The San Francisco 49ers will travel to take on the Buffalo Bills in Week 13. Here’s the final injury report and start-sit advice for every skill player who has the potential to make a fantasy football impact during the game.
Looking for more lineup advice? Head over to our Week 13 Fantasy Start-Sit Cheat Sheet, where we cover every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
And if you’re looking for all the latest injury updates around the league, our Final Week 13 Injury Report is live and updated with the very latest for all 32 teams.
Brandon Allen, QB | SF
Allen’s Injury Status for Week 13
Allen is not listed on the injury report this week.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Allen
It took Brandon Allen 29 passes to threaten 200 yards through the air last week in Lambeau. He was able to spread out his targets, but when throwing to teammates not named George Kittle, Allen was able to complete just 55% of his passes, a rate that just isn’t going to cut it.
If Allen draws another start, you don’t need to worry about it when it comes to the QB position. His connection with Kittle was strong enough to keep the veteran TE ranked top seven regardless of who is under center.
The value of Deebo Samuel Sr. would be the one to watch, but I’m ranking things as if Brock Purdy will be back this week and get San Francisco’s offense back on track with its season hanging in the balance.
Brock Purdy, QB | SF
Purdy’s Injury Status for Week 13
After missing Week 12 due to a right shoulder injury, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday before a full session on Friday. He was declared questionable on the final injury report, but head coach Kyle Shanahan said he expected his starting QB to return.
Purdy was also limited for last week’s Wednesday session. He went limited again last Thursday before being downgraded and ruled out on Friday.
Purdy’s upward trajectory at practice this week was a great sign. The clearest sign of his return arrived on Friday, when he threw at practice and backup quarterback Brandon Allen occupied a scout team role.
Allen completed 17 of 29 attempts for 199 yards, one touchdown, and one interception vs. Green Bay. He earned a C (72.8) in PFN’s QB+ grades, No. 19 among 26 quarterbacks who played in Week 12.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Purdy
Purdy (right shoulder) sat out last week against the Packers. Advanced testing showed no structural damage, leading to cautious optimism that he’ll return to the lineup this week. Should that be the case, I think there’s a possibility Purdy gives us a borderline QB1 performance.
The Bills excel at shutting down opponents from big perimeter plays, but this 49ers offense is happy to focus on the shorter passing game and let their athletes work in space.
Purdy has completed 71.9% of his passes since Christian McCaffrey returned to the field, and I don’t think that’s an accident. He has a quartet of top-six finishes this season, thanks in part to four rushing scores over his past four games.
No, he’s not Lamar Jackson. He’s not even Daniel Jones when it comes to athleticism, but Purdy is mobile enough to raise his fantasy floor, which I think will help this week against a patient Buffalo defense.
If we get a clean bill of health entering the weekend, Purdy will move inside of my top 15 quarterbacks.
Christian McCaffrey, RB | SF
McCaffrey’s Injury Status for Week 13
McCaffrey received a rest day on Wednesday. He returned to fully practice the rest of the week and carries no injury designation for Sunday night.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for McCaffrey
We waited over two months for Christian McCaffrey to return with the thought being that he’d be the 1.01 the second he took the field.
Safe to say that hasn’t been the case.
Despite being thrown into his bell-cow role from the jump, CMC has more fumbles lost than touchdowns three weeks into his season and hasn’t showcased the game-breaking potential that we’ve associated with him for years. Last season, 16.2% of his carries gained 10+ yards, a rate that currently sits at 7% (for reference, Ameer Abdullah’s rate is 8%).
You’re starting McCaffrey, there’s no two ways about that, but I can in good faith keep him on the top line, even if Brock Purdy returns — he’s my RB4 for this week.
Jordan Mason, RB | SF
Mason’s Injury Status for Week 13
Mason is not listed on the injury report this week.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Mason
Jordan Mason has been on the field for just 8.5% of San Francisco’s offensive snaps since Christian McCaffrey returned and has no path to earning more work outside of an injury to the team’s starter.
With their season on the line, the 49ers are likely to ride McCaffrey as hard now as ever, and while that doesn’t mean anything for Mason this week, every touch added to a role increases health risk; that is why I’d hold onto Mason if you have the space as we prepare for the stretch run.
If the 49ers fall this week, do they try to manage McCaffrey and make sure he leaves the season in one piece? That might be overthinking things, but it’s possible, and that would make Mason an impact player during the fantasy postseason.
Deebo Samuel Sr., WR | SF
Samuel’s Injury Status for Week 13
Samuel is not listed on the injury report this week.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Samuel
Is there a more difficult player to rank with confidence annually than Deebo Samuel Sr.?
- 2021: 37.6% production over expectations
- 2022: 13.7% production under expectations
- 2023: 35.2% production over expectations
- 2024: 10.2% production under expectations
Samuel’s rushing equity has all but dried up since Christian McCaffrey made his season debut three weeks ago, and we have a downward-trending ability to earn targets that we need to consider. His on-field target share stood at 25.5% in 2021, a rate that fell to 25.1% in 2022, again to 23.4% in 2023, and currently sits at 20.5%.
He remains nearly impossible to tackle in space, so the fact that the Bills allow the 10th most red-zone trips per game opens up some scoring potential, but I worry more about the floor than I idealize the ceiling.
I prefer Jauan Jennings’ tighter range of outcomes in this offense and have Samuel labeled as a Flex play this weekend.
Jauan Jennings, WR | SF
Jennings’ Injury Status for Week 13
Jennings is not listed on the injury report this week.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Jennings
The Brandon Allen version of this offense was all sorts of underwhelming against the Packers last weekend, but that didn’t stop Jauan Jennings from impacting the game by leading the team in targets (seven).
That’s a nice note to present, but it’s kind of like saying you got the best candy when trick-or-treating at the dentist’s office. Is it really that impactful?
The Bills allow the fourth-highest completion rate to the slot (75%) and that has me confident that Jennings can continue to be efficient regardless of who is under center.
I have Jennings hovering in the middle of my Flex ranks at the moment — should we get confirmation that Brock Purdy will return, he’ll carry a WR2 status into Thanksgiving, ranking just ahead of the slot man on the other side of the field last week in Jayden Reed.
Ricky Pearsall, WR | SF
Pearsall’s Injury Status for Week 13
Pearsall is not listed on the injury report this week.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Pearsall
For a minute, it looked like the duel for the WR2 role in this offense was going to be competitive between Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings, but that is no longer the case. The rookie has earned just two targets (zero receptions) on his 44 routes over the past two weeks and there are no signs of production looming, even if Brock Purdy is back under center.
With four players now clearly ahead of him in this passing game, there is no reason to keep the light on for Pearsall. I’m far more likely to target offenses in Green Bay or Carolina that have a less solidified hierarchy when it comes to opportunity count and would suggest you do the same.
George Kittle, TE | SF
Kittle’s Injury Status for Week 13
Kittle is not listed on the injury report this week.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Kittle
George Kittle didn’t see much change in terms of his role last weekend with Brock Purdy on the shelf. That has me comfortable in locking the star tight end regardless of the QB situation.
- 2024: 20% on-field target share, 9.0 aDOT, and 12.1 expected points
- Week 12: 22.2% on-field target share, 10.0 aDOT, and 11.9 expected points
The 49ers have made it clear that, no matter the players on the field, Kittle is the man they trust as the end zone comes into focus. He’s scored eight times in his past eight games, and with the Bills focusing on preventing big perimeter plays, he should have room to operate in the middle portion of the field.
Josh Allen, QB | BUF
Allen’s Injury Status for Week 13
Allen is not listed on the injury report this week.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Allen
Why is Josh Allen’s interception rate (1.5%) trending toward a career low? His quick pass rate sits at 67%, easily a career-high (2023: 58.4%). I find that to be an interesting approach in this matchup, specifically against a defense that blitzes at the third-lowest rate in the league.
Will Allen hold the ball longer and thus create splash-play opportunities? Will San Francisco sit in coverage and attempt to jump those quick hitters?
The nerd in me will be on full display when watching this game, but from a fantasy lineup setting scope, there’s nothing to act on. Allen has a rushing touchdown or multiple passing touchdowns in six straight contests, finishing as a top-10 signal-caller in five of those games. I don’t think this will be a peak Allen performance, but I find it highly unlikely that you lose your Week 13 matchup because you put your trust in the MVP front-runner.
James Cook, RB | BUF
Cook’s Injury Status for Week 13
Cook is not listed on the injury report this week.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Cook
James Cook has returned great profits on your investment this summer with six RB1 finishes this season, including in three of his past four games as he trends toward matchup-proof status.
Cook has remained plenty involved in the passing game (15 targets over his past three games), but there is no denying that his biggest growth from last season to this one is in his ability to find paydirt with eight more rushing scores this year on 100 fewer carries than 2023.
The spiking touchdown rate has fueled a 23.8% increase in PPR points per touch for Cook, and while Ray Davis has looked the part when given the opportunity, it’s clear that Buffalo is comfortable with a bell-cow situation.
The 49ers own a top-10 run defense in nearly every metric you should be interested in, and while that hurts the upside case for Cook this week, his volume and versatility keep him ranked as a must-start in all formats without much question.
Ray Davis, RB | BUF
Davis’ Injury Status for Week 13
Davis is not listed on the injury report this week.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Davis
Ray Davis is exactly the type of player I want this time of year — no temptation to play weekly but a top-20 upside if a role opens up
Since burying the New York Jets in Week 6 with James Cook sidelined, Davis hasn’t played more than 23% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps in a single game. He’s the clear handcuff in this offense, and there is value in that if you have a good team that is positioning itself for a deep playoff run.
However, if your team is clawing for every win to qualify for the postseason, you might be forced to make a tough call on a player like Davis. There’s no path to stand-alone value as long as Cook is healthy; with that currently the case, cutting Davis is reasonable if you’re trying to maximize your Week 13 roster.
Amari Cooper, WR | BUF
Cooper’s Injury Status for Week 13
Cooper (wrist) fully practiced all week and did not receive an injury designation on the final report ahead of Week 13.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Cooper
A wrist injury has hampered Amari Cooper since being dealt to the Bills, and at this point, I need to see him produce in this offense before assuming it. Let the record show that I very much believe in his ability to do so and am not backing off of my hopes for him being a league winner at the right time.
Cooper has run 61 routes for Buffalo, and he’s turned them into just 10 targets and seven catches. We all remember Keon Coleman telling him where to run in his team debut and getting him into the end zone, but that’s been about it in terms of excitement.
If you have more guts than I do, plug Cooper in as your Flex and be on your way. I’m opting for a cautious approach, ranking him outside of my top 30, behind names like Xavier Worthy and Michael Pittman Jr.
Keon Coleman, WR | BUF
Coleman’s Injury Status for Week 13
Coleman was limited in practice all week while recovering from a wrist injury. He received a questionable designation on the final Friday report.
Coleman injured his wrist near the end of Week 9 and had not practiced or played since. His presence on the field is a step in the right direction, but Coleman appears to be a true game-time call for Sunday night. Head coach Sean McDermott had suggested that Coleman was facing a multi-week injury.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Coleman
I worry that, at this point in the season, the idea of Keon Coleman is more valuable than the on-field product. The rookie has been battling a wrist injury for a month now, but even if he returns this week, what is the upside?
Coleman has earned more than five targets in just two games this season, and his role on the perimeter (just 5.2% of his routes have come in the slot) next to Amari Cooper isn’t how I expect Buffalo to attack San Francisco. Through 12 weeks, the 49ers surrendered just 6.1 yards per throw to the outside, the lowest rate in the NFL.
I’m not cutting ties with Coleman just for the sake of doing it, but as long as Cooper is healthy, I don’t think he’s a must-roster player.
Khalil Shakir, WR | BUF
Shakir’s Injury Status for Week 13
Shakir is not listed on the injury report this week.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Shakir
If you want to see what a rich man’s version of Wan’Dale Robinson looks like, it’s Khalil Shakir. With stability under center, his route-running prowess has been rewarded with an on-field target share north of 24% in five straight games (at least six receptions in each of those contests).
He’s never going to offer massive per-target upside, but as the game’s most efficient receiver, there’s weekly value to lean into. You’d probably be surprised to know that Shakir has reeled in a 20-yard reception in seven of his past nine games, giving him access to a ceiling that other chain movers simply don’t have.
The 49ers cough up 8.2 yards per slot pass attempt this year, ranking them below the league average and giving me a reason to be ranking Shakir as a WR2 in PPR formats.
Dalton Kincaid, TE | BUF
Kincaid’s Injury Status for Week 13
Kincaid did not practice all week as he battles an ongoing knee injury. He was formally declared out on the final injury report and will not face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.
Kincaid went down just before halftime of the Bills’ Week 10 win over the Chiefs. While he initially returned to that game, he departed again after a few snaps. Kincaid didn’t practice leading up to Week 11 either.
Buffalo had a bye in Week 12, so it’s worrisome that Kincaid still hasn’t made it back to practice. With Kincaid sidelined in Week 11, fellow Bills TE Dawson Knox posted his best game of the season, hauling in four catches for 40 yards while finishing as fantasy’s TE18.
Kincaid’s Fantasy Outlook
A knee injury resulted in Dalton Kincaid missing the Week 11 win over the Chiefs, but with the bye week to rehab, the hope is that he will be on the field Sunday night.
Kincaid’s route tree has been opened up a bit this season (aDOT up 17.9% from his encouraging rookie season), but that has created a dip in efficiency that has submarined his value (one finish inside the top 10 this season).
- 2023: 80.2% catch rate
- 2024: 40.7% catch rate
Dawson Knox, TE | BUF
Knox’s Injury Status for Week 13
Knox is not listed on the injury report this week.
Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Knox
Dawson Knox was on the field for 83.1% of Buffalo’s Week 11 snaps with Dalton Kincaid (knee) sidelined, a near 30-percentage point increase from where his rate stood prior.
Should Kincaid sit again, by all means, get exposure to Buffalo’s elite offense as you stream the position. But if the young tight end is back on the field and protecting for his standard role, there’s no utility in Knox (four straight games without a red-zone target and hasn’t cleared 50 receiving yards in a game since Week 15, 2022).