As fantasy football owners, this time of the season is always about navigating week-to-week around bye weeks and injuries to put your best team on the field. As you get your team together, you need the latest information to make sure the right players are ready to roll, so check out our week 11 injury update.
Thankfully, this week there are not a ton of big-name injuries. There are no major quarterbacks battling injury and just a few wide receivers. While losing some players may have depleted your ranks, most of the injury uncertainty comes at one position–running back. That fact isn’t surprising when you think of the beating these backs take throughout the season, and many important fantasy options are struggling through the end of the fantasy football regular season as the hits add up.
For the latest info and lineup help, follow @FansidedFantasy on twitter where you can find answers for your lineup dilemmas and some of my favorite sleepers for week 11. As you set your lineup for this weekend, here is your week 11 injury update with information up through Thursday practices:
Running Backs
Marshawn Lynch-Seattle Mariners: Lynch has missed all the Seahawks’ practices this week with calf and rib injuries he suffered last week. He is still expected to play this week and is a top running back option if he is able to go Sunday against the Chiefs.
Arian Foster-Houston Texans: As has become the norm for Foster, it looks like the Texans RB will be a gametime decision against the Browns. If he goes, he’s a strong RB1, but if he sits Alfred Blue instantly becomes an RB2 consideration. Foster owners are used to the drill and hopefully have Blue on standby just in case.
Giovani Bernard-Cincinnati Bengals: Bernard has still not returned to Benglans practice setting fantasy owners up for another week of heavy work for Jeremy Hill. The Bengals have a nice matchup in New Orleans, so Hill is looking like a strong play.
Rashad Jennings-New York Giants: Jennings is expected to return from his knee injury and step back in as the Giants primary running back this Sunday against the 49ers. He may gradually work up to a full load, but he needs to be owned in all formats even if you wait a week to see him fully healthy before putting him in your lineup.
Ronnie Hillman-Denver Broncos: Although he is officially “day to day,” Hillman has been out of practice all week and is expected to miss a couple weeks with his foot sprain.
Ryan Mathews-San Diego Chargers: Mathews is practicing in full and should be ready to return for week 11. How heavy his workload will be is still to be determined, but he’s in a good enough matchup to make a nice flex play in his return from his knee injury suffered in week 2.
Reggie Bush-Detroit Lions: Bush was still not involved in the main part of Detroit’s practice although he worked with trainers on the side. His week 11 status is very much up in the air, and owners would be wise to look elsewhere especially in a tough matchup against the Cardinals. If Bush sits, Theo Riddick will get increased playing time.
Doug Martin-Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Martin was able to get in a limited session Thursday, but he probably isn’t worth looking at in a crowded and undefined Bucs backfield where he won’t line up for much work.
Pierre Thomas & Khiry Robinson-New Orleans Saints: The Saints pair of running backs remain sidelined meaning Mark Ingram’s work load is safe and secure this week against the Bengals.
Wide Receivers
Andrew Hawkins-Cleveland Browns: “Hawk” has been limited in practice this week, but it looks like he’ll be able to play to suit up Sunday against the Texans. He’s a WR3 option in deep leagues and is a formidable weapon in PPR leagues based on his high volume of targets.
Jerricho Cotchery-Carolina Panthers: Cotchery was back to full practice Thursday and will be ready to go for Sunday. He’s not someone to consider regularly in standard leagues, but his injury won’t be what limits his production if bye week issues have forced him into your lineup.
Tight Ends
Jordan Cameron-Cleveland Browns: Cameron still has not returned to Browns practice after his concussion and looks very unlikely to play this week.
Kyle Rudolph-Minnesota Vikings: Rudolph took part in a full practice on Thursday and looks on track to suit up against the Bears. Chicago has really struggled against TE allowing the most points per game to the position on the season. Rudolph is a legit TE1 this week in Norv Turner’s offense and is poised for a breakout performance.
Delanie Walker-Tennessee Titans: Walker sustained a concussion last week and has not returned to practice. It doesn’t look like he’ll be ready for Sunday.
Anthony Fasano-Kansas City Chiefs: Fasano looks very unlikely to play this week which is most notable for it’s fantasy affect on Travis Kelce’s expected workload. Against a Seahawks team that has struggled to defend opposing TE’s, look for Kelce to have a big week meaning he has to be in your lineup unless you have one of the three elite options (Gronk, Graham, and Julius Thomas).