NFL

Isaiah Spiller will be active this week and the Chargers are expected to give him, Ekeler, and Joshua Kelley work. Though it’s shocking to see these names taking work away from Ekeler, the superstar running back has been anything but that this year. He is averaging 3.5 yards per carry while also failing to make the outsized impact as a pass-catcher we are used to seeing. Ekeler will remain ahead of the other Chargers backs in the fantasy rankings, but he is well outside of the RB1 cohort on the back of this news. Kelley is a dart-throw RB4 for desperate teams.

Per Rapoport, Pacheco is dealing with a shoulder contusion. He could not lift his hand above his shoulder earlier this week. Despite the ominous detail, Rapoport noted that the Chiefs do not expect this to be a long-term injury. Clyde Edwards-Helaire will draw the start in his absence, though we should see plenty of Jerick McKinnon as well. CEH will have the goal line role, giving him a shot at multiple touchdowns every week, but he has been an ineffective runner and won’t see much work through the air. He ranks as a touchdown-dependant RB3 for Week 14 against the Bills.

Smith suffered a groin injury in practice on Thursday and did not participate in Friday’s session. He was then listed as questionable. Drew Lock will draw the start if Smith can’t suit up. Per Rapoport, he took all of the reps in practice on Friday and is “preparing to start.” Seattle’s game won’t kick off until the first window of games is near an end, meaning fantasy managers could be stuck without a quarterback if they gamble on Smith and he is ruled out. That alone makes it a situation to avoid. The downgrade to Lock will push both DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett down the wide receiver rankings.

Carr cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol on Friday, though he is dealing with multiple other injuries as well. Per Rapoport, Carr is dealing with a non-displaced rib cartilage fracture and an AC joint sprain. He will take a pain-killing injection before the game and play through the injuries. Desperate to make the playoffs in their first season with Carr at the helm, the Saints are throwing their beleaguered quarterback in the fire despite his various ailments. With Taysom Hill out for this game, the Saints will not have the option to sub Carr off the field for occasional breathers unless they want to see Jameis Wiston under center. Expect an absurdly run-heavy approach from the Saints as they attempt to escape their Week 14 matchup versus Carolina with a low-scoring win.

The details of the extension haven’t been reported yet. Delpit was playing out the final year of his rookie deal before reaching an agreement on a new contract. He has three pass breakups and an interception to go along with 74 total tackles this year. Pro Football Focus has 2023 as a career year for Delpit in both coverage and overall grade. Delpit has played nearly ever defensive snap for the Browns over the past two years and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Brown didn’t practice on Friday before being listed as questionable. That seems to be a maintenance routine for him as he played through the same practice regimen last week and is on track to do so again in Week 14. With Tank Dell done for the year and Dalton Schultz ruled out, the Texans will need Brown to step up versus a stalwart Jets defense this week. Brown posted back-to-back 150-yard games earlier this year before suffering the knee injury. He returned in Week 13 but was held without a catch. We expect a rebound performance from Brown as C.J. Stroud funnels him targets in the slot. Brown ranks as a WR3 for Week 14.

Flacco was elevated from the practice squad on Saturday. With P.J. Walker waived over the weekend, Flacco will be signed to the team’s active roster soon. Flacco drew the start in Week 13 and threw for 254 yards, two scores, and an interception. While that stat line wouldn’t normally be much to write home about, it was one of the best outings for a Cleveland quarterback this season. Flacco isn’t setting the league ablaze at 38 years old, but he does give the Browns’ offense a spark it hasn’t had outside of two good performances from the now-injured Deshaun Watson. Flacco will keep Amari Cooper in the WR2 ranks for Week 14 while giving Elijah Moore WR3 aspirations versus a middling Jacksonville defense.

Joe Flacco was elevated to the 53-man roster once again and is in line to make his second start of the year. With rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson taking the backup gig, the Browns didn’t have a need for Walker and moved on from him. He could resurface on the team’s practice squad once Flacco is signed to the active roster. Before that can happen, Walker will pass through waivers, giving other teams the option to pick up his contract.

Johnson has played the majority of the Saints’ snaps at tight end this year but has done little with the role. He has one game over 50 yards and a single touchdown. Taysom Hill’s likely absence will give him more opportunities to find the end zone, though it won’t affect his snaps or targets much as Hill doesn’t play anything resembling a traditional tight end role. Johnson is on the radar as a touchdown-dependant TE2 for Week 14 but nothing more.

As was previously reported, Schefter said Shaheed is not expected to play in Week 14 against the Panthers. Though Schefter makes it sound like we could be seeing Shaheed soon, we aren’t jumping to any conclusions yet. Saints beat writer Nick Underhill reported on Saturday that the speedy receiver’s thigh injury is “more serious than initially believed.” He didn’t give a timetable for Shaheed’s return, but that doesn’t paint an overly optimistic picture of his odds of playing anytime soon. Fantasy managers can likely move on from Shaheed on the next run of waivers. Rookie A.T. Perry will take his place in the lineup for the foreseeable future.