Fantasy Football Whiplash! begins this week on one of the first really sour notes of the fantasy playoffs. Of course, in this, the year of our Lord 2025, we probably should have been better prepared. Injuries happen, of course, and as the postseason approached, we were met with a barrage of nagging ankles and quads, sore shoulders, and the expectation that players would be activated before a game never materialized.
Strap in for more injury updates from all that an eventful playoff weekend had to offer, as (some?) managers soldier on! The information comes at you from every angle, like so many roster adjustments being made at 12:59 p.m. on a Sunday. Come along for a long-winded stream of consciousness rivaled only by the YouTube show/podcast of the same name (9 p.m. ET Tuesday nights on YouTube).
The Captain has turned on the fasten seatbelt sign. Let’s get this bird in the air.
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Fantasy Football News
Wanna Get Away?
Many teams limped into the playoffs, while others were getting healthy. During the first round, many teams felt the sting of defeat when Patrick Mahomes (QB3 on the season with 4,000 yards combined rushing and receiving) went down with a non-contact injury. It looked bad at the time, and, after the game (the Chiefs were eliminated), the worst fears for football fans and fantasy managers alike were realized. The All-Pro quarterback with multiple Super Bowl titles and MVPs, regular-season MVPs, and several NFL records had torn both his ACL and LCL and was done for the season.
Many fantasy managers lost their playoff game in what was already a sub-par performance from the King of Ketchup, who completed just 16 passes and only accounted for one touchdown (rushing). Other managers had teams where Mahomes led them to a first-round playoff bye, but that’s little consolation in many leagues where finding a replacement is slim pickings. It was not the first injury to end managers’ hopes and dreams of taking home a trophy, and it surely won’t be the last — especially the way the season has gone — but it’s a tough way to go out, both for fantasy squads and Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Ripple Effect
Of course, an injury to a player of this caliber affects many other teams as well. In these playoffs, every matchup must be scrutinized to see whether it is a risk to run a player out there with journeyman Gardner Minshew under center. Everyone’s fantasy value takes a hit. Maybe you can still rely on superstars Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce to remain a core part of your lineup. But those who have been forced (thanks to other player injury) to rely on Hollywood Brown, Xavier Worthy, Isiah Pacheco, and Kareem Hunt are in for a rude awakening as the playbook is dialed back.
And what does this do to a Chiefs team with innumerable fantasy stalwarts in the near future?
After the 16-13 defeat at the hands of the Chargers, many questions remain about the team heading into a postseason that will be “must-see TV.” Questions about free agency abound for Kansas City. So, too for head coach Andy Reid, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, and of course, All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce. The latter has been mulling retiring from the game for the last couple of years. Kelce’s link and friendship with Mahomes (and the ability for the team to compete each season) is what has kept him in KC, even after his widely-publicized relationship and upcoming nuptials with Taylor Swift. There has long been speculation that Reid (67) will retire in the near future, after serving as head coach for a staggering quarter-century. Nagy has been named in nearly every head-coaching vacancy this year, and, without a playoff commitment, he’ll have plenty of time for the interview process.
Will They Stay for the Discount?
Like a good neighbor, it seems much of this depends on Patrick Mahomes being there. A torn ACL typically requires nine to 12 months of recovery. That would put the start of the 2026 season potentially off the table, and the quarterback will need significant practice and rehab to “shake the rust off” before his return. Will Reid be willing to coach up another signal caller in Mahomes’ stead, while also employing a new offensive coordinator to replace Nagy?
Kelce has been teetering on retirement far enough that it would be fair to assume he wants no part of a change at quarterback, even for a handful of games next season. Some of the Chiefs’ players are aging and will likely be looking for work with another team or as a public school gym coach. The point is, this could be an extraordinarily different team in 2026, with Mahomes being the only constant in the ultimate twist of irony.
For the future Hall of Famer, instead of taking time to rest and take care of his ailing knee (which had him linked to the injury report for much of the season), he now faces surgery and a full-blown rehab to get himself back. Mahomes finishes the 2025 season with 14 starts and a record of 6-8. He was 315-508 (62.7%) with 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and rushed 62 times for a career-high 422 yards with five rushing scores. For their part, fantasy managers might have to change their mindsets when drafting Kansas City players for a while.
Fantasy Football Injury Watch
There’s no delaying the inevitable. Here is your injury update for this weekend’s fantasy football semifinals.
Quarterbacks
- Patrick Mahomes (KCC, ACL) underwent his first of two surgeries already this week and is gone for the season.
- Jayden Daniels (WAS, elbow) returned for one game and aggravated the injury. The Commanders have shut him down for the season.
- Tyrod Taylor, Justin Fields (NYJ) are still nursing their respective maladies, meaning Brady Cook gets the nod again.
- Lamar Jackson (BAL, illness) missed some practice time this week but is good to go. His hamstring is almost returned to form, as well.
Running Backs
- Woody Marks (HOU, ankle) returned to a limited practice on Friday and told some reporters that he expects to play. He is still a game-time decision.
- Nick Chubb (HOU, ribs) said he expects to be available, but it’s still a game-time decision. If either can’t go, Jawhar Jordan will see reps again this week after Week 15’s 100-yard performance.
- Devin Neal and Alvin Kamara (NOS) are not expected to play. Audric Estime and Evan Hull are preparing to split carries.
- Josh Jacobs (GBP, knee) has his usual “questionable” tag but is expected to play as normal.
- Javonte Williams (noggin) and Ceedee Lamb (illness) are not expected to miss this weekend’s game.
- Dylan Sampson (CLE, hand) is out after not practicing all week.
- Bhayshul Tuten (JAX, arm) is not expected to suit up for the Jaguars, likely for the rest of the regular season.
- D’Andre Swift (groin) was a late addition to the report. He is questionable and could be a game-time decision.
Wide Receivers
- Quentin Johnston (LAC, groin) returned to practice. He is listed as questionable but might be a game-time decision.
- Green Bay Packers receivers (GBP, various) are all questionable save for Romeo Doubs. Christian Watson gave the “I’ll be out there” thumbs up after practice. None of them is expected to be held out of their battle with the Bears.
- Garrett Wilson (NYJ, leg) has been shut down for the season by the New York Jets of New Jersey at the Meadowlands, Central Park adjacent.
- Drake London (ACL, PCL) is expected to play for the Falcons, although he remains listed as questionable.
- Alec Pierce (IND, Achilles) has no injury designation, although he had been practicing limited. He will likely play, but watch the injury report an hour prior to gametime.
- Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton (KC, concussions) both remain in protocol and will be absent on Sunday.
- Tee Higgins (CIN, concussion) has been practicing in a limited fashion all week, though he remains in protocol. He will also try to clear tomorrow.
- Tre’ Harris (LAC, hip) is off the injury report.
- Marvin Harrison Jr (ARI, heel) is still listed as questionable but is expected to play.
- Mike Evans (TBB, sore from previous injury) is listed as questionable but expected to play, as it is a pain-tolerance issue, and he is old.
- Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III (ankle, hamstring) have both been ruled out for this weekend.
- Ricky Pearsall (SFO, whole leg) is back on the report after one game. He is questionable and considered a “long shot” to go.
Tight Ends
- Mason Taylor (NYJ, neck) has been ruled out for this weekend and hopes to target a Week 17 return.
- Dalton Kincaid (BUF, knee) remains questionable but will likely suit up again this weekend.
- David Njoku (CLE, knee) is out for Sunday.
- Darren Waller (MIA, leg/ankle) is listed as questionable, but it looks like he’ll be ready for a juicy matchup with Cincinnati.
- Cole Kmet (CHI, ankle) is questionable, but he looks like he has a shot to play.
- Jake Ferguson (DAL, calf) is expected to play.
More “Whiplash!” to Come
Good luck this week! Here’s hoping you had Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and they were not standing in your way! Next week, we’ll go again with more football junk food before you settle in for Week 17 and the Fantasy Football Championship! More Quick Hits and Injury Updates than you can shake a stick at. Don’t make unnecessary moves, and make the good ones count. Remember, if you’re “taking a flier” on a player, you’re doing it wrong. People are counting on you … pedal to the metal! It’s time to get down to the business of winning. Go get ’em and start who got you there! This is no time to tinker.
Keep in mind, on. “Fantasy Whiplash! LIVE” at 9 p.m. EST on Tuesdays, we dig into waiver wire gems, fades, and sleepers! I’ll see you back next week for all your fantasy football news needs.
Be sure to check us out on “Fantasy Whiplash LIVE!” wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube at 9 p.m. EST every Tuesday night! It’s completely different from the hum-drum same-old you’re used to! Have some fun in the chat and drop questions if you’ve got ’em!
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