elijah Mitchell (head, knee) out, but chances are they wouldn't overdo it with Samuel given that soft tissue injuries can easily flare up. However, clearly they'll want to use him if he's active, so it will be tough for fantasy owners to sit him. Put him in your lineups and hope for the best. If Samuel is out, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk should get more targets, allowing both to work as solid starting options.
WEEK 14 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Is Tee Higgins playing Week 14?
UPDATE: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning that Higgins is expected to play against San Francisco.
UPDATE 2: Higgins is officially ACTIVE.
Higgins (ankle) was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday, but Bengals coach Zac Taylor said he "expects" Higgins to play against the 49ers.
Given his high level of production the past two weeks (252 yards, two TDs), Higgins is a virtual must-start if he's on the field. If he's out, Tyler Boyd would operate as the No. 2 receiver and be on the start 'em, sit 'em bubble, though he'll have more value in PPR leagues.
WEEK 14 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Is Sterling Shepard playing Week 14?
UPDATE: ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Shepard is expected to play against L.A.
UPDATE 2: Shepard is officially ACTIVE.
Shepard (quad) hasn't played since Week 8, but after a week's worth of limited practices, he's on track to play against the Chargers.
If Shepard is active, he should see a healthy amount of targets. He averaged 10 looks a game in the four games in which he's seen extensive playing time. Despite the bad matchup, Shepard is a solid WR3 in PPR leagues and flex in standard leagues. If he's out, no one in New York's anemic passing offense is even worth considering other than TE Evan Engram in deep leagues.
WEEK 14 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo
Is Brandin Cooks playing Week 14?
UPDATE: Cooks is officially ACTIVE.
Cooks (back) was limited in practice on Friday, but it's unclear just how serious his injury is. He's "questionable" for Sunday's early game against the Seahawks.
MORE WEEK 14 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
If Cooks is active, he remains a boom-or-bust WR2/3. If he's out, the Davis Mills-lead passing attack is too unpredictable to gamble on in fantasy leagues.
