Making it to the semifinal round of the fantasy football playoffs in your league means you’re just two wins away from hoisting the championship trophy in your league!
Unfortunately, the job isn’t done quite yet. Injuries to Tyreek Hill, Jayden Reed, and Tutu Atwell could have a huge impact on fantasy lineups in must-win situations in the fantasy playoffs.
Here is the latest fantasy injury update we have on some big-name WRs heading into Week 16.
Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Editor’s note: Hill returned to practice on Thursday in a limited fashion.
If you managed to advance to the next round of your fantasy playoffs without the services of the WR1 overall last week, then allow me to be the first to congratulate you.
However, fantasy managers who pulled off that feat are hoping to have him back in their fantasy lineups in Week 16.
Unfortunately, the first practice of this week didn’t give fantasy managers the news they were hoping for with a recent report from Omar Kelly detailing that Hill would not practice on Wednesday, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t play against the Dallas Cowboys.
It is worth mentioning that Hill did not practice all of last week while dealing with this ankle injury before he was ultimately ruled out on Sunday just ahead of their game against the New York Jets.
One could argue Hill is the engine to this high-powered offense in Miami with 97 receptions for 1,542 yards and 12 TDs through his first 13 games, but the Miami Dolphins did manage to still produce 30 points on Sunday without him in the lineup.
If Hill can go against the Cowboys, then I would have him atop my Week 16 WR rankings.
Hill would be a nightmare for this Cowboys’ secondary who run man coverage at one of the highest rates in the NFL, a coverage against which Hill has the highest win rate this season.
If Hill is unable to go against Dallas, then Jaylen Waddle would potentially jump into the top five of my WR rankings for this week with an expanded role in what could be a high-scoring affair in South Florida.
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers
Editor’s note: Reed was listed as a DNP again in practice on Thursday.
The recent production of this rookie WR from Michigan State has helped make him the most reliable fantasy pass catcher in the Green Bay Packers offense in 2023. He has managed to see 8+ targets and score a touchdown in three of his last four games.
His 65 total touches — 54 receptions and 11 carries — for 711 scrimmage yards and eight TDs this season have him as the WR28 in PPR formats, which has consequently thrust him into the WR2 conversation heading into Week 16.
Unfortunately, a recent report from Mike Spofford details that Reed was not practicing on Wednesday. For some context, Reed was a limited participant in practice all week heading into their matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while dealing with an ankle injury.
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Reed did manage to play through the injury and produce six receptions for 52 yards and a score, which suggests fantasy managers don’t need to panic quite yet about Reed’s status for Week 16.
One potential factor that could negatively impact Reed’s outlook against the Carolina Panthers would be the status of WR Christian Watson, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury but also did not practice on Wednesday.
If Reed takes the field against the Panthers, then he is a low-end WR2 for Week 16.
Tutu Atwell, WR, Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams’ offense has been firing on all cylinders since the return of RB Kyren Williams to the starting lineup four weeks ago. However, it would appear the team is going to get back another big play threat heading into their matchup against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football.
According to the team’s final injury report of the week, Atwell does not carry an injury designation ahead of Thursday night’s game. Atwell was unable to clear concussion protocol ahead of their Week 15 contest against the Washington Commanders but managed to practice in full all this week and will be available against the Saints.
Atwell has cooled off a bit after a red-hot start once WR Cooper Kupp returned to the lineup but has still managed to post a couple of double-digit fantasy performances since Week 5. He will enter Week 16 as a risky WR4 option for fantasy managers.
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