The Training Room: Week 15 Injury Updates

Dec 09, 2019
The Training Room: Week 15 Injury Updates

Congratulations to those who are on to the next round of the fantasy playoffs! Hopefully, your team made it out of Week 14 unscathed with regards to injury, but based on the number of injuries that occurred, that might've been hard to do.

Injuries that happen during the fantasy playoffs are always more magnified as you just don't know how quick of a turnaround a player might be able to have to play the next week. Let's get into the injuries from Week 14 and also cover the guys you need to keep tabs on heading into Week 15. **Updated 12/14/19

Mike Evans, WR Buccaneers

Injury: Strained Hamstring

Timetable For Return: Out For Season

Potential Replacement:
Scott Miller, Breshad Perriman

Comments: Soft tissue injuries this late in the season are usually season enders especially for teams who don't have any playoff hopes. Count on Chris Godwin to soak up more targets in his absence and have Scott Miller and Breshad Perriman round out the receiving corps.

Derrius Guice, RB Redskins

Injury: Sprained MCL

Timetable For Return: Out For Season

Potential Replacement:
Adrian Peterson

Comments: Guice just can't seem to avoid the injury bug. It was another season of injuries that derailed Guice's ability to showcase his talent over the course of the full season.

Jameis Winston, QB Buccaneers

Injury: Fractured Hand

Timetable For Return: Expected to play Week 15

Potential Replacement:
Blaine Gabbert

Comments: Winston apparently showed enough to both the coaching and training staff to get the nod for Sunday's game. How effectively he'll be in actual real game situations is going to be hard to determine but he'll be hard to sit after having a huge performance in the first round of the fantasy playoffs last week. He gets the Lions this week and should have another productive game.

Calvin Ridley, WR Falcons

Injury: Abdominal Injury

Timetable For Return: Out For Season

Potential Replacement:
Russell Gage, Christian Blake

Comments: We still don't know why Ridley is out for the season but he announced it on social media this week. We'll hopefully get some updates as to what's going on but it sounds like whatever is going on is serious enough to have him miss the rest of the year.

Jared Cook, TE Saints

Injury: Concussion

Timetable For Return: Expected to play Week 15

Potential Replacement:
Josh Hill

Comments: Cook has cleared concussion protocol and will be available for the Saints as they take on the Colts on Monday night. Cook will continue to be heavily involved in the passing game and should be a solid option for those who have him on the roster.

DeVante Parker, WR Dolphins

Injury: Concussion

Timetable For Return: Expected to play Week 15

Potential Replacement:
Allen Hurns

Comments: Parker was cleared through concussion protocol and is will start on Sunday against Giants. We have Parker inside the top 20 in PPR formats.

Rashaad Penny, RB Seahawks

Injury: Torn ACL

Timetable For Return: Out For Season

Potential Replacement:
Chris Carson

Comments: Penny had an MRI that confirmed the tear and will be put on IR ending his season. It's a tough blow for Penny who was carving out a nice role in the Seahawks offense over the last few weeks. Chris Carson will continue to be the lead back for the remainder of the season.

Dak Prescott, QB Cowboys

Injury: Sprained Finger

Timetable For Return: Expected to play Week 15

Potential Replacement:
Cooper Rush

Comments: Prescott injured his index finger on his throwing hand in Thursday's loss to the Bears. Prescott says his finger feels fine and there is no indication that he is in danger of missing this Sunday's game against the Rams.

D.J. Chark, WR Jaguars

Injury: Sprained Foot

Timetable For Return: Ruled OUT for Sunday

Potential Replacement:
Dede Westbrook, Chris Conley

Comments: Chark was not available for practice this whole week so those who have him will need to have a backup plan for this weekend. He'll be questionable at best for next weekend if he is able to recover quickly but I'm not optimistic that that will be the case.

Noah Fant, TE Broncos

Injury: Sprained Foot

Timetable For Return: Questionable for Week 15

Potential Replacement:
Jeff Heuerman

Comments: Fant hurt his foot in the 3rd quarter of last Sunday's game against the Texans and did not return. The questionable tag is somewhat concerning as the Broncos will want to see how he moves around before the game to make a determination. Keep an eye on his status as inactives come out for the early slate of games.

On The Mend

Adam Thielen, WR Vikings

Injury: Strained Hamstring

Timetable For Return: Full practice Wednesday

Potential Replacement:
Olabisi Johnson

Comments: Thielen will have to get through practice this week unscathed to ensure he'll make his return Sunday against the Chargers. Check back later in the week to see where he stands.

Josh Jacobs, RB Raiders

Injury: Fractured Shoulder Blade

Timetable For Return: Questionable for Week 15

Potential Replacement:
Jalen Richard, DeAndre Washington

Comments: Jacobs states that he plans to play in Week 15 and will go through warm-ups to see how the shoulder is feeling. There hasn't been any indication or concern that he might miss this game against the Jaguars so until we hear differently we expect Jacobs to be out there.

Greg Olsen, TE Panthers

Injury: Concussion

Timetable For Return: Ruled OUT for Week 15

Potential Replacement:
Ian Thomas

Comments: Olsen was a limited participant this week but was ruled out later in the week when it seemed he wasn't going to get clearance on time. Ian Thomas could be a sneaky start if you are looking for TE help and want to roll the dice.

Damien Williams, RB Chiefs

Injury: Rib Injury

Timetable For Return: Questionable for Week 15

Potential Replacement:
LeSean McCoy, Darwin Thompson

Comments: This backup is all of a sudden really crowded and if Williams were to return that would only further complicate matters. Even if Williams does play, I'm not sure I'd feel confident in starting him just based on how they have been sharing the touches in the backfield with him out.

Daniel Jones, QB Giants

Injury: High Ankle Sprain

Timetable For Return: Limited This Week

Potential Replacement:
Eli Manning

Comments: There's a chance that Jones starts the last two week so of the season but he'll need to show well that he's as close to healthy before the Giants put him back under center. Consider him day-to-day at this point and we'll update his status next week.

T.Y. Hilton, WR Colts

Injury: Strained Calf

Timetable For Return: Questionable for Week 15

Potential Replacement:
Zach Pascal, Parris Campbell

Comments: This is a tricky situation to navigate as clearly Hilton is not 100% and he's playing on Monday night. Add in the fact that he'll likely be covered by Marshon Lattimore if he does play and there is more risk to starting Hilton than looking for alternatives. We'll see if Hilton actually does play but for those who have him you need to roster another Colts receiver just in case he is unable to play.

James Conner, RB Steelers

Injury: Sprained AC Joint

Timetable For Return: Questionable for Week 15

Potential Replacement:
Benny Snell Jr., Jaylen Samuels

Comments: Conner is hoping to return to the field this week in a huge game against the Bills. The fact that he's practicing in full is a great sign that fantasy owners will have him available this weekend.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Steelers

Injury: Sprained Knee

Timetable For Return: Ruled OUT for Week 15

Potential Replacement:
James Washington, Diontae Johnson

Comments: JuJu suffered a setback on Thursday as he re-aggravated his knee and has been ruled out against the Bills and potentially longer. I would not expect him back this season just based on him aggravating his knee later in the week and with only two weeks left in the season after this week.

Jordan Howard, RB Eagles

Injury: Sprained AC Joint

Timetable For Return: Ruled OUT for Week 15

Potential Replacement:
Miles Sanders

Comments: Howard has yet to be cleared for contact and although he's practicing to maintain some level of conditioning, until he's able to take contact, he'll continue to be sidelined.

Matthew Stafford, QB Lions

Injury: Low Back Fracture

Timetable For Return: Ruled OUT for Week 15

Potential Replacement:
David Blough

Comments: I'm not sure why I keep writing about Stafford each week as he is unlikely to return, but if there happens to be a miracle where all of a sudden he's practicing I don't want to not have him be on this list. Consider him unlikely to return as the Lions are going nowhere and there's no need to have him back under center at less than 100%.

Evan Engram, TE Giants

Injury: Sprained Foot

Timetable For Return: Ruled OUT for Week 15

Potential Replacement:
Rhett Ellison, Kaden Smith

Comments: Engram is getting to the point where if he doesn't make significant progress this week that the likelihood of him being shut down is becoming higher and higher. Hopefully we'll see a positive step in the right direction next week but even if he does return, he's not somebody I would trust this late into the season.

Will Fuller, WR Texans

Injury: Strained Hamstring

Timetable For Return: Questionable for Week 15

Potential Replacement:
Kenny Stills

Comments: Fuller has been on this list frequently this season as well and the guy just can't seem to stay healthy for a full season. His hamstring discomfort continues to be a lingering issue that might not ever fully cooperate until the season is over. Fuller is a high risk, high reward type of player if he's active, especially in a crucial game against the Titans.

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