Hello to those fortunate enough to survive the first round. Can we interest you in a second helping? Now that Christmas and the holidays are winding down, the focus can return to football. Round two of the fantasy playoffs are underway, and the Covid catastrophe from last week has carried into this one. Many a star player have been dinged with positive tests, resulting in more chaos ahead of fantasy matchups.
While Covid has been plenty involved in that chaos, the regular ole football injuries are still occurring, as well. And some true monsters have been forced to the sidelines due to injury. Yep, another week of hair-on-fire decision making and waiver wire hunting. So, grab your rabbits foot, or that lucky old t-shirt and saddle up. Oh, and get your fix of The Infirmary and it’s knowledge before heading into battle this Sunday. It will be well needed.
INJURED RESERVE
QB Daniel Jones– NYG (Neck), WR Sterling Shepard– NYG (Achilles), WR Chris Godwin– TB (Knee), RB Leonard Fournette– TB (Hamstring), RB J.D. McKissic– WAS (Concussion)
This seems a fitting end to the season for Jones and the Giants. While there were moments with the young quarterback, injuries and turnovers cloud his 2021 campaign. The future is uncertain for both Jones and the Giants. Shepard’s addition is merely salt in the wound to a disappointing season. Mike Glennon will continue to start for New York, but it’ll be difficult to trust any Giant during the playoffs.
The more relevant news here is that of the Bucs players.
Godwin will miss the rest of the season with an ACL tear, while Fournette will be sidelined with a bum hammy for a few weeks. As much as this hurts Tom Brady and Tampa’s shot at another Super Bowl, it hurts fantasy managers just the same. The production of the two will be difficult to replicate. There are, of course, obvious answers to who will attempt the replication.
We’re ON Ronald Jones😎
All it took was Leonard Fournette getting injured. And Chris Godwin. And Mike Evans. pic.twitter.com/5r2AA4ozfc
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) December 25, 2021
Ronald Jones will start in place of Lenny, and Antonio Brown (fresh off suspension) looks to be the beneficiary of Godwin’s absence. Rojo was solid after Fournette went down against the Saints, but he’ll have to be much better to fill Uncle Lenny’s shoes. And while AB is sure to light it up, let’s not forget about Tyler Johnson.
Tyler Johnson Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Last week Johnson had just 41 yards off of four catches, but his seven Targets were tied for second highest on the team. With Evans also out, Sunday could be a coming out party for the young Bucs wideout.
OUT
QB Lamar Jackson– BAL (Ankle), QB Tyler Huntley– BAL (Covid), WR Cole Beasley– BUF (Covid), WR Gabriel Davis– BUF (Covid), QB Andy Dalton– CHI (Hand/Groin), WR Allen Robinson II- CHI (Covid), WR Jakeem Grant– CHI (Concussion), QB Teddy Bridgewater– DEN (Concussion), WR Brandin Cooks– HOU (Covid), TE Travis Kelce– KC (Covid), WR Mike Williams– LAC (Covid), WR Jalen Guyton– LAC (Covid), RB Austin Ekeler– LAC (Covid), RB Dalvin Cook– MIN (Covid), WR Nelson Agholor– NE (Concussion), RB Rhamondre Stevenson– NE (Covid), TE Pat Freiermuth– PIT (Concussion), WR Mike Evans– TB (Hamstring)
Like it or not, the fantasy playoffs have kept suit with the rest of 2021 and the madness it begot. Look no further than this section for evidence. Baltimore has no quarterbacks. The Bills are running out of receivers. The Chargers are decimated and Dalvin won’t be cooking this Sunday. If that’s not bad enough, we’ll be forced to witness Nick Foles and Drew Lock on the field. Luckily, that may prove better for fantasy than “real life” football.
For those rostering Cook, you know the deal by now. With Ekeler, it’s a different story.
He hasn’t missed a game yet this season. The popular choice to bear fruit from the opportunity is Justin Jackson; and that’d be the correct choice. The previous regime handled things differently, but this staff believes in Jackson. Last week, he managed 13 carries for 86 yards with Ekeler banged up. He’s the clear-cut, No. 1 guy this Sunday. Lock him in.
Go win those playoff matchups ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/IhwDI1WUu3
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) December 21, 2021
The rest of this is pretty gross. It’s tough to trust any Ravens, with the quarterback situation down to Josh Johnson (no, not the awesome comedian). Same goes for Josh Allen and the Bills. Sure, give the poor guy less weapons to go to Foxborough with. Sounds fantastic. Speaking of Foxborough, the Patriots will be without Stevenson, but if Harris can go expect a big day. Tyreek Hill was removed from the Covid list, and the hope was his teammate Kelce will be available, as well. However, Kelce was ruled out early Sunday. And while it seems pretty yucky to have Foles starting at QB for the Bears, there is a potential saving grace; Darnell Mooney being peppered with Targets.
DOUBTFUL
WR Devin Duvernay– BAL (Ankle), TE Darren Waller– LV (Back/Knee)
Oh, Mr. Waller. You are missed.
QUESTIONABLE
WR D.J. Moore– CAR (Hamstring), QB Justin Fields– CHI (Ankle), WR Marquise Goodwin– CHI (Foot), RB D’Andre Swift– DET (Shoulder), QB Jared Goff– DET (Covid), RB David Johnson– HOU (Quad), WR Laviska Shenault– JAX (Covid/Foot/Shoulder), WR Adam Thielen– MIN (Ankle), RB Damien Harris– NE (Hamstring), RB Brandon Bolden– NE (Knee), WR Tre’Quan Smith– NO (Shoulder), QB Taysom Hill– NO (Covid), TE Adam Trautman– NO (Covid), WR Kadarius Toney– NYG (Oblique/Quad), WR Jamison Crowder– NYJ (Calf), WR Curtis Samuel– WAS (Hamstring), RB Antonio Gibson– WAS (Toe)
So many Covid questions, so little time. Or something like that. Horror has struck the fantasy playoffs and is decimating the landscape. It’s terrible for deciding a champion, but it’s an unmanageable. There is naught to be done as the NFL battles the Covid currents once again, hesitant to alter their course too sharply. And yet, there is hope… Thielen looks set to make his return as the Vikings take on the Rams, and there’s a good chance Gibson suits up for Washington. There’s still questions surrounding Swift’s status, but if he sits, Craig Reynolds should see another big day even with Jamaal Williams back in the mix.
CONCLUSION
For those that survived round one of the fantasy playoffs, kudos to you. For those that manage to survive another week? Count those lucky stars. Next week is for all the marbles; this week the final roadblock to the total game. For the Mad Caps that’ve been following, The Infirmary should have taught one thing… Depth is key! With that knowledge, and a ton of luck, hopefully many find their way to the next round. And for those resilient few, make sure to return next week. The final Infirmary is likely to be something.
