Chris Allen and Jorge Martin deliver the latest NFL injury news facing fantasy football managers in Week 12. 

Sometimes the NFL injury gods are kind and give fantasy football managers a pass on a #byepocalypse week with six NFL teams on bye and don't inundate them with injuries. But among those players who are hurting going into Week 12, there are few concerns. However, we are going to lead off with a player who has the Bay Area on pins and needles hoping to hear some good news on his status.

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Quarterback

Brock Purdy (shoulder): Here's how it started.

Here's how it ended.

Thursday was a bit of a rollercoaster for the 49ers' offense. After a limited session on Wednesday, beat reports indicated that Brock Purdy pulled himself from practice due to continued soreness in his shoulder. San Francisco has listed Purdy with back-to-back LPs, but the outlook is much more dire. Reporters are expecting a QB on the roster to speak to the press tomorrow after no one showed up today. If it's anyone other than Purdy, all of the pass catchers drop down a tier. UPDATE: Purdy was ruled OUT on Friday, and Brandon Allen is set to start his first NFL game since Jan. 9, 2022, for the Bengals. This is a big downgrade to all pass catchers for the 49ers, so the expectation may be a heavy workload for Christian McCaffrey in his third game of the season. 

Running Back

Isiah Pacheco (leg): Pacheco started the week with consecutive limited practices after being designated to return to practice ahead of Week 11 before ultimately being ruled inactive. Now it’s a road game against the Carolina Panthers, with the Chiefs 11-point favorites. 

This could be the perfect game environment to see where Pacheco is in game action a little more than two months after he was injured in Week 2. Pacheco could get some run in a positive game script for the Chiefs, all the while sharing touches with Kareem Hunt. Pacheco is probably only startable in deep leagues, or on teams that are hit heavily with six teams on bye. UPDATE: Pacheco was ruled OUT on Friday, paving the way for potentially a big game for Hunt. See where he resides in our rankings. 

Christian McCaffrey (Achilles): The All-Pro running back went LP after Wednesday's DNP. This will probably will be the same story the rest of the season. CMC will have his maintenance days during the practice week, all the while working his way back to playing on Sundays. The 49ers have a solid matchup at Green Bay, with the Packers allowing over 100 rushing yards to RBs in three of the past four games. All that needs to be done with McCaffrey is to mind the practice reports to make sure he’s not sitting. 

Jonathon Brooks (knee): It’s happening! About a year after he tore his ACL, Brooks is making his NFL debut. One of the most exciting rookie running backs in this class is FINALLY going to step on an NFL field. What is a fantasy manager to do? Sit him.

The Chiefs are allowing the fewest running yards per game to running backs at 47.5, and have yet to see any RB go over 58 yards against them. With Chuba Hubbard clearly the RB1 in Carolina, this will be more of a “get your feet wet” game for Brooks.

Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Zamir White (quadriceps): Both Raiders running backs missed the first two days of practice, so Friday’s practice report will be a crucial look at how Las Vegas’ offense will look like on Sunday. 

Ameer Abdullah and Dylan Laube would be in line for expanded roles if the top two RBs sit. Abdullah would be the favorite for touches, as he’s had a snap share as high as 49% and a 56% route share — both in Week 9. Laube has yet to register a touch this season, so it’s hard to see him do more than be in a committee with Abdullah against a Denver defense that is 11th in the league, limiting RBs to 80.5 rushing yards per game.  

Tyjae Spears (concussion): Titans HC Brian Callahan noted the team would evaluate Spears for a concussion following Week 11. Spears has been the only other RB to earn a touch behind Tony Pollard over the last two weeks. However, with Spears posting two consecutive DNPs, his chances of suiting up in Week 12 are slim. The tell-tale sign for Spears would be a limited practice on Friday with a chance for the neurologist to clear him on Saturday. However, if Spears is a no-show, Pollard should be a low-end RB2. He's taken over 50.0% of the RB carries over the last two weeks, with target shares of 15.0% and 17.0%, respectively. If he gets the backfield all to himself, he should be in your starting lineup. UPDATE: Spears was ruled OUT on Friday, which should make Pollard one of the better plays in DFS and a must-start in fantasy lineups. Feel better, Tyjae. 

D’Andre Swift (groin): Swift played a season-low 54.0% of the snaps in Week 11, but he was still on the field midway through the fourth quarter. So, we can't fully attribute his drop in playing time to the groin injury. Accordingly, Swift's status as the RB1 may be changing. 

Roschon Johnson hit a season-high carry rate (34.0%) and, critically, took two-thirds of the touches from inside the 5-yard line. Johnson's touchdown came with Swift still healthy but on the sideline. Regardless, with both set to face the 31st-ranked defense against RBs, a split backfield lessens Swift's potential impact for Week 12. UPDATE: Swift is expected to play, though his usage needs to be monitored, especially with the added role that Johnson is seeing near the goal line. He's the RB23 in our rankings. 

Wide Receiver

Puka Nacua (chest/shoulder): Nacua landed hard on his chest and shoulder in making this incredible TD catch against the Patriots. He stayed down for a bit and even visited the medical tent. He eventually returned and finished with his best day of the year with seven catches, 123 yards and that TD. He led the team with an 81% route participation, which is a good sign for his playing this week. 

Nacua practiced fully the first two days of the week and appears headed toward playing on Sunday night against the Eagles, who are second in the league in allowing just 105.9 receiving yards to WRs. Since the Week 5 bye, no WR has surpassed 54 yards that Ja’Marr Chase totaled against the Eagles. 

Tyreek Hill (wrist): The dynamic Miami WR logged a full practice on Thursday. He’ll likely carry an injury designation going into every game for the rest of the season, as he recently said that he put off surgery on the wrist until 2025. Hill ran routes on 79% of the Dolphins’ plays in Week 11, drawing eight targets for seven catches, 61 yards, and a score in his second straight game. 

A home date against the Patriots awaits the Dolphins. Cooper Kupp and Nacua both flew past 100 receiving yards against New England last week, so this could be a good week to start Hill. 

Mike Evans (hamstring): The return of Evans appears to be happening, as he logged a full practice on Thursday. It will be interesting to see how many more targets he sees in his return with Chris Godwin out for the season. Both were injured in Week 7.

Atlanta is fresh off being picked apart by Bo Nix for 307 yards and four TDs, all to different pass catchers. Evans could be in for a big day in his return. 

CeeDee Lamb (back/shoulder): It’s never good to see the downgrade from LP to DNP in the first two days of practice. With multiple injuries, the back may be the greater concern because Lamb played through the shoulder injury last week and posted 93 receiving yards and a score on eight catches. 

The Cowboys figure to be in catch-up mode in Washington, which is favored by 10.5 points. The clear No 1 target in Dallas, Lamb’s availability needs to be followed closely. If he sits, there may be no Cowboys worth starting in fantasy. 

Ladd McConkey (shoulder): Ah, the Monday Night Football injury designation sweat. McConkey was DNP on Thursday, technically the first day of practice for the Chargers. He had fallen hard and came out of the Week 11 game for a bit, though he returned and put up a career-high 123 yards on six catches. 

Fantasy managers are salivating at the prospect of starting McConkey against a Baltimore defense that is last in both fantasy points (43.0) and receiving yards (189.4) allowed to WRs. The No. 1 target for the Chargers is up for a big game if he suits up. 

DeVonta Smith (hamstring): Smith was on the Week 11 injury report ahead of the Eagles' TNF matchup against the Commanders. Philadelphia's WR2 made it through the game, but was seen limping after the game. 

Since the team had the mini-bye to rest, Smith's continued absence from practice should be all the more concerning. A.J. Brown has had a 30.0% target share in two straight games. He won't leave anyone's starting roster. But for anyone reconsidering Dallas Goedert, his 21.0% share of the looks last week should increase if Smith misses his second game of the year. UPDATE: Smith was ruled OUT on Friday, so if Brown was expected to have a healthy workload already, it should get even bigger now. See Goedert a few lines up.

Adam Thielen (hamstring): Carolina's veteran slot receiver is on track to return after injuring his hamstring in Week 3. His timing couldn't be better. The offense has been over 200 scrimmage yards per game over the last three weeks since Bryce Young resumed his role as the starter. Jalen Coker has still operated out of the slot, but output has dwindled from his 17.8-point output in Week 8. Thielen was averaging 3.7 targets per game with Diontae Johnson hogging most of the pass-game opportunities. With rookie Xavier Legette as Thielen's primary competition, he should walk into a WR2 workload in his first game back.

Malik Nabers (groin): Nabers was a DNP in practice on Friday, though he told reporters after practice that he intends to play. The Friday downgrade is always troublesome, and Nabers has battled a groin injury before. Fantasy managers, keep an eye on the inactives at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. Keep a player at the ready to insert for him, just in case. UPDATE: Nabers should be able to play. The rookie has a target share of at least 31% in Weeks 7-10, and has drawn double-digit targets in six of his last seven games. He's active, and should be in fantasy lineups. 

Keenan Allen (ankle): The veteran rolled his ankle and left practice on Friday, putting his status for Sunday up in the air. Early updates on game day revealed that he should be ready to play. His route participation has been at least 93% in the past four games, and his target share has been in the 25-30% range over that span. With the Bears facing a beatable Vikings secondary—No. 6 for most fantasy points per game allowed to WRs at 35.9—Allen is WR43 in our rankings.

Tight End

George Kittle (hamstring): Kittle was back at practice and having fun in the process. After missing Week 11 with a hamstring injury, his limited sessions are a reasonable approach to ensure the 49ers' TE1 is ready for their trip to Green Bay. He's already said he'll play and is excited to get out on the field. However, with Purdy yet to get through a practice, Kittle's volume (22.0% target share on the season) will be all we can rely on, as the pass-game efficiency will likely drop if any of the backup QBs are forced to start.

Jake Ferguson (concussion): Ferguson left in the first quarter, and the team quickly ruled him out with a concussion. His lack of practice participation puts his Week 12 status at risk. However, even if he was on the field, we shouldn't expect much. With Cooper Rush under center, the Cowboys have totaled 16 points over their last two games. They've run 14 total plays in the opposing team's red zone. Rush is averaging 186.5 passing yards per game. The steep drop in offensive production limits Ferguson's upside, making streaming options (like Will Dissly) all the more attractive. UPDATE: Ferguson was officially ruled out on Friday. The hope is that Lamb can play to soak up all the targets as the Commanders play catchup. Get those streaming options, like Dissly, ready.

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