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John Laghezza discusses sneaky fantasy football injuries affecting Week 12 start 'em, sit 'em decisions. Which players are winners and losers from these injuries?
Variety is the spice of life, so why not try something a little different on this fine fall afternoon? Nothing instantly shakes up the fantasy landscape quite like injuries, so we figured, why not head toward the action to help add value?
So many players get banged up to different degrees every weekend, all while ten games are going simultaneously — no wonder even great players lose track of it all sometimes. To answer that bell, I'm kicking off my week of research, digging through reports searching for injuries no one's talking about that matter for fantasy football.
Certain injuries, especially in the trenches, don't get the same sort of press as skill positions, despite causing an equal amount of chaos. That's where we'll come in each week, to sniff out and identify any injury clusters to occur which may affect fantasy projections.
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Philadelphia Eagles' Offensive Line
When it rains in Philadelphia, it pours. Maybe it's not always sunny there. The Eagles may have defeated the Lions at home Sunday afternoon on the back of a monster defensive effort, but it cost them dearly, losing multiple starting offensive linemen in the process.
Worries about cascading consequences started early for the Eagles, when legendary six-time Pro Bowler Lane Johnson went down early in the first with a Lisfranc injury that will cost him time. Early reports estimate a four to six-week absence for the 35-year-old OT. Sigh.
Each of Philly's most-used QBs have dropped off without Lane Johnson on the field by Total QBR, with significant declines for Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts: pic.twitter.com/9W3Pq3IhVE
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) November 17, 2025
Much respect to the decorated vet for pushing through injuries in Week 3 (neck), Week 4 (left shoulder), and Week 10 (ankle) — eventually, it caught up with him. In 10 games this season across 434 offensive snaps, Johnson boasted a miniscule 2.8% pressure rate with precisely zero sacks allowed on 251 dropbacks. Zero. Oh, he'll be missed.
Historicals bear out just as heavily, if not more so. Missing the big man at right tackle has resonated throughout the PHI offense, and cannot be understated. Anytime Johnson’s out of the lineup, Philly’s EPA and success rates absolutely tank. According to The Athletic’s Zach Berman, “Since the start of the 2016 season, the Eagles are 96-41-1 when Lane Johnson starts. They're 12-23 when Lane Johnson doesn't start. That's a 70 percent rate compared to a 34 percent rate.”
As if that wasn't bad enough, center Cam Jurgens also left the game early after finally returning from a two-game absence. Philly missed on two tush pushes after his exit. Coincidence? I think not...
Translation? PHI’s already been game-script driven for years — it’s wheels all the way up for the Eagles’ pass-catchers. DeVonta Smith managers should be dancing in the fantasy streets right now. As their best quick-hit, over-the-middle slot WR, he’s in line for the biggest boost schematically if you ask me.
(I’d even consider scooping Jahan Dotson in case Philly goes all-out pass-heavy and/or things go south with A.J. Brown)
For further fantasy purposes, hard not to worry even more about Saquon Barkley. Sure, he’s the RB11 overall, but you’re lying if not admitting to disappointment in this season’s underpinning metrics — -0.13 EPA/attempt, 3.8 yards/rush, 39% success, 6.9% explosive rush rate, and a whopping 24.7% negative/zero-yard carries. One quarter of all rushes results in nothing, or worse. Simply awful stats with volume-scented cologne. Where do we think those numbers go with even worse protection?
Given Jalen Hurts' low 15.5% RB-target rate and ability to score from one yard at will, Barkley definitely takes the biggest fantasy hit to me. If you're stuck, obviously start him — but he's an interesting trade piece if you can swing it.
Miami Dolphins’ Secondary
After giving up nearly 30 points per game on over six yards per play through seven weeks of the season, Miami righty earned the title of doormat and streaming target. However, if you kept going back to the same well, you know it’s run dry over the last month against some above-average competition (@ATL, BAL, BUF, WSH).
Out of nowhere, Miami strung together an impressive top-three scoring defensive run over a month’s time (16.0 PPG) with matchups against Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen sandwiched in there. Not too shabby. Sadly, I think after Sunday morning’s game in Madrid, the tide will turn back against Miami.
Though not technically an injury, the middle of the Dolphins’ defense already took a huge hit on Halloween when they traded Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2026 third-round draft pick. Then, every-down starting CB Rasul Douglas hit the shelf in Week 9, only to be replaced by returning CB Julius Brents, who left injured against the Commanders with a busted foot that will sideline him for the remainder of the season. Ouch.
Even backup safety Jordan Colbert (neck) left the Washington game. Miami’s heading into the bye this weekend, but I highly doubt they have the personnel to recover despite the rest. New Orleans and the Saints wait on the other side, making it a great time to stash QB Tyler Shough, TE Juwan Johnson, or even WR Devaughn Vele for a Week 13 stream.
Tyler Shough to Juwan Johnson to extend the Saints lead!
NOvsCAR on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/JIHgAowlFE
— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025
Seattle Seahawks’ Offensive Line
Since we're talking injuries, it's a perfect time to highlight the need for context and how susceptible we've become to instant gratification on the internet. In less prominent news, Seattle's 18th overall pick and star rookie G Grey Zabel left Sunday's loss to the Rams (98% snaps, 4.2% pressure allowed, zero sacks). Perhaps the reason it hasn't made many waves yet lies in the circulating headline quote, citing HC Mike Macdonald as saying Zabel is considered "day-to-day".
Here's the entire quote from Seattle's presser: "Really fortunate... we avoided a significant injury, which is really positive. The words I heard were day-to-day. You know how that goes; it could be day-to-day, it could be a week, could be more than that. But nothing significant, which is a huge positive." Oh, it could be a week? Or more? Again, if you're optimism level hasn't changed in the course of this paragraph, I can't help you.
Remember, this comes on the heels of losing starting C Jalen Sundell (knee) to the I.R. heading into Week 11. Now down forty percent of their starting unit in the trenches, my guess is SEA turns to their second-year guard out of UConn with just nine snaps played this season, Christian Haynes. Just as I finally felt comfortable starting Kenneth Walker III, it may be time to pull the plug on any Seahawk not named Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Maybe it's overreacting to a small sample, but without his core protection unit intact, QB Sam Darnold fell to pieces. He faced 13 pressures against the Rams on Sunday, throwing interceptions on three of them. Expect opposing coordinators to throw the kitchen sink at the Seahawks while I temper all short-term expectations for their offense.
Other Noteworthy Fantasy Football Injuries
Michael Penix Jr., QB, ATL
Atlanta's sophomore shot caller suffered another knee injury, feared to be season-ending this time. We got a small taste of Kirk Cousins earlier this season, and it wasn't pretty. Award him some grace for shaking off the rust, and otherwise I wouldn't panic — except that wasn't the only injury down in the dirty dirty this weekend.
Drake London, WR, ATL
London was certainly calling after four separate top-5 finishes in a five-game span for Atlanta's alpha WR, but easy come, easy go. Unfortunately, London suffered a PCL sprain, which will cost at least one week (I'm expecting more). In the meantime, it's pick your poison between Kyle Pitts and Darnell Mooney... someone's going to see a lot of targets in the near future.
Emari Demercado, RB, ARI
Just as Emari Demercado was poised to overtake Zonovan Knight as the Cardinal's lead back until Trey Benson returns, he suffered a dreaded high ankle sprain. In the meantime, pivot back to Knight for goal-line TD equity with desperate deep-leaguers circling Michael Carter for the pass-game work from behind.
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