Week 18 in the NFL season is just around the corner. Most fantasy football leagues finished last week, but there are still some out there with championships on the line! If you’re still playing, you have to look at which players are playing in big games, as many teams rest their guys in the final week of the regular season.
This is the time of the year when many teams hold guys out for rest — or they’re injured, which is especially true at the running back position.
Here’s a look at Josh Jacobs, Kenneth Walker III, and Christian McCaffrey as we get closer to kickoff.
Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins
For the majority of the season, Mostert was a fantasy gift for managers, as he is tied for the NFL lead with 21 total touchdowns.
Unfortunately for fantasy managers who have relied on a career year from Mostert at the age of 31, his track record of durability issues came back to bite him in the fantasy championship round by missing his first game of the 2023 season last week against the Baltimore Ravens.
He has played a full season only once in nine seasons, and he has had to deal with injuries throughout his career.
His status heading into the huge Week 18 matchup with the Buffalo Bills is currently unknown.
According to a recent report from Adam Beasley of PFN, Mostert was one of many starters not spotted at Wednesday’s practice for the Dolphins. He didn’t practice on Thursday either but was back practicing on Friday. He was in a limited role at practice, but the fact he was out there is a good sign.
If he can go, you can bet he will be on the field Sunday against the Dolphins.
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
Since starting to play in Week 4, Kamara has been stellar for his fantasy managers. Even though he didn’t score many touchdowns (six), Kamara still had a big fantasy year. He has rushed for 694 yards while also catching 75 passes for another 466 yards.
He helped many fantasy teams make the playoffs, but unfortunately, he hasn’t been good when fantasy managers need him the most. In the last two weeks, he has been RB42 and RB44.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
In the big win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, he left the game with an ankle injury. Coach Dennis Allen Friday said Kamara is extremely valuable to the team and that they will wait until game time to decide if he plays.
RB Jamaal Williams would become the RB1 for the Saints if Kamara is out, and he had a decent showing last week. He finished with 19 carries for 58 yards and four receptions for 13 yards. Kamara is RB38 in PFN’s Consensus Rankings this week.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
If you had McCaffrey this year, there is a good chance you were in the fantasy playoffs in the worst-case scenario. For the season, he has rushed for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns while catching 67 passes for 464 yards and another seven scores.
In last week’s win against the Washington Commanders, McCaffrey left the game with a calf strain injury. On Monday, coach Kyle Shanahan ended any debate when he said McCaffrey won’t play in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams.
The 49ers have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC. This is a perfect opportunity for him to get two full weeks of rest and be ready for the NFC Divisional Round.
Backup running back Elijah Mitchell was back practicing after dealing with an illness, and he figures to be the guy who steps in and gets the carries.
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