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Inside the Tent - Week 16 NFL Injury Insight

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 two 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.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Inside the Tent Updates

Derrick Henry, RB - Tennessee Titans

  • The back-to-back playoff "Ace Up the Sleeve" was able to play in Week 15 but didn't score while totaling 86 yards. Hamstring strains are notoriously susceptible to re-injury and Henry will likely be out in Week 16 because of said hamstring strain.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR - Pittsburgh Steelers

  • JuJu Smith-Schuster once again missed Week 15 with a knee injury. The exact structure involved is unknown but he's been seen with a brace indicating that a ligament is likely involved. The original injury occurred on the same play in which he sustained his concussion against the Browns. At this point, it's safe to say he suffered either a ligament sprain or a bone bruise in his knee considering his long absence. He practiced in full this week but he is deemed a game-time decision. Be sure to check inactives ninety minutes before game-time.

Greg Olsen, TE - Carolina Panthers

  • After missing Week 15 recovering from a concussion, Olsen will be back in Week 16. Tread carefully though as this is Will Grier's first NFL start and his efficiency is yet to be determined. There's always risk of sustaining another concussion within a month so hopefully Olsen can stay on the field.

Week 16 Injury Updates

Dalvin Cook, RB - Minnesota Vikings / Alexander Mattison, RB - Minnesota Vikings

  • Injury: Two Minnesota Vikings running backs, two different injuries. Cook will likely miss Week 16 with a new shoulder ailment. He's been dealing with a right sternoclavicular joint sprain but this injury is to his left shoulder. I'm not one to speculate about injuries but Cook likely underwent an MRI to determine which structure is involved. Mattison on the other hand is dealing with a high ankle sprain. This is a sprain to the ligament between the tibia and fibula, the two lower leg bones. These are specifically tough to come back from, especially for running backs (Alvin Kamara and Saquon Barkley).
  • News: Cook hasn't practiced this week to this point this week and will likely miss Week 16. Mattison also didn't practice this week so far and will likely be out as well.
  • Outlook: All of this to say, it's Mike Boone season people! Boone looked good this preseason and certainly has fresh legs. If you were fortunate enough to grab him off waivers, start him with confidence. The Packers Defense is not what it was Weeks 1-3 and Mike Zimmer's squad is especially good at home. Hopefully Kirk Cousins can break the curse and get a win on Monday Night Football.

Chris Godwin, WR - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

  • Injury: Godwin sustained a Grade II left hamstring strain in Week 15. The hamstring group is obviously on the back of the thigh and extends the hip and flexes the knee. It also plays a role in acceleration and deceleration.
  • News: He has unfortunately been ruled out for the remainder of 2019 which is a real bummer for the fantasy finals. Godwin will be ready to go for training camp.
  • Outlook: With Godwin sidelined, Breshad Perriman ended up with three touchdowns on six targets which is clearly not sustainable. He obviously did benefit from having Mike Evans and Chris Godwin out but to expect him to do that again would be foolish. Temper expectations but he could certainly have a part in the likely shoot-out between the Buccaneers and Texans.

As always, good luck this weekend!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jalen Suggs

Not Expected to Face Charlotte
Jordan Walsh

Likely Returning on Friday
Ryan Kalkbrenner

Remains Out on Friday
Rui Hachimura

Back in Action on Christmas
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Cleared to Play on Christmas Night
George Kittle

Remains Sidelined During Thursday's Practice
Malik Willis

Carrying Questionable Tag for Week 17 Tilt
Jordan Love

Questionable for Saturday's Contest
Lamar Jackson

Listed as Doubtful for Week 17
Amon-Ra St. Brown

to Suit Up on Christmas Day
Rome Odunze

"Increasing Unlikely to Play" in Week 17
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Carries Questionable Tag on Thursday
David Montgomery

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
Seth Curry

to Remain Sidelined on Christmas Day
Jae'Sean Tate

Questionable Thursday
Dwight Powell

Likely to Return on Christmas
Jaylin Williams

Misses Fifth Straight Game
Ousmane Dieng

Unavailable on Christmas Day
Guerschon Yabusele

Questionable for Christmas Action
Miles McBride

Remains Out on Christmas
Cameron Johnson

to Miss Time With Bone Bruise in Right Knee
Jaxson Hayes

Considered Questionable for Christmas Matchup
Rui Hachimura

Likely to Return Thursday
Dorian Finney-Smith

Could Make Season Debut on Christmas Day
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Uncertain for Christmas Day
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Listed as Questionable for Christmas Game
Al Horford

on Track to Return Thursday
Jaden McDaniels

Iffy for Christmas Day
Brandon Williams

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Davante Adams

Could Sit Out Final Two Regular-Season Games
Brock Bowers

Placed on Injured Reserve Due to Lingering Knee Injury
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Expected to Play on Christmas Day Against the Vikings
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
DK Metcalf

has Two-Game Suspension Upheld
Philip Rivers

to Remain the Starter in Week 17
George Kittle

Dealing With Mid-to-Low Ankle Sprain
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
Deshaun Watson

Will Not be Activated Off PUP List, 2025 Season is Over
J.J. McCarthy

Ruled Out for Week 17
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox

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