With almost every fantasy football league now in their championship or semifinal game, managers are looking to see the latest IR injury updates for their players. With every roster spot potentially crucial for start/sit decisions, knowing whether to hold those players on the IR is integral to fantasy playoff strategy.
If your league has IR spots, oftentimes, there is little harm in stashing the likes of Elijah Mitchell, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Michael Thomas, and Cooper Kupp. However, if you are using bench spots to keep them on your roster, it is vital to know when to cut bait to utilize that roster spot elsewhere.
Latest Injury IR Updates: Could Elijah Mitchell Be on His Way Back?
We have spent way more time this year talking about Mitchell’s knee health than we wanted. The second-year RB has played in four games this year and spent two separate stints on the IR during the 2022 NFL season. When Michell suffered the second injury in Week 12, the initial diagnosis had him missing as much as eight weeks. However, the update from head coach Kyle Shanahan at the start of Week 17 was promising.
Shanahan told reporters that Mitchell is making “real good progress” towards returning from his latest knee injury. However, Shanahan also revealed that Mitchell will not play in Week 17 but has a chance to be available for the season finale. Therefore, if you are in your championship game this week, you could look to drop Mitchell if there is a waiver wire option you are looking to target.
Things get slightly more interesting if your fantasy championship game is in Week 18. There is a chance Mitchell could be active, but it’s unlikely the San Francisco 49ers give him a major role straight out of the gate.
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You may look at the 18 rushing attempts that Mitchell had on his return last time and think there is a chance. The 49ers will likely have their eyes on the playoffs with Mitchell’s health, so they would not want to risk rushing him back into volume.
Nonetheless, if you can avoid it, you should not drop Mitchell this week. If something were to happen to Christian McCaffrey in Week 17, we may see Mitchell taking on a larger role. Even if you do not feel comfortable using him, your championship opponent might. Consequently, he could end up being a weapon against you and costing you a championship game.
The other intriguing part comes with Underdog Fantasy‘s playoff Best Ball contest. Mitchell is now a fascinating late-round pick. The 49ers have a good chance of going deep into the playoffs — and McCaffrey is always a health concern. You may want to put Mitchell down as a late-round selection who could end up being a No. 1 RB for as many as three or four rounds if something happens to McCaffrey.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire Injury Update
We last saw Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the field in Week 11 when he suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Los Angeles Chargers. He was placed on the IR the following week, meaning he was eligible to return on Christmas Eve. However, head coach Andy Reid told reporters early last week that Edwards-Helaire would not be ready to return in Week 16. Reid did tell reporters that Edwards-Helaire was “getting close.”
The general time frame for high-ankle sprains is four to six weeks, so Edwards-Helaire is in that window now. He has now missed five games, meaning that if he does not return in Week 17, he could be back for Week 18. If fantasy managers are considering Edwards-Helaire in their lineups these next two weeks, caution should be advised.
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With Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon working nicely as a tandem, it would be a surprise to see Edwards-Helaire do much more than play on specific packages. Although, if those packages involve short-yardage and goal-line opportunities, managers could find some value. It would be tough to trust your fantasy championship to that, but if you need a hit-and-hope play, Edwards-Helaire could be it.
Equally, Edwards-Helaire is an intriguing Underdog Fantasy playoff option. An injury to Pacheco, or if the rookie struggles in the spotlight of the playoffs, could see Edwards-Helaire be a league-winning addition for a team that could go to the Super Bowl and the max amount of games.
Michael Thomas Injury Update
Entering Week 17, no signs exist that Thomas will return this season. He is eligible to come back onto the field at any point, but it does not seem likely. At the time of the injury, head coach Dennis Allen said his season may well be over, and it appears that way.
The Saints have a slim chance of making the playoffs, and Jarvis Landry’s season ended last week. Therefore, it is worth keeping an eye on reports coming out of New Orleans this week to see if Thomas could be a surprise player returning to the field for fantasy championship week. Whether you want to put your fantasy championship in the hands of a passing game operated by the Andy Dalton/Taysom Hill experience is something each manager will need to decide individually.
Cooper Kupp Injury Update
Two weeks ago, we got close to official confirmation from Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay that Cooper Kupp would not return. McVay told reporters that he “would be hard-pressed to see any scenario that (Kupp) would play again this year.” With the Rams already eliminated from the NFL playoffs, it seems extremely unlikely that Kupp would be back on the field this season.