Quarterbacks
Tom Brady QB, Patriots: Achilles injury
Tom Brady was getting in limited practice reps for the past month because of an Achilles injury, but he is practicing in full this week. It looks like Brady may have finally shaken this injury, but Achilles injuries can easily recur. It has slightly affected his accuracy and ability to throw the deep ball.
Running Backs
Leonard Fournette RB, Jaguars: quad strain
Leonard Fournette did not practice last week and was eventually ruled out for Week 15 with a quad injury. 
Fournette returned to practice this week as a full participant and is expected to play on Sunday in San Francisco. Fournette’s history of lower body injuries, including lingering ankle issues, make him an injury risk if he does suit up. Since getting hurt in October, Fournette has been an inconsistent performer due to his injuries, and this latest quad injury certainly won’t help.
James White RB, Patriots: ankle injury
James White picked up an ankle injury against the Steelers on Sunday, but he was able to play through it for the rest of the game. He was a limited participant in practice this week and is listed as questionable, but he is still on track to play against the Bills in Week 16. He has a 1-2 week Optimal Recovery Time according to our analytics, so he will be an Elevated Injury Risk this weekend.
Kerwynn Williams RB, Cardinals: quad injury
Kerwynn Williams went down with a quad injury in the second half of Sunday’s game and did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday. He was limited on Friday and is officially listed as questionable. The Cardinals haven’t released many details about the injury at this time, but the Inside Injuries algorithm is calculating a grade 2 strain and a four week Optimal Recovery Time. Williams won’t be healthy enough to play in Week 16.
Theo Riddick RB, Lions: wrist injury
Theo Riddick is practicing in full this week after aggravating his wrist on Saturday. Riddick has a history of wrist injuries, including surgery on both wrists in 2016, but Saturday’s injury appears to have just been a minor tweak. The Lions are fighting for a spot in the playoffs, so it’s likely Riddick will play through the injury even if it puts him at risk of sustaining further damage to his wrist.
Samaje Perine RB, Redskins: groin injury
Samaje Perine left practice on Thursday after sustaining a groin injury and was a DNP on Friday. The Redskins are holding out hope that Perine will be a game-time decision, but we think his questionable tag is closer to doubtful. Mid-week injuries almost always result in a player missing time. The Redskins don’t have much reason to push Perine to play as they have already been eliminated from the playoffs.
Wide Receivers
Julio Jones WR, Falcons: ankle injury
Julio Jones aggravated his ankle on the second play of Monday night’s game against the Bucs. Jones has been limited in practice at various times over the course of the season due to ankle and knee injuries, and as always, we expect him to play through the injuries. He did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday but returned to practice on Friday. He is reportedly “good to go” for Sunday against the Saints. Jones is a WR1 even when he’s not 100%.
Allen Hurns WR, Jaguars: ankle sprain
Allen Hurns suffered a high ankle sprain (grade 2) in Week 10 but was able to return to practice on Wednesday and has been limited throughout the week. Hurns admitted that he’s “not going to be 100%” if he plays, but the Jaguars seem to think they will have him back on the field on Sunday. Hurns has played through injuries before, which makes us think he’ll play through the pain, especially if Marqise Lee (ankle) sits. With a Below Average HPF (Health Performance Factor), our analytics show that his ankle will prevent him from playing well.
DeSean Jackson WR, Buccaneers: ankle sprain
DeSean Jackson suffered an ankle injury in Monday night’s loss to the Falcons, so it was no surprise that he did not practice all week. He was seen in a boot and on crutches after the game, and is very doubtful for Week 16. The Buccaneers have already been eliminated from the playoffs and Jackson’s Optimal Recovery Time is three weeks, so there is no reason for him to try to play through the injury on Sunday.
Chris Hogan WR, Patriots: shoulder injury
Chris Hogan returned to action in Week 14 but was a surprise inactive in Week 15 after a full week of limited practices. He was limited in practice again all week but that doesn’t give us any clue into his Week 16 availability. Hogan is still an Elevated Injury Risk, but he has now surpassed his seven week Optimal Recovery Time. The Patriots have officially listed him as questionable. Make sure to have a backup in place for Sunday as Hogan truly sounds 50-50 to play. You never know what the Patriots are going to do.
Marquise Goodwin WR, 49ers: back injury
Marquise Goodwin missed practice on Wednesday partially for personal reasons, but he also suffered a back injury. Even if it is just a minor tweak, back injuries can be tricky. He was back as a limited participation on Thursday and then a full participant Friday, and reports are that he will play. Goodwin has played well with Jimmy Garoppolo under center, but the 49ers are out of the playoff running and they face a tough Jaguars secondary on Sunday. It’s best to keep him out of fantasy lineups this week.
Keenan Allen WR, Chargers: back injury
Keenan Allen was carted off the field with a back injury in Saturday night’s loss to the Chiefs, but he was smiling and waving to the crowd as he rode off. He is practicing in full this week and wasn’t even listed on the Chargers’ injury report on Wednesday. It looks like he’s a full-go for Week 16, but back injuries can linger if a player doesn’t take time to heal. He’ll be an Elevated Injury Risk, and this is something that could pop up in the middle of the game and force him out again.
DeVante Parker WR, Dolphins: ankle injury
DeVante Parker missed three games earlier in the season to an ankle injury and re-aggravated it last weekend. Parker did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday but returned on Friday to get in a full practice. Given his 3 week Optimal Recovery Time, he won’t be healthy if he does try to play on Sunday. He is a High Injury Risk. Keep him out of fantasy lineups if he is active.
Devin Funchess WR, Panthers: shoulder injury
Funchess’ practice reps have been limited for the past three weeks, but he always gets out there on Sunday. He wasn’t at practice on Wednesday or Thursday but returned Friday. He is officially listed as questionable, and his shoulder injury isn’t getting better. The Panthers continue to fight for a playoff spot and want Funchess to be out there, but he isn’t nearly as effective due to the injury. Our algorithm shows that he needs to take two weeks to heal, and until he does that he won’t be healthy or effective. Look for another wide receiver to plug into your fantasy lineups this weekend.
Mohamed Sanu WR, Falcons: knee injury
Sanu was also limited in practice last week with a knee injury, and it appears to be a new routine for him. Sanu’s usage is pretty inconsistent, so he’s a boom or bust fantasy option even without the injury.
Jeremy Maclin WR, Ravens: knee injury
Jeremy Maclin has not participated in practice at all this week and is considered doubtful for Saturday’s game. The Ravens had been holding out hope that Maclin would end up being a last minute call, but he’s been all but ruled out at this point.
Kelvin Benjamin WR, Bills: meniscus tear
The Bills have announced that Kelvin Benjamin does plan to undergo surgery to repair his torn meniscus in the off season, but he still plans to play through his injury. Benjamin was a DNP on Wednesday, but returned for a limited session on Thursday and Friday, which has been the routine since he suffered the meniscus tear. He’ll likely play against the Patriots in Week 16, but he won’t be healthy and he won’t be any good to fantasy owners.
Emmanuel Sanders WR, Broncos: ankle sprain
Emmanuel Sanders sat out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but returned to a limited session on Friday. He’s been battling an ankle injury for about a month now, but he aggravated it in Week 15. He’s a High Injury Risk and the Broncos have already been eliminated from the playoffs, so there isn’t much reason to risk causing further damage.
Amari Cooper WR, Raiders: ankle injury
Cooper has missed two of the past three games, but the Raiders seem to think they’ll have him back for Week 16. The Raiders are hanging on to playoff hopes by a thread, which means Cooper will likely play through the injury even though he’s not healthy. He suffered an ankle injury in Week 12 and aggravated the ankle in Week 14.
DeAndre Hopkins WR, Texans: toe injury
DeAndre Hopkins was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday with a toe injury, but there doesn’t seem to be much concern about his Week 16 availability. Hopkins missed practice on Thursday and Friday of last week because of the injury but was active in Week 15. The Texans don’t play until Monday and they aren’t in the playoffs, so there isn’t much reason for Hopkins to play at less than 100%. Even so, they are expected to play him for now. It’s risky to wait if you don’t have a backup for Monday.
Tight Ends
Cameron Brate TE, Buccaneers: hip injury and knee injury
Cameron Brate suffered both knee and hip injuries in Monday night’s loss, but he was able to play through the injuries and finish the game. Brate was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable. Given that the Bucs just put rookie TE O.J. Howard (ankle) on IR, Brate will likely be available for Week 16. Brate has been a very durable player and will be a Low Injury Risk this weekend.
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