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Just the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers are on a Week 13 bye, but there are plenty of key injuries that complicate start-or-sit decisions on Sunday. It's crunch time for fantasy managers with the playoffs just a few weeks away, so it's important to keep up with the latest injury news. Our injury updates and reports for Week 13 as of Friday, December 2nd, 2022, will give you the latest updates on key guys. As always, some players have more "real" risk to miss Week 13 than others, but things change quickly, so it's important to stay up to date.
Travis Etienne, Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Fields, Joe Mixon, Najee Harris, and more are all in real danger of missing Week 13. We have plenty of must-starts on this week's injury list, so fantasy managers should be ready to pivot should things go south.
To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NFL, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy football player news page, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy football mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. Let's look at the updates for some wide receivers and see whether they may play in Week 13.
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Travis Etienne Injury Update
Despite carrying a "questionable" tag into Sunday, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson told reporters on Friday that running back Travis Etienne Jr. (foot) is "good to go" for Week 13 against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Etienne was injured early in Week 12 and never returned, but the Jaguars kept him out in an abundance of caution.
The 23-year-old was limited in practices this week and should retain his lead-back role for the Jaguars in a nice matchup against Detroit this weekend. Fantasy managers should have Etienne locked and loaded in all starting lineups as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2. On the season, the Lions defense has allowed 20.6 points per game in half-point PPR scoring to the running back position.
Ja'Marr Chase Injury Update
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (hip) is "on track" to play in Week 13 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and head coach Zac Taylor said he's "optimistic" that Chase will be out there on Sunday. Chase returned to limited practice work this week and is likely to be listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report, but he's expected to be active for fantasy managers.
You'll run the risk of the 22-year-old being eased back into the offensive game plan this weekend, but it's hard to argue for benching the superstar receiver if he plays. And in a game that should feature plenty of points, Chase will have easy WR1 upside if he's on the field regularly. In seven games before his injury, he had 47 catches for 605 yards and six touchdowns on 74 targets.
Justin Fields Injury Update
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (shoulder) is off the team's final injury report and will play against the Green Bay Packers in Week 13. In Fields' first matchup with Green Bay in Week 2, he posted just 90 total yards and one touchdown, but his upside has climbed to overall QB1 status, so he's a must-start when active.
Fields has 834 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns on the year as an elite dual-threat fantasy quarterback. He missed just one game due to the injury, so his fantasy managers should trust him and play him with confidence.
Joe Mixon Injury Update
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon missed last week's contest against the Tennessee Titans with a concussion and is now questionable to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13. Mixon remains in the concussion protocol, and head coach Zac Taylor said the team is taking it on a "12-hour by 12-hour basis"
That said, his game-day status is likely to go down to the wire, so fantasy managers should be ready for a pivot play. If he's active, he's a must-start just a few weeks removed from a five-touchdown game. If he's out, backup running back Samaje Perine should be started in what should be a high-scoring affair, as he's been excellent in stepping in for Mixon over the last one-and-a-half games.
Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren Injury Update
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (oblique) is not on the team's final injury report, so he'll start against the Falcons in Week 13. Harris totaled 39 yards and a touchdown on 11 touches before leaving last Monday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, but he's good to go.
Jaylen Warren (hamstring) is officially questionable, and his status could have a major impact on Harris' outlook. When Warren was active, Harris' touches were limited, but when he was out, Harris looked like the workhorse RB he was in his rookie season. It's tough to bench Harris either way, but his ceiling will be limited a bit if Warren is full-go.
Mike Williams Injury Update
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams (ankle) has been ruled out of the Week 13 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Williams returned in Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs but aggravated the injury. Sunday will mark his fourth missed game this season, and it's unclear when he'll be back.
In his absence, Keenan Allen remains a must-start, while Joshua Palmer and DeAndre Carter have high ceilings in the flex spot in this favorable matchup for wideouts. Gerald Everett should also see more targets, and this is a favorable spot for tight ends, too.
Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy Injury Update
Denver Broncos wide receivers Courtland Sutton (illness) and Jerry Jeudy (ankle) are both questionable to play in Week 13 against the Baltimore Ravens, while KJ Hamler (hamstring) has been ruled out. Sutton came down with an illness on Friday and is now up in the air to play Sunday. Jeudy returned to practice on Friday for the first time since Week 10, so he actually has a shot to suit up this weekend.
Sutton has been Denver's unquestioned top target with Jeudy missing the last two games, but he now becomes a shaky low-upside WR3/flex due to his illness and the fact that Jeudy may return against Baltimore. If both receivers are out, Kendall Hinton would be the team's top receiver and would warrant consideration as a WR4/flex in deeper leagues. Rookies Montrell Washington and Brandon Johnson would also have expanded roles in the passing game.
J.K. Dobbins Injury Update
Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins (knee) began practicing this week after being designated to return from Injured Reserve, but he will not play against the Denver Broncos in Week 13. Dobbins aggravated his knee in Week 6 after suffering a torn ACL that cost him the 2021 season.
It appears he'll return to the field at some point this year, but it won't be until at least Week 14. When he does return, he'll almost certainly be in a timeshare with Gus Edwards and Kenyan Drake, so his upside is capped, even in a run-heavy offense.
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