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 each and every fantasy-relevant issue throughout the season.
What follows is a breakdown of every fantasy-relevant injury ahead of Week 17. 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, not listed), Texans
Stroud will make his triumphant return ahead of Sunday’s potential smash spot against the Titans.
Reminder: This has been a pass-funnel defense worth attacking in recent years – and they are HURT, dog. Stroud – the QB8 in fantasy points per game this season – is a recommended start alongside Nico Collins (Fantasy Life’s WR17) and even Noah Brown (WR35).
Kyler Murray (illness, questionable), Cardinals
Murray is tentatively expected to be good to go for the Cardinals’ Week 17 matchup against the Eagles after getting in a limited practice on Friday.
While the former No. 1 overall pick looks plenty healthy out there, he’s only returned two top-12 fantasy finishes in six starts this season. Murray comes in as the consensus QB11 in the Fantasy Life rankings ahead of guys like Jared Goff, Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love.
Trevor Lawrence (right shoulder, out), Jaguars
T-Law will miss his first game due to injury since high school. Now C.J. Beathard will take on a Panthers defense that has allowed a league-low 14 fantasy points per game to opposing QBs.
He’s not a recommended start and brutally hurts the upside of this offense in general.
Will Levis (ankle, not listed), Titans
Levis is back under center, but it remains to be seen just how healthy the rookie really is.
Ultimately, Levis failed to rank higher than the fantasy QB15 in seven starts after his electric four-TD debut; he’s not a recommended fantasy option against a Texans defense that limited him to 199 scoreless yards just two short weeks ago.
Jacoby Brissett (hamstring, questionable)
He wasn't listed on the injury report until Friday.
A newfound lack of mobility certainly isn’t ideal ahead of a matchup with Nick Bosa and company. Brissett is a risky low-end QB2 without good health despite his small-sample brilliance over the past two weeks.
Kenny Pickett (ankle, questionable), Steelers
The Steelers will once again ride with Mason Rudolph under center ahead of their matchup with the Seahawks.
Fresh off arguably the best performance of his career, Rudolph might be the best thing for George Pickens and Diontae Johnson (kind of). Of course, he himself isn’t a recommended fantasy option – Fantasy Life consensus ranks have him sitting as just the QB28 this week.
Running Back
Kenneth Walker (shoulder/illness, questionable), Seahawks
Didn’t practice at all last week, but that didn’t stop him from handling the heavy majority of the backfield’s rush attempts for the second straight week.
Walker is the Fantasy Life consensus RB11 this week and someone who should be in far more lineups than not as the bell-cow back going up against one of just eight defenses that has allowed at least 1,500
Josh Jacobs (quad, doubtful), Raiders
Jacobs is being called a game-time decision for Sunday’s matchup against the Colts, but looks unlikely to suit up given the doubtful tag and DNPs all week. He’ll be his usual volume-based borderline RB1 self if active.
Jacobs’ continued absence would once again elevate Zamir White to recommended start status after turning a combined 42 touches into 230 total yards and one TD over the past two weeks of action.
Whoever winds up starting at RB will be my answer to more start/sit questions than not ahead of Sunday’s smash spot against the Colts’ 30th-ranked defense in PPR points per game allowed to opposing RBs.
Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle, questionable), De’Von Achane (toe, not listed), Dolphins
Both are tentatively expected to be good to go for Sunday’s potential shootout with the Cowboys after Mostert (Fantasy Life consensus RB8) got in a limited practice on Friday.
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.
Alvin Kamara (illness, questionable), Kendre Miller (ankle, questionable), Saints
Neither of these players were listed on the injury report on Friday.
We expect Kamara to play through his questionable tag and work as his usual upside RB1 self. Jamaal Williams would be the lead back otherwise, potentially to a strong extent if Miller is also sidelined.
Isiah Pacheco (concussion/shoulder, questionable), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness, questionable), Chiefs
CEH should be good to go for Sunday’s matchup with the Bengals.
He should be set to assume an every-down workload with Pacheco AND Jerick McKinnon (groin, IR) sidelined.
It’s a fantastic spot against the league’s second-worst defense in rushing yards before contact allowed per carry. The Chiefs are implied to score 25.5 points (fifth-highest mark of Week 17) despite their recent struggles; fire up CEH as a legit upside RB2 with the potential for much more.
Aaron Jones (knee/finger, not listed), A.J. Dillon (thumb, not listed), Packers
Both are good to go for Sunday’s matchup against the Vikings. Jones is a solid-enough borderline RB2; just realize the presence of Patrick Taylor makes life more complicated with both A-aron and Dillon still seemingly a bit banged up.
This isn’t exactly RB1-level utilization right here.
Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle, IR), Patriots
In essentially four games without Stevenson, Ezekiel Elliott has turned in PPR RB15, RB1, RB25 and RB6 finishes.
Not too shabby!
Zeke is a top-21 play across the board per the Fantasy Life rankers.
Brian Robinson (hamstring, not listed), Chris Rodriguez (ankle, IR), Commanders
Expected to resume his usual early-down role ahead of the Commanders’ Week 17 matchup with the 49ers.
There’s no reason to expect Robinson to be limited after Chris Rodriguez (ankle, IR) was shut down for the season. Of course, the 49ers aren’t exactly the sort of defense to be overly messed with – Robinson is more of a volume-based RB3 as opposed to someone who needs to be jammed into fantasy lineups.
Zack Moss (forearm, out), Colts
Yes, Colts RB Jonathan Taylor’s 43 yards and one TD weren’t exactly what fantasy managers had in mind ahead of their critical Week 16 playoff matchup.
Also yes, he handled 82% of the backfield’s touches, 60% of the snaps and 41% of the routes.
That’s borderline RB1-level usage that *should* provide better results down the road. I hope. JT is Fantasy Life’s consensus RB8 ahead of Sunday’s winnable matchup against Maxx Crosby and the Raiders.
Ty Johnson (shoulder, not listed), Bills
Johnson should take away Leonard Fournette’s active spot. Of course, James Cook remains the only viable fantasy RB option in this Bills offense. He’s the consensus PPR RB5 in the Fantasy Life consensus ranks.
Rico Dowdle (ankle, out), Cowboys
Tony Pollard should be set to assume a larger every-down role than usual. He’s a recommended start as an upside RB2 despite this season’s general disappointment.
Wide Receiver
Tyreek Hill (ankle, not listed), Jaylen Waddle (ankle, out), Robbie Chosen (concussion, not listed), Dolphins
Fire up Hill as the upside WR1 he’s been all season with Waddle out of the picture. Cedrick Wilson, Braxton Berrios and “Chosen” become desperation FLEX options ahead of Sunday’s potential shootout with the Ravens.
Ja’Marr Chase (shoulder, questionable), Bengals
Chase will be right back in the WR1 conversation if healthy enough to suit up. If not: Tee Higgins szn will continue. Higgins has been pretty close to a sure thing with Ja’Marr Chase sidelined over the past two seasons:
- Week 8, 2022: 3 receptions-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)
- Week 15, 2023 (Chase left early): 4-61-2 (8)
- Week 16, 2023: 5-140-1 (8)
While Jake Browning fell back to Earth a bit in Week 16, his 42 pass attempts reflect the reality that this offense is more than fine airing the ball out even in the absence of Joe Burrow (wrist, IR).
Ultimately, Higgins will crack my top-20 options at the position ahead of guys like DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Garrett Wilson and Courtland Sutton among others if Chase is sidelined – it’s tough to overly sweat a rough matchup with a player of his talent expected to see double-digit targets in a competent-enough passing game.
Puka Nacua (hip, questionable), Rams
End-of-week additions to the injury report are never ideal, but Nacua is tentatively expected to play through his questionable tag. =
Fire him up as the WR1 he’s been all season ahead of this smash spot against the Giants.
Keenan Allen (heel, out), Joshua Palmer (concussion, out), Chargers
Look for Quentin Johnston, Jalen Guyton, Alex Erickson and Derius Davis to rotate as the team’s top-four WRs, with QB potentially being the only one to demand a true every-down role.
None are recommended fantasy starts ahead of Sunday’s tough road trip to Arrowhead to take on Patrick Surtain II and company.
D.K. Metcalf (back, questionable), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (knee, not listed), Seahawks
Metcalf is an upside WR2 if active despite a tough expected shadow matchup ahead with stud rookie CB Joey Porter Jr.. Meanwhile, JSN has settled in as a low-ceiling WR3 option in recent weeks; both are fine enough starting options against a Steelers secondary that has allowed 2,578 receiving yards to opposing WRs this season – the seventh-highest mark in the NFL.
Zay Flowers (calf, questionable), Ravens
Flowers is tentatively expected to suit up after getting in a limited practice on Friday. The rookie has seen eight, 10 … two … and most recently 13 targets in his last four games.
The corresponding 5-25-1, 6-60-1, 1-7-0 and 9-72-1 receiving lines speak to the enticing ceiling – yet low floor – combination that Flowers has demonstrated as the team’s de facto No. 1 WR in the absence of TE Mark Andrews.
He’s an upside WR3 ranked ahead of guys like Garrett Wilson, George Pickens and Tyler Lockett in the Fantasy Life consensus ranks.
Marquise Brown (heel, IR), Cardinals
Hollywood’s season is over. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray returned to action in Week 10. His top-five targets in six games since then:
- TE Trey McBride (53 targets)
- WR Greg Dortch (26)
- WR Rondale Moore (22)
- WR Marquise Brown (20 – has been dealing with a heel injury)
- RB James Conner (17)
Dortch becomes the projected top WR and is an appealing FLEX option for desperate managers ahead of a matchup against the Eagles’ league-worst secondary in PPR points per game allowed to opposing WRs.
The same sentiment is true to a lesser extent for Moore and Michael Wilson.
Michael Pittman (concussion/shoulder, questionable), D.J. Montgomery (groin, questionable), Colts
Both are tentatively expected to play through their questionable tags after getting in full practices on Friday.
Pittman is back to being a rock-solid PPR-induced WR1 option ahead of Sunday’s potential sneaky shootout with the Raiders.
The fourth-year talent has caught at least eight passes in all but four games this season; Pittman deserves to be ranked ahead of guys like DeVonta Smith, Tee Higgins and DeAndre Hopkins among others.
Courtland Sutton (concussion, out), Jerry Jeudy (illness, questionable), Marvin Mims Jr. (hamstring, questionable), Broncos
It’s looking like Jeudy will be the No. 1 WR for new starting Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham.
While the matchup against the Chargers’ 29th-ranked defense in PPR points per game allowed to the position is easy enough, it’s tough to have too much confidence in the man who hasn’t scored or reached even 75 yards in a game since Week 8.
He’s a borderline WR3 despite the winnable spot.
Jordan Addison (ankle, questionable), Vikings
Fantasy managers need a backup plan with Vikings-Packers kicking off on Sunday night, but Addison seems to have a chance after getting in back-to-back limited practices to end the week.
Vikings WR K.J. Osborn (5-95-1) made the most out of last week’s game that featured both T.J. Hockenson (knee, IR) and Addison sidelined for more than half of the game.
He’ll be no better than a dicey WR4 option even without Addison due to the general uncertainty of the Jaran Hall experience under center, although the Packers certainly haven’t been a defense to fear in recent weeks.
Jayden Reed (toe/chest, not listed), Christian Watson (hamstring, doubtful), Dontayvion Wicks (chest/ankle, questionable), Packers
Reed is good to go and right back in the upside WR3 mix. He ripped off PPR WR12, WR11, WR25, WR50, WR6 and WR17 finishes before being injured and is the clear-cut No. 1 pass-game option in this Jordan Love-led attack.
I’ll be answering more start/sit questions than not involving Reed with the talented rookie ahead of his Sunday night matchup against a Vikings defense that has allowed the ninth-most PPR points per game to opposing WRs this season.
JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle, out), Patriots
New England will roll with DeVante Parker, Demario Douglas and Jalen Reagor in three-WR sets ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Bills. None are especially enticing fantasy options ahead of this tough spot – Douglas is a volume-based WR4 but otherwise: Meh.
Wan’Dale Robinson (quad, questionable), Giants
Tentatively expected to suit up Sunday against the Rams, although his downgrade to a limited practice on Friday after getting in a full session on Thursday isn’t ideal.
Ultimately, Robinson is nothing more than a flimsy WR5 inside of this low-volume Tyrod Taylor-led passing attack.
Zay Jones (knee/hamstring, questionable), Jaguars
Should be back to seeing all sorts of target volume in this condensed offense; just realize there’s a decent probability Jones is continuing to play through qutie a bit of pain – as is QB Trevor Lawrence (right shoulder).
Ultimately, Zay is more of a boom-or-bust WR4 than someone who fantasy managers should actively try to squeeze into fantasy lineups.
Kadarius Toney (hip, out), Mecole Hardman (thumb, questionable), Chiefs
Rashee Rice remains the only recommended WR start inside this floundering Chiefs passing game. He’s the WR10 in Fantasy Life’s consensus ranks.
Darnell Mooney (concussion, out), Bears
D.J. Moore is the only realistic fantasy WR in Chicago anyway. He’s the WR14 in Fantasy Life’s consensus ranks.
Tight End
Cole Kmet (knee, questionable), Bears
Kmet is tentatively expected to suit up this week after getting in a limited practice on Friday, but it’s not a given. He’s coming off 4-107-0 and 5-23-1 performances; he’s established himself as a weekly borderline TE1 with upside TE1 boom capabilities.
Fantasy Life consensus rankings have Kmet sitting pretty ahead of guys like Taysom Hill and Pat Freiermuth.
Hunter Henry (knee, questionable), Patriots
Mike Gesicki played a near-every-down role in Henry’s absence last week and will be in the upside TE2 conversation should HH again be sidelined.
Luke Musgrave (kidney, doubtful), Packers
Musgrave’s return would likely take away Tucker Kraft’s near-every-down role, rendering both as non-viable fantasy options. For now, Kraft remains a mid-tier TE2.
Michael Mayer (toe, out), Raiders
Mayer’s return would likely take away Austin Hooper’s near-every-down role, rendering both as non-viable fantasy options. But for another week: Hooper is a low-end TE2 who you should not start in fantasy – even if there’s a fire.
Greg Dulcich (hamstring/foot, out), Broncos
Dulcich’s continued absence once again leaves all Denver TEs as non-recommended fantasy options.
Other
- Cowboys LT Tyron Smith (back, questionable)
- Cowboys DT Johnathan Hankins (knee/ankle, out)
- Lions S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral, out)
- Eagles CB Darius Slay (knee, out), LB Zach Cunningham (knee, questionable)
- Ravens S Kyle Hamilton (knee, questionable), CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (concussion, out), CB Brandon Stephens (ankle, questionable), LB Del’Shawn Phillips (shoulder, questionable)
- Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey (knee, questionable), Xavien Howard (hip/thumb, questionable), FS Jevon Holland (knees, questionable)
- Dolphins G Robert Hunt (hamstring, doubtful), G Lester Cotton (hip, questionable), OT Austin Jackson (oblique, questionable), OL Liam Eichenberg (calf/ankle, questionable)
- Bills DE A.J. Epenesa (rib, questionable), DE DaQuan Jones (pec, questionable)
- Patriots FS Jabrill Peppers (hamstring, questionable), DB Jonathan Jones (knee, questionable), CB Shaun Wade (hip, questionable), CB Myles Bryant (chest, questionable), S Kyle Dugger (illness, questionable)
- Panthers CB Jaycee Horn (toe, questionable), CB Troy Hill (concussion, out), LB Frankie Luvu (quad, questionable), LB Marquis Haynes (back, questionable)
- Jaguars OT Cam Robinson (knee, questionable)
- Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed (calf, questionable), CB Joshua Williams (neck, questionable)
- Packers CB Jaire Alexander (suspension), LB De’Vondre Campbell (neck, doubtful), S Darnell Savage (shoulder, questionable), CB Robert Rochell (neck, questionable), DT Tedarrell Slaton (knee/foot, questionable)
- Vikings CB Byron Murphy (knee, out), DB Theo Jackson (toe, out), CB Mekhi Blackmon (shoulder/illness, questionable), DT Jaquelin Roy (ankle, out), LB Troy Dye (wrist, questionable)
- Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. (ankle, quesiotnable), DT Maliek Collins (hip, questionable), DE Jonathan Greenard (ankle, out), DT Sheldon Rankins (questionable, ankle)
- Chargers OLB Joey Bosa (foot, out), LB Kenneth Murray (shoulder, doubtful), LB Tanner Muse (knee, doubtful), CB Deane Leonard (heel, questionable), DT Nick Williams (shoulder, doubtful)
- Titans CB Caleb Farley (back, out)
- Buccaneers CB Carlton Davis (concussion, out), OLB Shaq Barrett (groin, out), DT Mike Greene (calf, out)
- Rams G Joe Noteboom (foot, questionable), OT Alaric Jackson (thigh)
- Steelers FS Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee, out), OLB Elandon Roberts (pec, out), DB Trenton Thompson (neck, out)
