Fantasy Injury Updates: Latest news on Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, Marquise Brown, more WRs affecting Week 17 start 'em, sit 'em calls – Sporting News
It’s fantasy championship week, and every start ’em, sit ’em decision takes on extra importance. Notable wide receivers Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, Emmanuel Sanders, Marquise Brown, Jakobi Meyers, and Courtland Sutton are all “questionable” because of injuries and illness — and that’s on top of guys like Jerry Jeudy (reserve/COVID), Elijah Moore (quad, reserve/COVID), Kadarius Toney (shoulder), and Julio Jones (reserve/COVID) already being declared out — and their official active/inactive statuses will play a key role in determining who winds up in lineups. That’s why we’ll be here providing the latest injury updates below throughout the day on Sunday.
For updates on banged-up early-game RBs Damien Harris and Jordan Howard, click here; for news on injured late-game RBs Elijah Mitchell, James Conner, Javonte Williams, and Melvin Gordon, go here; for the latest on Lamar Jackson, go here; for news on Kareem Hunt, click here. For the Week 17 NFL weather forecast, click here. For all the latest fantasy news, follow us on Twitter @SN_Fantasy.
WEEK 17 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em
UPDATE: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Brown is expected to play barring a setback on Sunday morning.
UPDATE 2: Brown is officially ACTIVE.
Brown (ankle) failed to practice on Thursday and Friday after tweaking his ankle in practice, and then-interim coach Harold Goodwin said Friday that Brown would be a game-time decision for Tampa’s game against the Jets.
It seems like Brown might be a little more “doubtful” than “questionable,” but we won’t know officially until Sunday morning. If he’s active, he’s a must-start with Mike Evans (hamstring) gimpy and Chris Godwin (knee) out. If Brown is out, Breshad Perriman would become an interesting flex option. If Evans is also out, Perriman would likely operate as Tampa’s No. 1 receiver and be a decent WR3.
WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
UPDATE: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Evans is expected to play in a “limited capacity.” Even a limited Evans is worth starting against the Jets.
UPDATE 2: Evans is officially ACTIVE.
Early in the week, Evans (hamstring) looked like a long-shot to play because he was on the reserve/COVID list in addition to having a hamstring injury. However, after being activated on Friday and getting in a limited practice, things are looking much better for his chances of suiting up against the Jets.
Evans is a must-start as always as long as he’s active. Hamstrings are always at risk of being aggravated, but given Evans’ high upside and the less-than-intimidating opponent, you don’t want him on your bench. If he’s out, upgrade Breshad Perriman.
WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
UPDATE: Brown is officially ACTIVE.
Brown didn’t practice Thursday or Friday because of a non-COVID illness, and he looks truly “questionable” to suit up against the Rams.
If Brown plays, he’s only a borderline start anyway given his recent mediocre performances and presumed matchup with Jalen Ramsey. He still has a fairly solid floor in PPR leagues, but standard leaguers probably don’t want to take the risk. If he’s out, Rashod Bateman would be Baltimore’s No. 1 receiver, but that might be more a curse than a blessing with Ramsey on the other side. At that point, all of Baltimore’s players not named Mark Andrews would be too big of a risk.
WEEK 17 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo
UPDATE: Sutton is officially ACTIVE.
Sutton (non-COVID illness) is officially “questionable” for Week 17’s game against the Chargers, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport already reported that the disappointing receiver is expected to play.
With Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick on the reserve/COVID list, Sutton has a chance to have by far his best performance of the season. If he’s active, he’s a solid WR, as tough as it might be to stomach starting him. If he’s out, some combination of Kendall Hinton, Seth Williams, and Diontae Spencer would operate as Denver’s key wideouts, but chances are TEs Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam would just see more targets, making both viable plays in a favorite tight end matchup.
MORE WEEK 17 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup builder
UPDATE: Sanders is officially OUT.
Sanders (knee) failed to practice on Thursday and Friday after getting in a limited session to open the week. He seems slightly more “doubtful” than “questionable” for Buffalo’s game against Atlanta.
If Sanders is active, it will be tough to sit him in one of the best matchups for a WR. However, with poor conditions expected, he might not be worth the risk of re-injury. Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley would see more snaps if Sanders is out, making both viable WR3/flex options.
UPDATE: Meyers is officially ACTIVE.
Meyers (thigh) was limited in practice all week, but his status doesn’t really seem in doubt for New England’s game against Jacksonville.
As long as Meyers is active, he’s a solid flex in standard leagues and a WR3 in PPR.
