Sit Start Injury Report Sunday Morning Week 16 2021

Every fantasy manager knows that injuries can have a huge impact on a fantasy team's performance.

That makes properly navigating each week's injury report a must. To assist in this effort, this weekly article series will analyze the fantasy football impact of the Friday and Saturday injury reports.

The injured players are noted by player position and then their injury status. Out means the player has been ruled out of this week's contest. Doubtful means the player is very unlikely to start. Questionable indicates the player might start. Start likelihood is increased if a player has participated in practices that week, so practice participation levels are frequently noted in these posts.

Let's look at the Week 16 injury report. The initial edition of this article is generated following the league's Friday injury report. It is then updated on Saturday night with any injury changes that have been posted since the Friday update.

Baltimore at Cincinnati

Baltimore injuries

Out G Ben Powers QB Lamar Jackson

Doubtful WR Devin Duvernay

Questionable DE Calais Campbell T Patrick Mekari LB Odafe Oweh FB Patrick Ricard S Brandon Stephens

COVID LB Justin Houston CB Jimmy Smith LB Pernell McPhee CB Chris Westry QB Tyler Huntley RB Justice Hill As has been the case for much of the 2021 season, the Ravens are dealing with more personnel issues on this list than just about any other team. Huntley is slated to start in place of Jackson, but Huntley is battling a non-COVID illness and isn't a cinch to play on Sunday, either. The defensive losses are piling up in a big-time way, and it offers significant upside potential to Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. If Huntley cannot play and Jackson still is out, the Bengals D/ST, which has posted 10+ points in three of the past five games, will move into solid start status.

Saturday night update: Jackson was downgraded from questionable to out. Huntley was also moved to the COVID list and thus is out for this contest. Josh Johnson will start at quarterback for the Ravens, a situation that downgrades every Baltimore fantasy prospect. Mark Andrews is still a certain starter, while Marquise Brown is a somewhat risky WR3/flex. Watkins has been cleared from the COVID list but is still not a viable fantasy prospect.

Cincinnati injuries

Out LB Logan Wilson

Questionable G Hakeem Adeniji Joe Burrow has said that he thinks the lack of nightlife in Cincinnati is keeping Bengals players off the COVID list, but whatever the reason is, Cincinnati doesn't have any notable injuries this week.

Buffalo at New England

Buffalo injuries

Questionable DT Star Lotulelei

COVID WR Gabriel Davis G Cody Ford WR Cole Beasley With Davis and Beasley out this week, Emmanuel Sanders should get a high volume of the Bills targets. Sanders is still a risky play against a tough New England defense, but he can be considered a solid flex candidate with WR2 upside if things go well.

New England injuries

Out WR Nelson Agholor

Questionable C David Andrews LB Ja'Whaun Bentley RB Brandon Bolden K Nick Folk RB Damien Harris WR N'Keal Harry S Adrian Phillips

COVID RB Rhamondre Stevenson DE Deatrich Wise Harris did put in limited practices all week, so there is a good chance he will be able to start and take over lead back duties with Stevenson having been ruled out for this contest. If Harris is not able to play, New England will have to rely on Bolden (assuming his knee injury does not rule him out) and J.J. Taylor. Fantasy managers should only consider playing Harris out of this group, as there is too much downside risk otherwise. If Phillips is out, Dawson Knox gets improved odds of putting up a solid point total.

Saturday night update: Bourne has been cleared from the COVID list but is no more than a low ceiling flex prospect.

Chicago at Seattle

Chicago injuries

Out CB Xavier Crawford QB Andy Dalton WR Jakeem Grant T Jason Peters

Questionable QB Justin Fields DT Eddie Goldman WR Marquise Goodman

COVID DT Akiem Hicks WR Allen Robinson DE Bilal Nichols CB Jaylon Johnson S Tashaun Gipson Nick Foles is going to start at quarterback for Chicago this week, so Fields will be out of fantasy lineups regardless of his eventual gameday availability. The slew of defensive personnel issues means that Russell Wilson, Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, and Rashaad Penny are much higher percentage plays than they would be if the Bears were at full strength defensively.

Seattle injuries

Questionable CB Blessuan Austin

COVID TE Will Dissly CB D.J. Reed DT Brian Mone OT Brandon Shell CB Blessuan Austin As noted above, the Seahawks offensive players could get a significant boost with the Bears defensive injuries. Chicago's player may get something of an upgrade of their own with Seattle's personnel woes, but the reality is David Montgomery is still about the only player fantasy managers should want in a playoff semifinal round lineup.

Saturday night update: Hyder has cleared the COVID list and will play this week.

Denver at Las Vegas

Denver injuries

Out QB Teddy Bridgewater LB Kenny Young

Questionable LB Baron Browning DE Shelby Harris S Kareem Jackson DE Dre'Mont Jones DT Mike Parcell

COVID C Lloyd Cushenberry Drew Lock will be getting the start for the Broncos this week, but he is not a fantasy-caliber quarterback except in the deepest of 2QB leagues (see caveat below). The volume of defensive injuries should help Hunter Renfrow get back to his typical form after a terrible week.

Las Vegas injuries

Out S Johnathan Abram

Doubtful TE Darren Waller

Questionable DT Johnathan Hankins LB Denzel Perryman

COVID S Roderic Teamer CB Brandon Facyson The Raiders were already struggling to cover tight ends even before Abram was out for the season, so Noah Fant has TE1 upside potential and Albert Okwuegbunam has longshot TE1 potential. Denver has been very strong in tight end coverage this year, so Foster Moreau isn't a high percentage play in place of Waller. If the three secondary players on the COVID list do not clear that list in time to play, Jerry Jeudy's start case gets a lot stronger and Tim Patrick becomes a solid longshot candidate.

Saturday night update: Hobbs was cleared off the COVID list and will play this week.

Detroit at Atlanta

Detroit injuries

Out CB Amani Oruwariye LB Josh Woods

Questionable DE Michael Brockers G Jonah Jackson LB Julian Okwara WR Kalif Raymond LB Jalin Reeves-Maybin WR Josh Reynolds RB D'Andre Swift

COVID QB Jared Goff WR Quintez Cephus CB Amani Oruwariye Goff is almost certain to not play this week, a factor that unfortunately makes Amon-Ra St. Brown a riskier play than he would be with Goff under center. Swift's potential return, when combined with Jamaal Williams' return from the COVID list, makes Craig Reynolds a likely sit candidate. If the Lions questionable defensive players are out, it will help the fantasy prospects for Cordarrelle Patterson and Mike Davis.

Saturday night update: Oruwariye has been added to the COVID list and will not play in this contest.

Atlanta injuries

Doubtful WR Tajae Sharpe

Sharpe isn't a viable fantasy prospect, so the Falcons really have no notable injuries this week.

Jacksonville at New York Jets

Jacksonville injuries

Out DE Lerentee McCray

Questionable C Brandon Linder

COVID LB Josh Allen WR Laviska Shenault

Shenault has barely been a fantasy candidate even in deep leagues, so the Jaguars don't have any notable injuries.

New York injuries

Out S Elijah Riley

Doubtful WR Jamison Crowder

Questionable T George Fant CB Bryce Hall LB C.J. Mosley DT Sheldon Rankins DT Quinnen Williams

COVID TE Ryan Griffin CB Michael Carter HC Robert Saleh These defensive issues may help James Robinson post a double-digit point total for the second week in a row, but beyond that these injuries won't have much of a fantasy impact.

Los Angeles Chargers at Houston

Los Angeles injuries

Out TE Donald Parham

Questionable S Derwin James

COVID DT Justin Jones WR Jalen Guyton RB Austin Ekeler LB Joey Bosa C Corey Linsley WR Mike Williams

Justin Jackson will be a RB2 with RB1 upside if Ekeler is out. Houston tight end Brevin Jordan has found the end zone in two of the past three weeks and could make it three out of four if James ends up missing this contest.

Saturday night update: Ekeler is going to be out for this contest, so rate Jackson as a RB2 with RB1 upside. Williams was added to the COVID list and will not play in this contest. His absence adds some marginal value to Joshua Palmer and may actually make Palmer a viable flex candidate in deeper leagues.

Houston injuries

Questionable RB David Johnson

COVID WR Brandin Cooks K Ka'imi Fairbairn S A.J. Moore, Jr. LB Kamu Grugier-Hill DE Jonathan Greenard LB Christian Kirksey G Lane Taylor DT Jaleel Johnson DE Derek Rivers DT Maliek Collins The Chargers star players already have must start status and these defensive injuries vault them all to near the top of their respective positions. If Cooks is out, it's possible that Nico Collins or Chris Conley will be longshot flex options in deep leagues.

Saturday night update: Brooks, Mitchell, Martin, and McCray were cleared from the COVID list. Cooks will be out for this contest.

Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota

Los Angeles injuries

COVID T Andrew Whitworth The Rams have no notable injuries and all the players on their COVID list have now been cleared to play in this contest.

Saturday night update: Whitworth was moved to the COVID list and will not play this week.

Minnesota injuries

Questionable WR Adam Thielen

COVID RB Dalvin Cook Alexander Mattison will take Cook's place and has RB1 value given his track record. The matchup isn't favorable, but if Thielen does return this week he is at least a WR2 and has WR1 upside if he plays at full strength.

Saturday night update: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Thielen is expected to play this week.

New York Giants at Philadelphia

New York injuries

Out G Ben Bredeson

Questionable WR Kadarius Toney

COVID NT Danny Shelton T Nate Solder Toney was a solid flex/WR2 candidate earlier this year but his just having returned from the COVID list and the Giants having a third string quarterback against a strong Eagles defense combine to make Toney a sit candidate in all but very deep leagues.

Saturday night update: Shelton and Solder were added to the COVID list.

Philadelphia injuries

COVID G Landon Dickerson T Andre Dillard HC Nick Sirianni The offensive line injuries are not a plus, but when a team is the first since the 1985 Bears to rush for 175+ yards in seven straight games, it is probably in a good place to absorb such injuries. That means Miles Sanders is a strong start candidate even with these injuries, especially since he was not listed on the injury report despite not practicing at all this week. The same goes for Jalen Hurts since he was not listed on the final injury report.

Pittsburgh at Kansas City

Pittsburgh injuries

Out TE Pat Freiermuth DE Chris Wormley P Pressley Harvin

COVID DE Isaiah Buggs T Zach Banner LB Devin Bush It's unfortunate that Freiermuth will be out this week, especially since Zach Gentry is not likely to replicate Freiermuth's production pace.

Kansas City injuries

Questionable TE Travis Kelce T Lucas Niang

COVID K Harrison Butker CB Rashod Fenton Fantasy managers are hoping that Kelce and Hill will both clear the COVID list on Saturday. Byron Pringle, Mecole Hardman, and Blake Bell just don't have enough bankable upside to put into lineups in the event Kelce and Hill are out of lineups this week. There is enough depth in the Chiefs secondary that if Ward and Fenton miss, it really doesn't offer enough additional value to improve the prospects of Chase Claypool beyond his current flex status.

Saturday night update: Hill has cleared the COVID list and will play. Kelce has been moved to the injury report as questionable, which means he still has a chance to be cleared to play on Sunday. Townsend, Ward, and Gordon, and Jones were also cleared from the COVID list.

Tampa Bay at Carolina

Tampa Bay injuries

Out WR Mike Evans S Antoine Winfield LB Jason Pierre-Paul

Questionable CB Jamel Dean CB Richard Sherman

COVID WR Breshad Perriman With Evans and Chris Godwin both out of the lineup, Antonio Brown vaults to WR2 status with WR1 upside. The secondary injuries may help D.J. Moore's WR2/flex start status, assuming Moore plays this week.

Saturday night update: Pierre-Paul was moved from doubtful to out.

Carolina injuries

Questionable T Cameron Erving WR D.J. Moore

COVID C Pat Elflein CB Rashaan Melvin As noted above, Moore will be a solid WR2/flex candidate as long he starts, which his limited practice on Friday indicates is a reasonable possibility. Melvin was added to the COVID list.

Saturday night update: Matt Rhule has indicated that Sam Darnold will play this week, so Cam Newton's upside is lower than it was before this announcement and is a much riskier play.

Washington at Dallas

Washington injuries

Out CB William Jackson

Questionable RB Antonio Gibson WR Curtis Samuel

COVID S Landon Collins S Deshazor Everett LB Cole Holcomb Washington cleared a number of players off the COVID list this week, but if Collins or Everett do not return, Dalton Schultz will have tremendous upside potential. Gibson missed practice all week, but that may be due to wanting to rest him after the Football Team's Tuesday night game against Philadelphia. Washington doesn't play until Sunday night, so Gibson's status may not be clarified until then, so fantasy managers would be wise to have a backup plan such as Jaret Patterson in place in the event Gibson is ruled out. Jackson's absence improves Amari Cooper's odds of doing well in this matchup.

Dallas injuries

Out T Tyron Smith

COVID CB Jourdan Lewis The Cowboys have had to deal with Smith being out of the lineup before this year, so his absence is something they know how to deal with. Losing Lewis, their nickel/slot cornerback, is a different matter, but Adam Humphries just isn't a high enough upside prospect to start even if Lewis is out.

Miami at New Orleans

Miami injuries COVID C Greg Mancz

The Dolphins have no notable injuries for this matchup.

New Orleans injuries

Questionable T Terron Armstead DE Marcus Davenport WR Tre'Quan Smith

COVID LB Demario Davis T Ryan Ramczyk TE Adam Trautman QB Taysom Hill QB Trevor Siemien S Malcolm Jenkins DE Carl Granderson Between potentially missing both tackles and having the Saints start Ian Book at quarterback, Alvin Kamara has a much lower floor than usual but still rates at the least as a RB2.

Saturday night update: Granderson has been added to the COVID list.