Fantasy Football Today: Week 12 injury updates include Justin Fields, Ja’Marr Chase; the latest rankings

The Fantasy Football Today team is here to help you get your lineups set for Week 12, and the injury report has plenty of questions needing sorting through before kickoff. Jamey Eisenberg, Heath Cummings, and Dave Richard are live on CBS Sports HQ now until kickoff to cover the Week 12 slate from every ankle. 

And if you want more direct answers to your questions, we’ve got other opportunities to help: Go to Twitter and use the hashtag “#AskFFT”, where our whole team will be answering questions all morning; and go to the FFT YouTube channel to chat with Adam Aizer and Frank Stampfl starting at 11:30. We’ll be there right up until kickoff answering as many questions as we can, so make sure you’re in the chat early to get your questions in. 

Dan Schneier and R.J. White are pinch-hitting for me in the injury report section below, but you can find my updated rankings at the end of this newsletter. For more Week 12 help, here’s the rest of our preview content to get you ready:

Quarterbacks

• Out: Matthew Stafford (concussion, neck)

With Stafford sidelined and John Wolford limited in practice this week, it’s expected to be Bryce Perkins under center for the Rams in a tough matchup against the Chiefs. Perkins made his debut briefly in Week 10 against the Cardinals, then completed 5 of 10 passes for 64 yards with three sacks against the Saints last week, adding five carries for 39 yards. He’s an intriguing dart throw with the Rams likely playing from behind all day, as he’ll likely scramble for enough rushing yards to have a solid floor. 

• Questionable: Justin Fields (shoulder)

Fields enters Sunday questionable but reports indicate he’s unlikely to play. That means it’ll be the Trevor Siemian show, with Nathan Peterman backing him up. Needless to say, Siemian doesn’t present nearly the challenge to defend for the Jets that Fields would have; despite the tough matchup, it’s possible taking Fields’ rushing plays out of the equation boosts the potential of the other Bears skill players, though the floor is pretty low across the board.

Running backs

• Out: Joe Mixon (concussion), Leonard Fournette (hip), Jaylen Warren (hamstring)

The Mixon injury clears the way for Samaje Perine to serve as the lead back against the Titans after he scored three receiving touchdowns in Week 11. He figures to see the lion’s share of the touches at the position for Cincinnati. With Fournette out, it’s likely the Rachaad White show for Tampa Bay, but Giovani Bernard was activated from IR and could steal some work. Warren’s absence raises the ceiling for Najee Harris, as the first-year player managed 22 touches in two games prior to playing just three snaps in Week 11, when Harris had 116 total yards and two touchdowns.

• Doubtful: Raheem Mostert (knee)

With Mostert likely sidelined, Jeff Wilson has the opportunity to have a massive day with the Dolphins huge favorites against a Texans team that gives up loads of Fantasy points to opposing running backs. Now, if the Dolphins are indeed up by a wide margin in the second half, it’s possible Miami turns to Myles Gaskin or Salvon Ahmed to salt the game away, but Wilson figures to be a big factor today even if he doesn’t play through to the final whistle.

• Expected to play: Josh Jacobs (calf), Gus Edwards (hamstring), Giovani Bernard (ankle)

Jacobs was a surprise addition to the injury report on Friday after only seeing a limited practice. He’s yet to miss a game all year, and no other Raiders back has more than eight carries on the season. Reports Sunday morning indicate he’s expected to play, but it would be wise to have an alternative handy from the late afternoon slate in case something changes in pregame warmups. Edwards said this week he felt he made a lot of progress, and he is expected to return to action this week. He should return to starting duties, but the Ravens figure to continue mixing Kenyan Drake and Justice Hill in at running back as well, so Edwards should be nothing more than a flex option. As mentioned above, Bernard is back to give the Bucs some support behind Rachaad White with Leonard Fournette sidelined, but he’s not an option for Fantasy managers, nor should his presence be reason to doubt in White as a starter.

Wide receivers

• Out: Mike Williams (ankle), Jerry Jeudy (ankle), Rondale Moore (groin), Kadarius Toney (hamstring), Russell Gage (hamstring), Romeo Doubs (ankle)

The big name here is Williams, who aggravated his ankle sprain in last week’s loss to the Chiefs while playing just six snaps in the game. His absence means Josh Palmer continues to hold significant value after averaging 10 targets over his last four games, including notching 106 yards on eight catches last week.

• Questionable: Ja’Marr Chase (hip), Allen Robinson (ankle), Greg Dortch (thumb), Terrace Marshall (shoulder)

Chase is unexpected to make his return this week, leaving Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd as strong plays against the Titans. Robinson is not expected to play for the Rams, meaning Bryce Perkins’ top options at the position should be Van Jefferson and Ben Skowronek. Not great! Dortch is unlikely to play, a missed opportunity at a DFS sleeper with Rondale Moore sidelined.

• Expected to play: Deebo Samuel (hamstring), Marquise Brown (foot), Demarcus Robinson (hip), Devin Duvernay (hamstring), DeSean Jackson (hamstring)

Samuel is dealing with his second hamstring injury of the season, though they appear to be unrelated. Reports indicate he is expected to play barring pregame setbacks, so feel good about starting him as usual, though it would be wise to carry an emergency option from the later slate. Brown was activated off IR on Saturday, setting him up to pair with DeAndre Hopkins for the first time this season. Brown averaged just over 10 targets per game in his run as the team’s top wideout with Hopkins suspended, and it’s likely neither will see the mass amount of targets they’ve enjoyed to date, though the absence of Rondale Moore may help.

Tight ends

• Questionable: Tyler Higbee (knee), Isaiah Likely (ankle)

Higbee is yet another Rams pass-catcher dealing with an injury this week, which tells you the state of the L.A. offense.

• Expected to play: Logan Thomas (ribs)

Thomas was downgraded to a missed practice on Friday, but he’s reportedly in line to be in action against the Falcons..  

Rankings Updates

Quarterbacks

1. Patrick Mahomes vs. LAR
2. Jalen Hurts vs. GB
3. Tua Tagovailoa vs. HOU
4. Lamar Jackson @JAX
5. Justin Herbert @ARI
6. Tom Brady @CLE
7. Geno Smith vs. LV
8. Joe Burrow @TEN
9. Kyler Murray vs. LAC
10. Trevor Lawrence vs. BAL
11. Derek Carr @SEA
12. Aaron Rodgers @PHI
13. Russell Wilson @CAR
14. Taylor Heinicke vs. ATL
15. Kenny Pickett @IND
16. Andy Dalton @SF
17. Jacoby Brissett vs. TB
18. Marcus Mariota @WAS
19. Jimmy Garoppolo vs. NO
20. Kyle Allen @MIA
21. Matt Ryan vs. PIT
22. Bryce Perkins @KC
23. Ryan Tannehill vs. CIN
24. Zach Wilson vs. CHI
25. Baker Mayfield vs. DEN
26. Trevor Siemian @NYJ

Running backs

1. Austin Ekeler @ARI
2. Josh Jacobs @SEA
3. Christian McCaffrey vs. NO
4. Derrick Henry vs. CIN
5. Jonathan Taylor vs. PIT
6. Alvin Kamara @SF
7. Kenneth Walker vs. LV
8. Aaron Jones @PHI
9. Travis Etienne vs. BAL
10. Nick Chubb vs. TB
11. Rachaad White @CLE
12. James Conner vs. LAC
13. David Montgomery @NYJ
14. Jeff Wilson vs. HOU
15. Samaje Perine @TEN
16. Dameon Pierce @MIA
17. Najee Harris @IND
18. Antonio Gibson vs. ATL
19. Miles Sanders vs. GB
20. Latavius Murray @CAR
21. Cordarrelle Patterson @WAS
22. Michael Carter vs. CHI
23. Kenyan Drake @JAX
24. D’Onta Foreman vs. DEN
25. Jerick McKinnon vs. LAR
26. Isiah Pacheco vs. LAR
27. Elijah Mitchell vs. NO
28. James Robinson vs. CHI
29. Rex Burkhead @MIA
30. Kareem Hunt vs. TB
31. A.J. Dillon @PHI
32. Chuba Hubbard vs. DEN
33. Myles Gaskin vs. HOU
34. Marlon Mack @CAR
35. Deon Jackson vs. PIT
36. Dontrell Hilliard vs. CIN
37. Brian Robinson Jr. vs. ATL
38. Kyren Williams @KC
39. Cam Akers @KC
40. Justice Hill @JAX
41. Ke’Shawn Vaughn @CLE
42. Tyler Allgeier @WAS
43. Zamir White @SEA
44. Kenneth Gainwell vs. GB
45. Dwayne Washington @SF
46. Darrell Henderson @KC
47. Jamycal Hasty vs. BAL
48. Caleb Huntley @WAS
49. Sony Michel @ARI
50. Boston Scott vs. GB

Wide receivers

1. Tyreek Hill vs. HOU
2. Davante Adams @SEA
3. DeAndre Hopkins vs. LAC
4. A.J. Brown vs. GB
5. Tee Higgins @TEN
6. Jaylen Waddle vs. HOU
7. Chris Godwin @CLE
8. Keenan Allen @ARI
9. Marquise Brown vs. LAC
10. Amari Cooper vs. TB
11. Mike Evans @CLE
12. Tyler Lockett vs. LV
13. Chris Olave @SF
14. Courtland Sutton @CAR
15. Deebo Samuel vs. NO
16. Christian Kirk vs. BAL
17. JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. LAR
18. DK Metcalf vs. LV
19. Michael Pittman vs. PIT
20. DeVonta Smith vs. GB
21. Allen Lazard @PHI
22. Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. TB
23. Curtis Samuel vs. ATL
24. Josh Palmer @ARI
25. Brandon Aiyuk vs. NO
26. George Pickens @IND
27. Diontae Johnson @IND
28. Garrett Wilson vs. CHI
29. Terry McLaurin vs. ATL
30. Tyler Boyd @TEN
31. Christian Watson @PHI
32. Darnell Mooney @NYJ
33. Jarvis Landry @SF
34. Parris Campbell vs. PIT
35. Nico Collins @MIA
36. Zay Jones vs. BAL
37. Treylon Burks vs. CIN
38. Brandin Cooks @MIA
39. D.J. Moore vs. DEN
40. Drake London @WAS
41. Mack Hollins @SEA
42. Robert Woods vs. CIN
43. Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. LAR
44. Allen Robinson @KC
45. Devin Duvernay @JAX
46. Marvin Jones vs. BAL
47. Chase Claypool @NYJ
48. Justin Watson vs. LAR
49. Terrace Marshall vs. DEN
50. Julio Jones @CLE

Tight Ends

1. Travis Kelce vs. LAR
2. Mark Andrews @JAX
3. Pat Freiermuth @IND
4. George Kittle vs. NO
5. Tyler Higbee @KC
6. David Njoku vs. TB
7. Juwan Johnson @SF
8. Hayden Hurst @TEN
9. Cole Kmet @NYJ
10. Evan Engram vs. BAL
11. Greg Dulcich @CAR
12. Robert Tonyan @PHI
13. Tyler Conklin vs. CHI
14. Trey McBride vs. LAC
15. Foster Moreau @SEA
16. Noah Fant vs. LV
17. Cade Otton @CLE
18. Mike Gesicki vs. HOU
19. Will Dissly vs. LV
20. Logan Thomas vs. ATL

Flex

1. Austin Ekeler @ARI
2. Travis Kelce vs. LAR
3. Tyreek Hill vs. HOU
4. Josh Jacobs @SEA
5. Christian McCaffrey vs. NO
6. Derrick Henry vs. CIN
7. Jonathan Taylor vs. PIT
8. Davante Adams @SEA
9. Alvin Kamara @SF
10. Kenneth Walker vs. LV
11. Aaron Jones @PHI
12. DeAndre Hopkins vs. LAC
13. Travis Etienne vs. BAL
14. Nick Chubb vs. TB
15. Rachaad White @CLE
16. A.J. Brown vs. GB
17. James Conner vs. LAC
18. Tee Higgins @TEN
19. David Montgomery @NYJ
20. Jeff Wilson vs. HOU
21. Jaylen Waddle vs. HOU
22. Samaje Perine @TEN
23. Dameon Pierce @MIA
24. Chris Godwin @CLE
25. Najee Harris @IND
26. Keenan Allen @ARI
27. Marquise Brown vs. LAC
28. Amari Cooper vs. TB
29. Mike Evans @CLE
30. Tyler Lockett vs. LV
31. Mark Andrews @JAX
32. Chris Olave @SF
33. Courtland Sutton @CAR
34. Deebo Samuel vs. NO
35. Christian Kirk vs. BAL
36. JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. LAR
37. Antonio Gibson vs. ATL
38. DK Metcalf vs. LV
39. Michael Pittman vs. PIT
40. DeVonta Smith vs. GB
41. Allen Lazard @PHI
42. Miles Sanders vs. GB
43. Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. TB
44. Latavius Murray @CAR
45. Curtis Samuel vs. ATL
46. Josh Palmer @ARI
47. Brandon Aiyuk vs. NO
48. George Pickens @IND
49. Diontae Johnson @IND
50. Garrett Wilson vs. CHI
51. Pat Freiermuth @IND
52. Terry McLaurin vs. ATL
53. Tyler Boyd @TEN
54. Christian Watson @PHI
55. George Kittle vs. NO
56. Darnell Mooney @NYJ
57. Jarvis Landry @SF
58. Cordarrelle Patterson @WAS
59. Michael Carter vs. CHI
60. Kenyan Drake @JAX
61. Parris Campbell vs. PIT
62. Nico Collins @MIA
63. Zay Jones vs. BAL
64. Treylon Burks vs. CIN
65. Brandin Cooks @MIA
66. D’Onta Foreman vs. DEN
67. Tyler Higbee @KC
68. Jerick McKinnon vs. LAR
69. Isiah Pacheco vs. LAR
70. Elijah Mitchell vs. NO
71. James Robinson vs. CHI
72. David Njoku vs. TB
73. Rex Burkhead @MIA
74. Juwan Johnson @SF
75. D.J. Moore vs. DEN
76. Hayden Hurst @TEN
77. Drake London @WAS
78. Mack Hollins @SEA
79. Cole Kmet @NYJ
80. Robert Woods vs. CIN
81. Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. LAR
82. Evan Engram vs. BAL
83. Allen Robinson @KC
84. Devin Duvernay @JAX
85. Kareem Hunt vs. TB
86. Greg Dulcich @CAR
87. A.J. Dillon @PHI
88. Marvin Jones vs. BAL
89. Robert Tonyan @PHI
90. Tyler Conklin vs. CHI
91. Chase Claypool @NYJ
92. Justin Watson vs. LAR
93. Chuba Hubbard vs. DEN
94. Myles Gaskin vs. HOU
95. Terrace Marshall vs. DEN
96. Marlon Mack @CAR
97. Julio Jones @CLE
98. Trey McBride vs. LAC
99. DeMarcus Robinson @JAX
100. Deon Jackson vs. PIT
101. Foster Moreau @SEA
102. Dontrell Hilliard vs. CIN
103. Russell Gage @CLE
104. DeAndre Carter @ARI
105. Brian Robinson Jr. vs. ATL
106. Alec Pierce vs. PIT
107. Kyren Williams @KC
108. Van Jefferson @KC
109. Noah Fant vs. LV
110. Chris Moore @MIA
111. Cam Akers @KC
112. Cade Otton @CLE
113. Skyy Moore vs. LAR
114. Justice Hill @JAX
115. Ke’Shawn Vaughn @CLE
116. Mike Gesicki vs. HOU
117. Will Dissly vs. LV
118. Logan Thomas vs. ATL
119. Sammy Watkins @PHI
120. Robbie Anderson vs. LAC
121. Trent Sherfield vs. HOU
122. Tyler Allgeier @WAS
123. Marquez Callaway @SF
124. Kylen Granson vs. PIT
125. Elijah Moore vs. CHI