Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon injured his thumb in the Week 14 loss to the New York Giants, causing him to miss last week’s defeat at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The concern with Dillon wasn’t so much the pain he was suffering but ball control. This was something Dillon admitted as much to the media last week.
Will Dillon play today against the Carolina Panthers? What is the latest information regarding his thumb injury? And, if he does play, what is Dillon’s potential fantasy football outlook for Week 16?
Is AJ Dillon Going To Play Week 16?
Editor’s note: Dillon is active for Week 16.
Dillon missed the defeat to the Buccaneers in Week 15 due to his thumb injury, but he returned to practice on Wednesday this week.
Dillon practiced Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week, albeit in a limited capacity. However, the team has remained tight-lipped concerning his availability this week, with no update being provided to the media, either directly or indirectly.
However, it appears that Dillon has traveled to Charlotte to play in today’s game against the Panthers. There is a photo on the Packers’ main website of Dillon in team colors on the tarmac in Charlotte. It is the 22nd of 31 pictures they posted of the team who arrived in North Carolina.
It appears that, while the Packers are remaining quiet on the availability of Dillon, with him practicing all week and with him in Charlotte for the game, fantasy managers can safely assume that Dillon will play today against the Panthers. However, what is his fantasy outlook for today?
What Is Dillon’s Potential Fantasy Outlook for Today?
Dillon comes into Week 16 as the RB35, currently averaging just 7.4 fantasy points per game.
These numbers are disappointing, especially with increased opportunities to perform this year due to the six games lead-back Aaron Jones has missed so far this season, plus the further two games he departed early due to injury.
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According to Next Gen Stats, Dillon is -58 yards on his expected rushing total for the year, which ranks him eighth-highest in terms of this metric. This is particularly bad as it shows that Dillon is not maximizing his opportunities when he does get the ball. He is also averaging just 3.5 yards per carry and has just one rushing touchdown all season.
This week, he will return to a 40% role now that Jones has returned from injury and is looking healthy. He has an advantageous matchup against the Panthers, as the Panthers allow 23.5 fantasy points to running backs which is the third-most allowed in the NFL.
Only the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos allow more fantasy points per game to the position.
However, PFN’s Consensus Rankings have Dillon as the RB44 this week. That is because Dillon has broken 10 fantasy points just once since the Packers’ Week 6 bye. And that was in Week 7 against the Denver Broncos.
Fantasy managers should not be starting Dillon in any fantasy format this week. He offers managers no upside and a very low floor. There are better options for fantasy managers this week, especially considering they have a semifinal-caliber roster. Dillon is barely a stash on fantasy rosters, and if Jones makes it through this week’s game, Dillon can be released for waiver wire pickups next week.
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