Good Morning! Today’s fantasy football injury report is long, touching on 29 players and each situation individually. As we get later into the season, the list grows more and more as team’s try to coast to the end and keep their players as close to 100% as possible. I identify who the player is that will see an increase in snaps if the injured party cannot play in Week 16, and give you a vibe on their possible fantasy impact.
QBs: Lamar Jackson, Teddy Bridgewater, Jared Goff
RBs: Antonio Gibson, Austin Ekeler, Leonard Fournette, Miles Sanders, Josh Jacobs, Melvin Gordon, Kareem Hunt, Rhamondre Stevenson, David Johnson
WRs: Mike Evans, DJ Moore, Brandin Cooks, Jamison Crowder, Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor, Laviska Shenault, Zay Jones, Tajae Sharpe, Jalen Guyton, Devin Duvernay
TEs: Darren Waller, Pat Freiermuth, Adam Trautman, Donald Parham, Will Dissly, Drew Sample
Atlanta Falcons: Tajae Sharpe (WR) - The wide receiver position in Atlanta lacks depth, and the absence of Sharpe from practice only furthers that situation. He is the WR3 and suffered a foot injury against the 49ers on Sunday. As of the moment, Christian Blake is their WR3 behind Russell Gage and Olamide Zaccheaus. Blake has three receptions this season, and 27 over his career in three seasons.
Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson (QB)/Devin Duvernay (WR) - Neither player hit the practice field on Wednesday due to ankle injuries. Lamar is still projected to play this weekend, but I am leaning towards Tyler Huntley after his solid performance in Week 15. Huntley moved the ball down the field and came a 2-point conversion away from going up late. He throws the ball well and allows the team to avoid rushing Jackson back. As far as Duvernay is concerned, a lot of his game is speed and agility based. If he is playing on one good ankle, I doubt he plays all that well this week. James Proche will see more action if Devin cannot go. Proche has nine receptions this season, going for 126 yards.
Carolina Panthers: DJ Moore (WR) - The WR1 in the Carolina offense, Moore has been dealing with this hamstring injury for multiple weeks now. He struggled at times against the Bills, clearly limping. DJ did not practice yesterday as a result and is already being tagged as a game time decision this week. If he cannot go, expect Brandon Zylstra to become a bigger part of the offense opposite Robby Anderson. Zylstra has been receiving many snaps this season and a target increase would be due for him. Brandon has 18 receptions for 250 yards this season and is probably the biggest WR the team has.
Cincinnati Bengals: Drew Sample (TE) - By far the TE2 in the Bengals offense, Sample has received a single target in the last two games for the club. He did not practice yesterday due to a foot injury. This should free up one or two more looks for CJ Uzomah. Uzomah has made some steps in the right direction this season, sitting on a 50/525/6 pace.
Cleveland Browns: Kareem Hunt (RB) - The coaching staff is under the impression that Hunt will not play this week, despite him still being on COVID protocol. His ankle injury from Week 14 is still hampering him enough that he likely couldn’t go. D’Ernest Johnson will play as the RB2 once more behind Nick Chubb if that does become the case. Johnson totaled 16 yards on five touches in Week 15, the majority of those being receptions out of the backfield.
Denver Broncos: Teddy Bridgewater (QB)/Melvin Gordon (RB) - The starting signal caller is likely out for the Broncos as they head into Week 16, giving way to Drew Lock. Lock was the starter over the last couple of seasons for the club, going 8-10. Last season he led the league in interceptions. Gordon is dealing with multiple nagging injuries that has kept him out of practice to some degree the last few weeks. Melvin gave way to Javonte Williams for more snaps last week, indicating a change of the guard. If Gordon cannot go in Week 16, Williams will be the clear RB1 with Mike Boone as RB2. Boone has 57 total yards this season on six touches.
Detroit Lions: Jared Goff (QB) - The starter under center is still in COVID protocol and he is dealing with mild symptoms. This is leading me towards a “no-go” this week for Goff and the Lions. Tim Boyle is not great, and his conservative style of play in his one start this season just isn’t going to cut it. Give the ball to David Blough, who is 0-5 in his career with more turnovers than touchdowns. At least he moves the ball down the field.
Houston Texans: Brandin Cooks (WR)/David Johnson (RB) - Neither player was at practice on Wednesday for the Texans for different reasons. In the case of Cooks, he was placed into COVID protocols. Brandin is the clear WR1 on the club and this will lead to Nico Collins seeing a bigger role in the offense opposite Chris Conley. The rookie is on a 40/475 pace over a full season. Johnson is dealing with a quad injury, part of a committee approach in the backfield. If he cannot go, Royce Freeman will see more touches alongside Rex Burkhead. Regardless of whoever is touching the ball, they both are averaging under three yards a carry and that is terrible.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Laviska Shenault (WR) - The young wideout was not at practice yesterday as he tended to multiple injuries. During the draft process, the knock against him was his durability and this situation is not coming as a surprise in this physical sport. Nevertheless, I think Tavon Austin will see a bigger role in the offense if Shenault cannot go in Week 16. The former first rounder has 15 catches this season.
Los Angeles Chargers: Austin Ekeler (RB)/Jalen Guyton (WR)/Donald Parham (TE) - All three players were not at practice on Wednesday, and I really doubt any play this week. The first two listed are in COVID protocol as the Chargers become the team of the week to struggle through the virus. Justin Jackson will be the RB1 in the place of Ekeler. Jackson was a prominent member of the rushing attack in Week 15. He gained 86 yards on 13 touches, and that should bode well for his prospects this week. Josh Palmer will see more snaps with Guyton out, behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. The rookie has a 25/300 pace going this season as the WR4. In the case of Parham, he’s dealing with a concussion that resulted in him being hospitalized last week. Stephen Anderson will be the TE2 in his absence behind Jared Cook. Anderson has 13 receptions this season.
Las Vegas Raiders: Josh Jacobs (RB)/Darren Waller (TE)/Zay Jones (WR) - These three players were not at practice on Wednesday for a variety of reasons. Jacobs is dealing with an illness, and it is unknown what the nature of it is. If he cannot play in Week 16, Peyton Barber will be the RB1. He was at one point earlier in the year, going for 142 total yards on 26 touches. Waller is still hampered by his knee injury and that is keeping him off the practice field. Foster Moreau isn’t 100% either, but was able to get on the field for the walk through. Moreau has ten receptions over the last two weeks for 78 yards. Jones, the clutch performer as the team came back in Week 15, is dealing with a toe injury. If he cannot play, I expect Bryan Edwards to see more targets opposite Hunter Renfrow. Edwards at times has been the clear WR2, but that wasn’t the case on Sunday. Bryan is on a 35/600 pace this season, a down field threat.
New England Patriots: Rhamondre Stevenson (RB)/Kendrick Bourne (WR)/Nelson Agholor (WR) - In the case of the Patriots trio not at practice on Wednesday, they are all excused with different types of absences. Stevenson has an illness (non-COVID), Bourne has COVID and Agholor is dealing with a concussion. If Rhamondre cannot play, expect JJ Taylor to see a bigger role in the offense. Damien Harris is still not 100% and probably couldn’t take the full carry load with Brandon Bolden even if he did play. Taylor has been very inefficient this season, averaging below two yards a carry. As far as the wide receiver position is concerned, N’Keal Harry becomes the WR2 behind Jakobi Meyers if both Bourne and Agholor cannot play. Harry is not 100% himself, but I imagine he goes anyways. N’Keal has only caught ten balls this season.
New Orleans Saints: Adam Trautman (TE) - After regaining his TE1 role in Week 15, Trautman returns to the sidelines as he is placed into COVID protocol. Trautman and Juwan Johnson’s statuses have spread the position thin. Nick Vannett will be the guy going into Week 16. Vannett has 8 receptions in five games this season.
New York Jets: Jamison Crowder (WR) - This is a big blow to the Jets in my opinion and the development of Zach Wilson to round out the year if Jamison cannot play. Crowder is dealing with a calf injury and he’s by far the most consistent and reliable wideout on the club at the moment. If he does not play, expect Keelan Cole and Braxton Berrios to see more targets. Cole is on a 30/500 pace this season, and in years past has been somebody who could be counted on as a possession option for bad teams (Jags). I am of the opinion that Berrios is going to go somewhere this offseason, likely a solid offense, and be a breakout candidate. He’s played well this season when given targets, putting up roughly 40/400 season for the second straight year.
Philadelphia Eagles: Miles Sanders (RB) - Coming off of Tuesday game, Sanders was not expected to be healthy enough to practice yesterday. I think that he may have been dealing with an injury during the game when you look at the carry distribution between him and Jordan Howard. Howard was given the ball 15 times or more for the second time this season, going for 69 yards. If Sanders cannot play, Howard will carry the ball as Kenneth Gainwell catches it. Gainwell has been a pass catcher much of the year, one third of his touches being of the sort. He’s on pace for nearly 600 total yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Pat Freiermuth (TE) - The rookie tight end is still in concussion protocol and did not practice yesterday as a result. Some are crossing their fingers for the return of Eric Ebron, but I am leaning towards Zach Gentry. Gentry has ten receptions this season and he is the likely TE1 in my opinion.
Seattle Seahawks: Will Dissly (TE) - The TE2 was placed into COVID protocol on Wednesday, coming off of a one reception performance in Week 15. Gerald Everett has taken the starter role from Dissly this season and not relinquished it. Everett is on a 55/500/4 pace this season if he had stayed healthy.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans (WR)/Leonard Fournette (RB) - Neither player has been placed onto the IR as of yet, thus appearing on this list as players who missed practice. I do not expect either to play this week, or even next. Antonio Brown has returned to the offense to take the place of Evans and Chris Godwin, playing across of Tyler Johnson. Brown was on a 100/1425/14 pace prior to his injury in Week 6. Ronald Jones will be the RB1 with Ke’Shawn Vaughn as RB2 behind him for the time being. However, I do expect Le’Veon Bell to get into the action before long. He can give the team the 3rd down back role that Jones simply cannot replace.
Washington Football Team: Antonio Gibson (RB) - Most of this season we’ve seen Gibson listed on the injury report. Whether it was his shin, or in this case his toe. He did not practice yesterday and gave way to Jarett Patterson down the stretch on Tuesday. Patterson is an undrafted rookie who has averaged 3.8 yards per carry this season and scored his first career touchdown against the Eagles in week 15.