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Week 13 Injury Wrap: Latavius Murray, Jerick McKinnon expected out

Week 13 Injury Wrap: Latavius Murray, Jerick McKinnon expected out

Get out your Black Friday shopping list, it's time to add another entry.

Week 13 fantasy running back.

Latavius Murray thrilled us with his Week 12 highlight film, but the breakout story remains on hold. He suffered a concussion on his final carry that night, and it doesn't sound like he's ready to go yet. Here's a report from the front lines:

With Murray expected out, Oakland's backfield is a mess again. Darren McFadden, Marcel Reece and Maurice Jones-Drew are the usual suspects. I'd actually be fine with Reece as a deeper flex play - if I knew the Raiders would commit to him. Alas, you can never count on Oakland doing the right thing. Look how long it took them to get Murray involved.

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Minnesota's backfield is just as messy. Jerick McKinnon has been a reasonable option for the last month or so, but he's battling a cranky back and missed the full week of practice. McKinnon isn't expected to play against Carolina.

You're on your own with the replacements here. Matt Asiata is the nominal favorite, but he's coming off a concussion of his own. Ben Tate joined the team last week, so he's a possibility. Joe Banyard is around.

We do have one piece of positive RB news from the early wave: the Texans feel good about Arian Foster (groin). The team's feature back did some work in practice this week, and head coach Bill O'Brien thinks Foster will play against Tennessee. The Titans defense might be the worst run-stopping unit in the league; Le'Veon Bell and LeSean McCoy went off against this group over the last two weeks.

In other running back news . . .

-- Ryan Mathews (shoulder) was a full participant at practice all week, and is listed as probable for the Sunday game at Baltimore.

-- Ronnie Hillman (foot) and Montee Ball (groin) remain out, so we'll watch the C.J. Anderson show at Kansas City. He's probably their best back, anyway.

-- Shane Vereen (ankle) had a week of partial practice and is listed as questionable. It seems as though he'll go at Green Bay, but I'd never assume anything with a New England player, especially a backfield member.

-- Ray Rice, as you've probably heard, won his suspension appeal and is now free to sign with any team. I'm no one's lawyer, but I'd be shocked if any club took a chance on him for 2014.

Wide Receiver/Tight End 

-- Larry Fitzgerald (knee) is listed as questionable and looks like a game-time decision for the Sunday match at Atlanta. It's a 4:05 pm ET start, which adds more risk to the equation. I flat-out dropped Fitzgerald in one of my leagues where bench space is limited and it's too late to deal. No one seemed to want him in a trade, anyway.

-- Roddy White (ankle) missed the full practice week and is listed as questionable. He's played through injuries before, but I can't view him as a sure thing - especially with the Falcons playing a later game on Sunday.

[Week 13 rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Receiver | Tight End | Kicker | DST]

-- Julius Thomas (ankle) had two days of limited practice and has a shot to play Sunday, though it's the evening game at Kansas City. He's worth waiting for in most cases, but you'll want a caddy ready, just in case.

-- Jordan Reed (hamstring) had a full practice Friday, though the Redskins still list him as questionable. He's been a difficult injury call for most of his career.

-- Jordan Cameron (concussion) did some work at practice this week but apparently he's not ready for game action; the Browns ruled him out Saturday.

-- Dwayne Allen (ankle) is out again, so maybe Coby Fleener can help us. Fleener was terrific two weeks ago against New England, then did next to nothing against Jacksonville.

-- Brandon LaFell (shoulder) had a limited Friday workout and is listed as questionable. Context clues point to him playing at Green Bay, but you never really know with the Patriots.

-- Charles Clay (knee/hamstring) had some sleeper value entering the week, but forget that now. He's been sitting out practice and Miami is listing him as doubtful. Dion Sims is the stand-in at tight end.

-- Austin Seferian-Jenkins (back) is listed as questionable. Now that the bye weeks are complete, we suspect you have better options.

-- Jace Amaro (concussion) hasn't practiced yet this week, which makes him unlikely to play Monday against Miami.