The NFL season is in full swing. As happens every year, injuries are rearing their ugly heads. As fantasy football managers prepare to set Week 12 lineups, it’s important to stay informed on the latest injury news. Xavier Worthy missed some practice time this week due to injury. What is his current status and outlook for this week?
Is Xavier Worthy Playing Week 12?
Update:Â Worthy is ACTIVE
Worthy tweaked his ankle during the team’s Week 11 loss to the Denver Broncos, though it’s unclear exactly when the injury occurred during the contest. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed Monday that Worthy aggravated the ankle issue, leaving his practice status uncertain heading into the week.​
The second-year receiver out of Texas did not practice on Wednesday. Kansas City’s official injury report listed Worthy with a DNP designation due to the ankle problem. This represents a familiar pattern for Worthy, who has been managing this ankle injury for multiple weeks now.​
Worthy has consistently played through the ankle issue without missing a game since returning from his earlier shoulder injury. He appeared on last week’s injury report as a limited participant Thursday before practicing fully Friday and suiting up Sunday without an injury designation. Despite the ankle bothering him, Worthy logged a 76% snap share in the loss to Denver.​
Fortunately, Worthy returned to a limited session on Thursday. This progression from Wednesday’s DNP represented an encouraging sign for his availability against Indianapolis. He then took another step forward by practicing in full on Friday.​
The Chiefs listed Worthy as questionable on Friday’s final injury report. However, the fact that he was able to practice in full on Friday suggests he should be fine to play Sunday. The full practice participation typically indicates a player is ready to suit up and handle his normal workload.
On Saturday night, Adam Schefter reported that Worthy is expected to play.
Worthy’s Fantasy Football Outlook
This is going to sound harsh and that’s probably because it is: was September the most useful month from Worthy this season?
He burned you in Week 1 when he was hurt after three plays, missed two games, and came back in Week 4 with 121 total yards and 17.1 PPR points.
So he was a drain on your roster in three of four weeks … and that was the peak of his season?
He killed you once. Weeks 2-3 were a pain, but you got replacement level value because you knew he was inactive.
MORE:Â Free Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer
Since then, he’s been a mess and you’ve likely tried to work through it by playing him. Week 6 was the last time he was a top 35 receiver in any given week and he really does profile as a misfit toy in this offense.
Tyquan Thornton has assumed the vertical route while the Rashee Rice/Travis Kelce tandem has, as assumed, eaten up all of the short-to-mid-range targets.
So where does Worthy win in this system?
He has no more than 35 receiving yards in four of his past five games, has scored once on 45 targets, and is averaging just 10.4 yards per catch. The per catch number wouldn’t bother me if we could pencil in consistent volume, but we can’t (27 targets over his past five games).
How different is he than Mack Hollins right now? Heck, Hollins is at least on an upward trajectory role wise and gets the Bengals this week. They are ranked in the same tier for me this week and that’s outside of my circle of lineup trust.
— Kyle Soppe, PFSN Fantasy Analyst
