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Week 14 Injury Recap
Can you believe it’s already getting towards the end of the fantasy season? It seems like the regular season goes by quicker and quicker each year. Fantasy managers are approaching the most important weeks of the season and need to keep an eye out on injuries leading up to fantasy playoffs. Here is your week 14 injury report.
Lamar Jackson, Quarterback, Ravens
As much as I personally don’t like the Baltimore Ravens, you can’t help but to feel for them. If this wasn’t a fantasy football specific article, the Ravens would be dominating the content in these articles week to week. Either way, Lamar Jackson was one of the Ravens who left Sunday’s game without returning. Jackson injured his ankle early in Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Browns and was carted to the locker room for further evaluation. John Harbaugh confirmed that Lamar suffered an ankle sprain. It was hard to see from the angles given of the play if Jackson is looking at a lateral ankle sprain or the dreaded high ankle sprain. Either way, there’s a good shot Lamar could miss at least one game.
Tyler Huntley slots in as the Quarterback if Jackson does indeed miss time. Huntley is very similar to Lamar Jackson in the fact he has rushing upside. He isn’t as dynamic in the rushing attack as Lamar is, however, we all know rushing Quarterbacks are king in fantasy football and Huntley is one. The Ravens have a tough end of season schedule and since it is fantasy playoff time, Huntley is a tough sell to start in your lineup.
Huntley supplied good fantasy days to Mark Andrews, who no matter the quarterback is an instant start in fantasy lineups, and rookie Rashod Bateman. Fantasy managers of Bateman by this point in the season are either out of the playoffs or aren’t relying on him as a starter. I don’t see that changing if there is a new quarterback under center. Marquise Brown has been fairly average the past four games. Hasn’t ruined your team but hasn’t really won you a week. Brown remains a high ceiling option with a floor that is start worthy in fantasy playoffs.
Kareem Hunt, Running Back, Browns
What a disappointment it has been during this back stretch of the year for Hunt. Unfortunately for Hunt, it has been mostly due to injuries. Even when he was back on the field these past two games, he just does not look himself. After a blazing start to the season, another injury lands Hunt back on the injury report. This time with an “ankle issue”. Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters after the game that Hunt wanted to try and “fight through it” but evidently he and his staff thought it would be better off that he didn’t. This should give fantasy managers optimism that he escaped a major injury. However, based on how this year has gone so far for Hunt I would not be surprised if he were to miss some time.
Hunt is borderline droppable heading into fantasy playoffs, especially if he does indeed miss time with this current injury. He clearly can’t stay healthy, and the fact he has left games early with very minimal fantasy output should scare fantasy managers away from starting him. Nick Chubb, even with the inefficient week, is an every week starter with or without Hunt. D’Ernest Johnson has had big weeks in the past without both Chubb and Hunt, however, I can’t imagine anyone being desperate enough to need to start Johnson in what’s more than likely week one of the playoffs.
Austin Ekeler, Running Back, Chargers
Ekeler’s injury may be the most scary and unpredictable injury this whole season. Not due to the severity of the injury. In fact, how not severe the injury is. Just like Hunt, Austin Ekeler injured his ankle in Sunday’s game and did not return. Like Hunt as well, Ekeler tried returning to the game but was ruled out later on in the game. Unlike Hunt, Ekeler has been a fantasy stud all season long. Fantasy managers who made the playoffs are relying on him in the playoffs.
Another layer to this terrifying situation is that the Chargers play the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night in week 15. The Chargers are in the thick of a playoff push and need Ekeler. They also need Ekeler to be healthy as they head into the playoffs. I am less optimistic about Ekeler playing this upcoming week than previous players listed with ankle injuries this week due to the nature of a short week. Monitor practice reports and if Ekeler is able to get at least one limited participant in a practice this week I am fairly confident he will suit up on Thursday.
If Ekeler is suited up on Thursday, I have full confidence he should be in fantasy lineups as well. Fantasy managers should not be timid to play him injured. It isn’t guaranteed he plays on Thursday and if he doesn’t, who should fantasy managers pivot too? The Chiefs defense have leveled up recently, leaving Ekeler’s replacements a big question mark heading into the first week of the playoffs. Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelly may be intriguing based on the volume, but not only is it a bad matchup, both would split carries and eat into each other’s fantasy value. To me, it’s Ekeler or bust for Chargers running backs.
Also To Note:
- Josh Allen battled through a sprain in his foot Sunday as the Bills comeback fell short in overtime. I expect Allen to play as the Bills need him as playoffs are far from a guarantee for the Bills. Even against a bad matchup in the Panthers, Allen is a must start as always.
- Emmanuel Sanders injured his knee in the same game as Allen. Expect Sanders to miss at least a game with this injury. This makes Gabriel Davis an intriguing flex spot start for a team needing someone to play.
- Terry McLaurin left Sunday’s game with a concussion. Pay attention to practice reports and if he is able to participate in practice at all this week then he has a good chance to play. If he plays in week 15, start him with as much confidence as you have had in McLaurin this year, which may be very minimal. If he doesn’t play, stand clear of Football team wide receivers.
- Aaron Rodgers toe “feels worse” following Sunday night’s win. Who cares, we get it Aaron you are tough for playing through a broken toe.
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