There were several big stars that fantasy football managers had to do without this week, and hopefully, they managed to piece together a win without them. Conversely, various players were begrudgingly placed in starting lineups that ended up being good calls. The common thread, though, is injury. What are the latest fantasy injury updates with Jonathan Taylor, Josh Jacobs, and Keaton Mitchell heading into the end of the fantasy season?
Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
It has been a tough season for the Taylor manager.
First, you missed the first four weeks, as he sat out due to injury and perhaps a contract dispute. His return in Week 5 was subpar, but he quickly found his footing and delivered six top-24 performances in the middle of the season.
Unfortunately, Taylor has missed the last three games due to a thumb injury that required surgery.
The last time we saw Taylor on the field was in Week 12, but there is chatter that he might be looking to return in Week 16 against Atlanta as the Indianapolis Colts make their playoff push. The Colts practice for the first time this week on Wednesday, so that practice report will give fantasy managers a lot of information.
On Sunday, Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Taylor is “feeling good” and that the team will “see how this week goes” regarding Taylor’s return.
On Saturday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on the details of Taylor’s injury, saying that the “ligament tore off the base of the thumb and flipped on top of the tendon, sources say,” but there is a “realistic chance” he returns to the field this week.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Zack Moss has been leading the way with Taylor sidelined, and he will continue to do so as long as he is not hindered by an arm injury he sustained on Sunday.
With Moss off the field, Trey Sermon was the go-to RB, accumulating 88 yards on the ground. Sermon is an intriguing dart throw in deeper leagues.
Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders head to Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas Day and desperately hope to have their star RB Jacobs available.
Jacobs has been dealing with a quad issue that kept him out of practice leading up to the Week 15 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Las Vegas took care of business without him, and he is hoping to return this week.
MORE: Fantasy News Tracker
Without Jacobs in Week 15, Zamir White was a sneaky pickup that proved fruitful for any fantasy managers who took the risk. Jacobs finished the week as RB11 on 17 carries. He had 69 yards on the ground with one TD. He was also used in the passing game with four targets and 16 yards through the air.
If Jacobs has to miss another week, White will slide back into the conversation against a Chiefs defense that gave up 110 yards on the ground to Jacobs the last time the two teams met this season.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Mitchell, we hardly knew thee. The Baltimore rookie RB that was coming on strong as of late — four finishes as RB22 or better in the last six weeks — has seen his final snap of the 2023 season. Unfortunately, it was confirmed by MRI that Mitchell tore his ACL in the Baltimore Ravens’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday night. He will miss the remainder of the season, and part of his 2024 season will be impacted.
Head coach John Harbaugh said that losing Mitchell won’t change the team’s commitment to the run. “It was important to have elements of the rushing attack we worked so hard on the last four years. We didn’t want to run away from that run game. We had a lot of reps under our belt, a lot of institutional knowledge. Our players understood it — a lot of the plays that we run fit our guys really well.”
Gus Edwards will once again become the lead back in Baltimore, with Justice Hill available to spell him. The team also quickly elevated veteran Melvin Gordon from the practice squad to add depth. Gordon is not a fantasy option, but managers could consider Hill from waivers, as Edwards is already heavily rostered.
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