Fantasy Football Injury Reports for NFL WRs: Week 11 Updates for Justin Jefferson, Keenan Allen, Tee Higgins, Nico Collins, and Michael Thomas

Receivers have had some good luck in recent weeks, but Week 10 was not one of those weeks. Fantasy managers saw a few higher-quality receivers get injured or play limited snaps as a result of injury, such as Josh Downs. Fortunately, the worst of the bye weeks seem to be behind us, and soon, fantasy managers will get Justin Jefferson back. Other good news includes the hopeful return of several injured passers, which have certainly limited the upside of several receivers. Matthew Stafford and Justin Fields are expected back in Week 11, which will be a big boost to D.J. Moore, Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua.

Injuries are just a part of fantasy football. It's always important to have good depth to be able to withstand the attrition. However, there are some aspects of good luck related to fantasy football in this regard. It's certainly difficult to overcome injuries to players such as Jefferson and Kupp, which fantasy managers had to do this season. Coming into the homestretch, however, the receiver position could be all system's go for the fantasy playoffs. Fingers crossed.

Let's look at some of the biggest receiver injuries fantasy managers should be tracking for Week 11. As always, if you have any start/sit questions, please give me a follow @RobFFSlayer on X, formerly known as Twitter. My DMs are always open and I am more than willing to answer any fantasy football-related questions. Good luck this season to everyone reading!

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Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of their loss to the Chiefs in Week 5. Following the injury, Jefferson was unable to return to the field. He was subsequently placed on IR, ensuring he’d be out for at least the next four games. Following his placement on IR, reports indicated Jefferson would likely miss 4-6 weeks. Week 10 was the first game he was eligible to appear in. The Vikings activated him from IR, which opened his 21 practice-day window. He was a limited participant Wednesday-Friday but was ultimately ruled out.

O'Connell: Justin Jefferson (hamstring) will continue to "ramp up" this week.

— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) November 13, 2023

It sounds as though it's possible Jefferson could be a full participant in practice this week with head coach, Kevin O'Connell's word about ramping him up. If Jefferson can get in a full practice sometime this week, fantasy managers should be cautiously optimistic he'll play for the first time since Week 5. Initial reports were 4-6 weeks and a return this week would be a five-week absence since the initial injury. Jefferson seems to be itching to get back on the field, as evidenced below. If I had to make a guess, I'll bet that Jefferson is active this weekend.

I can not wait to get on the field with this team again!!!😝😝😏

— JJETS✈️ (@JJettas2) November 12, 2023

Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

Allen was as dominant as ever this past weekend. He saw 14 targets from Justin Herbert, catching 11 of them for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Allen has been ever bit a top-10 receiver with the injury to Mike Williams. He's seen nine or more targets in eight out of nine games. This past weekend, however, Allen seemed to injure his shoulder after being driven down to the ground hard. Watching the replay, it looked like there could be concerns for an AC sprain or a collarbone injury. He ended up playing just 75% of the snaps, which was the lowest snap share to date for him. Allen was able to return to the game and helped his team almost pull off the upset.

Chargers WR Keenan Allen (shoulder) day to day, per head coach Brandon Staleyhttps://t.co/dZW9Jkc4c3 pic.twitter.com/DrvZ28nriY

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) November 13, 2023

Luckily for fantasy managers, head coach Brandon Staley described Allen as being day-to-day. Based on this designation, there seems to be a good chance that Allen will be able to suit up this weekend. Because of Allen's importance to the Chargers' offense, don't be surprised if he's a DNP on Wednesday and Thursday just to make sure he's as close to 100% as possible. As long as Allen can get in at least one limited practice this weekend, fantasy managers should expect Allen to suit up this weekend.

Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

Higgins seemed to injure his hamstring last week in practice. He was designated as a limited participant on that initial day. However, he followed that up with two DNPs and he seemed like a far shot to suit up. Reports came out before Week 10 that his injury was more of the week-to-week variety, which all but guaranteed his absence in Week 10. With Cincinnati playing on a short week on Thursday night, Higgins seems unlikely to play again.

On a short week with a Thursday night game vs. the Ravens in Baltimore, it’s considered unlikely that Bengals’ WR Tee Higgins will be able to return from his hamstring injury, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 13, 2023

Hamstring injuries tend to linger and can be difficult to manage. They're prone to reinjury, so don't be surprised if Higgins does not practice in any capacity this weekend. It wouldn't be surprising if he's slowly ramped up next week, although he could miss a third game. The team opted not to put him on IR, which means they don't expect him to miss four games, but it's no guarantee he'll be back, even in Week 12. Fantasy managers definitely need to have a second option this week.

Nico Collins, Houston Texans

Collins' calf injury came up somewhere out of nowhere. He had five targets, three receptions, 54 yards, and a touchdown in Week 9. He played 79% of the team's snaps, which was actually his second-highest snap share of the season. However, considering he was a DNP Wednesday-Friday of last week, it's fair to assume the injury must have happened sometime during their Week 9 contest. After not practicing in any capacity last week, Collins being ruled out was a guarantee.

On #Texans wide receiver Nico Collins' strained calf. He got hurt against #Buccaneers and it became apparent during warmups Wednesday that he couldn't go, hence the limited designation on injury report, but didn't have any practice time. Now, out Thursday and again today @KPRC2

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 10, 2023

There hasn't been a lot of information about the injury or his estimated return date. Right now, fantasy managers should consider Collins 50/50 for Week 11. We'll all have to follow Collins' practice availability throughout the week to get a better idea of what his game status will be this upcoming weekend.

Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

Thomas ended up suffering a knee injury early in the Saints' Week 10 game. He did not return the game and was quickly ruled out. Unfortunately, the injury he suffered seems to be of the more serious variety. While it isn't expected to cost him the rest of the season, we're getting pretty late in the regular season of fantasy football, where this injury could make him difficult to trust anymore.

#Saints coach Dennis Allen says QB Derek Carr remains in concussion protocol, but his right shoulder checked out fine, while WR Michael Thomas and CB Marshon Lattimore both suffered "fairly significant injuries" Sunday.

New Orleans has a bye this week.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 13, 2023

Based on the designation of "fairly significant," it seems possible that Thomas could end up on IR. That would mean Thomas is not eligible to return until Week 15, which would be the first week of the fantasy football playoffs. It would be virtually impossible to trust him in that scenario in his first game back. Even if he's able to return in Week 14, which would be a three-week absence, Thomas is still a tough player to trust. There haven't been any reports regarding what his knee injury specifically is, but fantasy managers can rest assured he's likely to miss at least 1-2 games. This, of course, would actually be 2-3 weeks since the Saints have a bye this upcoming weekend.

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