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    Titans vs. Commanders Injury Report and Start-Sit Advice: Week 13 Updates on Brian Robinson Jr., Tyjae Spears, and Others

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    Here's fantasy football start-sit advice and injury updates for every Titans and Commanders skill player who has the potential to make a fantasy impact in Week 13.

    The Tennessee Titans will travel to take on the Washington Commanders in Week 13. Here’s the final injury report and start-sit advice for every skill player who has the potential to make a fantasy football impact during the game.

    Looking for more lineup advice? Head over to our Week 13 Fantasy Start-Sit Cheat Sheet, where we cover every fantasy-relevant player in every game.

    And if you’re looking for all the latest injury updates around the league, our Final Week 13 Injury Report is live and updated with the very latest for all 32 teams.

    PFN Waiver Wire Assistant
    Use a blend of PFN's consensus rest-of-season and weekly rankings to figure out who to pick up on the waiver wire for your fantasy football teams!

    Will Levis, QB | TEN

    Levis’ Injury Status for Week 13

    Levis is not listed on the injury report this week.

    Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Levis

    Will Levis opened last week at Houston with 11 straight completions (177 yards and a touchdown), something that was good for dynasty managers to see.

    He later added to his fantasy total by hitting Chig Okonkwo on a nine-yard pass that the athletic tight end turned into a 70-yard touchdown. If you’re simply looking at box scores, you’ll see two usable weeks from Levis in his three games since returning from injury — again, a nice step for him to take in Year 2.

    Let’s not get carried away. This isn’t a player that one-QB-leaguers need to worry about. If he can put up big numbers this week, we can have the “Do I stream Will Levis against Jacksonville with Lamar Jackson on a bye?” conversation next week. I hope that comes through as that would be awfully helpful for all of us Jackson managers who refuse to roster a secondary QB.

    Time will tell on that front — there’s nothing you need to do this weekend.

    Tony Pollard, RB | TEN

    Pollard’s Injury Status for Week 13

    Pollard is not listed on the injury report this week.

    Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Pollard

    “Running hard” comes with a gray area, but Tony Pollard certainly checked that box last week with Tyjae Spears (concussion), producing his best game relative to expectations since Week 6.

    Tennessee leaned on its lead back in a significant way out of the gates, and with early success, that allowed them to commit. Pollard touched the ball seven times on their first 19 plays, picking up 55 scrimmage yards and a score in the process. I hate to make things simple, but how do you see this game playing out?

    Three wins this season: 19.7 PPG and 27.3 touches per game
    Eight losses this season: 12.0 PPG and 16.9 touches per game

    Personally, I like Washington to bounce back off of a chaotic Week 12 loss, and that means I’m lower on Pollard. I have him ranked as my RB25 right now with the assumption that Spears returns — if that’s not the case, he’ll inch into the back end of my RB2 rankings, but not much higher.

    Tyjae Spears, RB | TEN

    Spears’ Injury Status for Week 13

    Spears is trending toward returning from a concussion to play in Week 13.

    Spears was a limited practice participant on Wednesday but was upgraded to a full session on Thursday and Friday. He was officially listed as questionable on the final report. On Friday, head coach Brian Callahan noted that Spears was officially expected to clear concussion protocol at the end of the week.

    The second-year RB went down in Week 11 and missed the Titans’ Week 12 win over the Texans. Spears also missed Weeks 7 through 9 with a hamstring injury, allowing fellow Titans RB Tony Pollard to turn into a genuine workhorse. Pollard played at least 82% of Tennessee’s snaps and handled 22+ touches in each game without Spears.

    Pollard took it to another level last week, playing 94% of the team’s snaps while touching the ball 27 times, his second-highest usage of the year.

    Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Spears

    Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
    Spears is active for today's game.

    Tyjae Spears was ruled out last Friday with a concussion, though limited practice sessions throughout the week have me putting him on the right side of questionable heading into Week 13.

    He might well be active for the Titans, but he’s done nothing to be deserving of consideration in even the deepest of fantasy leagues. Only once this season has the former third-round pick cleared seven carries, and while he has shown promise during his short career as a pass catcher, he has a total of 12 receiving yards over his past four games.

    There’s no need to back up your Tony Pollard investment; Spears should be on waiver wires across the board.

    Calvin Ridley, WR | TEN

    Ridley’s Injury Status for Week 13

    Titans wideout Calvin Ridley did not practice on Wednesday due to an ankle injury. However, he was upgraded to a full practice on Thursday and Friday and did not carry any injury designation into Week 13.

    Ridley has been hampered by other injuries this year and has missed practices, but he’s yet to be sidelined for a game. He became the Titans’ unquestioned WR1 after Tennessee traded DeAndre Hopkins in October. In five games since, Ridley has averaged six catches for 90 yards while scoring twice.

    Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Ridley

    Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
    Ridley is active for today's game.

    So let me get this straight: The Titans moved on from DeAndre Hopkins, dealt with a Will Levis injury, and now they’ve unlocked the ability to consistently sustain two fantasy receivers?

    Sure, why not?

    This team has produced a top-20 receiver in five straight weeks, and the sum of Calvin Ridley and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine’s finishes over that stretch hasn’t once risen above 58. Ridley remains the far more projectable of the two, and that is what has earned him a high-end Flex grade for me this week against a Washington defense that blitzes at a top-seven rate but succeeds in getting pressure on those plays at a bottom-seven rate.

    For me, that means single-coverage situations, and we know Levis, for better or worse, is willing to give his talented tandem a chance to win those 50/50 balls. The Westbrook-Ikhine scoring barrage feels like a house of cards to me, but this Ridley run has some staying power, and this isn’t the week I’d advise jumping off.

    Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR | TEN

    Westbrook-Ikhine’s Injury Status for Week 13

    Westbrook-Ikhine is not listed on the injury report this week.

    Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Westbrook-Ikhine

    Nick Westbrook-Ikhine saw five targets against the Texans, and the rules of 2024 state that he has to score when that is the case.

    I kid. Sort of. He is literally scoring once every five targets this season and has found paydirt in six of the seven games this season in which he’s seen a target. Of course, this rate is unsustainable and I’m happy to keep fading a secondary weapon in a Will Levis-led offense.

    I don’t believe in momentum. I look to make sense of everything in my life, not just fantasy football. I can’t explain what is going on with Westbrook-Ikhine and I tend to avoid what I can’t understand. If you want to chase good vibes, go for it. I won’t be joining you (one game with more than three catches this season).

    Jayden Daniels, QB | WAS

    Daniels’ Injury Status for Week 13

    Daniels is not listed on the injury report this week.

    Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Daniels

    Are the ribs bothering Jayden Daniels? Since getting banged up in Week 7, he’s completing just 31.6% of passes when under duress (Weeks 1-6: 57.1%). Those splits give me pause when evaluating the rest of the season as a whole, but not this week.

    The Titans are a bottom-10 defense in both blitz and pressure rate. They don’t view their ability to get to the quarterback as a strength, and I think that’s a blessing for Daniels’ managers.

    As spotty as the rookie’s play has been of late, he’s shown up when his team has needed him, even if the defense has ultimately failed to hold up their end of the bargain. Daniels completed all seven of his passes on a late drive last week to give Washington a chance at the chaos that occurred.

    Daniels posted his eighth QB1 finish last week, and I saw enough from his mobility wise to think that we get No. 9 in this spot.

    Austin Ekeler, RB | WAS

    Ekeler’s Injury Status for Week 13

    Updated at 11:30 AM on Sunday, December 1
    The Commanders placed Ekeler (concussion) on injured reserve. He will now be out for the next four games.

    The Washington Commanders will be missing part of their backfield in Week 13. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler both went down with injuries in the club’s Week 12 loss to the Cowboys.

    Robinson went down first, so Ekeler stepped into Washington’s starting RB role. However, he suffered a concussion on a kick return just before the end of regulation and was even taken to a local hospital out of an abundance of caution.

    Ekeler is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol officially declared out for Sunday’s game after not practicing all week. This is Ekeler’s second documented concussion of the season (he missed Week 4 because of the same injury), which could lead to a prolonged absence as the team and player both need to exercise caution about a return to play.

    Ekeler’s Fantasy Outlook

    I’ve been impressed with Autin Ekeler in his age-29 season, but the scary concussion at the end of last week has him likely to sit out at least this week. I’d keep him rostered for the short term with Brian Robinson Jr. (ankle) also at less than full strength, but you’ll have to stay on top of the news with this situation.

    A multi-week projected absence would open you up to the potential of cutting ties for an asset that has a better chance of helping you qualify for the fantasy playoffs.

    Jeremy McNichols, RB | WAS

    McNichols’ Injury Status for Week 13

    McNichols is not listed on the injury report this week.

    Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for McNichols

    Jeremy McNichols has averaged 4.9 yards per carry this season with four scores on 44 attempts — strong numbers, albeit in a tiny sample size. The Commanders haven’t shown a great interest in ramping up his usage, but with Brian Robinson Jr. (ankle) and Austin Ekeler (concussion) suffering injuries last week, the path to increased usage is clear.

    Little is known about the journey back, as he has 176 touches over his eight seasons in the NFL. We did see him average two catches per game with the Titans back in 2021 (revenge game!), giving me hope that a day with 12-14 carries and 3-5 targets is within the realm of possibilities should both Robinson and Ekeler sit.

    If that’s the case, we are looking at a viable Flex option in all formats.

    Brian Robinson Jr., RB | WAS

    Robinson’s Injury Status for Week 13

    Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
    Robinson Jr. is active for today's game.

    Robinson rolled his ankle on the Commanders’ first offensive play of Week 12. While he was deemed questionable to return and did come back in for a few plays, Robinson didn’t take a snap in the second half.

    On Monday, head coach Dan Quinn said Robinson is receiving treatment for his ankle injury, adding that the team will have a better sense of his Week 13 availability later in the week.

    Fortunately, Robinson was able to practice in limited fashion on Wednesday and Thursday before logging a full practice on Friday. He doesn’t carry any injury designation on the final report, so he’ll be good to go on Sunday.

    With Ekeler out against Tennessee, Robinson should see a sizable workload. When Ekeler missed Week 4, Robinson logged a season-high 21 carries in a win over the Arizona Cardinals. Jeremy McNichols will serve as the No. 2 back and could also see a larger role than usual.

    Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Robinson

    Brian Robinson Jr. was injured early last week (ankle) and returned shortly before calling it a day. Austin Ekeler suffered a scary concussion late in the game, leaving this backfield as an unknown as we prepare for Week 13.

    It is worth noting that the team signed Chris Rodriguez Jr. to the active roster on Tuesday, though I’m reading that as more of an insurance on Ekeler than anything. Robinson’s versatility has vanished this season, and without a 20-yard gain since Week 2 (vs. New York Giants), this is a profile that will have a problem producing viable numbers if his touch count is managed.

    The Titans are tied for the third-worst red-zone defense in the NFL, opening the door for Robinson to reward your loyalty with a score, but the capped ceiling keeps him in the low-end RB2 tier without much upward trajectory.

    Noah Brown, WR | WAS

    Brown’s Injury Status for Week 13

    Updated at 11:30 AM on Sunday, December 1
    Brown is active today.

    Wideout Noah Brown popped up on Thursday’s report as a DNP with a knee injury, raising some alarms. However, that turned out to be a maintenance day. Brown was a full participant on Friday and does not carry any injury designation on the final report.

    The veteran receiver ranks third on the team with 426 receiving yards this season, trailing Terry McLaurin and Zach Ertz. He just set season-highs in targets (10) and catches (six) in last week’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, while also recording 71 yards. Apart from his Hail Mary-aided performance against the Chicago Bears, that’s the only team Brown has eclipsed 60 yards in a game this year.

    Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Brown

    Noah Brown has quietly seen at least six targets in four of five games, a run that all started with the Hail Mary catch against the Bears. There is enough opportunity upside to chase (four games this season with an on-field target share of at least 25%) when it comes to building out a roster full of options, but asking him to return Flex value in this matchup with all 32 teams in action is a hurdle too high for me.

    Brown has seen 28.1% of his receptions come downfield this season, making a top-seven defense in terms of defending the deep ball by both completion percentage and yards per attempt a tough sell.

    I’ve added him to the backend of a few playoff-bound rosters, targeting the lack of stability behind Terry McLaurin as a way to have access to the upside without much resistance. The Week 14 bye makes Brown a no-go for fantasy teams that need every ounce of production over the next few weeks to qualify for the postseason, but if you’re in a good spot, I’m green-lighting this addition.

    Terry McLaurin, WR | WAS

    McLaurin’s Injury Status for Week 13

    McLaurin is not listed on the injury report this week.

    Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for McLaurin

    Life comes at you fast. Terry McLaurin had one catch for six yards in the first half last week, giving him a total of 16 yards during a six-quarter drought.

    Right as you were ready to curse McLaurin out for a couple of poor weeks after a few strong months, the Cowboys lost all discipline and he was streaking down the right sideline for an 86-yard touchdown in one of the more chaotic finishes of the season.

    The singular play is obviously an outlier, but it wasn’t an accident that Jayden Daniels went McLaurin’s direction in need of a miracle – that trust holds significant value. The Titans’ defense has been stout this season, but it’s 2024 and you can only limit production through the air to such a degree.

    Through 12 weeks, 15 times has a receiver reached 10 PPR fantasy points against Tennessee with three WRs clearing 14 points against them over the past two weeks.

    The ceiling may not be elite, but the floor is appealing enough to start McLaurin in all formats – he has 397 more receiving yards than any other Commanders receiver this season.

    Zach Ertz, TE | WAS

    Ertz’s Injury Status for Week 13

    Ertz was given a rest day on Wednesday. He returned to a full practice the rest of the week and carries no injury status entering Sunday’s game.

    Week 13 Start-Sit Advice for Ertz

    We have Brock Bowers breaking the mold for young tight ends, but don’t sleep on the elder statesmen. Jonnu Smith has 15 catches and three touchdowns over the past two weeks, and Zach Ertz has quietly been producing ever since Jayden Daniels’ (ribs) injury.

    The veteran TE has been a top-10 producer at the position in four of his past six games (four end-zone targets over that stretch). Ertz has been on the field for over 70% of Washington’s snaps in each of the past three, and as a part of an offense that lacks a WR2 (Ertz has 17 more targets than any Commander not named McLaurin this season), the volume projects as stable.

    Ertz and Daniels showed a nice connection on their timing-based four-yard score over the weekend. I have Ertz ranked well within the reasonable starter range. I’m playing him over Cade Otton, Mark Andrews, and a few other tight ends who have had peaks and valleys this year.

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