Fantasy Football Injury Recap for Week 15
As The Fantasy Footballers’ lead injury analyst and sports physical therapist, I’ll be recapping the previous week’s injuries and giving a projected timeline for recovery all season long. Let’s look at the biggest injuries from Week 15 and take a look at what fantasy managers can expect heading into Week 16 and beyond.
Don’t forget to check out JoinTheFoot.com for additional premium resources, including access to the Injury Blitz Podcast hosted by yours truly. This bonus podcast, available to all #FootClan Premier members, is a short, yet informative injury podcast that drops late in the week in order to provide all the injury updates you need to set your lineup each week.
Derek Carr
Groin Strain: Out Week 16
Carr strained his groin on Thursday Night Football against the Chargers last week and won’t play in Week 16. There’s also a chance Carr doesn’t play in Week 17, given that the reported recovery timeline for Carr is 10-14 days, but for a QB to effectively push off and move in the pocket, 14 days seems a bit optimistic. Marcus Mariota will start Week 16 against the Dolphins.
Players Impacted: Marcus Mariota, Darren Waller, Nelson Agholor
Stefon Diggs
Foot Sprain: Day to day
There aren’t a lot of details available regarding Diggs’ injury from Saturday night’s game against the Broncos, which happened late in the game. All reports point to this injury being minor, and while I believe that to be true, it’s likely that we see Diggs’ name on the injury report this week. It’s a situation to monitor.
Players Impacted: Josh Allen, Cole Beasley, John Brown, Gabriel Davis
James Robinson
Left High Ankle Sprain: Likely Out Week 16
Robinson got his left ankle rolled up on while in a pile on Sunday against the Ravens and was listed as questionable to return but never did. I would expect Robinson to miss Weeks 16 and 17 as he recovers from this ankle injury, but with a full offseason to heal, Robinson should be good to go for 2021.
Players impacted: Devine Ozigbo, Dare Ogunbowale
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Left Hip Injury and High Ankle Sprain: Out Weeks 16 and 17
The Chiefs’ rookie RB got his left leg trapped under a defender and bent awkwardly this past Sunday against the Saints and had to be assisted to the locker room, unable to put any weight on his leg. Initial x-rays of the hip were negative, but CEH is going to miss Weeks 16 and 17 due to a groin strain and a high ankle sprain. The Chiefs are “hopeful” the rookie can return for the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.
Players impacted: Le’Veon Bell, Darrell Williams
Michael Gallup
Hip Pointer: Week to week
Gallup suffered a hip pointer injury on Sunday against San Francisco and should be considered 50/50 to play this coming weekend against the Eagles. A hip pointer is a bruise to the muscles that attach on the pelvis and is extremely painful but does heal reliably in about 1-2 weeks for most injuries. Look for Gallup to miss time in practice this week, but he has a chance to play in Week 16, potentially with an injection.
Players impacted: Andy Dalton, CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper
Jeff Wilson Jr.
Right Hamstring Strain and Ankle Sprain: Questionable for Week 16
Jeff Wilson appeared to suffer a mild hamstring strain late in the game against the Cowboys but also suffered a mild ankle injury earlier in the game. At this point, the severity of both injuries is not known, but it is worth noting that Wilson battled a high ankle sprain earlier this season. He should be considered questionable for Week 16, noteworthy as the 49ers play on Saturday this week.
Players impacted: Raheem Mostert, Jerick McKinnon
Raheem Mostert
Aggravated Ankle Sprain: Questionable for Week 16
Mostert entered the week with concerns regarding his ankle injury and he aggravated that same ankle injury against the Cowboys. He’ll enter Week 16 with the same concerns if he plays, especially on a shorter week with the 49ers playing on Saturday. Mostert needs the offseason for his ankle to fully recover.
Players impacted: Jeff Wilson Jr., Jerick McKinnon
Nick Mullens
Right Elbow Sprain: Out Weeks 16 and 17
Mullens’ arm was coming forward as he was throwing and was hit by Demarcus Lawrence, leading to a likely sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament, a ligament that sits on the inside of the elbow that assists with the stability of the elbow for throwing. He was relieved by C.J. Beathard, who finished the game. I would expect Mullens to miss both Weeks 16 and 17, and with Jimmy Garoppolo still working his way back from a high ankle sprain, it could be the C.J. Beathard show for the rest of the season.
Players impacted: Brandon Aiyuk, C.J. Beathard, Kendrick Bourne
Cam Akers
Left High Ankle Sprain: Out Week 16
Fantasy gamers who made it to the finals won’t have the Rams’ rookie RB in Week 16 after he suffered a high ankle sprain this week against the Jets. Akers exited to the locker room then emerged with his ankle heavily taped. Incredibly, he was able to finish the game but was definitely effected by the injury. Head coach, Sean McVay, has already told reporters that Akers is going to miss Week 16, but if you’re playing in a Week 17 championship, fantasy managers should plan to be without Akers as these high ankle sprains are almost always a mutli-week absence.
Players impacted: Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson
Tre’Quan Smith
Ankle Sprain: week to week
Smith injured his ankle in the second half and exited to the locker room, listed as questionable to return. He never did. At this point, there aren’t many details regarding the severity of Smith’s injury, but it is worth monitoring this week, as Michael Thomas is already on IR, leaving New Orleans extremely short-handed for pass catchers behind Emmanuel Sanders and Jared Cook.
Players impacted: Emmanuel Sanders, Jared Cook, Drew Brees
DeeJay Dallas
Grade 3 Right Ankle Sprain: Out Weeks 16 and 17
Dallas is going to miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering a grade III ankle sprain. Grade III injuries suggest a complete tear of one or multiple ligaments of the ankle and this injury will likely take at least 4 weeks to heal. The rookie has a chance to return as a depth player in the playoffs but his regular season is over.
Players impacted: Chris Carson, Carlos Hyde, Rashaad Penny
Tyler Boyd
Concussion: Week to week
Boyd exited Monday Night Football early after the back of his head slammed hard into the turf. Boyd is now in concussion protocol and will be monitored as the week progresses. Cincinnati take on Houston on Sunday in Week 16, and in order to be cleared for this game, Boyd will have to pass the league’s protocol by Saturday afternoon.
Players impacted: Tee Higgins, A.J. Green, Alex Erickson