If you are reading this article, you are likely a game or two away from advancing to your fantasy football championship game, which means now more than ever, it is time to be locked in.
Unfortunately, injuries to Los Angeles Chargers WR Keenan Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars WR Zay Jones, and New England Patriots WR JuJu Smith-Schuster could be making fantasy managers unsure of what they should do to prepare for potential semifinal games.
Here is the latest fantasy injury update we have on these wide receivers, as we near the start of Week 16.
Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Editor’s note: Allen did not practice on Thursday and has now been ruled OUT for Week 16.
Fantasy managers were likely dealt a huge blow with Allen missing his first game of the 2023 season while dealing with a heel injury. The league leader in receptions doesn’t seem like he is going to be able to play this upcoming week as well, which could be devastating for his fantasy managers.
According to a recent report from Daniel Popper, Allen was not participating in practice on Tuesday or Wednesday. Because of this, it is becoming more and more likely that Allen will be out this upcoming week against the Buffalo Bills. For some context, Allen did not participate in practice the entire week leading up to their game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday Night Football.
When you look at his numbers this year, you will see how tough this could be for fantasy managers if he is unable to go. This season, he has 108 catches, which leads the NFL. His 1,243 yards are fourth, and his seven touchdowns are tied for eighth in the league.
If Allen is unable to go against the Bills, WR Joshua Palmer would be in line for an expanded role.
Zay Jones, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Editor’s note: Jones was not at practice on Thursday.
Jones has been battling a hamstring injury, but that didn’t slow him down at all last week in Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens. In that game, he finished with five catches from eight targets for 59 yards.
With WR Christian Kirk out, he has become more involved in the offense. In his last three games, he has been targeted eight, 14, and eight times.
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On Wednesday, Jacksonville’s head coach Doug Pederson said he was week-to-week, so that implies that Jones may not be able to go against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is also dealing with some off-the-field issues, which he was in court on Monday for.
The next 24 hours will be very telling on the status of Jones, but it feels like he may not be able to go in this matchup. If Jones is unable to go, then there may be more opportunities for WR Calvin Ridley and TE Evan Engram
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, New England Patriots
Ask any Kansas City Chiefs fan if they would take Smith-Schuster back on their team, and I am guessing you would get a ton of people saying “Yes!” After all, he finished with 78 catches for 933 yards and three touchdowns during the Chiefs’ run to the Super Bowl.
He hasn’t had a big season for the Patriots, as he has only 29 catches for 260 yards and one touchdown this year. Two games ago, he had four catches for 90 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he wasn’t able to go in the game against the Chiefs last week.
Smith-Schuster was limited in practice on Wednesday as he is dealing with an ankle injury. As we near the start of Week 16, it will be important to keep an eye on his status. However, if you are at the point in this season where you are keeping track of a player’s health status, then Smith-Schuster probably isn’t in your lineup.
Even if he is healthy and good to go, there isn’t a reason why he should be in your lineup.
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