Sit Start Injury Report Saturday 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.

Cleveland at Green Bay

Cleveland injuries

Out S John Johnson

Questionable DE Myles Garrett DT Malik Jackson

COVID C J.C. Tretter RB Kareem Hunt K Chase McLaughlin Johnson's absence and the injuries to Garrett and Jackson should give the Packers powerhouse offense even more paths to success, but most fantasy managers are already starting every star player for Green Bay and this only adds some upside to those candidates.

The Browns do get the benefit of having Jarvis Landry, Baker Mayfield, and Austin Hooper back in the lineup after they all cleared the COVID list, and they also get head coach Kevin Stefanski on the sidelines, but not having Tretter and Hunt in the lineup means that this is still an offense that should generally be avoided in fantasy leagues outside of Nick Chubb as a RB1/RB2 and Landry as a potential flex.

Green Bay injuries

Out T David Bakhtiari G Billy Turner

COVID WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling Outside of MVS and Turner, the Packers will go into this matchup at full strength, so start Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, and Aaron Jones as you normally would and consider AJ Dillon a potential flex candidate.

Indianapolis at Arizona

Indianapolis injuries

Out C Ryan Kelly S Andrew Sendejo

COVID G Quenton Nelson G Mark Glowinski CB Rock Ya-Sin Losing three starting offensive linemen could be a big problem for the Colts offense. It obviously won't be enough to move Jonathan Taylor out of lineups, but Taylor may have a sub-20-point day rather than his usual 20+ point showing. It does add far too much risk to Carson Wentz to trust him as a QB2 if it can be avoided and may make Michael Pittman better suited for flex duty. The Colts have quality depth at safety, so the loss of Sendejo doesn't impact the Cardinals passing game prospects enough to warrant any ranking changes.

Arizona injuries

Out DE Jordan Phillips

Questionable RB James Conner C Max Garcia WR Rondale Moore Conner did not practice all week, but he is still considered a game time decision. If Conner does not go, Chase Edmonds will move to the borderline of RB1 status. Moore has been fantasy relevant only once since Week 5, so he belongs on benches regardless of his eventual status.

Baltimore at Cincinnati

Baltimore injuries

Out G Ben Powers

Doubtful WR Devin Duvernay

Questionable DE Calais Campbell QB Tyler Huntley QB Lamar Jackson 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 WR Sammy Watkins 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.

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 WR Kendrick Bourne 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.

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 DE Kerry Hyder DT Brian Mone OT Brandon Shell 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.

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 Nate Hobbs 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.

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 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.

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 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 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.

Houston injuries

Questionable RB David Johnson

COVID WR Brandin Cooks K Ka'imi Fairbairn S Terrence Brooks S A.J. Moore, Jr. CB Terrance Mitchell LB Kamu Grugier-Hill DE Jonathan Greenard DE Jacob Martin LB Christian Kirksey G Justin McCray 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.

Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota

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

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.

New York Giants at Philadelphia

New York injuries

Out G Ben Bredeson

Questionable WR Kadarius Toney 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.

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

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

COVID P Tommy Townsend DE Chris Jones WR Josh Gordon TE Travis Kelce K Harrison Butker WR Tyreek Hill CB Charvarius Ward 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.

Tampa Bay at Carolina

Tampa Bay injuries

Out WR Mike Evans S Antoine Winfield

Doubtful 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.

Carolina injuries

Questionable T Cameron Erving WR D.J. Moore

COVID C Pat Elflein 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.

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

Did not practice T Terron Armstead

Limited practice 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 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.