This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
Injuries remain one of the dominant factors influencing the fantasy football playoffs. Even in situations where the starters are getting healthy, the success of their backups may force teams to ease them back into things, limiting their overall usage.
Chargers Running Backs
Starter Melvin Gordon has missed Los Angeles' last three games with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his knee. He was close to suiting up Thursday against the Chiefs, but the team opted to hold him out to insure he would return as close to full strength as possible. MCL injuries can be braced to help stabilize the joint during lateral movement, but limitations may remain while the player is cutting or avoiding would-be tacklers.
All signs point toward Gordon playing against the Ravens as he was able to participate in limited practice on Monday. While Gordon remains the unequivocal lead back, the effectiveness of Justin Jackson could lead the team to limit his carries in his first outing in nearly a month. A Baltimore defense ranked No. 2 against the run serves as another potential limiting factor, further reducing Gordon's upside. Most teams will be hard pressed to outright bench the former Pro Bowler, but expectations should be appropriately adjusted for Gordon's first game coming off the injury. Teammate Austin Ekeler remains in the concussion protocol.
Chiefs Running Backs
Spencer Ware continues to nurse shoulder and hamstring injuries entering Week 16. The hamstring strains appears to be the more problematic injury as he was unable to shake
Injuries remain one of the dominant factors influencing the fantasy football playoffs. Even in situations where the starters are getting healthy, the success of their backups may force teams to ease them back into things, limiting their overall usage.
Chargers Running Backs
Starter Melvin Gordon has missed Los Angeles' last three games with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his knee. He was close to suiting up Thursday against the Chiefs, but the team opted to hold him out to insure he would return as close to full strength as possible. MCL injuries can be braced to help stabilize the joint during lateral movement, but limitations may remain while the player is cutting or avoiding would-be tacklers.
All signs point toward Gordon playing against the Ravens as he was able to participate in limited practice on Monday. While Gordon remains the unequivocal lead back, the effectiveness of Justin Jackson could lead the team to limit his carries in his first outing in nearly a month. A Baltimore defense ranked No. 2 against the run serves as another potential limiting factor, further reducing Gordon's upside. Most teams will be hard pressed to outright bench the former Pro Bowler, but expectations should be appropriately adjusted for Gordon's first game coming off the injury. Teammate Austin Ekeler remains in the concussion protocol.
Chiefs Running Backs
Spencer Ware continues to nurse shoulder and hamstring injuries entering Week 16. The hamstring strains appears to be the more problematic injury as he was unable to shake the injury during the abbreviated week of prep. His absence allowed Damien Williams to assume the starting role, where he rewarded opportunistic fantasy owners with a two-touchdown performance. The success of Williams and teammate Darrel Williams gives Kansas City a unique advantage in managing Ware's injury while creating a perplexing situation for fantasy owners. Look for the Chiefs to utilize a running back by committee approach should Ware improve enough to play. Damien Williams will carry a bit of extra value in PPR leagues.
Steelers Running Backs
James Conneris expected to make his return in Week 16 after missing back-to-back contests with a high ankle sprain. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, a strong outing from Jaylen Samuels may force the Steelers to adopt an approach similar to the one previously discussed with the Chargers and Chiefs. Limiting Conner's workload in his first game back would help reduce the wear-and-tear on the still healing ankle but come at the expense of his fantasy owners. Conner remains a must-start if active, but don't expect him to shoulder a full workload against the Saints.
Packers Running Backs
Green Bay remains tight-lipped surrounding the severity of Aaron Jones' recent knee injury. The running back did not play after suffering the injury late in the first quarter of the team's eventual loss to the Bears. Jones told reporters the injury seemed similar to the MCL injury he suffered earlier in the season. Jones missed two weeks with that problem, and it seems reasonable to think he will not finish out the year. This belief was strengthened by Green Bay's addition of Kapri Bibbs on Monday, suggesting the team will need added depth with Jones sidelined. Jamaal Williams becomes an interesting waiver wire addition after totaling 97 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on Sunday.
The Eagles quarterback will not play for the second straight week due to a fracture in his back. The specifics surrounding the injury are vague, but this is likely an injury that sounds worse than it actually is. Vertebral fractures in the NFL aren't unheard of, with many notable names enduring this type of injury. Location of the break often dictates recovery. For example, quarterbacks Cam Newton and Tony Romo missed minimal time after suffering transverse process fractures. The transverse process project off the sides of the vertebrae and aid in movement, serve as an attachment site for various ligaments and muscles, and protect the area from trauma.
However, Wentz's injury seems more like a stress-related injury. It seems plausible that the Philly QB has injured the pars interarticularis, the area between the moving parts of two vertebral segments. This type of injury is also relatively common in football, especially among offensive linemen, and players are often able to play through the problem. However, Wentz' injury history complicates the situation, and the Eagles seem poised to treat him conservatively. He should be fine with an extended bit of rest, but it seems likely Nick Foles finishes out the season for Philadelphia.
Turf Burns
Keenan Allen: The Chargers wide out has a legitimate chance to play in Week 16 after suffering a hip pointer against the Chiefs. A hip pointer occurs when an athlete has suffered a contusion to the crest of the pelvic bone known as the ilium. While it seems minor, hip pointers can be extremely painful and elicit pain with trunk rotation as well as common activities such as breathing, laughing and coughing. Fortunately, Allen's problem seems to be improving and he should be able to suit up Saturday against the Ravens.
Leonard Fournette: A foot injury restricted the Jacksonville running back for much of the second half of Sunday's loss to Washington. Nagging lower extremity injuries have been a major limiting factor for Fournette throughout his career. The problem has become such an issue that it's hard to trust the running back on a week-to-week basis. Keep an eye on his level of participation throughout the week to determine the severity of his latest issue, but it would be wise to explore other, more reliable options for Week 16.
Frank Gore: The veteran running back will miss the remainder of the year after spraining his foot in the loss the Vikings. X-rays taken following the injury were negative, but further testing, specifically a MRI, revealed the injury. Rookie Kalen Ballage will move up the depth chart, while Kenyan Drake remains the starter. As Mario Puig pointed out in his excellent Job Battle article, determining which of the two Dolphin running backs can be trusted is extremely difficult.
Todd Gurley: The Rams running back briefly left the team's loss to the Eagles on Sunday night with what the team is describing as inflammation in his left knee. He is slated to undergo further testing to start the week. Inflammation can be linked to an assortment of things, so any additional details the team may provide could add some clarity to the situation. Fantasy owners will want to monitor his level of participation in practice to get a better idea of his status moving forward.
Ito Smith: The Falcons running back tore one of the menisci in his left knee during the Falcons' win over the Cardinals. He is slated to undergo surgery in the immediate future to alleviate the problem. Tevin Coleman becomes Atlanta's primary running back for the remainder of the season, with Devonta Freeman still on the injured reserve list with a groin injury.
