When you play fantasy football, you want to get notifications with fun emojis, exclamation points and the word “touchdown.”
But sometimes you get the dreaded word: “out.” Now you have to play the weekly guessing game of start ’em or sit ’em.
Our NFL injury report helps you parse limited participation, full participation and “mixing into drills.” It might not give you the information you need to navigate the waiver wire or make a crucial roster decision ahead of kick off. The real injury report is your source of truth.
Below is the full injury status breakdown for key fantasy starters heading into Week 16.
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Key NFL Injuries Ahead of Week 16
Quarterback Injuries & Status
Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs (OUT-IR)
Patrick Mahomes suffered a season ending ACL injury in Week 15 against the Chargers. A brutal ending to a brutal season for Mahomes and the Chiefs all around.
Given the timing of Mahomes’ injury, a return in the first few weeks of the season is possible. But the Chiefs will surely take their time with their franchise QB. The Mahomes injury initiates a whole host of questions for the Chiefs as a franchise, but Mahomes’ focus is on recovery.
Jayden Daniels – Washington Commanders (OUT)
Jayden Daniels has been ruled out for the rest of the season. The Commanders are eliminated from playoff contention. Daniels has already aggravated multiple injuries this year. Washington has their eyes on the future.
Running Backs Injuries & Status
Josh Jacobs – Green Bay Packers (DOUBTFUL)
Josh Jacobs is doubtful for Green Bay’s Week 16 divisional battle against the Bears. He hasn’t practiced all week as he works through knee and ankle injuries. Emmanuel Wilson will get the nod in his absence.
D’Andre Swift – Chicago Bears (QUESTIONABLE)
D’Andre Swift is questionable with a groin injury for Saturday’s game against the Packers. Swift has battled a handful of injuries throughout the year, but only missed one game thus far. Kyle Monangai would step into the lead back role in his absence.
Woody Marks – Houston Texans (QUESTIONABLE)
Woody Marks is questionable with an ankle injury. Marks suffered the injury in Houston’s Week 15 win over the Cardinals. With Marks still not fully into the mix in practice, his status is in question for Sunday’s game against Las Vegas.
Wide Receivers Injuries & Status
Davante Adams – Los Angeles Rams (OUT)
As expected, Davante Adams will miss LA’s Thursday night tilt against Seattle, a crucial game for the Rams. Los Angeles will want their star receiver healthy for a playoff run.
Drake London – Atlanta Falcons (HEALTHY)
Drake London is healthy and on track to return after missing four games with a knee injury. Atlanta is eliminated from playoff contention, but it’s possible with Kirk Cousins coming off of a great game and Kyle Pitts coming off a career best game, Atlanta wants to see this offense in full effect against an even worse Arizona Cardinals team.
CeeDee Lamb – Dallas Cowboys (HEALTHY)
CeeDee Lamb is healthy. Lamb battled an illness for the first few days of the week, but seems like he is on track to play.
Tee Higgins – Cincinnati Bengals (QUESTIONABLE)
Tee Higgins is questionable. Higgins remains in concussion protocol, leaving his status for Sunday’s game up in the air. Higgins is battling his second concussion in a month, and this would be his third missed game due to the injury.
Rashee Rice – Kansas City Chiefs (OUT)
Rashee Rice will miss Kansas City’s Week 16 game with a concussion. With the Chiefs eliminated from playoff contention and Patrick Mahomes done for the year, the Chiefs will want to be cautious with their star wide receiver.
Rome Odunze – Chicago Bears (OUT)
Rome Odunze will miss a third straight game with a foot injury. In trying to come back for Chicago’s Week 15 game against Cleveland, he reaggravated the injury in warm-ups.
Quentin Johnston – Los Angeles Chargers (QUESTIONABLE)
Quentin Johnston is questionable with a groin injury. He’s been limited in practice throughout the week, which indicates that he’s got a solid chance of playing.
Marvin Harrison Jr. – Arizona Cardinals (QUESTIONABLE)
Marvin Harrison Jr. is questionable. Harrison has practiced in a limited fashion, which is a step in the right direction after missing four of the last five games with various injuries. Harrison hopes to make his return against Atlanta. With Arizona merely jockeying for draft position, it remains to be seen how cautious they’ll be.
Christian Watson – Green Bay Packers (QUESTIONABLE)
Christian Watson says he’s feeling good, but with limited practices throughout the week after suffering the injury in last Sunday’s loss to Denver, he’ll need to sneak in some more action before losing his injury designation.
Ricky Pearsall – San Francisco 49ers (QUESTIONABLE)
Ricky Pearsall put together his best game since Week 3in San Francisco’s Week 15 win over Tennessee, but hasn’t practiced throughout the week. Pearsall suffered a PCL injury early in the year, which caused him to miss six games. With San Francisco in a playoff position, keeping their playmaking receiver healthy is priority number one.
Tight Ends Injuries & Status
Kyle Pitts – Atlanta Falcons (HEALTHY)
Kyle Pitts is healthy after being limited throughout the week in practice. Coming off a career best game, Pitts is looking like he will be ready to go against Arizona. He and Drake London will give opponents a look at their offense in full effect with Kirk Cousins at the helm.
Darren Waller – New York Giants (HEALTHY)
Darren Waller is in line to play. His limited participation in practice has simply been the same type of injury management that he has been practicing all year.
David Njoku – Cleveland Browns (OUT)
Njoku will miss Sunday’s game against the Bears with a knee injury after not practicing Wednesday or Thursday. This is a major boost to Harold Fannin’s fantasy prospects.
What NFL players are on Injured Reserve?
Below are the players on season-ending injured reserve list:
- Malik Nabers, New York Giants WR
- Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins WR
- Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers LB
- James Connor, Arizona Cardinals RB
- Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers RB
- Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers TE
- Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders RB
- Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints RB
- Cam Skattebo, New York Giants RB
- Miles Sanders, Dallas Cowboys RB
- Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars WR/CB
- Michael Penix Jr. – Atlanta Falcons
- Sam LaPorta – Detroit Lions TE
- Daniel Jones – Indianapolis Colts QB
- Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs
- Kyler Murray – Arizona Cardinals QB
- Garrett Wilson – New York Jets WR
- J.K. Dobbins – Denver Broncos RB
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does Injured Reserve work in the NFL?
The Injured Reserve list allows a team to remove a player with a football-related injury from the active roster for at least four games to free up a spot on the 53-man roster.
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