Happy holiday season! Fantasy Football Whiplash comes at you in two installments this week! Injuries happen, and the start of the fantasy football postseason was no different. Case in point: On Christmas Day, Santa left us three exhilarating backup quarterbacks under the tree, as Josh Johnson, Max Brosmer, and Chris Oladokun will take the field.
No one is more overjoyed to see backup quarterbacks on Christmas than Amazon Prime and Netflix. Amazon gets the Chiefs and Broncos tomorrow night as part of its $1 billion Thursday Night Football contract with the NFL. And what about Netflix, which has rights to the first two games of the slate? Hold on to your candy canes, as the streaming giant just got kicked right in the chestnuts to the tune of a ridiculous $150 million for two games that will likely turn into Krampus delights.
There is still a gift to be had for fantasy managers who have weathered the 2025 storm. This weekend’s wintry mix has a light at the end of the tunnel brighter than Rudolph’s schnoz. A Fantasy Football Championship (the ‘Chip) is the figgy pudding on top of a trying season. If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! The following are some injury updates and notes for tomorrow’s three-headed NFL Grinch. I’ll be back again on Friday for all your updates on the Saturday and Sunday slates. Hey, it’s four days of NFL football … let us rejoice and be glad in it!
If you crave a little more insight as far as waivers, players, and starts/sits, you can revisit yesterday’s live episode of Fantasy Whiplash LIVE! right HERE. Now, let’s get down to business.
Fantasy Football Xmas Day Injury Watch
There’s no delaying the inevitable. Here is your injury update for tomorrow’s portion of your finals.
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Quarterbacks
- Marcus Mariota (WAS) is progressing from a hand injury suffered one Sunday. He has not practiced to date, but the team has not assigned him an injury designation. The chances of him sliding down the chimney in time for the 1 p.m. kickoff (vs. Dallas on Netflix) seem slim. Assuming he misses the game on the week’s short turnaround, veteran Josh Johnson, who has been on board for 23 stints with NFL teams, will get the start. Johnson has thrown for 2,340 yards with 13 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in parts of a whopping 48 games. Don’t get “cute” because it’s the Dallas defense, lest you be forever known as the guy who started Johnson in the Championship.
- The Minnesota Vikings will be without J.J. McCarthy (again), who also has an injured hand (hairline fracture). In his stead, Max Brosmer will be the tiny tot with his eyes all aglow in his second start under center against the Lions (4:30 p.m. ET, Netflix). He threw four picks in his first game and was sacked four times. If you had designs on starting any Vikings players other than at running back, be wary.
- Finally, the playoff-bound Denver Broncos travel to Arrowhead to put another nail in the Chiefs’ coffin. All-World quarterback Patrick Mahomes is done for the season, as is backup Gardner Minshew. Enter one Chris Oladokun, a seventh-round pick by the Steelers in 2022. As with the other two teams mentioned, think very carefully about playing skill-position players for Kansas City. Even Travis Kelce was held to one catch for six yards from Oladukon last week (sorry, Taylor).
Running Backs
- Aaron Jones & Jordan Mason (MIN) are each dealing with ankle injuries. Mason is unlikely to suit up on Christmas, while Jones got in limited practice time this week and is likely to go. With Brosmer under center, Jones has appeal for serious volume, supplemented by Zavier Scott on occasional passing downs (Scott is not fantasy relevant).
- 1,100-plus yard workhorse Javonte Williams (DAL) has a neck issue and was limited in practice, though the Cowboys have not said he might miss the game. Instead, expect him to have a lighter-than-usual workload on Christmas. Malik Davis and Phil Mafah also appeared on the report, but the elves should be active to lighten Javonte’s load.
- Chris Rodriguez (WAS) showed no ill effects after returning last week from a groin injury. He’s expected to shoulder the load while ceding some carries to Jacory Croskey-Merritt in what should be a very run-heavy game plan.
- David Montgomery (DET) was ill early in the week but is expected to be ready tomorrow.
Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
- Rashee Rice (KCC) has not yet cleared concussion protocol. With the Chiefs eliminated, he’s unlikely to force the issue and will likely miss the game. Monitor the inactives beforehand, but err on the side of caution.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) has a knee issue and missed practice on Monday, but was upgraded to limited participation on Tuesday. Ian Rapoport (NFL Network) had this to say yesterday: “My understanding is we should expect Amon-Ra St. Brown to play because, of course, he always plays,” Rapoport said.
- Jake Ferguson (TE, DAL) has a nagging calf issue (don’t we all), but is expected to be good to go versus Washington.
- T.J. Hockenson (TE, MIN) has a shoulder impairment and has not practiced this week. Indications are that it’s not serious, and he has no injury designation for Thursday’s game.
Eat, Drink, Be Merry, WIN LEAGUES
Keep an eye on those last-minute inactives tomorrow, and good luck to the start of your championship gauntlet! A matchup cannot be decided in one day, or there would be a lot more Kenneth Walker and Puka Nacua teams in the finals. Always remember to evaluate real-life matchups if you’re stuck between two options, but don’t let matchups decide your lineup. Trust your gut and stay the course with the people who got you there. Don’t go benching Matthew Stafford or Brock Purdy for Jacoby Brissett‘s matchup with Cincinnati. Start. Your. Studs.
Again, for more intel on this weekend’s games, desperation waiver pickups for injury replacements, and possible league winners, check out last night’s livestream of Fantasy Whiplash LIVE! on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
I’ll be back this weekend with the latest injury news for Sat, Sun, and Mon’s games! Go get ’em!
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