The start of the fantasy football playoffs is here, so congratulations if you still have a chance to win the championship. As always, injuries are going to play a huge factor in which teams will win the championship. The wide receiver position has been all over the place this year, with many key players getting injured.
Let’s take a look at the injury status of Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin, and Houston Texans WR Nico Collins, as the start of Week 15 is merely hours away.
Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
When healthy, it’s undeniable that Jefferson is as good of a wide receiver as there is in the NFL. He was injured in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and at that point in the season, the Vikings were 1-4. It felt like the season was going to be lost for Minnesota when Jefferson went on injured reserve.
After Jefferson got hurt, QB Kirk Cousins also got hurt. Yet, Minnesota is somehow 7-6 on the season and right in the thick of the playoff race.
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The superstar receiver from LSU made his return last week against the Las Vegas Raiders but had to leave the game with a chest injury. He finished the game with two catches for 27 yards before exiting.
Jefferson had to go to the hospital to have the injury checked out, but he told reporters that he should be ready to go against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday.
“This week is a new week, and I’m definitely looking to have a great game,” Jefferson told reporters on Wednesday.
That is good news for the Vikings, as QB Nick Mullens will be the starter. The Josh Dobbs era got off to a great start early, but he was pulled and is now on the bench. If the Vikings are going to remain in playoff contention, then Jefferson is going to need to have a big game.
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Godwin was injured in the Buccaneers’ 29-25 win against the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday. He went up to catch a pass from QB Baker Mayfield and limped off the field.
Fortunately, Godwin returned for Tampa Bay’s next offensive drive, so the Buccaneers appear to have averted disaster. Despite being injured in that game, Godwin was targeted 11 times, which is only one of three times this year he has been targeted that often.
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Godwin didn’t practice Wednesday, as he continued to rest the knee. The next 24-48 hours will be telling as to whether or not he plays against Green Bay on Sunday. Right now, it seems like he will be playing in that game, but it is still too early to know.
Check Pro Football Network throughout the next couple of days for Godwin and other players’ injury statuses moving into the games.
Nico Collins, Houston Texans
Collins has been incredible this year for the Texans, as he recently became just the fourth receiver in the team’s history to generate 1,000 yards in a season. The other three are DeAndre Hopkins, Brandin Cooks, and Andre Johnson. While he is having a spectacular season, he was injured in the game against the New York Jets last Sunday.
It was unclear when Collins was injured, but he left the game with a calf injury.
His status is up in the air for this weekend against the Tennessee Titans, as he missed Wednesday’s practice. While he wasn’t an active participant, he was on the sideline engaged at practice, and the hope is that he can play on Sunday.
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