Wide receiver non-PPR rankings for Week 15 fantasy football

Friday injury report

NFL teams didn’t leave too many fantasy managers hanging with question marks heading into the weekend slate of games. Unfortunately, cornerstone assets Michael Thomas, Julio Joes and Kenny Golladay have all been ruled out. Emmanuel Sanders, Calvin Ridley and Marvin Jones will lead their respective packs.

Dolphins WRs Jakeem Grant and DeVante Parker are also each questionable with a few ttgtttjtjtjtjtjjttnt

Out: Kenny Golladay (hip), Michael Thomas (ankle), Deebo Samuel (hamstring), Julio Jones (hamstring)
Doubtful: N/A
Questionable: Jamison Crowder (calf), Jakeem Grant (hamstring), DeVante Parker (hamstring), Curtis Samuel (hamstring)

---

Thursday injury report

Kenny Golladay remains out of practice with a hip injury, and it doesn’t look like we’re headed for improvement any time soon. Julio Jones also didn’t practice, another ominous sign for fantasy managers heading into the semi-finals.

D.J. Moore returned from Covid-IR to log a limited practice. Barring any complications on the return, he should be good to go for Saturday’s contest.

Deebo Samuel is listed as DNP, but it’s not unexpected after the team noted the severity of his hamstring injury.

Brandin Cooks logged a limited practice following his absence in Week 14 due to a neck injury. He’s expected to return this week to face the Colts, against whom he logged five catches for 65 yards in Week 13.

After a limited practice on Wednesday, Titans WR AJ Brown was downgraded to DNP. He logged two straight DNPs last week but was removed from the final injury report. The downgrade is worth

DNP: Kenny Golladay (hip), A.J. Brown (ankle), Michael Thomas (ankle), Deebo Samuel (hamstring), Julio Jones (hamstring)
Limited: D.J. Moore (return from Covid-IR), Curtis Samuel (hamstring), Allen Lazard (core, foot), Equanimeous St. Brown (knee), Brandin Cooks (neck), Jakeem Grant (hamstring), DeVante Parker (hamstring), Jamison Crowder (calf), Calvin Ridley (foot)
Full: Jerry Jeudy (ankle), Darnell Mooney (knee), Jarvis Landry (hip), Tyreek Hill (hamstring), Breshad Perriman (shoulder)

---

Wednesday injury report

The Chargers formally listed WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams as questionable heading into Thursday Night Football. They each logged limited practice sessions ahead of TNF after a DNP on Monday.

Julio Jones didn’t practice Wednesday after an absence in Week 14. It’s not a positive sign for Sunday’s outing either. Given the lingering nature of the injury and seeming lack of progress through his week off, fantasy managers should start to wonder if at any point the Falcons shut him down on a lost season.

Michael Thomas and Jamison Crowder both earned DNP tags, but it’s a possibility that their respective offenses are allowing the vets a day off. Thomas suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 1, and the team’s been managing his practice reps since then. He’s looked like his former self while on the field, totaling 343 receiving yards over the last four games — even with Taysom Hill under center. Crowder’s been banged up and earned plenty of DNP tags throughout the season, but he’s been active for each of his last five games and playing a typical allotment of snaps.

Tyreek Hill’s full practice status is nice to see heading into Week 15. Hill grabbed at his hamstring after a touchdown but appears to be in the clear at the moment for any more serious soft tissue injury.

Julian Edelman was activated to practice after being placed on IR for a knee injury (and then COVID-IR). He got in a limited session Wednesday, but the anemic passing offense in Foxborough won’t allow for a high ceiling, even if he is truly healthy. The team has 21 days to promote him to the active roster.

DNP: Julio Jones (hamstring), Kenny Golladay (hip), Michael Thomas (ankle), Jamison Crowder (calf)
Limited: Julian Edelman (knee), Allen Lazard (core), Equanimeous St. Brown (knee), A.J. Brown (ankle), Calvin Ridley (foot), Jakeem Grant (hamstring), DeVante Parker (hamstring)
Full: Jerry Jeudy (ankle), Tyreek Hill (hamstring)

---

Of course, Tyreek Hill topped non-PPR rankings for Week 14, closely followed by studs like Stefon Diggs, Calvin Ridley, Allen Robinson and Davante Adams. The biggest surprise of the week, however, was the explosion of Broncos rookie K.J. Hamler. Hamler got left in the dust amid the excitement of the drafting of Jerry Jeudy, but a flashy 2/86/2 line from the rookie grabbed our attention this week.

T.Y. Hilton also continues to impress after a very slow start to the 2020 NFL season. He posted his third outing of 80 or more receiving yards and has scored in three consecutive games. Next up is another matchup against the Texans. Let’s not forget his 8/110/1 line in Week 13; he could be in for another big day.

Injury news

News broke this week that Deebo Samuel will miss time with a significant hamstring injury. It’s safe to assume that his season is over. The 49ers will be looking forward to a clean slate in 2021 — that much is certain.

DeVante Parker left his Week 14 matchup, logging just 27 offensive snaps prior to suffering what has been labeled a “leg injury.” We don’t have details, but it’s worth noting that Lynn Bowden Jr. may be the only viable receiver left in Miami Gardens; he could be in for a significant (even if ineffective) target share with his rookie quarterback under center.

Julio Jones was ruled out ahead of Week 14 with a hamstring injury. In his absence, Calvin Ridley posted his second consecutive 100-yard game. Russell Gage also had a decent outing with 82 scoreless receiving yards. Though we don’t yet have a status for Jones yet in Week 15, but if active, fantasy managers will need to rely on him to stay on the field for a chance at progressing to the championship.

Keenan Allen and Mike Williams each got in a limited practice session after logging a DNP on the estimated practice report earlier this week. Allen left Week 13’s matchup early with soreness, and Williams suffered a back injury after just two offensive snaps. The Chargers play on Thursday Night Football, so it’s possible their DNP status was just some extra rest ahead of a short week. It’s still worth monitoring as the week progresses.

Bye weeks

There are no teams on bye in Week 15.

Streaming options

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

Why is nobody talking about Brandon Aiyuk? In the last five games that he’s been active (Weeks 6, 8, 10, 13, 14), he ranks as the cumulative WR2 in non-PPR scoring formats. In that five-game span, he’s totaled 56 targets, 495 receiving yards and three scores. Now, Deebo Samuel’s absence may be paving the way for more targets, if possible. Dallas has allowed

Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans

We’ll try this play again. After posting 11/182/1 in Week 13, Davis had a dud performance against the Jaguars with just three catches for 34 receiving yards. Perhaps a matchup against the Lions will be the cure. The Lions’ secondary has been perfectly beatable since Week 10, having allowed six performances of 85 or more receiving yards along with five touchdowns. Davis has a shot at a big day in this home matchup.