Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler has been a reliable lower-end flex option for fantasy managers much of the season thus far, providing a safe floor of around 10 fantasy points per week. Through Week 11, Ekeler was the RB25 against an ADP of 33, posting only one top 10 weekly finish, but seven inside the top 30. He has produced 701 scrimmage yards on 107 touches as an effective complementary weapon for starter Brian Robinson Jr.
In Week 12, Ekeler was set up to feast against the Cowboys who possess one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Unfortunately, the entire offense was bottled up for most of the contest, which ended with Ekeler sustaining a brutal concussion in the heartbreaking loss.
When will Austin Ekeler return to action? What is his fantasy football outlook when he does?
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Austin Ekeler Injury Update
Ekeler (concussion) suffered the injury on the final kick return of the Week 13 game with Washington behind by eight points with less than 10 seconds on the clock. This was his second diagnosed concussion of the season, as he also suffered one in Week 3 when the Commanders beat Cincinnati on Monday Night Football.
Washington has opted to be cautious with Ekeler's health given his concussion history, placing him on Injured Reserve prior to the Week 13 game vs. Tennessee. That rules him out through Week 17, the time most fantasy football leagues conclude.
Ekeler recently said he is continuing to deal with concussion symptoms from the hit he took against Dallas almost two weeks ago. The former Chargers star opened up to The Athletic recently about the experience stating, "I didn't even remember how I got off the field" and further commenting, " I was definitely concussed and seeing some major symptoms there."
Prayers for Austin Ekeler 🙏
He got knocked out cold.pic.twitter.com/U3RYB9hVKq
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 24, 2024
Austin Ekeler Fantasy Football Outlook
Because Ekeler is out through the Commanders' Week 17 game vs. Atlanta, there is virtually no point in rostering the veteran back unless fantasy managers are in a Week 18 championship league and have an empty IR spot on their rosters. With the comments made about the severity of his injury, there is no guarantee that Ekeler will return even when he is eligible for the final week of the NFL regular season.
4 Running Backs you can drop in fantasy football:
• Kareem Hunt
• Austin Ekeler
• Jerome Ford
• JK Dobbins— SAL VETRI (@SalVetriDFS) December 2, 2024
For those in leagues that continue through Week 18, Ekeler cannot be trusted even if he is active for fantasy championships. The coaching staff will likely ease him back into the mix and have him hopefully ready to go for the NFL playoffs.
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