The Training Room: Week 15 Injury Updates
Congratulations to those who are on to the next round of the fantasy playoffs! Hopefully, your team made it out of Week 14 unscathed with regards to injury, but based on the number of injuries that occurred, that might've been hard to do.
Injuries that happen during the fantasy playoffs are always more magnified as you just don't know how quick of a turnaround a player might be able to have to play the next week. Let's get into the injuries from Week 14 and also cover the guys you need to keep tabs on heading into Week 15. **Updated 12/14/19
Mike Evans, WR Buccaneers
Injury: Strained Hamstring
Timetable For Return: Out For Season
Potential Replacement: Scott Miller, Breshad Perriman
Comments: Soft tissue injuries this late in the season are usually season enders especially for teams who don't have any playoff hopes. Count on Chris Godwin to soak up more targets in his absence and have Scott Miller and Breshad Perriman round out the receiving corps.
Derrius Guice, RB Redskins
Injury: Sprained MCL
Timetable For Return: Out For Season
Potential Replacement: Adrian Peterson
Comments: Guice just can't seem to avoid the injury bug. It was another season of injuries that derailed Guice's ability to showcase his talent over the course of the full season.
Jameis Winston, QB Buccaneers
Injury: Fractured Hand
Timetable For Return: Expected to play Week 15
Potential Replacement: Blaine Gabbert
Comments: Winston apparently showed enough to both the coaching and training staff to get the nod for Sunday's game. How effectively he'll be in actual real game situations is going to be hard to determine but he'll be hard to sit after having a huge performance in the first round of the fantasy playoffs last week. He gets the Lions this week and should have another productive game.
Calvin Ridley, WR Falcons
Injury: Abdominal Injury
Timetable For Return: Out For Season
Potential Replacement: Russell Gage, Christian Blake
Comments: We still don't know why Ridley is out for the season but he announced it on social media this week. We'll hopefully get some updates as to what's going on but it sounds like whatever is going on is serious enough to have him miss the rest of the year.
Jared Cook, TE Saints
Injury: Concussion
Timetable For Return: Expected to play Week 15
Potential Replacement: Josh Hill
Comments: Cook has cleared concussion protocol and will be available for the Saints as they take on the Colts on Monday night. Cook will continue to be heavily involved in the passing game and should be a solid option for those who have him on the roster.
DeVante Parker, WR Dolphins
Injury: Concussion
Timetable For Return: Expected to play Week 15
Potential Replacement: Allen Hurns
Comments: Parker was cleared through concussion protocol and is will start on Sunday against Giants. We have Parker inside the top 20 in PPR formats.
Rashaad Penny, RB Seahawks
Injury: Torn ACL
Timetable For Return: Out For Season
Potential Replacement: Chris Carson
Comments: Penny had an MRI that confirmed the tear and will be put on IR ending his season. It's a tough blow for Penny who was carving out a nice role in the Seahawks offense over the last few weeks. Chris Carson will continue to be the lead back for the remainder of the season.
Dak Prescott, QB Cowboys
Injury: Sprained Finger
Timetable For Return: Expected to play Week 15
Potential Replacement: Cooper Rush
Comments: Prescott injured his index finger on his throwing hand in Thursday's loss to the Bears. Prescott says his finger feels fine and there is no indication that he is in danger of missing this Sunday's game against the Rams.
D.J. Chark, WR Jaguars
Injury: Sprained Foot
Timetable For Return: Ruled OUT for Sunday
Potential Replacement: Dede Westbrook, Chris Conley
Comments: Chark was not available for practice this whole week so those who have him will need to have a backup plan for this weekend. He'll be questionable at best for next weekend if he is able to recover quickly but I'm not optimistic that that will be the case.
Noah Fant, TE Broncos
Injury: Sprained Foot
Timetable For Return: Questionable for Week 15
Potential Replacement: Jeff Heuerman
Comments: Fant hurt his foot in the 3rd quarter of last Sunday's game against the Texans and did not return. The questionable tag is somewhat concerning as the Broncos will want to see how he moves around before the game to make a determination. Keep an eye on his status as inactives come out for the early slate of games.
On The Mend
Adam Thielen, WR Vikings
Injury: Strained Hamstring
Timetable For Return: Full practice Wednesday
Potential Replacement: Olabisi Johnson
Comments: Thielen will have to get through practice this week unscathed to ensure he'll make his return Sunday against the Chargers. Check back later in the week to see where he stands.
Josh Jacobs, RB Raiders
Injury: Fractured Shoulder Blade
Timetable For Return: Questionable for Week 15
Potential Replacement: Jalen Richard, DeAndre Washington
Comments: Jacobs states that he plans to play in Week 15 and will go through warm-ups to see how the shoulder is feeling. There hasn't been any indication or concern that he might miss this game against the Jaguars so until we hear differently we expect Jacobs to be out there.
Greg Olsen, TE Panthers
Injury: Concussion
Timetable For Return: Ruled OUT for Week 15
Potential Replacement: Ian Thomas
Comments: Olsen was a limited participant this week but was ruled out later in the week when it seemed he wasn't going to get clearance on time. Ian Thomas could be a sneaky start if you are looking for TE help and want to roll the dice.
Damien Williams, RB Chiefs
Injury: Rib Injury
Timetable For Return: Questionable for Week 15
Potential Replacement: LeSean McCoy, Darwin Thompson
Comments: This backup is all of a sudden really crowded and if Williams were to return that would only further complicate matters. Even if Williams does play, I'm not sure I'd feel confident in starting him just based on how they have been sharing the touches in the backfield with him out.
Daniel Jones, QB Giants
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Timetable For Return: Limited This Week
Potential Replacement: Eli Manning
Comments: There's a chance that Jones starts the last two week so of the season but he'll need to show well that he's as close to healthy before the Giants put him back under center. Consider him day-to-day at this point and we'll update his status next week.
T.Y. Hilton, WR Colts
Injury: Strained Calf
Timetable For Return: Questionable for Week 15
Potential Replacement: Zach Pascal, Parris Campbell
Comments: This is a tricky situation to navigate as clearly Hilton is not 100% and he's playing on Monday night. Add in the fact that he'll likely be covered by Marshon Lattimore if he does play and there is more risk to starting Hilton than looking for alternatives. We'll see if Hilton actually does play but for those who have him you need to roster another Colts receiver just in case he is unable to play.
James Conner, RB Steelers
Injury: Sprained AC Joint
Timetable For Return: Questionable for Week 15
Potential Replacement: Benny Snell Jr., Jaylen Samuels
Comments: Conner is hoping to return to the field this week in a huge game against the Bills. The fact that he's practicing in full is a great sign that fantasy owners will have him available this weekend.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Steelers
Injury: Sprained Knee
Timetable For Return: Ruled OUT for Week 15
Potential Replacement: James Washington, Diontae Johnson
Comments: JuJu suffered a setback on Thursday as he re-aggravated his knee and has been ruled out against the Bills and potentially longer. I would not expect him back this season just based on him aggravating his knee later in the week and with only two weeks left in the season after this week.
Jordan Howard, RB Eagles
Injury: Sprained AC Joint
Timetable For Return: Ruled OUT for Week 15
Potential Replacement: Miles Sanders
Comments: Howard has yet to be cleared for contact and although he's practicing to maintain some level of conditioning, until he's able to take contact, he'll continue to be sidelined.
Matthew Stafford, QB Lions
Injury: Low Back Fracture
Timetable For Return: Ruled OUT for Week 15
Potential Replacement: David Blough
Comments: I'm not sure why I keep writing about Stafford each week as he is unlikely to return, but if there happens to be a miracle where all of a sudden he's practicing I don't want to not have him be on this list. Consider him unlikely to return as the Lions are going nowhere and there's no need to have him back under center at less than 100%.
Evan Engram, TE Giants
Injury: Sprained Foot
Timetable For Return: Ruled OUT for Week 15
Potential Replacement: Rhett Ellison, Kaden Smith
Comments: Engram is getting to the point where if he doesn't make significant progress this week that the likelihood of him being shut down is becoming higher and higher. Hopefully we'll see a positive step in the right direction next week but even if he does return, he's not somebody I would trust this late into the season.
Will Fuller, WR Texans
Injury: Strained Hamstring
Timetable For Return: Questionable for Week 15
Potential Replacement: Kenny Stills
Comments: Fuller has been on this list frequently this season as well and the guy just can't seem to stay healthy for a full season. His hamstring discomfort continues to be a lingering issue that might not ever fully cooperate until the season is over. Fuller is a high risk, high reward type of player if he's active, especially in a crucial game against the Titans.