It's been a strange season for Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon. He's had to carry a larger role due to injuries suffered by Aaron Jones. However, Dillon hasn't really done much with those opportunities.
Entering Week 18, Dillon is only averaging 3.44 yards per carry (a career-low) with just two rushing touchdowns. It's been an inefficient year for the 25-year-old back, and he is now dealing with two separate injuries, a neck and thumb injury.
So, is Dillon injured or healthy? Will he play in Week 18? Let's dive in.
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AJ Dillon Injury Update
Dillon first suffered a thumb injury in Week 14 against the New York Giants that kept him out of action in Week 15. The injury turned out to be a broken right thumb for the running back, but he played through it in both Week 16 and Week 17.
However, Dillon also suffered a neck stinger in last week's win and did not return after seeing 12 snaps. Despite being listed on the injury report with both the neck injury and the broken thumb, the former appears to be the more serious issue for the Packers' running back heading into Week 18.
Dillon did not practice at all this week and was officially ruled out for Week 18 against the Chicago Bears. As a result, Jones might see a bigger workload on Sunday with Patrick Taylor getting more opportunities on offense.
AJ Dillon Fantasy Football Outlook
With Dillon missing Week 18, his regular season is officially over. In 15 games, he finished with 178 carries for 613 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught 22 passes for 223 yards through the air and finished as the RB39 in PPR formats.
Dillon's absence should open up more chances for Jones in the running game. Last week, the veteran played 57% of the Packers' offensive snaps, which was tied for his most this season. In a must-win matchup against the Bears, he could see that snap count increase this weekend.
That makes Jones a nice option in DFS contests this weekend and an almost must-start in Week 18 fantasy leagues. Taylor will assume RB2 responsibilities, though, he doesn't carry much fantasy value on Sunday.
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