The fantasy football playoffs are just around the corner, and there is no more time to go out and build the perfect team. For the most part, the roster you have is the roster you are going to have to play.
One thing you must still keep an eye on is injuries, and there are a lot of players whose status for next week is still in the air. A few of the guys to keep an eye on are Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins, New England Patriots WR Demario Douglas, and Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert.
Fantasy Injury Updates
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Few teams have had to deal with the injury bug quite like the Bengals. Any time you lose your franchise quarterback, it will be a tough year. However, there have been more Bengals who have dealt with injuries, and Higgins is one of those guys.
In the game against the Buffalo Bills, Higgins had his best game of the season, as he eclipsed 100 yards for the first time this year (eight catches for 110 yards). However, he hasn’t played since that game, as he has been dealing with a hamstring injury.
The Bengals are on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs, but they still have a puncher’s chance. On Monday, when asked what Higgins’ status will be for this week, head coach Zac Taylor gave an indication there is hope from the team that he does play.
“I think so,” Taylor told Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer when asked if Higgins could possibly go. “We’ll see what we can get out of him this week, as it goes.”
Like always with these injuries, keep an eye on the injury report moving forward. The fact that Taylor hopes he can go is a positive sign, but these things can change quickly.
Demario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots
Douglas has been a pleasant surprise for the anemic Patriots offense, but he left Sunday’s game against the New York Giants early after taking a vicious hit. The official report listed him with a head injury, and he will have to pass concussion protocol before he could possibly come back.
Multiple Patriots players blasted officials for how the call was handled. Wide receiver DeVante Parker was among the most vocal.
Parker, who has had to deal with concussion issues of his own, told NBC Sports Boston the following.
“That’s some bull[expletive]. The refs need to do something about that because that’s some bull[expletive],” Parker said. “They need to either throw a flag or something. He better get fined or something.”
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
The reaction by the Patriots players in the postgame conference shows how serious this injury is, but his status is unknown at the moment.
As is the case with all head injuries, expect the Patriots to be careful with his return, but we should know more by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.
Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
Goedert has missed extended time due to a forearm injury, but he is making a serious push to be back for the game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. The Eagles play quite possibly the two biggest games on their schedule in the next two weeks, as they host the 49ers and then travel to take on the Dallas Cowboys.
If they are able to win both of those games, they will all but lock up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
So, while it is understandable for Goedert to want to get back, don’t expect the Eagles to rush him back if he isn’t ready to go. He will need to show the team in practice he is ready to go — whether or not he is limited in practice the next couple of days should be a huge indication of whether the team will have him on Sunday.
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