Sit Start Injury Report Sunday Morning Week 15 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 15 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. This week will also feature a Monday update since games have been shifted to Monday and Tuesday this week.
 

Arizona at Detroit

Arizona injuries
Out
CB Robert Alford
WR DeAndre Hopkins

Questionable
RB James Conner
TE Zach Ertz
DT Corey Peters
DE Jordan Phillips
G Justin Pugh

COVID
C Rodney Hudson
Hopkins is out for the remainder of the regular season with a knee injury. Alford's absence should make Amon-Ra St. Brown an even higher percentage play in full PPR leagues. Between the questionable status and Chase Edmonds returning this week, Conner should be considered a RB2 candidate. Ertz was a Friday addition to the injury report with a hamstring injury, so consider him a risky stream start candidate.

Saturday night update: Edmonds was activated from the injured reserve list and thus will play this week.

Detroit injuries

Out
LB Julian Okwara
RB D'Andre Swift

Questionable
LB Alex Anzalone
DE Michael Brockers
G Jonah Jackson
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
WR Josh Reynolds

COVID
CB Nickell Robey-Coleman
CB Ifeatu Melifonwu
RB Jamaal Williams
S Tracy Walker
CB Bobby Price
The biggest injury news for Detroit this week doesn't show up on this list, as T.J. Hockenson is out for the year following thumb surgery. With Swift out and Dan Campbell indicating that the Lions are not likely to get any of the players on the COVID list back in time for this game, it should be a split backfield approach for Detroit between Craig Reynolds and Jermar Jefferson. With Jefferson battling the flu, Reynolds may end up as a solid RB2/flex candidate as he was last week while filling in as the Lions lead back last week.

Atlanta at San Francisco

Atlanta injuries

Out
S Erik Harris

Questionable
LB Dante Fowler
Harris is out for the year with a chest injury. Fowler was upgraded to a limited practice on Friday, so he is trending towards playing. The combination of these injuries doesn't have a notable impact on the 49ers fantasy prospects.

San Francisco injuries

Out
LB Dre Greenlaw
DT Maurice Hurst
RB Elijah Mitchell

Doubtful
LB Azeez Al-Shaair

Questionable
DT D.J. Jones
S Jaquiski Tartt
CB Ambry Thomas
San Francisco has been hit with a slew of defensive injuries, so the fantasy values of all Atlanta prospects should be upgraded by about half of a tier. Mitchell's absences move Jeff Wilson to flex territory. It would move Mitchell higher and make JaMycal Hasty a solid flex candidate as well were it not for the presence of Deebo Samuel, who is getting a lot of use as a breakaway outside zone candidate in this offense. Samuel is a WR1 on his pass catching alone and this skill vaults him even higher in that tier.

Carolina at Buffalo

Carolina injuries

Out
CB A.J. Bouye

Questionable
G Michael Jordan
G John Miller
WR D.J. Moore
Between the recent lack of production and the offensive line injuries, Chuba Hubbard is best considered a risky flex candidate. Moore put in limited practices all week, so he slots in as a WR2. Bouye is part of a rotation of cornerbacks in the Carolina secondary, so his loss does not provide an impact for Buffalo's wideouts.

Buffalo injuries

Doubtful
WR Emmanuel Sanders

Questionable
DT Star Lotulelei

COVID
T Dion Dawkins
LB A.J. Klein
Sanders doubtful status means that Gabriel Davis has WR3/flex value this week. Josh Allen has been a bit hit/miss of late and that won't be helped by Dawkins potential absence, especially since Allen is also dealing with a foot injury, but there is zero reason to keep Allen out of lineups.

Cincinnati at Denver

Cincinnati injuries

Out
T Riley Reiff
CB Vernon Hargreaves

Questionable
LB Logan Wilson

COVID
CB Chidobe Awuzie
The potential absence of two Bengals cornerbacks could improve the percentages for Denver's inconsistent wide receivers. Not having starting right tackle Reiff in the lineup adds a risk element to all Cincinnati fantasy prospects against a strong Denver defense, although that platoon could be slowed by injury this week (see below).

Saturday night update: Hargreaves has been downgraded to out. The Bengals activated Trae Waynes from injured reserve, which is a boon to their secondary.

Denver injuries

Doubtful
DE Dre'Mont Jones
LB Kenny Young

Questionable
RB Melvin Gordon
RB Javonte Williams
CB Nate Hairston
DE Shelby Harris
S Kareem Jackson
T Bobby Massie

COVID
RB Mike Boone
It looks like Gordon and Williams will both play this week but keep an eye on the late Sunday injury report to make sure and have a backup plan in place just in case. Denver's defense has been very stout of late but having this many defenders either likely to miss the game or banged up does reduce the downside chance for Cincinnati's fantasy prospects.

Dallas at New York Giants

Dallas injuries

Out
T Tyron Smith

Questionable
RB Tony Pollard

COVID
WR Cedrick Wilson
DT Trystan Hill
DT Osa Odighizuwa
Pollard missed last week with his torn planter fascia and could miss this week after posting only two limited practices. Smith is a cornerstone of the Cowboys blocking, so having him out does make Dak Prescott a risky start after posting 11.2 or fewer points in three of his past four games, although the Giants injuries could help with that (see below).

Saturday night update: Hill and Odighizuwa were both added to the COVID list.

New York injuries

Out
QB Daniel Jones

Doubtful
G Ben Bredeson

Questionable
WR Sterling Shepard
DT Leonard Williams

COVID
CB Adoreé Jackson
S Xavier McKinney
WR Kadarius Toney
WR John Ross
The Giants offense hasn't been able to stay healthy all year and this week will be no different with this slew of injuries. Outside of starting Saquon Barkley as a RB2/flex candidate, it just doesn't make much sense to put Giants players into fantasy lineup if it can be avoided. Not having Jackson or McKinney in the secondary does improve the chances that Prescott can post a QB1-caliber game.

Green Bay at Baltimore

Green Bay injuries

Out
T David Bakhtiari
T Billy Turner

Doubtful
WR Equanimeous St. Brown

Questionable
WR Malik Taylor
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

COVID
DT Kenny Clark
Aaron Rodgers excels at overcoming adversity to post superb fantasy point totals, but he will be a bit pressed to do that in a game where he will now be dealing with backups at both tackle positions and losing some depth at wide receiver. Having noted this, as long as Davante Adams and Allen Lazard are in the lineup along with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are in the backfield, Rodgers is a must start QB1 even with the offensive line issues.

Baltimore injuries

Out
G Ben Powers

Doubtful
DE Calais Campbell

Questionable
WR Marquise Brown
QB Lamar Jackson
G Patrick Mekari
FB Patrick Ricard
T Alejandro Villanueva
CB Chris Westry

COVID
S Chuck Clark
WR Sammy Watkins
Jackson did not practice at all this week, so he is definitely on the wrong side of questionable in this contest. The three offensive line injuries add a ton of risk to starting any Baltimore fantasy candidate. Mark Andrews is probably still a good start as a TE1 given the lack of quality fantasy depth at that position, but Brown had only one practice this week due to a non-COVID illness and is better suited for bench duty in most leagues.

Saturday night update: Sammy Watkins was added to the COVID list.

Houston at Jacksonville

Houston injuries

Out
S Justin Reid

Questionable
RB Rex Burkhead
TE Brevin Jordan

COVID
CB Terrance Mitchell
S Terrence Brooks
LB Christian Kirksey
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
The Texans have allowed 64 scoreboard points over the past two weeks and will be on track to have another subpar day given the injuries and COVID issues. Burkhead had limited practices on Thursday and Friday and if he ends up able to play this week, it will reduce the already low fantasy values of David Johnson and Royce Freeman.

Jacksonville injuries
Out
RB Carlos Hyde
Trevor Lawrence has been clamoring to get James Robinson on the field more often and Hyde being out all but assures that will happen. Combine that with the Houston injuries and Robinson is a solid RB2 candidate with RB1 upside.

New Orleans at Tampa Bay

New Orleans injuries

Out
T Terron Armstead
T Ryan Ramczyk

Questionable
LB Kaden Elliss
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey

COVID
HC Sean Payton
The biggest issue here has to be Payton, as he is one of the most creative in-game play callers in the league. Losing both starting tackles is a major issue as well, but New Orleans really only has two strong start candidates in Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill and these injuries aren't enough to keep Kamara out of any lineup and they will only keep Hill out of ones where fantasy managers have strong alternate quarterback options.

Saturday night update: The Saints activated Adam Trautman off injured reserve, so he should start for New Orleans this week and makes for a good longshot candidate in fantasy.

Tampa Bay injuries

Out
CB Jamel Dean

Doubtful
CB Richard Sherman

Questionable
RB Leonard Fournette
S Jordan Whitehead
S Antoine Winfield

COVID
WR Breshad Perriman
The Tampa Bay secondary had been getting healthy a couple of weeks ago, but that is no longer the case with this litany of injuries. It's not enough to make any Saints wide receiver a good fantasy start candidate, but it does help keep Hill in the starting QB tier. Fournette is likely to be in the Buccaneers lineup this week, but he had only one limited practice and is listed as questionable, so fantasy managers would do well to either get Ronald Jones II as an insurance policy or look to the Monday night or Tuesday night games for backup options in the event Fournette is surprisingly unavailable.

Saturday night update: Perriman was added to the COVID list.

New York Jets at Miami

New York injuries

Doubtful
T George Fant

Questionable
G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
DT Sheldon Rankins

COVID
WR Elijah Moore
Michael Carter was already going to be limited to RB2/flex value under the best of circumstances, but the offensive line injuries and tough matchup make him better valued as a risky flex candidate. Moore was already on the injured reserve list prior to this, so this is simply a case of him moving from one unavailable list to another.

Miami injuries
COVID
WR Jaylen Waddle
RB Phillip Lindsay
S Jevon Holland
Waddle's unavailability adds fantasy value to DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki, but it does hurt Tua Tagovailoa's fantasy prospects enough to lower him to the bottom of the QB1 tier.

Tennessee at Pittsburgh

Tennessee injuries

Out
CB Janoris Jenkins
LB David Long
G Rodger Saffold
DT Teair Tart
Jenkins has not been very good in coverage this year, so losing him may actually be a benefit to the Titans secondary.

Pittsburgh injuries
Questionable
CB Joe Haden
Any fantasy manager considering starting Julio Jones should keep an eye on Haden's status, because Haden has been a true shutdown cornerback this year and would significantly reduce Jones' value if he is able to play.

Las Vegas at Cleveland

Las Vegas injuries

Out
CB Trayvon Mullen
LB Denzel Perryman
TE Darren Waller
It has been reported by multiple outlets that Waller will not play this week. That could make Moreau a viable longshot start option given the Browns secondary woes due to COVID, but Moreau will have to show that he is able to play despite battling an abdomen injury.

Saturday night update: Moreau was not listed on the final injury report and thus will be able to play.

Cleveland injuries

Out
CB Greg Newsome

Questionable
TE Harrison Bryant
DT Malik Jackson
WR Anthony Schwartz

COVID
S Grant Delpit
QB Case Keenum
S Ronnie Harrison
QB Baker Mayfield
HC Kevin Stefanski
TE Austin Hooper
G Wyatt Teller
WR Jarvis Landry
S John Johnson III
T James Hudson
RB Kareem Hunt
DE Jadeveon Clowney
This train wreck combination of injury and COVID issues means that fantasy managers should only play Cleveland fantasy prospects as last resorts. The possible exception here is Nick Chubb, but even he should be considered a RB2/flex candidate at best after posting only 9.5 points on 20 touches last week.

Saturday night update: Schwartz cleared the concussion protocol and thus is likely to play even despite the questionable tag.

Minnesota at Chicago

Minnesota injuries

Questionable
WR Adam Thielen

COVID
RB Alexander Mattison
DE Danielle Hunter
WR Dede Westbrook
Thielen is trending towards not playing this week, so K.J. Osborn should have WR3/flex value. Mattison has been ruled out for this contest.

Chicago injuries

Out
CB Xavier Crawford
S DeAndre Houston-Carson
T Jason Peters

Doubtful
WR Marquise Goodwin

Questionable
DT Akiem Hicks
LB Roquan Smith

COVID
WR Allen Robinson
S Eddie Jackson
RB Ryan Nall
OC Bill Lazor
DC Sean Desai
STC Chris Tabor
T Larry Borom
DT Eddie Goldman
CB Artie Burns

It's possible that Justin Fields or David Montgomery should still be considered potential start candidates despite this slew of injuries and COVID issues, but the reality is Fields ought to be valued near the bottom of the QB1 tier at best, and Montgomery rated as a RB2/flex candidate. The suggestion here is to avoid any other player on the Bears roster and even consider Fields or Montgomery only if there aren't higher percentage plays on your roster.

Seattle at Los Angeles Rams

Seattle injuries

Did not practice
T Brandon Shell

COVID
RB Alex Collins
WR Tyler Lockett
Collins and Lockett may end up being available for this contest since it has been moved to Tuesday, but fantasy managers should make moves with the idea that they will miss this game unless their status is cleared up before Sunday's kickoffs. If Lockett is out, that factor, when combined with the Rams defensive injuries, moves DK Metcalf into the WR2 tier despite his recent struggles and injuries.

Los Angeles injuries

Limited practice
C Brian Allen
DT Aaron Donald

COVID
TE Tyler Higbee
LB Von Miller
S Jordan Fuller
CB Jalen Ramsey
T Rob Havenstein
Beckham and Henderson may end up being available for this contest, but it may not be cleared up until after fantasy managers have to make roster decisions, so the best course would be to assume these two will be out and adjust rosters accordingly. The Rams D/ST falls into that same category, so strongly consider a stream start candidate this week.
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