Whether they have started or not, Week 14 likely carries playoff implications for fantasy teams. Below are some of the main injuries (and there are a lot of them) that managers should be aware of before they set their line-ups for Sunday.
Understanding the NFL's Injury Report
(per Dr. Bramel - Footballguys OG)
"The injury report released by the NFL is [made up of] two reports. The first is the Practice Participation report, which lists which injured players practiced and their participation level. It also includes players who rested or missed practice for non-injury-related reasons. The second is the Game Status Report, which gives the probability a player will play, i.e., Questionable, Doubtful, Out. The Practice Participation Report is released every day of the week (Monday through Saturday). The Game Status Report is released with the Friday participation report (Wednesday for Thursday games, Saturday for Monday games). In this feature, I'll include the Game Status Listing and my expectations of their likelihood of playing."
If you are reading this article on Saturday, make sure to come back on Sunday morning as more updates trickle in within the next 24 hours.
Current Status on High-Impact Injured Players
Gameday Decision
- WR Malik Nabers
- WR George Pickens
- RB Bucky Irving
- RB Alexander Mattison
- WR Jakobi Meyers
- RB Ken Walker III
- TE Dalton Kincaid
- WR Keon Coleman
- RB D'Andre Swift
- WR DJ Moore
- WR Ladd McConkey
Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)
- RB Zamir White
- QB Jalen Coker
- RB Breece Hall
Trending Probable (Expected to Play)
Ruled Out
- RB Zamir White (quadriceps)
- TE Dallas Goedert (knee - placed on IR)
- RB Roschon Johnson (concussion)
- WR Bub Means (ankle)
- TE Cedric Tillman (concussion)
* Key: Player, Team | Injury | Game Status Listing | Playing Expectation
Sunday 1:00 PM EST Games
WR Malik Nabers, NY Giants | Hip Flexor Strain | Questionable | 50/50
Malik Nabers has been battling a groin strain all year long, but on Thursday, he suffered a new injury – a hip flexor strain. Per Brain Daboll, Nabers had an MRI but the Giants are not ruling out the rookie WR from playing Sunday. If this is the same hip with the groin injury then I think Nabers is a long shot to play.
Possibly the groin injury Nabers has been dealing all season
— Adam Hutchison (@TheRealAdam_H) December 6, 2024
If this is a setback it hurts his chances of playing this week
Going back to 2017 groin/hip flexor strains typically result in time miss (avg 2 weeks) with 65% of the sample missing at least 1 game https://t.co/x5MuG6rEAs
Typically, this type of injury results in 2 weeks missed, with a 63% chance of the player missing at least one game. Soft tissue injuries linger; when they occur later in the week, they are more difficult to play through. Nabers may be a true game-time decision, but everything suggests that he is on the wrong side of questoinable.
WR George Pickens, Pittsburgh | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely Inactive
George Pickens sustained a hamstring injury during practice this week and, by all accounts, is on the wrong side of questionable. Soft tissue injuries like hamstring strains, on average, result in two weeks missed, and the track record of in-week injuries is not good. I do not envision Pickens being active in Week 14, and there is a chance he will miss Week 15 as well.
Update: To my surprise, Adam Schefter has reported that Pickens is expected to play.
WR Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay | Hip/Back | Questionable | 50/50
Bucky Irving has been battling a toe injury for most of the season, but this week, he popped up on the injury report with both a back and hip injury. Irving was a DNP (did not practice) to start the week but was finally able to return on Friday.
If Irving was a veteran RB with an established track record, I would be less concerned about him missing practice time. However, given that he is a rookie and the fact that injuries are starting to pile up I think Irving is a risky play, even if he is active. This could be a messy 3-man committee in Week 14 with Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker.
Update: Bucky Irving is expected to play.
RB Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas | Ankle | Questionable | Projecting Active
Alexander Mattison is on track to play in Week 14 after missing the previous 2 weeks with an ankle injury. Given his recovery timeline and limited practice work this week, I would expect Mattison to be ready.
However, even with Zamir White out, Mattison is not playable for fantasy purposes. Sincere McCormick has earned more touches and projects to be the featured RB.
Update: Alexander Mattison is not expected to play. Sincere McCormick should see a healthy workload.
WR Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas | Ankle | Questionable | Projecting Active
Jakobi Meyers practiced this week, albeit in a limited fashion, due to an ankle injury. We have seen this song and dance before from Meyers this season. I am currently projecting him to play in Week 14.
Update: Jakobi Meyers is projected to play.
TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina | Neck | Questionable | Projecting Active
Ja'Tavion Sanders is on track to play in Week 14 following his neck injury two weeks prior. Sanders has been limited for most of the week, but he ditched his non-contact jersey, suggesting he is 100%. Sanders avoided a scary neck injury, and I expected him to miss more time, but all signs to him being active.
WR Jalen Coker, Carolina | Quadriceps | Doubtful | Likely Inactive
Jalen Coker has not practiced all week and is on pace to miss another game due to his quadriceps injury. Based on his practice reports and "Doubtful" injury designation, Coker likely sits come Sunday.
RB Breece Hall, NY Jets | Knee | Doubtful | Likely Inactive
Last week, we got word that Breece Hall was dealing with a knee issue. Hall played through the injury but logged a season-low snap share. After not practicing to start the week, it seemed like this would be the status quo for the 3rd year NFL RB. However, on Friday, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich told reporters that Hall is "Doubtful" heading into Sunday.
95% of players listed as doubtful end up the following week. It seems Hall is out in Week 14. Braleon Allen is the next man up.
Update: As expected, Hall is out.
Sunday 4:05 PM EST Game
RB Ken Walker III, Seattle | Ankle | Questionable | 50/50
Ken Walker III is heading in the wrong direction with an ankle/calf injury. Walker started the week limited but followed Wednesday's practice up with two straight DNPs (did not practice).
When Seatlle HC Mike MacDonald was questioned about Walker's availability, he told reporters, "I just don't know." The Seahawks are holding out hope for Walker despite his practice participation this week. Walker is one of the more resilient NFL RBs, ranking in the 90% in terms of time missed vs. expected. Walker tends to miss less time than his injuries would typically result in.
From NFL Now: #Seahawks RB Ken Walker III suffered a strain on the inside of his foot and hasn't been ruled out for this week. pic.twitter.com/doUQemrHAD
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 5, 2022
With all the information we have, I would still hold out hope Walker can play Sunday afternoon. If you can roster an extra RB in case Walker is ruled out, this would be the optimal strategy.
TE Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo | Knee | Questionable | 50/50
Dalton Kincaid returned to practice this week but was never a full participant. Kincaid is likely coming off a PCL sprain that has resulted in three weeks missed (including bye week). Given his injury and timeline, I am still skeptical that the second-year TE is active. The Bills play in the afternoon time slot, so I would strongly consider other TE options due to the uncertainty of this situation.
Update: Kincaid is not expected to play.
TE Keon Coleman, Buffalo | Wrist | Questionable | Projecting Inactive
The Bills are clearly slow playing Keon Coleman's wrist injury. Coleman has been sidelined since Week 10 with a wrist injury that continues to not have an official diagnosis.
I suspect that Coleman is dealing with a bone bruise since a fracture would have likely landed him on Injured Reserve (IR). Coleman was also limited all week but it appears he is making progress as beat reporters let us know that Coleman was seen catching passes from Josh Allen this week. Until Coleman logs a full practice (FP) I am skeptical about his game-day status.
Sunday 4:25 PM EST Games
RB D'Andre Swift, Chicago | Quadriceps | Questionable | Projecting Active
Chicago appears to be managing D'Andre Swift's workload throughout the week as this is the second time in the last four weeks that Swift has been limited in practices due to a quadriceps/groin injury. Swift did return to practice on Friday, so by all accounts, he should be active on Sunday.
Update: Swift is expected to play.
WR DJ Moore, Chicago | Quadriceps | Questionable | Projecting Active
Similar to D'Andre Swift (above), the Bears have limited DJ Moore's workload this week. Moore was limited at Friday's practice but his presence suggests he will be ready come Sunday.
Update: Early expectations are that Moore will be active.
Sunday Night 8:20 PM EST Game
WR Ladd McConkey, LA Chargers | Knee/Shoulder | Questionable | Projecting Active
Ladd McConkey is another player who has been battling injuries this season. The Chargers have listed McConkey as "Questionable" with a shoulder and knee injury. I believe McConkey is playing through an AC joint sprain, but the fact that he has been active in weeks past leads me to believe he will do the same this week. He still carries a higher re-injury risk than most since a blow/landing on his shoulder could reaggravate symptoms and result in an early exit. Fantasy managers will have to decide if they want to roll the dice.
Monday Night 8:15 PM EST Game
WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas | Shoulder | Questionable | Projecting Active
CeeDee Lamb did not practice on Thursday and was limited on Friday. He continues to play through his shoulder injury (likely AC joint sprain), and I expect this week to be no different. As long as Lamb practices at all on Saturday (limited or in full), I feel good about his chances of being active.
Update: CeeDee Lamb is officially off the Cowboys' injury report – he will be active Monday.
TE Jake Ferguson, Dallas | Concussion | Questionable | Likely Active
Jake Ferguson finally returned to practice this week and logged a full practice on Friday. He is on track to play Monday, which would relegate Luke Schoonmaker to fantasy irrelevancy.
Update: Like CeeDee Lamb, Ferguson is off the injury report and will play Monday night.
