The fantasy football regular season is almost over, leaving little room for error. Every move from here on out is magnified, with every decision having a direct impact on your playoff hopes. Week 13's slate includes a lengthy list of fantasy-relevant receivers. An untimely inactive for Tank Dell, Chris Olave, Keenan Allen, Chris Godwin, or Marquise Brown can derail a season. With injury reports and updates coming fast and furious, we're here to make sure you don't miss a thing.
Below, we'll give you the latest news on these key WRs and break down how their injuries could potentially affect the Week 13 fantasy landscape.
WEEK 13 INJURY UPDATES:
RBs | McBride | Reed | Etienne
Is Tank Dell playing Week 13?
UPDATE: ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Dell is expected to play against Denver.
UPDATE 2: Dell is officially ACTIVE.
Dell (calf) kicked off the practice week with a DNP before turning in two limited sessions, officially being listed as "questionable" for Week 13. The Texans are set to host the Broncos at 1 p.m. ET and will likely have their star rookie receiver for the game if we are to believe head coach DeMeco Ryans, who expressed confidence in his availability. Houston is already without Dalton Schultz (hamstring) and might also be without Noah Brown (knee), who was downgraded to DNP in practice reports on Friday. That opens the door for an even bigger showing from Dell, who will undoubtedly be the No. 1 option in the passing game. "I'm good now," Dell told KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson, suggesting he will play against the Broncos.
The rookie is a must-start in fantasy even though he might draw a tough matchup with Patrick Surtain II. His rapport with QB C.J. Stroud is off the charts, and big numbers have followed. He's scored touchdowns in four straight games and recorded over 100 yards in two of those outings. Dell has put himself in set-it-and-forget-it territory just 13 weeks into his rookie season.
WEEK 13 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start-sit
Is Chris Olave playing Week 13?
UPDATE: ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Olave is expected to play against Detroit.
UPDATE 2: Olave is officially ACTIVE.
Olave (concussion) has put forth a surprising week after being placed into concussion protocol last Sunday. The receiver turned in limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday before upgrading to a full participant on Friday. It was a relatively shocking development considering how the league has dealt with concussions in 2023. Head coach Dennis Allen told reporters that Olave hasn't cleared the protocol yet, though it remains to be seen whether that happens before the Saints' kickoff at home against the Lions at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
The full practice to end the week is the intriguing note here, since practicing and not having any symptoms the following day are typically the last hurdle for players to clear. The Saints are already without Michael Thomas (knee), who is on IR, and Rashid Shaheed (thigh), who was ruled out this week. If Olave joins them on the sideline, New Orleans will be left with Alvin Kamara, Juwan Johnson, and Taysom Hill as their top weapons on offense. The WR room, however, will be some combination of A.T. Perry, Lynn Bowden Jr., and Keith Kirkwood. It's hard to trust any of them outside of Kamara and the TEs, however, since Derek Carr has been struggling to throw the ball this season. It's a good matchup against a struggling Lions' pass defense, but fantasy owners should proceed with caution.
WEEK 13 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Is Keenan Allen playing Week 13?
UPDATE: ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Allen is expected to play against New England.
UPDATE 2: Allen is officially ACTIVE.
Allen (quad) might be listed as "questionable" ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Patriots at 1 p.m. ET, but the receiver says he's good to go. Allen told ESPN's Kris Rhim, "I feel great. This late in the season, I couldn't ask to be feeling any better." Despite not practicing on Wednesday and Thursday, Allen turned in a limited session on Friday. He has been known to battle through injuries throughout his career, so expect to watch No. 13 wreaking havoc on a terrible Patriots team on Sunday.
It goes without saying, but Allen remains a must-start in all fantasy formats, even in the ugly weather expected in Foxboro. Barring an unexpected setback, he'll headline the Chargers' passing attack. Behind him, we'd look to Jalen Guyton to step up if Allen ends up as an unlikely inactive, as Quentin Johnston's struggles seem to be wearing thin on a coaching staff that is certainly feeling the heat.
WEEK 13 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Is Chris Godwin playing Week 13?
UPDATE: ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Godwin is expected to play against Carolina, but a final decision won't be made until after pre-game warmups.
UPDATE 2: Godwin is officially ACTIVE.
Godwin (neck) popped up on the injury report midweek, which is typically never a good sign. The receiver was fine Wednesday before being added to the report on Thursday, when he logged a limited practice. Godwin was then downgraded to a DNP on Friday, continuing the downward spiral. He is officially a game-time decision when the Buccaneers host the Panthers at 4:05 p.m. ET, meaning fantasy managers will be left to wait for an update on Godwin.
Even if Godwin is active, fantasy owners will want to pursue other options if available. It's been a struggle for the WR, who hasn't finished with 60 yards or more in a game since Week 7. He hasn't made up for it with touchdowns either, scoring just once this season. Godwin projects as a flex option with a low floor in an offense that isn't capable of supporting anyone outside of Mike Evans or Rachaad White. If he's out, look for Trey Palmer to be the biggest beneficiary, but he's not worth using in season-long leagues given the uncertainty.
WEEK 13 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best stacks | Best values
Is Marquise Brown playing Week 13?
UPDATE: ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Brown is expected to play against Pittsburgh.
UPDATE 2: Brown is officially ACTIVE.
Brown (heel) is one to monitor heading into Sunday, surprisingly being listed as "questionable" despite not practicing all week. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Friday that Brown is "trending in the right direction," though it's hard to have faith without the receiver logging any practice time. The Cardinals take on the Steelers at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday in Pittsburgh, meaning that any fantasy owners waiting for an update will be able to make an early decision.
The situation surrounding the Cardinals this week makes this an uncomfortable matchup against a solid Steelers defense. WR Michael Wilson (shoulder) has already been ruled out, while TE Trey McBride (groin) is listed as "questionable." That could bode well for Brown's fantasy outlook, but Arizona is certainly facing an uphill climb as the injuries pile up. Consider Brown to be a flex option if he plays. If he doesn't, Greg Dortch is worth a look. He's seen 17 targets and scored a touchdown over the past two weeks.
