Many fantasy-relevant players carry an uncertain status heading into Week 15, but the two biggest ones are Falcons WR Julio Jones and Packers RB Eddie Lacy. Jones hasn't practiced this week due to a hip injury suffered Monday night at Green Bay, and is expected to be a gametime decision. Head coach Mike Smith said Thursday that "there's a chance" Jones will be ready to go, and generally sounded positive, but we won't know for sure until Sunday morning. Harry Douglas (owned in 2.7 percent of FOXSports.com leagues) is your hedge against an absent Jones; he'll be flex-worthy if Jones can't go.
Lacy has been limited in practice due to a hip injury of his own, and on Thursday he sounded uncertain about his status ("If I can go out and play through that pain without setting the team back or putting the team at a disadvantage, I'll go out and do that. If not, then I'm not going to risk that"). James Starks (owned in 9.8 percent of FOXSports.com leagues) would carry the load for the Pack if Lacy can't play, but he'd have a tough matchup against the Bills' run defense.
In other news ...
RB Jeremy Hill will start for the Bengals, and it sounds like he'll be busier than Gio Bernard on Sunday -- read this story for some of the details. The key phrase in it is, "It won't be surprising to see Bernard still get 10 carries." I've got Hill at RB19, and Bernard at RB28.
It sounds like Broncos TE Julius Thomas (ankle) will play on Sunday. Thomas was active in Week 14, but didn't see any action.
Thursday night update: The Cardinals won a hideous game, but lost QB Drew Stanton to a knee injury; Stanton's status is TBD. The Cardinals are 11-3, and we must attribute at least some of their success to Bruce Arians being a warlock or a sorcerer.
Ravens WR Torrey Smith (knee) sounds pretty shaky for Sunday's matchup with the Jags. Kamar Aiken went 6-65-1 in Smith's place last week, but you wouldn't want to start him for fantasy purposes.
Rashad Jennings' ankle has improved, and while Tom Coughlin said he'll be able to get "more of a full load," that doesn't mean Andre Williams will be buried after a breakout Week 14 performance. I've got Jennings at RB18, which isn't as high as some others have him.
Texans WR Andre Johnson (concussion) has not yet been cleared to play Sunday. Stay tuned.
Redskins WR DeSean Jackson (leg bruise) has been limited in practice, but hopes to return on Sunday after missing Week 14. QB Colt McCoy (neck) looks set to play after getting hurt against the Rams.
Chargers RB Ryan Mathews (ankle) hasn't practiced this week, and his outlook for Sunday is murky. A Branden Oliver/Donald Brown tandem would replace Mathews, and probably result in Philip Rivers throwing a whole bunch of passes.
Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said Thursday that RB DeAngelo Williams (hand) probably won't play this week. Go get 'em, Jonathan Stewart.
In related news, Bucs LB Lavonte David (concussion) has been cleared to play against the Panthers. The Bucs-Panthers matchup figures to feature more defense than offense.
Titans WR Kendall Wright (hand) was limited in practice again on Thursday, but do you (or the Titans) really want to start a receiver wearing a splint on his broken hand?
With RB Denard Robinson (foot) done for the season, the Jags say they'll use a committee of Toby Gerhart, Jordan Todman and Storm Johnson. You won't want any of these guys against the Ravens, but with a Week 16 matchup against the Titans, I already grabbed Gerhart in one league.
Jets WR Percy Harvin (ankle) thinks he'll play this week, but head coach Rex Ryan is "not optimistic," according to the team's website.
Here's my roster for this week's DraftKings "Millionaire Maker." If I win, I'll buy this website and rename is halpincashmoney.com:
QB: Ben Roethlisberger $7,900
RB: Jeremy Hill $4,300
RB: Chris Johnson $3,600
WR: Antonio Brown $8,700
WR: Odell Beckham Jr. $8,400
WR: Marquess Wilson $3,000
TE: Greg Olsen $5,400
Flex: Fred Jackson $5,200
DST: Ravens $3,400
Make sure to check out our Sunday morning chat, featuring Adam Meyer, Joel Beall and me from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET, as well as our Week 15 rankings, which will be updated Friday night. Good luck this week!
