Nothing can derail a potentially successful fantasy football season quicker than injuries. That’s especially true at the ever-so-critical wide receiver position, where elite-level players can make or break a contending fantasy team. As we head into Week 16 and the start of the playoffs, several WRs find themselves on the injury report for their respective teams. Thus, fantasy managers need to pay close attention to any WR injury updates and reports as NFL kickoffs draw near.
Fantasy WR Injury Report Week 16 | AFC
In the middle of what has seemed like a brutal season full of injuries, these are the fantasy-relevant WRs in the AFC currently on the NFL’s Week 16 injury report. With some players trending in the wrong direction, fantasy managers might need to start considering secondary options.
Sammy Watkins and Devin Duvernay, Baltimore Ravens
Per the Ravens’ official site, Sammy Watkins was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday. He missed his fourth game of the season.
Meanwhile, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reported on Monday that Devin Duvernay is considered day-to-day with an ankle injury. This likely explains his limited usage Sunday.
Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders, Buffalo Bills
On Tuesday, the Bills reported that Cole Beasley was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Tom Pelissero reported that Beasley tested positive and is unvaccinated. That means he must isolate for 10 days before testing out of protocols.
Emmanuel Sanders did not play in Week 15 due to a knee injury. Sanders was previously listed as doubtful, so it was not surprising to see him labeled as inactive before the game. With Beasley out and Sanders questionable as of now, Gabriel Davis could be in for a substantial workload in Week 16.
Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns
Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported before the Browns’ Week 15 game that Jarvis Landry would not be activated off the COVID list ahead of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Tyreek Hill and Josh Gordon, Kansas City Chiefs
Adam Schefter and Adam Teicher of ESPN reported that the Chiefs are placing Tyreek Hill on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday. It is currently unclear if Hill tested positive or was deemed to be a close contact.
Josh Gordon has been on the COVID list since December 13. However, the Chiefs are optimistic that he will be available for Sunday’s game against the Steelers.
Andre Roberts, Los Angeles Chargers
According to the Chargers’ official site, Andre Roberts was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday.
Will Fuller, Miami Dolphins
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that Will Fuller (finger) suffered a setback recently and is unlikely to return this season. Fuller has been out since Week 5 and has appeared in just two games. On Monday, head coach Brian Flores said Fuller will likely be held out of the final three games of the season.
Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor, and N’Keal Harry, New England Patriots
Mike Reiss of ESPN reports the Patriots placed Kendrick Bourne on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday. Bourne has been the team’s top receiver over the back half of the season. With Nelson Agholor and N’Keal Harry both dealing with head injuries, the Patriots may head into Week 16 with Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski as the top WRs.
Jeff Smith, New York Jets
Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reported on December 10 that the Jets placed Jeff Smith on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
A.J. Brown and Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans
The Titans’ official site reports A.J. Brown took part in walkthroughs on Tuesday with the desire to get him some “speed” during the week. The Titans plan to determine whether or not to activate Brown off the IR (chest) in time for their Thursday Night Football game against the 49ers.
John Glennon of Sports Illustrated reports that Titans head coach Mike Vrabel stated Julio Jones (hamstring) would be a game-time decision for TNF in Week 16. Jones left Week 14 after re-aggravating the hamstring that sent him to the IR from Weeks 10-12 and has nagged him for the majority of the season.
Fantasy WR Injury Report Week 16 | NFC
Which NFC wide receivers currently sit on the injury report ahead of Week 16? Who is in danger of missing their matchup this week, leaving fantasy managers in a difficult position?
Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals’ official site reported on Monday that head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Rondale Moore will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of his ankle injury. Moore injured his ankle in Week 15, placing the Cardinals in a difficult spot. Arizona has already ruled DeAndre Hopkins out for the remainder of the regular season.
Marquise Goodwin, Jakeem Grant, and Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears
The Bears listed Marquise Goodwin (foot) as inactive for Monday night’s game against the Vikings. Goodwin has practiced just one time since injuring his foot on Thanksgiving Day. Meanwhile, Jakeem Grant was forced out of Monday’s game due to a concussion he sustained in the first half against Minnesota.
Additionally, the Bears’ official site reported that Allen Robinson would not be activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of their Week 15 matchup. Robinson was one of 14 Bears players to miss the game due to the virus.
Equanimeous St. Brown and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers
Per the Packers’ practice report, Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion) was a limited participant at Tuesday’s practice. It was the first time St. Brown has practiced since sustaining a concussion in Week 14.
However, per the Packers’ official site, Marquez Valdes-Scantling was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday. It has not been stated whether or not MVS tested positive or was deemed to be a close contact of someone else.
Adam Thielen, Dede Westbrook, and Dan Chisena, Minnesota Vikings
Adam Thielen (ankle) had been ruled out for Minnesota’s Week 15 game against the Bears. Thielen suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 13 and has missed the last two games. He was initially considered a game-time decision, but after testing his ankle in pregame warmups, the team chose to shut him down for the day and eye a potential return in Week 16.
Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the Vikings did not activate Dede Westbrook off the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Week 15. Likewise, Dan Chisena was placed on the COVID list back on December 13.
Sterling Shepard, John Ross, and Kadarius Toney, New York Giants
Per the team’s official site, Sterling Shepard has been placed on the season-ending IR after tearing his left Achilles on Sunday in the Giants’ loss to the Cowboys. Shepard played in just seven games on the season, catching 36 of 53 targets for 366 yards and a touchdown.
On Sunday, Jordan Raanan of ESPN reported that John Ross would not be activated off the COVID list for Week 15 after testing positive for the virus. Ranaan also reports Kadarius Toney would not be activated either. It’s unclear if Toney would have played regardless. He is also dealing with an oblique injury he sustained in Week 11 and has yet to play since.
Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks’ official site reports Tyler Lockett would not be activated off the COVID list in time for the team’s matchup with the Rams. He tested positive on Thursday. Head coach Pete Carroll alluded in his press conference on Friday that Lockett was experiencing symptoms.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers receivers
The Buccaneers’ official site reports Chris Godwin (knee) has been placed on season-ending IR. Bucs head coach Bruce Arians told reporters that Godwin suffered a torn ACL in addition to an MCL sprain in his right knee in Week 15. Godwin is ninth in the NFL in targets (127), third in receptions (98), and fifth in yards (1,103). He’s also the WR6 in fantasy football, averaging 17.3 PPR points per game. After playing on the franchise tag, he will be a free agent at the conclusion of the 2021 NFL season.
Schefter reports that the Buccaneers are not ruling out the possibility of Mike Evans playing in Week 16 after exiting in the second quarter of Monday’s loss to the Saints with a hamstring injury. According to the report, Evans is considered week-to-week, but the team hopes Evans plays in Week 16 after losing Godwin for the season.
Antonio Brown (ankle) had his three-game suspension lifted on Monday after violating the joint NFL/NFLPA COVID-19 protocols for misrepresenting his vaccination status. With that said, Brown is also dealing with an ankle/heel injury that has kept him off the field since Week 6. Despite being eligible, Brown is not a guarantee to play in Week 16.
Greg Auman of The Athletic reports that Arians told reporters Breshad Perriman could return from the reserve/COVID-19 list in time for their Week 16 game against the Panthers. Perriman was inactive for Week 15. Yet, he could be in for a larger role due to the status of Godwin, Evans, and Brown.
Curtis Samuel, Washington Football Team
Per the team’s official site, Curtis Samuel (groin) is inactive for Washington’s Tuesday night game against the Eagles. It will be his ninth missed game due to the groin that has been bothering him since June. Samuel has yet to play on over 25 snaps or seen more than 4 targets in his five active games.