RADIO
The fantasy football playoffs start next week, so there's never been a more important time for fantasy managers to lock in. As always, there are plenty of key injuries to monitor ahead of Sunday's kickoff. Our injury updates and reports for Week 14 as of Friday, December 8, 2023, will give you the latest updates on key guys.
As always, some players have more "real" risk of missing Week 14 than others, but things change quickly, so it's important to stay up to date. Justin Jefferson, Trevor Lawrence, Isiah Pacheco, Dallas Goedert, Jonathan Taylor, Breece Hall, and more are in danger of missing Week 14. Fantasy managers should be ready to pivot should things go south.
To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NFL, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy football player news page, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy football mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. Let's look at the updates for some top fantasy assets at all positions and see whether they may play in Week 14.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!
Justin Jefferson Injury Update
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) has been removed from the final Week 14 injury report and will make his return on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Vikings officially activated Jefferson from Injured Reserve last week. Sunday's game will be the 24-year-old All-Pro's first action since injuring his hamstring in Week 5. Despite the long layoff, fantasy managers need to get him back into their starting lineups this weekend as Minnesota's unquestioned No. 1 receiver when healthy.
There is inherent risk in his first game back while working with quarterback Joshua Dobbs for the first time, but Jefferson is just too big of a game-changer to bench when he's active. Jefferson's return will inevitably mean fewer looks for rookie first-rounder Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Trevor Lawrence Injury Update
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson told reporters on Friday that quarterback Trevor Lawrence's (ankle) Week 14 status will be determined by how practice goes on Friday and answered "probably so" when asked if he'll be a game-time decision on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. On a short week, Lawrence is dealing with a high-ankle sprain after getting hurt in Monday's overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Lawrence was seen throwing at practice on Thursday and was listed as limited, but he didn't really move around at all on his ankle. It was a bit surprising that the Jags didn't rule Lawrence out earlier this week, but it's still unlikely that he'll be available to play this weekend after he could barely walk to the locker room on Monday. Backup C.J. Beathard is the smart bet to start against a tough Browns defense on the road.
Isiah Pacheco Injury Update
The Kansas City Chiefs have ruled out starting running back Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) for Sunday's Week 14 contest against the Buffalo Bills due to a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined in practices all week. This is a big blow for fantasy managers and the Chiefs alike in a big game this weekend against the visiting Bills.
The 24-year-old has been the RB10 in half-PPR scoring in 2023 as KC's unquestioned lead back. Jerick McKinnon (groin) has been out for the last two games due to a groin injury, but he was able to practice in full on Thursday and is in line to see increased volume in the Chiefs' backfield on Sunday. Clyde Edwards-Helaire could be KC's primary back on early downs now that Pacheco is being forced to sit this one out.
Dallas Goedert Injury Update
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (forearm) is off the injury report and will go on the road to take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14 on Sunday night after practicing in full all week and being officially removed from the injury report. The 28-year-old suffered a forearm injury back in Week 9 when these two teams last met.
In just about one half of football, Goedert caught three of four targets for 50 yards and was on his way to a solid fantasy performance before suffering a fractured forearm. Dallas allows the 13th-most fantasy points per game to tight ends this year and are tied for the third-most touchdowns allowed to the position. Even if his snaps are limited in his first week back, fantasy managers can throw the Eagles starting tight end right back into their lineups in Week 14.
Jonathan Taylor Injury Update
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen has officially ruled out running back Jonathan Taylor (thumb) from the Week 14 game this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Taylor had surgery on his right thumb last week and will now miss his second straight game after missing another full week of practice.
Fantasy managers must keep the 24-year-old lead back stashed for now, but he's expected to miss anywhere from three to five weeks, so there remains a chance that he won't be available at all to teams as they try to win a fantasy title in 2023. In the meantime, Zack Moss will operate as Indy's lead back. He'll be a must-start RB1 for fantasy lineups this weekend in a great matchup against the Bengals.
Breece Hall Injury Update
New York Jets running back Breece Hall (ankle) upgraded to a limited participant in practice on Friday. He is officially questionable to play against the Houston Texans in Week 14. On one hand, it was concerning to see Hall miss two consecutive practices and carry an injury designation into the upcoming weekend.
On a positive note, though, fantasy managers should be optimistic given that he managed to practice in some capacity. His status will be confirmed 90 minutes prior to kickoff on Sunday. If active, he'll rank as a mid-to-high RB2 in fantasy football.
Kenneth Walker, Zach Charbonnet Injury Update
Seattle Seahawks running backs Kenneth Walker (oblique) and Zach Charbonnet (knee) are both listed as questionable to face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 14. Walker has missed each of the last two games due to an oblique injury, while the rookie Charbonnet suffered a knee injury late in the Thursday Night Football loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
If Walker plays, he carries an RB2 outlook against the fierce 49ers defense. The Niners have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs this season. If Walker does not play and Charbonnet does, he's a decent flex option, but he'll have a low floor. If both backs are ruled out on Sunday, DeeJay Dallas should see a healthy workload and can be used as a weak flex option in PPR leagues.
Joshua Palmer Injury Update
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (knee) has officially been ruled out for Week 14 versus the Denver Broncos. He had been limited in practice earlier this week and ultimately won't be activated from injured reserve in time for kickoff on Sunday. Keenan Allen remains the only Chargers wide receiver in must-start territory for fantasy purposes.
Noah Brown Injury Update
Houston Texans wide receiver Noah Brown (knee) missed practice on Friday. He is officially questionable to play against the New York Jets in Week 14. It's been an up-and-down week for Brown after he was limited on Wednesday, a full participant on Thursday, and absent on Friday.
The Texans could certainly use him on the field this Sunday after losing Tank Dell (leg). If active, Brown will operate behind Nico Collins, ranking as a low-end WR2 in fantasy football.
Dalton Schultz Injury Update
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz (hamstring) missed another practice on Friday and has been ruled out ahead of Week 14 versus the New York Jets. For the second consecutive week, he'll be inactive, leaving Brevin Jordan in line to handle No. 1 tight end duties. Jordan is a mid-range fantasy TE2 until Schultz returns to the fold.
Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed Injury Updates
New Orleans Saints wide receivers Chris Olave (illness) and Rashid Shaheed (thigh) are both considered questionable to play in Week 14 against the Carolina Panthers. Olave is dealing with the flu and missed practice on Thursday and Friday, but head coach Dennis Allen is "hopeful" that Olave will be able to go on Sunday. Shaheed, meanwhile, didn't practice at all this week and also missed last week's contest, so he's on the wrong side of questionable.
Olave is a must-start fantasy wideout if he's active, but it remains to be seen how effective he might be on Sunday if he's under the weather and suits up. Pretty much all of the Saints' starting offensive skill players are questionable for this game, minus running back Alvin Kamara. It could be a great opportunity for rookie receiver A.T. Perry, although he hasn't done much the last few weeks with an expanded role.
Lamar Jackson Injury Update
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (illness) will play in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday despite dealing with an illness this week and missing practice on Thursday, according to head coach John Harbaugh. "He was feeling good -- full of life," Harbaugh said Friday. "He looked good out there. He was back. He's recovered." When healthy, Jackson has been great in 2023, and he's gone 14-3 (.824) in regular-season games in December and January when he's been on the field.
He is unlikely to have tight end Mark Andrews (ankle) the rest of the way, but Jackson is nevertheless a high-end QB1 for fantasy managers because of his rushing ability. Leave him in all starting fantasy lineups in Week 14 as he gets set to face the Rams in Baltimore.
Derek Carr Injury Update
The New Orleans Saints are listing quarterback Derek Carr (concussion, ribs, shoulder) as questionable for the Week 14 contest against the visiting Carolina Panthers on Sunday despite putting in a full practice on Friday. Carr is not yet out of the league's concussion protocol.
Both Carr and backup Jameis Winston took snaps in practice this week. Fantasy managers should have a better idea on whether Carr will have a chance to play on Saturday, but either way, he's looking even more shaky as a low-end QB2 option in superflex leagues against a Panthers defense that hasn't been kind to opposing QBs this year.
The 32-year-old Carr went for just 228 passing yards, no touchdowns and an interception in the first meeting with Carolina all the way back in Week 2. The Saints offense is incredibly beat up this week, as Chris Olave (illness), Taysom Hill (foot, hand), Juwan Johnson (quadriceps) and Rashid Shaheed (thigh) have all joined Carr as questionable to play Sunday.
Amari Cooper Injury Update
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (concussion) is listed as questionable to play in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cooper didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday but returned to the practice field on Friday. However, the 29-year-old pass-catcher has yet to clear the league's concussion protocol and is still in danger of missing this Sunday's contest. Cooper has been injured in back-to-back weeks now and has just five catches (11 targets) for 50 yards in those games.
He's looking to be a pretty shaky fantasy option for Week 14 lineups, especially if you need a win to get into the playoffs. If Cooper is unable to clear the protocols in time for Sunday's game, Elijah Moore figures to be heavily targeted by quarterback Joe Flacco. Cedric Tillman, David Bell and tight end David Njoku would have bigger roles as well.
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
