Fantasy managers in must-win situations heading into their fantasy football playoffs may face some tough starting decisions with six teams on a bye and a handful of big injuries at the TE position this week.
Let’s take a look at the latest injury updates for Dallas Goedert, Trey McBride, and Hayden Hurst and how they are impacting decision making this week.
Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
Editor’s note: Goedert was seen participating in practice on Friday.
The Philadelphia Eagles may have the best record in the NFL at 10-1, but one could make an argument that this offense definitely misses TE Dallas Goedert.
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The 28-year-old TE picked up a fracture on his right forearm against the Dallas Cowboys back in Week 9 and has missed the last two games, but is likely eager to get back on the football field for their big matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
According to a recent report from Eliot Shorr-Parks, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said, “We’ll see,” when asked about Goedert’s potential return to the field in Week 13. Goedert hasn’t played a full 16-game season since his rookie year back in 2018 but has been productive when on the field over the last three seasons.
According to the Eagles’ official injury report from Wednesday, Goedert was listed as a non-participant for Wednesday’s practice session, which certainly means a third straight game without Goedert in the lineup is a possibility.
Goedert has 38 receptions for 410 yards and two scores over his nine games in 2023, which currently has him as the TE15 in PPR formats.
A matchup against the 49ers’ talented group of LBs and DBs isn’t an ideal fantasy matchup for Goedert, but he would still be a fringe top-10 player at the TE position if he manages to return in Week 13.
Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals
Editor’s note: McBride logged a limited practice on Thursday for the Cardinals.
The Arizona Cardinals’ second-year TE Trey McBride has definitely made the most of his expanded role since Zach Ertz was sent to injured reserve (IR). His 33 receptions and 351 receiving yards over the last five games are considered elite fantasy production from the tight end position and have firmly put him into the TE1 conversation on a weekly basis.
McBride’s breakout is partly a result of Ertz’s absence from this passing offense. Ertz was averaging six targets per game, which significantly limited McBride’s snaps and involvement in the passing game. For some perspective, McBride never saw more than 58% of the offensive snaps in any game Ertz played, while he has seen a minimum of 68% of the snaps since Ertz was sent to IR.
Unfortunately, McBride may have picked up some sort of injury during the team’s loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. According to a recent report from Tyler Drake, McBride was in uniform for Wednesday’s practice but watching off to the side.
The team has not released its official injury report at this time, but one could assume he may be dealing with a minor injury right now. The fact he played 86% of the offensive snaps against the Rams and was in uniform for Wednesday’s practice session suggests the injury he is currently dealing with probably isn’t too serious.
Fantasy managers will still want to monitor his practice participation closely throughout the rest of the week, but this report shouldn’t be too concerning for his status heading into their matchup against the Steelers on Sunday.
Pittsburgh will be one of McBride’s tougher challenges yet. The Steelers allow an average of just 7.5 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. However, McBride has scored more than 20+ fantasy points in three of his last five games.
Despite the tough matchup, McBride is still a rock-solid TE1 option this week.
Hayden Hurst, TE, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers TE Hayden Hurst may be dealing with a very significant concussion he suffered against the Chicago Bears back in Week 10 because he has missed the last two games.
Well, according to a recent report from Mike Kaye, Hurst was unable to get back on the practice field for Wednesday’s practice session ahead of their Week 13 showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Hurst will still have to clear the stages of the league’s concussion protocol before he can return to the starting lineup. Hurst got out of the gates quickly with his new team after a 15.1 fantasy outing in the form of a five-reception, 41-yard, one-score day at the office in the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
Unfortunately, Hurst has not scored a touchdown since Week 1 and could be in real jeopardy of missing his third straight game if he can’t get back on the practice field by Friday.
Look for Ian Thomas to see an expanded role at TE against the Bucs if Hurst is unable to play on Sunday.
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