It's the last week of the regular season for many Fantasy leagues, and one interesting side effect of this season's unprecedented injuries and COVID-related absences it's been harder than usual to separate from the pack in Fantasy. In our Fantasy Football Today staff league, only two teams have locked up a playoff spot heading into the final week, and only two have been eliminated; that leaves eight teams fighting for four spots at 7-5, 6-6, or 5-7. And it's like that in nearly all of my leagues, because, of course I can't enjoy a stress-free Sunday afternoon until January. 

For all of you who still have something to play for, everything is at stake in Week 13. So, naturally, we're dealing with a ton of injuries, even while the number of COVID cases around the NFL seems to have diminished. Tough decisions abound, with questions surrounding the likes of Myles Gaskin, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Julio Jones, among many others. And, with two Monday night games and a Tuesday game, setting your lineup in this key week may be tougher than usual. Though at this point in this season, that's pretty typical. 

Make sure you keep up with everything the Fantasy Football Today team is doing Sunday morning. In today's newsletter, I've got the latest on all of the injuries and replacements you need to know about for Week 13 and our expert consensus rankings for each position to help you make those lineup calls. Then you need to tune in to Fantasy Football Today live on CBS Sports HQ until kickoff for the latest news and analysis for today. We're also answering your questions on our Twitch stream starting at noon and going until kickoff — and you can always drop your questions on Twitter using the hashtag "#AskFFT" because the whole team is answering questions this morning.

More Week 13: Injury Updates | Start 'Em & Sit 'Em | Starts & Sits, Sleepers & Busts |  PPR Cheat Sheet | Non-PPR Cheat Sheet | RB Preview |  QB Preview  | WR Preview | TE Preview | Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: QB |  Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: RB | Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: WR | Trade Values Chart |  FFT Newsletter Waiver Wire | Panic About Struggling Stars? |  Winners and Losers  | Believe It Or Not    

Here are the key injury situations we're watching out for Sunday, along with some potential fill-in options if you need help: 

• In: Ben Roethlisberger (knee), Cam Newton (abdomen), Matthew Stafford (thumb), Tua Tagovailoa (thumb)
• Out: Daniel Jones (hamstring)
• Expected back: Lamar Jackson (Reserve/COVID-19)

This is an easier week than last, when were were missing Tagovailoa, Drew Lock, and Jackson; Jones is a fringe starter at best most weeks and we knew he was going to be out most of the week, so that's no big deal. The one thing to note is, with Tagovailoa back, Ryan Fitzpatrick is out of the streaming conversation, unfortunately. Hopes were high with the matchup against the Bengals, and Tagovailoa isn't quite as exciting for Fantasy (yet). 

We did get some other good news Sunday: Drew Brees is recovering well from his fractured ribs and could be back in the lineup for Week 14 next Sunday against the Eagles. That would be good news for Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas. 

• In: David Johnson (concussion), Todd Gurley (knee), Jonathan Taylor (Reserve/COVID-19), 
• Expected to be in: J.K. Dobbins/Mark Ingram (Reserve/COVID-19), Phillip Lindsay (knee), Carlos Hyde (toe), Kalen Ballage (ankle)
• Out: Josh Jacobs (ankle), D'Andre Swift (illness), Matt Breida (Reserve/COVID-19), DeAndre Washington (hamstring), Salvon Ahmed (shoulder), Alexander Mattison (appendectomy)
• Likely out: James Conner (Reserve/COVID-19)

Jacobs' absence is the big one here, and it opens up the opportunity for Devontae Booker to be the lead back for the Raiders. He probably isn't available in your league (84% rostered), but if you have him, you should be starting him. I view him as a borderline top-12 RB, and I'm starting him over Ezekiel Elliott, for one. 

Myles Gaskin represents a tougher call for me. The only league where I have him is also a league where I have Alvin Kamara, James Robinson, and David Montgomery, which means I'm probably not starting him. Will I regret it? Possibly; Gaskin was a must-start RB before his injury, and the Dolphins are basically down to Gaskin and Patrick Laird at RB. Gaskin could get a ton of work against a great matchup, and he's a solid No. 2 RB, I just can't justify starting him in his first game back given my other options. You may not have the same luxury. 

If you do need a starter, Benny Snell is probably the best option available with Conner not expected to play. He's rostered in 62% of CBS Fantasy leagues and just had 12.3 PPR points against the Ravens. Washington is an easier matchup. 

• Potential fill-ins: Benny Snell (62%) vs. WAS, Kalen Ballage (57%) vs. BAL, Frank Gore (50%) vs. LV, Jalen Richard (11%) @NYJ, Jeff Wilson (9%) vs. BUF

• In: Adam Thielen (reserve/COVID-19), Julio Jones (hamstring), DJ Chark (ribs), Brandon Aiyuk (reserve/COVID-19), Danny Amendola (hip), Adam Humphries (concussion), Darnell Mooney (knee), 
• Expected to play: Jerry Jeudy (ankle), Terry McLaurin (ankle)
• Out: Kenny Golladay (hip), Larry Fitzgerald (Reserve/COVID-19)

Thielen goes back in your lineup for sure, but the rest of the returning WR are a bit harder to make a call on. You probably can't afford to sit Jones with his upside, even though we know the injury risk is incredibly high; he has five games with at least 16 PPR points and three games with fewer than eight, and he left all three with injuries. When he's healthy, Jones is still as good as just about anyone, but it's been tough to trust him this season. I'll stick with the week-winning upside and keep some antacid by my side.

Chark is more of a boom-or-bust WR3 play. Mike Glennon found Collin Johnson for some big plays in his first start, and the Jaguars have been feeding Chark targets when healthy. But he's been inconsistent thanks to the QB play, and Glennon doesn't exactly instill a ton of confidence. Aiyuk is similarly a lower end starter, because we just don't know what his role will look like with Deebo Samuel active. I suspect he'll still be pretty good, and potential great, because he and Samuel operate in completely different roles in the offense, but it's not a guarantee.

• Potential fill-ins: Sammy Watkins (65%) vs. DEN, Tim Patrick (54%) @KC, Henry Ruggs (45%) @NYJ, Keke Coutee (38%) vs. IND

• In: Zach Ertz (ankle)
• Out: Mark Andrews (Reserve/COVID-19), Jonnu Smith (knee), Irv Smith (back)

Andrews is not expected to be activated in time for Tuesday's game, so it's best to avoid that one if you can. The absences of the two Smiths make Anthony Firkser (9%) and especially Kyle Rudolph (40%) worth considering. Rudolph has 11 catches on 13 targets for 131 yards in the two games Irv Smith has missed this season. Firkser is more of a desperation play.

And I would treat Ertz as a low-end starting option in his first game back. The Eagles threw Dallas Goedert back into a full snap share when he came back from IR last month, but Ertz' absence was longer and Goedert still only had one target in that game. Ertz very well could be the Eagles top target this week, and at tight end you may not have a better option, but I'd prefer to let him prove he's back to 100% before I trust it. 

Expert Consensus Rankings

As of 12 p.m. EST from Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard, and Heath Cummings: 

1. Patrick Mahomes
2. Aaron Rodgers
3. Russell Wilson
4. Josh Allen
5. Justin Herbert
6. Deshaun Watson
7. Kirk Cousins
8. Kyler Murray
9. Ryan Tannehill
10. Lamar Jackson
11. Ben Roethlisberger
12. Derek Carr
13. Mitchell Trubisky
14. Matt Ryan
15. Taysom Hill
16. Philip Rivers
17. Jared Goff
18. Baker Mayfield
19. Cam Newton
20. Tua Tagovailoa
21. Matthew Stafford
22. Nick Mullens
23. Carson Wentz
24. Drew Lock

1. Derrick Henry
2. Dalvin Cook
3. James Robinson
4. Austin Ekeler
5. Nick Chubb
6. Aaron Jones
7. David Montgomery
8. Alvin Kamara
9. Jonathan Taylor
10. Antonio Gibson
11. Devontae Booker
12. Myles Gaskin
13. Chris Carson
14. Miles Sanders
15. Raheem Mostert
16. J.K. Dobbins
17. Kareem Hunt
18. Kenyan Drake
19. Clyde Edwards-Helaire
20. Ezekiel Elliott
21. David Johnson
22. Benny Snell
23. Nyheim Hines
24. Damien Harris
25. Wayne Gallman
26. Todd Gurley
27. Frank Gore
28. Melvin Gordon
29. J.D. McKissic
30. James White
31. Chase Edmonds
32. Kerryon Johnson
33. Giovani Bernard
34. Latavius Murray
35. Jamaal Williams
36. Zack Moss
37. Cam Akers
38. Devin Singletary
39. Adrian Peterson
40. Carlos Hyde
41. Phillip Lindsay
42. Boston Scott
43. Duke Johnson
44. Darrell Henderson
45. Jerick McKinnon
46. Jeff Wilson
47. Tony Pollard
48. Malcolm Brown

1. Tyreek Hill
2. Davante Adams
3. Stefon Diggs
4. Keenan Allen
5. DK Metcalf
6. Allen Robinson
7. A.J. Brown
8. Calvin Ridley
9. Brandin Cooks
10. DeAndre Hopkins
11. Adam Thielen
12. Terry McLaurin
13. DeVante Parker
14. Justin Jefferson
15. Robert Woods
16. Cooper Kupp
17. Amari Cooper
18. Diontae Johnson
19. Julio Jones
20. Tyler Lockett
21. JuJu Smith-Schuster
22. Jarvis Landry
23. Deebo Samuel
24. Michael Thomas
25. Chase Claypool
26. Corey Davis
27. Brandon Aiyuk
28. D.J. Chark
29. Michael Pittman
30. Cole Beasley
31. CeeDee Lamb
32. Tim Patrick
33. Breshad Perriman
34. Marvin Jones
35. Jamison Crowder
36. Allen Lazard
37. Denzel Mims
38. Tyler Boyd
39. Tee Higgins
40. Christian Kirk
41. Sterling Shepard
42. Jakobi Meyers
43. Sammy Watkins
44. Mike Williams
45. Jerry Jeudy
46. Nelson Agholor
47. Darius Slayton
48. Keelan Cole

1. Travis Kelce
2. Darren Waller
3. T.J. Hockenson
4. Dallas Goedert
5. Hunter Henry
6. Evan Engram
7. Eric Ebron
8. Kyle Rudolph
9. Robert Tonyan
10. Mike Gesicki
11. Hayden Hurst
12. Zach Ertz
13. Austin Hooper
14. Noah Fant
15. Jordan Akins
16. Dalton Schultz
17. Jordan Reed
18. Trey Burton
19. Logan Thomas
20. Tyler Eifert
21. Jimmy Graham
22. Anthony Firkser
23. Gerald Everett
24. Tyler Higbee

1. Younghoe Koo
2. Harrison Butker
3. Wil Lutz
4. Rodrigo Blankenship
5. Jason Sanders
6. Justin Tucker
7. Jason Myers
8. Mason Crosby
9. Chris Boswell
10. Matt Prater
11. Daniel Carlson
12. Tyler Bass
13. Dan Bailey
14. Greg Zuerlein
15. Robbie Gould
16. Ka'imi Fairbairn
17. Nick Folk
18. Mike Badgley
19. Zane Gonzalez
20. Matt Gay
21. Dustin Hopkins
22. Jake Elliott
23. Randy Bullock
24. Stephen Gostkowski

1. Dolphins
2. Steelers
3. Seahawks
4. Packers
5. Ravens
6. Rams
7. Chiefs
8. Saints
9. Vikings
10. Bears
11. Raiders
12. Colts
13. 49ers
14. Chargers
15. Lions
16. Falcons
17. Bills
18. Football Team
19. Patriots
20. Titans
21. Browns
22. Cardinals
23. Cowboys
24. Texans