Last Minute Decisions: Injury Report: Week 13

Week 13 of the NFL season is here, and the Rotoworld crew has everything you need to have a winning week. Patrick Daugherty answers your lineup questions with his Week 13 Rankings, Nick Mensio tells you who to start and who to fade in Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em, and Evan Silva breaks down every matchup in his award-winning Matchups Column.

As for me, I am here to shed some light on the most important injury situations facing fantasy owners heading into the weekend. The sister resource to this column is the Rotoworld News Page, which will have every single inactive and all the late-breaking news up to kickoff and beyond. I also occasionally tweet about football @RMSummerlin. 

Early Games
49ers @ Bears
*Alshon Jeffery is not on the injury report for the first time since Week 9, but Marquess Wilson suffered a foot injury in practice Wednesday and is out. Eddie Royal (knee) is listed as questionable, but he did not practice all week and has not played since Week 8. With Martellus Bennett seemingly at odds with the coaching staff, Jeffery could be the most targeted receiver in the league this week. Zach Miller was also hurt in practice Wednesday and is questionable with a rib-cage injury. Bruce Gaston (illness) and Antrel Rolle (knee) are questionable. Jay Cutler was limited on Friday with an illness, but he is probable.

*Carlos Hyde has not practiced since October 22 with a stress fracture in his foot. He should have already been placed on injured reserve, and indications are the 49ers will finally make that decision next week. Garrett Celek suffered a high-ankle sprain in last week’s game and did not practice this week. His absence should open up targets for Vance McDonald, who is a sneaky GPP play and low-end TE1 streaming option.

Bengals @ Browns
*Cleveland will be missing four players due to concussions. Justin Gilbert suffered his last week, but Taylor Gabriel, Joe Haden, and Andrew Hawkins have been sidelined several weeks. Mike Pettine admitted shutting down Haden and Hawkins could be an option. Joel Bitonio (ankle), Nate Orchard (groin) and Randy Starks (knee) are all questionable. All three were limited Friday.

*Tyler Eifert did not practice all week and is doubtful with a pinched nerve in his back. Rookie Tyler Kroft will start in his place and is an interesting prospect in Dynasty circles, but waiver wire guys like Jacob Tamme or the aforementioned Vance McDonald are better redraft options for this week. Chris Lewis-Harris (ribs) is also doubtful. Leon Hall (back), George Iloka (groin) and Adam Jones (foot) are questionable. Hall and Jones were limited Friday, but Iloka has not practiced since Wednesday.

Jaguars @ Titans
*Dexter McCluster remains out with a sprained knee. McCluster’s absence theoretically should have opened up a bigger role for David Cobb, but that has yet to materialize. Mike Martin (knee) is also out. Derrick Morgan (shoulder) is questionable after missing practice Friday. The Titans’ pass rush was far less potent without him on the field last week. Marqueston Huff (hamstring) is questionable.

*Allen Hurns was ruled out with a concussion. Marqise Lee will slide into the starting lineup, but Allen Robinson and a resurgent Julius Thomas should be the biggest beneficiaries. Toby Gerhart (groin) and Dan Skuta (groin) are also out. Bernard Pierce (calf), Neal Sterling (illness) and Bryan Walters (back) are questionable. Pierce and Walters did not practice Thursday and Friday.

Texans @ Bills
*Karlos Williams (shoulder) did not practice all week and has been ruled out. LeSean McCoy has averaged 22.5 touches a game since they bye and could see even more work with Williams sidelined. The problem is Houston has allowed just 3.87 yards per carry to running backs the last three weeks. The touches should give McCoy a nice floor, but the upside might not be there this week. John Miller (ankle) and Nigel Bradham (ankle) are out. Seantrel Henderson (illness) did not practice all week and is doubtful. Tyrod Taylor (right shoulder) practiced in full Friday and is probable. Mario Williams (foot, probable) should also return to face his former team.

*DeAndre Hopkins was limited Wednesday with a hamstring injury, but he was a full participant Thursday and Friday. Every Texan on the active roster is probable or better.

Ravens @ Dolphins
*Rishard Matthews (ribs) is out, and Kenny Stills is questionable after injuring his ankle Thursday. The Dolphins expect Stills to be available, but rookie DeVante Parker should play almost every snap in a great matchup. He is a quality low-owned GPP play. Ja’Wuan James (toe) and Earl Mitchell (calf) are out. Mike Pouncey (foot) is questionable but was able to get in limited practices Thursday and Friday.

*Maxx Williams (concussion) is out. Crockett Gillmore could see more targets, but he saw just four looks with Williams out most of the game last week. Eugene Monroe (shoulder) and Marlon Brown (back) are doubtful.

Seahawks @ Vikings
*Linval Joseph (foot) and Andrew Sendejo (knee) are out, but the defense should get Harrison Smith (knee, questionable) back. Anthony Barr (hand, groin) is questionable but got in a limited practice Friday.

*Marshawn Lynch (abdomen), Paul Richardson (hamstring), Demarcus Dobbs (concussion) and Jordan Hill (toe) are out. Will Tukuafu (concussion) and Marcus Burley (ankle) are questionable.

Cardinals @ Rams
*Robert Quinn (hip), Andrew Donnal (knee) and Greg Zuerlein (hip) are doubtful, and Trumaine Johnson (thigh) is out. Quinn’s continued absence is a big blow to the defense. Zach Hocker will continue to handle the kicking duties in Zuerlein’s place. Case Keenum (concussion) is questionable. He will backup Nick Foles if he plays. Rob Havenstein (calf, probable) is set to return after practicing in full all week. His presence should help a struggling Todd Gurley.

*Chris Johnson (fractured tibia, IR/recall) is done for the regular season, and Andre Ellington (turf toe) is out for at least this week. Coach Bruce Arians said David Johnson could handle “up to 25 touches.” John Brown (hamstring) and Larry Fitzgerald (ankle) are probable, and Michael Floyd (hamstring) should play despite his questionable tag. Cory Redding (ankle) is doubtful, and Jerraud Powers (calf) and Frostee Rucker (ankle) are out.

Falcons @ Bucs
*Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder, questionable) has been removed from his hermetically-sealed chamber and is reportedly cleared for contact. I will believe he is playing when I see it, but every indication is this week will be the one. Tampa Bay will be without their top two pass rushers with Gerald McCoy (hand) doubtful and Jacquies Smith (hamstring) out. George Johnson (calf) has been a disappointment, but he will also miss. Tampa will struggle to get to Matt Ryan, who hung 397 and two scores on them Week 8. Bruce Carter (concussion) is doubtful, and Gosder Cherilus (knee) and Luke Stocker (back) are questionable.

*Devonta Freeman (concussion, probable) will return after practicing in full Thursday and Friday. This is a tough matchup, but Freeman remains a high-end RB1. Leonard Hankerson (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve Friday to make room on the active roster for Devin Hester (toe, probable). Jacob Tamme has been a borderline TE1 with Hankerson out this season, and he had 10 catches for 103 yards and a score against the Bucs Week 8. Matt Bryant (right quad) remains out, meaning Shayne Graham will handle the kicking duties again. Tony Moeaki (hamstring) is also out.

Jets @ Giants
*The Giants lost Geoff Schwartz (broken leg, IR) last week, but they are getting Justin Pugh (concussion, probable) back this week and could also have the services of Weston Richburg (ankle, questionable), who got in limited practices all week. Marshall Newhouse (back) is more questionable than Richburg after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday, but he was able to get in a limited session Friday. Larry Donnell (neck), Brandon Meriweather (knee) and Devon Kennard (hamstring, foot) are out.

*Darrelle Revis (concussion) is out, and his backup Marcus Williams (knee) is doubtful. Odell Beckham is the No. 1 wide receiver play this week. Dion Bailey (ankle) is doubtful. Calvin Pace (abdomen) is questionable. Brandon Marshall (toe, ankle) is probable and a great play in what should be a shootout.

Afternoon Games
Broncos @ Chargers
*Ladarius Green (ankle) and Philip Rivers (foot) are probable after practicing in full all week. Rivers may have a tough time staying healthy, however, with D.J. Fluker (concussion) and King Dunlap (ankle) set to miss. Corey Liuget (foot), Jerry Attaochu (chest) and Sean Lissemore (shoulder) are questionable.

*Peyton Manning had the cast removed off his left foot this week, but he has at least a week of rehab before he will be ready to play. If Brock Osweiler continues to be competent the next two weeks, Manning is unlikely to take back over as the starter. DeMarcus Ware (back) will miss this game, but he practiced on a limited basis all week and is traveling with the team. He should be ready next week. T.J. Ward and Sylvester Williams could both be out a while after suffering high-ankle sprains last week. Bennie Fowler (ankle) and Louis Vasquez (groin) are questionable.

Chiefs @ Raiders
*Rodney Hudson (ankle) and Taiwan Jones (knee) are doubtful. Tony Bergstrom will continue to start at center. Neiron Ball (knee) and Keith McGill (ankle) are out.

*Charcandrick West (hamstring, probable) is set to return after practicing in full all week, but he is returning to what OC Doug Pederson called a running back by committee with Spencer Ware. West should lead the backfield in touches, but he will likely lose goal-line work to Ware, which will severely limit his value. West is more of a low-end RB2 even in a decent matchup. Justin Houston (knee) did not practice all week and is out. Dee Ford (back, probable) is set to return and should slide into the starting lineup. Husain Abdullah (neck), Mitch Morse (concussion) and De’Anthony Thomas (concussion) are also out. Jeff Allen (ankle) and Allen Bailey (calf) are questionable, but both got in full practices Friday.

Eagles @ Patriots
*Julian Edelman (foot) and Rob Gronkowski (knee) are out as expected, and Danny Amendola (knee) is listed as questionable despite practicing on a limited basis all week. Amendola should play, but if he is unable to go Brandon LaFell and Scott Chandler should both see double-digit targets. That may happen regardless of Amendola’s status. Both Jamie Collins (illness) and Dont’a Hightower (knee) are questionable after getting in limited practices all week. Missing one or especially both would be a downgrade for the run defense. Patrick Chung (foot), Michael Williams (knee), Dominique Easley (ankle) and Justin Coleman (hand) are also questionable. All four got in limited practices Friday.  

*Sam Bradford (shoulder) is probable and expected to start. He has some GPP appeal in what is projected to be a high-paced game, but Bradford has not flashed tournament-winning upside yet this season. Ryan Mathews (concussion) did not practice this week and remains out. He is at best questionable for next week. Jason Peters (back, ankle) and Cedrick Thornton (ankle) are questionable, but both got in full practices Friday.

Panthers @ Saints
*Willie Snead (calf) is listed as doubtful after missing practice all week. Snead was set up for a great matchup against some amalgamation of Bene Benwikere, Colin Jones, and Cortland Finnegan, but those honors will now go to Marques Colston. Jahri Evans (ankle) and Terron Armstead (knee) are questionable. John Jenkins (concussion) is out.

*Charles Tillman (knee) and Mario Addison (ankle) did not practice all week and are out. Tillman’s absence should mean Josh Norman shadows Brandin Cooks. Philly Brown (shoulder, probable) is set to return, but he likely lost his starting job to Devin Funchess.

Sunday Night
Colts @ Steelers
*It is still unclear if Ben Roethlisberger actually suffered a concussion last week, but he is ready to start against the Colts either way. He is a top play in a great matchup. Heath Miller (rib) is questionable but not expected to play. Jesse James will get the start with Miller out, but there are better options available. Sean Spence (hamstring) is out.

*Andrew Luck (kidney) will not play this week, but he said he has begun throwing a “fair, intense amount.” There is some hope he can return by mid-December. Anthony Castonzo (knee), Phillip Dorsett (ankle), Jerrell Freeman (hamstring) and Hugh Thornton (elbow) are also out. Khaled Holmes (fibula) is listed as questionable, but he did not practice Thursday or Friday.

Monday Night
Cowboys @ Redskins
*Chris Thompson was limited Thursday and Friday with a shoulder injury, but he played through the issue last week and should be good to go. Once a deep PPR option, Thompson is not getting enough work to be useful anywhere right now. Derek Carrier (ankle), Andre Roberts (knee) and Trenton Robinson (hamstring) did not practice Friday.

*The Cowboys are keeping Tony Romo on the active roster just in case they make a playoff run. Good luck with that. Dez Bryant (foot, knee) and Morris Claiborne (hamstring, ankle) are practicing in full. Claiborne’s return should allow rookie Byron Jones, who has struggled a bit the last two weeks, to play more snaps at safety. 

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