Fantasy Injury Updates: Latest news on Deebo Samuel, Darren Waller, Pat Freiermuth, more affecting Week 13 waiver pickups

Deebo Samuel, Darren Waller, Pat Freiermuth, and Dan Arnold all exited last week’s games early, and at least Samuel’s and Waller’s statuses will affect fantasy waiver pickups. Week 13 will mark the second-to-last week of the season before the fantasy football playoffs, so these injury updates are as crucial as ever.

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WEEK 13: Top waiver pickups

Deebo Samuel injury update

Samuel (groin) did not return to the game against the Vikings after leaving in the third quarter, so we’ll need to monitor his status moving forward. His situation is interesting since he’s done the majority of his damage from the backfield in recent weeks. At wide receiver, Jauan Jennings looks like the guy who’d have an increased role, but it’s probably Jeff Wilson Jr. who would see an uptick in usage since Samuel has acted as a running back. For that reason, Wilson Jr. is on our list of waiver adds if Samuel misses any time.

Again, it’s tough to evaluate Samuel with stats like fantasy points allowed since he’s a hybrid RB/WR, but we like him as the WR3 in standard and PPR leagues if he plays in Week 13 against a lackluster Seahawks D. 

WEEK 13 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Darren Waller injury update

Waller (knee) avoided serious injury on Thanksgiving, but there’s a good chance he’ll be out for at least Week 13. If that’s the case, Foster Moreau would slot in as the starting tight end, and he’ll be one of the best streaming options that have come available this year at TE. Waller missed one game this year, and Moreau caught six passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. It’s clear the Raiders like to feature the TE either way.

Against Washington, we like Moreau as the TE14 in standard and PPR leagues.

WEEK 13 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Pat Freiermuth injury update

Freiermuth (concussion) will obviously have to clear concussion protocols to play next week against the Ravens, and his status is a big deal for the tight end position. The Ravens have been a bottom-five unit against fantasy TEs all season, so he’s virtually a must-start if he can play. If he’s out, you should just avoid the Steelers’ tight ends altogether, as Eric Ebron (knee) has been placed on injured reserve will be out, too.

If Freiermuth can play, we pencil him in as the TE9 in standard and TE8 in PPR leagues.

Dan Arnold injury update

UPDATE: Arnold is set to miss the next four-to-six weeks because of an MCL sprain, so James O’Shaughnessy will ostensibly take his place in the rankings from here on out.

Arnold (knee) caught his only target before leaving the game against the Falcons early, and his status could affect waiver pickups in deep or TE premium leagues. The Jags’ next opponent is the Rams, who went into Week 12 as the eighth-worst defense against fantasy TEs. That said, James O’Shaughnessy would at least be intriguing, purely because Jacksonville has force-fed targets to TEs all season. Again, he would be a deep league option or perhaps a TE premium flex option.

For now, we rank Arnold as the TE23 in standard and PPR leagues.