We have now hit the playoffs and with all the byes behind us, a laundry list of injuries began to pile up and some are going to have a significant impact on the remainder of the fantasy playoffs. 

Quarterback 

Patrick Mahomes – Chiefs – Ankle

Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain in the Chiefs’ victory over the Browns on Sunday. He is currently listed as week to week and will be a very fascinating situation to monitor moving forward. The Chiefs are still chasing the top seed in the AFC and have a little cushion, but they have back to back short weeks so it will be interesting to see how the Chiefs manage this. If he is unable to go it will be Carson Wentz taking over as the starter. The Chiefs have matchups with the Texans and Steelers in the next few days, both tough defenses so Wentz will have little if any fantasy value, while Mahomes will be a QB2 if he is able to play, but his managers may be best off starting someone else.

Geno Smith – Seahawks – Knee

Smith suffered a knee injury during the Seahawks’ loss to the Packers on Sunday night and did not return. He was visibly upset on the sideline after the play and later helped to the locker room where he went for tests. He ultimately limped back onto the sideline but it was clear and obvious that he was not going to be able to re enter the game. Head coach Mike Macdonald said that Smith should be able to practice and play this week. If that holds true he will hold QB2 value while also helping his pass catchers maintain their respective fantasy values against the Vikings on Sunday. 

Jalen Hurts – Eagles – Finger

Hurts suffered a broken finger on his non throwing hand but this injury was prior to the game. He will not miss any time but he did mention postgame on Sunday that it did impact his throwing. He did throw the ball very well yesterday so it’s really unsure of how it will impact him and his fantasy value moving forward. For now, there should not be any reservations about starting him or any other Eagles’ skill players.

Tommy DeVito – Giants – Concussion 

DeVito suffered a concussion in the Giants’ loss to the Ravens and did not return to the game. He was replaced by Tim Boyle. DeVito will have to clear concussion protocol in order to play on Sunday against the Falcons, but even then will not hold any fantasy value.

Running Back

Nick Chubb – Browns – Foot

Chubb suffered a broken foot in the Browns’ loss to the Chiefs on Sunday and will likely miss the remainder of the season. If managers do have any FAAB left, it’s time to go spend it on Jerome Ford if available. Despite Chubb’s return to action, he had basically been in a timeshare with Ford as they tried to not give him a full workload right away. 

Jaleel McLaughlin – Broncos – Quad

McLaughlin left the Broncos’ win over the Colts on Sunday with a quad injury and did not return. McLaughlin still had more carries than each of the Broncos’ other two running backs while Bo Nix led the team in carries. Javonte Williams and Audric Estime are likely to see an uptick in usage but how much remains the question if McLaughlin were to miss any time. Neither can really be counted on at the moment, especially with a tough Thursday matchup coming up against a Chargers defense looking to bounce back after being shredded by the Buccaneers over the weekend.  

David Montgomery – Lions – Knee

Montgomery suffered a torn MCL in the Lions’ loss to the Bills on Sunday. He underwent surgery and will miss the remainder of the season. This is a devastating blow for both the Lions and fantasy managers alike as Montgomery had scored touchdowns in all but three games and scored fewer than 11.1 fantasy points in a game just once all season leading up to yesterday. Jahmyr Gibbs will take over as the lead back and Craig Reynolds will slot in as the number two, and could be a sneaky good add if the Lions try to continue to use two backs. 

Alvin Kamara – Saints – Groin

Kamara left the Saints’ win over the Commanders on Sunday due to an adductor injury and did not return. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi called the injury minor but Kamara is scheduled for further testing. The Saints do have an extra day to recuperate this week as they do not play until Monday. Next in line for the Saints are Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller. Miller would be the go to option on the waiver wire here as he saw all the backfield work after Kamara’s exit. At the very least Miller is a stash, at the very most he becomes a startable player for at least week. 

Sincere McCormick – Raiders – Ankle 

McCormick suffered an ankle injury late in the first half of the Raiders’ Week 15 loss to the Falcons and did not return. The extent of his injury is unknown at the time of submission but if he were to miss time, Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah would be next in line to handle the carries available. Mattison out carried Abdullah 7 to 3 but Abdullah was more prominent and if Desmond Ridder is the quarterback again on Sunday, Abdullah would be be the better pickup option. 

Wide Receiver 

Alec Pierce – Colts – Concussion

Piece suffered a concussion in the Colts’ loss to the Broncos and did not return. He was replaced by AD Mitchell who was not only held without a catch but threw an interception as well. Pierce will also be in the league’s concussion protocol so if he can clear, he will still hold FLEX value, but if he can’t, Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr. should see an uptick in usage. 

Jaylen Waddle – Dolphins – Knee

Waddle suffered a knee injury early in the Dolphins’ loss to the Texans and did not return. His status moving forward is unknown as he was battling other injuries leading up to that. While Waddle’s status is currently unknown he will hold low end WR2 value on Sunday if he can play when the Dolphins host the 49ers. If Waddle can’t go and you need to go to the waiver wire, look for players like Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Rashod Bateman, and Kendrick Bourne for a low end WR2 or a FLEX play. 

Tight End 

Zach Ertz – Commanders – Concussion

Ertz suffered a concussion in the Commanders’ Week 15 win over the Saints and did not return to the game. He will enter the league’s concussion protocol and have to clear it in order to play in their Week 16 matchup with the Eagles, whom he had six catches for 47 yards and a touchdown in the previous matchup. If Ertz can’t clear in time, John Bates would take over as the starting tight end. In relief yesterday, Bates caught his only target for six yards so it may be best to look for alternative options on the wire should Ertz not play. 

Evan Engram – Jaguars – Shoulder

It was announced over the weekend that Engram will undergo season ending surgery to repair a torn labrum and will be placed on Injured Reserve. Brenton Strange becomes a priority add on the wire as he was targeted 12 times in his first start, wile hauling in 11 of them for 73 yards. For a position thin on reliability, Strange could be a great low FAAB add for anyone looking for a tight end, especially Engram or Zach Ertz owners.