Evan Tarracciano | Tue, Nov 25th 2025, 1:11pm EST

Fantasy Football Injuries to Know for Waiver Wire Pickups

I’m not a fan of heights. While I would not go so far as to describe it as a fear or paralyzing terror, I’ll avoid them if possible. Plane flights don’t bother me. Staying on the top floor of a hotel? No issues whatsoever. Just don’t ask me to go skydiving anytime soon. I find jumping out of a perfectly good plane stupid. If I wanted to experience something that would get my heart racing, I’d ask my daughter to turn down the volume on “KPop Demon Hunters” the next time that she’s watching it on Netflix. Arguments with teenagers aren’t for the faint of heart.

Injuries this season have come in waves, occurring with a lull and buildup, before crashing over managers with a sense of terror and exhilaration, akin to a roller coaster. For as high up as one goes, they know that it is only building up to a cataclysmic drop, with the sensation of their stomachs jumping into their throats.

Needless to say, I prefer tame roller coasters — or, better yet, teacup rides. Please give me something with a slow, steady drip of adrenaline, rather than a sudden rush or burst.

Week 12 was the cart reaching terminal velocity at the bottom of a drop, with injuries galore to some of the most impactful players in fantasy football. This week will definitely test your team’s ability to weather the storm.

Here is a quick rundown of Week 12’s most significant injury situations and the fantasy fallout that will result.

Fantasy Football Injuries to Know

Quarterback

J.J. McCarthy (QB – MIN)

J.J. McCarthy had another historically poor outing on Sunday, completing just 12 passes on 19 attempts for 87 yards and two interceptions. His continued futility has taken Minnesota out of contention in the NFC North division, as they now dwell in the basement with a 4-7 record.

Despite playing the entire game, McCarthy was placed into the league’s concussion protocol on Monday morning after “symptoms manifested” following their loss to the Green Bay Packers. Though this seems like a convenient way to take him temporarily out of the starting equation, it was likely he would be benched in favor of Max Brosmer at this point, regardless.

Fantasy Impact: It is doubtful that J.J. McCarthy will be cleared in time to start in Week 13 on the road against Seattle (in what was already going to be a difficult matchup). Brosmer under center would limit the upside of wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and result in Minnesota becoming increasingly reliant upon their running game to move the football.

Baker Mayfield (QB – TB)

I’ll give credit where it is due — it was clear coming into Sunday Night Football’s contest that Baker Mayfield was already playing at less than 100%, and getting continually pummeled each play didn’t help matters.

Mayfield managed to sprain his left shoulder during Tampa Bay’s 34-7 loss to Los Angeles, and the team confirmed he is dealing with a low-grade AC joint sprain to his non-throwing shoulder. Described as not being a “long-term concern” by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there is a possibility Mayfield starts in Week 13 against Arizona in a must-win matchup for the Buccaneers, and this is being described as a “pain management situation.”

Fantasy Impact: Baker Mayfield hasn’t missed a start in his career and has battled through adversity before, so we’d expect him to make every effort to be out there on Sunday. However, if he’s physically unable or not cleared by team doctors, veteran Teddy Bridgewater would draw the start instead. Bridgewater under center would significantly hurt Emeka Egbuka‘s prospects, as he tends to throw short passes around the line of scrimmage rather than taking risks downfield.

Joe Burrow (QB – CIN)

This is a positive update, for a change. Joe Burrow is expected to return in Week 13 against Baltimore and was listed as a full participant in Monday’s estimated practice report provided by the team. All signs point to him returning and being under center for the first time since Week 2, when he picked up his turf toe injury. His presence would be a significant boost to all Cincinnati pass-catching options.

Fantasy Impact: Bump up the prospects of Ja’Marr Chase, Andrei Iosivas and Mike Gesicki, if Joe Burrow makes his expected start.

Running Back

Josh Jacobs (RB – GB)

Jacobs missed Week 12 against Minnesota while recovering from a knee injury, though he was close to playing and a game-time decision. The choice to rule him out likely had to do with Green Bay playing on Thanksgiving against Detroit, in a pivotal divisional matchup to continue vying for the NFC North title. Jacobs was listed as a limited participant during Monday’s estimated practice report.

Fantasy Impact: I expect Josh Jacobs to start, given the importance of this game and how close he was to taking the field last Sunday. The Packers must be comforted knowing that backup Emanuel Wilson can handle the starting role, if necessary, but Jacobs is the far superior talent of the two.

Ashton Jeanty (RB – LV)

Ashton Jeanty left Sunday’s game against Cleveland in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury after being rolled upon by a late hit from a Browns defender. He didn’t miss that many snaps towards the end of the Raiders’ 24-10 loss, and head coach Pete Carroll said he doesn’t believe this to be severe in nature.

During his press conference, Carroll was asked if the injury would limit Jeanty’s availability for practice this week, and he replied, “I haven’t heard that it would yet. It sounds like there’s a chance he’ll be OK,” per ESPN’s Field Yates. This is something to keep an eye on, given how large a part of the Raiders’ offense he is.

Fantasy Impact: Should Ashton Jeanty miss Week 13 on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers, Raheem Mostert and Zamir White would be called upon, with White handling short-yardage and goal-line situations and Mostert seeing touches elsewhere. This is a wait-and-see situation, but for managers who have a bench spot to burn, Mostert would be the priority pickup.

Alvin Kamara (RB – NO)

Alvin Kamara was bent backwards awkwardly while tackled in the first half on Sunday, and was later taken to the medical tent before visiting the Saints’ locker room. He was later ruled out for the remainder of the game and was slated to get an MRI early this week to determine the severity of the injury.

Fantasy Impact: Kansas rookie Devin Neal would be Alvin Kamara’s replacement to grab, and would presumably get the start in Week 13 on the road against Miami if Kamara is unable to go. Given the Saints’ poor record and Kamara’s age, it makes little sense to rush him back, and we’d expect Neal would receive the start in the short term, depending on the results of the MRI. He is a low-end RB2 worth grabbing for managers in need of help at the position.

Wide Receiver

Tee Higgins (WR – CIN)

Operating as the No. 1 WR on Sunday with Ja’Marr Chase suspended, Tee Higgins drew a tough start, being shadowed by New England’s top cornerback, Christian Gonzalez. While attempting to make a leaping grab late in the game, Higgins smacked his head very hard against the turf and stayed down for several moments before being attended to by trainers. He was later assisted off the field, where it was determined he sustained a concussion.

Fantasy Impact: Tee Higgins is likely to miss Week 13 against Baltimore while working through the league’s concussion protocol — the vast majority of players take a minimum of one week to recover and return. In his absence, expect additional targets for Andrei Iosivas and Mitchell Tinsley. Iosivas would be the preferred grab of the two off the waiver wire, but he is still a dart throw option, at best.

DK Metcalf (WR – PIT)

This is another “we don’t think it is overly serious, but at least worth mentioning” situation. DK Metcalf had a quiet Week 12 against Chicago, catching just five receptions on eight targets for 22 yards. In the middle of the game, he was removed with an ankle injury, though he was able to return later and didn’t miss a significant portion of time. We will be keeping a close eye on his practice status heading into a critical home matchup against Buffalo.

Fantasy Impact: DK Metcalf is likely to play and currently doesn’t carry an injury designation, but given his role in this offense as the alpha option in the passing game, it is worth monitoring. Should the ankle injury flare up during practice and force him out, Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson would stand to benefit from a bump in targets against a Bills secondary that allows yards in bunches.

Tight End

Michael Mayer (TE – LV)

Michael Mayer isn’t a major fantasy contributor, but was rostered in a good portion of leagues as a handcuff for Brock Bowers. During Sunday’s contest against Cleveland, Mayer departed with an ankle injury after catching just one pass for 14 yards on his only target.

Fantasy Impact: This isn’t a situation where we’d advise grabbing Michael Mayer’s replacement, but rather to consider additional snaps and looks for wideouts Tyler Lockett and Dont’e Thornton Jr. Both are dart throws, but in deeper leagues where managers are looking to shore up their benches as we head into the playoff season, they are worth considering.

NFL

MLB

NBA

NHL