Week 16 marks the thick of the fantasy playoffs in season-long leagues and represents another intriguing late-season DFS slate as well.
In this week’s NFL injury report article, we’ll highlight at least one noteworthy player at each of the four skill positions who is strongly trending toward sitting out or has already been ruled out, and what the expected impact of the absences will be.
Additionally, we’ll take a quick look at some news regarding the status of four other key players.
Today’s Key NFL Injury Report – Week 16
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Let’s take a look at some of the most impactful injuries for NFL Week 16 from an NFL DFS and betting perspective.
Quarterback
Derek Carr, Saints, DOUBTFUL (hand):
Carr suffered a fracture of his left, non-throwing hand and a concussion on a leap during a fourth-quarter scramble in a Week 14 win over the Giants and then missed the Week 15 loss to the Commanders with the two injuries.
Carr missed practice both Thursday and Friday of Week 16 prep, and some reports have indicated he could be eventually shut down for the season. Carr technically has Saturday’s final practice before the Monday night game against the Packers to improve his chances of playing, but those odds seem long.
Spencer Rattler will be in line to start against the Packers if Carr is ultimately ruled out. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi originally elected to go with second-year signal-caller Jake Haener in Carr’s stead against the Commanders, but after a dismal first half, he turned to Rattler, who’d previously gone 47-for-75 for 415 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions while adding nine rush attempts for 61 yards in his two full games as a starter in Weeks 6 and 7 against the Buccaneers and Broncos, respectively.
Rattler nearly led the Saints all the way back from a 20-0 deficit versus Washington, going 10-for-21 for 135 yards and a touchdown and coming just a failed two-point conversion pass away from securing the win with no time left. Rattler’s assignment this week will be tougher on paper, however.
To begin with, he’ll be on the road for a prime-time game at Lambeau Field. Additionally, the Packers get talented cornerback Jaire Alexander back from a knee injury and come in allowing just 198.7 passing yards per home game.
Running Back
Alvin Kamara, Saints, DOUBTFUL (groin):
Kamara has been a true workhorse for the Saints all season, now just 12 carries from surpassing the career-high 240 rush attempts he logged in 2021 and also logging 89 targets through 14 games, his highest count since 2020. Kamara also has a career-high 950 rushing yards, but after suffering a groin injury in the Week 15 loss to the Commanders, the star running back has failed to practice during the first two days of Week 16 prep.
Interim head coach Darren Rizzi conceded Friday it was very unlikely Kamara will play, which sets up a likely Kendre Miller-helmed ground attack versus Green Bay on an offense expected to be quarterbacked by rookie Spencer Rattler. Veteran Jamaal Williams will also be on hand to complement Miller, but it’s notable that Williams didn’t see any touches and played just four snaps in Week 15 against the Commanders despite Kamara playing a season-low 25 snaps.
Miller has enjoyed a redemptive last couple of weeks following his activation from a dubious injured-reserve stint that reportedly was fueled by former head coach Dennis Allen’s disdain for the running back’s injury-prone start to his career. Miller has rushed 19 times for 78 yards and a touchdown in that pair of contests and would be facing a Packers defense that’s allowed 99.7 rushing yards per game at home at 4.1 yards per carry.
David Montgomery, Lions, OUT (knee)
Montgomery is expected to miss at least the rest of the regular season due to an MCL injury that he suffered at some point during the wild Week 15 loss to the Bills. The veteran running back and workhorse of the Lions’ backfield therefore won’t be available as Detroit continues its quest for the NFC’s No. 1 seed in this Sunday’s road matchup against the Bears.
With D-Mont unavailable, expectations are Jahmyr Gibbs will move into a true lead-back role, considering only veteran journeyman Craig Reynolds and rookie fourth-round pick Sione Vaki shape up as his competition for carries. In terms of a sample size of games with Montgomery absent during Gibbs’ season-plus career, that amounts to three contests overall in Weeks 3, 7 and 8 of last season.
Gibbs posted 17 carries for 80 yards and one catch for two yards in that first game, followed by a combined 37-220-2 rushing line and 14 receptions for 95 yards in the other pair of contests later in the season. The matchup for Gibbs on Sunday is a premium one against a Bears team allowing 133.3 rushing yards per game on the season, including 146.3 over the last three contests, and 4.9 yards per carry to running backs overall.
Gibbs was modestly used but efficient in his first meeting with Chicago this season, rushing eight times for 36 yards and a touchdown and adding a 6-59 receiving line.
Wide Receivers
Tyreek Hill, Dolphins, QUESTIONABLE (wrist):
Hill’s situation is an interesting one heading into Sunday’s Week 16 home matchup against the 49ers. The speedy wide receiver has been listed as questionable due to a wrist injury that he’s been dealing with for multiple weeks, but the more intriguing part about the situation this week is the order in which matters unfolded.
Hill was excused from Wednesday’s practice after playing 57 snaps in Week 15 against the Texans. However, he was a full participant Thursday, seemingly signaling a return to normalcy, before downgrading to a limited session Friday. The questionable tag still implies he has a solid chance of playing, but the fact he trended downward on the last day of the practice week is curious.
If Hill does play, he’ll be facing a 49ers defense that’s allowed a stingy 195.7 passing yards per road game at a 62.1% completion rate without fellow wideout Jaylen Waddle next to him for the first time this season. Waddle is doubtful with a knee injury, but his absence could simply mean even more defensive attention than usual for Hill.
In three games that Waddle missed in 2023, Hill put together a combined 22-315-2 line.
Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins, DOUBTFUL (knee):
Hill’s fellow wideout Waddle has a more definitive outlook for Sunday’s game, and it’s not favorable by any stretch. After exiting the Week 15 loss to the Texans with a knee injury in the first half and never returning, Waddle failed to practice all week on his way to earning a doubtful tag.
The fourth-year wideout hasn’t missed a game yet this season, although as a result of the injury this past Sunday, he played a season-low 24 snaps and went without a catch for the first time in 2024. If he fails to suit up as expected, promising rookie Malik Washington, who recorded a career-best 5-52 receiving line against Houston with Waddle missing a half-plus, will move into the No. 2 receiver role at minimum, and would essentially be the de facto No. 1 were Hill to also sit out.
However, veteran tight end Jonnu Smith, whose role in the offense has expanded exponentially over the last five games, could also certainly be a beneficiary after recording 37-393-5 receiving line on 45 targets and seeing the ball on 26.9% percent of his routes during that span. Likewise, De’Von Achane’s elite pass-catching skills could also come into play, especially considering the threat he poses with the ball in space.
Tight End
David Njoku, Browns, QUESTIONABLE (hamstring):
Njoku apparently hurt his hamstring at some point during a Week 14 loss to the Steelers, a game in which Jameis Winston peppered him with 13 targets. He then sat out the Week 15 loss to the Chiefs, and this week, he didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday before getting a limited session on Friday and earning a questionable tag.
Njoku is apparently very intent on playing according to late-week reports, and if he does suit up, he could be a key security blanket for second-year signal-caller Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who will start in Week 16 and was partly the reason Njoku saw 14 targets back in Week 7, the game Deshaun Watson suffered his season-ending Achilles tear in and was replaced by Thompson-Robinson.
If Njoku can’t go, veteran position mate Jordan Akins, who posted a 3-30 line on four targets over 31 snaps in Week 15 in Njoku’s stead, would reprise his role as the No. 1 tight end.
Other notable injuries:
Isaac Guerendo, 49ers, OUT (foot/hamstring):
Guerendo played through a foot sprain in Week 15 against the Rams, but he apparently sustained a hamstring injury in the process that caused him to miss practice all week despite the extra time between games. Guerendo has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins, meaning journeyman Patrick Taylor and Israel Abanikanda are expected to helm San Francisco’s ground game.
Tony Pollard, Titans, QUESTIONABLE (ankle):
Pollard has been besieged by his ankle injury for several weeks, but his availability for Sunday’s game against the Colts could be in legitimate peril after he missed practice all week. If Pollard sits out, Tyjae Spears, who thrived as a receiver in Week 15 against the Bengals with Pollard missing time during the game, would be in line to serve as the No. 1 running back versus Indianapolis.
Cade Otton, Buccaneers, DOUBTFUL (knee):
Otton played 61 snaps against the Chargers in Week 15, but he emerged with a knee injury that caused him to miss Wednesday and Thursday’s practices and only log limited participation Friday. With Otton now listed as doubtful, second-year tight end Payne Durham is in line to bump up a notch on the depth chart for Sunday night’s game against the Cowboys, although Tampa Bay’s versatile running backs could certainly help pick some of the pass-catching slack as well.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants, QUESTIONABLE (ankle):
Tracy practiced in limited fashion all week and appears to be a legitimate 50/50 proposition to suit up against the Falcons. If the rookie running back does sit out, veteran Devin Singletary will be in line to reclaim the lead-back role he opened the season in.