The fantasy football playoffs are quickly approaching, putting many managers in must-win situations heading into Week 13.
Let’s take a look at the latest injury updates for Trey McBride, Dallas Goedert, and Dalton Schultz and how they are impacting decision-making this week.
Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals’ second-year TE McBride was so impressive with his expanded role that the team decided to part ways with TE Zach Ertz after he was eligible to return from injured reserve (IR). McBride’s 33 receptions and 351 receiving yards over the last five games means he’s producing elite numbers from the tight end position, jumping him into weekly TE1 conversations.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
McBride’s bump in production correlated with Ertz’s absence from this passing attack. Ertz was still seeing a hefty six targets per game to start the season, significantly limiting McBride’s snaps and involvement in the passing game. Need proof? 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.
According to the team’s injury report, McBride was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday but did manage to get back on the practice field in a limited capacity Thursday. Another encouraging development, reported by Josh Weinfuss, saw McBride on the field for the open portion of Friday’s practice.
His appearance on the practice field in two consecutive days certainly has him trending in the right direction. For some more context, he was on the field for 86% of the offensive snaps against the Los Angeles Rams.
If McBride can take the field in Week 13, Pittsburgh will be one of his toughest challenges. 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.
Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles hope they can welcome one of the most talented tight ends in the league back into their starting lineup ahead of their matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Goedert suffered a fracture to his right forearm against the Dallas Cowboys back in Week 9 and has missed the last two games.
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 has played a full 16/17-game season just once in his entire career, his rookie year back in 2018.
According to the Eagles’ official injury report from Wednesday, Goedert was listed as a non-participant for Wednesday’s practice session, which certainly had him trending in the wrong direction regarding his potential return to the field in Week 13.
However, according to a recent report from Josh Tolentino, Goedert was back on the practice field on Friday for the first time since suffering his forearm injury, which could give him a chance to play on Sunday.
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 returns in Week 13.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans
The Houston Texans may be without one of their top pass catchers against the Denver Broncos on Sunday while Schultz continues to battle a hamstring injury.
The Texans’ injury report listed Schultz as a non-participant for Wednesday and Thursday’s practice due to the hamstring injury. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, a recent report from Aaron Wilson also states Schultz was not practicing on Friday and is expected to miss the team’s game for Week 13.
Schultz has not missed a game yet this season, but failing to take the practice field all week certainly suggests he is very unlikely to play on Sunday. If Schultz is inactive against Denver, look for TE Brevin Jordan to see an expanded role in Week 13.
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