Welcome to the Awesemo NFL Injury Report for Week 17 NFL DFS and Fantasy Football lineups. Our team of NFL analysts will update breaking news in real-time and provide advice on how to attack NFL daily fantasy slates on DraftKings and FanDuel, as well as season-long fantasy football leagues on Yahoo, ESPN, CBS, and more.
[2021-New-Year-Promo]
[SportsbookAffiliates]
Week 17 Injury Report | NFL DFS + Fantasy Football
Sunday, Jan. 3
Sunday inactive listÂ
K.J. Hamler, WR | Denver Broncos (Concussion): Will not play
Brandon Aiyuk, WR | San Francisco 49ers (Ankle): Will not play
Deebo Samuel, WR | San Francisco (Hamstring): Will not play
Dallas Goedert, WR | Philadelphia Eagles (Calf): Will not play
DeSean Jackson, WR | Philadelphia Eagles (Ankle): Will not play
Miles Sanders, RB | Philadelphia Eagles (Knee): Will not play
Jared Goff, QB | Los Angeles Rams (Thumb): Will not play
Darrell Henderson, RB | Los Angeles Rams (Ankle): Will not play
Larry Fitzgerald, WR | Arizona Cardinals (Groin): Not expected to play
Sammy Watkins, WR Kansas City Chiefs (Calf): Will not play
Cooper Kupp, WR | Los Angeles Rams (COVID): Will not play
Christian Kirk, WR | Arizona Cardinals (COVID): Will not play
Tyler Kroft, TE | Buffalo Bills (COVID): Will not play
Carlos Hyde, RB | Seattle Seahawks (Illness): Will not play
Eric Ebron, TE | Pittsburgh Steelers (COVID): Will not play
Alvin Kamara, RB | New Orleans Saints (COVID): Will not play
Latavius Murray, WR | New Orleans Saints (COVID): Will not play
Christian McCaffrey, RB | Carolina Panthers (Thigh): Will not play
Mike Davis, RB | Carolina Panthers (Ankle): Will not play
Tyreek Hill, WR | Kansas City Chiefs (Hamstring): Will not play
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB | Kansas City Chiefs (Ankle, Hip): Will not play
Keenan Allen, WR | Los Angeles Chargers (COVID): Will not play
Hunter Henry, TE | Los Angeles Chargers (COVID): Will not play
Dalvin Cook, RB | Minnesota Vikings (Personal): Will not play
Kenny Golladay, WR | Detroit Lions (Hip): Will not play
Damien Harris, RB | New England Patriots (Ankle): Will not play
Frank Gore, RB | New York Jets (Lung contusion): Will not play
Ryan Fitzpatrick | Miami Dolphins (COVID): Will not play
Cole Beasley, WR | Buffalo Bills (Knee): Will not play
D.J. Chark, WR | Jacksonville Jaguars (Shin): Will not play
James Robinson, RB | Jacksonville Jaguars (Ankle): Will not play
Julio Jones, WR | Atlanta Falcons (Hamstring): Will not play
Ben Roethlisberger, QB | Pittsburgh Steelers (Rest):Â Will not play
Duke Johnson, RB | Houston Texans (Neck):Â Will not play
La’Mical Perine, RB | New York Jets (Covid):Â Will not play
Harrison Bryant, TE | Cleveland Browns (COVID):Â Will not play
Jakeem Grant, WR | Miami Dolphins (Ankle): Will not play
Sunday active list
Gus Edwards, RB | Baltimore Ravens (Back): Will play
Cam Akers, RB | Los Angeles Rams (Ankle): Will play
Antonio Gibson, RB | Washington Football Team (Toe): Will play
Terry McLaurin, WR | Washington Football Team (Ankle): Will play
Alex Smith, QB | Washington Football Team (Calf): Will play
Tee Higgins, WR | Cincinnati Bengals (Hamstring): Will play
Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (Concussion):Â Will play
John Brown, WR | Buffalo Bills (COVID): Will play
Ronald Jones, RB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Finger):Â Will play
Le’Veon Bell, RB | Kansas City Chiefs (Knee):Â Will play
DeVante Parker, WR | Miami Dolphins (Hamstring) Will play
Mark Ingram, RB (Illness): Will play
Saturday, Jan. 2
Latavius Murray, RB | New Orleans Saints (COVID): The Saints will be extremely thin at the running back position during Week 17. Murray will join Dwayne Washington, Michael Burton, and Alvin Kamara on the team’s injured reserve/COVID list for Week 17. The Saints have elevated running back Ty Montgomery from the teams’ practice squad on Saturday, and he will likely split carries with Taysom Hill. Expect to see Murray and Kamara available for their Wild Card round game next weekend.
Damien Harris, RB | New England Patriots: (Ankle): The Patriots have ruled Harris out for Week 17. Harris will end his season having rushed for 691 yards on 137 rush attempts and two touchdowns. Sony Michel and James White look to play larger roles in the Patriots running game during Week 17. The Patriots face the New York Jets this Sunday, which is advantageous for both White and Michel.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB | Pittsburgh Steelers (Rest): The Steelers will rest Rothlisberger during Pittsburgh’s final game of the season as the team prepares for the playoffs. Mason Rudolph will be starting in place of Rothlisberger during Week 17. With Rudolph taking snaps under center this Sunday for the Steelers, it’s hard to recommend any skill players in this game. The Browns defense could be the play this week.
Gus Edwards, RB | Baltimore Ravens (Back): It appears that Edwards sustained a back injury during the team’s practice on Friday. There was no note of any injury for Edwards on the Thursday injury report at all. Edwards will head into this Sunday’s game, barring a questionable tag. J.K. Dobbins looks to see a monster uptick in carries this weekend if Edwards is to miss any time. Mark Ingram did not practice with the team all week and is unlikely to suit up Sunday. Dobbins is an Rb1 this week when the Baltimore Ravens face the Cincinnati Bengals if Edwards sits.
Tee Higgins, WR | Cincinnati Bengals (Hamstring): Higgins and Tyler Boyd (concussion) were both removed from the Bengals injury report on Friday. The Bengals have a tough Week 17 match with the Baltimore Ravens. With quarterback Brandon Allen taking snaps under center for the Bengals, Higgins and Boyd should both be avoided for fantasy purposes.
Miles Sanders, RB | Philadelphia Eagles (Knee): Sanders will not play during the Eagles last game of the season due to a knee injury. Boston Scott will serve as the team’s primary running back when the Eagles face the Washington Redskins during Week 17. Scott can be seen as an RB2 with upside this Sunday.
Dallas Goedert, TE | Philadephia Eagles (Calf): Goerdert will miss Week 17 due to a calf injury ending his season. Expect to see Zach Ertz resume his starting role at tight end in what could be Ertz last time in an Eagles Jersey. Ertz will be a TE1 this Sunday when the Philadelphia Eagles face the Washington redskins.
Friday, Jan. 1
John Brown, WR | Buffalo Bills (COVID): The Bills activated Brown from the team’s injured reserve/COVID list on Friday. Brown’s return comes at a good time, seeing that Cole Beasley is week-to-week due to a knee injury. Brown will fill in during Beasley’s absence in Week 17 when the Bills face the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Brown can be seen as a WR2 during Week 17.
Carlos Hyde, RB | Seattle Seahawks (Illness): Hyde did not participate with his team due to an illness that is non-COVID related. The Seahawks used Hyde rather sparingly during Week 16, only giving him two touches and one target during Week 16. Hyde isn’t fantasy relevant at the moment by any means. Rashaad Penny returned from the injured reserve list two weeks ago and has been re-inserted back into the Seattle offense. The Seahawks have a Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. With Seattle becoming more of an RBBC type situation Chris Carson becomes the only part of the Seattle running game that people should have an interest in.
Duke Johnson, RB | Houston Texans (Neck): The Texans ruled Johnson out during Week 16 due to a neck injury that also kept Johnson sidelined during practice this week. David Johnson returned to play during Week 16 with a phenomenal performance. David rushed 12 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns, one on the ground and through the air. Duke will be nothing more than a mere backup to David during Week 17 and has no fantasy appeal whatsoever.
Allen Robinson, WR | Chicago Bulls (Hamstring): Robinson was a non-participant at practice for the Bears on Thursday. Robinson is still dealing with a hamstring injury and likely was held for maintenance. Unless we get a word, Robinson will be good to go for Week 17 when the Bears face the Green Bay Packers. Friday’s injury report will give more clarity.
Keenan Allen, WR | Los Angeles Chargers (COVID): the Chargers placed Allen on the team’s injured reserve/COVID list on Thursday. Allen was a long shot to play, to begin with, due to a hamstring injury. The Chargers will look to Mike Williams, Tyron Johnson, and Jalen Guyton during Week 17.
Thursday, Dec. 31
Ronald Jones, RB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Finger): Jones practiced with his team on Thursday on a limited basis. This will be the first time Jones has practiced since being placed on the team’s injured reserve/COVID list two weeks ago. Barring any setbacks, Jones is on track to play during Week 17. Leonard Fournette filled in while Jones was away from the team and was unimpressive. Jones should resume his bell-cow role if cleared to play in Week 17 when the Buccaneers play the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday.
Ito Smith, RB | Atlanta Falcons (Ribs): Smith practiced with the Falcons on a limited basis on Wednesday. The Falcons backfield has been putrid this year. Smith is nothing more than a desperation flex play this week for season-long fantasy football managers seeking help in Week 17 championship games.
Le’Veon Bell, RB | Kansas City Chiefs (Knee): Bell was a nonparticipant at practice for the Chiefs on Wednesday. Teammate Clyde Edwards-Helaire also did not practice with the team on Wednesday. The Chiefs are sitting their starters heading into the playoffs. We should see plenty of Darwin Thompson and Darrell Williams during Week 17.
Deebo Samuel, WR | San Francisco 49ers (Hamstring): Samuel did not practice with his team on Wednesday. He hasn’t played a game since Week 13 and will likely miss Week 17 as well. Rookie receiver Brandon Aiyuk has already been ruled out. Expect to see Richie James and Kendrick Bourne play increased roles via the 49ers passing game this Sunday when the 49ers face the Seattle Seahawks.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR | Arizona Cardinals (Hip): Hopkins was a nonparticipant at practice for the Cardinals on Wednesday due to a hip injury. Thus would be the same injury that caused Hopkins to exit his Week 16 match and not return. This Week 17 match up the Cardinals have against the Los Angeles Rams is a do or die situation seeing as the Cardinals need this win to make the postseason. Hopkins is a WR1 as long as he is cleared to play during Week 17.
Cam Akers, RB | Los Angeles Rams (Ankle): Akers didn’t practice with the Rams on Wednesday due to an ankle injury that kept him sidelined Week 16. Akers is on the wrong side of questionable at the moment and will likely sit during Week 17. Fellow running back Darrell Henderson is also dealing with an injury as well. Malcolm Brown looks to handle the Rams running game’s workload this Sunday when the team faces the Arizona Cardinals.
Sterling Shepard, WR | New York Giants (Ribs): Shepard practiced with his team on a limited basis due to a rib injury. He’s on track to play Week 17, barring any setbacks during practice. Quarterback Daniel Jones is expected to play but is noticeably hobbled, and his mobility is limited. The Giants play the Dallas Cowboys during Week 17, where Shepard will be a WR3.
Jarvis Landry, WR | Cleveland Cavaliers (Covid): The Browns activated Landry, KhaDarel Hodge, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones from the team’s injured reserve/ COVID list on Wednesday. All four receivers are good to go for Cleveland’s Week 17 match against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday.
Wednesday, Dec. 30
Cooper Kupp, WR | Los Angeles Rams (COVID): Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Rams placed Kupp on the teams’ injured reserve/COVID list Wednesday morning after testing positive. Kupp will not play for the Rams during Week 17, and the team will turn to Josh Reynolds to fill in during Kupp’s absence. The Rams will also be without quarterback Jared Goff this Sunday, making the rams pass-catchers avoidable for Week 17.
La’Mical Perine, RB | New York Jets (Covid): Perine tested positive for COVID-19 and will not play during Week 17 for the Jets. With Frank Gore (lung contusion) already ruled out, it looks like the Jets are running out of bodies to deploy in the running game. Ty Johnson will get his shot to make a last impression during the Jets’ final game of the season, and likely split work with a running back elevated from the team’s practice squad. More information on this situation will be available later in the week.
Dalvin Cook, RB | Minnesota Vikings (Personal): Reports came in Wednesday afternoon that Cook will not play during Week 17. Cook received news that his father passed away and will not be with the team on Sunday. If he’s cleared to play, Alexander Mattison will start in place of Cook in Week 17 when the Vikings face the Detriot Lions.
Kenny Golladay, WR | Detroit Lions (Hip): Golladay hasn’t practiced or seen the field in at least two months. It’s improbable that the Lions clear him to play during the Lions’ last game of the season. In short, Golladay’s year is over.
Matthew Stafford, QB | Detroit Lions (Ankle): Stafford tried playing through rib and throwing hand injuries this Sunday and was unable to. It was a quick outing for Stafford, who exited the game early in the 1st quarter. He heads into a Week 17 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings dealing with an ankle injury that kept him sidelined during practice on Wednesday. Chase Daniels will get the start if Stafford is ruled out for Week 17.
James Robinson, RB | Jacksonville Jaguars (Ankle): The Jaguars are shutting Robinson down for the last game of the season. Robinson will end his year with 1,414 yards on the ground and 10 touchdowns. Dare Ogunbowale will likely see the lion’s share of work in the Jaguars’ running game during Week 17.
Sammy Watkins, WR | Kansas City Chiefs (Calf): Watkins sustained a calf injury during Week 16, according to Ian Rapoport. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid went on record to say that he will be resting his starting players Week 17 as they prepare for the playoffs. Watkins will not in Week 17 and will return when the Chiefs play their divisional round match.
Keenan Allen, WR | Los Angeles Chargers (Hamstring): The Chargers are not expecting Allen to play during Week 17. Allen has been battling a nagging hamstring injury to close out the season. Allen closes his year out just shy of the 1k mark with 992 yards receiving on 100 receptions. With Allen due to sit the last game of the season for the Chargers, you can expect to see more Jalen Guyton, Mike Williams, and Tyron Johnson during Week 17.
Tuesday, Dec. 29
Jared Goff, QB | Los Angeles Rams (Thumb): Goff will miss Week 17 due to a broken and dislocated thumb injury sustained during Sunday’s contest against the Seahawks. This is terrible news for a Rams team that is fighting for their chance to make the playoffs. The Rams will deploy backup quarterback John Wolford this week against the Cardinals. Wolford has never thrown a pass as an NFL quarterback, and there’s really no telling what to expect. For the moment, it would be safe to assume Wolford under center will be a downgrade to the Rams passing game. Rams pass-catchers can be avoided during Week 17.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR | San Francisco 49ers (Ankle): The 49ers are ruling Aiyuk out For Week 17 due to an ankle injury. Aiyuk will end his rookie campaign with 60 catches and 748 yards receiving for the 49ers. Kendrick Bourne and Richie James will see more targets in the final week of the NFL season for the 49ers when they play the Seahawks Sunday.
Joe Mixon, RB | Cincinnati Bengals (Foot): Bengals head coach Zac Taylor seems to have been up to his old tricks this season without people even realizing it. If you recall, Taylor repeatedly told reporters A.J. Green was close to returning, which never happened. The same seems to be the case regarding Mixon, who has been away from the team since Week 6 due to a foot injury. Mixon will not be playing during the Bengals week 17 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Giovani Bernard and Samaje Perine will continue to split snaps via the Bengals running game.
Kyler Murray, QB | Arizona Cardinals (Leg): Murray is dealing with a leg injury of some sort sustained on the final play of his Week 16 contest against the 49ers. Reports from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network claim that the injury isn’t believed to be serious. Kliff Kingsbury stated that he’s hopefully Murray will be able to play during Week 17. Murray will be a low-end QB1 this Sunday when the Cardinals face the Rams during Week 17. Chris Streveler will take snaps under center for the Cardinals if Murray is ruled out.
Frank Gore, RB | New York Jets (Lung contusion): Gore will not play during the final game of the regular season for the Jets. He sustained a lung contusion in Week 16, ultimately ending his season. That will likely be the last time we see the 16-year veteran in an NFL jersey. There are rumblings that Gore will return to play more football during the 2021 season, but his age plays a major factor in that decision. The Jets will use Ty Johnson and La’Mical Perine for the Jets run game during Week 17.
Christian McCaffrey, RB | Carolina Panthers (Thigh): McCaffrey will not play for the Panthers during Week 17, and his season is officially over. It’s an end to what was a disappointing season for not only McCaffrey but season-long fantasy players who also drafted McCaffrey in the first round. McCaffrey was only healthy for two games this season. Mike Davis will handle the workload for the Panthers’ running game once again. Davis has a Week 17 match against the Saints, where he will be a middling RB2.
Ronald Jones, RB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (COVID): The Buccaneers activated Jones from the teams’ injured reserve/COVID list on Tuesday. He’s eligible to play this week as long as head coach Bruce Arians gives him the go-ahead. If Jones does play, there’s no guarantee that he will see a full complement of work. The Buccaneers have already punched their ticket to the postseason. Jones has a Week 17 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. It’s hard to recommend Jones as a play for this week. If Tampa gets a large lead, they may begin to start resting players, most certainly affecting Jones.
Kyle Rudolph, TE | Minnesota Vikings (Foot): Rudolph has been dealing with a foot issue since Week 13. The Vikings placed Rudolph on the team’s injured reserve list ending his season. Irv Smith will continue to start in place of Rudolph when the Vikings face the Detroit Lions during Week 17. Smith can be viewed as a TE2 this week.
Harrison Bryant, TE | Cleveland Browns (COVID): It goes without saying that Bryant’s Week 17 availability is in jeopardy. The Browns face the Pittsburgh Steelers during Week 17. David Njoku will likely replace Bryant for the Browns’ final game of the season.
Cole Beasley, WR | Buffalo Bills (Leg): The Bills are listing Beasley as week to week due to a leg injury. It appears that Beasley sustained the injured during the Monday night contest against the New England Patriots in Week 16. Gabriel Davis and Dawson Knox will likely see more targets when the Bills face the Dolphins this Sunday.
Follow us on all of our social channels! Check out our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more great Awesemo content.
Looking for more NFL DFS picks content? We have loads of articles, data, cheat sheets, and more on the Awesemo NFL home page. Just click HERE.
