Notable Fantasy Football Injuries from Week 16: Lamar Jackson, Jordan Love, TreVeyon Henderson and More
Looking at several NFL injuries that occurred in week 16 of the regular season.
Week 16 was another tough one for NFL injuries. There were some notable fantasy football players who went down, so let's go over those here.
Check back over the next couple days for waiver wire options to possibly replace some of these injured players.
Check out fantasy football injury news all season on FantasySP.
Quarterbacks
Baltimore's Lamar Jackson was one of the fantasy quarterbacks to go down on Sunday. He left with a back injury.
He was replaced by Tyler Huntley, who would likely start in his place if Jackson cannot go in week 17. Jackson's chances of playing in that must-win game take a hit because the team plays on Saturday in Green Bay.
Jackson said he hopes to be back for that contest, but his status will need to be monitored throughout the week.
If Jackson is out, the entire Baltimore offense takes a hit. It'd be hard to start many of the offensive players.
I'd like Derrick Henry, but be looking to possibly sit Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews and anyone else. Keep checking back to FantasySP and we will update you on the situation as the week progresses.
Minnesota's J.J. McCarthy left with a hand injury in week 16. He was replaced by Max Brosmer, who would likely start in week 17 if McCarthy cannot.
McCarthy had been trending up, so this would be a blow to his late-season surge. Minnesota might just sit the young QB after he's dealt with a number of injuries all season.
He'll be a risky fantasy starting option if he is cleared for week 17. The Vikings' offensive players would all take a hit as well.
If Brosmer starts in week 17 against Detroit, I wouldn't want to start him, or many other Vikings for that matter. We'll keep you posted on the situation as the week progresses.
Green Bay's Jordan Love is in concussion protocol after a hit to the head on Saturday against the Bears. Malik Willis replaced him and looked pretty solid.
If Love and Jackson cannot go in week 17, it might be Huntley and Willis squaring off in a big matchup for each team.
Willis is a decent fantasy asset as a dual-threat option. He's just a deep-league option in my eyes though.
Love's absence could be a fantasy hit to several pass catchers, including Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. Guys like Luke Musgrave, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks and Matthew Golden would also be better deep-league starting options only.
The running back room, most notably Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson, would be decent fantasy options. We'll see how things look as the Saturday game nears.
Kansas City's Gardner Minshew is feared to have torn his ACL. He was replacing Patrick Mahomes, who tore his ACL last week.
Chris Oladokun replaced Minshew and is trending toward starting in week 16. Oladokun was 11-of-16 passing for 111 yards, no touchdowns and no picks this week. He was sacked four times, fumbled once and added seven rushing yards on two attempts.
He's just an option in really deep leagues, and him starting would make nearly every Chief a very risky fantasy asset.
Isiah Pacheco was the only Chief who had a solid fantasy day in week 16, and that was mostly due to him catching six passes for 41 yards. I'd probably skip all the Chiefs' offensive players, which includes Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Travis Kelce and others.
Running Backs
Cleveland's Quinshon Judkins is done for the season after dislocating his ankle and fracturing his fibula. We have to hope that the injuries don't impact the talented back going forward, because he showed plenty of promise at times this year.
Raheim Sanders ended up leading the Cleveland backfield, so he might be the best pickup going into week 17. He and Trayveon Williams each played 20 offensive snaps in the contest.
Both Sanders and Williams are probably better deep-league starting options for fantasy leagues though. Judkins' injury could put more on quarterback Shedeur Sanders and the pass game, so guys like Harold Fannin and Jerry Jeudy could be decent options.
Fannin feels like the only safe standard league fantasy option for the Browns with Judkins now out. Everyone else is a better deep-league option I believe.
Los Angeles Chargers' Kimani Vidal left with a neck injury.
That left Omarion Hampton to dominate the backfield touches, and he'll be a must-start fantasy option if Vidal misses additional time. Hassan Haskins picked up the other backfield touches, but he's no more than a deep-league option.
Hampton should dominate the backfield if Vidal is out. Even if he plays in week 17, Hampton should control the backfield now.
Minnesota's Jordan Mason left with an ankle injury. It led to Aaron Jones Sr. dominating the backfield.
Jones would be a really good starting option if Mason is out for week 17 and 18. Zavier Scott would likely be RB2, but would only be worth super deep-league usage in a really good fantasy matchup.
New England's TreVeyon Henderson left Sunday night's game with a head injury. Rhamondre Stevenson had a decent fantasy showing as a result.
Stevenson would lead the backfield if Henderson is out for week 17. D'Ernest Johnson would likely be the backup running back.
Stevenson would be a pretty solid fantasy starting option if Henderson is out, so Stevenson is worth adding in most fantasy leagues.
Wide Receivers
Not too many notable fantasy wide receivers got injured in week 16. New England's DeMario Douglas is probably the most notable.
He left with a hamstring injury. Stefon Diggs delivered big for the Patriots, with Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams also having solid fantasy showings at wide receiver. Tight end Hunter Henry also contributed a nice showing.
If Douglas is out for week 17, then Diggs becomes a better starting option. Hollins and Williams are more deep-league options, and you could throw Kayshon Boutte in that mix as well. Henry would be a pretty solid starting option.
