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Injury analysis for week 13 of NFL DFS on FanDuel and DraftKings
Welcome to our weekly injury analysis article! There aren't as many show-stopping injuries as there have been in some weeks, but there is still plenty going on, so let's get right to it.
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Quarterback
Daniel Jones FD 7100 DK 5500
Opponent SEA
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Jones has been missing practice this week with a hamstring injury, relegated to doing independent drills on the sideline. Currently, it's believed that he won't suit up against the Seahawks, leaving the quarterbacking duties to Cold McCoy. McCoy himself is not a play by any stretch, and his being under center certainly takes the shine off of potential cash game play Evan Engram. Still, Engram caught two of McCoy's 10 attempts last week, so he shouldn't be ruled out entirely given how shallow tight end is once again.
Tua Tagovailoa FD 6700 DK 5900
Opponent CIN
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Tua has been limited in practice this week after missing last week's tilt with the Jets, but things appear to be trending in the direction of him playing in this one vs. Cincinnati. Even when he's started, Tua hasn't exactly been an explosive DFS quarterback, so I'm not sure how much his return totally matters for our purposes. Receivers like Davante Parker probably prefer Fitzpatrick being under center, though it's close enough that Tua's status doesn't effect our projections in the passing game too dramatically.
Running Back
Dalvin Cook FD 10500 DK 9500
Opponent JAX
Proj Points FD - 22.74 DK - 24.06
Cook has been practicing in a limited fashion all week, and while it appears as though he's going to play, his injury should at least give you pause if you're considering investing this much salary in him. It's a great match-up with a great prospective game-script, though, and no one would fault you for running him out there if it appears he's in line for his usual run this Sunday.
Chris Carson FD 8000 DK 6300
Opponent NYG
Proj Points FD - 11.42 DK - 12.63
On paper, this should be a smash spot for Chris Carson and the Seattle running game, but it's not totally clear to me that they have any plans of turning the whole workload over to Carson just yet. He took just 37% of the offensive snaps last week, and he's been limited in practice all week with his toe injury. While he doesn't carry an injury tag into this week, Carson's back-ups have been serviceable, and I don't see the Seahawks leaving Carson out there for excess run in a game they should win handily. I'm happy to wait here and be a week late if Carson returns to a 20+ touch a game guy.
Josh Jacobs FD 7800 DK 7400
Opponent NYJ
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Josh Jacobs has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Jets, leaving Devontae Booker as one of the best running back plays on the board this week. Booker has been effective when spelling Jacobs, and this gamescript should be heavily in his favor. The Jets are better against the run than the past, but are still a bad defense, and Booker is far too cheap for his implied opportunity here.
D'Andre Swift FD 6800 DK 6500
Opponent CHI
Proj Points FD - 6.12 DK - 6.68
Swift has been having a hell of a time getting over his concussion, and even though he's currently listed as questionable, the Lions coaching staff has acknowledged that the best we can expect from him this Sunday is to participate in a limited role. The Lions' entire running game is a stay-away if he's out there, and frankly if he isn't as well.
Todd Gurley II FD 6600 DK 5300
Opponent NO
Proj Points FD - 10.86 DK - 11.52
Todd Gurley continues to miss practices, but does it really change anything for us DFS wise? I'm not sure. Hill was a chalk option last week, but netted just 55 yards from scrimmage on 50% of the offensive snaps. Ito Smith played 39% of the snaps, and grabbed a rushing touchdown in the process. I don't think I want any part of this running attack against New Orleans' stout defense.
Jonathan Taylor FD 6400 DK 5700
Opponent HOU
Proj Points FD - 14.93 DK - 16.29
Taylor will return from the COVID-IR against Houston this week, and presents one of the trickier situations to analyze on the slate. On one hand, he touched the ball 26 times in his last game against Green Bay. On the other hand, he wasn't touching the ball anywhere near that frequently prior to that one, and missed last week's game with the Plague. I could see running him cash games if there were no other great value on this slate, but I could also see fading it out of fears that Hines and Wilkins stay too involved. I honestly don't feel strongly about it either way at this point.
David Johnson FD 6200 DK 5400
Opponent IND
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
David Johnson appears to be ready to return for the Texans' game against Indianapolis, but I'm not ready to stick him into any of my lineups just yet. Duke Johnson is a very capable back-up, and guys returning from concussions are always a hit away from being sidelined. I'll take a week and see how this running back situation comes together before taking a stab in a bad match-up like this.
Salvon Ahmed FD 5600 DK 5000
Opponent CIN
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Here's one that would be pretty tempting if it came together in the right way. Ahmed was heading towards being a chalk running back option before missing time with a shoulder injury, and appears to be a very competent ball-carrier in a reasonable offense. The game-script with Cinci should be very favorable as well. The unknowns at this point surround Miami's other options. Myles Gaskin and Deandre Washington are both in danger of missing Sunday's game, and if things broke perfectly for Ahmed (him playing and those two guys sitting) you'd have to consider him for cash games once again.
Wide Receivers
Julio Jones FD 8000 DK 6600
Opponent NO
Proj Points FD - 13.18 DK - 15.98
After being limited in practice this week, Jones has said that he feels good enough to play this Sunday against the Saints. This mostly makes the whole team a stay-away for me. We've seen Jones come back and be incredible fresh off an injury, and we've also seen him be used as a decoy. Still, I don't know how anyone could credibly paint a picture of what we should expect from him here, and I'll be sitting this play out.
Will Fuller V FD 7500 DK 7100
Opponent IND
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Fuller has been suspended for PED use, leaving a bunch of carries on the vine for guys like Keke Coutee and Brandin Cooks. Both make for reasonable cash game options this week, with Cooks, in particular, showing up in 100% of our cash game lineups right now. The price on both guys should come up in future weeks, leaving us with a nice buy-low opportunity.
Kenny Golladay FD 7000 DK 6000
Opponent CHI
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Golladay appears on track to miss yet another game against the Bears, leaving his substantial targets on the table for other Lions receivers. Marvin Jones Jr. and TJ Hockenson have been the biggest beneficiaries, logging 12 and 8 targets respectively last week. I'm not sure how much interest I have in either in a tough match-up with the Bears, but both have big tournament upside on their current price points to be sure.
TIGHT END
Jonnu Smith FD 5700 DK 4100
Opponent CLE
Proj Points FD - 7.64 DK - 9.29
Jonnu Smith has been ruled out of Sunday's game, and while I'm sure that sucks for him, it opens up a great punt play in Anthony Firkser. Smith hasn't missed a game this season, but he left the Texans game early when they met in October, and Firkser compiled 8 catches on 9 targets for 113 yards and a touchdown. This one looks like an easy play from where I'm sitting.
Zach Ertz FD 5700 DK 3900
Opponent GB
Proj Points FD - 7.36 DK - 9.17
Ertz has been practicing in a limited fashion this week, putting him on track to potentially return for his first game since his high ankle sprain against the Ravens. I don't think I'd consider playing him, but it doesn't help matters for Dallas Goedert or the other relatively unexciting Eagles receiving options.
