Fantasy Football: Week 12 Injury Update, Top Waiver-wire Pickups

GettyImages-1063273630
Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins is helped off the field after being sacked and injured by Kareem Jackson #25 of the Houston Texans in the third quarter of the game at FedExField on... Joe Robbins/Getty Images

With Week 12 of the NFL season rapidly approaching, it's time to assess the latest injury updates and scout waiver wires in a bid to find those all-important pickups.

Here is a roundup of the main injuries from Week 11 and their impact on your fantasy football roster.

Wide Receiver

Brandon LaFell—Oakland Raiders

LaFell tore his Achilles tendon during the Raiders' 23-21 win over the Cardinals on Sunday and is out for the remainder of the season.

Waivers pickup: DJ Moore—Carolina Panthers (9.8 fantasy points on average, owned by 32 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football teams)

DeVante Parker—Miami Dolphins

Parker remains questionable with a shoulder injury but Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said he has a chance to feature in Week 12.

Waivers pickup: Anthony MillerChicago Bears (9.3 fantasy points on average, owned by 49.1 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football teams)

DeVante Parker is at practice. Has the red “don’t hit me” jersey on.

— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) November 20, 2018

Jakeem Grant—Miami Dolphins

Dolphins head coach Adam Gase confirmed Grant was placed on injury reserve and will undergo season-ending Achilles surgery.

Waivers pickup: Tre'Quan Smith—New Orleans Saints (8.3 fantasy points on average, owned by 13.3 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football teams)

Gase said Grant going on IR is "a crushing blow for a guy who gives you everything he has."

— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) November 19, 2018

Quarterback

Joe FlaccoBaltimore Ravens

Flacco sat out Week 11 with a hip injury and remains questionable for Sunday's home game against the Raiders. On Monday, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said there was a chance the quarterback could suit up.

Waivers pickup: Lamar JacksonBaltimore Ravens (4.3 fantasy points on average, owned by 22.4 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football teams)

Alex Smith—Washington Redskins

Smith broke the fibula and tibia in his right leg against the Texans on Sunday and is out for the season.

Waivers pickup: Jameis Winston—Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8.2 fantasy points on average, owned by 9.2 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football teams)

Marcus Mariota—Tennessee Titans

Mariota has injured the same elbow that suffered nerve damage earlier this season. Blaine Gabbert played the second half of the loss to Indianapolis in Week 11 and Mariota is a doubt for the trip to Houston on Monday night.

Waivers pickup: Baker Mayfield—Cleveland Browns (12.8 fantasy points on average, owned by 37.6 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football teams)

Vrabel said he's hopeful Marcus Mariota can return and play on Monday night vs Texans for @Titans

— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) November 19, 2018

Mitchell TrubiskyChicago Bears

Trubisky injured his shoulder on Sunday and it remains to be seen whether he'll play on Thanksgiving. Bears coach Matt Nagy said he was "cautiously optimistic" Trubisky will play in Week 12 but admitted he could "not make any promises" about it.

Waivers pickup: Jameis Winston—Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8.2 fantasy points on average, owned by 9.2 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football teams)

#Bears coach Matt Nagy on the shoulder injury Mitch Trubisky suffered after a hit from #Vikings S Harrison Smith: “I'm cautiously optimistic, but I can't make any promises. I hope he does. He wants to play. We've got to make sure in these situations we're doing the right thing."

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 20, 2018

Running Back

Kerryon Johnson—Detroit Lions

The rookie suffered what appeared to be an MCL sprain in Week 11 and has been listed as week-to-week.

Waivers pickup: Theo Riddick—Detroit Lions (6.9 fantasy points on average, owned by 33.1 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football teams)

Lions RB Kerryon Johnson is week to week with a sprained knee per source.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 19, 2018

Doug Martin—Oakland Raiders

An ankle injury ruled Martin out of the second half on Sunday and his status remains uncertain for Sunday's game in Baltimore.

Waivers pickup: Gus Edwards—Baltimore Ravens (5.5 fantasy points on average, owned by 0.1 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football teams)

Tight End

Jimmy Graham—Green Bay Packers

Graham injured his thumb in the loss to Seattle on Thursday night and some suggested he could be out for the season with a fracture. However, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said the veteran would try to play through the pain barrier.

Waivers pickup: Jonnu SmithTennessee Titans (3.8 fantasy points on average, owned by 2.4 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football teams)

McCarthy says TE Jimmy Graham (thumb) intends to try to play. DL Mike Daniels (foot) "is going to be a couple weeks."

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 19, 2018

Geoff Swaim—Dallas Cowboys

Swaim will undergo surgery on a broken wrist and miss the game against Washington on Thanksgiving.

Waivers pickup: Jeff Heuerman—Denver Broncos (6.5 fantasy points on average, owned by 21.7 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football teams)

O.J.Howard—Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Howard injured his ankle late in the fourth quarter against the Giants in Week 11 and will be evaluated throughout the week but remains a doubt for Sunday.

Waivers pickup: Cameron Brate—Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4.9 fantasy points on average, owned by 9 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football teams)

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he ... Read more

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go