Injuries objectively suck. To this day it’s unclear why God hasn’t turned them off. Anyone who plays Madden of NCAA Football and does NOT turn off injuries is a monster in my humble opinion.
Of course, injuries continue to be a rather large part of fantasy football analysis, which is why Fantasy Life will continue to grind every fantasy-relevant issue throughout the season.
What follows is a breakdown of every fantasy-relevant injury ahead of Week 11. Check out the late Friday edition of The Fantasy Life Podcast for a full breakdown on the issues from Fantasy Life lead betting analyst Matthew Freedman and myself.
Quarterback
Joe Burrow (right wrist, out for season), Bengals
This sucks. You don’t need us to tell you that all parties involved in this Bengals offense are far worse off with UDFA Jake Browning now forced to take over under center.
Ja’Marr Chase should still be able to maintain something close to weekly WR2 production based on pure concentrated volume alone (think of what Garrett Wilson has had to deal with this season), while a similar sentiment is true for workhorse RB Joe Mixon.
That said: The scoring upside of both is nuked inside of what now figures to be one of the NFL’s lowest-scoring offenses during the final month and a half of the regular season.
Justin Fields (right thumb, not listed), Bears
It’s certainly possible this right thumb issue impacts his accuracy, but then again he proved more than capable of posting upside QB1 fantasy production even without much passing upside throughout the 2022 season.
Look no further than Fields’ last two matchups against this very Lions defense when he posted 13-147-2 and 10-132-0 rushing lines.
The QB position is DEEP this week, but I’m still finding a way to squeeze Fields inside the position’s top-10 options – you’d better have a DAMN good reason to have him anywhere near the bench, and he’ll likely be back inside the position’s top-five plays in Week 12 should his right thumb seem fully functional.
Matthew Stafford (right thumb, not listed), Rams
Phew. Not sure any of us could have taken another week of the Brett Rypien experiences – especially Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
Don’t be surprised if the pair of target-hog WRs get back to partying like it’s October against a Seahawks defense that largely had no answer for his passing wizardly back in Week 1.
Running Back
De’Von Achane (knee, questionable), Raheem Mostert (ankle/knee, not listed), Dolphins
The Dolphins are “very optimistic” about Achane playing Sunday. Achane (RB15) and Mostert (RB16) both come in highly in Fantasy Life’s consensus RB ranks, although there are double-digit discrepancies between individual rankers.
Sep 24, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (28) runs for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Ultimately, there’s a better-than-good chance managers won’t have much choice but to start either of these RBs; just realize it’s possible the former electric rookie could be somewhat eased back into action like he originally was back in Week 2 before bursting out on the national scene against the Broncos in Week 3.
Here’s to hoping Achane is as explosive as he was earlier in the year, as making a living off roughly 10 to 12 touches per game isn’t easy.
Dameon Pierce (ankle, out), Texans
Devin Singletary (81% snaps, 31 touches in Week 10) has the sort of near-every-down role to warrant every-week starting treatment for as long as Pierce remains sidelined.
Singletary’s impressive Week 10 performance against the Bengals also could have feasibly earned him more work moving forward. He’s deserving of top-20 treatment ahead of Sunday’s potential shootout with the Cardinals.
Aaron Jones (hamstring, not listed), Packers
Jones is fine and just continuing to practice in a limited fashion because why not? He’s played on 57% of the offense’s snaps in back-to-back games and has resumed his usual role as the offense’s lead back.
It’d make a lot of sense if a familiar boom is on the table against the Chargers’ ever-leaky 24th-ranked scoring defense.
Alexander Mattison (concussion, questionable), Vikings
Progressed through the protocol with DNP/LP/FP participation from Wednesday to Friday, but the same was also true for WR K.J. Osborn last week, and he was ultimately held out as a precaution anyway. The Vikings should announce on Saturday whether or not Mattison has cleared the protocol.
If active, fire up Mattiso as his typical borderline RB2 self thanks to little other than volume. If inactive, Ty Chandler deserves similar ranking treatment with an expected similar role and perhaps even more pass-chopping and big-play chops to offer than Mattison.
Saquon Barkley (ankle, not listed), Giants
Giants QB Tommy DeVito led the Giants to their second-best offensive performance of the season against the Cowboys last week … by scoring 17 points. Let that sink in.
Barkley remains a volume-based RB1 start, but don’t expect anything to be overly easy inside of an offense implied to score a pathetic 13.5 points.
Antonio Gibson (toe, doubtful), Commanders
Brian Robinson suddenly looks a lot like a must-start RB1 option. Sure, Chris Rodriguez will likely see a bit of work in Gibson’s absence, but 2023’s most productive B. Robinson should still see the bulk of early-down work and profiles as the favorite to assume most of the pass-down work.
Surprisingly, both Gibson and B-Rob are among the league’s top-five most-productive RBs in PPR fantasy points from purely receiving numbers:
- Christian McCaffrey (95.9)
- Alvin Kamara (86.5)
- Rachaad White (73.6)
- Antonio Gibson (68.9)
- Brian Robinson (63.6)
Washington hasn’t had a bye, so these numbers are a little inflated. However, both Gibson (RB7) and Robinson (RB10) remain top-10 RBs in PPR points from purely receiving production even when going on a per-game basis.
Kudos to Sam Howell – currently pacing for 4,731 pass yards and 29 TDs – for truly raising the fantasy floor for pretty much everyone involved this season.
Khalil Herbert (ankle/shin, not listed), D’Onta Foreman (ankle, questionable), Bears
This smells similar to the Jonathan Taylor-Zack Moss situation, where Foreman has played too well for the Bears to simply hand the entire backfield over to Herbert.
Don’t get it twisted: It’d make sense if Herbert leads the way, and he deserves to be the higher-ranked RB in fantasy land, but Foreman could eat enough meat off the bone to render both as lower-floor RB3 types than assets managers need to squeeze into lineups.
I’ll be answering most close start/sit questions involving a Bears RB with the other guy until we see what this split looks like.
Wide Receiver
Justin Jefferson (hamstring, questionable), K.J. Osborn (concussion, not listed) Vikings
The fact Jefferson is listed as questionable doesn’t seem like a great sign that he’ll suit up Sunday night against the Broncos.
Hopefully one of the league’s national reporters will break the final news sooner rather than later, as fantasy managers will NEED to have a reasonable backup plan in place to risk waiting on Jeferson in a game-time-decision scenario.
If active, Jefferson should be in fantasy lineup of all shapes and sizes thanks to the reality that, you know, he might be the best WR alive at the moment.
Garrett Wison (elbow, questionable), Jets
While Wilson is technically questionable, the electric second-year receiver is on record saying he expects to play. If so, fire him up as the upside WR2 talent that he’s largely still managed to be all season.
Wilson is on pace for 104 receptions and 1,213 yards this season and has a winnable matchup against a Bills defense that has allowed at least 24 points in three of their last four games.
Keenan Allen (shoulder, questionable), Jalen Guyton (groin, questionable) Chargers
Allen played through the pain last week and walked away with an 11-175-2 boom.
Allen earned no-doubt starting WR1 treatment anytime he’s healthy enough to suit up a long time ago.
Oct 16, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) celebrates after scoring on a 1-yard touchdown reception against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Also, note that Guyton was added to the injury report on Friday – not great for those of us (me) relying on him in 32-team fantasy leagues.
QB Justin Herbert might not have another choice but to feed Quentin Johnston should both be sidelined ahead of Sunday’s winnable matchup against the Packers.
Diontae Johnson (thumb, not listed), Steelers
Johnson is good to go after starting the week with a DNP.
Treat him as a volume-based borderline WR2 with Kenny Pickett largely nuking the upside of everyone involved. Fun fact: Retired NFL commentator Matt Ryan (14) has more passing TDs than Pickett (13) over the past two seasons despite
1.) Being REALLY bad with the Colts in 2022, and
2.) Starting a full 10 fewer games.
Ultimately, nobody deserves the benefit of the doubt in close start/sit decisions inside of a Steelers offense that continues to demonstrate far more bad than good every week.
Only the Panthers (15.5), Buccaneers (15) and Giants (13.5) are implied to score fewer points than the Steelers (16.25) ahead of this brutal road spot.
Tyler Lockett (hamstring, questionable), Seahawks
Tentatively expected to continue playing through the pain because that’s pretty much what Lockett always does. There’s nothing to overly worry about ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Rams if healthy.
Jake Bobo would enter starting three-WR sets if Lockett doesn’t manage to suit up. Fire up the veteran as his usual boom-or-bust WR3 self if active.
Christian Watson (shoulder, not listed), Packers
Always seemingly dealing with one issue or another, but Watson is good to go for Sunday’s potential boom spot against the Chargers. Of course, Watson hasn’t exactly done any booming thus far in 2023, and he’s accordingly not ranked (WR39) too far ahead of teammates Romeo Doubs (WR42) or Jayden Reed (WR45).
Each are fine FLEX plays in a Packers offense starting to trend up after setting season-high marks in total yards in back-to-back weeks.
Jalin Hyatt (concussion, not listed), Wan’Dale Robinson (knee, not listed), Giants
Imagine considering starting a Giants WR in fantasy football these days. Couldn’t be us.
Curtis Samuel (toe, not listed), Commanders
Isn’t seeing a full-time role n recent weeks, as the Commanders hav been happy to keep guys like Dyami Brown, Byron Pringle and Jamison Crowder just involved enough to sap most of Samuel’s fantasy upside.
He’s a low-floor WR5 despite the more than winnable matchup against the Giants.
Zay Jones (knee, questionable), Jamal Agnew (shoulder/ribs, out), Parker Washington (knee, questionable), Jaguars
Jones hasn’t played since Week 5. Humans named Tim Jones and Elijah Cooks will take over as the third and fourth WRs should both Jones and Agnew miss Sunday’s winnable matchup against the Titans.
Jones would be more of a dicey WR5 play if active due to the potential for limited snaps after he failed to get in a full practice all week.
Treylon Burks (concussion, out), Titan
The Titans continue to roll with Chris Moore and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in three-WR sets alongside DeAndre Hopkins with Burks sidelined.
Still, Kyle “One L” Philips is also plenty involved, rendering everyone other than the artist known as Nuk as non-viable fantasy plays. Fire up Hopkins as a solid volume-based WR2 with a winnable get-right matchup this week. He’s Fantasy Life’s consensus WR22.
Nico Collins (calf, not listed), Noah Brown (knee, questionable), Robert Woods (foot, not listed), Texans
Brown is technically questionable but reportedly not expected to play after failing to practice all week.
Treat Tank Dell as the true No. 1 here; the rookie is suddenly the WR17 in PPR points per game and deserves weekly WR2 treatment.
Losing Brown sucks considering he trails only CeeDee Lamb in receiving yards over the past two weeks, but the return of Nico and the presence of Bobby Trees does cement a big three in this WR room.
Fire up Collins as a boom-or-bust WR3 with the former outcome certainly on the table ahead of Sunday’s likely shootout against the Cardinals. Woods is more of a deeper league FLEX play than someone managers should really go out of their way to start.
Marvin Mims (ankle, not listed), Jerry Jeudy (hip, not listed), Broncos
Jeudy’s issue is perceived to be a bit more serious considering he wasn’t listed on the week’s initial report. Mims seems fine after getting in full sessions on Thursday and Friday. Both operated as full-time members of three-WR sets in the Broncos’ upset win over the Bills; the bigger problem in Denver recently has been the run-first nature of this group.
Overall, the Broncos have posted a dropback over expected rate of negative seven percent in three of their last four games. Neither Mims nor Jeudy are anything more than low-floor WR4 types despite the winnable Sunday night matchup against the Vikings’ blitz-happy defense.
Michael Wilson (shoulder, questionable), Zach Pascal (hamstring, questionable), Cardinals
While fireworks didn’t go off for Marquise Brown last week, I’d bet on him and Kyler connecting on this potential 28-yard TD more times than not moving forward.
Hell, even Rondale Moore (75% route rate) and Wilson (92%) are viable FLEX candidates with full-time roles in this ascending passing game. The latter receiver would likely be replaced by a combination of Greg Dortch and Andre Baccellia if unable to suit up.
D.J. Chark (elbow, not listed), Laviska Shenault (ankle, questionable), Panthers
Chark’s return will presumably bump Terrace Marshall out of three-WR sets.
Regardless: Adam Thielen is the only player inside this entire offense whom fantasy managers should feel at all confident about starting ahead of Sunday’s brutal spot against Micah Parsons and company.
Marquise Goodwin (concussion, out), Browns
The field-stretching specialist is out another week and won’t be on the fantasy radar upon returning inside this DTR-led offense.
Tight End
Mark Andrews (cracked fibula/ankle, out for season), Ravens
Andrews is the only TE not named Travis Kelce to capture the overall fantasy TE1 crown since 2015. This sucks.
Prayers and good vibes go out to the three-time Pro Bowler on a quick and successful recovery.
Second-year Ravens TE Isaiah Likely is the next man up and certainly flashed plenty of upside as a rookie on his way to posting 6-77-1, 1-24-1 and 8-103-0 receiving lines in his only three games with a snap rate north of 50%.
Dec 19, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) runs after the catch during the first half against the Green Bay Packers dat M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Still, he managed just one reception for four-scoreless yards in Week 1 with Andrews sidelined, and last night’s goose-egg effort doesn’t add much confidence to his potential second-half upside.
It’s likely that Likely (sorry) serves as more of a boom-or-bust TE2 inside of a Todd Monken-led offense that is more comfortable featuring its WRs in the passing game vs. what we saw in 2022.
T.J. Hockenson (ribs, not listed), Vikings
Hockenson is playing through quite a bit of pain, but that hasn’t impacted his volume, role, or performance.
Fire up the TE2 in PPR points per game as an easy top-three option at the position ahead of Sunday night’s showdown with the Broncos.
Dalton Schultz (hamstring, not listed), Texans
Good to go after being limited to start the week.
The ex-Cowboys veteran has ripped off top-eight finishes in five of his last six finishes and is a recommended TE1 start ahead of Sunday’s potential shootout against the Cardinals.
Pat Freiermuth (hamstring, questionable), Steelers
Muth did get in full sessions on Thursday and Friday, indicating he might be on the right side of this questionable tag.
Still, it’d make sense if playing time is somewhat limited in his first week back – nobody deserves the benefit of the doubt in close start/sit decisions inside of a Steelers offense that continues to demonstrate far more bad than good every week.
Only the Panthers (15.5), Buccaneers (15) and Giants (13.5) are implied to score fewer points than the Steelers (16.25) ahead of this brutal road spot.
Dallas Goedert (forearm), Grant Calcaterra (concussion) Eagles
Goedert doesn’t look all that close to returning after failing to practice on Thursday or Friday.
Jack Stoll is tentatively expected to get the starting nod, although the expected return of Calcaterra – and the presence of Albert Okwuegbunam – could turn this into more of a low-volume three-way committee.
Stoll is most deserving of a dart throw, but even then he’s nothing more than a low-end TD-dependent TE2 type at best in fantasy land.
Hayden Hurst (concussion, out), Ian Thomas (calf, questionable), Panthers
Tommy Tremble is the next man up here, but then again Stephen Sullivan has also been involved in recent weeks inside of an offense that always likes to rotate at the position.
There’s also the whole problem of this passing game generally being terrible. And the terrible matchup on deck against the Cowboys. So yeah, let’s stay away from this group if at all possible in fantasy land. Cool? Cool.
Durham Smythe (ankle, questionable), Dolphins
Injury increases the chances of Smythe working more so in a committee as opposed to the every-down role he had earlier in the season.
Of course, the low-volume TE wasn’t even on the fantasy radar then outside of super deep leagues; he’s not a viable fantasy option this week.
Gerald Everett (chest, out), Donald Parham (hip, not listed), Chargers
This would be a fantastic situation to target every week in “team” TE fantasy leagues where managers simply get the position group’s cumulative production.
Alas, that’s not the case for most of us mere mortals: Parham is nothing more than a low-floor TE2 type due to the added presence of guys like Nick Vannett and Stone Smartt. “No parties in LA” is actually referencing the Chargers’ TE room.
Other
- Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick (hamstring, out), Keanu Neal (rib, out)
- Panthers CB Jaycee Horn (hamstring, out), C.J. Henderson (concussion, out)
- Raiders T Kolton Miller (shoulder, questionable), G Dylan Parham (calf, questionable)
- Titans T Andre Dillard (concussion, out), G Daniel Brunskill (ankle, questionable)
- Packers CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder, questionable)
- Giants OT Andrew Thomas (knee, questionable)
