The NFL has yet to confirm an SI.com report that TE Fred Davis will miss the final four games of the season for violating the substance abuse policy for a third time over the summer. It’s coming, though. Coach Mike Shanahan expects to receive notice from the league office on Tuesday.
“We’ll find out here shortly what their status is,” Shanahan said via CSN Washington. “I’m just going from past history. Normally if they wait until Wednesday, that player plays through the week. It’s been that way in the past. If somebody is suspended, you would know today or tomorrow.”
“Fred has had an opportunity since Chris has been down to take over the tight end position and has really taken advantage of the opportunity,” Shanahan added. “He has big play ability, he has practiced hard, he has played hard. Now we wait and see what the situation is.”
Davis leads the Redskins with 59 catches and 796 yards in a breakout season, sitting behind only Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, Tony Gonzalez, and Jason Witten among fantasy tight ends. The impending free agent will be a priority for the Redskins this offseason, but he’s cost himself a chunk of guaranteed money. If he’s caught smoking weed again, the next suspension could be for a full year. Teammates have been critical rather than supportive since hearing the news.
“It’s disappointing because everyone is aware of the rules,” LB Lorenzo Alexander told CSN Washington. “More than just yourself is at stake if you get caught.”
“When we sign on that dotted line to be a part of the NFL, it’s a privilege to be a part of it and we have to act accordingly,” safety Reed Doughty opined. Former Redskins DE Phillip Daniels took to Twitter to speak out: “If true and you get caught 3 times, you have a problem. #CharacterIssues.”
Fantasy owners casting a wide net for a Davis replacement are faced with a blunt truth about the tight-end market: At this point in the season, viable alternatives are scarce. Owen Daniels (QB questions, run-heavy offense), Greg Olsen (banged up, offense leaning on the run), Brandon Pettigrew (hit-or-miss), and Vernon Davis (spotty at best) have fallen from the ranks of the legit TE1 options. Borderline fantasy tight ends such as Jermaine Gresham, Heath Miller and Jake Ballard have seen a drain on their production of late while Scott Chandler is questionable to play with an ankle injury. As unappetizing as these options are, they're still owned in the majority of fantasy leagues because there are no superior tight ends available for free.
To go a step further, note the matchups for Week 14. The most generous tight-end defense in the league, Chicago’s, draws fantasy persona non grata Daniel Fells. The second-most generous tight-end defense in the league, Green Bay’s, faces Kevin Boss, who is splitting snaps and production with some creature named Brandon Myers.
Just how bleak is it at tight end? Over the past five weeks, Anthony Freaking Fasano is No. 7 in fantasy points. Over the past three weeks, Bears TE Kellen Davis (really?) is the No. 12 fantasy tight end. Not so unequivocally, the good news is that Fasano is available in most leagues as a last-ditch option. Jacob Tamme is certainly worth a sniff in PPR formats, though I’d point out that the Colts are facing a Ravens defense this week that has been death to tight ends all season.
On to the players. Here is how I rank the top players at each position as we head into Week 13. Full writeups of each player are below.
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Tight EndsAnthony Fasano, Dolphins - I’m having a hard time mustering up excitement for Fasano, but he is fantasy’s No. 7 tight end over the past five weeks. While he was an afterthought with
Chad Henne, Fasano has emerged as one of
Matt Moore’s favorite targets. This week, he draws an Eagles defense in the middle of the pack in tight-end defense. If you play Fasano, you’re still banking on him to find the end zone.
Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.
Jacob Tamme, Colts - The good news is that Tamme has reached five catches in both of the games in which
Dan Orlovsky has made an appearance. The bad news is two-fold: The Colts square off against a Ravens defense that has allowest the 31st-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, and
Dallas Clark (fibula) began working in individual drills last week. Tamme’s window is closing fast.
Recommendation: Worth a look in PPR formats.
Jared Cook, Titans - Desperation alert: Cook was shut out in Week 13, so there’s going to be plenty of risk associated with running him out there against a Saints defense that allows the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Cook was averaging 40 yards in the previous five games, so it’s not a major stretch to suggest he could break out while trying to keep up with New Orleans’ offense.
Recommendation: Worth a look as a desperation matchup play.
Ed Dickson, Ravens - Dickson’s matchup looks decent on the surface against a Colts defense that allowed three touchdowns to
Rob Gronkowski. Unfortunately, Dickson is no Gronk. While Indy allows the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, the Ravens figure to continue to ride the hot hand of
Ray Rice and
Ricky Williams against a 30th-ranked run defense.
Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Watch List: Dallas ClarkClark (fibula) had graduated from the treadmill to field workouts last week. There’s a chance he could return to practice this week. Keep an eye on the Colts tight ends for plus matchups against the Titans and Jaguars in Weeks 15 and 17.
Cut Bait: Fred Davis?,
Scott ChandlerIt’s not official yet, but Davis’ suspension is expected to be announced on Tuesday. … Coach Chan Gailey is giving Chandler (ankle) only a “slight chance” to play at San Diego this week.
QuarterbacksChristian Ponder, Vikings - The Minnesota media despaired all week that Michael Jenkins’ season-ending knee injury and Percy Harvin’s late-week illness could leave Ponder with a receiving corps with a total of fewer than 15 receptions on the season. Instead, Ponder lit up Denver’s defense for 28 fantasy points, a Vikings rookie record 381 yards, and three TDs. With Harvin heating up, it’s the second time in three games that Ponder has reached 25 fantasy points. This week, he draws a short-handed Lions defense that just surrendered 342 yards and three TDs to Drew Brees.Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.Rex Grossman, Redskins - Bad Rex showed up in Week 13 against the league’s premier secondary. The way Grossman’s career has played out, there’s nothing stopping Good Rex from resurfacing against the Patriots’ patchwork defensive backfield. Responsible for the best statistical game of Dan Orlovsky’s ignominious career, New England still allows the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Play Grossman if you’re feeling lucky. Recommenation: Worth a look as a matchup play. Matt Moore, Dolphins - Moore reached 20 fantasy points against the Raiders thanks to a rushing score, but it was also the sixth time in eight starts that he’s failed to top 210 passing yards. Even if he’s playing at a high level, it’s hard to get excited about Moore as a fantasy option in a conservative offense often playing keep-away to protect a lead. He draws the Eagles in Week 14.Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues. Tarvaris Jackson, Seahawks - T-Jack draws a Rams defense that made Alex Smith a top-10 fantasy QB for Week 13 behind 274 yards and two TDs. Just keep in mind that Seattle’s offensive attack figures to be extremely run-heavy behind Marshawn Lynch, arguably the hottest back in the NFL.Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play in deeper leagues. Dan Orlovsky, Colts - There’s no question that Orlovsky can move the offense better than Curtis Painter. Just be sure to place a giant asterisk next to his 30-of-37 for 353-yard performance in Week 13. The Patriots were playing several defenders out of position throughout, and Orlovsky was still down 31-3 early in the fourth quarter. The bulk of his production came in extremen garbage time. The Colts have a brutal matchp with the Ravens this week. Leave Orlovsky on the bench if you want to stash him in deeper leagues. Recommendation: Should be owned in two-quarterback leagues. Kevin Kolb, Cardinals - All starters have to be owned in two-quarterback formats, but even those in deeper one-quarterback formats should hold off on Kolb for now. While Kolb certainly didn’t faceplant in the win over the Cowboys, his schedule is brutal the next two weeks. The Cardinals face the ferocious 49ers defense in Week 14 before drawing a Browns defense in Week 15 that allows the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.Recommendation: Hold off for now.Watch List: Josh Johnson, Kyle Orton, Matt FlynnJohnson would be in line for a second start at Jacksonville if Josh Freeman (shoulder) sits out again. … Orton’s Week 14 status is up in the air with dislocated finger. The matchup against the Jets is prohibitive regardless. … Keep tabs on Flynn if you play in a Week 17 championship league. Hold Off: T.J. YatesThe Texans may actually be better off with Yates than Matt Leinart. The rookie showed pocket poise and a willingness to go vertical in his first start. The coaching staff and teammates clearly have faith in him, but he’s not going to be a fantasy option in a run-heavy offense with Andre Johnson (hamstring) likely to miss Week 14 against the Bengals. Cut Bait: Vince Young, Caleb HanieMichael Vick is expected to play this week. … Even in attractive matchups, Hanie can’t be trusted after managing just three points to go along with three interceptions and seven sacks against the Chiefs. Running BacksMarion Barber, Bears - Even with Matt Forte (MCL sprain) out, it’s conceivable that Barber’s fantasy production could actually come down from where it was a couple of weeks ago. With Forte and Jay Cutler out of the lineup, the Bears will struggle to find goal-line opportunities for MBIII. On the other hand, it’s awfully hard to find available backs who could touch the ball 15+ times in Weeks 14-16. Barber is playing better this year than last, and should be owned in all leagues with Forte out. Leave Kahlil Bell on the waiver wire in all but the deepest leagues. Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.Brandon Saine, Packers - I’m going to part ways with the estimable Gregg Rosenthal on this one. With James Starks’ (ankle) status in doubt for Week 14, Rosie suggested picking up Ryan Grant as a desperation matchup play against a Raiders defense allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing fantasy backs. Grant doesn’t take goal-line carries, doesn’t participate in the passing game, and hasn’t had a 10-yard run or a 30-yard rushing game since Week 3. After the coaching staff and beat writers talked up Saine during the week, the undrafted rookie out-played Grant in the win over the Giants. Saine wasn’t limited to any specific plays after Starks went down, and he should have the distinct advantage of the passing-down role in Aaron Rodgers’ unstoppable attack. At the very least, there’s flex potential here if Starks sits out. Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play. Maurice Morris, Lions - Coach Jim Schwartz doesn’t believe Kevin Smith’s ankle sprain is “in a worse spot” than it was at this time last week. The Lions are noncommittal on Smith’s Week 14 status early in the week, so Morris’ role versus the Vikings is up in the air. Even in a best-case scenario, he’s purely a flex option. In a worst case scenario, he touches the ball only a few times behind Smith. Recommendation: Worth a look as an injury replacement.Montario Hardesty, Browns - Hardesty is the fallback starter for Thursday's game against the Steelers if Peyton Hillis (hip) can't go. Coach Pat Shurmur revealed that he held Hardesty out of last week's game with an eye on the short week. At this point, Hillis is expected to play. If that changes, Hardesty would be a mere flex option against the Steelers' No. 7 run defense which is allowing just 3.16 yards per carry over the past five games. Recommendation: Worth a look as an injury replacement. Ricky Williams, Ravens - Coordinator Cam Cameron is finally saddling up Williams and Ray Rice to match a dominant defense of late. Williams is coming off a season-high 16 carries and 76 in a game where the Ravens controlled the ball throughout. There’s a decent chance for more of the same this week against the Colts as well as in Week 16 versus the Browns. You could do worse for a flex play in deeper leagues. Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play in deeper leagues. Dexter McCluster, Chiefs - McCluster’s 13/107/1 line from Week 13 was artificially inflated by a 38-yard Hail Mary going into halftime, but he still managed a season-high with 61 rushing yards. If you insist on owning a Kansas City running back, McCluster is the clear choice. Just don’t expect much even in PPR leagues against the Jets this week. Scoring opportunities will be few and far between in Tyler Palko’s offense.Recommendation: Worth a look in PPR formats.Kendall Hunter, 49ers - Week 17 alert: Although coach Jim Harbaugh says he won’t rest Frank Gore in the coming weeks, that could change by the season finale. With no incentive to risk injury to key players versus the Rams in the final regular-season contest, Hunter could see double-digit touches against a defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing backs.Recommendation: Worth a look in leagues that use Week 17.Isaac Redman, Steelers - Week 17 alert: It’s quite possible that Pittsburgh will be resting starts for a good portion of the rematch with Cleveland in the season finale. The Browns defense has rolled over for 1,044 rushing yards (5.35 YPC) and seven TDs over the past six games. If Redman sees 12-15 touches in the finale, he’s going to merit top-30 consideration.Recommendation: Worth a look in leagues that use Week 17. Watch List: Chris Ogbonnaya, Kahlil Bell, Stevan Ridley, Tashard Choice, Mossis MaduObgonnaya and Bell will function as “satellite” backs behind Hardesty and Barber -- if Hillis sits out this week. … Ridley led the Pats in carries last week, but that was a function of Bill Belichick’s mad-scientist experimentation against a winless Colts team. … Choice is the clear No. 2 to C.J. Spiller. … Madu could be usurping Kregg Lumpkin’s passing-down role. Cut Bait: Joe McKnight, Jackie Battle, Johnny White, Marcel Reece, Kregg LumpkinMcKnight is nursing an elbow injury while falling back to third on the depth chart. … The plodding Battle is once again taking a backseat to Thomas Jones. … White can’t pass Tashard Choice for the No. 2 gig. … Reece was a one-game wonder. … Lumpkin is losing snaps to Madu.Wide ReceiversSantana Moss, Redskins - Washington’s No. 1 receiver is still owned in fewer leagues than Jabar Gaffney. That’s backwards. Moss was targeted 12 times to Gaffney’s goose egg against the Jets. Our initial Week 14 rankings for Season Pass have Moss as a top-25 fantasy option against a Patriots defense that allows the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers as well as quarterbacks. If he’s still out there, Moss is a must-own this week.Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues. Golden Tate, Seahawks - Coach Pete Carroll announced Ben Obomanu as Sidney Rice’s replacement last week, but it was Tate who emerged as the clear No. 1 receiver versus Philly. Showing impressive run-after-catch ability and red-zone chops, Tate played 51 snaps whereas no other Seattle receiver surpassed 30. "This is what we see in practice all the time, we just haven't got him in there as much to give him the focal point opportunities,” said Carroll after the game. “It's great to see Golden; we're just going to keep doing it. He's really special. He makes plays, so we have to keep giving it to him." The next day, Carroll went even further, "I'm always on his butt about something, but that's because he's going to be really good." If Moss is already owned, Tate would be my No. 1 target at receiver this week even in a run-heavy offense.Recommendation: Worth a look in 12- and 14-team leagues.Malcom Floyd, Chargers - Floyd proved to be over his troublesome hip injury while reeling in all four targets for 108 yards and a long score against the Jaguars’ injury-depleted secondary. Floyd does boast three 100-yard performances in his last four games, but that string goes all the way back to Week 5. While he’s overly dependent on Philip Rivers’ come-and-go accuracy on deep balls, Floyd does have two home games and a dome game over the next three weeks. Weather hold the Chargers' vertical passing game back the rest of the way.Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues. Jacoby Ford, Raiders - To be clear, Denarius Moore would be the recommended pickup in Oakland, but he’s already owned in 80 percent of CBSSports.com leagues. As we’ve stated several times this season, Ford has enough playmaking ability to merit a roster spot in fantasy leagues even if it’s purely as a stash. Ford (foot) is hoping to be cleared for a return to practice this week. Recommendation: Worth a look as a roster stash. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos - We’ve been through this one before. Thomas is an ultra-talented but injury-prone playmaker whose production will be hit-or-miss in an offense that typically attempts 15-20 passes per game. Thomas’ upside is certainly worth stashing if he keeps the starting job ahead of Eddie Royal, but he’s far from guaranteed to outproduce Eric Decker going forward. Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues. Damian Williams, Titans - With a 36:31 target edge over Nate Washington, Williams has taken over as Matt Hasselbeck’s favorite target over the past five weeks. Although Williams’ 4/62/0 line from Week 13 looks rather pedestrian, the two came close to hooking up for a series of big plays, including a near-touchdown off Williams’ fingertips. Keep expectations low in what is now a run-heavy offense, but Williams is at least worth stashing at the end of the bench.Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues. Brad Smith, Bills - I filed Smith’s 4/77/1 line in Week 12 under the “fluke” category, but he’s now topped 70 yards in back-to-back weeks. In two games as the starer opposite Stevie Johnson, Smith has compiled 17 targets, 11 receptions, and 149 yards. There’s no harm in adding him to your roster, but I’d still be hesitant to play him as a WR3 option. Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues. Chaz Schilens, Raiders - The oft-injured one was Oakland’s top receiver in Week 13 with Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore out of the lineup. Schiles caught 6-of-7 targets for 87 yards before departing with a foot injury of his own. Although coach Hue Jackson expects Schilens to play this week, his role is up in the air with Moore and Ford possibly returning. Recommendation: Worth a look pending injury updates. Watch List: Brandon LaFell, Devin Aromashodu, Austin Collie, Randall CobbLaFell is worth monintoring. At this point, there’s still not enough separation from Legedu Naanee. … Aromashodu drew a whopping 15 targets in the shootout with Denver. I need to see that again. … The majority of Collie’s season-high seven receptions came in fourth-quarter garbage time. … Keep an eye on Cobb if you play in a league that puts stock in Week 17. He could be in line for a heavy workload if the Packers rest their key players. Hold Off: Robert Meachem, Andre Roberts, Ted Ginn, Kyle Williams, Jacoby Jones, Kevin WalterThe 100-yard games by Meachem and Roberts were one-week aberrations. Roberts only produces against the Cowboys. … The 49ers passing game doesn’t support any receiver beyond Michael Crabtree. … Ditto the Texans. Even with Andre Johnson out, Jones and Walter are best left alone in a run-dominant offense. Cut Bait: Earl Bennett, Riley Cooper, Jason Avant, Ben Obomanu, Harry Douglas, Jerome Simpson, Vincent BrownBennett has one catch for five yards in each of Caleb Hanie’s two starts. … Cooper is headed back to the pine with Jeremy Maclin due to practice on Wednesday. … Avant was a one-week wonder, as predicted. … Obomanu played fewer than 10 snaps last week even with Sidney Rice out. … Douglas’ role is diminished with Julio Jones back. … Simpson can’t be trusted. ... Brown played just five snaps in Monday night's game. Defense/Special TeamsDolphins - Miami is just 15th in total defense on the season, but they’ve been dominant over the past five weeks. Oakland’s only two scores last week came in garbage time, and the Dolphins have held three of their past five opponents to single-digit points. They host a rusty, turnover-prone Michael Vick this week. Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.Seahawks - Seattle hosts a reeling Rams offense that never made it across the 50-yard line against the 49ers in Week 13. The Seahawks held the Rams to just seven points three weeks ago. With Sam Bradford (ankle) in question once again, it could be a repeat performance. Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.Broncos - Facing the Bears last week, Kansas City’s defense racked up three interceptions, seven sacks and double-digit fantasy points. Denver’s defense is certainly worth a look against Caleb Hanie if Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite Von Miller (thumb) returns to action. Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter.