Injuries are an unfortunate reality of every NFL season. For worried fantasy managers or opportunistic DFS players, they can make or break your entire lineup. What could have been a relaxing weekend can suddenly turn into hours of scrolling social media for any breaking news.
Luckily, DraftKings Network has you covered. Tune in to DraftKings Sportsbook analyst Steve Buchanan (@SBuchanan24) and NFL guru Meghan Townsley (@mtownsleyy) on Injury Report Live, streaming every Friday at 3 p.m. ET on DKN X and DK Instagram!
The pair will react to the latest injury updates, analyze the juiciest matchups of the week, and discuss their favorite DFS and season-long fantasy plays before Sunday’s NFL action kicks off.
If you missed Friday’s full show, no worries! Here’s what you need to know before setting your lineups:
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Detroit Lions – 1:00 PM EST
JAX QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder)
The Jaguars are sitting Trevor Lawrence for the second week in a row, giving him an extra week of rest before their Week 12 bye. Looks like it’s Mac Jones ($4,900) time once again. Last week, Jones started under center against a daunting Minnesota defense that, well, put him in his place. With Jones struggling to get the offense going, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. ($6,100) and tight end Evan Engram ($5,200) saw a decrease in production.
Can we trust the Jaguars’ receivers with Mac Jones manning the offense against another tough matchup in the Detroit Lions? Meghan (@mtownsleyy) and Steve (@SBuchanan24) broke it down:
- Steve simply cannot trust Mac Jones ($4,900) throwing the football. After a messy game last week (14/22, 111 yards, 2 INTS), Jones is set to face an extensive amount of pressure against a Lion’s defense that blitzes at the highest rate in the league (40.5%). Jones is an easy must-fade.
See their full analysis here:
- Adding on to Steve’s critique of Jones, Meghan doesn’t think you can trust either Thomas Jr. ($6,100) or Engram ($5,200).
- The Lions linebackers have been playing especially well in the short and intermediate parts of the field, which is where Jones placed the majority of his attempts last week. Plus, the Lions are allowing the 2nd-least amount of fantasy points to tight ends this season.
See their full analysis here:
Minnesota Vikings @ Tennessee Titans – 1:00 PM EST
MIN RB Aaron Jones (ribs)
Aaron Jones ($6,900) has been limited in practice all week dealing with a rib injury, but head coach Kevin O’Connell seems confident the veteran back will suit up. If Jones is good to go, if he worth putting in our lineups?
- Steve believes Jones ($6,900) is far too expensive to consider playing in this matchup. For one, there are other valuable running backs around the same salary (De’Von Achane ($7,200), for example) in far better situations. While the Titans offense isn’t dominant, their defense has kept them in games.
- Meghan notes the Titans defense is holding opposing running back to 3.8 yards/carry, the fourth-best mark in the league.
- On the very off-chance Jones sits, Meghan is adamant Cam Akers ($4,600) isn’t a good handcuff, considering the tough defensive matchup the Vikings face on the ground.
See their full analysis here:
Las Vegas Raiders at Miami Dolphins – 1:00 PM EST
MIA WR Tyreek Hill (wrist)
The Dolphins have had a rocky season. While their starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has returned to action, star wide receiver Tyreek Hill ($7,400) has been dealing with a wrist injury that has limited him in practice. Hill played through this injury in Week 10 vs. the Rams, but wasn’t a dominating factor on offense, or really a factor at all. Hill was limited in practice on Thursday, but practiced in full on Friday and currently does not carry an injury designation for Sunday’s game vs. the Raiders.
Should we consider putting Hill in our lineups knowing he is dealing with a wrist injury? Meghan (@mtownsleyy) and Steve (@SBuchanan24) broke it down:
- To Steve, it sounds like Hill needs surgery to fix a ligament in his wrist; however, Hill wants to play through it as of now. Last week, Hill only ran 27 routes and was targeted just four times. Meghan and Steve both believe Hill could be used as decoy.
- The Raiders defense has been solid against perimeter receivers, despite their own offensive struggles—top that with the fact that Hill is the fourth-most expensive receiver on this slate and has a blatant injury, and Steve is easily staying away from the Cheetah.
See their full analysis here:
- If we’re fading Hill, who else is a good play for the Dolphins offense? Jonnu Smith ($3,800)!
- The tight end’s stock has gone up without his DraftKings Daily Fantasy salary going up. The Raiders are allowing an average of 15.6 DKFP to opposing tight ends, which is the fourth-most in the league.
- Meghan thinks Smith could be a good option to stream due to Tua Tagovailoa’s efficiency when throwing in the short (0-9 air yards), which is where Smith could thrive.
See their full analysis here:
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers – 4:05 PM EST
SEA WR DK Metcalf (knee)
DK Metcalf ($6,500) has been sidelined for multiple weeks after suffering an MCL sprain in Week 7, and is now set to return to game action in Week 11 vs. San Francisco. While getting back a vertical threat is great for Seattle, last time these teams met, Metcalf was held to just three receptions and 48 yards. Do we consider putting Metcalf in our lineups?
- DK Metcalf ($6,500) doesn’t have an injury designation for Sunday, which is the good news. The bad: Seattle has holes on its offense that Metcalf can’t fill. The offensive line has allowed 134 pressures on Geno Smith this season. The Hawk’s QB was pressured on 45% of his dropbacks in the Week 6 matchup vs. the 49ers and threw 50+ times, resulting in the loss.
- The 49ers have made this “rivalry” one sided, and Meghan believes the home team has figured out Metcalf. Instead, she likes Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($6,500), who had a killer outing in Week 9 and has been a master as a slot receiver for this team.
See their full analysis here:
Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills – 4:25 PM EST
BUF TE Dalton Kincaid (knee); BUF WR Keon Coleman (wrist)
The Bills are down a handful of receivers. Wide receiver Keon Coleman was ruled out earlier this week with the same wrist injury that held him out of Week 10, while tight end Dalton Kincaid was ruled out Friday with a knee injury. Amari Cooper ($5,700) earned a questionable tag for Sunday’s heated matchup vs. the Chiefs, but is attempting to learn how to catch the football with a cast on…oh boy.
With a daunting matchup on the horizon, which receivers will step up and be Josh Allen’s guy(s)? Meghan (@mtownsleyy) and Steve (@SBuchanan24) broke it down:
- With no Keon Coleman, no Dalton Kincaid, and a questionable Amari Cooper ($5,700), Meghan believes Khalil Shakir ($6,300) is an absolute lock at wide receiver, despite a slightly disappointing outing in Week 10.
- Steve highlighted the unfortunate timing of Kincaid being ruled out as Dawson Knox’s ($3,500) ownership in DraftKings Daily Fantasy lineups is bound to skyrocket. However, the Chiefs have allowed some of the highest fantasy production to opposing tight ends, making Knox a nice value play this week.
See their full analysis here:
BUF WR Amari Cooper (wrist)
- Even if Cooper ($5,700) does suit up, Steve and Meghan both agree it is a bit silly to trust starting a wide receiver that stated he has to learn how to catch the football wearing a cast…
See their full analysis here:
Cincinnati Bengals @ Los Angeles Chargers – 8:20 PM EST
CIN WR Tee Higgins (quad)
After missing the last three games, wide receiver Tee Higgins ($6,300) is expected to return to action in Week 11’s Sunday Night Football matchup vs. the Chargers. With Higgins out, there has been continuous discourse about the rise of tight end Mike Gesicki’s ($4,100) stock. However, with Higgins back, do we bench the griddy-ing tight end?
- Steve, surprisingly, is backing Gesicki this week. In a SNF Showdown contest on DraftKings, Steve likes the value the tight end could bring after seeing the obvious chemistry between him and quarterback Joe Burrow.
See their full analysis here:
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.