The RB injury report has some major names for fantasy football managers to digest entering Week 12. With the fantasy playoffs just around the corner, let’s look at the latest updates on Joe Mixon, Leonard Fournette, Aaron Jones, Raheem Mostert, and more.
Please note that practice status listings are as follows: DNP – did not participate, LP – limited participant, FP – full participant.
RB Injury Report Heading into Week 12
Joe Mixon, CIN | Concussion (Out)
Much as we suspected, Joe Mixon remained in concussion protocol as of Wednesday, according to Cincinnati Bengals head Zac Taylor. Each concussion is individual, so his progress will be a day-to-day situation. However, the average this year has been generally just over a week for a return from a first concussion. Mixon was also held out of practice Thursday. He was ruled out of Week 12 on Friday lunchtime.
Mixon still had a chance to play in Week 12, but every day he did not make significant steps through the protocol made it tougher. In some ways, this may not be a bad week for him to miss for fantasy managers. The Bengals have a difficult matchup against the Tennessee Titans, so Mixon may have struggled to return value. Similarly, any value boost Samaje Perine might see should be tempered.
Leonard Fournette, TB | Hip (Doubtful)
Update: Leonard Fouurnette has been listed as doubtful for Week 12 and is not expected to play.
The last time we saw Leonard Fournette in football action, Tampa ruled him out of the game in Munich with a hip injury back in Week 10. We have had little in the way of updates since, so it was good to see him as a limited participant to open practice in Week 12. Fournette remained limited through Thursday’s practice.
The situation in Tampa Bay is intriguing, with Rachaad White emerging in his rookie season. There did not seem to be a huge amount of concern about Fournette whenever we heard from head coach Todd Bowles. Therefore, we should expect him to suit up on Sunday, barring a setback.
The problem is that we have no idea what his role will look like this week. The Buccaneers could use the hip issue for Fournette as a chance to work White into the offense further. Consequently, trusting Fournette this week in your fantasy lineups is tough. He is too talented to bench blindly, so we will need to see how his status evolves throughout the week.
The Buccaneers’ backfield may be better suited to Underdog Fantasy Best Ball formats than conventional season-long leagues. If White and Fournette end up splitting touches, who takes the most fantasy value each week could be hard to predict.
Josh Jacobs, LV | Calf (Questionable)
We saw Josh Jacobs pop up on the injury report on Friday of Week 12 with a calf injury. He is now questionable for the weekend and very well could be a game-time decisions. We will need to see what we hear over the weekend, but this situation is concerning. If Jacobs was out this week, Zamir White could be an intriguing starting option.
Aaron Jones, GB | Shin/Glute (Cleared)
Update: Despite being limited all week in practice, Aaron Jones is not on the Packers’ final injury report for Week 12.
It’s a bit of a surprise to see Aaron Jones listed on the Green Bay Packers’ injury report with shin and glute issues. The Packers’ Twitter feed had tweeted a video of the RB going through a drill, and he did not look to be hampered by the injury.
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Barring a setback, Jones should be active on Sunday and his usual self when it comes to his fantasy value. The Eagles struggled at times against the Indianapolis Colts’ run game, so Jones should be able to have solid fantasy value. If he misses the game because of a setback, AJ Dillon would elevate into a starting role this week.
Alvin Kamara, NO | Illness (Cleared)
An illness downgrade during the week is a mixed thing for Alvin Kamara. We have seen some RBs miss games because of mid-week illness, others have played through it and struggled, while most have simply recovered and played as normal. Kamara was back at practice Friday and cleared from the final injury report.
Raheem Mostert, MIA | Knee (Doubtful)
Update: Raheem Mostert is listed as doubtful on the Miami Dolphins’ final injury report and is not expected to play in Week 12 against the Houston Texans.
Raheem Mostert’s appearance on the Miami Dolphins’ Wednesday injury report with a knee issue will concern his fantasy managers. Mostert missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, so all eyes will be on his status Friday. The Dolphins’ run game had been clicking in the past couple of weeks, with Mostert and Jeff Wilson dove-tailing nicely.
If Mostert gets cleared from the injury report, he would be a “start as normal” type of option. However, if he remains questionable, his value takes a significant downgrade with Wilson there to potentially pick up the slack. If Mostert is questionable or out, Wilson would become a must-start in Week 12.
Gus Edwards, BAL | Hamstring/Knee (Questionable)
Update: Despite being a full participant on Thursday and Friday, Edwards was still listed as questionable. It seems like he should be able to suit up, but it is certainly not a certainty this week.
Week 12 sees Gus Edwards continue his path to returning to the field. On Monday, John Harbaugh said Edwards was not quite ready to go. He had a knee issue added to his hamstring listing late last week, but the feeling does not seem to be anything major. Edwards was upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday.
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This upgrade to a full participant for Edwards on Thursday should mean he is able to return. However, it is unclear what role he would have with Kenyan Drake performing well in the starting role in the past few weeks. The Ravens would likely look to ease Edwards back in, which will significantly limit his fantasy value.
Latavius Murray, DEN | Wrist (Cleared)
Update: Latavius Murray was cleared the injury report after participating in full on Friday.
Latavius Murray is listed as limited with a wrist injury on the Week 12 RB injury report. It’s a surprise, given the Broncos released Melvin Gordon earlier this week. With Chase Edmonds also on the IR, the Broncos will hope that Murray does not suffer a setback — or they could find themselves short-handed at the RB position.
The positive news is that Murray was limited as opposed to being completely absent. He should be set to suit up and carry a major workload. Murray remained limited through Thursday, but the Broncos did not practice, so they posted an estimated report. Marlon Mack looks set to be his foil in Week 12, and he could have a major role this week if Murray has a setback.
Jaylen Warren, PIT | Hamstring (DNP)
We saw Jaylen Warren leave last week’s game early with a hamstring issue and not return. He was then absent to start practice this week for the Pittsburgh Steelers, which is not a great sign for his availability on Monday. We will need to see Warren upgraded on either Friday or Saturday if he is to have a shot at playing.
If Warren is out, the expectation is that Najee Harris would pick up the majority of the work. Benny Snell is the only other RB currently on the roster, and we have seen the Steelers’ hesitance to use Snell to spell Harris significantly in the past. If Warren is out, the Steelers will likely elevate one of their three RBs from the practice squad, but we will not find out who until Monday.
Caleb Huntley, ATL | Ankle (Questionable)
Update: Huntley practiced in a limited capacity all week and is listed as questionable.
The start of Week 12 saw Caleb Huntley enter practice as a limited participant. The Falcons RB is dealing with an ankle injury, but it does not seem to be a major concern. Huntley’s role decreased significantly since the return of Cordarrelle Patterson, playing just 24 snaps in the last three weeks (13 rushing attempts and a single target).
If he is out, it will clear the picture in the Falcons’ backfield a little. However, this is still a messy situation, with Patterson and Tyler Allgeier splitting touches over the past few weeks. Even if Huntley does play, he has unappealing fantasy value for Week 12.
Mark Ingram, NO | Knee (Questionable)
Update: After being limited all week in practice, Mark Ingram is listed as questionable for Week 12.
Mark Ingram is on the path to returning for fantasy managers this week. He has not played since Week 8, but he’s a limited participant to open Week 12 as he continues to deal with his knee issue. Prior to the injury, his fantasy value had been sporadic and limited to 16-team leagues.
In his absence, the Saints have leaned heavily on Alvin Kamara. However, with their season hanging on at 4-7, they will likely look to avoid putting a high number of touches on Kamara every week, especially if they lose this week. Therefore, Ingram could have intriguing fantasy value down the stretch if he is a free agent.