AJ MassESPN Staff Writer
Who should you start? Who should you sit? To help you set your fantasy football lineups and to avoid starting a player who won’t be in the lineup, we’ll post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their inactives, typically about 90 minutes before kickoff. Any rankings cited in this column come from our ESPN Fantasy staff ranks.
Refresh often for the latest information.
1 p.m. ET games
Offense
Julio Jones, WR, ATL: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: Russell Gage sees a fantasy-value spike with the veteran missing this week’s game.
Luke Willson, TE, BAL: Hip — OUT
Impact: Mark Andrews will now handle nearly all TE duties, as Willson has been waived. WRs Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin have been activated from reserve/COVID-19 list.
Jimmy Graham, TE, CHI: Hip — Questionable
Impact: Cole Kmet might finally be ready to emerge from the veteran’s shadow.
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL: Calf — Questionable
Impact: Expected to play, though Tony Pollard might still see some extra carries.
Matthew Stafford, QB, DET: Ribs — Questionable
Impact: All signs currently point to Stafford giving it a try on Sunday.
Kenny Golladay, WR, DET: Hip — OUT
Impact: While he still insists he’s going to make it back on the field this season, time is running out.
Duke Johnson, RB, HOU: Neck — OUT
Impact: David Johnson will handle all of Houston’s RB duties …
C.J. Prosise, RB, HOU: Ankle — Questionable
Impact: … as there may be no alternative options available.
Mo Alie-Cox, TE, IND: Knee — Questionable
Impact: Trey Burton would be in line for a significant value bump if Cox sits.
Salvon Ahmed, RB, MIA: Shoulder — Questionable
Impact: Leaning toward a start, and could shine if Myles Gaskin remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
DeVante Parker, WR, MIA: Hamstring — Questionable
Impact: Signs point toward Parker playing — and presumably, someone will have to get Miami’s targets.
Jakeem Grant, WR, MIA: Hamstring — Questionable
Impact: Limited at practice all week after leaving Week 14 action early. Isaiah Ford promoted from practice squad.
Mike Gesicki, TE, MIA: Shoulder — Questionable
Impact: An immediate red zone threat if he suits up this weekend.
Alexander Mattison, RB, MIN: Appendix — Questionable
Impact: Returned to practice this week and slowly making his way back from surgery.
Kyle Rudolph, TE, MIN: Foot — OUT
Impact: Irv Smith Jr. did well last week as he was freed from Minnesota’s TE time-share.
Damien Harris, RB, NE: Ankle — OUT
Impact: Sony Michel may be called upon to handle lead-back duties …
James White, RB, NE: Foot — Questionable
Impact: … especially as White has been hampered by his injury all week.
Nick Folk, K, NE: Back — Questionable
Impact: Folk has been questionable for nearly all of the second half of the season. Nothing to worry about here.
Travis Homer, RB, SEA: Knee — OUT/IR
Impact: Rashaad Penny (knee) is expected to make his 2020 debut in support of Chris Carson.
Deebo Samuel, WR, SF: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: This may be the end of 2020 for Samuel. Kendrick Bourne likely to start in his place.
Alex Smith, QB, WAS: Calf — OUT
Impact: Dwayne Haskins Jr. will attempt to keep Washington Football Team in first place.
Antonio Gibson, RB, WAS: Toe — Doubtful
Impact: With Smith also out, Washington may lean heavily on the run. J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber could benefit.
Defense
Darqueze Dennard, CB, ATL: Quad — OUT
Ricardo Allen, S, ATL: Concussion — OUT
Calais Campbell, DE, BAL: Calf — Questionable
Derek Wolfe, DE, BAL: Neck — Questionable
Marcus Peters, CB, BAL: Calf — Questionable
Davontae Harris, CB, BAL: Ankle — Questionable
Khalil Mack, LB, CHI: Shoulder — Questionable
Jaylon Johnson, CB, CHI: Shoulder — Questionable
Rashard Robinson, CB, DAL: Knee — Questionable
Xavier Woods, S, DAL: Groin — Questionable
John Penisini, DT, DET: Shoulder — Questionable
Darryl Roberts, CB, DET: Hip — OUT
Phillip Gaines, CB, HOU: Knee — Questionable
DeForest Buckner, DT, IND: Ankle — Questionable
Kyle Van Noy, LB, MIA: Hip — Questionable
Elandon Roberts, LB, MIA: Chest — Questionable
Jerome Baker, LB, MIA: Knee — Questionable
Bobby McCain, S, MIA: Ankle — Questionable
Eric Kendricks, LB, MIN: Calf — OUT
Lawrence Guy, DT, NE: Shoulder — Questionable
Adam Butler, DT, NE: Shoulder — Questionable
Byron Cowart, DT, NE: Back — Questionable
Fred Warner, LB, SF: Shoulder — Questionable
Kenny Vaccaro, S, TEN: Illness — Questionable
Adoree’ Jackson, CB, TEN: Knee — Questionable
Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB, WAS: Ankle — OUT
Cole Holcomb, LB, WAS: Concussion — OUT
4 p.m. ET games
Offense
Chase Edmonds, RB, ARI: Ankle — Questionable
Impact: Kenyan Drake seems to be the safer pick in this backfield, though Edmonds improved as the week went on.
Zane Gonzalez, K, ARI: Back — OUT/IR
Impact: Veteran Mike Nugent appears to have won himself this job after last week’s strong effort.
Michael Thomas, WR, NO: Ankle — OUT/IR
Impact: New Orleans expects Thomas back for the NFL playoffs, but for fantasy purposes, his season has ended.
Deonte Harris, WR, NO: Neck — OUT/IR
Impact: Drew Brees returns. Take your pick of Tre’Quan Smith or Emmanuel Sanders at WR.
Jamison Crowder, WR, NYJ: Calf — Questionable
Impact: Expected to play, although Denzel Mims has outshined him of late.
Defense
Jordan Phillips, DE, ARI: Hamstring — OUT/IR
Jalen Thompson, S, ARI: Ankle — OUT
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, ARI: Hamstring — Questionable
Damien Wilson, LB, KC: Knee — OUT
Justin Hollins, LB, LAR: Undisclosed — Questionable
Malcom Brown, DT, NO: Shoulder — OUT
Darius Slay, CB, PHI: Concussion — OUT
Sunday night game
Austin Hooper, TE, CLE: Neck — Questionable
Impact: Expected to play after missing last week’s game …
David Njoku, TE, CLE: Knee — Questionable
Impact: … which is probably good news, as Njoku didn’t practice on Friday.
Andrew Sendejo, S, CLE: Concussion — OUT
Denzel Ward, CB, CLE: Calf — Questionable
Daniel Jones, QB, NYG: Ankle — OUT
Impact: Colt McCoy, who did well enough to guide the Giants to a win over Seattle in Week 13, steps up again.
Evan Engram, TE, NYG: Calf — Questionable
Impact: A late add to the injury report doesn’t bode well for Engram …
Kaden Smith, TE, NYG: Knee — Questionable
Impact: … and with Smith also hurting, Levine Toilolo may be the lone TE option here.
Darnay Holmes, CB, NYG: Knee — OUT
Official Sunday inactives should begin coming in at approximately 11:30 a.m. ET for the early games and 2:30 p.m. ET for the late games.
