Fantasy Football Week 12 Injury Update-Friday

Week 12 is a pivotal one for fantasy football owners trying to get into the playoffs and claim the seeding and matchup that gives them a shot at the championship. One key to getting the wins you need is getting a healthy team on the field and understanding the injury impact of some of the key players struggling with bumps, bruises, sprains, and strains.  Here is a quick look at the week 12 injury update for the most fantasy relevant players with information through the end of the day on  Thursday:

Running Back

Marshawn Lynch-Seattle Seahawks: Lynch has been out of Seahawks practice this week, but he continues to battle through his back injury and perform on Sundays at an RB1 level.  His availability doesn’t look like it will be in doubt for the Seahawks big game against Arizona this week.

Arian Foster-Houston Texans: Foster returned to practice on Wednesday and should be ready to play on Sunday.  After the Texans fed Alfred Blue 36 carries in his absence, expect a timeshare in the backfield, but Foster is still an RB1 if he’s active.

Giovani Bernard-Cincinnati Bengals: Bernard returned to Bengals practice and will likely play this Sunday.  Like Foster, he’ll have to contend with his former backup for carries as he and Jeremy Hill share the workload.  Bernard is a low-end RB2 in his first game back, but he could quickly be back to RB1 status if he regains his place in the Bengals attack.

Joique Bell-Detroit Lions: Bell missed Wednesday’s practice, but he returned Thursday and looks like he’s going to be ready to roll for Sunday in New England.

Doug Martin-Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Martin has been limited in both the Bucs practices this week, but he has been on the field.  He could return this week or he could need another week, but either way he doesn’t look like the Bucs’ first or second option at running back and should not be started in most formats.

Matt Asiata-Minnesota Vikings: Asiata’s status is unclear for Sunday which is why the Vikings snatched Ben Tate off waivers.

Wide Receiver

Josh Gordon-WR-Cleveland Browns: Gordon is back and ready to go for Cleveland after his 10-game suspension to start the season.  He may not get a full workload this week, but Brian Hoyer is expected to get the ball to him often which should result in good numbers for the Browns star receiver sooner rather than later.

Emmanuel Sanders-Denver Broncos: Sanders status for week 12 is up in the air as he works to return from a concussion he sustained in Denver’s loss to St. Louis.  Most reporters have him about 50-50 to play, but he’ll need to practice today so check his status later today.

Larry Fitzgerald-Arizona Cardinals: After spraining his MCL last Sunday, Fitz has missed Cardinals practice all week.  He’ll likely be a gametime decision and is in a tough matchup against Seattle with backup QB Drew Stanton, so make contingency plans and try to go a different direction if possible.

Jordan Matthews-Philadelphia Eagles: Matthews is practicing in full despite a knee issue and should be fully ready to roll in Phily’s game against Tennessee this week.

Justin Hunter-Tennessee Titans: Like Matthews, Hunter is dealing with an knee injury but is practicing in full and should be ready to roll on Sunday.

Quarterback

Tony Romo-Dallas Cowboys: Romo was back in Dallas practice Thursday and should be ready to go for Sunday Night Football against the Giants in a nice NFC East matchup. It’s worth noting in our week 12 injury update only because he did miss time before the bye with his back injury.

Philip Rivers-San Diego Chargers: Don’t tell Antonio Gates, but Rivers has practiced all week and should be good to go for Sunday.  Gates told reporters Rivers is playing through an injury, which may be true, but whatever it is it isn’t keeping Rivers from practicing and playing, so use him as a high-end QB2 this week against St. Louis.

Tight End

Julius Thomas-Denver Broncos: Thomas is looking like a gametime decision or a “questionable” tag after missing Thursday’s practice.  Check back to see if he gets on the field today, and make sure you’re ready in case he misses this week against Miami.

Delanie Walker-Tennessee Titans: Walker is working back from his week 10 concussion, and he has a very favorable schedule coming up.  He returned to practice and is a full “go” for week 12 when he and the Titans take on the Eagles.  He still hasn’t clicked too well with Zach Mettenberger, but he’s still a low-end TE1 at this point.

Jordan Cameron-Cleveland Browns: Cameron still has yet to be cleared from his concussion and he will likely miss his fourth straight game this Sunday.  He’s on most leagues waiver wires where he can stay until he gets clearance.

Jordan Reed-Washington Redskins: Reed pulled his hamstring on Sunday and has missed Washington’s practice so far this week.  He missed four games earlier this season with a pulled hamstring in his other leg, so he’s starting to earn a reputation for being oft-injured.  If he can’t play, look for Niles Paul to step in and produce in his absence as he did earlier this season.

Dwayne Allen-Indianapolis Colts: Allen hasn’t practiced this week either after an ankle sprain.  It doesn’t look like he’ll be back for Sunday which makes his teammate and fellow-TE Coby Fleener an intriguing option against the Jaguars who always seem to struggle defending opposing TE.

Charles Clay-Miami Dolphins: Clay has dealt with a balky knee all season but he’s shaping up to be a gametime decision according to reports after adding a hamstring injury in a limited session on Wednesday.  He wasn’t able to practice Thursay, and The Dolphins game starts late against Denver on Sunday.  It’s going to be hard to wait for Clay in what was shaping up to be a good matchup, so look elsewhere if possible for Sunday although the TE pool is shrinking more and more as the week goes on.  It looks like you’ll continue to need to follow the week 12 injury update closely as we near kickoff especially at TE