This article will be updated as practice reports roll in throughout the weekend. For the most up to date injury data between updates, bookmark this link and check it periodically.
What This Is:
*A no-nonsense quick-hitting analysis of fantasy-relevant player injuries that could impact performance on game day.
*A preview of the current week’s fantasy-relevant players with an injury through Friday night.
General Guidelines:
The following general rules apply for big shake-ups on the weekend:
*Players who are downgraded from full or even partial practice to “Did Not Practice” on Friday or Saturday, for any medical reason, are a long shot to play. Typically you’ll see teams say these players are a “game time decision” which is code for “they ain’t playing”.
*Players who have a concussion have up until Saturday night/Sunday morning to clear the protocol.
*If no “final update” is available, the player has either been officially ruled out or no news is good news.
The following players have already been ruled out as of Friday evening and/or are unlikely to play so get them out of your lineups:
Jordan Howard
Jeremy McNichols
Kaden Smith
Kyle Rudolph
Eric Ebron
Miles Boykin
Auden Tate
Kadarius Toney
Sterling Shepard
Antonio Brown
AJ Brown
Rashaad Penny
Travis Homer
Michael Carter
JaMycal Hasty
Ricky Seals-Jones
The following notable players practiced in full on Friday and/or carry minimal concern.
Lamar Jackson
Kareem Hunt - Low to moderate volatility due to re-injury risk
Baker Mayfield
Ben Roethlisberger
Geno Smith
Tom Brady
Melvin Gordon III
Rex Burkhead
James Robinson
Rhamondre Stevenson
Saquon Barkley
Tyler Boyd
D’Onta Foreman
Hunter Henry
Jonnu Smith
Donovan Peoples-Jones
Jarvis Landry
Donovan Peoples-Jones
Jarvis Landry
Davante Adams
Brandin Cooks
Danny Amendola
TY Hilton
Preston Williams
John Ross
DK Metcalf
Chris Godwin
Mike Evans
QUARTERBACKS
Aaron Rodgers - Toe
Rodgers admitted to having a fracture in his toe last week and it actually prevented him from taking a handful of snaps in Week 11. It’s not reasonable to completely fade the conspiracy theorist MVP of the league but this does imply that future missed snaps (i.e. fantasy points equity) are in the cards. Moving forward, he’s a cash-game fade in certain instances. Otherwise, it’s hard to fade him in most leagues.
RUNNING BACKS
Cordarrelle Patterson - Ankle
Patterson has been practicing in a limited fashion for two weeks, so there’s no telling if this will be the week he returns. High ankle sprains typically result in 2-3 weeks of missed time and the first week back is highly volatile. If active, he’s highly volatile in cash-games and moderate to highly volatile in most other leagues.
Aaron Jones - Knee
Matt LaFleur gave one doozy of a line about the Packers’ injury management with the upcoming bye:
"If a guy is cleared to play, we'll let him go. But you're also mindful of what you have in front of you."
Holy waffling comment Batman! The bottom line is the Packers do have an upcoming bye week that could do Jones some good despite his return to practice. My guess as of today is that he doesn’t go, but this is truly a coin-toss. At worst, expect him back in Week 14 at full force. If active this week, you have to roll with him and hope no exacerbation hits.
Damien Harris - Neck
This is something to monitor closely as Harris is also coming off the concussion. The two injuries happen in conjunction often leading to a greater chance of re-injury in the future. Harris is moderately volatile in Week 12 due to this re-injury risk.
Elijah Mitchell - Finger
Kyle Shanahan has a way with words. Not really, but you can decide that for yourself. Other than pain-control and protecting the hand after having a pin placed in it, another consideration for a RB with a hand/finger injury is ball security. If Shanahan doesn’t believe Mitchell can hold on to the ball, he’ll almost certainly sit. Considering Mitchell was still in a non-contact jersey all week, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be active and ready to roll in Week 12. However, on the off chance he’s active, consider him highly volatile for that same reason. I personally need to see him do it without fumbles or an exacerbation to trust him.
Alex Collins - Groin
Collins is listed here because Rashaad Penny is unlikely to go with a hamstring strain. Meanwhile, Travis Homer was downgraded to DNP on Thursday. That leaves much of the work up to Alex Collins and DeeJay Dallas.
Antonio Gibson and JD McKissic
The reason these two are on here is because figuring out the backfield and the volume has been a nightmare. They’re both highly volatile until Gibson can show he’s going to truly take control of the backfield and get over this season-long shin issue.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Marquise Brown - Thigh
It seems like this injury is more so from a shot to the leg as opposed to a muscle strain. These are less finicky but can recur if another hit is sustained. Brown is minimally volatile in Week 12.
Corey Davis - Groin
Davis was downgraded this week due to a groin issue. This seems to be the same “hip” issue that led to a Week 8 Doubtful tag for Davis. Soft tissue strains are finicky and even though he was back on Friday, this is chronic at this point. In this first week after being downgraded again, he’s moderate to highly volatile. Just remember, all it takes is one shot. Davis is the classic tournament not cash play.
Allen Lazard - Shoulder
After missing Week 11 with a shoulder issue, Lazard has been limited in practice all week. It seems like he’s going to give this one a go but just know given the nature of shoulder injuries, re-injury risk is a factor. He’s moderately to highly volatile in Week 12.
TENTATIVE PROJECTED RETURN DATES:
The following dates are based primarily on updates directly from beat reporters or the team. When appropriate, historical data & clinical experience are used to refine these dates. They are educated guesses. Not set in stone.
Derrick Henry - Week 16-18
Henry returning before 10 weeks is the least likely scenario to happen
Ezekiel Elliot - Week 14/15
Don’t panic as this hasn’t been confirmed yet. However, Mike McCarthy stated he’s “concerned” about Zeke’s health. Usually that means it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Don’t be shocked if Zeke sits in Week 13 as this is the most banged up he’s been since entering the league.
Michael Carter - Week 15/16
Mark Ingram - Week 13/14
D’Andre Swift - Week 15/16
The silver lining is that Swift is considered “day-to-day” but that still implies the injury wasn’t nothing. The average return to play for an AC sprain is 10 days, but that would be cutting it close depending on the severity (grade) of the injury.. Realistic managers should expect this to go 2-3 weeks and give a sigh of relief if it’s only a one game absence.
CeeDee Lamb - Week 13
Justin Fields - Week 13/14
A.J. Brown - Week 14/15
DeAndre Hopkins - Week 13/14
Kyler Murray - Week 13/14
Amari Cooper - Week 13
Aaron Jones - Week 14
The GB medical staff is famously conservative and the Packers have a Week 13 bye. Even though this is reportedly a 1-2 week absence, conservatively plan for a Week 14 return and be happy if it’s in Week 12. If you’re in a decent position to make the playoffs, now is the time to poach away Aaron Jones from another flailing manager.
Alvin Kamara - Week 13/14
Sterling Shepard - Week 13/14
Allen Robinson - Week 13/14
Elijah Mitchell - Week 13/14
Antonio Brown - Week 13/14
Will Fuller - Week 13 -- ???
Julio Jones - Week 13
Chase Edmonds - Week 13/14
DeVante Parker - Week 13/14
