Week 11 was one of the most brutal weeks for injuries. Just as fantasy football managers are making their playoff push, we lost Drake London for several weeks, Josh Jacobs may miss some time, and Michael Penix's season is over. For players like London, Jacobs, and Achane, whose injuries are not season-ending, the week 12 NFL recap & fantasy impact article below provides all the insight fantasy managers need to make the playoff run.

Quarterbacks

Michael Penix

Injury: ACL Sprain and Bone Bruise

Analysis: As of this writing, Penix and the Falcons are still gathering opinions on how to move forward with his injury. He is out for the season, but the exact route he goes medically is unclear. Reports say this is a bone bruise, a knee sprain, and damage to the ACL. The wording around the ACL is unusual, and this means it is not a full-blown tear. While it is good that the ACL is likely at least partially intact, it makes the decision on how to proceed much more difficult.

The degree of instability in the knee will usually drive the decision to undergo surgery or conservatively manage the condition. When the ACL is fully torn, stability is lost. A partial tear may still have some stability present, which can help restore function without surgery; however, this comes at risk for eventually fully tearing the ACL as well as increased risk for cartilage damage and arthritis. It is also interesting that the reports say he aggravated a prior sprain (and bone bruise). A bone bruise is less likely to be aggravated, as the bruising from his week 7 injury is likely gone, but a pre-existing sprain is almost definitely to the PCL, and the mechanism of injury on Sunday also fits a PCL pattern (though not confirmed).

As a left-handed passer, stability in his left knee is critical for his ability to quickly plant and power off the left leg to throw. It will be interesting to see what route the Falcons and Penix go with his care, and if he undergoes surgery to repair the ACL or conservatively manages his injury. With over nine months until week one next season, either route can have him ready to play, though a full reconstruction of the ACL would likely mean he is limited to start camp and potentially miss the beginning of the season.

Jordan Love

Injury: Left Shoulder Injury

Analysis: Love took a big shot to the lateral portion of the left shoulder on Sunday and went back to the locker room for a period of time. The shot he took can often lead to an AC joint injury, and they likely took precautionary X-rays to ensure no fracture was present. He returned and finished the game without looking any different. Quarterbacks injuring their non-throwing shoulder is usually not an issue, and Love should be fine going forward.

Bryce Young

Injury: Right Ankle Injury

Analysis: Young had his right ankle stepped on from the outside on Sunday in a mechanism that causes a high ankle sprain. Recall that almost the exact same thing happened to Young in week 7, causing a high ankle sprain and him to miss week 8. This time, the injury was not enough to knock him out, and Young was able to return and play the best game of his life. This tells us little to no tissue damage occurred, meaning he still had the stability within his ankle to powerfully push off to throw. He may be sore in these upcoming days, but his ankle should be stable enough to continue to play well.

Aaron Rodgers

Injury: Left Wrist Fracture

Analysis: Rodgers has a small fracture in his left wrist. Some bones in the wrist, especially the commonly fractured scaphoid, require surgery to heal properly and avoid a condition called avascular necrosis; however, Rodgers does not appear to be on that trajectory, as he is estimated to miss little time. With this being his left hand, the only concern would be ball security and fumbling, not any impact on his throwing.

Dillon Gabriel

Injury: Concussion

Analysis: Gabriel has a concussion and will need to pass through the NFL's concussion protocol before playing.

Running Backs

Josh Jacobs

Injury: Knee Bruise

Analysis: Jacobs landed hard on a flexed left knee in a position that can cause a PCL sprain; however, current reports refute that and suggest this is just a bone bruise. Specifically, the reports say there is "no structural damage," which is a great sign. A bruise is best best-case scenario, and as soon as the bruising subsides, function is fully restored. If reports emerge that he is also dealing with any ligamentous instability within his knee, his upcoming 4-6 week prognosis changes dramatically, as PCL sprains make it very tough to quickly change direction. However, for the time being, if we believe this is just a bruise, there is no reason to fear any production impact outside of potentially week 12.

De'Von Achane

Injury: Back Injury

Analysis: Achane got folded up and took a knee to his back at the end of regulation, but was able to play afterwards. He appeared to avoid anything significant and should continue to dominate this season.

Jaylen Warren

Injury: Ankle Injury

Analysis: Warren sprained his ankle, but it appears he will be okay. Mild ankle sprains are not associated with enough tissue damage to cause loss of stability and should not impact his ability to quickly change directions. Running backs average just a 7% dip in fantasy production in the first game after an ankle sprain, so fantasy managers do not need to be concerned about a significant production dip. Re-injury rates are well above 20% however.

Bhayshul Tuten

Injury: Ankle Injury

Analysis: Tuten appeared to suffer a high ankle sprain, but stated after the game that he is okay. These injuries often feel worse the next day, so practice reports will be vital this week. If this is a high ankle sprain, running backs average missing 2.4 games but see no drop off in fantasy production upon return. Mild high ankle sprains are not usually a big problem.

Emari Demercado

Injury: High Ankle Sprain

Analysis: Demercado has a confirmed high ankle sprain, and his week 12 status is up in the air. With his week 12 status in doubt so quickly, Demercado is likely dealing with at least a moderate-severity sprain that causes instability within the ankle. Lost stability within the ankle makes it difficult to plant and cut quickly. As mentioned above, running backs average missing 2.4 weeks.

Kimani Vidal

Injury: Thigh Bruise

Analysis: Vidal bruised his thigh on Sunday but returned. With the Chargers on a bye in week 12, he should be at full strength in week 13.

Wide Receivers

Drake London

Injury: Left PCL Sprain

Analysis: London landed on his left shin with his knee flexed at about 105-110 degrees, and you can actually see the tibia bone shift posteriorly on the replay. This was a textbook example of how a football player sprains their PCL. London is currently considered week-to-week, but let's break down what this means for fantasy.

The PCL is a passive knee stabilizer, and when injured, the athlete needs to regain the stability needed to quickly plant and cut to change direction, which usually takes 4-6 weeks. For a receiver, instability in the knee presents as the inability to create separation during routes. Brock Bowers publicly stated his difficulty separating after a week-one PCL sprain this season. A grade I or II PCL sprain does not need surgery, and full recovery of speed, agility, and fantasy production will occur, but it takes time.

It took Bowers four weeks of complete shutdown (seven weeks from injury) to return to elite form. Ricky Pearsall missed six games. Realistically, the earliest fantasy managers should expect London to resume an elite level of play is week 15 (that's optimistic), the first week of the fantasy playoffs. He has been extremely dominant, but it is unclear if he will remain dominant down the stretch. If your trade deadline has not expired yet, trading away London is a real consideration.

Nico Collins

Injury: Ankle Injury

Analysis: Collins was estimated as limited in Houston's Monday practice. At this time, this does not appear to be a real concern for Houston's top receiver on a short week. Receivers average a 10% dip in fantasy points after an ankle sprain, but Collins' appears mild and should not hinder him at all.

Stefon Diggs

Injury: Hip Pointer

Analysis: Diggs took a knee to the glute on Thursday night but returned and played very well. This won't be a problem.

Calvin Ridley

Injury: Fibula Fracture

Analysis: Ridley got stepped on, resulting in a fibula fracture. Video review suggests there may also be a high ankle sprain present, though functionally, that won't matter as he will not return this season. Ridley is getting older, and his best days may be behind him.

Romeo Doubs

Injury: Nose Injury

Analysis: Doubs had his nose evaluated on Sunday but was able to finish the game. This is not a big concern.

Chimere Dike

Injury: Concussion

Analysis: Dike suffered a concussion and will have to pass through the NFL's concussion protocol.

Elic Ayomanor

Injury: Hamstring Strain

Analysis: Ayomanor injured his hamstring but continued to play on Sunday. Hopefully, his ability to resume play indicates a mild strain with little to no strength loss. Hamstring injuries have a nearly 30% recurrence rate, so re-injury will be a concern, and receivers average a 15% dip in fantasy points after injury. There are essentially no other receivers in Tennessee with Ridley and Dike down; Ayomanor is in line for increased targets if he can play.

Darnell Mooney

Injury: Rib Injury

Analysis: Mooney had his ribs evaluated on Sunday but continued to play, indicating mild injury at worst. When mild, these injuries don't impact production. With London out, Mooney takes on the WR1 role in Atlanta.

Tight Ends

Tyler Higbee

Injury: Ankle Injury

Analysis: Higbee injured his ankle on Sunday. Presently, there is little reporting on severity, so we will look out for practice reports. Tight ends average no drop off in fantasy points after an ankle injury.