With the fantasy football playoffs upon and three Saturday games to contemplate this week, the Week 15 RB injury report is going to be something we watch keenly all week. Let’s take a look at the latest updates regarding the health of Saquon Barkley, Jeff Wilson Jr., Dameon Pierce, and more, as well as considering the fantasy implications of those situations.
RB Injury Report Heading into Week 15
Saquon Barkley, NYG | Neck
Barkley came into last week dealing with a neck issue that was described as “sore” by head coach Brian Daboll. He was a game-time decision for the game but ultimately managed to suit up against the Eagles. However, his usage was extremely limited, with both Gary Brightwell and Matt Breida mixing into a three-man backfield.
The breakdown was intriguing, with all three players seeing early down work, Barkley dominating the goal line work, and Breida handling a lot of third-down and two-minute drill opportunities. One thing with the usage in this game that is worth noting is that Barkley had six of the 10 RB rushing attempts and saw two of the four RB targets in the first half. With the game somewhat out of hand in the second half, we understandably saw the Giants throttle back on his workload.
What we don’t know is how the full game split would have looked if the game had been close throughout. We may very well have seen Barkley still getting around 60% of the running work, and the pie would have been bigger than just the 17 rushing attempts by RBs. Therefore, it is hard to be too concerned right now, but we should get a clearer picture once the Giants start practicing this week.
Depending on Barkley’s status this week, he could have intriguing value in Underdog Fantasy Best Ball drafts. He touched the ball 23 times in a close game with the Washington Commanders in Week 13, but if he is questionable entering Sunday, it could push his value down a few rounds. However, if he struggles with this neck injury this week, he would be a player to fade when it comes to Pick ’em options with uncertainty over his playing time.
If Barkley were to miss time, then Brightwell would likely be the early down back. Meanwhile, Breida would likely continue that role on third down and in the two-minute drill. The combination of the two would cap the ceiling for both. Brightwell would have the higher value in non-PPR, with Breida being a potential 14-team Flex option in PPR scoring.
Jeff Wilson Jr., MIA | Hip
Things do not get any easier in the Miami Dolphins backfield, as Jeff Wilson is now dealing with a hip injury. Wilson left the game in the second quarter and was ruled out at halftime. He was outplaying Raheem Mostert when he left the game, gaining 6.5 yards per attempt on his four carries, compared to 2.5 for Mostert.
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In the second half, Mostert took on a leading role, with Salvon Ahmed playing in some passing situations. If Wilson were to miss time, Mostert would see a boost in value as the lead back. If Wilson is questionable this week, then that makes him a tough player to trust next week, with a lack of clarity over his role in the offense.
Dameon Pierce, HOU | Ankle
Dameon Pierce left the Texans game in the fourth quarter and was not able to return. The hope is that this is a low-ankle sprain which will give him a shot to play in Week 15. It will be interesting to see how the Texans handle their rookie, having already been eliminated from the playoffs and with little more than pride to play for.
Eno Benjamin had been the primary backup on early downs, with Dare Ogunbowale having a reasonably significant role in passing situations. If Pierce was to miss time, we could see Benjamin as the lead back, with Ogunbowale as the third-down and two-minute option. However, the presence of Rex Burkhead still looms, and this could end up being a three-man committee, leaving no one with any value.
Rhamondre Stevenson, NE | Ankle
Rhamondre Stevenson left Monday’s game early with an ankle injury. He briefly returned to the game but was then ruled out late in the first half. After the game, NBC Sports Phill Perry reported that Stevenson was not wearing a boot or using crutches. While he had a slight limp, Stevenson hopes he will be able to play next week.
This is one that fantasy managers need to watch closely this week. Stevenson has been a huge contributor for fantasy managers, but if he is limited next week, it could be hard to trust him. We saw both Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong step up in Week 14, while Damien Harris should be closer to full health next week.
Mike Boone, DEN | Ankle
We saw Mike Boone carted off the field in the first half with an ankle issue. Prior to the injury, we had seen Boone seemingly being used to lighten the load on Latavius Murray. However, his role is still not large enough to a point where he would have considerable fantasy value if healthy.
After the injury, we saw Marlon Mack come in and play a passing-down role that we have not seen him do much in his career. Much like Boone, he would struggle to have standalone fantasy value outside of breaking big plays like he did this week.
Dontrell Hilliard, TEN | Neck
It was not nice to see Dontrell Hilliard carted off the field with a neck injury. Hopefully, it is nothing too serious, and the shifty receiving back can come back to help the Titans down the stretch or in the playoffs. From a fantasy perspective, he was largely unreliable, being more suited to Best Ball situations than conventional lineup-based fantasy leagues.
After Hilliard left the game, we saw Julius Chestnut take over that backup role. Chestnut was elevated from the practice squad this week, with Hassan Haskins dealing with a rib issue in practice. Unless Haskins gets back to 75% or better this week, this injury to Hilliard could just push even more touches into the hands of Derrick Henry.