Week 14 NFL Injury News and Fantasy Football Solutions
Week 13 of the NFL season delivered its fair share of highs and lows, but for many teams, the injury bug hits hard this late in the year. The holiday weekend brought some tough injury news that could change the course of the season for a number of teams and fantasy rosters.
Whether you're a fan trying to understand how these injuries impact your team or a fantasy manager figuring out how to adapt, this rundown will cover the biggest names, their replacements, and what it all means going forward.
Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason – RBs, San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey suffered a PCL injury in his left knee during the 49ers' Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills, potentially ending his season and delivering a significant blow to the team’s offense.
Adding to the woes, Jordan Mason, the next-in-line running back, also sustained a high ankle sprain on Sunday and is headed to injured reserve, leaving the 49ers with only one healthy running back on the active roster and one on the practice squad. With Mason also out, the 49ers are expected to rely on rookie Isaac Guerendo to shoulder the load.
If this is the end of McCaffrey’s season, he amassed 202 rushing yards on 50 carries through just four games. He had already missed the first eight games of the season due to a calf and Achilles issue, forcing the team to adapt to life without him. However, this situation is more dire as they’re now without both McCaffrey and Mason.
Without the rushing attack the 49ers have become known for, they risk becoming one-dimensional, allowing opponents to focus heavily on stopping the passing game and exposing the lack of proven options in the backfield.
Fantasy Managers: Those of you with McCaffrey on your rosters have already had to adjust to life with him out of the lineup. Regardless, anyone with either player on their roster should look to 49ers' rookie Isaac Guerendo, who's averaged 6 yards per carry this season, as a potential replacement. Samaje Perine of the Kansas City Chiefs is another solid waiver-wire option for PPR leagues, thanks to his steady involvement in the passing game.
Trevor Lawrence – QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence exited the game after taking a scary hit while sliding on Sunday, leaving him lying dazed on the ground as a scuffle broke out around him. His status for Week 14 is still up in the air; however, given the severity of the hit, it seems unlikely that he’ll be ready to return immediately. The NFL has stepped in and suspended Texans' linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair three games for delivering the blow.
Lawrence — who's thrown for 2,045 yards with 11 touchdowns and 7 interceptions this year — was making his return from an AC joint sprain in his non-throwing shoulder, suffered during a Week 9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. In his absence, backup Mac Jones stepped in but struggled, including a historic 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. Now with Lawrence sidelined again, Jones is expected to take over as the starter.
The Jaguars, currently 2-10, are effectively out of playoff contention. With the season all but over, losing a game or two with a backup quarterback might actually benefit the franchise in the long run by securing a higher draft pick.
Fantasy Managers: If Lawrence is unavailable, look to add Aiden O’Connell of the Raiders, who’s coming off a 340-yard, two-touchdown game against the Chiefs’ defense. He’s available in most leagues and is facing a Buccaneers team that allows the second most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Taysom Hill – TE/QB, New Orleans Saints
The Saints' worst fears were confirmed on Monday as Taysom Hill was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Hill had just been regaining his form and becoming a larger part of the Saints' offense under interim coach Darren Rizzi, who utilized him more creatively than in past seasons.
Hill's ability to contribute as a tight end, quarterback, and special teams player added a unique layer of unpredictability to the Saints' offense. This season, he tallied 6 touchdowns and an impressive 7.5 yards per touch, often serving as a key weapon in must-have situations.
For the Saints, replacing Hill's multifaceted role won't be easy. They haven’t just lost eight of their last ten games but also lost their head coach along the way. For a team already navigating a tough season, this injury news is the last thing they want to hear.
Fantasy Managers: Replacing Hill's production with a single tight end at this point in the season, isn't a likely scenario. However, Chiefs tight end Noah Gray is a compelling option for fantasy managers. Gray has averaged 17 fantasy points per game over his last three outings, making him a strong waiver-wire pickup to fill the void.
Malcolm Rodriguez - LB, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez suffered a torn ACL during the team's Week 13 victory over the Chicago Bears, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. Before his injury, Rodriguez had a career-high in sacks, as well as one pass deflection and one fumble recovery. Although he's not the backbone of their defense, he's another name on a growing list of injured players from that defensive unit.
The Lions' defense has been hit hard by the injury bug, with Rodriguez being the fourth linebacker placed on injured reserve. Other key defensive players, including Derrick Barnes, Alex Anzalone, and Aidan Hutchinson, have also been out. Despite this, Detroit still carries an 11-1 record and has been among the most dominant teams in the league.
To address their depleted linebacker corps, the Lions recently signed veteran Kwon Alexander and hybrid safety, Jamal Adams. Still, losing that many talented players on one side of the ball is bound to show up on the field at some point.
Fantasy Managers: The Lions' defense has scored the seventh most fantasy points this season, but they aren't likely to remain in the top ten with all the injuries they've sustained. Look to the Cardinals and Rams for sneaky-good defenses available in more than 80% of ESPN leagues.
Ladd McConkey - WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey has been a bright spot for the Los Angeles Chargers this season. Through ten games, McConkey's got 43 receptions for 615 yards and four touchdowns, quickly establishing himself as a reliable target for quarterback Justin Herbert. His ability to easily create separation and rack up yards after the catch has been a cornerstone for the Chargers' passing attack under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
In Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons, McConkey posted an impressive performance with nine receptions for 117 yards before exiting the game with a knee injury. While the injury isn't believed to be severe, it's unclear if McConkey will be ready to suit up in Week 14. Harbaugh noted that McConkey is "working through some things," according to ESPN's Kris Rhim, and the team is hopeful he'll miss no more than one game.
McConkey's absence, even for a short time, would leave a noticeable gap in the Chargers' offense. With Chargers' running back J.K. Dobbins heading to the IR after a Week 12 injury, they can't afford to lose any more weapons on offense.
Fantasy Managers: McConkey's status is worth monitoring closely. If he isn't able to play in Week 14, consider adding Joshua Palmer who could see an uptick in targets in his absence. For deeper leagues, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has scored 10+ fantasy points in five of his last six games and has a favorable matchup against Jacksonville's secondary this week.
Dallas Goedert - TE, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert suffered a knee injury during the team's Week 13 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, a blow to an offense that has relied on him for stability and production. While the injury isn’t considered season-ending, Jeff McClain of the Inquirer reported that Goedert could potentially land on the injured reserve, keeping him sidelined for at least four games.
Goedert's having a very solid year so far, logging 36 receptions for 441 yards and two touchdowns through nine games. His ability to create mismatches in coverage and move the chains has been a perfect compliment to Saquon Barkley's dominance on the ground. Without him, the team will need to rely on their elite outside weapons to pick up the slack over the middle of the field.
Fantasy Managers: While it may not be considered a season-ending injury for the playoff-bound Eagles, for fantasy managers, it might as well be. As previously mentioned, Chiefs’ tight end Noah Gray has been incredibly productive this season and could be a great pickup for those in need of steady production at the position. Fantasy managers also shouldn't rule out snagging Eagles’ backup tight end Grant Calcaterra who could see plenty of targets with Piladelphia’s passing schemes.
Impact Players Who Could Return in Week 14
DeVonta Smith - WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith has been dealing with a concussion that's kept him sidelined for the last two games. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show, "I think DeVonta Smith will be back this week." His return would provide a real boost to the Eagles' already-explosive offense as they deal with the loss of Goedert.
Alexander Mattison - RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison has been out since suffering an ankle injury in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins. While he's not completely in the clear yet, there's optimism about his return in Week 14 after being close to playing last week. Mattison’s return would provide much-needed stability to the Raiders' backfield after a good performance from their passing game against the Chiefs.
Romeo Doubs - WR, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs has been in concussion protocol since taking a big hit in Week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers. While he was ruled out for Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins, Doubs has practiced on consecutive days this week, which is an optimistic sign for him to make his return on Thursday Night Football against the Lions.