NFL Week 16 Injury Report – Key Updates Prior to Fantasy Football Championship Weekend
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Quarterbacks
Alex Smith – Washington Football Team
INJURY: CALF
STATUS: OUT
After being inactive last week, during Washington’s loss to Seattle, Smith was limited in practice on Wednesday. It’s not encouraging that he didn’t participate in team drills and only managed to workout on the side. Backup Dwayne Haskins took all of the first-team reps in practice but was stripped of his team captain title. Haskins posted 19.55 fantasy points last week. He has a $5,200 price in the NFL $1M Play-Action DFS contest at DraftKings but is a risky starting option.
Daniel Jones – New York Giants
INJURY: ANKLE + HAMSTRING
STATUS: ACTIVE
Jones was limited during the Giants practice on Wednesday but did participate in first-team quarterback drills. While media reports say he looked better than he did last week - Jones will likely be a game-time when New York visits Baltimore on Sunday. Backup Colt McCoy would get a second straight start if Jones is inactive again. McCoy posted just 11.35 points last week against Seattle. Fantasy players should avoid whoever starts for Giants against the Ravens.
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Running Backs
Cam Akers – Los Angeles Rams
INJURY: ANKLE
STATUS: OUT
Los Angeles will be without Akers for their Week 16 NFC West battle against the Seahawks. Akers played through a high-ankle sprain last week but head coach Sean McVay said he will sit out this week. Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson will form a backfield committee for the Rams when they visit Seattle on Sunday. Henderson is priced at $4,500 in contests at DraftKings this weekend. He is worth considering as low-cost option to fill out rosters in daily fantasy games.
James Robinson – Jacksonville Jaguars
INJURY: ANKLE
STATUS: OUT
Dealing with what’s considered a minor ankle injury, Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone “rested” Robinson during practice on Wednesday. For his part, Robinson told Marrone he wants to play and feels healthy enough to start when the Jaguars battle the Bears at home on Sunday. Dare Ogunbowale and Devine Ozigbo would form a committee if Robinson sits out. Chicago has been decent defending the run but Dalvin Cook rushed for 132 yards and one TD last week.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Kansas City Chiefs
INJURY: ANKLE + HIP
STATUS: OUT
UPDATE: Edwards-Helaire is inactive on Sunday
Injured in the fourth quarter, during the Chiefs’ win in New Orleans last week, Edwards-Helaire missed practice Wednesday and is doubtful to play against Atlanta. While not official yet – he is expected to sit out the next two games. Le'Veon Bell will take over as the lead running back with Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson serving as backups. Atlanta has been decent against the run but, with a $5,800 DFS price at DraftKings, Bell deserves consideration.
Antonio Gibson – Washington Football Team
INJURY: TOE
STATUS: QUESTIONABLE
Somewhat encouraging, after he was inactive the last two weeks, Gibson managed to put in a limited practice session on Wednesday. While practice time on Thursday and Friday will determine his status – Gibson is a low-end RB1 option if he plays when Washington hosts Carolina on Sunday. J.D. McKissic posted 25.70 fantasy points last week and he is the back to start if Gibson sits out. Payton Barber is also in the mix but he has just 53.00 fantasy points this season.
Ezekiel Elliott – Dallas Cowboys
INJURY: CALF
STATUS: ACTIVE
Elliott said his bruised calf feels "way better than last week" and he managed to put in a limited practice on Wednesday. That said, even if he is 100% healthy, Elliott is no longer a “must start” option in any fantasy format. That’s especially true after backup Tony Pollard posted 131 total yards and two touchdowns last week. If Elliott is active, expect him to share time with Pollard when Dallas hosts Philadelphia on Sunday. That makes both running backs risky starters.
Wide Receivers
Cleveland Browns Wide Receivers
INJURY: COVID-19
STATUS: OUT
Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins, and KhaDarel Hodge have all been placed on the Browns' COVID-19 reserve list. Recently acquired off waivers from Detroit - Marvin Hall will be the the WR1 for Cleveland. RB Kareem Hunt is also expected to line up at wide receiver. Practice squad players Ja'Marcus Bradley and Derrick Willies have been called up but have limited value. TE Austin Hooper will see an expanded role against the Jets who are allowing the most TE fantasy points.
Allen Robinson - Chicago Bears
INJURY: HAMSTRING
STATUS: ACTIVE
Michael Thomas - New Orleans Saints
INJURY: ANKLE
STATUS: OUT - IR
New Orleans placed Thomas on the IR and he will miss the remainder of the regular season. He is eligible to return for the first round of the playoffs and will be a top option in DFS contests if he is healthy. Tre'Quan Smith was placed on IR on Thursday due to an ankle injury. That leaves Emmanuel Sanders and TE Jared Cook as reliable receiver options when the Saints host Minnesota on Christmas Day. They have a favorable matchup against the Vikings leaky pass defense.
Tyreek Hill – Kansas City Chiefs
INJURY: HAMSTRING
STATUS: ACTIVE
Hill sat out practice on Wednesday and Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid said Hill's hamstring "tightened up" during the game against New Orleans last week. While his practice time needs monitoring - Hill was likely held out as a precaution and for rest. He should be good to go against the Falcons leaky pass defense on Sunday. The Chiefs are -10.5 favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook. Kansas City will clinch the lone AFC playoff bye with a win at home against Atlanta on Sunday.
Keenan Allen – Los Angeles Chargers
INJURY: HAMSTRING
STATUS: QUESTIONABLE
UPDATE: Allen sat out practice again on Thursday.
Questionable last week, ahead of the Chargers game against the Raiders on Thursday night, Allen ended up playing limited snaps and caught just one pass for 17 yards. He missed practice on Wednesday and is listed as question when Los Angeles hosts Denver on Sunday. Projected as a game-time decision, Allen is risky starter as he may be on a limited snap count again this week. WR Mike Williams (back) is not listed on the Chargers injury report this week.
Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons
INJURY: HAMSTRING
STATUS: OUT
UPDATE: Jones is inactive on Sunday.
After sitting out the last two games – Jones missed practiced on Wednesday. He did attend the session but only worked out on the side with Atlanta's training staff. Interim coach Raheem Morris said Jones is "a bit closer" to being able to suit up but he is doubtful to play when Atlanta visits Kansas City on Sunday. Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage will be the top receiver options for QB Matt Ryan. Expect the Falcons to run a pass heavy offense to keep pace with the Chiefs.
Terry McLaurin – Washington Football Team
INJURY: ANKLE
STATUS: OUT
UPDATE: McLaurin is inactive on Sunday - Cam Sims will see WR1 targets.
A reoccurring theme, over the last four weeks, McLaurin missed another early-week practice as he sat out on Wednesday. The good news is the nagging ankle injury hasn’t forced him to miss any games. The bad news is McLaurin has a just 22.50 total fantasy points during the last three games. McLaurin has averaged 9.5 targets and 15.0 points per match during six games with Dwayne Haskins as the Washington starter. Expect similar numbers against the Carolina Panthers.
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Tight Ends
Mike Gesicki – Miami Dolphins
INJURY: SHOULDER
STATUS: QUESTIONABLE
UPDATE: Gesicki is active for Miami.
Gesicki was inactive against New England last week but managed to practice on a limited basis on Tuesday and Wednesday. He is listed as questionable for the Dolphins’ road game in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Durham Smythe caught five passes for 40 yards and Adam Shaheen caught one pass for 15 yards against the Patriots last week. Neither player offers reliable fantasy value if Gesicki is inactive again this week. Gesicki has a favorable matchup if he starts.
George Kittle – San Francisco 49ers
INJURY: FOOT
STATUS: ACTIVE
UPDATE: Kittle will start but Shanahan said he will be on "somewhat of a pitch count." Kittle had four catches for 44 yards when these teams played in Week 1. He has "boom or bust" written all over him.
While it may end up as an unfulfilled Christmas fantasy wish, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has stated that Kittle has a "chance" to return when San Francisco plays Arizona on Saturday. Shanahan added, “I think he’s got a chance this week. If he’s good, I plan on playing him.” If Kittle does suit up - fantasy players should limit their expectations as he has missed six straight games. C.J. Beathard getting the start at QB also doesn’t bode well for Kittle having a productive return.
Hunter Henry – Los Angles Chargers
INJURY: COVID-19
STATUS: OUT
UPDATE: Henry is OUT - Backup TE Donald Parham steps in.
Although the nature of his illness hasn’t been revealed - Henry has not practiced this week. He is listed as questionable for the Chargers’ home game against the Broncos on Sunday. Posting a season-high 17.50 fantasy points - Henry caught five passes for 65 yards and one touchdown against the Raiders last week. He caught four passes for 33 yards when the Chargers visited Denver back in Week 8. The Broncos have allowed just four tight end touchdowns this season.
Eric Ebron – Pittsburgh Steelers
INJURY: BACK
STATUS: QUESTIONABLE
UPDATE: Ebron put in a full practice on Thursday.
Ebron suffered a back injury in the second quarter during Pittsburgh’s Week 15 loss to the Bengals on Monday night. He was hit hard by two Cincinnati defenders and did not return. Ebron sat out practice on Wednesday and is questionable for the Steelers’ home game against the Colts on Sunday. With TE Zach Gentry (knee) already on IR - Vance McDonald would get the start if Ebron doesn’t suit up. McDonald hasn’t caught a pass since Week 9 and should not be started.
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