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Injured 49ers star Christian McCaffrey: 'This wasn't my year'

Wed Dec 4 11:50pm ET
Field Level Media

Christian McCaffrey, at the premature end of a season that started late, too, waxed philosophical in a social media post on Wednesday.

The San Francisco 49ers running back, three days after tearing the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the snow at Buffalo, wrote on Instagram, "This wasn't my year, and sometimes when it rains, it pours."

The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year landed on injured reserve on Tuesday, ending his regular season after just four games. He missed the 49ers' first eight contests due to an Achilles/calf injury.

"Football is the greatest game on the planet to me," McCaffrey posted on Instagram. "I love that you can find out exactly who you are without ever saying a word. It lifts you up and breaks you down and it can happen fast. It's humbling in the best ways. You can do everything right and still fail. Thats (sic) life and that's football. It's a constant test of wills and those who just keep going tend to reap the benefits of their perseverance."

He added, "You can feel sorry for yourself and listen to the birds, or you can hold the line. I'm grateful for the support of everyone in my corner and promise I'll work smarter and harder than ever to come back better from this. I love my teammates, I love the 9ers, and I love football. God doesn't miss. Onward."

McCaffrey finishes the season with 50 carries for 202 yards plus 15 receptions for 146 yards. He had no touchdowns.

A year ago, McCaffrey led the NFL with 2,203 yards from scrimmage, 21 touchdowns from scrimmage, and 1,459 rushing yards.

The two-time All-Pro has 6,387 career rushing yards on 1,347 carries (4.7 per attempt) and 52 touchdowns on the ground. He also has 524 catches for 4,466 yards and 29 scores.

The 49ers (5-7) bring a three-game losing streak into their Sunday home game against the Chicago Bears.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 14

Player Notes
Corey Ballentine Dec 4 9:00pm CT
Corey Ballentine

Green Bay Packers defensive back Jaire Alexander (knee) will miss his third straight outing in Week 14 when his team lines up against the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football. The seventh-year veteran picked up a knee ailment back in Week 9 that he's battled through since then. He was able to log limited sessions on Monday and Tuesday but was downgraded to a DNP on Wednesday before ultimately being ruled out for the matchup. Defensive back Carrington Valentine projects to continue filling in for the 27-year-old stalwart while he's shelved. With teammate Corey Ballentine (knee) also deemed out, the Pack will be a bit short in their defensive backfield for the divisional clash.

From RotoBaller

Tommy DeVito Dec 4 8:50pm CT
Tommy DeVito

According to head coach Brian Daboll, New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito (forearm) will be the team's backup quarterback if healthy. Pat Leonard of the team reported the news. Per Daboll, DeVito "may be ready." New York is approaching their Week 14 contest against the New Orleans Saints with signal-caller Drew Lock as the team's QB1. As noted by the coach, it will be Lock's first full week of prep as the starter. With little upside surrounding the Giants' QB situation, fantasy managers should steer clear of it for now. Presently, the 26-year-old is little more than waiver-wire fodder in 2QB and superflex formats, while Lock is a low-end QB2.

From RotoBaller

Bub Means Dec 4 8:40pm CT
Bub Means

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) was a limited participant in his return to practice. The rookie wideout made his first appearance at practice since injuring his ankle in Week 8's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. It's a step in the right direction for the 23-year-old, who has a chance to be activated from injured reserve if he can enhance his practice status over the next few days. For now, New Orleans will continue to deploy Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kevin Austin Jr., and Cedrick Wilson Jr. as their top three pass-catchers. It's unclear which of those three wideouts will have their playing time cut upon Means' return, though MVS and Austin Jr. project to be the most likely.

From RotoBaller

Harrison Butker Dec 4 8:30pm CT
Harrison Butker

Matt Derrick of the team reports that according to head coach Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (knee) could return to action in Week 15. It's excellent timing for the Chiefs, who just put kicker Spencer Shrader (hamstring) on injured reserve and had Matthew Wright taking kicks against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13. While Butker is still on IR and won't make an appearance for this weekend's outing against the Las Angeles Chargers, it does appear he could be able to return when he's eligible in Week 15. Fortunately, Wright and Shrader have been serviceable in the 29-year-old's stead. However, Kansas City could undoubtedly use their top leg back for the season's final stretch.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Dec 4 8:20pm CT
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed is coming off a Thanksgiving night where he caught two touchdowns, and he'll look to keep that run going as the Packers head to Ford Field to take on the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions. Reed has been a volatile fantasy asset all season and his utilization has been sporadic too. One week, he's used almost exclusively at the line of scrimmage, the next week he's a deep threat. It's frustrating as a fantasy manager, but despite that, Reed has still been the most stable of the Packers' wide receivers in terms of fantasy scoring. The Lions are in the bottom-half of the NFL in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, so if I was going to hang my hat on the Packers' receiver on Thursday Night Football, it's Reed. He should be in fantasy lineups as a low-end WR2 with upside in Week 14.

From RotoBaller

Tucker Kraft Dec 4 8:20pm CT
Tucker Kraft

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft will have his work cut out for him in Week 14 as the Packers travel to Detroit to take on the division-leading Lions. Kraft has been a solidly producing fantasy tight end for much of the season and returned top-12 value at the position last week with a 6-78 line against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football. Up next are the Detroit Lions, who help Kraft in check in Week 9, to the tune of just four receptions for 34 yards. The Lions have given up the fewest fantasy points per game to the tight end position this season. If you're starting Kraft in fantasy lineups this week, you're hoping for a touchdown as a high-end streaming option.

From RotoBaller

Dontayvion Wicks Dec 4 8:20pm CT
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks has a golden opportunity to produce in Week 14 as the Packers head to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football. Wicks saw plenty of action in the Packers' home win against the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving night, where he earned five targets. He saw that action after Romeo Doubs (concussion) left the game and Doubs has been ruled out for this Thursday's game. On a per-route basis, Wicks has fallen off last season as he's caught just 21-of-50 targets on the season. With six teams on bye, Wicks could find his way into fantasy lineups as a low-end desperation flex in Week 14.

From RotoBaller

Jake Bates Dec 4 8:10pm CT
Jake Bates

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates will aim to continue his strong season as the team takes on the Green Bay Packers in Week 14 on Thursday Night Football. Bates contributed nine points during Detroit's 23-20 Thanksgiving win over the Bears, converting three of four field goals while missing his first attempt of the season from 45 yards out. Despite the blemish, Bates remains one of the most consistent kickers in the league, going 19-for-20 on field goals and 44-for-45 on PATs through 12 games. The Lions' offense is the highest-scoring in the NFL, and continue to provide Bates with ample opportunities. Fantasy managers can confidently keep him in lineups. Bates is a safe, high-floor option against Green Bay.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Dec 4 8:10pm CT
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has two multiple-touchdown games in a row over his last two weeks and looks to make it three in a divisional matchup with the Detroit Lions in Week 14. Love has picked up his production after a lull in Weeks 8 and 9; a Week 9 where he faced the Lions at home and had his second-worst fantasy performance of the season. Detroit has given up the fifth-fewest fantasy points to the quarterback position, and Love will have his work cut out for him in this second matchup. With Romeo Doubs (concussion) ruled out, Love will be down a receiving weapon on Thursday night, but should still be considered a borderline fantasy QB1 for this matchup.

From RotoBaller

Christian Watson Dec 4 8:10pm CT
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has been all over the map this season in terms of fantasy production, but he'll look to put his stamp on Thursday Night Football as the Packers head to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions. Watson's range of outcomes could be overall WR1, WR100, or anywhere in between. The main rub with Watson has been consistency, as he put up his best fantasy performance of the season in Week 11 with a 4-150 receiving line. He followed that up with 0.4 fantasy points in Week 12, then met in the middle as fantasy's WR52 against the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving night. With Romeo Doubs (concussion) ruled out, Watson should be on the field much more, but he's still a boom-or-bust flex option for fantasy managers, even with six teams on bye in Week 14.

From RotoBaller

Sam LaPorta Dec 4 8:00pm CT
Sam LaPorta

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta will remain a focal point in Jared Goff's passing attack as the Lions gear up for a Thursday night showdown with the Packers in Week 14. LaPorta is coming off a mixed outing against Chicago, where he turned three receptions into just six yards but salvaged his fantasy value with two touchdowns. While his yardage production has dipped this seasonaveraging 35.5 yards per game compared to 52.3 as a rookieLaPorta's red-zone presence keeps him relevant in fantasy. Green Bay presents a favorable matchup for tight ends, allowing the sixth-most receptions and yards per game to the position. This could be the perfect opportunity for LaPorta to build on his 2024 campaign.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Dec 4 7:50pm CT
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams aims to bounce back from a quiet Thanksgiving performance as Detroit hosts the Packers in Week 14. Despite seven targets against Chicago, Williams managed only 28 yards on five catches, marking just his third game this season with fewer than 50 yards. However, his consistent involvement in the passing gameseeing six or more targets in three consecutive weeksis a positive sign for fantasy managers. Additionally, Williams contributed 18 yards on two rushing attempts, showcasing his versatility. The Packers' defense has been stingy against wide receivers, allowing the eighth-fewest receptions and seventh-fewest receiving yards per game. However, Williams' growing role in Detroit's high-powered offense could provide him with opportunities to shine in this crucial NFC North battle.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Dec 4 7:40pm CT
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will aim to continue his steady production when Detroit hosts the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night in Week 14. St. Brown led the team in receiving during the Lions' close 23-20 Thanksgiving win over the Bears, catching five of seven targets for 73 yards. While Jared Goff looked to TE Sam LaPorta for both passing touchdowns, St. Brown remains the top option in Detroit's offense, which leads the NFL in points per game. The Packers' secondary presents a challenge, allowing the seventh-fewest receiving yards and eighth-fewest receptions to wideouts this season. However, if Jaire Alexander (knee) is limited or sidelined again, St. Brown's chances of capitalizing will significantly improve. Fantasy managers should continue treating St. Brown as a reliable WR1 despite the potentially stingy matchup.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Dec 4 7:40pm CT
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs will continue operating as arguably the NFL's most dangerous thunder-lightning duo as the Lions prepare for a Week 14 divisional tilt against the Packers on Thursday Night Football. Fresh off another Thursday contest, Montgomery carried the ball 21 times for 88 yards during Detroit's narrow win over the Bears on Thanksgiving Day. Montgomery's reliability in high-volume situations remains vital to Detroit's offense. Green Bay's run defense presents a challenge, ranking 8th in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (106.6). However, opportunities may still be plentiful for Montgomery, especially if Detroit leans on short passes to neutralize the Packers' front. Green Bay has allowed the eighth-most receptions and sixth-most receiving yards to running backs this season, making Montgomery a solid RB2 option with upside.

From RotoBaller

Leonard Williams Dec 4 7:33pm CT
Leonard Williams

Seattle Seahawks OT Abraham Lucas (knee), DE Leonard Williams (foot), DT Jarran Reed (non-injury) and OG Laken Tomlinson (non-injury) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Dec. 4. TE Brady Russell (foot), P Michael Dickson (back) and LB Ernest Jones (knee) were limited during practice. OT Stone Forsythe (hand), S AJ Finley (ankle), S Coby Bryant (ankle), LB Uchenna Nwosu (thigh) and CB Riq Woolen (ankle) fully participated in practice.

From TheHuddle

Jahmyr Gibbs Dec 4 7:30pm CT
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs will look to deliver a cleaner performance when the Lions face the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night in Week 14. Despite his efficiency in the Thanksgiving win over Chicagorushing for 87 yards on just nine carriesGibbs' fantasy output was dampened by a costly red-zone fumble and limited touches. He also caught two of four targets for 17 yards, ending the day with 11 total touches. This week, Gibbs will take on a Packers defense that allows the eighth most rushing yards per game but struggles against pass-catching backs, surrendering the eighth-most receptions and sixth-most receiving yards to the position. Gibbs' dual-threat ability keeps him in RB2 territory with upside, as Detroit's offense looks to remain the class of the NFC North.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Dec 4 7:20pm CT
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff will look to stay consistent in Week 14 as the Lions host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. Goff is coming off a solid performance in the Thanksgiving Day win over the Chicago Bears, where he threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns, both to Sam LaPorta. Despite the victory, the Lions' offense sputtered late, and Goff will need to bounce back against a Packers defense that allows the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. With 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions on the year, Goff remains a reliable option for fantasy managers, especially with Detroit's potent offense. However, this week's matchup could limit his ceiling, making him a mid-tier QB2 in Week 14.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Dec 4 7:13pm CT
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett (non-injury) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Fantasy Spin: Lockett has not been a big part of the passing game recently with three straight games of 20 yards or less. He likely will see a few targets this week but can be avoided in most leagues.

From TheHuddle

Juwan Johnson Dec 4 7:10pm CT
Juwan Johnson

New Orleans Saints tight ends Juwan Johnson (foot) and Foster Moreau (shoulder) were listed on the Week 14 injury report after both were limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. The statuses of both Johnson and Moreau become more important for the final five games of the regular season after No. 1 TE Taysom Hill suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Week 13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. In last Sunday's loss to LA, Johnson caught a season-high-tying five passes on a season-high seven targets for 36 yards after reaching the end zone for the second time this year in the previous game against the Cleveland Browns. Both Johnson and Moreau should be available this weekend against the New York Giants, but Johnson will be the TE to target in New Orleans as a touchdown-dependent streamer with six teams on bye in Week 14.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Higbee Dec 4 7:03pm CT
Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Rams TE Tyler Higbee (knee) fully participated in practice Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Fantasy Spin: Higbee is able to do everything during practice but is not expected to be available for the Week 14 game. Fantasy players can keep an eye on the situation but should look for other options to use.

From TheHuddle