Heading into the first week of the fantasy football playoffs, there are a number of QBs and TEs set to be on the NFL injury reports this week. Let’s take a look at the latest injury updates for Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley, Mike White, and more, and consider the fantasy implications for Week 15.
QB/TE Injury Report Heading Into Week 15
Russell Wilson, DEN | Concussion
Amidst their furious comeback against the Kansas City Chiefs, QB Russell Wilson was ruled out in the fourth quarter with a concussion. Wilson’s status for Week 15 is now very much up in the air, with concussions tending to keep a player out for an average of just over a week.
We’ll have a good idea of Wilson’s status on Wednesday. With the way the concussion protocol plays out, players that are not back at practice in a limited fashion by Wednesday do not tend to play the following week. Even if Wilson can practice Wednesday, we may see the Broncos decide to play it carefully, with them already nearly eliminated from the playoffs going into this week.
Brett Rypien took over for Wilson when he left the game. It would be hard to trust Rypien this week. With no teams on a bye, Rypien falls among a number of players who would be tough to start, even in Superflex formats.
Nevertheless, if you’ve been relying on Wilson as one of your starters this year and have limited other QB options, you may want to add Rypien in Superflex formats as insurance this week.
Lamar Jackson, BAL | Knee
While Jackson was technically still in contention to play on Sunday, he was absent from practice all week and listed as doubtful. It seemed as though Jackson was only not ruled out in case of an emergency on Sunday where Huntley could not play, and he needed to serve as an emergency backup option.
A report from ESPN on Sunday stated that sources told them Jackson had a sprained PCL and could be out until Christmas Eve. However, with Huntley getting hurt this week, there’s a chance Jackson becomes active this week. But whether he actually plays is a completely different question.
We may not get a tell as to the Ravens’ plans until Friday. With Anthony Brown and Brett Hundley on the practice squad, they could elevate both the day before their game with the Cleveland Browns and roll with that pair.
MORE: Monday RB Injury Report Week 15
On the other hand, Baltimore could have Jackson active as the emergency backup to Brown. If Huntley cannot go, then what the Ravens do in terms of practice squad moves will give a major clue as to Jackson’s status.
But even if Jackson is active, he may be a player to fade in fantasy lineups and Underdog Fantasy Best Ball formats. Even if he starts, the expectation is that Jackson would be heavily limited from a rushing perspective, which is where he gets a lot of his fantasy value.
Jackson is not a player you would want to be relying on in the first week of the fantasy playoffs.
Tyler Huntley, BAL | Concussion
With Huntley in the concussion protocol, time is against him this week. It’s hard for players to return from a concussion within a week as it is. When the following game is on a Saturday, that further decreases the chances of him being active.
Unless we see Huntley back in practice early this week, the expectation is that he will be out. If he plays, Huntley would have fringe Superflex value, as concussions rarely impact the following week’s performance. If he misses the game, then Brown or Hundley would both be tough to trust your fantasy playoff hopes to.
Kyler Murray, ARI | Knee
Kyler Murray left the Monday Night Football game against the New England Patriots with a knee injury. After the game, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN reported that a source told him that there is “little doubt that it is torn.” Therefore, the focus now will be on whether Murray can return ahead of the 2023 season as opposed to whether he can be back this year.
In his absence, Colt McCoy will likely start the rest of the way and sits among the streaming options on a weekly basis, depending on the matchup. In Superflex leagues, he is a must-add for anyone who needs an option heading into the fantasy playoffs.
Mike White, NYJ | Rib
We actually saw Mike White leave the game twice but returned both times. After the game, he went to the hospital for X-rays but was at least cleared to fly home with the team. On Monday, head coach Robert Saleh told reporters that White is day-to-day and they are preparing for him to play this week.
If White is active, then he would be an intriguing fantasy option against the Lions’ defense. Equally, if Joe Flacco draws the start in his absence, that would be a fun streaming option to consider. Alternatively, if it’s Zach Wilson, then no one will want to place their fantasy playoffs in the hands of an unreliable QB option.
Kenny Pickett, PIT | Concussion
Similarly to Wilson and Huntley, it’s a race against time for Kenny Pickett to have a chance to play in Week 15. Moreover, this is his second time in the protocol and the second one usually takes longer to clear than the first.
MORE: Panthers Defense Against the Steelers Are a Top Option for Fantasy in Week 15
It’s more than likely we see Mitch Trubisky on Sunday against the Panthers. He could be an intriguing Superflex streaming option this week after we saw Geno Smith throw for three touchdowns and 264 yards last week.
Daniel Bellinger, NYG | Ribs
The only tight end on the list is Daniel Bellinger, who left in the third quarter Sunday with a rib issue. The New York Giants TE had played every offensive snap in the first half. While we saw more of Nick Vannett in the second half, it would not be a surprise to see Lawrence Cager play a number of snaps next week as the main receiving tight end.
Bellinger has become an intriguing tight end with his usage in this offense. He’s not a 12 or 14-team regular, especially with all 32 teams playing, but in TE premium leagues, Bellinger is intriguing next week if he can get healthy.