If you’re reading a fantasy football injury report ahead of Week 15, that means you made the playoffs. Congratulations on a successful season.
Now, we must navigate a troubling dearth of injuries being worsened by the growing list of COVID cases running rampant. The timing is awful but there are things that fantasy managers can do to help their teams move on one more week.
Here are the key fantasy-relevant injuries to be aware of in Week 15
Lamar Jackson (QB) Baltimore Ravens – Jackson was felled by an ankle injury early in the second quarter and carted off the field. Early diagnosis says Jackson, fortunately, did not suffer a high-ankle sprain and may not miss any time. However, if Jackson suits up, he could be physically limited which would be a severe blow to his fantasy upside. Jackson is the top rushing QB in the football but forced to rely on just his arm and Jackson is reduced to a middling QB2 facing a solid Green Bay secondary.
Aaron Rodgers (QB) Green Bay Packers – Despite another brilliant outing against the team he owns, Rodgers reportedly had a setback with his toe and could be further limited moving forward. It was said that Rodgers could be sidelined at any time if his foot were to get stepped on. This is troubling but as long as Rodgers is active, he’s a locked-in QB1, but one that comes with quite a bit of risk.
Josh Allen (QB) Buffalo Bills – After Buffalo’s overtime loss in Tampa, Allen addressed the media in a walking boot, which raised some big concerns. Tuesday, Allen’s injury was labeled a minor case of turf toe that isn’t expected to have any impact on this week’s must-win date with the fading Panthers. He might run less, but Allen is still a top-10 weekly option as long as he’s active.
Austin Ekeler (RB) Los Angeles Chargers – Fantasy football’s overall RB2, Ekeler was limited by an ankle injury last week and held out of practice Monday. However, the Chargers play Thursday so the day off wasn’t unexpected, and by all indications from Brandon Staley, the injury isn’t expected to affect Ekeler’s Week 15 availability.
DeAndre Hopkins (WR) Arizona Cardinals – Nuk is expected to undergo an MRI for a leg injury he sustained late in Arizona’s Monday night loss. We’ll update his status as results come in but it isn’t expected to be a serious injury.
D’Andre Swift (RB) Detroit Lions – Swift (shoulder) is listed as day-to-day and could be cleared to return this week. If Swift is activated, he is on the RB1/2 line due to his receiving prowess, even if he is eased back into action. We’ll update Swift’s recovery progress this week in Discord.
Terry McLaurin (WR) Washington Football Team – McLaurin banged his head on the turf and suffered a concussion in Week 14. McLaurin will have to clear the league’s concussion protocol before he’s able to be activated so we’ll keep an eye on his practice participation throughout the week.
Elijah Mitchell (RB) San Francisco 49ers – Mitchell missed Week 14 with a knee injury and a concussion that he somehow managed to play through in Week 13. Neither setback is supposed to be considered serious, so if Mitchell is a full participant in practice by Friday, he’ll be a locked-in RB1 against Atlanta.
Darrell Henderson (RB) Los Angeles Rams – On top of a quad injury that has sidelined him for two games, Henderson was placed on the reserve/COVID list. If vaccinated, Henderson could be cleared to suit up in Week 15 but the leg injury is another matter. For now, he’s looking very questionable.
Darren Waller (RB) Las Vegas Raiders – Waller (knee) was not at practice on Tuesday, which puts his Week 15 availability very much in doubt. Backup Foster Moreau was also absent with an abdominal ailment. This looks like a situation to avoid Saturday.
Chase Edmonds (RB) Arizona Cardinals – Edmonds was activated from IR last week but Kliff Kingsbury elected to keep him out of Monday’s loss. There’s a very good chance that Edmonds will return this week but as well as James Conner has performed as the feature back, it’s fair to wonder what kind of role Edmonds will have.
Michael Carter (RB) New York Jets – Absent since suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 11, Carter is tentatively expected to be activated ahead of New York’s trip to Miami this week. Carter was playing extremely well before getting injured and his three-down ability would provide a much-needed boost to both the Jets and fantasy managers hoping to win in Round 1.
Elijah Moore (WR) New York Jets – The rookie sensation was a surprise addition to the team’s short-term IR last week with a quad injury. Moore will miss a minimum of two more games but could be cleared by Week 17 for fantasy managers who have their championships that week.
Kareem Hunt (RB) Cleveland Browns – Hunt hurt his ankle early in Cleveland’s win and was unable to return. An MRI revealed no structural damage but Hunt isn’t expected to suit up this week against the Raiders. RB-needy fantasy managers should target D’Ernest Johnson on the waiver wire as a viable replacement.
T.J. Hockenson (TE) Detroit Lions – Like teammate D’Andre Swift, Hockenson is listed as “day-to-day” with a hand injury. We’ll base Hockenson’s Week 15 availability on how much practice time he is able to participate in prior to Sunday morning.
Tony Pollard (RB) Dallas Cowboys – Pollard missed Week 14 with a torn plantar fascia but is reportedly doing better and could return in Week 15. However, these types of foot injuries can be rather painful and prone to reoccur so it’s possible that Pollard will be limited, even if he’s activated. Fantasy managers might want to prepare to start other options, even if Pollard is cleared.
Emmanuel Sanders (WR) Buffalo Bills – Sanders sprained his knee during Buffalo’s Week 14 loss in Tampa and won’t play in Week 15. Gabriel Davis, who led Buffalo’s receiving corps in fantasy points last week and ran a route on 81% of his snaps, is in line for a boost in snaps and makes for a solid waiver wire add.
Will Fuller (WR) Miami Dolphins – Stubborn fantasy managers who have somehow held onto Fuller all season should probably go ahead and cut bait. Head coach Brian Flores indicated that Fuller won’t practice this week with a finger injury that has kept him out of nearly the entire 2021 season.
Players on Covid list (not sure if they’ll be cleared in time or not)
Darrell Henderson (RB) Los Angeles Rams
Baker Mayfield (QB) Cleveland Browns
Odell Beckham Jr. (WR) Los Angeles Rams
Jarvis Landry (WR) Cleveland Browns
Austin Hooper (TE) Cleveland Browns
Alexander Mattison (RB) Minnesota Vikings
Kadarius Toney (WR) New York Giants
Myles Gaskin (RB) Miami Dolphins
Salvon Ahmed (RB) Miami Dolphins
Phillip Lindsay (RB) Miami Dolphins
Quez Watkins (WR) Philadelphia Eagles
Cedrick Wilson (WR) Dallas Cowboys
Josh Gordon (WR) Kansas City Chiefs
Jaylen Waddle (WR) Miami Dolphins
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