It has been a long year for fantasy football managers, and it’s been even longer if you are an NFL RB. Weeks and weeks of stress on the body have RBs bent and broken, and many are holding on by a thread as the year draws to a close. What are the latest injury updates on Zack Moss and Najee Harris? Will they be available to play this week?
Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
Zack Moss, RB, Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts’ RB Moss was the hero every fantasy manager needed, at least in the first half of the season. With Jonathan Taylor missing the first four weeks of the season and then Weeks 13-15, Moss stepped up. He never finished worse than RB21 through Week 6 of the season, and since most fantasy managers snagged him with their last pick or off the waiver wire, he was almost a free square.
As Taylor returned and ramped up his usage, Moss became a serviceable RB2 until the injury bug came calling. In Week 15 against Pittsburgh, he suffered an arm injury. Initial X-rays were negative, but he did not return to the field. He missed the following two games with what was called a forearm injury. This left Taylor as the primary weapon in the Colts’ backfield, and he finished as the RB22 in Week 16 and the RB12 in Week 17.
The question now arises about whether Moss will be able to play in Week 18 against Houston as the Colts battle for a playoff spot. Moss was limited in the team’s walkthrough on Tuesday, which is an estimated practice report. This game is important for both teams, and I believe that Moss will push to play if he can. Fantasy managers have to keep an eye on the practice reports this week to see if he can at least log a limited session.
If Moss cannot play, it once again is the Taylor show, which we all know is a fairly good show. We all know Taylor can handle the workhorse usage and would look forward to putting the team on his back. Beyond Taylor, the Colts are looking toward Trey Sermon, who played 32% of the snaps last week.
Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Fantasy managers who had Harris on their squad have definitely lived through some ups and downs this year. For every top-12 finish, there was at least a week or two where he did not crack the top 35. It was challenging to know when to start him.
However, it has been much smoother sailing over the last two weeks. Harris was the RB18 in Week 16 and the RB6 in Week 17. Last week against Seattle, he carried the ball 27 times, which was his season high, for 122 yards and two TDs.
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This week’s game is a big one for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they may not have Harris available. He is dealing with a knee issue and was limited in Tuesday’s practice estimate. His knee has been bothering him for the last month, but Harris has been able to make it on the field, so managers could be cautiously optimistic.
If Harris cannot play this week, expect Jaylen Warren to get the carries. Warren has been an excellent 1B to Harris’ 1A this season, rushing for 751 yards and currently sitting at RB24 on the year. Harris is RB27 in PFN’s Consensus Rankings this week, and Warren is RB25.
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