The Training Room: Week 14 Injury Updates
The fantasy playoffs are finally here. Fantasy owners have worked so hard to get to this point to have a chance at the title, but being content with being a part of the conversation isn't good enough. The question now becomes how healthy is your fantasy team heading into the second season? Fantasy owners always have a lot of ups and downs each year when it comes to injuries, but the timing of those injuries can play a major factor as to whether or not you're a legit contender for the title or if you're a pretender.
Let's take a look at some of the initial injuries owners will need to monitor heading into Week 14. We will update this page throughout the week to add in other notable names on the mend as well. **Updated 12/8/19
Adam Thielen, WR Vikings
Injury: Strained Hamstring Re-aggravation
Timetable For Recovery: Week-To-Week, Ruled OUT Week 14
Potential Replacement: Olabisi Johnson
Comments: Thielen was surprisingly ruled out for Week 13 after he practiced in a limited fashion all week prior. The fact that he went from a limited practice last week to not practicing at all this week is a sign that he may have suffered a setback. The Vikings have made it clear that Thielen will not play unless he's 100% so we'll continue to wait until Thielen makes his return which unfortunately might be too little too late for fantasy owners.
Dalvin Cook, RB Vikings
Injury: Sprained Shoulder
Timetable For Recovery: Expected to play Week 14
Potential Replacement: Alexander Mattison
Comments: Cook was left off the final injury report which is a great sign for his availabilty this week and moving forward. The Vikings play the Lions this week so Cook should be in for a nice day from a fantasy standpoint.
Josh Jacobs, RB Raiders
Injury: Fractured Shoulder Blade
Timetable For Recovery: Questionable for Week 14
Potential Replacement: DeAndre Washington, Jalen Richard
Comments: Jacobs has been playing with a fracture in his shoulder since Week 7 but you really wouldn't have noticed given his production on the field during that time frame. Jacobs has not practiced much this week and this is the first time that he is legitimate question mark to be available for Week 14. Keep an eye on his status heading into the Raiders game against the Titans.
LeVeon Bell, RB Jets
Injury: Illness
Timetable For Recovery: Ruled OUT Week 14
Potential Replacement: Ty Montgomery, Bilal Powell
Comments: Not an ideal situation for fantasy owners as even though Bell has underperformed this year, he can still be effective especially against the Dolphins. He should be fine for Week 15 but hopefully those who have him can get to the next round to make that call.
Greg Olsen, TE Panthers
Injury: Concussion
Timetable For Recovery: Ruled OUT Week 14
Potential Replacement: Ian Thomas, Chris Manhertz
Comments: The Panthers are going through a lot of transition currently and are not going anywhere with regards to the playoffs so there is no need to rush Olsen back from a head injury. Interim head coach Perry Fewell stated that they'll go with a committee approach with Olsen being sidelined so this is a situation to avoid.
Damien Williams, RB Chiefs
Injury: Rib Injury
Timetable For Recovery: Ruled OUT Week 14
Potential Replacement: LeSean McCoy, Darwin Thompson, Spencer Ware
Comments: Williams' rib injury will sideline him for another week which makes the Chiefs backfield hard to predict against the Patriots. They even brought back Spencer Ware for depth which makes this backfield one to avoid in the first round of the fantasy playoffs just given the uncertainty of who will get the majority of the touches.
Daniel Jones, QB Giants
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Timetable For Recovery: Ruled OUT Week 14
Potential Replacement: Eli Manning
Comments: There's a good chance that Eli Manning closes out the season for the Giants depending on how severe Jones' high ankle sprain is. High ankle sprains normally are multi-week injuries and with the Giants not going anywhere fast, there is likely no urgency to rush him back and risk his health for meaningless games. It'd be hard to trust Eli Manning on Monday night with your possible fantasy playoff hopes on the line, but I'd consider all other options before taking a risk on him.
Chester Rogers, WR Colts
Injury: Fractured Knee
Timetable For Recovery: Placed on IR, out for season
Potential Replacement: Zach Pascal
Comments: The Colts are hurting for depth at the wide receiver position especially with T.Y. Hilton still struggling with his calf injury. Rogers' season will end prematurely due to this injury he sustained in the first half of Sunday's game against the Titans.
Kalen Ballage, RB Dolphins
Injury: Sprained Knee
Timetable For Recovery: Placed on IR
Potential Replacement: Patrick Laird, Myles Gaskin
Comments: Ballage suffered a non-contact type injury and went down immediately and had to be carted off. It's still unclear as to the extent of the injury Ballage is dealing with but that information will come out shortly I'm sure.
On The Mend
T.Y. Hilton, WR Colts
Injury: Strained Calf
Timetable For Recovery: Week-To-Week, Ruled OUT for Week 14
Potential Replacement: Zach Pascal, Parris Campbell
Comments: Calf issues are really difficult to manage as the risk of re-injury or setbacks are high when trying to ramp up activity. The Colts are still hanging around in the playoff race at 6-6, but if they end up falling out of contention then I wouldn't be surprised if they shut Hilton down.
Marlon Mack, RB Colts
Injury: Fractured Hand
Timetable For Recovery: Expected to play Week 14
Potential Replacement: Jonathan Williams, Jordan Wilkins
Comments: Mack will make his return to the field after missing two games with the fractured hand. He does face a tough matchup against the Bucs so although there doesn't seem to be any concern about his hand, his matchup is less than ideal heading into the first week of the fantasy playoffs. Regardless, if you have Mack you are going to start him based on his volume that he should get so I would use him as you normally would.
Julio Jones, WR Falcons
Injury: Sprained AC Joint
Timetable For Recovery: Expected to play Week 14
Potential Replacement: Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage
Comments: Jones was deemed questionable for Thanksgiving as he was able to go through the walkthrough portion of practice on Wednesday but ultimately being ruled out. With that being said, it sounds like Jones could be limited in practice this week but could play this Sunday so keep an eye on his status closely to make sure he's trending in the right direction.
Golden Tate, WR Giants
Injury: Concussion:
Timetable For Recovery: Cleared concussion protocol, will play Week 14
Potential Replacement: Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton
Comments: Tate seems to be on track to return to the field this Monday against the Eagles. He could be a solid option if you are looking for someone to fill your WR or flex spot as we currently have him ranked inside the top 30 in PPR formats.
Austin Hooper, TE Falcons
Injury: Sprained MCL
Timetable For Recovery: Expected to play Week 14
Potential Replacement: Jaeden Graham, Luke Stocker
Comments: Hooper will make his return to the field for the first time since Week 10. The TE position has been very thin this year so having Hooper back for fantasy owners will be a welcomed site. It remains to be seen how healthy the knee is but the fact that he's been practicing all week in limited fashion should be encouraging to fantasy owners.
James Conner, RB Steelers
Injury: Sprained AC Joint
Timetable For Recovery: Ruled OUT for Week 14
Potential Replacement: Benny Snell Jr.
Comments: Conner continues to struggle to get healthy from his shoulder injury and will be highly questionable in Week 15. Even if he does return next week, it would be very hard to trust him as fantasy owners get deeper into the playoffs.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Steelers
Injury: Sprained Knee
Timetable For Recovery: Week-To-Week, Ruled OUT Week 14
Potential Replacement: James Washington, Diontae Johnson
Comments: Smith-Schuster is still wearing a pretty heavy brace on his knee so it remains to be seen when he'll either shed the brace and return to practice. We'll see what his status will be as we head into Week 15 but he's looking iffy to trust if he does return in Week 15.
Matthew Stafford, QB Lions
Injury: Fractured Low Back
Timetable For Recovery: Week-To-Week
Potential Replacement: David Blough
Comments: Nothing has changed with Stafford's back and according to him it is healing as it should. With that being said, it is looking less likely that Stafford will be back on the field this year.
Jordan Howard, RB Eagles
Injury: Sprained AC Joint
Timetable For Recovery: Week-To-Week, Doubtful for Week 14
Potential Replacement: Miles Sanders
Comments: Howard still has not been cleared for contact so until he gets that green light he'll continue to be sidelined. Miles Sanders will continue to get the bulk of the workload in Howard's absence and is ranked just outside our top 10 in PPR formats.
Matt Breida, RB 49ers
Injury: Sprained Ankle
Timetable For Recovery: Week-To-Week, Limited Wednesday
Potential Replacement: Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman
Comments: Breida was going to make his return in Week 13 but the 49ers decided to hold him out as weather potentially had an impact on their decision. Breida will need to be 100% healthy before returning as any further re-aggravations to his ankle will likely cost him even more time so we'll get a better feel for where he stands as the weekend approaches.
Evan Engram, TE Giants
Injury: Sprained Foot
Timetable For Recovery: Week-To-Week, Ruled OUT for Week 14
Potential Replacement: Kaden Smith, Rhett Ellison
Comments: This was best case scenario for fantasy owners as we really had no clue what to expect from Engram after missing multiple weeks and the fact that he's playing on Monday night. It was going to be hard to judge so this can give fantasy owners some time to come up with a different option if you were planning on potentially rolling with Engram on Monday.
Dante Pettis, WR 49ers
Injury: Sprained Knee
Timetable For Recovery: Questionable for Week 14
Potential Replacement: Deebo Samuel, Kendick Bourne
Comments: Pettis was able to return to practice in limited fashion late in the week but it still doesn't guarantee his potential return to the field this weekend against the Saints. Pettis has not been on the fantasy radar this year and shouldn't be considered a fantasy option even if he is active.
Nelson Agholor, WR Eagles
Injury: Sprained Knee
Timetable For Recovery: Questionable for Week 14
Potential Replacement: J.J. Arcega-Whiteside
Comments: Agholor has missed 3 straight days of practice which doesn't seem like a player who is ready to make their return this week. Given the fact that the Eagles play on Monday night, Agholor should be left on your bench with other options considered due to his inconsistent play and also the Eagle's offense struggling.
Marquise Goodwin, WR 49ers
Injury: Sprained Knee
Timetable For Recovery: Questionable for Week 14
Potential Replacement: Deebo Samuel, Kendrick Bourne
Comments: Goodwin is not an option for the fantasy playoffs so I would look elsewhere for WR help.
Will Fuller, WR Texans
Injury: Strained Hamstring
Timetable For Recovery: Questionable for Week 14
Potential Replacement: Kenny Stills, DeAndre Carter
Comments: Fuller continues to struggle from returning from the hamstring injury that has plagued him since Week 8. He is a very risky option as he'll likely be limited if he's active and also at a high risk of re-aggravating the hamstring again due to the nature of the injury for a speed driven player. I'd consider other options if you have them before rolling Fuller out this week.
Ryan Griffin, TE Jets
Injury: Illness
Timetable For Recovery: Questionable for Week 14
Potential Replacement: Daniel Brown
Comments: Griffin practiced in limited fashion late in the week so unless the illness he's dealing with progressively gets worse he should be active for Sunday. The Jets play the Dolphins which makes Griffin a solid option in a very thin position.
Mohamed Sanu, WR Patriots
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Timetable For Recovery: Questionable for Week 14
Potential Replacement: Jakobi Meyers, Phillip Dorsett
Comments: Sanu is expected to play after coming out of Week 13 without setbacks. He didn't play many snaps last week which should hopefully change this upcoming week as the Patriots will have their hands full with the Chiefs.
Hunter Renfrow, WR Raiders
Injury: Punctured Lung
Timetable For Recovery: Ruled OUT Week 14
Potential Replacement: Zay Jones
Comments: Renfrow continues to get healthy after fracturing ribs which punctured his lung two weeks back. He'll continue to be week-to-week until his lung fully heals and the pain in his ribs is more tolerable.