Making it to the championship round of the fantasy football playoffs in your league means you’re just one win away from hoisting the championship trophy in your league!
Unfortunately, the job isn’t done quite yet. Injuries to Ja’Marr Chase, Jordan Addison, and Puka Nacua could have a huge impact on fantasy lineups in must-win situations for fantasy managers.
Here is the latest fantasy injury update we have on some big-name WRs heading into Week 17.
Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Fantasy managers who have navigated the fantasy playoffs without the services of Chase may find themselves in need of pulling off one more miracle to lift their fantasy football league trophy.
According to a recent report from Jay Morrison, Chase has been listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The team’s injury report listed Chase as a non-participant to start the week but did ramp up to limited work for Thursday and Friday’s practice sessions. For some context, Chase did not practice all of last week before being ruled out due to a shoulder injury.
Chase still sits as the WR9 in all of PPR formats with 93 receptions for 1,156 yards and seven scores this year, but the banged-up Pro Bowl WR does have a very shaky fantasy outlook against a stingy Chiefs secondary that held Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams to just one catch for four yards on Christmas Day.
However, Chase has seen an exceptional amount of success against Kansas City during his young career, averaging seven receptions for 123 yards and a score through his four career games — including the playoffs — against the Chiefs.
If Chase manages to return to the field for Week 17, he will be a WR2 option while at less than 100% with backup QB Jake Browning under center against a formidable secondary.
Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings
The talented Minnesota Vikings rookie WR Jordan Addison has made fantasy managers both very happy and very sad throughout the fantasy football playoffs.
In Week 15, he produced a top-five finish at the WR position with six receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Unfortunately, that exceptional production did not carry over to the following week, with Addison catching just one pass for two yards before sustaining an ankle injury which prematurely ended his day in Week 16.
According to a recent report from Kevin Seifert, Addison is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Despite the plethora of injuries to the Vikings’ offense during the 2023 campaign, Addison has been a consistent producer regardless of who has been under center and whether or not Justin Jefferson has been in the lineup.
The Vikings have named rookie QB Jaren Hall the starter against the Packers for Sunday, which could impact his production and efficiency if he takes the field this week.
However, the injury of T.J. Hockenson could benefit Addison from a workload standpoint, especially if he sees some of Hockenson’s vacated targets in Week 17.
Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
As great of a rookie campaign as Addison has enjoyed, Nacua has been the most productive rookie WR of the 2023 season.
Nacua torched the New Orleans Saints last week with nine receptions for 164 yards and a score and could be in line for another big performance on Sunday … if he can take the field.
According to a recent report from Jourdan Rodrigue, Nacua did not participate in practice on Friday due to some hip tightness. Furthermore, he could be listed as questionable for their game against the New York Giants, but Rams head coach Sean McVay expects him to be OK for Sunday.
Nacua’s 96 receptions for 1,327 receiving yards and five scores have been nothing short of phenomenal in his first NFL season. He has proven that he is a capable producer whether Cooper Kupp is in the lineup or not, which easily puts him in the WR2 conversation every week.
I have him as a top-15 option at the WR position against the Giants for Week 17.
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