While rankings and projections are beneficial, few things are more important in fantasy football than following injury updates. Injuries not only impact the player in question but the teammates and the offenses around them. Here’s an update on some critical injury reports to watch and their fantasy football impact.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: QB update
Let’s go through the injuries currently impacting quarterbacks. Monitor these situations throughout the week and have contingency plans, if necessary.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
The Bills held a walkthrough on Wednesday. Josh Allen was listed as a limited participant due to a foot sprain. Head coach Sean McDermott said they are taking it one day at a time with Allen, but the limited designation on a Wednesday suggests he is on track to play.
Kyle Allen and Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team
On Wednesday, Washington placed Kyle Allen on the COVID-19 list. Taylor Heinicke is supposedly dealing with a knee injury as well, but he was listed on the practice report with a right elbow issue.
Washington signed Jordan Ta’amu to the practice squad. He may need to be elevated as the emergency quarterback behind Heinicke, who is expected to play.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow did not practice Wednesday due to his finger injury. The team is just managing his reps. Burrow played the entire game last week and looked fine. Expect Burrow to return to practice Thursday or Friday and play Sunday.
Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers
On Wednesday, the Panthers designated Sam Darnold to return from injured reserve. They have three weeks to activate him. Darnold will almost certainly get his job back upon his return.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Taysom Hill is still being listed on the injury report due to his finger issue. He played the entire game last week with no issue and practiced in full Wednesday. He is at no risk of missing Sunday’s game.
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported Jalen Hurts’ ankle injury is actually a high-ankle sprain. That’s crushing news, as it’s what caused Kyler Murray to miss a month.
Head coach Nick Sirianni said Hurts is trending upwards, but I’m far more skeptical as to whether Hurts can play. Gardner Minshew would start if Hurts cannot go. He and Hurts split first-team reps at Wednesday’s practice.
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson didn’t practice Wednesday due to his sprained ankle. More concerning is the team signing Josh Johnson off the Jets’ practice squad. The move makes a ton of sense given Johnson’s attributes at quarterback. It also suggests Jackson’s status is very much in doubt.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
Daniel Jones remains out with a neck injury. He has not been cleared for contact. The team has yet to rule out Jones for the season, but let’s call it as we see it here — Jones is not playing another snap this season. I am not sure why the Giants continue with this charade. Head coach Joe Judge said Mike Glennon will start, but we could see some Jake Fromm.
Mac Jones, New England Patriots
Mac Jones popped up on Wednesday’s injury report with a thumb issue, but he was listed as a full participant at practice. He’s fine.
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
On Wednesday, Baker Mayfield was the latest to fall victim to the Browns’ COVID-19 outbreak. He reportedly feels fine — much like almost all of Cleveland’s COVID-positive players — but will need to record two consecutive negative tests to return to the team. That is just not realistic. Expect Case Keenum to start.
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers said he suffered a setback with his injured toe and does not expect to practice much. He didn’t practice Wednesday. I don’t expect him to practice Thursday either, but he is adamant about not missing any games. I believe him.
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger did not practice Wednesday. The Steelers claim it’s due to his pec/right shoulder, but we all know Roethlisberger is just getting a day off, which has been his Wednesday routine. He’s fine and will start Sunday.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: RB update
Which running backs are dealing with injuries that may affect their game status? Let’s see which RB committees are hobbled heading into Week 15.
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Saquon Barkley did not practice Wednesday. According to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, the Giants are just resting his ankle.
It sounds like Barkley is fine, but two weeks ago, he wasn’t on the injury report at all. Last week, he was limited. Now, this week, he’s not participating. We’ll see if he returns to a limited practice Thursday, but this is certainly not nothing.
Rex Burkhead, Houston Texans
Rex Burkhead is dealing with a hip issue. Head coach David Culley said Burkhead is out this week. David Johnson and Royce Freeman will be the top two backs.
Michael Carter and Tevin Coleman, New York Jets
Michael Carter returned to practice Wednesday. He’s been on injured reserve with an ankle sprain. Head coach Robert Saleh said Carter will play this week. Expect the team to activate him on Saturday. Tevin Coleman is progressing through the concussion protocol and is also expected to return this week.
Alex Collins, Seattle Seahawks
Alex Collins was limited at Wednesday’s practice with his ongoing abdominal issue. The team is just managing his reps. He will play Sunday, but has lost his starting job to Rashaad Penny and carries no fantasy value.
James Conner and Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals
James Conner hurt his ankle on the second-to-last last play of the Cardinals’ loss to the Rams on Monday night. Conner had an MRI and head coach Kliff Kingsbury described him as day to day. He did not practice Wednesday.
Chase Edmonds is very likely to return from his high-ankle sprain this week. He was close last week, but the team elected to leave him on injured reserve for one more game. Given Conner’s status, the team needs Edmonds this week, so expect him to play.
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Austin Ekeler got in another limited practice Wednesday as he deals with a minor ankle sprain. Although Ekeler has been expected to play all week, head coach Brandon Staley said he will test the ankle out before the game to make sure he can. At this point, Ekeler’s active status cannot be taken for granted, but I still lean on the side of him playing.
Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott continues to deal with a knee injury. He played with a knee brace last week for the first time all season. The good news is the knee continues to improve. Elliott practiced in full on Wednesday and is good to go this week.
Tony Pollard was supposed to practice Wednesday but did not. I still do not understand how someone plays through a torn plantar fascia and will not believe it’s possible until I see it.
Leonard Fournette and Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Leonard Fournette did not practice Wednesday due to an ankle issue. It sounds minor, but it’s something to monitor going forward. Giovani Bernard is on injured reserve with an MCL sprain.
Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
Melvin Gordon is dealing with a hand injury and got in a limited practice Wednesday. He expects to play through the injury. Javonte Williams was limited with a knee injury. It sounds like routine wear and tear. I’m not concerned about his status.
Damien Harris and Brandon Bolden, New England Patriots
Damien Harris got in another limited practice Wednesday. He is dealing with a hamstring strain. Given the back-to-back limited sessions, Harris is on track to play this week. Brandon Bolden was also limited with a knee issue. He is not at risk of missing this week’s game.
Darrell Henderson Jr., Los Angeles Rams
Darrell Henderson Jr. remains out with COVID-19 as a result of his positive test last Friday. Given the typical timeframe of vaccinated players testing out of the protocol, Henderson has a shot to return for this Sunday’s game.
Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns
Kareem Hunt managed to avoid the Browns’ COVID-19 outbreak, but his ankle injury continues to keep him out of practice. Hunt is not expected to play this week.
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones was limited at Wednesday’s practice with a knee issue. Jones was not on the injury report at all last week, so this confirms he aggravated his knee in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s win over the Bears. The good news is Jones practicing at all on Wednesday puts him on track to play.
Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings
Alexander Mattison is currently on the COVID-19/Reserve list. He will need to record consecutive negative tests to return to play.
J.D. McKissic, Washington Football Team
After closing out last week with two limited practices, J.D. McKissic was absent from Wednesday’s practice. It’s fair to assume McKissic had a setback in his return from a concussion. At this point, it is unlikely he plays this week.
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
Elijah Mitchell remained absent from the 49ers’ practice Wednesday due to a concussion. He is also dealing with a knee issue, but it’s the concussion that’s preventing him from returning to the field. The good news is he was working on the side, which suggests he’s at least made some progress through the protocol.
James Robinson and Carlos Hyde, Jacksonville Jaguars
James Robinson has been dealing with a heel injury for over a month now. He continues to be limited at practice, but his game status is not in any jeopardy. Carlos Hyde evidently suffered a concussion last week. He did not practice and should be considered doubtful to play this week.
Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard, Philadelphia Eagles
Miles Sanders tweaked his ankle prior to the Eagles’ bye. He was limited at Wednesday’s practice, which suggests he will be able to play this week. Jordan Howard has been out with a knee injury but got in a limited practice Wednesday as well. That also puts him on track to return.
D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions
D’Andre Swift remains absent from Lions’ practice with his shoulder sprain. The team has yet to rule him out or shut him down for the season, but I can confidently say he’s not going to play this week (and probably the rest of the season).
Jamaal Williams remains on the COVID-19 list.