Week 18 in the NFL season is just around the corner. The majority of fantasy football leagues finished last week, but there are still some leagues with championships on the line. If you’re still playing, you have to look at which players are playing in big games, as many teams rest their guys this week.
Running backs are going to be key this week, and there are a few of them dealing with injury issues. Here’s a look at Carolina Panthers RB Miles Sanders and Green Bay Packers RBs AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones, as we get closer to kickoff.
Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers
Sanders has had a tough year in Carolina, as he hasn’t come close to putting up the numbers that he did two years ago in Philadelphia with the Eagles. He hasn’t been productive all year, but especially as of late.
Sanders has rushed for only 15 yards on 11 carries in the last three games. Not only is he not playing great football, he’s also now dealing with an illness.
Sanders was held out of Wednesday’s practice, and his status for the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is unknown at this time. Keep an eye out over the next 24 hours or so to see what his status is.
AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers
The Packers have had to deal with several injuries this year, but the team is starting to get healthy at the right time.
Dillon has been battling a hand injury, but last Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, he was knocked out of the game with a stinger. Green Bay was able to keep it rolling without him, however, as they defeated the Vikings, 30-10.
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While he left the game with a stinger, that wasn’t the reason why Dillon sat out of Wednesday’s practice. He’s dealing with a thumb injury that forced him out, and right now, his status is unknown.
Dillon has played through several injuries this year, but with the Packers in a win-and-you’re-in scenario, it’s hard to imagine he doesn’t play on Sunday.
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
It hasn’t been the year that Jones has wanted heading into the campaign, but he’s healthy and now playing his best football of the season. Jones has had 20 carries in each of the last two games and has rushed for 120 and 127 yards in consecutive weeks, respectively.
Jones is the perfect complement to Dillon, as he can make a big play at any time. He’s also much more involved in the passing game than Dillon is, making him the RB1 in Green Bay.
He did take a punch in the face during the end of the game against Minnesota, but that wasn’t a serious injury. Right now, it feels like Jones is as healthy as he’s been in some time. He wasn’t on the injury report or anything like that, so right now, it seems like Jones will be going on Sunday.
Last year, the Packers were in a win-or-go-home scenario, and they lost at home against the Detroit Lions. I would expect this team to be playing as many players as possible — even playing through pain.
Check in at Pro Football Network throughout the week on the health status of these three players as well as all the other key players in the NFL in Week 18.
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