Injuries objectively suck. To this day it’s unclear why God hasn’t turned them off. Anyone who plays Madden of NCAA Football and does NOT turn off injuries is a monster in my humble opinion.
Of course, injuries continue to be a rather large part of fantasy football analysis, which is why Fantasy Life will continue to grind every fantasy-relevant issue throughout the season.
What follows is a breakdown of every fantasy-relevant injury ahead of Week 16.
Check out the late Friday edition of The Fantasy Life Podcast for a full breakdown of the issues from Fantasy Life lead betting analyst Matthew Freedman and myself.
Quarterback
C.J. Stroud (concussion, out), Texans
Stroud didn’t practice all week. It will be up to Case Keenum to make something happen against Myles Garrett and company. Everyone involved deserves continued significant downgrades.
Devin Singletary and Nico Collins (if active) are the only somewhat recommended starts thanks to volume, but even then they don’t need to be forced into lineups due to the low associated scoring upside. Overall, the Texans are only implied to score 18.5 points this week.
Trevor Lawrence (concussion/ankle, questionable), Jaguars
Head coach Doug Pederson said it’s “better” odds than a coin flip for Lawrence to suit up against the Buccaneers on Sunday. If active, it’s a brilliant spot against the league’s fifth-worst defense in PPR points per game.
Lawrence will be a solid low-end QB1 option if he manages to clear the protocol; we should get an update one way or another at some point on Saturday.
Geno Smith (groin, not listed), Seahawks
The Drew Lock resurgence seems to be over. Sad!
Either way: Smith re-enters the mid-tier QB2 conversation ahead of a matchup with the pass-funnel Titans defense. He’s the consensus QB16 in the Fantasy Life rankings ahead of guys like Joe Flacco, Jake Browning and Gardner Minshew.
Zach Wilson (concussion, out), Aaron Rodgers (Achilles, out), Jets
Trevor Siemian will be under center for Sunday’s theoretically great matchup against the Commanders’ league-worst scoring defense.
Of course, the Jets boast the league’s third-worst scoring offense. This is basically a stoppable force meeting a moveable object here.
Despite the winnable spot, Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson settle in as top-24 options at the position as opposed to top-12 smash plays. Solid enough starts; just realize the floor remains scary low inside of an offense that has surpassed 13 points *once* since returning from their Week 7 bye.
Kenny Pickett (ankle, out), Steelers
Mason Rudolph will ironically be under center for Christmas weekend’s matchup with the Bengals.
Honestly, the real Rudolph might be a better option under center.
Mason’s average of 6.1 yards per attempt is the sixth-lowest mark among 66 QBs with at least 300 dropbacks since 2019. Fun fact: Pickett (6.3) has the ninth-worst mark during this span.
Will Levis (ankle, questionable), Titans
Ryan Tannehill will take over ahead of Sunday’s winnable matchup against the Seahawks if Levis can’t suit up. The rookie seems to have a chance after getting in a limited session on Friday.
Of course, this passing game has essentially just been DeAndre Hopkins and everyone else this season. The artist known as Nuk is set up well and due for some positive regression considering he leads the NFL in air yards over the past two weeks of action.
Fire up Hopkins as a volume-based WR2 play; otherwise Derrick Henry is (as usual) the only fantasy option to feel overly good about inside of the league’s 27th-ranked scoring offense.
Running Back
De’Von Achane (toe, not listed), Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle, not listed), Dolphins
Both are good to go for Sunday’s potential shootout with the Cowboys. Mostert comes in as the Fantasy Life consensus RB8, while Achane is the RB16. Translation: Start them both in leagues of all shapes and sizes.
Their utilization has been in Mostert’s favor since Achane returned from injury, but there’s more than enough TD upside to go around inside of the league’s top-ranked scoring offense. Head coach Mike McDaniel even indicated Achane could see MORE work moving forward.
Jonathan Taylor (thumb, not listed), Zack Moss (forearm, questionable), Colts
Moss didn’t practice all week. Taylor is instantly back into the position’s top-12 options thanks to the former first-team All-Pro RB suddenly having two massive newfound factors working in his favor:
- This offensive environment is actually really good. The Colts have scored 33 offensive TDs this season – tied for the 11th-highest mark in the NFL and just one single score behind the likes of the Chiefs, Rams and Chargers.
- Head coach Shane Steichen is down with featuring one workhorse RB. Whether it be Zack Moss or Taylor himself before his most recent injury: The Colts’ lead RB has regularly boasted an incredibly fantasy-friendly snap rate north of 90%.
Even Moss suiting up won’t keep Taylor from being a recommended RB1 start this week in a potential sneaky shootout against the Falcons.
Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle, out), Patriots
Ezekiel Elliott in essentially three games without Stevenson has turned in PPR RB15, RB1 and RB25 finishes.
Not too shabby, especially ahead of a matchup at Mile High against the league’s second-worst defense in PPR points per game allowed to opposing RBs. Zeke is a top-21 play across the board per the Fantasy Life rankers.
Isiah Pacheco (shoulder), Jerick McKinnon (groin), Chiefs
Pacheco practiced in full all week and is good to go for Monday’s potential smash spot against the Raiders.
He’s instantly back into the upside RB2 conversation at worst; the man did post consecutive top-eight PPR finishes before missing time due to injury after all. Head coach Andy Reid seems confident about Pacheco getting right back into the swing of things.
Brian Robinson (hamstring, out), Jonathan Williams (concussion, reverted to practice squad), Commanders
Subtracting both Robinson and Williams from the equation should cement this as a two-back committee between Antonio Gibson and Chris Rodriguez.
The rookie Rodriguez could feasibly see more work on the ground (especially if Washington manages to build a lead), although it’d make sense if Gibson sees the more fantasy-friendly receiving work.
It’d make sense if Washington leans on this more than ever against Sauce Gardner and company: The Jets have allowed the fourth-most RB targets of any defense this season.
Don’t go crazy, but Gibson warrants mid-tier RB3 treatment and carries strong bounce-back potential.
Kenneth Walker (shoulder, questionable), Seahawks
Didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday after racking up 22 touches last week and looking GOOD doing so. However, head coach Pete Carroll said that Walker will play on Sunday – so yay!
Up next is a potential smash spot against a Titans defense that has allowed 158 and 148 rushing yards over the past two weeks with stud DT Jeffery Simmons (knee) sidelined.
I have Walker ranked as my RB18 this week and don’t fully understand why my fellow rankers are so low on him.
Zach Charbonnet will be in a similar spot if Walker is ultimately unable to suit up.
Josh Jacobs (quad), Raiders
If active, Jacobs will be expected to carry his usual RB1-level workload, but the tough spot in Arrowhead would render him as more of a mid-tier RB2 as opposed to a locked-in top-12 option at the position.
A similar sentiment is true for Zamir White if Jacobs is ultimately unable to suit up. Close start/sit calls with similar volume should go to the RB NOT in an offense implied to score just 15.5 points – the third-lowest mark in Week 16.
Alexander Mattison (ankle, questionable), Vikings
It sure sounds like Ty Chandler will continue to work as the team’s featured back regardless of Mattison’s final status. From head coach Kevin O’Connell:
“We’re kind of building with the mindset that Ty’s gonna be a guy that we’re trying to get the ball to a lot, both in the run and pass. And then, if we can have Alex, that’s gonna be a huge bonus for the depth.”
While the matchup in the trenches isn’t ideal against Aidan Hutchinson and company, Chandler is the Fantasy Life consensus RB22 and someone who deserves to be in far more fantasy lineups than not after last week’s impressive overall RB5 performance.
A.J. Dillon (thumb, questionable), Aaron Jones (knee/finger, not listed), Packers
A-aron dominated rushing usage with Dillon sidelined last week.
Continued absence will leave Jones as an upside RB2 who will be on the plus side of far more start/sit decisions than not.
The return of Dillon would push Jones closer to the RB2 borderline under the assumption that the Packers’ early-down grinder would siphon away 10 to 15 carries – rendering him a TD-dependent RB3 at best.
D’Onta Foreman (personal, questionable), Bears
The Bears are happy to rotate Foreman, Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson rather sporadically, so subtracting Foreman from the equation would at least only leave us with two RBs left.
Still, Justin Fields steals plenty of designed rush looks himself; Foreman’s absence would still keep Herbert and Johnson outside of fantasy’s top-30 RBs despite the winnable home matchup against the Cardinals. FLEX plays? Sure, but hardly smashes.
Elijah Mitchell (knee), 49ers
Weekly reminder that Jordan Mason is the better (read: healthier) Christian McCaffrey handcuff at the moment.
Ty Johnson (shoulder, questionable), Bills
Absence would lead to a tick more work for James Cook and kind of Latavius Murray. By the way, what ever happened to Leonard Fournette? It was only six or so weeks ago that there was serious optimism in the air. Oh well.
Wide Receiver
Tyreek Hill (ankle, questionable), Dolphins
Is expected to play through his questionable tag for Sunday’s matchup against the Cowboys per head coach Mike McDaniel.
Fire up Hill as the upside WR1 he’s been all season long on his quest to 2,000 yards.
Keenan Allen (heel, out), Chargers
Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston project as Easton Stick’s top-two options for Saturday’s matchup against the Bills.
Neither are recommended fantasy options if you can at all help it beyond meh-WR4/FLEX plays. Note that Palmer’s WR12 finish in Week 15 was almost entirely due to a completely blown coverage that resulted in a long TD.
Ja’Marr Chase (shoulder, out), Bengals
Bengals WR Tee Higgins put up the following stat lines with Chase sidelined last season:
- Week 8, 2022: 3 rec-49 yards-1 TD (6 targets)
- Week 9, 2022: 7-60-0 (8)
- Week 11, 2022: 9-148-0 (13)
- Week 12, 2022: 7-114-1 (9)
Higgins is Fantasy Life’s consensus WR21 and someone who should be in far more lineups than not ahead of a matchup with a Steelers defense that has allowed the ninth-most receiving yards to opposing WRs this season.
DeVonta Smith (knee), Eagles
There's been a new No. 1 producer in Philly during five games since the team’s Week 10 bye:
- A.J. Brown: 28 rec-309 yards-1 TD (47 targets)
- DeVonta Smith: 32-424-2 (43)
Dec 18, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) catches a pass against Seattle Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs (6, right) during the third quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Both Smith (WR7) and Brown (WR23) have still posted top-24 numbers at the position during this stretch; just realize the newfound presence of Dallas Goedert adds more stress on both ahead of matchups against the Giants and Cardinals – two games that probably won’t force the Eagles overly keeping their foot on the gas in the passing game for four quarters.
Ultimately, both WRs (especially AJB, because he’s still AJB) should continue to be started in fantasy lineups of most shapes and sizes, Goedert is a low-end TE1 with more severe weekly volume concerns, and D’Andre Swift has settled in as more of a borderline WR2 due to his utter lack of goal-line work and recent downgrade in pass-game usage.
Nico Collins (calf, questionable), Noah Brown (knee, not listed), John Metchie (illness, not listed), Texans
Collins will be a dicey WR3 if active against the Browns’ No. 2 ranked defense in fewest PPR points per game allowed to opposing WRs.
The same is true to a lesser extent for Brown if Nico is sidelined. Of course, this is only due to C.J. Stroud (concussion) once again being sidelined. Here’s to hoping the electric No. 2 overall pick is healthy enough to return for Week 17’s smash spot against the Titans.
Michael Pittman (concussion, questionable), Colts
Somehow managed to practice all week despite last weekend’s BRUTAL hit to the head. Still, he was limited on Friday after being full on Thursday.
Pittman already has a season-long 99-1,062-4 receiving line to his name; he’s locked in as a volume-based WR1 ahead of a potential sneaky shootout against the Falcons if ultimately healthy enough to suit up.
Josh Downs and Alex Pierce will get nice respective boosts up the ranks if not.
Christian Watson (hamstring, doubtful), Jayden Reed (toe/chest, questionable), Dontayvion Wicks (ankle, questionable), Packers
Reed didn’t practice all week. His potential absence sucks, as only five rookies have been more efficient on a per-route basis this season:
- Puka Nacua (2.4 yards per route run)
- Rashee Rice (2.35)
- Tank Dell (2.22)
- Dontayvion Wicks (2)
- Demario Douglas (1.93)
- Reed (1.71)
That’s right: Wicks has also emerged as one of the position’s more pleasant year-one surprises. The fifth-round pick posted career-high marks in targets (7), receptions (6) and yards (97) alike in Week 15 with Reed joining Christian Watson (hamstring) on the bench for large portions of the game.
Jordan Love has featured Reed (18 targets) and Wicks (12) ahead of both Romeo Doubs (10) and TE Tucker Kraft (10) during the last two weeks with Watson sidelined.
Ultimately, Reed will be a recommended start as a low-end WR2 if healthy enough to suit up, which would leave Wicks and Doubs more so as FLEX-worthy WR4 types.
However, the latter WRs would upgrade into top-36 territory should the versatile rookie be sidelined. TE-needy managers can look to Kraft for TD-dependent TE2 production if Luke Musgrave (kidney, IR) remains sidelined.
Chris Godwin (knee, not listed), Buccaneers
Godwin is good to go ahead of (another) potential boom spot. Baker Mayfield has averaged 7.6 yards per attempt on a 66% completion rate against primary zone coverages this season compared to 5.6 and 50% marks vs. man-heavy schemes. Note that the majority of NFL coverages are zones, and many have man-match principles.
This brings us to the Jaguars … who have run the league’s seventh-most Cover-3 while playing the eighth-lowest rate of Cover-1. Starting CB Tyson Campbell (quad) and FS Andre Cisco (groin) being banged up hasn’t helped. The results have been almost unanimously bad, as Jacksonville has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing QBs and the fifth-most passing yards overall.
Continue to lock Mike Evans and Rachaad White into lineups of all shapes, while Godwin is a low-end WR2 and Cade Otton more of a low-end TD-dependent TE2.
Zay Jones (hamstring/knee, questionable), Jaguars
Seems on the wrong side of questionable after only getting in a limited practice on Friday this week. Jones’ absence would certainly be good news for Calvin Ridley. Consider: Only DeAndre Hopkins (376) and Jones (357) have more air yards than Ridley (284) over the last two weeks of action.
Ridley is deserving of top-15 treatment *if* Lawrence manages to clear the protocol by Sunday. The presence of C.J. Beathard would downgrade Ridley to borderline WR2 territory alongside fellow No. 1 WRs with question marks under center like DeAndre Hopkins, Garrett Wilson and Drake London.
Marquise Brown (heel, out), Greg Dortch (shoulder, questionable), Cardinals
Michael Wilson, Rondale Moore and Zach Pascal are the next men up ahead of a sneaky-tough matchup against Jaylon Johnson and the Bears.
Ultimately, none are recommended starts aside from being decent enough FLEX options in deep leagues; the more alluring idea is to stash Wilson or Rondale in the hopes a featured role emerges ahead of Week 17’s matchup against the Eagles’ league-worst defense in PPR points per game allowed to WRs.
Kadarius Toney (hip), Mecole Hardman (thumb), Chiefs
Let’s be honest: The only WR we care about in Kansas City is Rashee Rice.
Overall, the only WRs I would start ahead of Rice in full-PPR settings this weekend: CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Tyreek Hill, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Justin Jefferson, Mike Evans, Stefon Diggs, Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel and D.J. Moore. That’s it.
JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle, out), Patriots
DeVante Parker and Demario Douglas were the only WRs with full-time roles with JuJu sidelined last week.
Neither are recommended starts against Patrick Surtain II and a Broncos secondary that has been the strength of the team for the better part of the last two months.
Odell Beckham Jr. (illness), Zay Flowers (foot), Ravens
Each of Flowers, OBJ, Rashod Bateman and Isaiah Likely are within three targets of each other since Mark Andrews was lost for the season – but it’s been the latter TE leading the way in overall production and utility.
Zay and OBJ remain fine enough WR3 options, but they aren’t must-start players as long as Jackson continues to be willing to spread things out.
Jauan Jennings (concussion), 49ers
More Ronnie Bell and Chris Conley, but neither will see anything close to fantasy-relevant volume.
Tight End
Cole Kmet (quad, questionable), Bears
Popped up on the injury report on Thursday, but did get in a limited session on Friday.
Kmet has ripped off PPR TE9, TE10 and TE9 finishes in his past three games; he’s the Fantasy Life consensus TE11 ahead of Sunday’s winnable matchup with the Cardinals
Hunter Henry (knee, questionable), Patriots
Opened up the week with back-to-back DNPs and could very well be operating at less than 100% if healthy enough to suit up Sunday against the Broncos.
Kudos to Henry for scoring three TDs in the last two weeks; just realize it’s “only” come on 12 targets. He’s a TD-dependent TE2 inside the week’s single-lowest implied scoring offense. He’s just the Fantasy Life consensus TE16.
Chigoziem Okonkwo (illness, questionable), Titans
Didn’t practice on Friday after not being listed on the injury report on Wednesday or Thursday.
Chiggy is tentatively expected to suit up Sunday against the Seahawks, but he’s not someone fantasy managers should feel good about by any stretch. He’s the Fantasy Life consensus TE23 in this spot.
Greg Dulcich (hamstring/foot, out), Broncos
Still looks to be a week away (at least) from returning. None of the Denver TEs are viable in fantasy until then.
Michael Mayer (toe), Raiders
A potential absence would open up a potential full-time role for Austin Hooper, not that fantasy managers should feel overly good about going to that ahead of a BRUTAL trip to Arrowhead.
Luke Musgrave (kidney, out), Packers
Musgrave’s future return would probably take away fellow rookie Tucker Kraft’s newfound full-time role.
A split committee would render each as low-end TE2s moving forward. Kraft is the Fantasy Life consensus TE18 in the meantime.
Nick Vannett (back, questionable), Chargers
Absence could lead to a few more routes for Gerald Everett, but Donald Parham continues to keep the overall ceiling for Everett quite low.
Neither are overly exciting fantasy options ahead of Saturday’s tough spot against the Bills.
Ian Thomas (ankle, questionable), Panthers
Tommy Tremble to the moon (kidding).
Other
- Bills S Micah Hyde (neck, out), CB Kaiir Elam (ankle, questionable), DE A.J. Espenesa (rib, questionable), DE DaQuan Jones (pec, questionable)
- Chargers DE Joey Bosa (foot, out)
- Dolphins CB Xavien Howard (hip, questionable), DE Emmanuel Ogbah (hamstring, questionable), S Jevon Holland (knee, questionable), DB Elijah Campbell (knee, questionable)
- Cowboys DT Johnathan Hankins (knee/ankle, out), S Malik Hooker (ankle, questionable)
- Cowboys LT Tyron Smith (back, doubtful), RG Zack Martin (thigh, questionable), OT Matt Waletzko (shoulder, questionable)
- Steelers FS Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee, out)
- Buccaneers CB Carlton Davis (groin, not listed), S Antoine Winfield Jr. (calf, questionable), DT William Gholston (knee/ankle, questionable), DT Vita Vea (toe, not listed)
- Jaguars CB Tyson Campbell (quad, questionable), CB Christian Braswell (hamstring, questionable), FS Andre Cisco (groin, out)
- Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon (hip, questionable), S Jamal Adams (knee, out), CB Tre Brown (heel/knee, questionable), LB Frank Clark (illness, out)
- Falcons OLB Bud Dupree (back, questionable), DT David Onyemata (ankle, questionable)
- Vikings CB Byron Murphy (knee, out), DE Jonathan Bullard (ankle, questionable), MLB Jordan Hicks (shin, questionable), DT Harrison Phillips (back, questionable), LB Ivan Pace Jr. (shoulder, questionable)
- Lions S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pec, out), CB Jerry Jacobs (hamstring, out), LB Derrick Barnes (shoulder, doubtful)
- Cardinals CB Garrett Williams (knee, out), DB Bobby Price (quad, out), CB Antonio Hamilton (calf, questionable), S Andre Chachere (shoulder, questionable)
- Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. (ankle, out), LB Blake Cashman (hamstring, out), DT Maliek Collins (hip, questionable), MLB Denzel Parryman (Achilles, questionable)
- Giants DT Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (knee)
- Eagles CB Darius Slay (knee)
- Packers CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder, questionable), CB Robert Rochell (neck, questionable), OLB De’Vondre Campbell (neck, out), S Darnell Savage (shoulder, out), FS Rudy Ford (back, questionable)
- Commanders C Tyler Larsen (knee, out), OT Charles Leno Jr. (calf, out)
- Titans G Daniel Brunskill (ankle, questionable), C Aaron Brewer (ankle, questionable)
- Titans DT Jeffery Simmons (knee, out), DL TK McLendon (shoulder, out), LB Jack Gibbens (back, out), LB Luke Gifford (hamstring, out), S Amani Hooker (knee, questionable), S K’Von Wallace (quad, out), CB Caleb Farley (back, out)
