Sit Start Injury Report Sunday Morning Week 13 2021

By KC Joyner
KC Joyner

Every fantasy manager knows that injuries can have a huge impact on a fantasy team's performance.

That makes properly navigating each week's injury report a must. To assist in this effort, this weekly article series will analyze the fantasy football impact of the Friday and Saturday injury reports.

The injured players are noted by player position and then their injury status. Out means the player has been ruled out of this week's contest. Doubtful means the player is very unlikely to start. Questionable indicates the player might start. Start likelihood is increased if a player has participated in practices that week, so practice participation levels are frequently noted in these posts.

Let's look at the Week 13 injury report. The initial edition of this article is generated following the league's Friday injury report. It is then updated on Saturday night with any injury changes that have been posted since the Friday update.
 

Arizona at Chicago

Arizona injuries

Questionable
WR DeAndre Hopkins
CB Byron Murphy
QB Kyler Murray
Hopkins and Murray are both going to be game time decisions for this matchup. If Murray is out, it greatly hinders the fantasy value of any Cardinals receiver. If Murray plays and Hopkins is out, it should add enough targets to Christian Kirk and Zach Ertz to consider them WR3/flex and low-end TE1 candidates, respectively. Murphy's potential absence really won't help fantasy rosters much, as Darnell Mooney is the only Bears wideout of note and Murphy likely wouldn't be covering him.

 

 

Chicago injuries

Out
WR Marquise Goodwin
DT Akiem Hicks
RB Damien Williams

Doubtful
QB Justin Fields
WR Allen Robinson

Questionable LB Roquan Smith

Andy Dalton is going to get the start this week in place of Fields. Robinson has been a non-factor in fantasy leagues for almost the entire 2021 campaign, so his missing this contest shouldn't impact start-sit options.

 

 

 

Baltimore at Pittsburgh

Baltimore injuries

Questionable

CB Anthony Averett
CB Marlon Humphrey
LB Odafe Oweh
LB Patrick Queen
CB Jimmy Smith
CB Tavon Young
The Ravens are the most banged-up team in the league right now, with the most impactful injuries occurring on defense. The cornerback issues are enough to add some value to Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson, but the reality is that the Steelers passing woes make Claypool a WR2/WR3 and Johnson a WR1/WR2 (depending on PPR league status) regardless of the competition level.

 

 

Pittsburgh injuries

Out
CB Joe Haden
Haden being out for another game is a big plus for Marquise Brown, who may have been a WR1 before this injury and is definitely at that level now. The Steelers also could get some defensive line help, as T.J. Watt tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday and will be able to start on Sunday if he registers one more negative test on Saturday.

Saturday night update: Watt was activated from the COVID-19 list and will thus play in this game.

 

 

 

Denver at Kansas City

Denver injuries

Out
RB Melvin Gordon

Questionable
T Garrett Bolles
CB Nate Hairston
T Bobby Massie
G Quinn Meinerz
G Dalton Risney
Gordon's doubtful status moves Javonte Williams into borderline RB1 territory, as the Broncos are apt to make Williams a borderline bell cow back in this contest. The problem for Williams is the slew of offensive line issues could hinder the amount of quality run blocking he will get in this contest, so there is a low-end RB2 or even flex-caliber floor for Williams.

Saturday night update: Gordon has been downgraded to out for this game.

 

 

Kansas City injuries

Out
CB Rashad Fenton
T Lucas Niang

Questionable
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Edwards-Helaire is battling a case of stomach flu and thus has a good chance of overcoming this in time to start on Sunday.

 

 

 

Indianapolis at Houston

Indianapolis injuries

Questionable
DT DeForest Buckner
TE Jack Doyle
S Andrew Sendejo
Doyle is coming off his best game of the season last week and put in a full practice on Friday, so he is trending to be available as a longshot fantasy starter this week. Buckner and Sendejo are both starters on the Colts defense, so it is possible Houston's offense faces a shorthanded platoon in this one, but it won't be enough to vault Texans players into high percentage start status.

Saturday night update: Center Ryan Kelly was placed on the COVID-19 list and will be out for this game.

 

 

Houston injuries

Out
WR Danny Amendola

Questionable
WR Chris Conley
WR Brandin Cooks
RB David Johnson
With the Texans wide receiver corps battling so many injuries, Tyrod Taylor is a somewhat risky candidate even as a QB2 in 2QB leagues. Cooks has been a low volume play of late with only five catches for 63 yards over the past two weeks, so fantasy managers might do well to look for a higher percentage option. Johnson is a very risky option at best in deep leagues given his production level and having missed practice all week due to an illness and thigh injury.

 

 

 

Jacksonville at Los Angeles Rams

Jacksonville injuries

Out
CB Shaquill Griffin

Questionable
RB James Robinson
Robinson has been on the injury list for the past few weeks and played, so this questionable status doesn't look to keep him out of the lineup. Griffin's absence improves the chances that Van Jefferson will post starter-caliber points this week.

 

 

Los Angeles injuries

Out
RB Buddy Howell

Questionable
WR Odell Beckham
T Rob Havenstein
RB Darrell Henderson
CB David Long
Henderson did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday but was able to practice on Friday. That trends him towards playing, but if Henderson misses the game, Sony Michel will be the bell cow since Howell is out, and that will provide Michel with RB1/RB2 value in this matchup. Beckham did not practice on Thursday but did practice on Wednesday and Friday, so he may be trending towards playing.

 

 

 

Los Angeles Chargers at Cincinnati

Los Angeles injuries

Out

CB Asante Samuel
Samuel's absence adds some value to Tee Higgins and thus could vault Higgins into the WR2/WR3 following a season-high 23.4-point showing last week.

 

 

Cincinnati injuries

C Trey Hopkins
T Riley Reiff
The Chargers have a bend but don't break defense that can be run on, but if Hopkins and Reiff, both of whom are starters, do not play, it could drop Joe Mixon's downside into the RB2/flex tier.

 

 

 

Minnesota at Detroit

Minnesota injuries

Out
RB Dalvin Cook
T Christian Darrisaw
LB Eric Kendricks

Questionable
CB Mackensie Alexander
LB Anthony Barr
RB Kene Nwangwu

Alexander Mattison is apt to get 20+ carries this week in Cook's absence, a workload that makes Mattison a must start. The three questionable players aren't the only defensive issues for the Vikings, as Patrick Peterson, Michael Pierce, and Dalvin Tomlinson are all on the COVID-19 list. The the latter two of that group are likely to be available for this contest due to their latest test results, but the entirety of these woes adds hope for Detroit's fantasy prospects.

Saturday night update: Kendricks has been downgraded to out. Nwangwu was added to the injury report with a non-COVID-19 illness. Minnesota activated defensive tackle Michael Pierce off injured reserve, a move that should upgrade their struggling run defense.

 

 

Detroit injuries

Out
LB Trey Flowers
CB Bobby Price
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
RB D'Andre Swift

Questionable
DE Michael Brockers
T Penei Sewell
The Lions defensive injuries make every Vikings fantasy candidate an even higher percentage play. Williams should lead Detroit's running back in carries this week, but it may not net more than RB2 value given how poorly this platoon has played of late.

 

 

 

New York Giants at Miami

New York injuries

Out
CB Adoreé Jackson
QB Daniel Jones

Doubtful
WR Sterling Shepard
WR Kadarius Toney

Questionable
WR John Ross
TE Kyle Rudolph
T Nate Solder
The Giants slew of offensive injuries make anyone outside of Saquon Barkley a very risky option and Barkley should likely be viewed as more of RB2 candidate this week than a pure RB1.

 

 

Miami injuries

Doubtful
RB Phillip Lindsay

Questionable
S Brandon Jones
Lindsay was brought into to save some wear and tear on Myles Gaskin, but the doubtful status means Gaskin is apt to be a bell cow again this week with likely RB2 value in this so-so offense.

Saturday night update: Miami activated DeVante Parker off the injured reserve list.

 

 

 

Philadelphia at New York Jets

Philadelphia injuries

Out
RB Jordan Howard

Questionable
QB Jalen Hurts
RB Boston Scott
The Howard and Scott injuries should open the door for Miles Sanders to possibly reach RB1 status this week, but a lot of that depends on if Hurts is able to play. If Hurts is out, it will somewhat limit this rushing attack and drop Sanders into the RB2 tier.

Saturday night update: There are conflicting reports about where Hurts will play or not, so he should be considered a game time decision and a very risky start candidate even if he is active. Eagles reporter Derrick Gunn has indicated that Scott will be a game time decision, so be wary of putting him into lineups.

 

 

New York injuries

Doubtful
DT Sheldon Rankins

Questionable
WR Corey Davis
DT Folorunso Fatukasi
DE John Franklin-Myer
T Morgan Moses
LB Quincy Williams
Davis was only able to put in a limited practice on Friday and thus probably should be kept out of most fantasy lineups. The slew of defensive injuries should allow the Eagles to run for a ton of yards even if Hurts ends up missing this game.

 

 

 

San Francisco at Seattle

San Francisco injuries

Out
LB Dre Greenlaw
WR Deebo Samuel
RB Trey Sermon

Doubtful
LB Fred Warner
Samuel being out may make it tough for the 49ers to post a fourth straight game with 31+ points. It was hoped that Greenlaw could return to help add depth to this defense, but he will be out again this week.

Saturday night update: Sermon was placed on injured reserve.

 

 

Seattle injuries

Doubtful
G Damien Lewis

Questionable
RB Alex Collins
RB Travis Homer
RB Rashaad Penny
The Seahawks have one of the worst offenses in the NFL right now, so fantasy managers should probably avoid any of their running backs if possible regardless of how this injury situation plays out.

Saturday night update: Seattle moved Adrian Peterson to the active roster. He has negligible fantasy value given the state of this offense.

 

 

 

Tampa Bay at Atlanta

Tampa Bay injuries


Out
S Jordan Whitehead

Questionable
CB Jamel Dean
G Ali Marpet
LB Devin White
Dean is listed as questionable because he was activated off the injured reserve list, so he should be returning to the lineup this week. Losing Whitehead and potentially losing White are notable losses for this defense, but it really doesn't make the Falcons players much better start candidates given how Atlanta's offense has played of late.

 

 

Atlanta injuries

The Falcons have no notable injuries.

Saturday night update: The Falcons moved Qadree Ollison to the active roster, a move that likely indicates Ollison will take a good portion of the carries away from Mike Davis.

 

 

 

Washington at Las Vegas

Washington injuries

Out
S Landon Collins
RB J.D. McKissic
G Wes Schweitzer

Questionable
G Ereck Flowers
C Tyler Larsen
WR Curtis Samuel
Wendell Smallwood will likely take over as the pass catching back for Washington in McKissic's absence, but Smallwood is too risky to trust in lineups outside of flex candidacy in very deep leagues. The three offensive line injuries add a tiebreaking downside to Terry McLaurin and Antonio Gibson, but those two still should be in lineups in most leagues.

 

 

Las Vegas injuries

Out
DE Carl Nassib
TE Darren Waller

Questionable
WR DeSean Jackson
RB Josh Jacobs
Waller's doubtful status means that fantasy managers will likely need to look elsewhere for their tight end production, although Foster Moreau could be a good longshot candidate in some situations. Jackson is a touchdown dependent boom/bust candidate under perfect conditions and probably should be sat given the questionable status. Jacobs may be a game time decision in a late game start window, so fantasy managers would do well to consider putting in a higher percentage play if one is available.

Saturday night update: Waller has been downgraded to out.

 

 

 

New England at Buffalo

New England injuries


Questionable
C David Andrews
LB Ja'Whaun Bentley
RB Brandon Bolden
T Trenton Brown
K Nick Folk

The Patriots tend to place a ton of players on the injury report, so the fantasy prospects of Bills players really aren't impacted by these questionable statuses.

Saturday night update: Dont'a Hightower had limited practices on Thursday and Friday this week, but had a full practice on Saturday and thus was removed from the injury report.

 

 

Buffalo injuries

Saturday night update: The Bills have no notable injuries on the final injury report.