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The NFL regular season has come to a close and football fans are excited for upcoming Wild Card Weekend playoff action. Though season-long fantasy leagues have ended, many grinders are still competing in fantasy playoff leagues, challenges, and NFL DFS. We have the latest notable injury updates as of Thursday, January 11, 2024.
Fantasy football assets such as A.J. Brown, Raheem Mostert, Sam LaPorta and more have been dealing with injuries ahead of Wild Card Weekend. We have plenty of must-starts on this week's injury list with cloudy outlooks, so fantasy managers should be ready to pivot should things go south.
To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NFL, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy football player news page, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy football mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. Let's look at the updates for some of fantasy football's most notable performers and see whether they may play in the NFL Playoffs Wild Card round.
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A.J. Brown Injury Update
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee) was not seen at practice with the rest of the team on Thursday. Brown went down early in the Week 18 loss to the New York Giants with what looked like a painful knee injury. We haven't really gotten too many specifics on Brown's injury, although it's not considered serious. Still, the 26-year-old will probably need to get back on the practice field to have a shot at suiting up on Monday night in the wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
AJ Brown missed practice today because of his knee pic.twitter.com/MbCpwnk3dr
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) January 11, 2024
Brown was one of the best wideouts in fantasy in 2023 with his fourth 1,000-yard season and seven touchdowns on a career-high 106 receptions in 17 games, but he'll have bust potential in DFS if he plays on wild-card weekend and isn't at 100 percent. He's currently the third-most expensive receiver on DraftKings.
Raheem Mostert Injury Update
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said that running back Raheem Mostert (ankle, knee) will be listed as questionable for Saturday's wild-card playoff game versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Mostert was held out of the final two regular season games, but the good news is he was limited in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday and there is optimism that he'll play this weekend in Kansas City.
Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert didn’t suffer any setbacks in practice this week.
Chances are good that they make their return to the field against the Kansas City Chiefs.
🧨💥 #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/Nhnbgqoxch
— The Kevin Harlan Effect (@KevHarlanEffect) January 11, 2024
The 31-year-old led all offensive skill players in 2023 with 21 total touchdowns (18 rushing, three receiving), but he's limping into the postseason and is a candidate to cede valuable backfield touches to explosive rookie De'Von Achane if he gets the green light to play on Saturday. If Mostert is active, he'll be a boom/bust, touchdown-dependent DFS option in a tough matchup on the road in expected freezing temperatures.
Jaylen Waddle Injury Update
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said that wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) will be listed as questionable for Saturday's wild-card playoff game versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Waddle missed the final two regular-season games, but the Dolphins have been optimistic that he'll return for the first round of the playoffs this weekend.
The 25-year-old got in two limited practices on Tuesday and Wednesday, so he should be considered on the right side of questionable. Waddle has a decent DraftKings price considering he went for 1,000 yards receiving in the regular season, but he could be limited due to his high-ankle sprain if he plays, and the Chiefs defense has been very stingy on opposing pass-catchers this season.
Sam LaPorta Injury Update
Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) said he got in some repetitions at practice on Thursday and is "optimistic" about playing in Sunday's wild-card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. LaPorta was officially listed as a non-participant for the second straight day at Thursday's practice, but the talented 22-year-old tight end isn't giving up hope that he can play in his first career postseason game this weekend.
Sam LaPorta said he got some reps at practice today and is “optimistic” about playing Sunday.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 11, 2024
He suffered a hyperextension of his left knee and a bone bruise in the Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings. LaPorta, who was the top-scoring fantasy tight end during the regular season, will be extra risky as a high-priced DFS play in the wild-card round if he plays and is limited. If he's not ultimately cleared to play, Brock Wright (hip), who missed the last three games of the regular season, would serve as Detroit's No. 1 TE.
Amari Cooper Injury Update
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (heel) was able to practice in full on Thursday and was removed from the final injury report for Saturday's wild-card playoff game against the Houston Texans. Cooper didn't join the team for practice on Tuesday or Wednesday but said he probably could have played in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.
#Browns WR Amari Cooper, who has been resting a heel injury, returned to practice today. pic.twitter.com/05ff6E85x2
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) January 11, 2024
The 29-year-old was held out of the final two regular season contests after catching 11 passes for a franchise-record 265 receiving yards and two touchdowns against the Texans back in Week 16. Those who spend up on him in DFS will be hoping for an encore performance back in Houston for Cleveland's No. 1 wideout. It helps Cleveland's offense that Houston's defensive line is pretty beat up entering this rematch.
Baker Mayfield Injury Update
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (ankle, ribs) is dealing with multiple injuries heading into the wild-card playoff game on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles and was listed as a non-participant in Thursday's practice. Mayfield has been gutting through some injuries the past couple weeks and picked up a new one this past Sunday in the Week 18 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield did not practice today with rib and ankle injuries pic.twitter.com/3sw4p0xY00
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 11, 2024
The 28-year-old is fully expected to play on Monday night, but the Bucs are clearly giving him some extra time off heading into the playoffs. He hasn't looked very good the last two weeks following a strong stretch of play. The good news is he'll be faced with one of the best matchups for a QB during wild-card weekend, which will make him a heavy consideration as a DFS sleeper at a lower cost against Philly.
Rashee Rice Injury Update
After putting in three full practices this week, Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice (hamstring) was removed from the final injury report and will play on Saturday evening in his first career postseason contest against the Miami Dolphins. The 23-year-old was held out of the Week 18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers as a precaution but will return this weekend to be quarterback Patrick Mahomes' most trusted aerial weapon besides tight end Travis Kelce.
Rashee Rice Puts In Another Full Practice https://t.co/2iJ2sX5qiG
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) January 10, 2024
Rice is reasonably priced on DraftKings this weekend at a salary of $6,600 and has one of the better matchups during wild-card weekend for a receiver going up against a Dolphins defense that has been absolutely bombarded by injuries over the last several weeks.
Gabe Davis Injury Update
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) was listed as a non-participant for the second straight day at practice on Thursday. Fellow wideout Stefon Diggs said on Thursday that the team is trying to "win for (Gabe Davis) so he has something to play for when he can come back," which seems to insinuate that Davis won't be ready to play in Sunday's wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Thursday injury report pic.twitter.com/BXNpOpPAtW
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) January 11, 2024
The 24-year-old suffered a PCL sprain in the Week 18 win over the Miami Dolphins and is certainly trending in the wrong direction for wild-card weekend. Fantasy managers in DFS contests will want to avoid him for now, while Khalil Shakir would become much more attractive as a low-cost sleeper if Davis is unable to gain clearance to play.
Noah Brown & Robert Woods Injury Updates
Houston Texans wide receivers Robert Woods (hip) and Noah Brown (back) are both listed as questionable to play in Saturday's wild-card playoff game against the Cleveland Browns. Woods was limited the last two days in practice, while Brown only practiced on Friday. Both players were held out of the Week 18 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Thursday's Injury Report for #CLEvsHOU ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/tqfG6sVYgZ
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 11, 2024
Woods is more likely to be on the field on Saturday to give Nico Collins some extra help in the passing game against a Browns secondary that is already down Grant Delpit and could also be missing two key members of their secondary. The 31-year-old Woods did very little all year and found the end zone just once, so he's merely a low-cost DFS dart throw if he plays. Brown would be a boom/bust lineup consideration if he's active on Saturday. Only Collins and tight end Dalton Schultz are realistic fantasy considerations as Texans pass-catchers this weekend.
Christian Watson & Romeo Doubs Injury Updates
Green Bay Packers wide receivers Romeo Doubs (chest) and Christian Watson (hamstring) were both limited in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday. Doubs left Sunday's Week 18 win over the Chicago Bears with a chest injury and took a trip to the hospital. He was coughing up blood, but the Packers called him day-to-day on Monday, giving him a chance to play in Sunday's wild-card playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys.
First injury report of the wild card week. AJ Dillon was the Packers only DNP. pic.twitter.com/VclBHdeRr9
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) January 10, 2024
Watson has missed five straight games but is trending toward a return after being close to playing in the regular season finale. Having all of his receivers healthy for the start of the postseason would be great news for quarterback Jordan Love, but it's going to be hard for fantasy managers to rely on either Watson or Doubs if they play. Rookie Jayden Reed is the highest-priced Packers wideout on DraftKings at $5,700 for wild-card weekend.
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