NFL injury report: The situations to monitor for Week 16

It's time again to review the most recent injury news through the lens of fantasy football.

Injuries are an unfortunate part of football, but there’s always a “next man up” — and fantasy players need to know the situations to monitor to take early advantage of changing situations.

A lot can change between now and kickoff, but these are the biggest situations to monitor thought the week.

QB Derek Carr , Las Vegas Raiders (groin) Carr will be out 10-14 days with a groin injury, and his Week 16 status is definitely in doubt. Marcus Mariota would be a worthwhile streaming option if Carr misses.

Alex Smith , Washington Football Team (calf) A calf injury forced Smith to exit Week 14 and miss practices during the week before ultimately missing all of Week 15. Dwayne Haskins will start for as long as Smith is out, but neither Smith nor Haskins needs to be considered for fantasy.

Daniel Jones , New York Giants (hamstring, ankle) The injuries have piled up for Jones over the last month, and he missed Week 15 as a result. Colt McCoy will continue to start in Jones’ stead, and McCoy does not need to be considered for fantasy. Jones’ value is done for the fantasy season even if he does return, as the Giants face the Ravens in Week 16 — a matchup to avoid even at full health.

Nick Mullens , San Francisco 49ers (elbow) Mullens exited the end of the Week 15 game, which led to a C.J. Beathard Hail Mary (that worked). Practice reports will be telling, but whoever starts (Mullens or Beathard) will be a streaming option in Week 16 against the Cardinals in what could be another high-scoring game.

Jimmy Garoppolo , San Francisco 49ers (ankle) There are no plans to activate Jimmy G before Week 16, and his season is likely over.

RB Christian McCaffrey , Carolina Panthers (shoulder, thigh) The hope is that McCaffrey is back for Week 16, but at this point, we’ll just have to believe it when we see it. Mike Davis remains a fantasy RB2 while McCaffrey is out, and CMC is an auto-start whenever (if ever) he plays again.

Ezekiel Elliott , Dallas Cowboys (calf) Elliott had been hampered by a calf injury in recent weeks, and it ultimately caused him to miss a game, opening the door for his more-than-capable backup, Tony Pollard , to introduce himself to the fantasy world. If Elliott misses more time, Pollard becomes a late-season league-winner. Pollard had 18 touches for 132 yards and two scores in Week 15.

James Robinson , Jacksonville Jaguars (ankle) We will have to monitor practice reports this week, as Robinson is an every week fantasy RB1. His backup, Dare Ogunbowale , would be nothing more than a desperate flex play — and not a good one at that — if Robinson can’t go.

Antonio Gibson , Washington Football Team (toe) Gibson is dealing with turf toe. He returned to practice in a limited fashion late last week but still missed the game. There’s a chance he returns in Week 16, but the turf toe is likely to linger even if he plays. The best-case scenario is that Gibson gets a full late-week practice in; if that happens, you can play him with confidence. J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber will split duties in the meantime, with McKissic getting more work out of the air and Barber getting more of the goal-line work.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire , Kansas City Chiefs (ankle, hip) Edwards-Helaire is expected to miss the final two weeks of the regular season. Le'Veon Bell is a must-add off the waiver wire and a solid start for however long CEH is out.

Ronald Jones , Tampa Bay Buccaneers (finger, illness) Jones has a broken finger, and he landed on the COVID list mid-week, the combination of which kept him off the field in Week 15. We will have to monitor practice reports here, but Leonard Fournette becomes a viable flex option if Jones misses another week.

Raheem Mostert and Jeffery Wilson , San Francisco 49ers (ankle) Mostert had 14 carries for 68 yards before injuring his ankle and being forced from the game in Week 15, after which Wilson went 16-60-1 on the ground before injuring his own ankle. The 49ers carousel of RBs continues. Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon are the only currently healthy options, but practice reports this week will be telling. San Francisco’s preferred order of touches seems to be Mostert-Wilson-Coleman-McKinnon. If both Mostert and Wilson are out next week, Coleman and McKinnon are deep flex plays, with McKinnon really only potentially viable in full PPR formats.

Myles Gaskin , Miami Dolphins (illness) Gaskin missed the last two weeks after testing positive for COVID-19. Whenever he returns, he should be a workhorse in the tail-end fantasy RB2 range. Salvon Ahmed is a tail-end RB2 or high-end flex option in the meantime.

Damien Harris , New England Patriots (back) Harris hurt his back in Week 14 and missed Week 15 despite extra rest (he played on Thursday in Week 14). Sony Michel is a TD-dependent flex option if Harris misses time. Harris is also a TD-dependent flex option when healthy. James White sees no change in value regardless.

Jamaal Williams , Green Bay Packers (thigh) Williams injured his thigh but hasn’t been ruled out for Week 16. He’s a deep flex option, so practice reports will have to be monitored. There’s no change to Aaron Jones ’ value either way.

Devonta Freeman , New York Giants (ankle) Freeman is likely to return in Week 16, but Wayne Gallman has been solid as the team’s starter, and it would be a surprise to see Freeman operate as the lead back. Gallman’s stock will take a bit of a hit when Freeman returns, however.

La'Mical Perine , New York Jets (ankle) Perine was designated as able to return last week, but he didn’t play in Week 15. He’s a TD-dependent “option” when healthy, but you can do better.

Duke Johnson , Houston Texans (neck) Johnson did not travel with the team for Week 15. David Johnson (11 catches in Week 15) is healthy again anyway, so Duke’s value is back near zero.

WR Michael Thomas , New Orleans Saints (ankle) Thomas has been placed on IR and will miss the rest of the season. Emmanuel Sanders will operate as New Orleans’ WR1 for the rest of the season and is a solid fantasy WR3. Tre'Quan Smith is also in the fantasy WR3/4 range.

Julio Jones , Atlanta Falcons (hamstring) Jones missed Weeks 14 and 15 but received a special type of medicine with hopes of playing the final two weeks. He is a must-start when he plays. Calvin Ridley remains a fantasy WR1 with Jones on the field, but he’s a top-three option when Jones misses.

Stefon Diggs , Buffalo Bills (foot) He suffered a foot injury in Week 15 but isn’t expected to miss any time. He remains an elite fantasy WR1.

Keenan Allen , Los Angeles Chargers (hamstring) Allen caught one of three targets in Week 15 after famously telling fantasy players “don’t bench me!” right before the game. Practice reports will have to be monitored, but the fact Allen has extra time to rest, and the fact he was able to see the field even in limited action in Week 15, should be viewed as good signs for a true Week 16 return.

Kenny Golladay , Detroit Lions (hip) There has been chatter of shutting Golladay down for the season.

DeVante Parker , Miami Dolphins (hamstring) Parker seemed to be trending in the right direction for Week 15, but he ended up sitting out. If Parker misses more time, Lynn Bowden Jr. Jr. remains a viable flex option at WR in PPR leagues.

Julian Edelman , New England Patriots (knee) Edelman returned to practice last week, but the Patriots are now officially out of the playoff hunt, and they may opt to just let Edelman get healthy for 2021. He’s a WR4/5 option in PPR leagues if he does suit up again.

Tre'Quan Smith , New Orleans Saints (ankle) As mentioned above, Smith has an opportunity to produce as a WR3 with Michael Thomas on IR. However, Smith is now dealing with his own injury and has a short turnaround time for Week 16, as the Saints play on Friday. Smith had just 1 catch for 25 yards in Week 15 before exiting with an ankle injury. If Smith misses time, expect more targets to funnel to Emmanuel Sanders , Jared Cook , Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Juwan Johnson .

Jalen Reagor , Philadelphia Eagles (ankle) Reagor had a healthy eight targets before getting knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter. He’s a WR3/4 with Jalen Hurts under center, assuming he can get healthy.

John Brown , Buffalo Bills (ankle) Brown was cleared to practice last week but still missed the Week 15 contest. The hope is that he’ll return for Week 16 against the Patriots, a game in which he should be viewed as a fantasy WR3/4.

Michael Gallup , Dallas Cowboys (hip) Gallup avoided a serious injury, so there’s a chance he suits up in Week 16. He’s a desperate fantasy WR5.

Henry Ruggs , Las Vegas Raiders (illness) Ruggs was placed on the COVID before Week 15.

Jakeem Grant , Miami Dolphins (hamstring) Grant remains week-to-week with a hamstring injury. He’s just a desperate PPR punt anyway.

Hunter Renfrow , Las Vegas Raiders (head) Renfrow suffered a concussion in Week 15, and he doesn’t need to be on the fantasy radar.

Collin Johnson , Jacksonville Jaguars (hamstring) Johnson had been emerging as a possible weekly punt play with target totals of 8, 6 and 3 in his three previous games, but he injured his hamstring in Week 15 and doesn’t need to be on your radar.

Cordarrelle Patterson , Chicago Bears (knee) Patterson is considered day-to-day, but he’s not relevant in anything but the deepest of fantasy leagues.

TE George Kittle , San Francisco 49ers (foot) If Kittle plays, you play him.

Mike Gesicki , Miami Dolphins (shoulder) As expected, Gesicki missed Week 15. Gesicki has emerged as an every-week fantasy starter and can be treated as such once he returns.

Kyle Rudolph , Minnesota Vikings (foot) Rudolph has now missed two games in a row. Irv Smith remains a streaming option for those in need for as long as Rudolph is out.

NFL injury report: The situations to monitor for Week 16

QB

Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders (groin)

Alex Smith, Washington Football Team (calf)

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