NFL DFS Injury Report: Week 11
Week 10 was another light injury week, but as we move forward, there will be more players resting during Wednesday practice. Hashing through the noise during the back half of the season is essential when making quality fantasy decisions. Be careful not to discount veterans taking easy practice weeks and maximize opportunities to be ahead of opponents when rostering players with a questionable injury tag. Players noted as questionable on fantasy sites notoriously carry a lower ownership. Take advantage of this where you can.
Rob Gronkowski highlighted injury news for Week 10. Gronkowski’s toughness is nearly unmatched but playing with a lung injury is on another level. Most likely he felt short of breath but did not realize the seriousness of the injury, but he is very fortunate that he did not take another hard hit. This could have been much more serious. I do not expect him to play this week.
I will be watching the Gronkowski situation as well as all the injury news through the week. Reach out to me in the comments section or on twitter @slakdogg if there are any questions I can answer. Best of luck in Week 11!!
Last Updated: Friday PM
Color Coding
GREEN: Nearly certain to play. Unlikely to have an on-field limitations.
YELLOW: Likely to play. May have some snap count or mild on-field limitations.
ORANGE: Questionable to play. If able to play, likely to be significantly limited in snap count and/or on-field performance.
RED: Unlikely to play or already ruled out.
PURPLE: In concussion protocol. Play status unknown but if active, should play without restriction.
Arizona Cardinals
1.Larry Fitzgerald (WR) — YELLOW – After aggravating an already bothersome knee Sunday, Fitzgerald had an MRI but significant structural damage was revealed. He did not practice Wednesday but not much can be made of this as Fitzgerald often gets veteran treatment on Wednesday. Head coach Bruch Ariens told the media that he expected his top wide receiver to play Sunday at Minnesota. I have no reason at this point to expect him to miss the game but Fitzgerald has a history of showing his age during the back half of the season so use with caution.
Baltimore Ravens
1. Jimmy Smith (CB) — YELLOW – Smith left Week 10 early with a leg injury followed by missing Wednesday’s practice. Head coach John Harbaugh said that he expects his top cornerback to return later this week with a plan to play Sunday at Dallas.
Buffalo Bills
1. Robert Woods (WR) — GREEN – Woods was limited Wednesday but as has been the case in previous weeks, this appears precautionary. This only makes sense with how thin the Bills are at wide receiver. Expect Woods to be the Bills top target threat Sunday.
Chicago Bears
1. Eddie Royal (WR) — GREEN – Royal returned to the field Week 10 and played 73% of the offensive snaps. The Bears took it conservatively Wednesday with a limited practice but he should be ready Sunday.
Cincinnati Bengals
1. Brandon LaFell (WR) — GREEN – LaFell was a limited participant Wednesday as he rested a sore knee. He played 91% of the offensive snaps Monday but has only been targeted four times in the past two weeks. He should be ready for Sunday.
2.Andy Dalton (QB) — GREEN – On the short week, Dalton did only light work on Wednesday. He is listed with a sore shoulder, which is reasonable as he has been the second most sacked QB this season. He is expected to be ready for Sunday.
3.Tyler Eifert (TE) — GREEN – Eifert was also a limited participant Wednesday as he rested a sore knee. Despite a long list of injuries this season, this is the first time the Bengals have listed him with a knee injury. He played 81% of the snaps Monday night leading me to think that he will be ready for Sunday.
Cleveland Browns
1. Robert Griffin (QB) — RED – Griffin has been cleared for non-contact activities. This is only an initial step toward returning, but the Browns have seems hopeful they will be able to get him back this year.
Detroit Lions
1. Theo Riddick (RB) — GREEN – Riddick was limited Wednesday as the Lions continue to protect the running back’s injured ankle. He will play Sunday against the Jaguars.
Green Bay Packers
1.Ty Montgomery (RB/WR) — YELLOW – Montgomery missed Wednesday practice with an illness. Reports indicate that the illness is not associated with a sickle cell flair that limited him in the past. With James Starks back, Montgomery saw a significant decrease in snaps. He was outsnapped by Starks 55-22.
2.Randall Cobb (WR) — YELLOW / GREEN – Cobb was limited Wednesday as he continues to recover from a hamstring strain. After playing 69% of the snaps Sunday, I would expect him to be ready for Week 11.
3.Don Jackson (RB) — RED – Jackson was placed on injured reserve after injuring his knee during Wednesday’s practice. The Packers picked up Christine Michael off waivers to take Jackson’s roster spot.
Houston Texans
1. Will Fuller (WR) — YELLOW – After missing Week 10 with a hamstring injury, Fuller appears on track to return Monday night. With the Texans playing Monday night, they are not required to release injury information until Thursday afternoon. I will post an update on Fully later this week.
Kansas City Chiefs
1. Jeremy Maclin (WR) — RED / ORANGE – Maclin missed Week 10 and failed to get back to practice Wednesday. This is a poor sign for Maclin as he continues to recover from a groin injury. He has not been ruled out, so it is possible that he could return to practice later in the week, but it appears unlikely.
Miami Dolphins
1. Kenny Stills (WR) — YELLOW / GREEN – Stills is dealing with a mild calf strain but has not missed any game time. He was limited Wednesday, but there is no reason to think that he would miss Week 11.
Minnesota Vikings
1. Xavier Rhodes (CB) — PURPLE – Rhodes suffered a concussion Sunday and remains in the protocol. He practiced limited Wednesday. This tends to be a good indicator that players will be able to clear protocol by the following weekend.
2.Captain Munnerlyn (CB) — ORANGE / YELLOW – Munnerlyn missed Week 10 and continues to recover from an ankle injury. This injury is one that will require monitoring through the week.
New England Patriots
1.Rob Gronkowski (TE) — RED – Gronkowski suffered an injury to his lung Sunday night against the Seahawks. The Patriots have been tight lipped about the severity of the injury as they have been known to do. I have read reports that Gronkowski has a lung contusion and others that he had a punctured lung. Either injury will likely keep Gronkowski out for Week 11; however, I would expect him to return for Week 12 if he has a contusion. A pneumothorax (punctured lung) would probably lead to a longer absence.
2.Martellus Bennett (TE) — GREEN – Bennett was limited Wednesday as always. He will play Sunday.
3.Julian Edelman (WR) — GREEN – Edelman also took his standard limited practice Wednesday. He will also play Sunday.
4.Chris Hogan (WR) — GREEN / YELLOW – Hogan was limited Wednesday with back pain. He played only 48% of the snaps Sunday night and did not catch a pass. He should play but does not have a clearly defined role in the offense.
UPDATE: Despite practicing every day, Hogan was left home and will not play with his bad back.
New York Giants
1. Victor Cruz (WR) — YELLOW – After not practicing or playing Week 10, Cruz returned to practice limited Wednesday. Cruz was ruled out early last week, so the return to practice is a good sign that he will be ready for Sunday.
Philadelphia Eagles
1. Zach Ertz (TE) — YELLOW / GREEN – Ertz was limited Wednesday with a hamstring injury. This is the first indicator of this injury and after playing 75% of the snaps Sunday, I would expect Ertz to be fine for Week 11.
UPDATE: Ertz did not practice Thursday which is traditionally a significant downgrade. There is now speculation that he suffered more than a minor injury Wednesday in practice. I will downgrade him to ORANGE for now but will be anxious to see if he practices Friday.
UPDATE #2: Ertz returned to practice Friday and is listed as questionable on the NFL game injury report. His practice was limited, so I would keep him as ORANGE as he is likely to still be limited come Sunday.
2.Jordan Matthews (WR) — YELLOW / ORANGE – Matthews missed practice Wednesday with back spasms. There are few injuries more unpredictable than back spasms. Head coach Doug Pederson told the media that he expected Matthews to play, but Pederson is the same guy that said Darren Sproles was his lead running back too. I do not trust anything he says with regards to personnel.
Pittsburgh Steelers
1. Darius Heyward-Bey (WR) — RED – Heyward-Bey has already been ruled out for Week 11 as he continues to recover from a foot injury.
2.Ladarius Green (TE) — YELLOW / ORANGE – Green returned to the field Week 10 but only played 12 snaps. The Steelers seems content to slowly return him to the field and I would expect him to continue sharing time Jesse James Sunday against the Browns.
3.Sammy Coates (WR) — ORANGE – Coates continues to be limited by two broken fingers. He only played two snaps Week 10. He has never been known to have good hands, so it is not surprising that the finger fractures are so limiting.
San Francisco 49ers
1.Torrey Smith (WR) — YELLOW – Smith continues to deal with back pain and had a limited practice Wednesday. Smith played 90% of the offensive snaps in Week 10 despite being limited with the back, so I would expect him to carry a heavy load in Week 11.
Seattle Seahawks
1. Jimmy Graham (TE) — GREEN – After playing 96% of the snaps Sunday night, Graham rested his surgically repaired knee Wednesday. He will play Sunday without limitation.
2.Thomas Rawls (RB) — YELLOW – For the first time since Week 2, Rawls is expected to play Sunday. The Seahawks waived Christine Michael giving all the stronger indication that Seattle plans to move forward with Rawls and rookie CJ Prosise.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1.Jacquizz Rodgers (RB) — RED / ORANGE – Rodgers is out of his walking boot but did not practice Wednesday. He may return to practice later this week. Even if he is able to return, his role is undefined with Doug Martin back.
Tennessee Titans
1. Demarco Murray (RB) — YELLOW / GREEN – Murray follow the pattern he has shown recently by taking Wednesday to rest his injured toe. After carrying a hefty load Sunday, this looks like a standard rest day and I would expect him to return for Week 11.
Washington Redskins
1.DeSean Jackson (WR) — YELLOW / ORANGE – Jackson missed Week 10 with a rotator cuff injury but returned to practice Wednesday. His status has not fully been determined, but this is a good sign that he will return for Sunday’s game against the Packers.
UPDATE: Jackson practiced Friday and is expected to play Sunday night. Upgrade to YELLOW.