Fantasy Football Week 15 Injury Report: Waddling into Round 2 of Playoffs
Patrick Mahomes, QB Kansas City Chiefs
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Projected Timetable: Week 16-17
Initial Thoughts:
The Chiefs play on a short week with their week 16 game on Saturday. Mahomes has certainly played through worse, but there is obvious risk of him missing week 16 with the high ankle sprain. Keep an eye on his practice status. Mahomes typically tries to push to play in these situations, but Andy Reid has pushed back in certain situations in order to allow him to return to full health.
Tommy DeVito, QB New York Giants
Injury: Concussion
Projected Timetable: Week 17
Initial Thoughts:
Drew Lock is unlikely to be ready for week 16, so the Giants may find themselves turning to Tim Boyle as their starter. At least Malik Nabers got a touchdown from Boyle, but this should not excite many people.
Geno Smith, QB Seattle Seahawks
Injury: Right Knee
Projected Timetable: Week 16-17
Initial Thoughts:
By video, his right knee was forced into maximal flexion, which would lead to a concern of a meniscus injury mechanism. There is also risk that he suffered an MCL sprain. He came back out to the sideline after getting an X-Ray but was noticeably limping. Keep an eye on his status, but I do not anticipate him playing in week 16.
Justin Herbert, QB Los Angeles Chargers
Injury: Left High Ankle
Projected Timetable: Week 16-17
Initial Thoughts:
By video, it appeared that Herbert aggravated his prior left high ankle sprain. However, he was able to continue playing and I do anticipate him being able to suit up for week 16, likely with less rushing upside and slight pocket navigation deficits. Monitor his status.
Alvin Kamara, RB New Orleans Saints
Injury: Groin Strain
Projected Timetable: Week 16-18
Initial Thoughts:
His return will depend on the grade of the strain, but running backs with his skillset in agility and cutting typically have more issues in attempting to play sooner with a groin strain. There is a real risk that this injury will cost Kamara one to two weeks. Kendre Miller would be in line for a large workload if Kamara misses time.
Nick Chubb, RB Cleveland Browns
Injury: Foot Fracture
Projected Timetable: Season Ending
Initial Thoughts:
A very unfortunate injury for Chubb as he was attempting his return from ACLR. In isolation, foot fractures do not carry large season-to-season carryover in reinjury risk, so in theory, he should be able to return to full health for the 2025 season. If dynasty managers in your leagues are looking to dump Chubb if they view him as a dead asset, consider buying low. I would not want to send an early or mid-second-round pick for him though given his age and lack of pass-catching upside. Jerome Ford could be a league winner for weeks 16-17.
Trey Benson, RB Arizona Cardinals
Injury: Ankle Sprain
Projected Timetable: TBD
Initial Thoughts:
I still need to find the video of the mechanism to determine low versus high ankle, but Benson was ruled out mid-game which would indicate a possible higher grade than just mild, meaning he will likely miss at least week 16. Arizona will be down both Emari Demercado and Benson against Carolina, which means James Conner very well could wind up with 90% of the workload in week 16. DeeJay Dallas is the next handcuff.
Joe Mixon, RB Houston Texans
Injury: Left Ankle Sprain
Projected Timetable: Week 16-17
Initial Thoughts:
The Texans play on a short week with a game on Saturday and Mixon did not look 100% after he returned from his left ankle sprain. He was noticeably hesitant in lateral movement and cutting, with slow transitions from deceleration to re-acceleration. Hopefully, it is nothing and he is able to play week 16, but keep an eye on his status. He did play the rest of week 15, but sometimes these injuries lead to stiffening and swelling post-game.
David Montgomery, RB Detroit Lions
Injury: MCL Sprain, Surgery
Projected Timetable: Season-Ending
Initial Thoughts:
Montgomery suffered an MCL sprain that will require season ending surgery, likely meaning a grade 3 tear of the MCL. It may be a good idea to stash Craig Reynolds, but the assumption here would be that Jahmyr Gibbs takes over close to 80-85% of the workload rest of season as they make a push for the number one seed. For dynasty, Montgomery should be able to recover and return to form by July next season.
Sincere McCormick, RB Las Vegas Raiders
Injury: Ankle
Projected Timetable: Season-Ending
Initial Thoughts:
McCormick suffered a left high ankle sprain and is not expected back this season. Anticipate Alexander Mattison returning to the starting role with Ameer Abdullah operating as the receiving back.
Jaylen Waddle, WR Miami Dolphins
Injury: Right Knee, Ankle
Projected Timetable: Week 17-18
Initial Thoughts:
Video is not diagnostic, but his injury did not appear to be of a mild nature. His ankle did get pinned as well, but his injury has officially been designated as a knee injury. By video, it appears to be an MCL sprain of likely moderate grade, meaning he very well could miss the rest of the season. Malik Washington will be the next man up after Odell Beckham was released.
Wan'Dale Robinson, WR New York Giants
Injury: Concussion
Projected Timetable: Week 17
Initial Thoughts:
On average, wide receivers have missed 1.6 weeks with a concussion with only one clearing protocol within the five days needed to play the following week. Operate as if he will be out Week 16, but this should just provide a boost in volume to Malik Nabers. I would not trust anyone else in this offense during fantasy playoffs.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR New Orleans Saints
Injury: Concussion
Projected Timetable: Week 17
Initial Thoughts:
See the note above on Robinson and apply it here. Unfortunately, his boom-bust magic has dwindled down to bust nature without Derek Carr, and now he is set to miss time.
Xavier Legette, WR Carolina Panthers
Injury: Groin Strain
Projected Timetable: Week 16-18
Initial Thoughts:
A rough go for Legette, who was already battling a wrist injury that will require ligament repair after the season is over. Now he is dealing with a new groin strain that will likely cost him time. The team could elect to shut him down due to their record and his wrist injury, so monitor his status. If he is held out, it should provide a boost to Jalen Coker.
AJ Brown, WR Philadelphia Eagles
Injury: Left High Ankle
Projected Timetable: Week 16-18
Initial Thoughts:
I will keep a wide range of returns on this one, but he was seen walking around in the locker room without a limp or noticeable issue, and he also told the media that he felt fine. We have heard these situations play out where the player says they feel fine and then they wind up missing one or two weeks so keep an eye on his practice status, but he may have dodged a bullet, especially if he did not suffer a high ankle sprain. Hopefully, he can play week 16, as he did appear ready to go back in towards the end of the game before they got a first down and iced the game. However, these often swell up and stiffen after the game and could give him problems leading into the practice week.
Zach Ertz, TE Washington Commanders
Injury: Concussion
Projected Timetable: Week 17-18
Initial Thoughts:
Ertz does have a history of concussions, but that does not always mean the player misses multiple weeks. Monitor his status moving forward, but operate with the assumption that he will miss week 16 based on the average time to return.
Will Dissly, TE Los Angeles Chargers
Injury: Right AC, Shoulder
Projected Timetable: Week 17-18
Initial Thoughts:
Dissly is likely going to be out for Thursday night and could miss week 17 as well. Stone Smartt was a decent replacement in week 15 and should operate in a similar role, though keep an eye on if Hayden Hurst is activated for return.
| Player | Position | Team | Injury | Week of Injury | Projected Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.J. Dillon | RB | GB | Neck, Stinger | IR | Season-Ending |
| Elijah Mitchell | RB | SF | Hamstring Surgery | IR | Season Ending |
| J.J. McCarthy | QB | MIN | Right Meniscus Repair | IR | Season Ending |
| Deshaun Watson | QB | CLE | Right Achilles | Week 7 | Season Ending |
| Christian Kirk | WR | JAC | Left Clavicle Fracture | Week 8 | Season Ending |
| Dak Prescott | QB | DAL | Hamstring Tear, Surgery | Week 9 | Season Ending |
| Hollywood Brown | WR | KC | Left SC Surgery | IR | Week 16-17 |
| Rashee Rice | WR | KC | Right LCL, HS Repair | Week 4 | Season-Ending |
| Brandon Aiyuk | WR | SF | Right ACL, MCL | Week 7 | Season Ending |
| Chris Godwin | WR | TB | Ankle Fracture | Week 7 | Season Ending |
| Chris Olave | WR | NO | Concussion | Week 9 | Week 16-TBD |
| Stefon Diggs | WR | HOU | Right ACL | Week 8 | Season Ending |
| Erick All Jr | TE | CIN | Right ACL | Week 9 | Season Ending |
| Zack Moss | RB | CIN | Neck | Week 9 | Indefinitely |
| Zamir White | RB | LVR | Quad | Week 9 | Season Ending |
| Gardner Minshew | QB | LVR | Left Clavicle Fracture | Week 12 | Season Ending |
| Gabe Davis | WR | JAC | Knee | Week 11 | Season Ending |
| Austin Ekeler | RB | WAS | Concussion, IR | Week 12 | Week 18 |
| Cedric Tillman | WR | CLE | Concussion | Week 12 | Week 16 |
| Christian McCaffrey | RB | SF | Right PCL | Week 13 | Season-Ending |
| Trevor Lawrence | QB | JAC | Left AC Surgery | Week 14 | Season Ending |
| J.K. Dobbins | RB | LAC | Left MCL | Week 12 | Week 17-18 |
| Taysom Hill | QB | NO | Left Knee | Week 13 | Season-Ending |
| Dallas Goedert | TE | PHI | Knee Sprain | Week 13 | IR, Week 18 |
| Jordan Mason | RB | SF | Ankle Sprain | Week 13 | Week 18 |
| George Pickens | WR | PIT | Hamstring Strain | Week 14 | Week 16-17 |
| Derek Carr | QB | NO | Left Hand/Wrist | Week 14 | Season Ending |
| Jonathon Brooks | RB | CAR | Right ACL Retear | Week 14 | Season Ending |
| Aidan O'Connell | QB | LVR | Left Knee | Week 14 | Season Ending |
| Will Dissly | TE | LAC | Right Shoulder | Week 14 | Week 15-16 |
| Patrick Mahomes | QB | KC | High Ankle Sprain | Week 15 | Week 16-18 |
| Tommy DeVito | QB | NYG | Concussion | Week 15 | Week 17 |
| Geno Smith | QB | SEA | Right Knee | Week 15 | Week 16-17 |
| Alvin Kamara | RB | NO | Groin Strain | Week 15 | Week 16-18 |
| Nick Chubb | RB | CLE | Foot Fracture | Week 15 | Season Ending |
| Trey Benson | RB | ARI | Ankle Sprain | Week 15 | Week 17-18 |
| Joe Mixon | RB | HOU | Left Ankle | Week 15 | Week 16-17 |
| Jaylen Waddle | WR | MIA | Right Knee | Week 15 | Week 17-18 |
| Wan'Dale Robinson | WR | NYG | Concussion | Week 15 | Week 17 |
| Marquez Valdes Scantling | WR | NO | Concussion | Week 15 | Week 17 |
| Xavier Legette | WR | CAR | Groin | Week 15 | Week 16-18 |
| AJ Brown | WR | PHI | Left Ankle | Week 15 | Week 16-18 |
| Zach Ertz | TE | WAS | Concussion | Week 15 | Week 17 |
| Justin Herbert | QB | LAC | Left High Ankle mild | Week 15 | Week 16-17 |
| David Montgomery | RB | DET | MCL Sprain | Week 15 | Season Ending |
| Drew Lock | QB | NYG | Heel | Week 14 | Week 16-18 |
| Sincere McCormick | RB | LVR | High Ankle Sprain | Week 15 | Season Ending |
