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With the Week 12 Thanksgiving slate upcoming, there are a ton of fantasy football studs in the injury headlines. Many key players were banged up on Sunday and have been reported on, but injury news continues to trickle in on Tuesdays. Our fantasy football injury reports as of Tuesday, November 21 will give you the latest news on the top banged-up players heading into Week 12 including Justin Jefferson, Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams, CeeDee Lamb, Geno Smith, Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Kenneth Walker, and more.
Being up-to-date on NFL injury news can give you an edge over your league mates in fantasy football. It's early in the week, but there's never a wrong time to check in on key players on your fantasy rosters.
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Justin Jefferson Injury Update
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) is "questionable" for the Week 12 game next Monday night against the Chicago Bears. O'Connell also said "we do have to be smart" about bringing Jefferson back, knowing the Vikings have their bye the following week and could get a "free" week to the 21-day window to officially activate him from Injured Reserve.
Jefferson himself even said recently that he doesn't want to come back until he's 100 percent. The 24-year-old All-Pro pass-catcher hasn't played since Week 5, but he's one of the best wideouts in the game when completely healthy. He's a must-start when active, and we should know whether he's going to play in Week 12 by Saturday.
Cooper Kupp Injury Update
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) is considered day-to-day with a low-ankle sprain that he suffered in the 17-16 Week 11 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, according to sources. Given Kupp's history with ankle injuries, the Rams will be careful with him as they determine if he can play in Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday. However, the Rams aren't yet ruling him out this week.
Kupp didn't play at all in the second half, but the fact that he tried to return to Sunday's game against Seattle could be a sign that it's not that serious. Still, fantasy managers should already have some backup plans ready in case he cannot play in Week 12. If Kupp is out or limited at all, it should mean higher ceilings for rookie Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell and also potentially tight end Tyler Higbee. Closely monitor Kupp's practice statuses this week.
Kyren Williams Injury Update
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (ankle) will return from Injured Reserve to play in Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, according to head coach Sean McVay. Williams injured his left ankle in Week 6 and hasn't played since after landing on Injured Reserve. As long as Williams looks good in practice this week, he should be officially activated from IR on Sunday.
Before getting hurt, the 23-year-old was operating as LA's primary ball-carrier in the backfield. That's expected to continue now that he's on the cusp of a return, but Williams could be limited somewhat in his first game back. Still, he should be rostered in all fantasy leagues right now. Royce Freeman and Darrell Henderson Jr. had been splitting the backfield touches for the Rams in recent weeks.
CeeDee Lamb Injury Update
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (ankle) was listed as limited on the team's estimated Monday injury report after they held a walkthrough with an ankle injury. KaVontae Turpin (shoulder) was also listed but was a full participant. Lamb had a quiet day by his standards in the easy Week 11 win over the Carolina Panthers, catching six passes for 38 yards and a touchdown on nine targets, but he wasn't at all limited by an ankle injury.
The 24-year-old likely just being rested on a short week before facing the Washington Commanders on Thanksgiving Day this Thursday. Lamb is having a fantastic 2023 season and is a set-and-forget WR1 in weekly fantasy lineups. After 11 weeks, he ranks as the WR3 in overall half-PPR points.
Geno Smith Injury Update
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (elbow) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice estimate, John Boyle of the team's official site reports. There's no surprise here, with Smith up against a short turnaround on Thursday night for a Thanksgiving duel with the division-rival San Francisco 49ers.
The 33-year-old suffered an elbow injury during Week 11's 17-16 road loss to the Los Angeles Rams before returning to the contest, and reportedly isn't dealing with any structural damage. Despite head coach Pete Carroll's optimism that the veteran signal-caller will be able to play, Smith is still a big question mark for Week 12. We'll see what the Seahawks list him as for Tuesday's practice session. Smith won't be a recommended QB1 option in a tough matchup against the Niners, anyway.
Aaron Jones Injury Update
Green Bay Packers running backs Aaron Jones (knee) and Emanuel Wilson (shoulder) were both listed as non-participants on Monday's estimated practice report. Jones had to be carted off the field in the Week 11 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Although initial reports suggested that Jones' ACL is intact, it's highly unlikely he'll be able to play on a short week on Thanksgiving this Thursday against the Detroit Lions.
Wilson said his shoulder popped out of socket, so he, too, will probably be unavailable in Week 12. AJ Dillon (groin) will most likely serve as the Packers' lead back this week, with Patrick Wilson and James Robinson backing him up. Jones should already have been moved to all benches this week in fantasy.
AJ Dillon Injury Update
Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon (groin) is on the team's Week 12 injury report and was listed as limited on Monday's estimated practice report. The Packers didn't actually practice on Monday. Aaron Jones (knee) and rookie Emanuel Wilson (shoulder) were also injured in the Week 11 win over the Los Angeles Chargers and are both unlikely to be able to suit up on a short week for the Thanksgiving game on Thursday against the Detroit Lions.
The 25-year-old Dillon had 14 carries for 29 yards and caught four passes for 32 additional yards on Sunday after Jones had to be carted off the field. He will most likely serve as the team's lead back in Week 12, making him much more attractive in fantasy lineups.
Puka Nacua Injury Update
Los Angeles Rams rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua (shoulder) injured his shoulder in the Week 11 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, and head coach Sean McVay said it's unclear how serious the injury is. Nacua had been dealing with a minor knee injury for several weeks, but now he has a shoulder ailment as well. The 23-year-old led the Rams with five catches for 70 yards and a touchdown on seven targets in a game in which Cooper Kupp (ankle) didn't play at all in the second half due to injury.
The Rams' receiving corps is suddenly very banged up heading into a Week 12 tilt against the Arizona Cardinals. If Kupp and Nacua were both unable to play this Sunday, Tutu Atwell, Austin Trammell and Demarcus Robinson could be the team's top three wideouts. We'll keep a close eye on Nacua and Kupp's practice statuses this week.
Kenneth Walker III Injury Update
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (oblique) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated injury report due to the oblique injury he suffered in the Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, John Boyle of the team's official site reports.
Even though head coach Pete Carroll doesn't view Walker as a candidate for injured reserve at this time, the fact that it's even being brought up suggests the tailback is in serious jeopardy of missing Thursday night's Thanksgiving tilt against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers.
Losing snaps to Zach Charbonnet already, the 23-year-old Walker is averaging just 40.8 rushing yards with one total touchdown across his last four outings. Though he is already rostered in nearly half of Yahoo fantasy leagues, Charbonnet will need to be added wherever he is floating around on waiver wires with Walker's status very much clouded for Thursday.
Tyler Lockett Injury Update
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (hamstring) was listed as limited on Monday's estimated practice report, per John Boyle of the team's official site. The 31-year-old has seen his practice reps capped almost every week lately, as he manages a hamstring injury that cost him a week of practice before being made active for Week 11's divisional clash with the Los Angeles Rams.
With teammates Geno Smith (elbow) and Kenneth Walker III (oblique) listed as DNPs on Monday's estimated injury report, Lockett is probably in the least amount of danger of missing Thursday's Thanksgiving night battle with the division-rival San Francisco 49ers.
The durable veteran has been an inconsistent fantasy asset in his ninth campaign, accumulating his lowest yards per game (54.5) and yards per target (7.4) since 2017. Yet to chalk up a 100-yard showing in 10 games played, Lockett will be a fringe WR2/3 in Week 12 depending on Smith's status.
Antonio Gibson Injury Update
Washington Commanders running back Antonio Gibson (toe) was listed as limited on Monday after the team's walkthrough practice. Gibson was unable to play in the Week 11 loss to the New York Giants, but he appears to have a chance at returning on Thanksgiving Day on Thursday to face the division-rival Dallas Cowboys.
With Gibson inactive on Sunday, rookie Chris Rodriguez Jr. took on a bigger role in Washington's backfield, while starter Brian Robinson Jr. saw all the passing-game work he could handle. When healthy, the 25-year-old Gibson functions as the Commanders' primary pass-catching running back. That role hasn't yielded much to fantasy managers as a flex option in deep PPR leagues.
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