The stakes are never bigger than the final week of the season, where champions are determined. In no other week is it more imperative to stay informed of all fantasy-relevant injuries and the ongoing pandemic only increases that importance.
Here are all the injuries and reserve/COVID players who could impact Week 17. Good luck bringing home the title!
Antonio Brown (WR) Tampa Bay Bucs – Now dealing with an ankle injury and could miss the game. Evans should suit up to pair with Gronk and Tyler Johnson as Brady’s top targets. Perriman (recently removed from C19 list) has a chance to be involved as well.
Dalvin Cook (RB) Minnesota Vikings – Cook missed last week due to testing positive for COVID but has already been activated. Cook almost certainly has to be inserted into fantasy lineups but fantasy managers burned by several underperforming players that returned last week should lower expectations for Week 17.
Lamar Jackson (QB) Baltimore Ravens – Jackson returned to practice Wednesday but showcased a noticeable limp and was limited. The Ravens would undoubtedly like to have their franchise singal-caller back to hold onto their waning playoff odds but considering how well Tyer Huntley has played, are unlikely to rush Jackson back until they’re confident he’s close to fully healthy. Update: Didn’t practice Thursday. Huntley trending towards starting.
Adam Thielen (WR) Minnesota Vikings – Based on Thielen’s reaction after he was tackled near the goal line, we weren’t expecting good news. Thielen ended up having season-ending ankle surgery on Tuesday and can safely be dropped from redraft rosters.
Elijah Mitchell (RB) San Francisco 49ers – After being sidelined for three games, Mitchell was a limited participant in practice Wednesday, which bodes well for his potential Week 17 availability. We’ll monitor the rookie’s status and update it in the Discord channel.
D’Andre Swift (RB) Detroit Lions – According to head coach Dan Campbell, Swift is expected to play in Seattle after missing four games with a shoulder injury. Swift would likely split time with Jamaal Williams and Craig Reynolds but has enough PPR upside to be an immediate RB2 if he’s activated.
Darrel Henderson (RB) Los Angeles Rams – Henderson sprained his MCL and has been placed on Injured Reserve. Henderson could return for the playoffs but the injury ends his 2021 fantasy season.
Cam Akers (RB) Los Angeles Rams –With Darrell Henderson’s regular season over, Akers could be on the field this week after being activated last week. If Akers is even able to jog onto the field, it would be a miraculous and unprecedented return from a torn Achilles in only five months.
James Conner (RB) Arizona Cardinals – A heel injury ultimately kept Conner out of Week 16 and has kept the breakout back on the sidelines in practice so far this week. If Conner is able to play, he’ll wind up splitting snaps with Chase Edmonds.
Miles Sanders (RB) Philadelphia Eagles – Sanders broke his hand last week and will not play in Week 17, at a minimum. Expect the Eagles to go with a rotation of Jordan Howard, Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainwell this week in Washington. Howard himself is dealing with a shoulder injury, so his absence would put Scott into RB3 territory.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB) Kansas City Chiefs – A collarbone injury is fully expected to keep Edwards-Helaire out this week. Darrel Williams should lead Kansas City’s backfield and has RB1 upside against Cincinnati.
Elijah Moore (WR) New York Jets – (NOW OUT) Moore has missed three games with a quad injury and is considered very questionable to suit up this week against the Bucs. We’ll update his practice participation in Discord throughout the week. Teammate Jamison Crowder is also dealing with a calf injury and is considered 50/50 at best.
Jimmy Garoppolo (QB) San Francisco 49ers – Trey Lance is in line to potentially start for the Niners this week as Garoppolo is dealing with a Grade 3 sprain to the thumb on his throwing hand. Garoppolo is going to try to practice this week and see if he can still make the start but could be limited or a risk to re-injure the thumb at any point. It’s a superb matchup for San Francisco, facing a moribund Houston defense, so whoever starts is certainly on the fantasy radar, particularly Lance, who would have top-10 upside.
Rondale Moore (WR) Arizona Cardinals – A knee injury that kept Moore sidelined last week is still keeping the rookie wideout out of practice. Moore hasn’t done much since the Week 12 bye even after the loss of DeAndre Hopkins, so he’s not a player fantasy managers should be relying on, even if he’s active.
Jack Doyle (TE) Indianapolis Colts – Doyle was limited to a pair of snaps last week after aggravating a pair of leg injuries. Doyle has little fantasy value as it is but if he’s ruled out, Mo Alie-Cox would become an interesting streaming option against a Raiders’ defense that has been terrible against tight ends all season.
Curtis Samuel (WR) Washington Football Team – Limited to just nine targets and 84 snaps all season, Samuel is highly likely to miss another game with a hamstring injury. Samuel’s first season since signing a free-agent deal to join Washington was a total bust.
Kadarius Toney (WR) New York Giants – Numerous ailments have impacted Toney’s rookie season and he’s now dealing with a shoulder injury that could keep him out of Week 17. With Daniel Jones on IR, there’s simply no reason to put Toney into any lineups at this point, even if he’s able to suit up in the fantasy finale.
Jared Goff is doubtful to play. Tim Boyle will get the nod, who found Amon-Ra St. Brown 9 times last week.
Marlon Mack and Laviska Shenault both activated from C19 list.
Players on the Reserve/COVID list
Kirk Cousins (QB) Minnesota Vikings
Antonio Gibson (RB) Washington Football Team – Jarrett Patterson has a chance to be an every down back in this game.
Darren Waller (TE) Las Vegas Raiders
Mike Evans (WR) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carson Wentz (QB) Indianapolis Colts
Julio Jones (WR) Tennessee Titans
Tim Patrick (WR) Denver Broncos
David Johnson (RB) Houston Texans
Marcedes Lewis (TE) Green Bay Packers
Dan Arnold (TE) Jacksonville Jaguars
Amari Rodgers (WR) Green Bay Packers
Tajae Sharpe (WR) Atlanta Falcons
Tyler Kroft (TE) New York Jets
