With Week 16 in the books, it’s time to take a look at fantasy football inactives. With injuries and surprise performances still on the table for this week, there are sure to be some surprises with these decisions…
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AJ Mass is a staff writer at ESPN.
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With whom should you begin? Should you take a seat next to whom? We’ll provide fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here when NFL clubs issue their official inactives lists, usually around 90 minutes before kickoff, to help you plan your fantasy football lineups and prevent starting a player who won’t be participating. Any rankings in this column are based on our ESPN Fantasy staff.
Official Sunday inactives should arrive roughly 90 minutes before the planned start time, at 11:30 a.m. ET for early games and 2:30 p.m. ET for late games.
For the most up-to-date information, refresh often.
Games begin at 1 p.m. ET.
Offense
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ATL’s Tajae Sharpe, WR: Foot — Impact: Olamide Zaccheaus and Christian Blake may get some additional attention.
Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens: Ankle — OUT Impact: He won’t even go to Cincinnati.
Tyler Huntley, BAL: COVID-19 — OUT Tyler Huntley, QB, BAL: COVID-19 — OUT Tyler Huntley, QB, BAL: The Ravens’ starting quarterback will be Josh Johnson.
Devin Duvernay, WR, Baltimore Ravens: Ankle — OUT Impact: Rashod Bateman could get a few more looks.
BUF: COVID-19 — OUT: Cole Beasley, WR, BUF: COVID-19 — OUT: Cole Beasley, WR, BUF: COVI Emmanuel Sanders is expected to have a monster fantasy day.
BUF: COVID-19 — OUT: Gabriel Davis, WR, BUF: COVID-19 — OUT: Gabriel Davis, WR, BUF: COVI Isaiah McKenzie has the potential to surprise.
QB Sam Darnold of the Carolina Panthers: Shoulder — Impact: Cam Newton is expected to start, but Darnold will get some action as well.
DJ Moore (WR, CAR) has a hamstring injury. Questionable Impact: On Sunday, he’s scheduled to give it a go.
DET: COVID-19, QB Jared Goff — Tim Boyle should start in his place, since he is unlikely to participate.
DET’s D’Andre Swift, RB: Shoulder — Expect him to play, although he’ll likely share carries with Craig Reynolds and Jamaal Williams.
Defensive back Kalif Raymond (DET): Shoulder — Questionable Impact: In the WR room, there isn’t much else but Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Defensive back Josh Reynolds (DET) has a thigh injury. KhaDarel Hodge, a questionable impact player, might fill in for any injured receivers.
HOU RB David Johnson: Quad — Questionable Impact: Not likely to be used. Carry duties will be divided between Royce Freeman and Rex Burkhead.
HOU: COVID-19 — OUT: Brandin Cooks, WR, HOU: COVID-19 — OUT: Brandin Cooks, WR, HOU: COVI Nico Collins will be the No. 1 wide receiver option.
K, HOU: COVID-19 — Ka’imi Fairbairn, Ka’imi Fairbairn, Ka’imi Fairbairn, Ka’imi Fairbairn, Ka Impact: Kicking responsibilities will be handled by Dominik Eberle, who is not anticipated to participate.
WR Laviska Shenault Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars: COVID-19 — OUT Impact: Laquon Treadwell and Marvin Jones Jr. should get a couple additional looks.
Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers: COVID-19 — OUT The only non-practice squad WRs to pick from are Keenan Allen and Joshua Palmer.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers: COVID-19 — OUT Impact: Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley will have to work together in the backfield.
Donald Parham Jr., TE, LAC: Concussion — OUT/IR Impact: Jared Cook will take his spot as the starting tight end.
RB Dalvin Cook (MIN: COVID-19) is out. Alexander Mattison grabs the ball first.
Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings: Ankle — Questionable Impact: Even if Thielen tries to play, K.J. Osborn will be an intriguing flex option.
Damien Harris, RB, New England Patriots: Hamstring — Impact is debatable: Expected to participate. In any case, Brandon Bolden and J.J. Taylor may be on the committee.
COVID-19 — Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, NE
Nelson Agholor, WR, New England Patriots: Concussion — OUT Kendrick Bourne has been reinstated off the COVID-19 list just in time.
N’Keal Harry, WR, New England Patriots: Hip — Questionable Impact: If he is able to play, there are some more targets available.
Oblique — Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants Questionable Impact: On Thursday, he was activated off the COVID-19 list, although his status remains uncertain due to his injury.
Jamison Crowder, WR, New York Jets: Calf Braxton Berrios is likely to see an increase in targets.
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Hamstring — OUT The bulk of WR carries should be handled by Antonio Brown.
Defense
Calais Campbell, DE, Baltimore Ravens: Thigh — Uncertain
Brandon Stephens, CB, BAL: Questionable illness
BAL: COVID-19 — OUT: Justin Houston, LB, BAL: COVID-19 — OUT: Justin Houston, LB, BAL: COVI
COVID-19 — OUT, Jimmy Smith, CB, BAL
BAL DT Justin Madubuike: COVID-19 — OUT
COVID-19 — OUT D.J. Reader, DT, CIN:
Knee — Questionable for Michael Brockers, DT, DET.
Julian Okwara, DE, DET: Questionable Ankle
Jalen Reeves-Maybin (LB, DET) is questionable with a shoulder injury.
CB, DET Amani Oruwariye: Thumb — OUT
Lopez, Roy COVID-19, DT, HOU — Doubtful
Collins, Maliek COVID-19, DT, HOU — Doubtful
Jenkins, Jordan DE, HOU: COVID-19 — Doubtful
HOU: COVID-19 — Kamu Grugier-Hill LB, HOU: COVID-19 —
COVID-19 — COVID-19 — COVID-19 — COVID-19 — COVID-19 — COVID-19 — COVID-19 —
COVID-19 — OUT Josh Allen, LB, JAX
Derwin James Jr., S, LAC: Questionable hamstring
LAC’s Joey Bosa, LB: COVID-19 — OUT
COVID-19: Justin Jones, DT, LAC — Questionable
COVID-19 — Tevaughn Campbell, CB, LAC: Questionable
Ankle — Questionable, according to Greg Gaines, DT, LAR.
Ja’Whaun Bentley, LB, NE: Questionable Ankle
Knee — Questionable Adrian Phillips, S, NE
COVID-19 Deatrich Wise Jr., LB, NE: OUT
Austin Johnson, DT, New York Giants: Foot — Doubtful
Shoulder — Questionable for Quinnen Williams, DT, New York Jets
S. Ashtyn Davis, NYJ: COVID-19 — Doubtful
COVID-19, Sharrod Neasman, S, NYJ: Questionable
COVID-19 — Questionable, according to John Franklin-Myers, DE, NYJ.
COVID-19 — Folorunso Fatukasi, DT, NYJ: COVID-19 —
COVID-19 — Michael Carter II, CB, NYJ: Questionable
C.J. Mosley, LB, New York Jets: Questionable return
Bryce Hall, CB, NYJ: Questionable Illness
DE Jason Pierre-Paul, TB: Shoulder — Questionable
S, TB: Foot — OUT Antoine Winfield Jr., S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S
Games start at 4 p.m. ET.
Offense
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Nick Foles will start for the Bears. Andy Dalton, QB, CHI: Hand — OUT
Justin Fields, CHI quarterback: Ankle — Impact: Fields may still be active, but they will not start.
Marquise Goodwin, WR, Chicago Bears: Foot — Questionable Impact: He’s been limited in practice and isn’t sure whether he’ll play. This week, Allen Robinson II was remained on the COVID-19 list.
Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback, Denver Broncos: Concussion — OUT Drew Lock will take his position in the starting lineup, which is bad news for Broncos receivers.
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs: COVID-19 — Impact is not likely to be played: Tyreek Hill, on the other hand, was activated off the reserve list on Saturday.
Knee — Darren Waller, TE, LV Foster Moreau seems like he’ll be the Plan B once again.
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Concussion — OUT To start Zach Gentry, you’d have to be praying for a miracle.
SEA’s Adrian Peterson, RB: Back — Questionable Impact: The RB duties should be handled by Alex Collins and Rashaad Penny.
Defense
Eddie Goldman, DT, CHI: Questionable finger
COVID-19: Akiem Hicks, DT, CHI: Questionable
COVID-19: Jaylon Johnson, CB, CHI: Questionable
COVID-19 — Tashaun Gipson Sr., S, CHI: QUESTIONABLE
Shelby Harris, D-Delaware, DEN: Ankle — Doubtful
Foot — Dre’Mont Jones, DE, Denver Broncos:
LB Kenny Young of the Denver Broncos has been ruled out due to a concussion.
Illness — Questionable, Baron Browning, LB, DEN
Back — Questionable for Kareem Jackson, S, DEN
Back — Questionable for Johnathan Hankins, DT, LV.
Denzel Perryman, LB, LV: Questionable Ankle
Roderic Teamer, S, LV: COVID-19 — Possibly dangerous
Brandon Facyson, CB, LV: COVID-19 — Inconsistent
COVID-19: Devin Bush, LB, PIT: COVID-19 —
Chris Wormley, DE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Groin — OUT
COVID-19 — COVID-19, D.J. Reed, CB, SEA: COVID-19, COVID-19, COVID-19, COVID-19, COVID
Game on a Sunday night
Wendell Smallwood was promoted to the active squad as insurance for Antonio Gibson, RB, WAS: Toe — Questionable Impact: Wendell Smallwood was advanced to the active roster as insurance for Antonio Gibson, RB, WAS: Toe.
Curtis Samuel (WR, WAS) has a hamstring injury. Questionable Impact: Even if he plays, he has done very little this season to assist fantasy managers.
Ankle — OUT, William Jackson III, CB, WAS:
Cole Holcomb, LB, COVID-19, WAS: COVID-19, WAS: COVID-19, WAS: COVID-19, WAS: COVI
Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys: Foot — Questionable Impact: He’ll likely be a backup to Ezekiel Elliott.
COVID-19, Jourdan Lewis, CB, DAL: COVID-19, COVID-19, COVID-19, COVID-19, COVID-19, COVI
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do NFL inactives come out?
A: The NFL inactives list comes out around 1pm Eastern time.
Who is the best fantasy football player?
A: The best fantasy football player is Antonio Brown.
What time is fantasy football now?
A: At this moment fantasy football is on Sunday Night Football.
