For many, Week 17 is the fantasy football championship. An entire season of navigating injuries, bye weeks, and waiver wire additions comes down to a single matchup. It is more important than ever to understand the players who enter the week injured to best set your lineup. Below are the injuries from Week 16 that could impact fantasy football lineups next week.
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen received X-rays during the Buffalo Bills’ Week 16 win over the Cleveland Browns due to a foot injury. Allen did not miss a single play of the game because of when the injury happened. After the game, he told reporters that he tweaked his foot, but was ultimately fine.
Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson suffered a back injury on a scramble during the second quarter of the Baltimore Ravens’ matchup against the New England Patriots on Sunday night. He was kneed in the back during a scramble attempt and did not return to the game. After the game, head coach John Harbaugh stated that Jackson suffered a significant contusion.
Jackson has struggled with injuries all season, but has been able to play through most of them (he missed three weeks earlier in the year with a hamstring). The Ravens still have a slim chance to make the playoffs, so time will tell if Jackson can suit up in Week 17.
If Jackson cannot play, then Tyler Huntley would be under center. Huntley completed nine of 10 passes against the Patriots, but had just 65 yards passing in a losing effort.
Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love suffered a concussion in the second quarter of the team’s loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 16. Love was unable to return for the game.
The Packers have an important matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17 and could be without Love, who will have to clear through the NFL’s concussion protocol to play. Malik Willis would be in line to start if Love cannot clear through the protocol.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy suffered a hand injury while being sacked by Brian Burns in the Minnesota Vikings’ Week 16 matchup against the New York Giants. McCarthy was in clear pain on the sidelines during a field test of his injury and did not return to the game. Initial X-rays did not show a break, which was a positive step.
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Max Brosmer replaced McCarthy after his injury and looked much better than his catastrophic first start, completing seven of nine passes for 52 yards. He could be set to make his second career start against the Detroit Lions in Week 17 if McCarthy is ultimately ruled out.
Gardner Minshew, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
The Gardner Minshew experience lasted less than a game for the Kansas City Chiefs. Minshew came out of the game in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans due to a knee injury. After the game, it was reported that Minshew had torn his ACL. Additional testing showed that Minshew avoided an ACL injury, but a trip to the injured reserve still ended his season.
Chris Oladokun finished the game for the Chiefs and had a respectable showing (11 of 16 passing for 111 yards, but failed to lead the team into the end zone in a loss. He would be the presumptive starter to close the season, depending on who the Chiefs add to fill out their depth chart.
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots
TreVeyon Henderson suffered a concussion in the New England Patriots’ Week 16 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens after just 14 snaps. He was ruled out of the game with a head injury after halftime.
Henderson will have the week to clear through the NFL’s concussion protocol. Rhamondre Stevenson (eight carries for 51 yards and a touchdown with two receptions for 27 yards) would handle the workload with Henderson injured, with D’Ernest Johnson likely taking on a third-down role if Henderson is unable to go.
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns’ rookie running back Quinshon Judkins suffered a gruesome lower-body injury during the team’s Week 16 game against the Buffalo Bills on a swing pass into the flat. Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters after the game that Judkins had suffered a fractured leg and a dislocated ankle on the tackle. Thankfully, testing concluded he avoided any knee damage as well.
Judkins was effective as a rookie, handling 230 carries for 827 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 26 receptions for 171 yards in one of the worst offensive environments in the league. He was the RB25 in PPR points per game (12.1) before his Week 16 injury.
Fellow rookie Dylan Sampson also missed Week 16 with an injury, leaving Raheim Sanders (11 carries for 42 yards) and Trayveon Williams (three carries for 17 yards) as the team’s lead backs. If Sampson is healthy in Week 17, he would be the presumed starter.
Kimani Vidal, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Kimani Vidal injured his neck in the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Chargers’ Week 16 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Vidal did not return to the field after injuring his neck, but additional testing showed he avoided major injury. He’s listed as day-to-day.
Omarion Hampton would take on an even bigger role in the Chargers’ backfield with Vidal out, but veteran Hassan Haskins would serve as a complement in the backfield.
Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason suffered an ankle injury on the opening drive of Week 16’s matchup against the New York Giants. He did not return, giving Aaron Jones an opportunity to take on a full workload once again (21 carries for 85 yards and two receptions for eight yards).
The Vikings face off against the Detroit Lions on Thursday, giving Mason a short week to recover. Jones and Zavier Scott are the lone healthy options on the roster if Mason is too injured to play.
Pat Bryant, WR, Denver Broncos
Pat Bryant took a massive hit on a pass late in the fourth quarter of the Denver Broncos’ Week 16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Bryant was carted off the field and taken to the hospital for additional testing. Thankfully, it was determined that Bryant only suffered a concussion.
The Broncos play against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17 on Christmas Day (Thursday). There is virtually no chance that Bryant will be able to clear concussion protocol by that time. Expect Troy Franklin to return to an expanded role in the passing attack with the rookie wide receiver sidelined.
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
George Kittle was having a monster day for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Unfortunately, Kittle limped off the field with an ankle injury in the third quarter.
Kittle did not return to the game, but he was still wearing his helmet on the sideline. That suggests the choice to hold him out was more a matter of the coaching staff than the medical team. It will be important to monitor his participation in practice throughout the week.
