The Training Room: Week 16 Injury Updates
The fantasy football season is winding down and most of you still reading this are either playing for consolation prizes or playing for the top prize of being your league champion! This had to be the most challenging fantasy football season that we've experienced with all the COVID related issues and the constant shifting and adjusting of rosters to account for the changes. The fact that we even got through the season is an amazing feat as there were some weeks where it looked like the NFL was in trouble with regards to navigating the COVID outbreaks during the season. But the fantasy championship is on the line, and there were some very notable injuries that occurred in Week 15 that have significant implications for championship week. Let's get right into it. Updated 12/27/20.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB Chiefs
Injury: Strained Hip, High Ankle Sprain
Timetable For Recovery: 3-4 Weeks
Potential Replacements: Le'Veon Bell
Initial Thoughts: CEH landed awkwardly as he was being tackled and you could see his left leg be bent behind him which led to him being helped off the field and not able to put any weight through that left leg. X-rays were negative which is encouraging, and it sounds like he is just dealing with a bad strain to the front side of the hip based on how the leg was twisted and where the potential issue could be. Reports on Monday are that he is also dealing with a high ankle sprian so he will not be available at all for Week 16.
D.K. Metcalf, WR Seahawks
Injury: Strained Hamstring
Timetable For Recovery: Expected To Play Week 16
Potential Replacements: Tyler Lockett, David Moore
Initial Thoughts: Metcalf tweaked his hamstring last week but looks to be good to go against the Rams. Metcalf has a tough matchup as he'll likely be going head to head with Jalen Ramsey so he is just outside our top 10 WR options for Week 16. If you have him, you are starting him.
Jalen Reagor, WR Eagles
Injury: Sprained Ankle
Timetable For Recovery: Expected To Play Week 16.
Potential Replacements: Travis Fulgham, Greg Ward
Initial Thoughts: Reagor doesn't have an injury designation heading into Sunday's game against the Cowboys. Reagor might have more real life appeal than fantasy appeal and would be hard to recommend as a fantasy option in championship week.
Raheem Mostert, RB 49ers
Injury: High Ankle Sprain Re-aggravation
Timetable For Recovery: Placed On IR, Out For Season.
Potential Replacements: Jeff Wilson Jr.
Initial Thoughts: Mostert has struggled to stay healthy all year as he's battled a number of injuries throughout this season. The hope is he'll be able to get healthy and ready for next season as the talent is there, he just needs to get his body feeling and performing better.
Cam Akers, RB Rams
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Timetable For Recovery: 3-4 Weeks
Potential Replacements: Darrell Henderson, Malcolm Brown
Initial Thoughts: Akers hurt his ankle in Sunday's loss to the Jets but was able to play through the injury. With the ankle settling after the game, it appears the pain has kicked up significantly and will cost Akers the rest of the regular season if not more if the Rams do end up making the playoffs.
Stefon Diggs, WR Bills
Injury: Strained Foot
Timetable For Recovery: Expected To Play Week 16
Potential Replacements: John Brown, Gabriel Davis, Cole Beasley
Initial Thoughts: Diggs hurt his foot late in Saturday's win over the Broncos and did not return. Thankfully, it looks like he avoided any significant issues as he was able to practice in full this week as the Bills get ready to play the Patriots on Monday night. Diggs will be a top 5 option in championship week.
Michael Gallup, WR Cowboys
Injury: Hip Pointer
Timetable For Recovery: Expected To Play Week 16.
Potential Replacements: Ceedee Lamb, Cedrick Wilson
Initial Thoughts: Gallup practiced in full this week and will be ready to face the Eagles on Sunday. The fact that he was able to practice in full should give fantasy owners confidence that he's as close to full health after dealing with the hip issues last week. However, there should hopefully be better options available on your roster in championship week.
James Robinson, RB Jaguars
Injury: Sprained Ankle
Timetable For Recovery: Week To Week. Ruled OUT For Week 16.
Potential Replacements: Dare Ogunbowale
Initial Thoughts: Robinson injured his ankle against the Ravens and never returned. He didn't practice at all this week and has already been ruled out for Week 16 against the Bears.
Terry McLaurin, WR Washington Football Team
Injury: Sprained Ankle
Timetable For Recovery: Week To Week. Ruled OUT For Week 16.
Potential Replacements: Cam Sims, Steven Sims
Initial Thoughts: McLaurin has been a bright spot for Washington and losing him in an important game with playoff implications is a tough blow. Logan Thomas will probably see the biggest benefit with McLaurin out.
Tyreek Hill, WR Chiefs
Injury: Strained Hamstring. Expected To Play Week 16.
Timetable For Recovery: Day To Day
Potential Replacements: Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman
Initial Thoughts: Hill was held out of practice on Wednesday but returned to limited practice late in the week. Hill has a great matchup against the Falcons and it looks as if the hamstring issues he does have don't appear to be that serious. Start Hill with confidence this week.
On The Mend
Ezekiel Elliott, RB Cowboys
Injury: Strained Calf. Expected To Play Week 16.
Initial Thoughts: Tony Pollard was really productive in Elliott's absence last week, but Elliott logged limited practices this week which puts him in line to start against the Eagles. It sounds like even though Elliott will play but might not play his full compliments of snaps. Tony Pollard will still be part of the gameplan so them both splitting touches makes them less of an appealing option for championship week.
Allen Robinson, WR Bears
Injury: Strained Hamstring. Expected To Play Week 16.
Initial Thoughts: Robinson didn't practice Thursday but returned on a limited basis on Friday which puts him on track to play against his old team the Jaguars.
Antonio Gibson, RB Washington Football Team
Injury: Sprained Toe. Expected To Play Week 16.
Initial Thoughts: Gibson was limited all week but looks like he is expected to play this week against the Panthers. The fact that he was able to practice in limited fashion all week and not have any setbacks should give those who have him rostered confidence that he should be able to handle the workload that he was getting prior to getting hurt. With Washington fighting to get into the playoffs, and with Alex Smith not available, they might rely on Gibson a lot today.
Alex Smith, QB Washington Football Team
Injury: Strained Calf. Questionable For Week 16.
Initial Thoughts: Smith practiced in full on Friday, but apparently the medical staff is still concerned that Smith is not able to do everything they want him to do to feel comfortable to have him play in Week 16. Haskins has taken all the first team reps this week outside of Friday so it looks like this decision is going to come down to the wire depending on how Smith feels today.
Julio Jones, WR Falcons
Injury: Strained Hamstring. Ruled OUT For Week 16.
Initial Thoughts: Jones continues to be limited by a hamstring issue and reports are that he received a PRP injection (it helps expedite the healing process) in his calf muscle. The calf and hamstring do crossover each other in the back of the knee but it's hard to say how ready Jones will be even if the injection does help. The Falcons have nothing to play for at this point so rushing Jones back to play for pride doesn't sound like the smartest ideas for their star receiver. I'd still be surprised if Jones suits up in Week 16 or 17.
James Conner, RB Steelers
Injury: Strained Thigh. Expected To Play Week 16.
Initial Thoughts: Conner practiced in full this week which should mean he's as healthy as he can be given this time of the year. It's hard to know what Coach Tomlin is going to do in terms of snaps for both Conner and Benny Snell heading into Week 16 against the Colts, but it would be hard not to play Conner given what is on the line for the Steelers.
George Kittle, TE 49ers
Injury: Broken Foot. Expected To Play Week 16.
Initial Thoughts: Coach Shanahan has stated that Kittle is going to play Week 16, but I think it's pretty common sense that he's going to be on limited snaps as the 49ers aren't playing for anything and he is their start TE. Still, even in limited snaps, he could make enough of an impact on your fantasy roster just due to how thin the position is to warrant starting him for championship week. If you are on the fence about his snaps, it likely won't take much for him to make an impact so I would start him with confidence.
Keenan Allen, WR Chargers
Injury: Strained Hamstring. Not Expected To Play Week 16.
Initial Thoughts: Allen is still dealing with lingering hamstring issues and although he practiced in limited fashion on Friday, it still sounds the discomfort is enough to hold him out for Sunday's game against the Broncos. The Chargers would rather give him another week to rest than to try and push him which
Chase Edmonds, RB Cardinals
Injury: Sprained Knee/Ankle. Questionable For Week 16.
Initital Thoughts: Edmonds sat out early in the week to help rest his body but was able to practice in limited fashion late in the week which should allow him to suit up against the 49ers.
