Good Morning! Today’s fantasy football injury report covers 17 players. I go through each teams situation at the position of the injured party, identify who may see an increase in snaps and their possible fantasy impact.
QBs: Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow
RBs: Elijah Mitchell, Joe Mixon, Chase Edmonds, Ronald Jones, Michael Carter
WRs: Emmanuel Sanders, Robby Anderson, Braxton Berrios, Terrace Marshall Jr
TEs: Kyle Pitts, CJ Uzomah, David Njoku, Ricky Seals-Jones, James O'Shaughnessy
Arizona Cardinals: Chase Edmonds (RB) - After two weeks of Edmonds leading the way at the RB position for Arizona, he was absent from practice yesterday. Chase and Conner have been banged up for a while now and kept them from practicing at times. If Edmonds cannot go in Week 18, I expect James Conner to return. Conner is on pace for 1250 total yards this season if he had been healthy all year.
Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts (TE) - I would not be surprised if Pitts is shut down for the season after suffering a hamstring injury last week in Buffalo. The Falcons season is over and Pitts is their star rookie. If he cannot go in Week 18, Hayden Hurst will lead the way. Hurst is on pace for 40/300 if he had stayed healthy this year.
Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson (QB) - With their backs against the wall, the Ravens are still questioning who their best option is at QB. Lamar did not practice yesterday with his ankle injury and this leaves Tyler Huntley as the starter once more. Huntley struggled against the Rams on Sunday, creating 251 total yards of offense and throwing an interception.
Buffalo Bills: Emmanuel Sanders (WR) - The veteran wideout is still on the mend with a sprained knee that he injured a few weeks back. I don’t believe he will play this week with a playoff spot already locked up and the Jets on the schedule. Gabriel Davis will be the WR3 in the place of Sanders. Davis is on a 40/625 pace and has been a red zone threat.
Carolina Panthers: Robby Anderson (WR)/Terrace Marshall Jr (WR) - Both wideouts were not at practice yesterday with lower body injuries. Anderson was simply kept off the field whereas Marshall was placed on IR. If Anderson cannot recover by Sunday against the Buc’s, Brandon Zylstra will be WR2. Zylstra has not made a reception in three weeks and is on a 25/350 pace.
Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow (QB)/Joe Mixon (RB)/CJ Uzomah (TE) - The playoff bound Bengals were not going to start their top players in the final week of the season, and this put the nail in the coffin. Mixon was placed into COVID protocol yesterday and is probably ruled out this week. Burrow and Uzomah are dealing with injuries and the team has already stated that they want to give them rest. Brandon Allen will lead the way under center with his 2-6 record and 57% completion percentage. Samaje Perine will be RB1 and at times this season has shown flashes. Perine has averaged 4.5 ypc this season and is on a 500 total yard pace. The TE2 in Cincinnati is quite a drop off from Uzomah. Drew Sample has been used seldomly this season, putting up ten receptions.
Cleveland Browns: David Njoku (TE) - The athletic tight end was not at practice yesterday due to a shoulder injury. With Case Keenum at the helm and the season coming to a close, I wouldn’t be shocked if he didn’t play and Harrison Bryant saw more snaps in the final game. Bryant has a touchdown in the last three games and is on a 30/325 pace.
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers (QB) - The future hall of famer will not likely play this week against the Lions. The Packers are locked into 1st overall in the NFC and Jordan Love could use more looks. Love had one start earlier in the year and struggled in that opportunity. He has completed 58% of passes this season and created 305 total yards of offense.
Jacksonville Jaguars: James O'Shaughnessy (TE) - Last week O’Shaughnessy did not practice and then did not play against the Patriots on Sunday. I don’t expect him to play this week when there is nothing to play for. This could give Luke Farrell more snaps as a rookie in an NFL game. Farrell was the only tight end with a reception last week, and has seven on the season.
New York Jets: Michael Carter (RB)/Braxton Berrios (WR) - Neither player practiced yesterday as the team prepares for its season finale against the Bills on Sunday. Carter is working through concussion protocol whereas Berrios has a bruised quad. If Carter cannot go, Ty Johnson and Tevin Coleman will likely split the carries. Coleman will be utilized between the tackles as he’s averaged 4.5 ypc this season. Whereas Ty Johnson has created more offense as a pass catcher than rusher. Berrios is a fun player as I’ve went over multiple times and without him the team will look to Jamison Crowder in the slot as he returns from injury. Crowder is one of the best slots in the league on an 80/675 pace.
San Francisco 49ers: Elijah Mitchell (RB) - The rookie running back returned to action for Week 17 from a knee injury and seems to be suffering from some soreness still. He was not at practice yesterday and if he cannot play with the season on the line this weekend, Jeff Wilson will lead the way as RB1. Wilson has averaged 3.7 ypc this season and is on an 800 total yard pace.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ronald Jones (RB) - As the practice week begins, Jones is in a walking boot and I don’t expect him to play this week. The team has nothing really to play for outside of seeding and they can forge ahead with what they have. Keshawn Vaughn and Le’Veon Bell would split the touches. Vaughn has averaged 5.8 ypc this season, and Bell has not been nearly as productive with the Ravens or Buc’s.
Washington Football Team: Ricky Seals-Jones (TE) - The veteran tight end is working through concussion protocol at this time and I imagine that the team would prefer to give John Bates more snaps in the season finale. The rookie tight end has shown bits of promise this season, putting up three receptions in a handful of games. Bates is on a 30/425 pace.