It’s Week 15 and with seasons on the line, the fantasy football injury advice article is here to help break down some key injuries and their fantasy impacts.
The fantasy football playoffs are here and whether you’re a casual fantasy player or a fantasy football sicko, week 15’s lineup decisions weigh far heavier than those of previous rounds.
Losing any matchup because you overlooked an injury designation is painful, but to have that end your season is far worse. With that in mind, here are five injury situations that could affect fantasy outcomes this week, and what to do about them.
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Week 15 Fantasy Football Injury Advice
Derek Carr – Replacement: Jake Haener
While Derek Carr isn’t the most popular quarterback, his deep-ball accuracy has made Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Juwan Johnson incredibly profitable for fantasy managers in recent weeks. His overall competency in the position has also provided a platform for the Saints to be competitive in recent weeks.
Jake Haener may be incredible, but given that he was initially the third-choice QB in New Orleans, behind rookie fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler, that’s unlikely.
With Carr sidelined, Valdes-Scantling and Johnson are best avoided this week, in favor of more reliable options.
But the most fantasy-relevant player on the Saints, for some time, has been Alvin Kamara.
The Saints struggled in the three games that Carr missed earlier in the season, and Kamara was particularly affected. Kamara’s total rushing attempts in those three games are three of the four lowest he has had this season.
With the Saints likely to be playing from behind against Washington this weekend, Kamara’s work in the passing game should keep him afloat in fantasy. As for the rest of the Saints’ skill players, there are almost certainly better options out there.
Drew Lock – Replacement: Tommy DeVito
As with Derek Carr, almost no one is mourning the loss of Drew Lock in fantasy this weekend. And as with Jake Haener, no one is excited about the prospect of Tommy DeVito in fantasy this weekend.
As much as DeVito is arguably less of a downgrade than Haener this weekend (DeVito’s week 12 numbers were better than Drew Lock’s week 13 numbers), this is still more about the players around him.
As bad as the Giants have been this season, they have provided some huge fantasy weeks from rookies Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy.
In week 12, with Tommy DeVito leading the team in a shambolic defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Nabers caught six of nine targets for 64 yards. That’s been pretty standard for Nabers since returning from an injury that kept him out for weeks five and six. Nabers was electric to start the year but has hovered around the RB2/Flex range since that injury.
Tyrone Tracy took advantage of an injury to Devin Singletary to break out in week five this year, and the rookie has continued to impress since. While Baltimore is more than capable of turning this game into a blowout, Tracy still put up low-end RB2 numbers in similar circumstances in week 12.
Previously the best run defense, and leakiest pass defense in the league, Baltimore has started to even things out in that regard recently. For week 15, both Nabers and Tracy are playable in fantasy, with flex-worthy floors and explosive upside.
Bucky Irving – Replacements: Rachaad White and Sean Tucker
Sean Tucker has popped up in waiver-wire conversation this week after rookie standout Bucky Irving was forced to leave week 14’s game against the Raiders before halftime.
Irving is yet to be ruled out for Week 15, but according to fantasy football injury expert Deepak Chona, MD, even if Irving does play, he’ll likely see a drop in usage. Anyone seeking further fantasy football injury advice should give him a follow.
Bucky Irving injury update#Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/tqHY1FOffx
— Deepak Chona, MD. SportsMedAnalytics (@SportMDAnalysis) December 12, 2024
If Irving does get less work, Rachaad White should be started everywhere in week 15, after putting up 109 total yards and two touchdowns this past Sunday.
Irving did miss practice on Wednesday though, so the possibility remains that he’ll miss week 15 altogether. If that happens, Sean Tucker is an intriguing waiver add this week. The Buccaneers face a Chargers run defense that has allowed the 7th-most yards/carry in the league over their last five games.
Given how effective Irving had been in the three games before week 14, and the potential impact of his injury, the decision to start him or not could genuinely decide matchups this weekend.
White is a start this weekend, regardless of Irving’s status.
If he can log a full practice on Friday, and reports are positive, Irving has enough upside to warrant trusting him. If he is only limited in practice heading into the weekend, and reports are less than glowing, he should be viewed as a low-floor, high-ceiling flex option.
Tucker, whilst efficient in his previous opportunities this year, will probably need a touchdown at the weekend to warrant a flex spot. White will take the vast majority of carries and receiving work if Irving doesn’t play, likely leaving Tucker with around 8-12 touches to make a splash with.
Isaac Guerendo – Replacement: Patrick Taylor
Isaac Guerendo stepped up for the 49ers in a big way last weekend, after both Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason were placed on injured reserve. Guerendo carried the ball 15 times for 78 yards and a touchdown, adding 50 yards on two receptions before leaving the game in the fourth quarter.
It was later revealed that Guerendo had suffered a sprained foot, which has left the rookie questionable for the team’s divisional matchup with the Rams this Thursday. Guerendo missed practice on both Monday and Tuesday, so the 49ers will likely be naming their third starting running back in as many weeks.
If Guerendo is ruled out, Patrick Taylor will be handed the reigns, and the former Packer has therefore been picked up in fantasy leagues everywhere this week.
In that instance, Taylor will be facing off against a Rams defense that has struggled against the run of late, allowing 5.2 yards/carry over their last five games. Tied with Dallas, that is the second-most in the NFL over that stretch, which is positive news for Taylor owners.
With each running back injury that the team faces, it becomes less likely that Kyle Shanahan will trust his next man up with a workhorse role. Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Israel Abanikanda could also be in line to see some snaps, but neither should be considered for fantasy lineups this week.
With Guerendo likely eyeing a Week 16 return at the latest, anyone who picked up Taylor this week did so with Week 15 in mind. If he sees a full workload, Taylor should be able to repay that faith against a struggling Rams run defense. If however, Taylor does share the workload with one or two teammates and disappoints in fantasy, there’s no better time for that than Thursday night.
Breece Hall – Replacements: Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis
Breece Hall missed week 14 due to a knee injury that threatens to keep him sidelined again this coming weekend. With Hall out, rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis split work straight down the middle, with 16 opportunities each.
Whilst Allen racked up more total yards than Davis, it was Davis that had the better fantasy week, after scoring the only touchdown between the two.
Hall hasn’t been ruled out yet, but looks unlikely to suit up on Sunday, after missing practice on Wednesday.
If Hall can’t play, it will likely be the same again for Allen and Davis, who both put up RB2 numbers in week 14. Of the two, Allen is the more likely to take goal-line carries due to his size, but Davis has touchdowns in each of the Jets’ last two games.
Despite recording their third win of the season at the weekend, the Jaguars shouldn’t be able to cause the Jets any problems this weekend. Aaron Rodgers and company have performed well below expectations this season but looked far more convincing against the Dolphins in Week 14, though came away with a loss.
With what should be a positive game script this weekend, both Allen and Davis should see plenty of opportunity and have proven themselves worthy of a flex spot if needed. Anything more than that will be touchdown-dependent, which despite recent form, should give Allen a slight edge.
That’s all for this week’s fantasy football injury advice, best of luck with those Week 15 matchups.
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