Sit Start Injury Report Sunday Morning Week 17 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 17 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.

Arizona at Dallas

Arizona injuries

Out CB Marco Wilson

Questionable S Budda Baker RB James Conner WR Rondale Moore

COVID T D.J. Humphries

Conner was able to put in a limited practice on Friday, so he is trending towards playing. If he is out, Chase Edmonds will be a lead back and have solid RB2 value. Baker had two limited practices this week, but if he is out, it does help Dalton Schultz’s fantasy value. Wilson’s absence should increase Michael Gallup’s production ceiling.

Dallas injuries

The Cowboys have no notable injuries.

Atlanta at Buffalo

Atlanta injuries

Doubtful CB Fabian Moreau

COVID S Jaylinn Hawkins TE Hayden Hurst WR Tajae Sharpe

The slew of injuries and COVID issues in the Falcons secondary increases the value of all Buffalo passing game players.

Saturday night update: Richie Grant was activated off the COVID list.

Buffalo injuries

Questionable DT Ed Oliver WR Emmanuel Sanders

With the return of Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley the Bills lineup, Sanders already non-existent value pretty much disappears.

Carolina at New Orleans

Carolina injuries

Out CB Stephon Gilmore

Doubtful T Cameron Erving

Questionable S Juston Burris CB C.J. Henderson

COVID LB Haason Reddick QB P.J. Walker

Taysom Hill’s QB1 case is improved notably by the injury issues to the Carolina secondary. It may also make Marquez Callaway a potential longshot option in deeper leagues. The COVID players are mostly made up of front seven defenders for the Panthers, so the Saints ground game also has improved odds of success.

Saturday night update: Brian Burns and Shaq Thompson were activated off the COVID list.

New Orleans injuries

Out WR Tre’Quan Smith

Questionable DE Carl Granderson WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey RB Mark Ingram WR Ty Montgomery C Erik McCoy S Marcus Williams

COVID T Ryan Ramczyk RB Dwayne Washington

Alvin Kamara has posted two awful games in a row in part because of offensive line issues, so if McCoy and Ramczyk are out, it could be a RB2-level ceiling for Kamara despite the Panthers defensive woes.

Saturday night update: McCoy and Williams were activated from the COVID list and thus are likely to play, but they are listed as questionable due to the potential they won’t pass the protocols on Sunday morning.

Denver at Los Angeles Chargers

Denver injuries

Out QB Teddy Bridgewater

Questionable CB Ronald Darby RB Melvin Gordon DE Shelby Harris S Kareem Jackson DE Dre’Mont Jones DE Shamar Stephen WR Courtland Sutton RB Javonte Williams LB Kenny Young

COVID LB Bradley Chubb WR Jerry Jeudy CB Bryce Callahan T Bobby Massie WR Tim Patrick DT Mike Purcell

The Broncos are arguably the most injury/COVID wracked team in the league right now. It makes Gordon and Williams risky RB2/flex candidates despite what looks to be a very favorable matchup against the Chargers.

Los Angeles injuries

Doubtful LB Drue Tranquill

COVID TE Jared Cook CB Tevaughn Campbell

The defensive backfield COVID issues might have been more impactful in fantasy if they didn’t occur against a Denver passing game that just doesn’t have many players worth trusting in fantasy lineup even under favorable circumstances. It’s possible Noah Fant and Jerry Jeudy have higher percentage odds for a quality day, but Jeudy is on the COVID list and may not play in this game.

Saturday night update: Nasir Adderley, Storm Norton, Dustin Hopkins, and Chris Harris were activated off the COVID list.

Detroit at Seattle

Detroit injuries

Out FB Jason Cabinda

Doubtful QB Jared Goff

COVID WR Kalif Raymond DE Michael Brockers T Halapoulivaati Vaitai WR Josh Reynolds

Amon-Ra St. Brown has proven that he can post strong point totals regardless of who is playing quarterback for the Lions, so the Tim Boyle experience won’t keep St. Brown out of fantasy lineups. Swift probably has more downside potential given the potential for split work in the Detroit backfield, but he’s still worth a RB2/flex spot in most fantasy lineups.

Seattle injuries

Doubtful T Brandon Shell

Questionable RB Alex Collins

COVID G Damien Lewis LB L.J. Collier CB Blessuan Austin

The potential for missing two starting offensive linemen does add some downside risk to Rashaad Penny’s boom/bust profile, so rate him as a somewhat volatile flex play.

Saturday night update: Starting cornerback Sidney Jones was added to the COVID list. John Reid has done a solid job in his absence, so the Lions passing game doesn’t get an upgrade from this.

Houston at San Francisco

Houston injuries

Questionable WR Chris Conley S A.J. Moore CB Jimmy Moreland

COVID WR Phillip Dorsett RB David Johnson T Tytus Howard

Not having Johnson taking his 6-10 carries should keep Rex Burkhead with enough carry volume to rate as a flex candidate.

San Francisco injuries

Out LB Azeez Al-Shaair LB Dre Greenlaw DT Maurice Hurst

Doubtful QB Jimmy Garoppolo S Talanoa Hufanga

Questionable RB Elijah Mitchell

Trey Lance will be starting this week in place of the injured Garoppolo. Lance’s rushing ability, and Kyle Shanahan’s willingness to utilize it, makes Lance a solid QB1 candidate. Mitchell put in limited practices all week long and thus is trending towards starting. If Mitchell is out, Jeff Wilson will move to RB2 status.

Jacksonville at New England

Jacksonville injuries

Out TE James O’Shaughnessy

COVID CB Shaquill Griffin S Andrew Wingard CB Rudy Ford T Cam Robinson C Brandon Linder G Ben Bartch

With James Robinson now on injured reserve, there is no one on the Jaguars roster worth playing in fantasy football outside of desperation plays in deep leagues and the offensive line issues listed above make those options even riskier than they already are.

Saturday night update: Davon Hamilton and Andrew Norwell were activated off the COVID list

New England injuries

Out WR Nelson Agholor

Questionable DT Christian Barmore S Kyle Duggar K Nick Folk RB Damien Harris LB Dont’a Hightower CB J.C. Jackson WR Jakobi Meyers S Adrian Phillips

Harris was limited in practice all week, which in the Patriots way of dealing with the injury means he is likely to play. Harris is a solid flex candidate if he does play, but if he is out, Rhamondre Stevenson takes over that flex role.

Saturday night update: Josh Uche, Matt Judon, and Ja’Whaun Bentley were activated off the COVID list.

Kansas City at Cincinnati

Kansas City injuries

Out RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Edwards-Helaire did not practice all week, but Andy Reid has indicated that Edwards-Helaire may still be able to play on Sunday. If CEH is out, Darrel Williams will have RB2 value in his place.

Saturday night update: Edwards-Helaire is now listed as out for this game.

Cincinnati injuries

Questionable LB Germaine Pratt

COVID CB Trae Waynes

If Waynes is out, Eli Apple will likely get a lot more playing time. Apple has been awful in coverage at times this year but has improved of late. That means there may be some added upside potential to Tyreek Hill, but Byron Pringle may benefit from it even more and could be a viable longshot option in deeper leagues.

Saturday night update: Pratt was moved off the COVID list but still has to clear the protocols on Sunday morning in order to play.

Las Vegas at Indianapolis

Las Vegas injuries

Questionable DT Johnathan Hankins LB Denzel Perryman

COVID DE Carl Nassib TE Darren Waller LB Will Compton CB Casey Hayward LB Cory Littleton LB Patrick Onwuasor LB K.J. Wright

The Colts are getting Ryan Kelly and Quenton Nelson back on their offensive this week. Combine those road grades with the potential for a slew of missing front seven players on the Raiders defense and Jonathan Taylor should take another big step towards MVP status this week. Waller’s COVID status means that Foster Moreau is trending towards playing again and could have low-end TE1 status following two straight weeks with a double-digit point total in full PPR leagues. Casey Hayward’s potential absence should make Michael Pittman, Jr. a solid WR3/flex candidate if Carson Wentz is able to return in time for this contest (more on which below).

Saturday night update: Perryman was moved off the COVID list but still has to clear the protocols on Sunday morning in order to play. Casey Hayward and Cory Littleton were also activated off the COVID list.

Indianapolis injuries

Out S Andrew Sendejo

Questionable TE Jack Doyle T Eric Fisher G Mark Glowinski

COVID WR Parris Campbell

Wentz can play this week if he clears the COVID protocol by Saturday at 4 PM ET. If he doesn’t, the Colts pass game candidates should be avoided in fantasy. The potential for losing Fisher, who did not practice this week, Glowinski, who posted on limited practice, and Smith doesn’t help Jonathan Taylor’s case, but the return of Kelly and Nelson and the Raiders slew of front seven physical issues means Taylor still has a great chance of posting 20+ points.

Saturday night update: Wentz was activated off the COVID list but still has to clear the protocol on Sunday in order to play. Braden Smith was also activated off the COVID list.

Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore

Los Angeles injuries

Questionable RB Cam Akers LB Leonard Floyd T Greg Gaines S Taylor Rapp

Having Akers back will help the Rams backfield with depth now that Darrell Henderson has been placed on injured reserve, but Sony Michel is still the bell cow for the Rams.

Baltimore injuries

Out CB Anthony Averett G Ben Powers

Doubtful LB Odafe Oweh

Questionable WR Marquise Brown WR Devin Duvernay QB Lamar Jackson FB Patrick Ricard

As it stands at the moment, Tyler Huntley will likely be starting at quarterback for the Ravens this week. Huntley’s usage in this offense is similar to Jackson’s, so there is QB1 value here as long as Jackson doesn’t play. Brown has shown a high floor/low ceiling propensity of late and should be valued in a similar fashion if he plays, but a missed practice on Friday due to an illness indicates Brown may not be in the Ravens lineup this week.

Miami at Tennessee

Miami injuries

Questionable S Brandon Jones

The Dolphins have no notable injuries this week.

Saturday night update: Jones was moved off the COVID list but still has to clear the protocols on Sunday morning in order to play.

Tennessee injuries

COVID LB Jayon Brown WR Julio Jones

Rushing ability is the only thing that has kept Ryan Tannehill anywhere near the QB2 tier of late, and with Jones potentially out again this week, Tannehill’s status as a questionable QB2 remains unchanged.

Saturday night update: Denico Autry, Bud Dupree, and Buster Skrine were all activated off the COVID list.

Minnesota at Green Bay

Minnesota injuries

Out DT Michael Pierce

Doubtful CB Cameron Dantzler

Questionable TE Tyler Conklin

COVID QB Kirk Cousins

Cousins will be out for this contest and Sean Mannion will start at quarterback for Minnesota. Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook are obviously still must start candidates but having Mannion under center does greatly increase their potential for a bust game in a fantasy championship contest. Davante Adams is a must start candidate regardless of cornerback matchup, but Dantzler had been playing quite well of late, so his absence is helpful to Adams’ fantasy prospects.

Saturday night update: Pierce has been downgraded to out this week.

Green Bay injuries

Out CB Jaire Alexander T David Bakhtiari G Billy Turner

COVID WR Randall Cobb T Elgton Jenkins DE Kingsley Keke

The Packers were hoping Alexander would be back this week, but Eric Stokes, Rasul Douglas, and Chandon Sullivan have all posted strong coverage metrics of late, which doesn’t bode well for the Vikings given that Cousins is out. The Cousins absence does make the potential for a shootout much smaller, so the ceiling for the Packers starting fantasy options may be lower than usual.

Saturday night update: Marcedes Lewis was activated from the COVID list.

New York Giants at Chicago

New York injuries

Out WR John Ross WR Kadarius Toney

Doubtful C Billy Price

Questionable CB Adoreé Jackson T Nate Solder

COVID WR Darius Slayton DT Danny Shelton

The reality is that, outside of Saquon Barkley as a flex candidate, there really isn’t anyone on the Giants that fantasy managers should be starting in a title game. Jackson’s potential absence could help Darnell Mooney but it’s still not enough to raise Mooney’s value past WR3/flex status.

Saturday night update: Julian Love was activated off the COVID list.

Chicago injuries

Questionable QB Justin Fields DT Eddie Goldman DT Akiem Hicks T Jason Peters CB Duke Shelley

COVID CB Xavier Crawford

Andy Dalton will be starting this week for Fields. Outside of David Montgomery and possibly Darnell Mooney, there just isn’t anyone in the Bears offense worthy of strong start status.

Philadelphia at Washington

Philadelphia injuries

Out RB Miles Sanders

Questionable RB Jordan Howard

The Eagles are likely to go with a combination of Howard, Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainwell to split the carries in Sanders’ absence, but this club is also trying to expand its passing game in time for the playoffs. That makes Howard a potential flex candidate if he plays, with Scott taking over that value if Howard is out.

Saturday night update: Derek Barnett was activated off the COVID list.

Washington injuries

Out CB William Jackson

Questionable WR Curtis Samuel DE Montez Sweat

COVID G Ereck Flowers RB Antonio Gibson T Sam Cosmi CB Darryl Roberts

It’s not a good sign when the head coach says that he could be going with a rotation at quarterback, which Ron Rivera indicated might be the case this week. Gibson’s late addition to the COVID list means he is almost certain to miss this game, so rate Jaret Patterson as a potential flex candidate in his place. Jackson’s absence does increase the odds that Jalen Reagor will be a solid longshot candidate, but that’s reserved for very deep leagues.

Tampa Bay at New York Jets

Tampa Bay injuries

Out LB Shaquill Barett LB Jason Pierre-Paul

Doubtful CB Richard Sherman

Questionable WR Antonio Brown WR Mike Evans WR Justin Watson S Antoine Winfield CB Jamel Dean CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

The potential for missing four players in the secondary does increase the chance for a Jets passing game players to post quality numbers, but very rare is the fantasy manager who won’t have better candidates available than Zach Wilson, Braxton Berrios, or Keelan Cole. The bigger concern is that Antonio Brown did not practice on Friday and thus could miss this game. The Jets defense is so bad that if Brown and Evans do play, they are both WR2 candidates with upside.

Saturday night update: Dean and Murphy-Bunting were moved off the COVID list but still have to clear the protocols on Sunday morning in order to play.

New York Jets injuries

Doubtful WR Jamison Crowder

COVID RB Tevin Coleman LB Jarrad Davis DT Quinnen Williams S Sharrod Neasman TE Tyler Kroft

Coleman’s potential absence makes Michael Carter an even stronger RB2/flex candidate.

Saturday night update: Bryce Hall was activated off the COVID list.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh

Cleveland injuries

Out CB Troy Hill S John Johnson S Ronnie Harrison

Questionable RB Kareem Hunt DT Malik Jackson

Hunt hasn’t posted a solid fantasy point total since Week 6, so consider him a boom/bust candidate against a weak Steelers rush defense that is dealing with COVID issues this week.

Saturday night update: Cleveland is now missing three starters from the secondary, so the Steelers passing attack should be able to maximize its low-octane power. Consider Diontae Johnson a borderline WR1/WR2 in PPR leagues, Chase Claypool a potential longshot play, and Pat Freiermuth a low-tier TE1.

Pittsburgh injuries

Questionable C Kendrick Green

COVID LB Joe Schobert DE Chris Wormley CB Arthur Maulet LB Devin Bush T Zach Banner

Maulet has been a coverage liability for the Steelers this year, but the Browns passing game is so weak that outside of Jarvis Landry there really isn’t anyone worth considering playing on this roster outside of very deep leagues.

Saturday night update: Isaiah Buggs was activated off the COVID list.