With Sunday of Week 10 in the rearview mirror and Week 11 already on the horizon, fantasy football GMs will need to stay on top of the NFL Week 11 injury report and updates in order to optimize their waiver wire claims. This week that will be especially important considering the impact the injured players have on their respective team. Drew Brees impacts every player’s fantasy performance on the Saints offense, and the same can be said for Teddy Bridgewater and the Panthers offense, and both have a high likelihood of missing this week’s games.
These injuries will leave fantasy GMs scratching their heads when trying to set their lineups this weekend. Will they play, or do we have to scramble try and find some last-minute replacements?
NFL Fantasy Injury Report and Updates Week 11: Is Teddy Bridgewater playing in Week 11?
Friday, November 20:Â Although Bridgewater does appear unlikely to start this week against the Lions, he has been listed by the Panthers as questionable for the game, which obviously is more promising than being listed as doubtful or out, leaving the door open for him to play.
Thursday, November 19:Â Teddy Bridgewater (knee) appears unlikely to start for the Panthers in Sunday’s game against the Lions, sources tell Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
Monday, November 16:Â Bridgewater got positive news back from his MRI. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that Bridgewater has no structural damage in his knee, but his status for Week 11 is still up in the air due to soreness and swelling. Later, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Bridgewater has been diagnosed with an MCL sprain and is considered to be day-to-day.
At the end of the Carolina Panthers’ loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Teddy Bridgewater was hit low and sent to the sidelines with a knee injury, and backup P.J. Walker was forced to finish the game for him. Bridgewater’s hit looked damaging, and the shots of him on the sideline grimacing in pain certainly added to that assumption. He received an MRI promptly after the game’s conclusion, and while we don’t have those results yet, the early diagnosis appears promising, though he will be on the NFL’s injury report for Week 11.
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According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the initial reports are that the knee injury isn’t serious and that, as of now, he hasn’t been ruled out for next week’s game against the Detroit Lions. We should have a better idea about the severity once the MRI is made public, but Walker could be a name to watch on the waiver wire this week.
Even Carolina Panthers’ head coach Matt Rhule sounded like he was in the dark about Bridgewater’s status at this point in time. “He got up and walked off,” Rhule said. “When it comes to knees and stuff like that, I don’t know. I haven’t had a chance to see him. I have no idea [how he is] .”
Even if Teddy Bridgewater does miss Week 11, his knee injury’s early implications seem minor enough that a Week 12 return against the Vikings seems likely, which would be ideal, as it would be a shame for Bridgewater to miss his return to Minnesota with a knee injury.
Fantasy Week 11 Updates: Is Drew Brees playing in Week 11?
Friday, November 20:Â Adam Schefter has reported that Taysom Hill will start for the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, and that Jameis Winston surprisingly won’t even be a part of any offensive packages for the Saints. If you’re still allowed to start Taysom Hill at tight end in your league, he’s a no-brainer start for Sunday.
Monday, November 16:Â Drew Brees’ MRI revealed five fractured ribs, two of which he suffered this week against the 49ers, and three more he suffered against the Buccaneers that didn’t show up on X-Rays until today. Even worse, Brees now has a collapsed lung on his right side. It’s still unknown as to how much time he will miss, but it’s looking likely to be a long stretch.
Drew Brees took a nasty hit to the ribs early against the 49ers, and after the end of the first half, Sean Payton put him on the bench and allowed Jameis Winston to play the second half. Winston played well, going six-for-10 for 63 yards, and helped the New Orleans Saints to a resounding 27-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers. As of now, we’re unsure of the severity of injury at this point in time, but Drew Brees was in a considerable amount of pain during his post-game press conference.
“I’ve read Drew Brees’ body language and speech inflection for 15 years, and I don’t recall him ever sounding like this,” Jeff Duncan, Saints columnist for The Athletic, said. “The concern was evident in his tone and demeanor. I actually felt terrible before the two-minute drive, but just had to find a way,” Brees said during the press conference.”
Much like Teddy Bridgewater, Brees received an MRI following the game, and he also received an X-ray, which lands him on the NFL’s injury report for this week, and as of now, it seems doubtful he plays against the Falcons.
