Prime-Time First TD Bets — Monday Night Football, Week 16
Alex Christenson
We did get plenty of injury news Friday that brought clarity to plenty of fantasy football situations, but there are still plenty of question marks heading into Sunday. Let’s try to talk about how things could break as we get closer to kick.
Week 9 Fantasy Football Injury Report
Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders
Brian Robinson has been on the injury report for three straight weeks now for Washington. He’s missed one game and played in Week 8, so the best bet would be that he’ll be active this week. It’s been deemed a hamstring injury so you need to check back before kickoff, and Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols will take on larger roles if Robinson sits.
Zamir White, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
It doesn’t matter a ton because the Raiders have said that Alexander Mattison will be the starting running back, but Zamir White doesn’t look like he’ll suit up Sunday. He didn’t practice at all this week with a quadricep injury, so Mattison will continue to get the bulk of the work here, even if he doesn’t do much with it.
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Zack Moss, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Both of these Bengals players have been all but ruled out, as Zack Moss and Tee Higgins are doubtful for Sunday. Higgins missed last week and hasn’t practiced at all, so Ja’Marr Chase, Andrei Iosivas and Mike Gesicki are all due for more work. I can’t say Iosivas is a strong fantasy option — he’s had 13 targets, five receptions and 33 yards in the three games Higgins has missed. Chase Brown has a much rosier outlook with Moss out, as those two backs have taken every touch from a running back for the Bengals this year. Brown has already been over double-digit touches in every game since Week 4, and this is an excellent matchup. Trayveon Williams and Kendall Milton will be the backups, but it seems like a stretch to go that route.
Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
As of Friday night, Drake Maye is in the NFL concussion protocol, so it’s tough to guess if he plays Sunday. If Maye can’t play, Jacoby Brissett will start and the New England offense will likely putter along, not doing much of note.
Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans
Tyjae Spears remains out for the Titans, and there is at least a level of concern that Tony Pollard could miss as well. He hasn’t practiced all week, but the Titans have said they want to reduce the workload, so hopefully that’s all this is. If Pollard is out, Julius Chestnut would likely be the lead back, which seems like something that is mostly an avoid, if possible.
Tank Bigsby, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Gabe Davis, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
This could be a tough spot for the Jaguars. They already lost receiver Christian Kirk for the season, and their other top receivers are both questionable. Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr. are dealing with a shoulder and rib injury, respectively. I think Thomas is in danger of not playing, because it’s a rib issue and the Jaguars have said they don’t want a setback. Davis is harder to discern, but ultimately, Parker Washington and Evan Engram could be the best receiving options Jacksonville has. Both of the running backs are questionable, but I would guess they both play. I think the Jaguars are going to settle them into the role of Tank Bigsby getting the early down work and then Travis Etienne Jr. being the primary pass catcher while sprinkling in 6-8 carries, based on the last healthy game for Etienne.
Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Puka Nacua can not catch a break this season. He hurt his knee in practice, the same knee that he’s been dealing with all season long. Fortunately, it appears that it may not be a big deal as the Rams do think he can play this week. He was “limited” in Week 8 as far as the snaps went, but the Rams used him as a main cog in the offense. If he’s active, he’s in my lineups after Week 8 but if not, Demarcus Robinson will look a lot better as the sidekick to Cooper Kupp.
DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks
We didn’t have much drama this week about DK Metcalf playing or not — he’s been ruled out. The expectation is he’s going to be back for the next game for the Seahawks but for Sunday, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett will carry the load again. Ideally for Seattle, the game against the Rams stays closer than the one against Buffalo did.
Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers
After an odd-looking injury in Week 8, the jury was out if Jordan Love would make it back for a vastly important Week 9 matchup with division rival Detroit. The reports are positive for Love, as he’s expected to play barring any setbacks. That’s much more exciting for the Green Bay receivers than Malik Willis would be for this game.
Original Monday Injury Report
It was a tough day on the injury front with at least one receiver suffering a season-ending injury, and we’re waiting for news on another. There are other injuries we need to deal with as well, so let’s talk about what we know.
Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Gabe Davis, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
By the end of the game on Sunday, the Jaguars were missing the top three receivers on their offense with various injuries. The most severe right now is Christian Kirk since he broke his collarbone and is now going to miss the rest of the season. That has ripple effects in the NFL, as Kirk was widely rumored to be on the trade block. But that’s not all for Jacksonville. Gabe Davis left the game with a shoulder injury, but we don’t have any further information yet. We also need to wait and see for Brian Thomas Jr. and his rib injury. The rookie receiver continues to have a spectacular season, but he’s waiting on further testing to see if he’ll miss time. The only other receivers on the active roster are Tim Jones and Parker Washington, so what the Jaguars do with their roster this week will be telling.
Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers
Not only did the Jaguars lose all their starting receivers, but the Packers lost their starting quarterback in the same game. Jordan Love just looked off in this game for a while before he wound up leaving with what’s being called a groin injury. It was a weird situation because there wasn’t a hit or anything obvious, but that clearly doesn’t mean a player can’t suffer an injury. Malik Willis finished the game for the Packers and already has started two games, so we know that Green Bay will turn to a run-heavy approach if Love misses time. The reports are that he likely has avoided a major injury, which would be fortunate for everyone involved.
Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
Drake Maye has shown some flashes in New England, but he took a hit on a scramble that has left him in the NFL concussion protocol. We know that trying to predict the result of the protocol is a fruitless endeavor, so we have no idea when Maye will be back. It could be as soon as this week, but he was ruled out Sunday in fairly short order. Jacoby Brissett took the reins and led a comeback win for the Patriots, but he’s a bottom-tier fantasy option.
DJ Moore, WR, Chicago Bears
We know that DJ Moore went to the blue medical tent very late in the game against the Bears on Sunday, but that is about all we know right now. The injury wasn’t fully disclosed yet, so it will be something we have to keep our eyes on during the week. If Moore is out, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze are more than capable of stepping into bigger roles.
Stefon Diggs, WR, Houston Texans
The Texans have to be holding their breath about the news on Stefon Diggs He was running a route and had what looked to be a non-contact injury. Sadly, these types of injuries don’t have the best track record of being minor, and there has to be fear of a ligament issue for Diggs. Nico Collins is still out for another week at least, so if Diggs is out, Xavier Hutchinson and Robert Woods are going to be relied on more in this offense. Hopefully, Diggs dodges a bullet, but it’s unclear right now.
