The New Orleans Saints cannot catch a break in Week 12. Having already lost wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, the Saints watched backup running back Jamaal Williams go down with an injury on Sunday. What happened to Williams, and what’s his current injury status?
Jamaal Williams Injury Update
Williams appeared to suffer an injury during the fourth quarter. He was shaking his arm and yelling, then threw his helmet before entering the blue medical tent on the Saints’ sideline, per ESPN’s Kat Terrell.
Olave suffered a concussion earlier in today’s game and has been ruled out. Shaheed went down with a thigh injury — he was listed as questionable to return but has not re-entered the game.
Fellow wide receiver Michael Thomas is already on injured reserve (IR), while third-string RB Kendre Miller (ankle) was inactive for Week 12. New Orleans has a skill-position problem.
Williams, who signed a three-year deal with the Saints this offseason after spending the previous two years with the Detroit Lions, has already dealt with injury issues in 2023. He suffered a hamstring injury in Week 3, was placed on IR, and missed the next four games.
Williams had played at least 15 offensive snaps in each of the last four weeks, taking 45 carries for 131 yards during that span.
Fantasy Fallout From Williams’ Injury
Williams was brought in to handle the short-yardage situations. Now that he’s sidelined, Alvin Kamara’s value rises — if for no other reason than he has one fewer teammate to worry about.
MORE: Injuries to Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed Lead to Taysom Hill and A.T. Perry Fantasy Interest
The true winner is Taysom Hill, as his unique skill set makes him valuable near the red zone, while Williams’ injury will increase his touch share near the goal line.
The injuries across the board for New Orleans are certainly concerning when it comes to how successfully this team can move the ball. But when they get close, Hill’s usage isn’t a question, and that’s enough to land him as a top-10 tight end in all fantasy football formats.
— PFN Fantasy Analyst Kyle Soppe
