Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon has been the lead back for the team over the past few weeks while Aaron Jones has been out due to a knee injury.
However, Dillon is now struggling with an injury of his own — a thumb injury — which has left his status as questionable for today’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Will Dillon manage to shake off his injury and play today against the Buccaneers? What is the latest news concerning his thumb injury? And, if he is not able to play today, who are some suitable alternatives for fantasy football managers to play instead of Dillon?
Is AJ Dillon Going To Play Week 15?
Editor’s note: Dillon is inactive for Week 15.
Dillon injured his thumb in Monday’s defeat to the New York Giants. Earlier this week, Dillon confirmed to the media that he broke his thumb on the final play of the game and explained how important it is to play with your thumb as a running back.
“It’s up there,” Dillon said to the media when asked about his thumb. “It’s up there, especially when every other team you’re going against is going to know it’s hurt.”
He also went on to say that he doesn’t know how it will affect his ball security: “Something I’m trying to figure out.”
Deepak Chona, MD who is an injury analyst and a sports surgeon posted an update yesterday on X, saying “AJ Dillon – TBD. Would be heavy outlier to play 1 week after breaking thumb. Lean towards sitting + more work for Jones.”
Yesterday before the 4 p.m. deadline, the Packers elevated RB Kenyan Drake off their practice squad. This is another signal towards Dillon not playing.
Therefore, less than a week removed from breaking his thumb, it would be incredibly risky to play Dillon this week in your fantasy lineup. So, who should fantasy managers start as an alternative this week?
Potential Fantasy Options If Dillon Is Out Include Jerick McKinnon and Devin Singletary
With Dillon unlikely to play this week, two players fantasy managers could consider as an alternative are Jerick McKinnon and Devin Singletary.
McKinnon comes into the fantasy playoffs off of one of his best games of the season, where he managed 11.2 fantasy points in Week 14. McKinnon is currently ranked as the RB34 in our PFN Consensus Rankings.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
McKinnon led all Kansas City Chiefs running backs in routes run last week, as well as garnering the most high-value touches. He got all the touches inside the 10-yard line, which included his touchdown, with Isiah Pacheco out last week. With Pacheco out this week as well, expect McKinnon to keep up the same statistical trends as last week.
In this same role last season, McKinnon put up a four-week run that posted 28.9 fantasy points, 30.2 fantasy points, 11.3 fantasy points, and 20.1 fantasy points on his way to helping fantasy managers win a fantasy championship as these games occurred in Weeks 13-17.
While McKinnon did not see the same high point value last week, the game script against the New England Patriots this week should lead to McKinnon getting more touches and expanding his role further. Fantasy managers in all PPR formats should start McKinnon in their Flex this week.
Another alternative option for fantasy managers is Singletary. Despite losing some of his role in Week 13 to Dameon Pierce, Singletary managed 55% of the snaps in Week 14. He would have had more, but with the Houston Texans being blown out by the New York Jets, Dare Ogunbowale came in for the garbage time reps.
This is an encouraging trend, given the Texans are likely to run the ball a lot more this afternoon due to all the injuries in their passing game.
With QB C.J. Stroud, WR Tank Dell, and WR Nico Collins ruled out, and WR Noah Brown likely to play but struggling with a knee injury, Houston is likely to utilize Singletary more against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans are allowing 18.1 fantasy points per game to running backs.
Singletary is currently RB33 in our PFN Consensus Rankings. However, he represents a great upside opportunity for fantasy managers this week. With an increased volume, Singletary might be able to move into an RB2 role this week, especially if he can find the end zone.
Both McKinnon and Singletary represent better opportunities than Dillon this week and should be utilized.
However, fantasy managers might need to look at their benches to find a solution to Dillon either not playing or seeing a heavily reduced role against the Buccaneers this afternoon.
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