The NFL has brought us some unlikely comebacks to the field this season. Most notably, Week 10 saw the return of Cam Newton to Carolina. Adrian Peterson has also made his return, joining the depleted Tennessee backfield. Both of these opportunities were made possible through the one constant in football, injuries. Let’s take a look at the fantasy-relevant injuries and new opportunities they have created for this week. Welcome to the Week 11 fantasy football injury report!
Week 11 Late Inactives
Amari Cooper (WR) Dallas Cowboys
DeAndre Hopkins (WR) Arizona Cardinals
Chris Carson (RB) Seattle Seahawks
Kyler Murray (QB) Arizona Cardinals
Jonathan Ward (RB) Arizona Cardinals
Week 11 1PM Inactives
Alvin Kamara (RB) New Orleans Saints
Maquise Brown (WR) Baltimore Ravens
Aaron Jones (RB) Green Bay Packers
Lamar Jackson (QB) Baltimore Ravens
Anthony Schwartz (WR) Cleveland Browns
Jared Goff (QB) Detroit Lions
Zach Wilson (QB) New York Jets
Ricky Seales-Jones (TE) Washington Football Team
Geoff Swaim (TE) Tennessee Titans
Jeremy McNichols (RB) Tennessee Titans
Allen Robinson II (WR) Chicago Bears
Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR) Cleveland Browns
Allen Lazard (WR) Green Bay Packers
Elijah Mitchell (RB) San Francisco 49ers
Curtis Samuel (WR) Washington Football Team
11/19/21 Update
Amari Cooper (WR) Dallas Cowboys
COVID-19/Reserve List
Dallas has been rolling so far this season, lead by an explosive offense. A major reason for their success has been due to having two star WRs to attack defenses. However, Dallas will be without their more experienced WR Amari Cooper for at least the next two games. He tested positive for COVID-19 and as unvaccinated player, he will have to miss a minimum of 10 days. The Cowboys play on Thanksgiving next Thursday, so Cooper has already been ruled out for Week 13. This is a big blow to the offense, but look for WR Michael Gallup to see a boost in targets in Cooper’s absence.
Cooper will miss the next two games with COVID-19 as an unvaccinated player. – SIT
11/17/21 Update
DeAndre Hopkins (WR) Arizona Cardinals
Hamstring Strain, Initial Injury: 10/25/21
Hamstring injuries have been plaguing big time WRs all season. DeAndre Hopkins is another example of the lingering and pesky nature of these injuries. Hopkins picked up a hamstring injury the week before the Cardinals Week 8 game and did not practice that week. Arizona decided to keep him active for the game and it was an instantly regrettable decision. The Cardinals WR reinjured his hamstring during the game and has not participated in practice in almost a month.
Additionally, he is still not practicing as of Wednesday (11/17) and Arizona has a bye in Week 12. This leads me to believe that the Cardinals will decide to air on the side of caution this time and rest the receiver through the bye week. Hamstring injuries already carry a high reinjury risk and this has already been elevated when Hopkins reinjured it the first time. We will see if he can log any practice participation this week but I would be surprised if Arizona risked playing him in Week 11.
Hopkins is still not practicing and is unlikely to return this week with a hamstring strain. – SIT/MONITOR
Kyler Murray (QB) Arizona Cardinals
Eversion Sprain, Initial Injury: 10/28/21
Arizona faced their first true test of adversity in late October this year. Not only did they suffer their first loss of the season in Week 8 but they also suffered an injury to their star QB. Kyler Murray had his ankle rolled up on but unfortunately for him, his ankle rolled outward instead of inward. Murray is dealing with an eversion sprain, which refers to damage to the ligaments on the inner part of his foot. Sadly, an eversion sprain is a worse injury than a common inversion sprain where the foot rolls inward, hurting the outside ligaments. More force is required for eversion sprains to happen, meaning more damage is done to ligaments and more recovery time is needed.
The Arizona QB has already missed the past two games at this point but he did return to practice last Friday. He was still not ready to return last week but began this week with another limited practice participation. After being apart of the last two practices, there is more optimism for his chances of playing this week. There have been reports of the Cardinals QB’s mobility improving and him getting closer to his usual playing ability. I would expect some mild limitations in his game if he is able to play but him starting would be a big boost for this team. His practice status will need to be monitored this week.
Kyler has returned to practice and the team is optimistic on his chances to return this week. MONITOR/START
Logan Thomas (TE) Washington Football Team
Hamstring Strain, Initial Injury: 10/3/21
Washington survived an offensive shootout in Atlanta last week without one of their top targets. The converted tight end Logan Thomas limped off the field on the team’s first possession of the game and was unable to return. Thomas injured his hamstring in a non-contact injury while running upfield. Unfortunately, hamstring strains are tricky injuries that require at least two weeks to recover from.
These injuries have a high reinjury rate which often causes a more severe injury than the original. Hamstring strains can linger throughout the season will limit a player’s running and jumping ability. Thomas has been placed on the IR and is expected to miss four weeks. This move means there has been substantial damage to his hamstring and returning to play in four weeks seems optimistic.
As of Wednesday (11/17) Thomas is still on IR and has yet to return to practice. He tested his hamstring last Monday and was expected to have his practice window opened back up for a possible return. However, the hamstring didn’t feel great so no time table for his return has been given.
Thomas is dealing with a hamstring strain and is on the IR. – DROP/IR
Elijah Mitchell (RB) San Francisco 49ers
Broken Finger, Initial Injury: 11/15/21
The San Francisco backfield has been one of the great fantasy football mysteries the past few years. Just as roles were beginning to become defined, rookie RB and lead back Elijah Mitchell went down last week. It is being reported that he suffered a broken finger which will require surgery. The procedure was scheduled for Tuesday and no news regarding the procedure has been released yet. Depending on the type of surgery performed and how it went, Mitchell does have a chance to play this week. The fracture will take about a month to heal but if the finger is protected he should be able to play before it is fully healed. His practice status this week will go along way in predicting his game availability for Week 11.
Mitchell broke his finger and his practice status will need to be monitored regarding his chances of playing this week. – MONITOR
Alvin Kamara (RB) New Orleans Saints
MCL Sprain, Initial Injury: 11/7/21
Alvin Kamara is a pivotal player to this Saints offense and many fantasy football teams around the globe. The Saints RB suffered a mild knee sprain in Week 9 and was unable to practice at all or play in Week 10. Thankfully, it seems this may have been all of the rest and recovery he needed. New Orleans featured back returned to practice Wednesday (11/17) as a limited participant. This is a great sign for Kamara who is trending towards playing this week at this point. An MCL sprain refers to damage to a ligament responsible for side to side stability of the knee. In mild cases such as this, the recovery timeline is usually one to two weeks. If Kamara continues his ability to participate in practice this week, I would expect him to suit up and contribute to this offense.
Kamara’s return to practice greatly increases his chances of playing this week. – START/MONITOR
Aaron Jones (RB) Green Bay Packers
MCL Sprain, Initial Injury: 11/14/21
Green Bay is off to another great start to the year, and the balance they have on offense is a key component to this success. RB Aaron Jones leads the Packers backfield and was having a modest game before suffering a gruesome-looking knee injury last week. Thankfully, for Cheeseheads and fantasy managers the injury was revealed to be only an MCL sprain. After testing and an MRI, it was confirmed to be a mild MCL sprain and should not be a long-term concern.
An MCL sprain refers to damage to one of the stabilizing ligaments of the knee. Specifically, the MCL is located on the inner part of your knee and plays a role in side-to-side stability. This is a common injury and is usually the least concerning for knee ligament injuries. This injury does limit Jones’ ability to make cuts and accelerate through the hole. A typical recovery timeline is one to three weeks for this injury barring any setbacks with rehab. Fortunately for the Packers, they have another stud RB on their roster who has been splitting carries in AJ Dillon. The young RB quickly took advantage of his increased volume and scored the game’s only two TDs last week.
Jones suffered a mild MCL and will likely miss this week at least. – SIT/MONITOR
Dallas Goedert (TE) Philadelphia Eagles
Concussion, Initial Injury: 11/14/21
Philly TE Dallas Goedert has been enjoying a solid year production-wise, instilling enough confidence for the team to let go of Zach Ertz. Unfortunately, one of Hurt’s favorite targets was knocked out of last week’s game in the first quarter. After securing a catch downfield, Goedert took a big hit to the hit from the Broncos’ safety and was quickly ruled out of the game. He has been diagnosed with a concussion and will need to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol to be able to play this week.
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. There is no way proven way to predict the recovery timeline of concussed players or how long symptoms will last. Goedert will need to demonstrate he is able to handle the fast-paced environment of the football field in a safe and efficient manner. It is possible he will be cleared in time for Week 11 but his practice status will paint a clearer picture. Updates of his practice participation will be provided to determine his likelihood of being cleared to play.
Goedert is in the NFL’s concussion protocol and has a chance to play this week. – MONITOR
Julio Jones (WR) Tennessee Titans
Hamstring Strain, Initial Injury: 9/26/21, Re-injured: 10/18/21, 11/12/21
Ahead of Week 11, star WR Julio Jones finds himself in a familiar place over these last few years, the injury report. Back in Week 3, Jones initially left the game due to what was being called hamstring “tightness”. This was a big undersell as Jones would go on to miss the next two weeks with this hamstring strain. He was finally able to return last Monday night but left the game in the fourth quarter and was unable to return with the same injury. After being able to suit up for Week 9, Jones again aggravated the injury in practice last week and is on the IR.
Hamstring injuries have a high reinjury rate and can lead to more severe injuries if a player returns too soon. Jones is a prime example here, as it seems the hamstring muscle was not fully healed and now has even more damage after this re-injury. A hamstring strain also limits a player’s speed and jumping ability. After improper management of the injury, Jones will finally be able to fully focus on rest and rehab while on IR. He is eligible to return Week 14 but his fantasy season has been a major disappointment due to this injury. Tennessee WRs AJ Brown and Chester Rodgers are in line to receive a boost in targets with Julio sidelined again with this injury.
Jones has finally landed on IR with his lingering hamstring issue. – DROP/IR
Jared Goff (QB) Detroit Lions
Oblique Injury, Initial Injury: 11/14/2021
The Lions are winless on the season and really can’t afford many players on this Week 11 injury report. Although it’s never good for your starting QB to be on the injury report, it seems Goff is dealing with a minor injury. He reportedly strained his right oblique muscle while attempting a long pass in the first quarter. The Detroit QB was able to stay in the game and did not appear to have his game negatively affected by a noticeable amount. Goff described the injury as “nagging” but also stated that he did not feel it affected him during the game. This is an injury to monitor however as these core muscles are responsible for rotational power and movements. An oblique injury can limit a QB’s ability to produce power for throwing distance and velocity if damaged enough.
Goff suffered a minor oblique injury and is likely to play but should be monitored. – MONITOR/START
Baker Mayfield (QB) Cleveland Browns
Knee Contusion, Initial Injury: 11/14/21
Baker Mayfield is no stranger to the injury report this year, with Week 11 being no different. The good news is that this time he is unlikely to miss any time. Baker’s injury appeared worse than it was as a Patriots LB collided with him in Week 10. Mayfield left the game hobbling but was medically cleared to return to the game shortly afterward. Due to the game being out of reach, there was no need to risk putting Baker back into the game, however. He is reportedly dealing with a knee contusion, which is essentially a bruise to his knee and superficial injury. Once the pain and swelling are reduced, he will be able to play the QB position at his usual ability. The expectation is Baker will be ready to play in Week 11.
Baker is dealing with a knee contusion and is expected to play. – START/MONITOR
Ricky Seals-Jones (TE) Washington Football Team
Hip Injury, Initial Injury: 11/14/2021
Washington has been dealing with a lack of production and injuries on both sides of the ball this year. After TE Logan Thomas went down with a hamstring injury earlier this year, it was a question mark for who would replace him. Ricky Seals-Jones has been that man and filled inadequately as a receiving threat over the middle for the Football Team. After securing three catches, Seals-Jones was forced to exit the game with a hip injury and was unable to return. Head coach Ron Rivera revealed that the TE had been dealing with this hip issue throughout the season and aggravated the injury Sunday. He has already shown he can play through this injury and still be a productive piece on offense. Let’s hope the aggravation to the injury is minor but Washington’s injury report will need to be monitored in Week 11.
Seals-Jones aggravated a hip injury he has been dealing with and needs to be monitored. – MONITOR
Cordarrelle Patterson (RB/WR) Atlanta Falcons
High Ankle Sprain, Initial Injury: 11/14/2021
One of the most electric players in the NFL joins the Week 11 injury report sadly. Patterson has burst on to the fantasy football scene in Atlanta after bouncing around the league mostly as a return specialist. The Falcons RB/WR/FLEX has brought a desperately needed spark to an offense that often lacks production. Patterson was injured during his last game and only saw a limited 15 offensive snaps, which correlated with a struggling Atlanta offense. His ankle sprain is still being evaluated but the mechanism of injury and lack of ability to play through the injury is not a good sign. It is likely he is dealing with a dreaded high ankle sprain, which is much worse than the common low ankle sprain.
High ankle sprains refer to damage to the ligaments above the ankle holding the lower leg bones together. Injuries like these require a lot of force to cause and therefore often take longer to heal due to the damage. Patterson’s route running and explosive play ability will likely be limited for multiple weeks if he is confirmed to be dealing with a high ankle sprain. With Atlanta having a Thursday night game, it makes his chances for playing this week even less likely. Fellow RB Mike Davis and rookie TE Kyle Pitts will likely see a boost in volume if Patterson is unable to suit up this week.
Patterson is believed to have a high ankle sprain and is likely to miss multiple weeks. – SIT/MONITOR
Robert Woods (WR) Los Angeles Rams
ACL Tear, Initial Injury: 11/12/21
Talk about having a bad weekend. Los Angeles Rams WR Robert Woods injured his knee in practice on Friday. Then, he found out that his team has traded for another WR, who doesn’t mind vocalizing his desire for more targets. Finally, to top it all off, Woods was confirmed to have an ACL tear via further testing of his knee. An ACL tear requires surgery to help restore some stability in his knee, and his season is over. This is an unfortunate break for Woods and the Rams. However, it does increase the importance of the Odell Beckham Jr. acquisition. WR2 in the Rams offense is up for grabs and it will be up to Beckham Jr. or Van Jefferson Jr. to fill it in. Woods should now be focused on rehabbing his knee for next season.
Woods tore his ACL and is out for the season. – DROP
Sam Darnold (QB) Carolina Panthers
Shoulder Fracture, Initial Injury: 10/31/21
Sam Darnold has looked like the Sam Darnold of old these past couple of weeks, horrible. After a promising start to the year, he has quickly strung together a series of poor performances and has taken his team down with him. There may be a reason for the poor play his past few weeks, however. Darnold picked up a shoulder injury in his Week 8 game that was originally overlooked due to him also suffering a concussion. He was questionable for Week 9 with a shoulder issue but did wind up playing.
Well, he either hurt his shoulder further or the true nature of the injury went undetected as he picked up a serious injury at some point. After two days of extensive testing, he was found to have an incomplete fracture of his right scapula or shoulder blade. This breaking of bone does not require surgery but will take several weeks to heal. With this injury occurring on his throwing shoulder, the Carolina QB is expected to be out for at least a month. The Panthers are likely to be moving forward with QB Cam Newton as the starter for the rest of 2021.
Darnold fractured his shoulder blade and will be out for at least a month. – DROP/IR
Chase Edmonds (RB) Arizona Cardinals
High Ankle Sprain, Initial Injury: 11/7/21
Starting RB Chase Edmonds went down early in his game last week and was unable to return. An MRI has confirmed that he suffered a high ankle sprain and will likely be put on the IR, missing at least 3 games. A high ankle sprain refers to an injury above the ankle, with damage to the ligaments holding the lower leg bones together. These types of ankle injuries are more severe and require a longer recovery time than the usual low ankle or common ankle sprains. More force is required to cause this kind of injury and it has more potential to have lasting effects on a player’s ability. Edmond’s cutting and route running abilities are likely going to be hindered for at least four weeks, and up to six weeks. Cardinals RB James Conner shined in Edmond’s absence and is a fantasy start moving forward.
Edmonds suffered a high ankle sprain last week and will likely miss multiple weeks. – SIT/IR
Calvin Ridley (WR) Atlanta Falcons
Personal Matter
Atlanta Falcon’s WR Calvin Ridley was expected to have a break-out year after the departure of fellow WR Julio Jones. Although he has put together a couple of good performances, his season has been negatively impacted by a “personal matter”. It is still unclear what exactly this means but Ridley had missed two of the last three games as a healthy scratch. Ridley recently took to Twitter to share that he needs to “step away” from football and focus on his “mental wellbeing”. I am not going to speculate what is going on here and wish the best for this young man. Ridley has been officially placed on the non-football injury list and will be out a minimum of three games. It is unclear exactly how long Ridley will be out at this time, but I hope he is off the Week 11 injury report soon.
Ridley is stepping away from the team for an undisclosed amount of time. – SIT/IR
Michael Thomas (WR) New Orleans Saints
Ankle Surgery, Initial Injury: 8/13/20, Surgery: June 2021
Let’s finish this Week 11 injury report with the diva of the group. After a disappointing 2020 season due to an ankle injury, the general consensus was that Thomas was going to have offseason ankle surgery in the offseason and there would be no lingering effects going into the 2021 season. Of course, things didn’t go as planned and he had the surgery done in June, basically guaranteeing he would miss the start of the 2021 season.
The Saints will be without their number one receiver for at least the first six weeks of the regular season as Thomas was placed on the Injured Reserve (IR). On the injury front, the surgery should improve his route running and run after catch ability. Michael Thomas is not a WR you are going to be able to depend on to get you to your fantasy playoffs this year. However, he may help you win in the playoffs IF things go according to plan this time.
It looks like we are going to have our first full season member of the injury report. It has been reported that Thomas has suffered a new and different ankle injury in his rehab to return to the field. He has now been ruled out for the season and will play zero snaps this year. There is a reason he was on my Top 5 Most Worried list this year!
Thomas is out for the season after suffering a new ankle injury. – DROP
Derrick Henry (RB) Tennessee Titans
Foot surgery, Initial Injury: 10/31/21
Derrick Henry has been shattering opposing defenses, rushing records, and the stat sheet. Unfortunately, it has been announced that he suffered an injury that will shatter fantasy managers’ hearts. This is by far the biggest injury on this Week 11 report, and it can be league-altering in my opinion. The Titans running back is the heart and soul of this Tennessee offense and many fantasy teams across the globe.
Henry reportedly suffered a Jones fracture and will undergo surgery this week. A Jones fracture refers to breaking the base of your pinky toe and is a fairly common NFL injury. Wide recovery timelines have been reported ranging from six to twelve weeks but eight is likely a realistic goal. The bone needs proper healing time and this is an injury that can reinjure if Henry is rushed back to the field. The Titans RB should not be limited once the bone is healed, but whether that happens before the fantasy season is over is another story.
Henry will be undergoing foot surgery this week and will likely be out for around two months. – IR
Jameis Winston (QB) New Orleans Saints
ACL Tear, Initial Injury: 10/31/21
After much uncertainty this offseason, it seems like the Jameis experiment was working and the team was headed in the right direction. Unfortunately, the Saints will have to carry on without their newfound starting QB. Jameis Winston was injured in last week’s game with a significant knee injury, having to be carted off the field. It has been confirmed that he has torn his ACL and suffered some MCL damage. These are major knee stabilizing ligaments, and this injury will require surgery. Winston’s season is done and it may be Taysom Hill’s team after all if he can recover from his concussion.
Winston has torn his ACL and will be out the rest of the season. – DROP
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers
Shoulder Dislocation, Initial Injury: 10/10/21
Juju may have played his last snap for the city of Pittsburgh. In the second quarter of the game against the Broncos, he took a hard hit to his shoulder and instantly walked off the field. The Steelers WR dislocated his shoulder and required season-ending surgery. Let’s not forget that Smith-Schuster tested the free agency market before signing just a 1 year deal with Pittsburgh. Juju will have to work hard this off-season to build some stability in his shoulder as dislocations can become a chronic issue for players. Luckily for the Steelers, WRs Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, and James Washington are all capable playmakers.
Juju is out for the rest of the season after shoulder surgery. – DROP
Curtis Samuel (WR) Washington Football Team
Groin Injury, Re-injured: 10/10/21, Initial Injury: 6/2/21
Another player I have been concerned about for a while joins the Week 11 injury report. Washington’s offseason addition Curtis Samuel cannot seem to kick this groin issue. The speedy WR originally injured his groin back in June and took several months off before returning to practice. A week before the season started, he reinjured his groin again and started the year on the IR. I tried to warn y’all but this was the first BAD sign. Last Sunday, Samuel suffered another setback, aggravating his groin injury and being held out of the game.
A groin injury limits a player’s ability for a quick change of direction movements due to damage to the inner hip muscle. As a shifty and speedy receiver, Samuel will need his groin to be at full strength for a productive season. Additionally, a groin injury comes with a high reinjury risk, which is what we are seeing here. At this point, this injury is unlikely to go away any time soon and I would look for other fantasy options. Washington WR’s Terry McLaurin and Adam Humphries will see a boost in targets as some of the only healthy options left.
Samuel has again reinjured his groin and his health should not be trusted. – DROP/SIT
DJ Chark (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars
Ankle Fracture, Initial Injury: 9/30/21
This Week 11 report contains an added injury to the insult that is Jacksonville Jaguars football. Last Thursday night, their big-play WR D.J. Chark was rolled up on by a fellow teammate and had to be carted off the field. Unfortunately, Chark fractured his ankle, which will require surgery and likely end his 2021 season. With the Jags looking abysmal, there is no reason for them to risk bringing back their young WR this year. Fellow WRs Marvin Jones Jr. and Laviska Shenault should see a boost in targets for the rest of the season.
Chark’s season is likely over with a fractured ankle. – DROP
Will Fuller (WR) Miami Dolphins
Broken Finger, Initial Injury:10/3/21
Will Fuller’s Miami career is off to a rocky start after missing the first two games for non-injury reasons and getting hurt early in Week 4. The Miami WR broke his finger while attempting to make a diving catch on an underthrown ball. He was immediately ruled out of the game and is now expected to miss “ a few weeks”. A broken bone is going to take about six weeks to fully heal normally but there is a possibility he returns closer to the four-week mark. His recovery timeline will be up to how much Fuller and the Dolphins want to risk a reinjury. The Dolphins are fairly healthy at WR otherwise, with DeVante Parker and Jaylen Waddle leading the way.
Fuller broke his finger and will likely be out four to six weeks. – IR/SIT
Maxx Williams (TE) Arizona Cardinals
Knee Injury, Initial Injury: 10/10/21
Just as the TE was becoming a big part of this Arizona offense, his season is likely over. Maxx Williams suffered a gruesome knee injury last Sunday and the belief is it is a season-ending injury. Finally, confirmation has been received and Williams is out for the year.
Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury. – DROP/MONITOR
Quintez Cephus (WR) Detroit Lions
Broken Collarbone, Initial Injury: 10/10/21
The Lions can ill afford any name added to the injury report for Week 11, especially a bright spot in their dismal passing offense. Quintez Cephus has emerged as Detroit’s WR1 and vertical deep threat this season. The big body receiver had been a productive and reliable target for QB Jared Goff. Unfortunately, Detroit can’t seem to have nice things as the promising young WR will miss an extended amount of time.
Cephus’ shoulder was driven down hard into the ground on a tackle last week and he broke his collarbone. The bone is going to take at least six weeks to heal but could very likely take two full months. He would then have to be slowly worked back into contact as the bone is vulnerable during the healing period. The Lions will turn to WR’s Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond, and KhaDarel Hodge to fill the void. However, these pass catchers are all unproven so it is hard to say which one Goff will trust if any.
Cephus broke his collarbone and will have an extended absence, maybe the rest of the season. – DROP/IR
This injury report updates until Week 11 ends. Make sure to stay up to date on all the latest injuries this season over on Twitter @SGPNFootballDoc!
