I’m not the first fantasy football analyst to make this statement, and I’m sure I won’t be the last — this year’s waiver wire has been utterly barren compared to prior seasons. An occasional gem in the rough can be found in shallower formats — Jordan Mason to start the season with Christian McCaffrey‘s Achilles issues, Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels outperforming rookie standards at quarterback and Ladd McConkey holding his own in PPR leagues come to mind as examples.
In standard size formats, the league-altering “break your FAAB budget” pickups due to injury situations haven’t happened thus far. Relevant options have been more relegated to Flex territory than “set-it-and-forget-it” difference-makers.
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Thankfully, no teams are on bye in Week 13, so the major hurdle managers will need to overcome is anticipating players that might have short turnarounds due to multiple Thursday games on Thanksgiving. The second round of “bye-apocalypse” occurs in Week 14, with another six teams (Baltimore, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, New England, Washington) finally getting a breather.
Are there any injury situations that warrant significant waiver wire bids this week for replacement options? If so, which ones? Here are my thoughts.
8 Fantasy Football Injuries to Know: Week 13 Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Late in a comeback effort against Denver, Gardner Minshew was slammed into the ground on his left shoulder area. The replay initially appeared to show he sustained an AC joint injury. Unfortunately, it was later revealed he had fractured his clavicle (collarbone) and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.
Desmond Ridder and Aidan O’Connell will compete to start for the remainder of the season, but both options are best avoided unless you participate in a deep 2-QB or Superflex league. O’Connell (thumb) is eligible to return from injured reserve (IR) this week, but I wouldn’t expect either option to be successful against a stout Kansas City Chiefs defense. Las Vegas offers little supporting cast at skill positions to warrant a move here.
San Francisco managed to get a taste of what life would be like without Brock Purdy under center, and it is safe to say he will be paid handsomely this offseason. With Purdy unable to take the field due to a shoulder issue that bothered him all week, backup Brandon Allen became the sacrificial lamb against Green Bay. The results were predictably poor.
Initial reports from beat writers and NFL insiders are hopeful Purdy will be able to return in Week 13 against Buffalo for a must-win matchup for the 49ers to keep their playoff chances alive. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Purdy did some light throwing without issues on Monday, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, so fingers crossed he can return. Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and George Kittle would see a significant rankings boost if Purdy returns.
Running Backs
Austin Ekeler (RB – WAS) & Brian Robinson (RB – WAS)
In a losing effort to their divisional rival Dallas, Washington lost both of their starting running backs this past weekend, which warrants significant attention in the short term.
During the opening quarter, when fighting for extra yardage on his first carry, Brian Robinson Jr. was rolled up on his right side while being tackled and appeared to twist his ankle. After he could not get up initially, Robinson limped off the field and went to the locker room for medical attention. He returned after a short duration and re-entered the backfield rotation but was later deemed questionable to return after halftime and failed to come back.
Later in the game, during a kickoff return, Ekeler took a wicked shot to the head and remained motionless on the field for several moments in a horrifying situation. After returning from a commercial break, he was escorted off the field and immediately ruled out with a concussion, formally placed into the league’s protocol. Most players who enter the five-step mandatory process miss at least one game, so managers with shares of Ekeler should anticipate being without his services for the Commanders’ upcoming game against Tennessee on Sunday.
Should either (or perhaps both) Robinson and Ekeler miss time, backup Jeremy McNichols would become a low-end RB2 pickup for managers to consider. McNichols is an adept receiver capable of securing check-downs and screen passes. He is worth tossing a few FAAB dollars on in PPR formats.
Montgomery injured his shoulder while leaning forward to initiate contact with a defender during a rushing attempt. He took a direct blow in a heavy collision and later went to the locker room to receive medical attention before being ruled out afterward.
With Detroit playing in the early Thanksgiving game against Chicago on Thursday, a quick turnaround represents a major hurdle for him to overcome. Montgomery missed practice on Monday and is currently considered “questionable” to play in Week 13 by the team. ESPN’s Eric Woodyard spoke with Montgomery, who appeared confident he could return on Thursday and seemed thankful the team held him out in the short term.
If Montgomery sustained a setback or cannot go, veteran Craig Reynolds would step into a supporting role alongside Jahmyr Gibbs. Monitor the team’s practice reports on Tuesday and Wednesday for further information.
Wide Receivers
During an end-around rushing attempt on Sunday, Josh Downs was tackled with his right arm extended and appeared to land very hard on his right shoulder (with the full weight of multiple defenders landing on it). Able to return in limited fashion sometime later, Downs finished with just three receptions for 27 yards in a losing effort against Detroit. His ability to return is a positive sign, but the team poured cold water on his short-term status, listing him as “week to week.”
Insider Ian Rapoport stated on Monday he is considered a longshot to play in Week 13, though Indianapolis is confident this injury wouldn’t keep him out for a lengthy period. With likely further evaluation coming in the next 48 hours, a more definitive timetable should be provided soon. If Downs were to miss time, it would mean additional targets for tertiary options rookie Adonai Mitchell and speedster Alec Pierce. Michael Pittman would continue to see the bulk of first-read opportunities from quarterback Anthony Richardson.
In the middle of the third quarter, while attempting to make a leaping grab in the end zone, Romeo Doubs slammed his head into the ground and was slow to get back on his feet. Later, needing assistance while walking to the sidelines, Doubs was taken into the blue tent and evaluated for a concussion.
Unable to return and placed into the league’s protocol following the game’s conclusion, Doubs will face an uphill battle to return on Thursday for the Packers’ game against Miami. Already listed as a did not practice (DNP) on Monday, all signs point to the third-year wideout missing time. Week 5 waiver wire darling Dontayvion Wicks would step into a more prominent role, and his upside would warrant Flex consideration in most formats.
Tight Ends
After securing a catch on the right sideline and turning upfield, Ja’Tavion Sanders was tackled simultaneously by multiple Kansas City defenders, causing him to flip upside down. Landing directly on the top of his head, Sanders crumpled into a heap, unable to move. Medical personnel rushed to his side and the game was suspended for several minutes after Sanders was stabilized on a stretcher.
Initial reports feared a cervical spine compression injury (in addition to a concussion), but thankfully, Sanders was able to regain movement in all his extremities and was later spotted walking around the locker room by beat reporters. Head coach Dave Canales confirmed Sanders avoided a significant injury, but the team must evaluate him to determine his status for Week 13.
This is a truly unfortunate setback for Sanders, who was coming into his own as a low-end TE1 streaming option during his rookie season. Should Sanders miss time, Tommy Tremble would be in line to start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Given Carolina’s dismal 3-8 record, there is no point in rushing him back faster than necessary.
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