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In recent weeks, fantasy managers were finally able to put Keenan Allen back into their lineups and the good times should keep on rolling this week! Because after a five-game absence, the great Ja’Marr Chase will be active this week for the Bengals.
The receiver position looks to be getting healthier right now, with just Mike Williams being the one big-time dude fantasy managers are waiting on. His return could come this week, but it looks more likely it won’t be until Week 14.
Let’s look at some of the biggest receiver injuries fantasy managers should be tracking for Week 13. As always, if you have any start/sit questions, please give me a follow @RobFFSlayer.
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Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
By all accounts, Ja’Marr Chase had a really good week of practice last week. Chase practiced in a limited fashion all week and was close to returning in Week 12, but Cincinnati (smartly) decided to give him one more week to rest up and heal. That means it’ll be all systems go this week. Fantasy managers patiently awaiting one of the league’s best receivers won’t have to wait any longer. He’ll be available this weekend when the Bengals take on the Chiefs in what is expected to be a high-scoring affair.
Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers
Mike Williams suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 7. He ended up returning fairly quickly and was back on the field in Week 11. Typically, high-ankle sprains require 4-6 weeks off to heal and Williams returned promptly at four. He ended up re-aggravating that same sprain early in the game vs. the Chiefs and did not return.
He did not practice in any capacity leading up to the Week 12 game against the Cardinals and was ruled out on the Friday prior. The Chargers have dealt with a lot of injuries this season, especially at receiver. They’ve also attempted to bring both Keenan Allen and Williams back early from their respective injuries only for them both to re-aggravate the injury and miss more time.
With that in mind, fantasy managers must assume Williams will not return until he’s 100% healthy. Ultimately, what Williams does in practice this week will give fantasy managers a good idea of what to expect for his availability in Week 13, but I’d count on Williams missing one more week before returning in Week 14 against the Dolphins.
Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots
Jakobi Meyers was in and (mostly) out of their last game on Thanksgiving. He ended up hurting his shoulder on his first target and played very sparingly the rest of the way. He played just 16 snaps, which resulted in a 29% snap share. Despite this, he did manage to finish with four targets, three receptions, and 62 yards. Following the game, Meyers said he was sore, but that he’ll be alright and that the injury even started feeling better as the game went on.
He had an x-ray mid-game and it didn’t reveal any breaks, which paved the way for him to return to the game, albeit on a pretty significant snap count. The good news is that he was limited in practice this past Monday following their Thursday night game.
The fact that Meyers was able to practice at all to start the week bodes well for his potential availability this weekend. It’s a huge divisional game against the Bills, but the game is on Thursday, which puts at least some question marks on his availability. As of right now, it looks like he’ll be active come game day.
Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Jerry Jeudy suffered an ankle injury early in their Week 10 loss to the Titans. He has since proceeded to miss the following two games and has yet to participate in a single practice in any capacity. Leading up to their Week 12 contest against Carolina, Jeudy was still ruled out on Friday, indicating he wasn’t even yet in that game-time call zone with regard to his injury.
While the initial reports indicated the injury was minor and head coach Nathaniel Hackett coined Jeudy as “day-to-day,” two weeks later, fantasy managers can safely say those reports were far too optimistic. It’s hard to know just where Jeudy is on his return play schedule, but at this time, fantasy managers have little reason to be optimistic.
The fact that he hasn’t practiced at all and was ruled out before the weekend is not a great sign. With Denver’s season over, there’s little reason to rush Jeudy back before he’s undeniably 100%. Fantasy managers should be bracing for another absence this weekend, but ultimately, his practice availability throughout the week will tell us what to expect.
Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals
Rondale Moore suffered a groin injury on one of the very first plays of Arizona’s Week 11 loss to the 49ers in Mexico. He didn’t return to that contest and proceeded to not practice a single time leading up to their Week 12 contest. He was ruled out on Friday, indicating he wasn’t even very close.
Moore has struggled with soft tissue injuries already this season, most notably a hamstring injury that cost him the first three weeks of 2022. We haven’t gotten any indication about the severity of the injury, but the Cardinals have their bye in Week 13, which will give Moore an additional two weeks to rest and rehab the injury. Hopefully, he’s able to return in Week 14.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions opened up Jameson Williams’ 21-day activation window from IR. He had his first day of practice on November 21. This understandably did not give him enough time to be active for their Week 12 contest against the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving, a short week for the rookie receiver looking to get on the field for the first time this season after tearing his ACL at Alabama.
However, head coach Dan Campbell called Williams a long shot to suit up in Week 13, saying “I don’t want to say it wouldn’t happen, but it would take a lot.” With the Lions having no shot at making the playoffs, expect the organization to be extremely careful with their first-round draft pick. Williams won’t make his debut this week, but unless the Lions intend on shutting him down for the season, he should be activated to the 53-man roster prior to their Week 14 contest.
Even if that happens, fantasy managers should expect the rookie to be on some sort of snap count, which will make him a difficult player to trust with the fantasy playoffs set to kick off in just two weeks' time.
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
Romeo Doubs suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Packers’ Week 9 loss to the Detroit Lions. He has since sat out each of the last three weeks. He’ll now have had four weeks off since the injury should he return in Week 13 to face the Bears.
Typically, high-ankle sprains are believed to take 4-6 weeks to heal and Doubs is right at the shorter end of that spectrum. However, since the Packers elected not to put him on IR, which would have guaranteed he’d miss four games, there must have been some internal optimism he could return in Week 13.
However, he has not practiced in any capacity since the injury, which isn’t a great sign. The Packers also have their bye in Week 14, which would give Doubs an extra two weeks off if he doesn’t play this weekend. With their season all but over, the Packers are likely to be careful with their fourth-round investment. Fantasy managers should expect another absence this upcoming weekend before he returns to the lineup in Week 15.
Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears
Head coach Matt Eberflus made it official following Chicago’s Week 12 game that Darnell Mooney did suffer a season-ending ankle injury. This injury will require surgery and he’ll eventually be placed on IR, ending his 2022 season. In redraft leagues, Mooney can be cut.
Allen Robinson II, Los Angeles Rams
Head coach Sean McVay indicated Allen Robinson will also miss the rest of the 2022 season due to a foot injury. The foot injury will require surgery, thus ending Robinson’s first season with the Rams. Fantasy managers can drop him.
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