The fantasy playoffs are here! The fantasy playoffs are here! Well, for some of you at least. And congrats if you are some of you! Of course, the NFL left a big ol’ piece of coal in our fantasy stockings, as they have designated six teams for a bye this week. Yes, yes, we all knew about this before we drafted our teams, but come on! No Nico Collins, Terry McLaurin, Zay Flowers or Courtland Sutton in your fake playoff game! It’s just wrong.
Week 14 wide receiver bye weeks
Zay Flowers, Courtland Sutton, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Josh Downs, Michael Pittman, Demario Douglas, Terry McLaurin
Week 14 wide receiver injuries
DeVonta Smith, Eagles
Smith missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury. They do take on the Panthers this week, which should be a win with or without Smith, but Carolina has been a harder out of late. His absence helped Dallas Goedert see more work, but Goedert might be out a couple weeks with his own injury now. Expect plenty of Saquon Barkley this week no matter what happens.
Ladd McConkey, Chargers
McConkey has multiple injuries, including a nee injury that pushed him out of last week’s game late. His status for Week 14 appears to be in some doubt, but we’ll have to watch the practice reports this week to learn more ahead of their matchup with the Chiefs.
Romeo Doubs, Packers
Doubs missed the Thanksgiving game due to a concussion. He has a chance to be cleared this week though, so keep an eye out for him to go through protocol ahead of their matchup with the Lions this Thursday night.
Cedric Tillman, Browns
Tillman was unable to get cleared of his brain injury ahead of Monday night’s game. He has a better chance to do so this week ahead of the Browns game against the Steelers. If he were to miss again, Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore would again see their targets a bit more concentrated.
Calvin Austin, Steelers
Austin suffered a brain injury on Sunday and will need to be cleared before playing against the Browns. If he can’t go, expect to see a bit more Mike Williams, but he isn’t a fantasy consideration at this point.
Keon Coleman, Bills
Coleman missed his third straight game and fourth week due to his wrist injury. He should be closing in on a return, but we’re still in wait to see mode.
Josh Downs, Colts
Downs missed last week due to his shoulder injury and it sounds like this week’s bye might not get him cleared. He’s still a hold unless you’re desperate and need to replace his spot due to bye weeks.
Week 14 wide receiver sleepers
Calvin Ridley, Titans at Jaguars
Ridley is all over the place, but Will Levis isn’t afraid to chuck the ball to him over and over again. The even better news is that Ridley gets to play his old team and they aren’t good at stopping the pass. The Jags rank 31st in pass defense EPA and 29th in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers.
Jakobi Meyers, Raiders at Buccaneers
The Buccaneers should be able to pass on the Raiders in Tampa, which should push the Raiders to throw the ball to their two top receivers, Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. Bowers has taken over the show, but both have consistent volume, as Meyers has 22 targets in the last two games. As long as he gets close to ten targets, he’s likely to put up numbers against a weak Buccaneers secondary that ranks fifth-worst in allowing fantasy points to receivers.
