The Fantasy Football Trainers room is here to update you on all the key NFL Wild Card Round Fantasy Football injuries, while (more importantly) giving you some DFS advice. Not playing DFS this week? Check out our 2020 Fantasy Big Board and Rankings to start preparing for next season.
Miles Sanders (ankle) will return to action against Seahawks
Boston Scott filled in admirably and won DFS tourneys last week when he racked up 138 yards and three touchdowns in Week 17 — totaling an astounding 35.8 fantasy points. Sanders was out of practice until Friday, but he was not listed on the Eagles’ final injury report. It’s likely we’ll get an annoying Doug Pederson committee this week, so we aren’t jumping up and down to play either Sanders ($6,200) or Scott ($5,800) at their current price tags.
Vikings plan to “cut loose” Dalvin Cook (shoulder) in Wild Card game against Saints
Unfortunately, Dalvin Cook (and Mike Boone) lost a lot of fantasy titles in Week 16, but the Vikings held their stud running back on ice for the actual NFL playoffs. With Cook missing the last few weeks with a shoulder injury, the team will look to cut him “loose” against the Saints. He stumbled down the stretch a bit prior to the injury, but he’ll be at full strength and will likely be used to keep the clock moving against the Saints. Cook is currently the second highest priced RB on DraftKings at $7,800. However, we like the matchup better for Alvin Kamara at $7,400, who has really been cut loose lately. Still, in a weird week for running backs, Cook isn’t the worst option at his price tag.
Warrior Zach Ertz (ribs, back) likely to play through pain on Sunday vs Seahawks
This lunatic is just two weeks removed from playing through a lacerated kidney and broken ribs and he was not cleared for contact during the majority of the week. However, Ertz is leaning towards playing against the Seahawks. With Ertz banged up recently, Dallas Goedert has racked up 10-plus fantasy points in each of the three contests — highlighted by the 9-91-1, 24 fantasy point explosion in Week 16 against the Cowboys. We’re staying clear away from Ertz at $6000, but Goedert is intriguing at $5,200.
Will Fuller (groin) continues to be unreliable, unlikely to play vs Bills
Pussy Will Fuller strained another muscle and will likely be watching his team play from the sidelines… again. One of the most important players on the Texans’ offense, Fuller makes life so much easier for Deshaun Watson ($6,400), DeAndre Hopkins ($7,700) and the rest of the offense. Assuming Fuller is out (at the time this is being written), Kenny Stills ($4,600) will be utilized as Watson’s field-stretcher, while Hopkins will draw a lot of Tre’Davious White. Surprisingly, Stills has been better with Fuller on the field, than not. In the four games Fuller has missed, Stills did not eclipse 52 receiving yards. With the under being a popular play, we aren’t getting too excited about Watson and the rest of the receiving options against a tough Bills secondary. We’d suggest paying up for Michael Thomas ($9,300) over Hopkins, as the Rhodes are always open against the Vikings.
Players Returning / Good-to-go:
- Hardo JJ Watt (Pec) will return and “will play a lot more snaps” than initially expected. He’ll give the Texans DST a bump.
- Jadeveon Clowney (core) wasn’t listed on the final injury report and will play Sunday vs Eagles, who will be without Lane Johnson
- Alex Mattison
Others to Monitor:
- Seahawks RG Mike Iupati (neck) will be a game-time decision and could play vs Eagles
- Seahawks WR Jaron Brown (knee, personal) is questionable and is leaning towards playing on Sunday
- They don’t play until next week, but Mark Ingram (calf) should play next week in the Ravens’ divisional matchup
Already/ Obviously Out:
- Eagles RT Lane Johnson (ankle) has been ruled out, but should return if the Eagles advance.
- Saints CB Eli Apple (ankle) is out, leaving Janoris Jenkins to start alongside Marshon Lattimore and PJ Williams.
- Seahawks LT Duane Brown (knee, biceps) has been ruled out and will not play against the Eagles’ tough defensive line.
- Nelson Agholor (knee) will miss another week, leaving Carson Wentz with that disgusting receiver corps.
- Adam Humphries (ankle) will not play against the Patriots, leaving AJ Brown and Corey Davis as the starters on the perimeter.
- Vikings cornerbacks Mackensie Alexander (knee) and Mike Hughes (neck, IR) will not play, leaving #RhodesOpen and Trae Waynes to deal with Drew Brees and Michael Thomas
