Dynasty Injury Report: Week 12
My name is Jeff Mueller, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Injury Analyst for DLF, and I am here to help guide you through these weekly injuries and provide helpful insight into how bad the injury is and what the expected timeline for recovery is for your key player. It is important to remember that my analysis is based on limited information provided by teams, beat reporters, and limited video analysis of the injury itself – I am simply here to give you the best estimate possible for how to move forward and plan around player injury.
To help keep track of bye weeks, here is the list:
- Week 6: Atlanta, New Orleans, NY Jets, SF 49ers
- Week 7: Buffalo, Dallas, Jacksonville, Minnesota, LA Chargers, Pittsburgh
- Week 8: Baltimore, Las Vegas
- Week 9: Detroit, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Washington
- Week 10: Chicago, Cincinnati, Houston, NY Giants
- Week 11: Denver, LA Rams
- Week 12: Arizona, Kansas City
- Week 13: Carolina, Cleveland, Green Bay, Tennessee
- Week 14: Indianapolis, Miami, New England, Philadelphia
Amari Cooper, WR DAL
Injury: COVID
Return to Play: Week 13-14
Fantasy Impact: Cooper is reportedly not feeling well still, meaning his week 13 status is in jeopardy. Monitor practice reports, but if he is not feeling well by tomorrow he likely misses the game.
CeeDee Lamb, WR DAL
Injury: Concussion
Return to Play: Week 13
Fantasy Impact: Lamb has been practicing in full, very likely clearing concussion protocol. Plan on starting him for week 13.
Alvin Kamara, RB NO
Injury: Left Knee Sprain, Likely MCL
Return to Play: Week 13
Fantasy Impact: Kamara has been practicing in Limited capacity since Sunday, but it is likely that he plays on the short week for week 13. Plan to start him.
Christian McCaffrey, RB CAR
Injury: Left Ankle Sprain
Return to Play: Season-ending IR
Fantasy Impact: McCaffrey has hit IR for the second time this season, meaning his season is over. He has now dealt with AC sprain, hamstring, quadriceps, and multiple ankle injuries that have limited him to playing the equivalent of nine total games over the last two seasons. His overall upside is higher than any fantasy player out there when healthy, however in dynasty if you can still obtain a haul for McCaffrey, the time to sell is now.
Dalvin Cook, RB MIN
Injury: Left Shoulder Dislocation
Return to Play: Week 15-18
Fantasy Impact: We will find out if the Vikings plan to place Cook on IR on Saturday (deadline is 1:00pm Pacific time), but as of right now I am eyeing week 15 (December 20th, Monday night versus the Bears) as his possible return date. The difficult part for fantasy is that it is a Monday night game, so you must decide by Sunday if you are going to start him and he will likely be questionable. Plan to have backups ready for playoffs.
As for the reporting, it has been inconsistent on whether or not Cook has a torn labrum. The answer is likely yes, given he has now suffered two dislocations to his left shoulder (another prior in 2019), as well as injured his left shoulder in high school. He will likely be able to return to the field wearing a shoulder brace for stability, but it would not surprise me if he receives off-season surgery. He is another top running back who I would strongly consider selling very soon.
Deebo Samuel, WR SF
Injury: Groin Strain
Return to Play: Week 14-15
Fantasy Impact: Samuel suffered a low-grade groin strain that has already ruled him out for week 13. I have some concern about trusting what the 49ers staff says about injuries given their past history, so it would not surprise me at all if we do not see Samuel return until week 15 or 16, but the hope is that this is just a one game absence for a low grade strain.
Darrell Henderson, RB LAR
Injury: Quadriceps Strain
Return to Play: Week 13-14
Fantasy Impact: It was reported late Monday that Henderson had suffered a mild quadriceps injury. Unsure if this is a strain or just a contusion (which can still be very painful). If a contusion, there is a good chance that he is able to play in week 13, though may be limited. If a strain, he likely misses at least one week. Monitor practice reports, and bump to Sony Michel.
Allen Robinson, WR CHI
Injury: Hamstring
Return to Play: Week 13-14
Fantasy Impact: Hamstring strains are typically a 1-3 week return for low grade. Robinson missed two weeks, so his ability to practice this week will be key. I believe he will have a decent chance of suiting up for week 13.
Justin Fields, QB CHI
Injury: Ribs
Return to Play: Week 14-15
Fantasy Impact: Fields suffered a rib injury in week 11, quite possibly fractured ribs that would require two-three weeks to recover. Andy Dalton could very well be the guy for the next few weeks. Plan on Fields missing another week.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR ARI
Injury: Hamstring
Return to Play: Week 13-14
Fantasy Impact: Hopkins has now been out three weeks with a hamstring strain that he was initially attempting to play through. With their bye week giving him more time to recover, good chance he is able to return for week 13. Monitor practice reports leading up to next week.
Kyler Murray, QB ARI
Injury: Left High Ankle Sprain
Return to Play: Week 13
Fantasy Impact: Murray was reportedly close to playing in week 11, however was eventually ruled out. Murray likely returns week 13 after their bye week.
Jalen Hurts, QB PHI
Injury: Ankle Sprain
Return to Play: Week 13 or 15
Fantasy Impact: Hurts suffered an ankle sprain that limited him in-game during week 12. Severity is unknown at this time, but he was able to finish the game. Keep an eye on his practice status, as these can swell overnight and increase in pain if more severe. There is also the chance that the Eagles opt to hold him out until after the bye week.
Miles Sanders, RB PHI
Injury: Lower Body Injury
Return to Play: Week 13 or 15
Fantasy Impact: Sanders suffered yet another lower body injury and left week 12 early in the second half. The injury has been undisclosed and we do not know severity, so there is a decent chance he misses this week with the Eagles bye week next week. Bump to Boston Scott.
Jordan Howard, RB PHI
Injury: Knee Sprain
Return to Play: Week 13 or 15
Fantasy Impact: Howard likely suffered an MCL sprain, unable to return to week 11. Typically these knee sprains take at least two-three weeks for return. He reportedly is making steady progress, so there is a chance he can play in week 13, but the Eagles do have a bye week 14 and could opt to hold him out. Bump to Boston Scott (in Howard role behind Miles Sanders).
Pat Freiermuth, TE PIT
Injury: Concussion Protocol
Return to Play: Week 13-14
Fantasy Impact: Freiermuth has entered the concussion protocol and must pass all stages in order to be cleared for week 13. Monitor his practice status.
Dan Arnold, TE JAC
Injury: MCL Sprain
Return to Play: Week 16-18
Fantasy Impact: Arnold suffered an MCL sprain that will reportedly cost him four-six weeks. Minimal return would be week 16, cutting it close for fantasy playoffs, and his initial production upon return will likely be limited. I believe it is safe to move on from Arnold for this fantasy season and find a replacement.
Aaron Rodgers, QB GB
Injury: Toe Injury
Return to Play: Week 14
Fantasy Impact: Rodgers revealed on the Pat McAfee show that his injury is to his pinky (fifth) toe. This is possibly a fracture of the distal portion of his toe. He has still been able to run, scramble and pass, so I do not think this will limit him much moving forward but monitor his status closely. Rumor has it that he will not get surgery during the bye week, so there should be little concern about his rest of season availability. He has been moving around quite well.
Kadarius Toney, WR NYG
Injury: Quadriceps Strain
Return to Play: Week 14-15
Fantasy Impact: Toney suffered a quadriceps strain and was ruled out from week 12. I believe it will take him another one-two weeks to return and be effective.
JD McKissic, RB WAS
Injury: Neck Injury
Return to Play: Week 13-14
Fantasy Impact: McKissic suffered a scary looking injury when he dove and had his neck compressed by the defender’s leg. Thankfully he was able to sit up and move his limbs, and also was not placed in concussion protocol. The downside here is often times with neck injuries, the symptoms can be latent and pain/stiffness set in that night or the following day. Monitor his practice status, but there is a chance he misses one game, which would be a big boost to Antonio Gibson.
Players on IR
AJ Brown, WR TEN
Injury: Chest Injury
Return to Play: Week 16-17
Fantasy Impact: Brown reportedly does not have fractured ribs, but was slated to undergo further tests to determine any cartilage damage. He was then placed on IR, meaning he must miss at least three games. With a week 13 bye, the earliest Brown can return is week 16. The downside is, he will be difficult to trust if he returns in the fantasy playoffs.
Chase Edmonds, RB ARI
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Return to Play: Week 14-15
Fantasy Impact: Edmonds suffered a high ankle sprain that knocked him out of week nine early. I expect this to be a four-six week timeline as it sounds to be a higher grade sprain. Decent chance he is able to return week 14. Uptick to James Conner (and consider adding Eno Benjamin if he is out there). Monitor practice reports.
Michael Carter, RB NYJ
Injury: High Ankle Sprain, IR
Return to Play: Week 15-17
Fantasy Impact: Carter was placed on IR for his high ankle sprain, meaning he must miss at least three games. The earliest he can return is week 15, however it may require more time.
If you have any questions on these players or any other players who I did not discuss, please ask in the comments. Good luck!
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