While rankings and projections are beneficial, few things are more important in fantasy football than following injury updates. Injuries not only impact the player in question but the teammates and the offenses around them. Here’s an update on some critical injury reports to watch and their fantasy football impact.
Update 11/21/21: For the most recent injury news, check out our up-to-date Week 11 Fantasy Injury Report.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: QB update
Let’s go through the injuries currently impacting quarterbacks. Monitor these situations throughout the week and have contingency plans, if necessary.
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Jared Goff missed practice Wednesday with an oblique strain. Head coach Dan Campbell described him as day to day. Tim Boyle would start if Goff ends up not being able to go this week.
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson missed practice Wednesday with a non-COVID illness. He’s fine, and he’ll be able to play against the Bears in Week 11.
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield missed Wednesday’s practice with what is listed as left shoulder, foot, and knee injuries. Suffice it to say he’s banged up. Mayfield plans to play Sunday, but we’ll see what the rest of the week holds.
Kyler Murray and Colt McCoy, Arizona Cardinals
Both Cardinals quarterbacks are nursing injuries. Kyler Murray is working his way back from a sprained ankle, and Colt McCoy is dealing with a pectoral strain.
Both QBs were limited at Wednesday’s practice. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury has been very noncommittal on Murray’s status, but this is the first time since his injury Murray has practiced on Wednesday.
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers was absent from Wednesday’s practice. It was likely just rest after Rodgers played a full game Sunday following a week on the COVID-19 list. He’s not at risk of missing this week’s game and said as much himself after practice.
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list following Saturday’s positive test. Given he was symptomatic Sunday morning, he is facing an uphill battle to record consecutive negative tests ahead of Sunday night’s game against the Chargers.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa was limited at Wednesday’s practice due to his finger. Head coach Brian Flores already announced Tagovailoa as the starter this week, so this is a non-issue.
Zach Wilson, New York Jets
Zach Wilson will practice this week as he works his way back from a knee injury. Head coach Robert Saleh already announced Joe Flacco will start Sunday.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: RB update
Which running backs are dealing with injuries that may affect their game status? Let’s see which RB committees are hobbled heading into Week 11.
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Teams playing Monday night do not have official practice reports until Thursday, so we will have to wait another day for a formal update on Saquon Barkley’s status. Nevertheless, all signs suggest he’s going to return against the Bucs.
Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
Chris Carson is still not practicing. The Seahawks have two more weeks to activate him from injured reserve or he’s done for the season. Unfortunately, I’m anticipating the latter.
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
Nick Chubb remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He’s expected to be activated by the end of the week, but that has not happened yet.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
We are now in the second of three weeks the Chiefs have to activate Clyde Edwards-Helaire from IR. Head coach Andy Reid said they will see how CEH does at practice this week before making a decision. We will know Saturday if Kansas City activates Edwards-Helaire as he works his way back from a sprained MCL.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team
The Wednesday routine for Antonio Gibson remains intact. He was limited at practice as the team manages his shin injury. Gibson will play this week.
Damien Harris, New England Patriots
Damien Harris practiced again Wednesday and is not listed on the team’s final injury report. He cleared the concussion protocol and will play Thursday.
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones is out this week due to a sprained MCL. According to Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Jones’ knee is currently wrapped in a sleeve, but he’s not walking with a noticeable limp. That’s great news and supports the expectation that Jones can return following the Packers’ Week 12 bye.
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
According to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, Alvin Kamara returned to practice Wednesday as he recovers from a minor MCL sprain. Initially, I thought Kamara would miss 2-3 weeks, but even his limited presence at Wednesday’s practice suggests he may return after just a one-game absence.
Jeremy McNichols, Tennessee Titans
Jeremy McNichols was not at Wednesday’s practice due to a concussion. He will progress through the protocol and hope to get cleared by Sunday. If he cannot go, D’Onta Foreman is more likely than Adrian Peterson to take over the passing-down work.
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
Elijah Mitchell had a small procedure done on his broken finger. He did not practice Wednesday. Head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed optimism about Mitchell’s chances of playing this week, but it feels like a quick turnaround for a broken finger. Jeff Wilson Jr. would start if Mitchell can’t go.
Latavius Murray, Baltimore Ravens
Latavius Murray returned to practice Wednesday. He’s been out with an ankle sprain. Given the Ravens released Le’Veon Bell on Tuesday, Murray is almost certain to play this week.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons
Cordarrelle Patterson got in limited practices on the short week but is questionable with an ankle sprain. Head coach Arthur Smith said Patterson is a game-time decision. My guess is he won’t play, but at least fantasy managers won’t have to make any last-minute swaps — you can just bench him if he’s inactive for Thursday Night Football and figure it out afterward.
James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
James Robinson missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee issue on top of his lingering heel injury. This is certainly something to monitor the rest of the week.
Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles
On Wednesday, the Eagles activated the three-week clock for Miles Sanders to return from IR. His ankle sprain was always expected to cost him the minimum three games. We won’t know anything for sure until Saturday afternoon, but Sanders appears on track to return this week.
D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions
D’Andre Swift spent all of one week completely off the injury report. After 36 touches last week, it’s not surprising to see him dealing with something. Fortunately, his shoulder issue appears minor as he was limited Wednesday (rather than not participating at all). I expect him to play Sunday, but I’d prefer he never eclipse 30 touches again.
Damien Williams, Chicago Bears
Damien Williams returned to practice Wednesday, getting in a limited session as he works his way back from a knee injury. Williams will likely play this week, but has been relegated to third-string duty behind Khalil Herbert and starter David Montgomery.
Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions
Jamaal Williams returned to practice Wednesday, getting in a limited session as he works his way back from a thigh injury. This puts him on track to play Sunday.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: WR update
How are the fantasy-relevant wide receivers dealing with injuries? Let’s see which pass catchers may require a Plan B for Week 11’s action.
Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
I didn’t even want to include Davante Adams here. He was limited at Monday’s practice with what was listed as a shoulder issue, but he’s not hurt — it was just a veteran rest day. Adams will play Sunday.
Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills
Cole Beasley missed practice Wednesday with his ongoing rib issue. He will probably return to practice later in the week and ultimately play, but let’s see it happen before we lock him into lineups.
Antonio Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Antonio Brown did not participate in the Bucs’ bonus practice Wednesday. He’s not close to returning. He’ll be out this week with his heel injury.
Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens
Marquise Brown missed Wednesday’s practice for an undisclosed reason. At this juncture, it’s no cause for alarm.
Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Tomlin is basically the anti-Pete Carroll. When Tomlin says something, you can believe him. He said Chase Claypool would practice Wednesday and practice he did. Claypool was limited with his toe injury, but it tentatively puts him on track to return Sunday.
DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals
Once again, DeAndre Hopkins was not present for the Cardinals’ practice due to his lingering hamstring strain. He did not appear particularly close to playing last week.
Even if Kyler Murray can go this week, Hopkins is no lock to join him. Early signs suggest he will sit through the team’s Week 12 bye.
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb exited last week’s game early with an arm contusion. It had more to do with the score than anything else. Lamb is fine and will play Sunday.
Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns
The Browns have been holding Jarvis Landry out of practice the past few Wednesdays to be careful with his knee. It’s just part of his weekly maintenance routine. He’s fine.
Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team
Terry McLaurin was limited at Wednesday’s practice due to a shoulder issue. The team is just managing his reps. He will play this week.
Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears
Darnell Mooney was limited at Wednesday’s practice with a foot injury. He’s fine and will play this week.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cleveland Browns
According to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, Donovan Peoples-Jones came up limping after running a route against air toward the end of practice. He was not injured prior to this. According to the Browns’ practice report, he tweaked his groin. We’ll find out Thursday if this is a legitimate threat to his status for Sunday.
Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears
It’s never good when a player doesn’t practice coming out of a bye week. Allen Robinson was fully healthy prior to the bye, but he’s apparently dealing with a hamstring injury. Robinson merely needs to get in a single limited practice Friday to be on track to play, but this is an ominous start.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel was limited at Wednesday’s practice as he continues to nurse his calf issue. Samuel is fine and will play this week.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: TE update
Are there any tight end injuries we need to be concerned about? The TE market is already thin, so if you have a TE on this injury report, your alternatives will in all likelihood be grim.
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Goedert did not practice Wednesday as he remains in the concussion protocol. Typically, players progressing through the protocol get in a limited practice later in the week. We’ll see if that happens with Goedert on Thursday or Friday.
Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rob Gronkowski was not present for the Bucs’ bonus practice on Wednesday due to back spasms.
Ricky Seals-Jones and Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team
Ricky Seals-Jones did not practice Wednesday due to the hip injury he sustained last week. Logan Thomas does not have an official practice designation as he remains on IR, but he did work on a side field. Head coach Ron Rivera said there’s optimism Thomas can play this week.