Inside the Tent - Week 16 NFL Injury Insight

December 26, 2020

Injury updates and analysis for Week 16 of the 2020 NFL season. Aaron Burger, PT, DPT provides analysis on fantasy football's biggest injuries during Week 15 to help you make informed lineup start/sit decisions.

At RotoBaller, we can't stress enough the importance of keeping up with injuries and playing your best lineup week after week. Players are going to get injured, that's an unavoidable fact. What's avoidable though is making the wrong roster decisions based on the injuries surrounding your fantasy squad. If you want to dominate your leagues and win some dough in daily contests, you have to be proactive with injury research.

That's where I come in to serve you, the readers! I'm Aaron Burger, a Doctor of Physical Therapy in Pittsburgh, PA. About three years ago, I decided to combine my love, fantasy football, with what I've been learning for years now: injuries and the human body. Each week, I'll be checking in on fantasy's biggest injuries to keep you informed.

Be sure you also have RotoBaller bookmarked and follow us on social media to catch all the latest NFL news and updates. Feel free to reach out on Twitter (@aaronburgerPT) for any injury questions!

Inside the Tent Updates

Matthew Stafford, QB - Detroit Lions

• Stafford is dealing with an injury to his rib cartilage which is extremely painful but was able to play in Week 15. He rested the entire week before playing and that's what too will happen in Week 16. Stafford will be going against a tough Tampa Bay defense that can get after the quarterback so hopefully he can come away unscathed.

Daniel Jones, QB - New York Giants

• Jones sustained a hamstring strain in Week 12 and missed Week 13 as a result. In Week 14, he was able to play but it was clear the hamstring was bothering him and his mobility was significantly hindered. This resulted in Jones being sidelined for Week 15 and Colt McCoy was under center. Leading up to Week 16, Jones was able to practice in a limited fashion all week and will start against the Ravens.

Christian McCaffrey, RB - Carolina Panthers

• McCaffrey is dealing with a shoulder sprain which occurred in Week 9. He was set to return in Week 14 for the fantasy playoffs but ended up straining his quadriceps. This week, McCaffrey was not able to practice at all and is doubtful for Sunday. Without being able to practice, it would take a miracle for McCaffrey to suit up in Week 16.

Ronald Jones II, RB - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Jones was unable to clear the COVID-19 reserve list in time for Week 16 and will be OUT as a result. It would've been a great matchup against a hapless Lions run defense but Leonard Fournette will get a crack at it instead.

Antonio Gibson, RB - Washington Football Team

• Gibson is dealing with turf toe which is notorious for keeping players out for multiple weeks at a time. To this point, he's missed two weeks but must be recovering nicely as he was able to practice in a limited fashion all week. He will be questionable for Week 16 but this physical therapist is predicting he'll play although on a snap count or in a limited package. Turf toe is unfortunately another soft tissue injury that can linger and re-aggravate.

Kenny Golladay, WR - Detroit Lions

• Golladay was once again not able to play in Week 15 due to his hip injury. It's baffling he was never placed on injured reserve. He has not practiced this week and will not play in Week 16.

Julio Jones, WR - Atlanta Falcons

• Jones is once again dealing with a hamstring strain that kept him out of Weeks 12, 14, and 15. He was unable to practice all week and is OUT for Week 16. It's very likely the Falcons will shut their star wide receiver down for the year to decrease risk for a more serious injury.

Keenan Allen, WR - Los Angeles Chargers

• Allen is dealing with a hamstring strain and is questionable for Week 16. He didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday and will be a game time decision on Sunday. Buckle up.

Deebo Samuel, WR - San Francisco 49ers

• Samuel's hamstring strain kept him out of Week 15 and now also Week 16. It would make sense for the 49ers to shut him down for the year as their playoff hopes are dwindling. George Kittle will be back for the 49ers but expect him to have a snap count with a limited package of plays.

Last Week's Injury Updates

Derek Carr, QB - Las Vegas Raiders

• Injury: Carr sustained a groin strain in Week 15 which looked pretty significant. The groin is made up of hip adductor muscles which help to bring the legs closer to one another and assist with later movements. Carr is likely dealing with a Grade I strain.
• News: Carr was able to practice in a limited fashion on Tuesday, followed by full practices on Wednesday and Thursday. He was left off the final injury report for Week 16 and will start as a result.
• Outlook: Although Marcus Mariota looked great in Week 15, this is still Carr's offense for the foreseeable future. The Dolphins have a great defense though so Carr may have some difficulty getting into a rhythm in Week 16.

James Robinson, RB - Jacksonville Jaguars

• Injury: Robinson sustained a high ankle sprain to his left ankle. The tibia and fibula are held together by a syndesmosis and when the ankle is twisted while flexed upward, this causes the sprain to this syndesmosis. High ankle sprains result in significant pain and limited mobility until fully healed.
• News: Robinson was not able to practice all week but remains questionable for Week 16.
• Outlook: Expect Devine Ozigbo and Dare Ogunbowale to handle the RB snaps if Robinson is not able to play. Even if he is able to play, the chance if reinjury is so high based on limited time off that the risk outweighs the reward.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB - Kansas City Chiefs

• Injury: Edwards-Helaire sustained a right groin strain and left high ankle sprain in Week 15 and will miss the rest of the regular season as a result. It was a really scary play as his legs went in completely opposite directions.
• News: Edwards-Helaire will miss the rest of the regular season but should be good to go for the playoffs, especially since the Chiefs have the inside track for the AFC bye.
• Outlook: With Edwards-Helaire out, the Chiefs will turn to Le'Veon Bell and Darrel Williams to handle the RB snaps.

Cam Akers, RB - Los Angeles Rams

• Injury: Akers sustained a high ankle sprain in Week 15 and will likely miss the remainder of the regular season as a result.
• News: Akers was not able to practice all week and is OUT for Week 16.
• Outlook: With Akers sidelined, the Rams will look to Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson Jr. to establish the run against the Seahawks while eating some clock.

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