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Thanksgiving is now in the rearview mirror as we quickly approach December and the fantasy playoffs. There are some critical injuries to report this week which will likely have big impacts on fantasy races. GMs also need to make crucial game-time decisions because we simply don’t know what a head coach is going to do in terms of letting players take the field who are not 100%. It is better to choose a player you know will play but may not provide significant contributions rather than roll the dice on a player who may net you a goose egg. So without any further ado, let’s delve into the next edition of the 2018 fantasy football emergency room.
Melvin Gordon (RB-LAC)
There could not be a worse time for Melvin Gordon to miss a couple games with a sprained MCL as the fantasy playoffs are on the horizon. The elite running back has been stellar this season rushing for 802 yards and nine touchdowns along with 44 receptions for 453 yards and four touchdowns. He will be out this coming Sunday night against Pittsburgh and likely will miss additional time as the Chargers hope to have him back in time for the playoffs. Austin Ekeler will step in and handle the primary rushing duties in Gordon’s absence.
Mitchell Trubisky (QB-CHI)
The Bears had a happy Thanksgiving last week defeating the Lions despite being without second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky who missed the game with a shoulder injury. It is unclear right now whether he will be able to return next Sunday against the Giants. The Bears should be able to beat the Giants regardless of who is quarterback, but it would certainly be good for fantasy GMs if Trubisky can play against their lackluster defense. Trubisky has thrown for 2,469 yards along with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions while also rushing for 363 yards and three touchdowns making him a solid QB1 option if he does play.
Andy Dalton (QB-CIN)
The Bengals season started promising but has now gone up in flames brighter than Andy Dalton ’s hair. The veteran quarterback has been placed on injured reserve with torn ligaments in his thumb. He finishes the season throwing for 2,566 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions which is right in line with his standard QB2 fantasy rating. A.J. Green has missed the past few weeks and is close to returning, but his value will take a huge nose dive now that Jeff Driskel and Tom Savage are the team’s quarterback options.
A.J. Green (WR-CIN)
Green was hopeful that he could play in Week 12, but that did not happen after he missed practice at the end of the week with his toe injury. He appears close to returning and could be back on the field this Sunday, but it will have a very different feel without Andy Dalton under center. Green is an elite wide receiver, but his production will take a big hit as he relies on Jeff Driskel or Tom Savage to get him the ball.
Marvin Jones (WR-DET)
Speaking of Cincinnati wide receivers, former Bengals wideout Marvin Jones is done for the season as Detroit placed him on injured reserve due to his knee injury. Jones was aiming towards returning soon after he missed the past couple games, but the Lions have opted to shut him down and protect their investment. The loss of Jones makes Kenny Golladay the only viable receiving option left on the team. Jones finishes the season with an underwhelming 35 catches for 508 yards and five touchdowns.
DeSean Jackson (WR-TB)
Jackson suffered a thumb injury a couple weeks ago which still appears to be hampering him. He is expected to see a specialist to determine the severity of the injury so we should know more later in the week regarding his status for Week 13 against the Panthers. He has caught 40 passes for 750 yards and four touchdowns and also has one rushing touchdown on the season in Tampa Bay’s surprisingly prolific passing offense. He would be a WR3 option if healthy so start looking at alternatives in the event he misses next week’s game.
Marlon Mack (RB-IND)
The Colts have been red hot thanks in large part to Marlon Mack ’s running which has helped open up the aerial attack for Andrew Luck . Mack was removed from Sunday’s game against Miami with a concussion and will now be in the league’s protocol. He has rushed for 556 yards and four touchdowns along with one receiving touchdown in seven games thus far and would be a solid RB2 option against Buffalo in Week 13 if he is cleared to play by then. If Mack cannot go, then look for Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines to carry the load in his absence.
Alex Collins (RB-BAL)
Collins was a full participant in practice last Friday and was expected to play this week against Oakland. However, he was inactive for the game as the Ravens went with Gus Edwards in the backfield. Collins has been productive in standard leagues with seven touchdowns but has seen his playing time decrease thanks in large part to ineffective running with only 411 yards on the season. His fantasy value has taken a big hit and at this point he cannot be counted on even if he does play next week against Atlanta.
Evan Engram (TE-NYG)
Engram is dealing with a hamstring injury which cost him this past week’s game against the Eagles. He has been marred by injuries for most of the season which has limited him to just seven games in which he has 23 catches for 257 yards and two touchdowns. Engram is a valuable weapon often with mismatches against opposing linebackers, but the Giants have failed to take advantage of that. He is hopeful he will be able to play next week against Chicago, but even if he does take the field he is only a TE2 option at best against the Bears terrific defense.
Joe Flacco (QB-BAL)
Flacco did not play again this past week against Oakland and his status for the rest of the season is in question. At some point he could be healthy enough to play, but the Ravens may be better suited going with Lamar Jackson under center given their recent success and ascension into a playoff spot. Flacco’s hip injury is concerning and even if he does come back and play it is debatable whether he will have any fantasy value at all. Right now Lamar Jackson is the more valuable fantasy quarterback and GMs should be hopeful that Baltimore continues to ride the hot hand.
Equanimeous St. Brown (WR-GB)
Green Bay’s season is all but finished after their loss to the Vikings this past Sunday night. It is frustrating for fantasy GMs who have Aaron Rodgers that he has been unable to light up the scoreboard given his immeasurable talent. One of the reasons he has struggled has been injuries and inconsistency from his wide receivers. Rookie Equanimeous St. Brown sustained an elbow injury during this past game which was even more unfortunate because he led the team in receiving yards for the game at that time. St. Brown was going to get more playing time with Randall Cobb constantly injured, but now his status going forward is in question.
Sam Darnold (QB-NYJ)
Darnold still has not returned to practice as he continues dealing with his foot injury that has cost him the past few games. There is some thought that he could possibly return in Week 13 against Tennessee, but it seems more plausible that the Jets would be targeting a return the following week. The Jets season has spiraled out of control and now it is all about acquiring more assets to surround Darnold with next year. Do not expect the Jets to risk Darnold’s health with nothing to play for, so all signs point to Josh McCown getting another start in Week 13.
Player News
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team does not “have any feelings on competition” when asked about the quarterback room.
O’Connell was asked about a potential quarterback competition on the Rich Eisen Show Wednesday and was unclear on whether J.J. McCarthy would have to compete to start. He said, “we’ve got an obligation as coaches to put our players in position to attack that competition phase.” O’Connell discussed first putting Brett Rypien and the newly acquired Sam Howell in a position to play before any competition would occur. He continued that McCarthy is “owning it” this offseason and is taking snaps from starting center Ryan Kelly. After missing last season with a torn meniscus, McCarthy has been ramping up workouts in the offseason and is the front-runner to start for the Vikings in 2025. As of now, Howell looks to be reinforcement at the backup spot in case it turns out McCarthy is not ready to start.
Texans re-signed DT Foley Fatukasi.
Fatukasi initially joined the Texans last offseason on a one-year contract. The 30-year-old was a rotational defensive lineman, tallying four tackles for loss and one sack. He returns to Houston for 2025, where he will be a part of a deep Texans front seven.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Tyreek Hill’s second wrist surgery was part of the original plan and his timeline remains unchanged.
Hill announced the second surgery on social media and Pelissero quickly added some context to the situation. The speedy receiver suffered the wrist injury just before the start of the season and it lingered throughout the year, though he never missed a game because of it. If the second surgery truly is a non-story, an offseason to recover might be what Hill needs to return to form after a down 2024 season. On the other hand, Hill is 31 years old, played his worst football last year, and his offense prioritized targets for Jonnu Smith and De’Von Achane. As it stands, Hill might have the highest risk-reward split in fantasy drafts.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports there are “multiple people in the league who believe the new regime is not so high on Travis Etienne.”
Fowler also noted Tank Bigsby’s fumbling issue but didn’t directly relate that to the feelings of the new brain trust in Jacksonville. The Jags clearly felt they were lacking at running back this offseason and addressed that opening via the draft with Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round and LeQuint Allen in the seventh. The pair of additions complicate an already-messy backfield by committee. Etienne is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is a long-shot to be brought back in 2026. The Jags could opt to move on early by trading him, clearing $6.1 million in cap space in the process. If the team does trade Etienne, Tuten would likely be the team’s top back in the long run, making him a high-upside bet in early fantasy drafts.
Broncos signed third-round pick WR Pat Bryant to a four-year contract.
The deal includes $1.4 million guaranteed and is worth $6.6 million in total. Sean Payton compared aspects of Bryant’s game to those of Michael Thomas in his post-draft press conference and there are at least a few similarities in their profiles. Bryant stands at 6'2/204 and ran a 4.61-second Forty at the combine. Thomas measured in at 6'3/212 and clocked a 4.57-second Forty. Though the two have similar physical characteristics, Thomas was known for his proficiency from the slot while Bryant primarily played on the outside as a field-stretcher at Illinois. Bryant’s transition to slot duties may take some time, but third-round draft capital makes him worth a shot in dynasty leagues.
Colts EDGE Samson Ebukam (Achilles) said he is expected to be cleared for training camp.
Ebukam suffered a torn Achilles in training camp last year and did not play in the 2024 season. He broke out in 2023 with a career-high 9.5 sacks in his first season with the Colts. He now has one year left on his deal and will be looking for a rebound season as he stares down free agency in 2026