| | | | Sunday, November 29, 2020 | | Locking in your lineup has rarely been tougher to do than it is this week. COVID-19 outbreaks are spreading through multiple teams, leaving several with unprecedented absences. The Ravens are missing Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, Mark Ingram, and J.K. Dobbins for Week 12, and that isn't even close to a full accounting of their outbreak. And in Denver, the Broncos are starting practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton at quarterback -- AT QUARTERBACK -- because their entire QB room was designated as close contacts after Jeff Driskel tested positive. Oh, and James Conner, Adam Thielen, Jonathan Taylor, Larry Fitzgerald, and Brandon Aiyuk are all on the Reserve/COVID-19 list and won't play this week. | | And yet, the show must go on, and we've got our usual allotment of injuries to account for Sunday as well. The good news there is, we're getting some big names back, like Austin Ekeler, Chris Carson, and David Montgomery, and probably Raheem Mostert, too. I'm starting each of those players this week where I have them, and not just because running back is a mess. Though, partially because running back is a mess, as always. | | This is going to be a weird week, and keeping up on everything before kickoff is going to be more important than usual. So, make sure you keep up with everything the Fantasy Football Today team is doing Sunday morning. In today's newsletter, I've got the latest on all of the injuries and replacements you need to know about for Week 12 and then you need to tune in to Fantasy Football Today live on CBS Sports HQ until kickoff for the latest news and analysis for today. We're also answering your questions on our Twitch stream starting at noon and going until kickoff — and you can always drop your questions on Twitter using the hashtag "#AskFFT" because the whole team is answering questions this morning. | | More Week 12: Injury Report Updates | Start 'Em & Sit 'Em | Starts and Sits, Sleepers and Bust | PPR Cheat Sheet | Non-PPR Cheat Sheet | QB Preview | RB Preview | WR Preview | TE Preview | Matchup Notes | Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: QB | Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: RB | Star 'Em & Sit 'Em: WR | Rankings | Waiver Wire | Trade Values Chart | Cut List | Week 11 Winners and Losers | Believe It Or Not | | | | Week 12 Injury Updates | | | | Here are the key injury situations we're watching out for Sunday, along with some potential fill-in options if you need help: | | Quarterback | | In: Kyler Murray (shoulder), Phillip Rivers (toe), Teddy Bridgewater (knee), Sam Darnold (shoulder), Mitchell Trubisky (shoulder) Out: Tua Tagovailoa (thumb), Drew Lock (Reserve/COVID-19), Lamar Jackson (Reserve/COVID-19) | | Tagovailoa was downgrade to doubtful Saturday, and Ryan Fitzpatrick will start in his place, and that should be the first place you look if you need a replacement at QB. Fitzpatrick had multiple touchdowns in four of six starts, averaging 22.2 Fantasy points per game. He had 22 against the Jets in Week 6, and should be a solid Fantasy option for the rematch. | | As for what the absences of Lock and Jackson mean for their respective teams, it's nothing but bad news. Jackson will be replaced by Robert Griffin III, and the way the offense runs shouldn't change much. But it's a matchup against the Steelers, and Griffin is a far inferior version of Jackson at this point in their careers, so it will probably be a long day for the Ravens offense -- if the game gets played at all, which is still at least somewhat in question given new positive tests in recent days. Griffin's rushing ability does make him an interesting streaming option, but probably more like a DFS or 2QB league one. Truthfully, I would do everything I can to avoid the Ravens offense entirely given the Tuesday start. | | The Broncos situation is even worse. They're likely going to be starting practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton at quarterback. Hinton completed 133 of 251 passes for 1,504 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions in four seasons at Wake Forest before switching to wide receiver, as a redshirt senior. His athleticism should make Hinton a decent rushing threat -- and an intriguing streaming option at WR as a result -- but in all likelihood, the Broncos won't ask him to throw more than absolutely necessary. That should mean a lot of Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay in this one, though given the matchup against the Saints, it'll be tough to trust either of them. This could be one to forget for the Broncos offense. | | Potential fill-ins: Teddy Bridgewater (64%) @MIN, Ryan Fitzpatrick (28%) @NYJ, MItchell Trubisky (9%) @GB | | Running back | | In: Giovani Bernard (concussion), Austin Ekeler (hamstring) Expected to be in: Chris Carson (foot), David Montgomery (concussion), Raheem Mostert (ankle) Out: James Conner (Reserve/COVID-19), Jonathan Taylor (Reserve/COVID-19), Christian McCaffrey (shoulder), Todd Gurley (knee), Salvon Ahmed (shoulder), Tevin Coleman (knee), J.K. Dobbins/Mark Ingram (Reserve/COVID-19), Kalen Ballage (ankle/calf), Lamical Perine (ankle; IR) | | With Ahmed and Myles Gaskin (knee) out for the Dolphins, we'll likely see Matt Breida and DeAndre Washington lead the running game for the Dolphins. It should be Breida in the No. 1 role, given that Washington was a healthy scratch last week, but both could be part of the game plan. Breida is an OK desperation play in a great matchup. | | Brian Hill would be the priority among the injury fill-ins, however, even ahead of Gus Edwards in my eyes. But I would start Carson, Montgomery, Bernard, Mostert and Ekeler ahead of either. Mostert and Ekeler could be limited in their first games back from IR, but both are too important to their respective offenses to not have in your lineup when active. And Ekeler could be a legitimate top-five running back for the rest of the season. The Chargers offense has been better than expected this season, and Justin Herbert is averaging 9.8 targets per game to running backs as a starter. This could set up an excellent close to the season for Ekeler if he stays healthy. | | Potential fill-ins: Brian Hill (50%) vs. LV, Benny Snell (44%) vs. BAL, Frank Gore (41%) vs. MIA, Jordan Wilkins (27%) vs. TEN, Matt Breida (25%) @NYJ | | | | Wide receiver | | In: Davante Adams (ankle), A.J. Brown (knee), Jerry Jeudy (ankle/Achilles), Deebo Samuel (hamstring), Sammy Watkins (hamstring, calf) Out: Julio Jones (hamstring), Adam Thielen (Reserve/COVID-19), D.J. Chark (ribs), John Brown (ankle; IR), Larry Fitzgerald (Reserve/COVID-19), Brandon Aiyuk (Reserve/COVID-19) | | Jones would have been worth the risk if he had played, but it's probably for the best he is inactive. He was able to practice throughout the week, so hopefully this ends up being just a one-week absence. He'll be back to being a must-start Fantasy WR as soon as he is healthy. Russell Gage is an OK flier for Week 12, but the Falcons offense has really struggled without Jones in the lineup, so he's just a fringe play. | | Jeudy, however, certainly isn't worth the risk. With the Broncos starting a WR at QB, you just can't expect Jeudy to get enough chances to be productive. Sure, maybe there will be some kind of miraculous big play that makes Jeudy end up worth the spot in your lineup, but the odds are too long to trust. The Broncos may not throw the ball more than 15 times today in total. He's not a must-start option anyway. | | There isn't much else to take away from the rest of the WR injuries. Justin Jefferson will get a shot to be the Vikings unquestioned No. 1 receiver this week and should be started in all Fantasy leagues, but you were already starting him. John Brown's absence pushes Cole Beasley into low-end No. 2 Fantasy WR territory. Samuel is a risky start just because we don't necessarily know how much he will play, but Aiyuk's absence makes him a more interesting dice roll. | | Potential fill-ins: Sterling Shepard (60%) @CIN, Jakobi Meyers (60%) vs. ARI, Jalen Reagor (33%) vs. SEA, Laviska Shenault (29%) vs. CLE | | Tight end | | In: Hayden Hurst (ankle) Out: Mark Andrews (Reserve/COVID-19), Irv Smith (goin) Questionable: Jordan Reed (illness), Tyler Higbee (elbow) | | Andrews is the biggest name you are scrambling to replace, and with Griffin starting for the Ravens, it's hard to suggest backup Nick Boyle as a Fantasy option. Of the two players we're still waiting for updates on in the later games, Reed is probably the better bet than Higbee if both play, but neither is any kind of must-start. | | Potential fill-ins: Austin Hooper (60%) @JAC, Jimmy Graham (45%) @GB, Trey Burton (36%) vs. TEN | | |
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