The RB injury report for Week 18 is mostly made up of players whose teams have nothing to play for this week. Therefore, fantasy football managers should be extremely cautious about utilizing them in their lineups, as they could either be inactive or extremely limited if they do dress.
Let’s take a look at the latest status for Josh Jacobs, D’Onta Foreman, James Conner, and Brian Robinson Jr. and examine who could be fantasy relevant if they do not play in Week 18.
RB Injury Report Heading Into Week 18
If you are looking to utilize this information in another way this week, then why not head over to Underdog Fantasy and play their Best Ball format? Knowing which injured player could suit up in Week 18 and who might be set to sit out can be a huge strategic advantage when deciding who is worth a late-round selection in drafts.
Josh Jacobs, LV | Hip/Oblique/Personal (Active)
Update: Jacobs spent time away from the team with his father, who was recovering from heart surgery. Jacobs has returned to the team and will play in Week 18.
The situation with Jacobs is intriguing this week because his absence from practice the over last two days has not been fully explained. He opened the week limited with hip and oblique injuries, but the non-participation was attributed to a personal situation. Therefore, it’s up in the air as to whether he will play this week.
With the Raiders eliminated from the NFL playoffs, Jacobs is a tough player to judge. With no contract for next year, suffering an injury this week chasing records could be a huge mistake.
The NFL’s leading rusher may want to secure that crown while also having Marcus Allen’s single-season franchise record of 1,759 yards in his sights. Jacobs would need a big performance (151-plus yards), but opportunities at history do not come around often.
If Jacobs is active, it would be hard not to put him in Week 18 fantasy lineups. If he suits up, it would seem odd for the Las Vegas Raiders to pull him during the game. This situation is one to keep an eye on when inactives are released.
If Jacobs does miss the game, rookie RB Zamir White could be the one in line to pick up the carries. In deeper leagues, he could be a strong option, but game flow may limit his opportunities during this one.
D’Onta Foreman, CAR | Knee (Questionable)
D’Onta Foreman was a late addition to the injury report in Week 18 with a knee issue. He is listed as a limited participant and tagged as questionable for the weekend. Mid-week downgrades are never good, and head coach Steve Wilks told reporters that all his questionable players are game-time decisions.
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It’s a tough situation with Foreman because, while the Panthers have nothing to play for, he does not have a contract for next year. That leaves a mixed situation where he would ideally like to play for one more opportunity to showcase his talents, but risking further injury for a meaningless end-of-season game is not a smart move.
Even if Foreman is active, it would be hard to trust what role he will have this week. Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blacksheer should be the main beneficiaries.
James Conner, ARI | Shin (Out)
As we expected, James Conner will not play in Week 18 with a shin injury. This makes sense, with the Arizona Cardinals having nothing to play for this week. Conner is under contract for next season, so risking him in a game with no consequence for Arizona would be an odd decision. In his absence, Corey Clement is an intriguing 14-team and deeper option. Keontay Ingram is another speculative option this week.
Brian Robinson Jr., WAS | Knee (Out)
It was also no real surprise to see the Washington Commanders rule our rookie RB Brian Robinson Jr. With nothing to play for, there is no point putting extra carries on his body.
MORE: Who Should I Start in Fantasy Football in Week 18?
Jonathan Williams is expected to handle the majority of work after Antonio Gibson was placed on IR earlier this week. Jaret Patterson could also see some work and is a deeper-league emergency option.