In what can only be described as the single worst week in recent fantasy football history, managers are looking for a miracle with Monday Night Football quickly approaching. The big question is the health and game status of WR Adam Thielen, who suffered an ankle injury in Week 13. What is the latest on Thielen’s status, and how should fantasy managers proceed heading into tonight’s game against the Chicago Bears?
Update 12/20/21: The Vikings announced that WR Adam Thielen is out tonight against the Bears.
For more fantasy injury updates, make sure to check out our Week 16 Fantasy Injury Report. You can also get ahead in your fantasy leagues by reading our Week 16 Early Waiver Wire.
Adam Thielen’s injury status
Update: ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports Adam Thielen has been ruled inactive for Monday Night Football after testing out his ankle in pre-game warmups.
After sustaining a high ankle sprain in the first quarter of Week 13 against the Detroit Lions, many wrote Thielen off for the season, given the timing of the injury and the usual recovery time. Well, don’t be so quick to write off the Vikings’ receiving touchdown leader just yet.
Minnesota listed Thielen as questionable for Monday Night Football against the NFC North foe Bears despite not practicing all last week. Based on Thielen having not participated since the December 5 game in which he injured his ankle, it seems unlikely he plays. And if he did, he could most certainly be at less than 100% and on a limited snap count. We will have a better idea of his status at 6:45 PM ET when the Vikings report their inactives.
Thielen could be eyeing a Week 16 return
Given the Vikings have not officially ruled him out yet, this should give us some optimism for Thielen’s recovery. The general timeline of a high ankle sprain is 4-6 weeks, making a Week 16 return on December 26 at home against the Rams the more realistic return date.
But if we know anything by now, we can never count Thielen out as he is an integral part of this offense. In his age 30 and 31 seasons, Thielen has played some of the best ball of his career. He owns the second-most receiving touchdowns over the last two seasons with 24, just 2 behind Packers WR Davante Adams. Thielen is also among the top 25 WRs in targets (200), receptions (138), and yards (1,611).
Justin Jefferson has top-five potential in Week 15
Assuming Thielen is out, both Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn could have massive days, which would be a sight for sore eyes given the paltry scoring we have seen this week in fantasy. Per the NFL Research Department, a total of 40 touchdowns were scored across Sunday. That was the fewest with at least 10 games played since November 27, 1994 (39). In PPR scoring, just 16 RBs, 18 WRs, and six TEs scored double-digit fantasy points in half-PPR scoring. If you managed to stay within striking distance and have either Jefferson or Osborn, you have a great shot at advancing in your playoffs.
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In Week 13, Jefferson saw a ridiculous 14 targets, hauling in 11 for 182 yards with a score. He followed it up with a 7-of-15 day against the Steelers for 79 yards and a TD. That was despite seeing double coverage all second half and Kirk Cousins missing him on wide-open TDs. Jefferson has finished as a top-12 WR in five of his last six weeks and has scored 17+ fantasy points in nine of 13 games this season (20.17 per game average).
The Bears are in for a long game defensively
The Bears added Jaylon Johnson and Tashaun Gipson to the reserve/COVID-19 list, meaning the entire Bears starting secondary is now dealing with the virus. In addition, backup DBs Xavier Crawford and DeAndre Houston-Carson are out due to injuries.
Jefferson is set to take on the 27th-ranked defense in points allowed to WRs (37.16). Furthermore, he is facing a patchwork version of that same defense. Defensive coordinator Sean Desai just returned to the team today as he was out with COVID. Everything points toward a monster game for Jefferson as he continues to show why he will be the No. 1 WR off the board in 2022 fantasy drafts.
K.J. Osborn is a fantastic pivot play without Thielen due to injury
Osborn has now put together back-to-back double-digit fantasy days as every analyst’s favorite not-so-under-the-radar sleeper. Without Thielen in the lineup, Osborn has played on 92.1% and 85.7% of the snaps (both season-highs). He has also caught 7 passes on 16 targets for 130 yards and 2 TDs.
His day was saved last week by a 62-yard touchdown late in the game. But given the volume he is currently seeing and the state of the Bears’ defense, Osborn is a reliable WR3 with WR2 upside. If you have a player set to play on Tuesday you are uncertain about, like Tyler Lockett or Jarvis Landry, I would just take the guaranteed points with Osborn tonight.
