Fantasy Football Whiplash! | Week 18 Injuries & News … WHO WILL PLAY???

by Samwise · Featured
fantasy football injuries news

Happy New Year! This is the time of year when everyone turns the page and makes declarations about what they will do to better themselves. The NFL is a little like that; teams that have not quite put it all together try to batten down the hatches, as it were, and tighten things up … whether it’s preparing for the postseason or working on their golf swing.  What no one ever mentions is the little things that — like it or not — follow one into the New Year. For NFL players, it’s usually lingering injuries. They lament a lost Week 18 even as they watch others whose final regular-season game is of no consequence. Rather than wishing they could play on Sunday, instead they’ll take a well-earned siesta in the season’s finale.

Week 18 is an especially painful week for fantasy football managers. Whether your league remains active this week because of tradition or lack of planning, suddenly, a topsy-turvy week of injuries and news makes formulating lineups near impossible.

And that’s just redraft and dynasty formats that insist on being active this week. Setting lineups for daily fantasy, pick ’ems, and wagering on games with sportsbooks is not for the faint of heart. It takes Nostradamus-level insight to conquer … or at least some really sizeable plums.

No one can guarantee which players have enough pride to go “all-out” this weekend, whether eliminated or playoff-bound. All you can do is scour the team news and hope that gives you a leg up. The following are the updated injuries, players who will sit out, and even some that (surprisingly) will play.

This is the final entry into the 2025-26 season for Fantasy Whiplash! “We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne!” Start the clock.

Fantasy Football Week 18 Injury Update

Quarterbacks

  • Jordan Love and Malik Willis (GBP): Love is healthy, but not expected to play this weekend. Willis (hamstring, shoulder) is a true “questionable.” Either way, the team has announced that they will start Clayton Tune on Sunday.
  • J.J. McCarthy (MIN) does not have an injury designation and is currently expected to start (and finish) the finale.
  • Josh Allen (BUF) has dodged serious injury and is not on the report, though the team has been tight-lipped as to whether he will make an extended appearance. If he does play, it’s doubtful he’ll be in the game for long. He does have the longest (139 games) active starting streak for a quarterback, so fans will get to see him trot out for at least one snap.
  • Tyrod Taylor (NYJ) is listed as questionable. If he plays, it will be as Brady Cook‘s clipboard holder.
  • Justin Herbert (LAC) will not play, instead resting his broken hand before the postseason. Trey Lance gets the starting nod for the Bolts.
  • Geno Smith (LVR) will not play this weekend, but the Raiders have yet to announce his replacement between Kenny Pickett and Aidan O’Connell.
  • Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota (WAS) were already shut down for the season, which means well-travelled journeyman Josh Johnson gets the final start. Lucky him.
  • Tanner McKee (PHI) gets the start for Jalen Hurts. Hurts is not injured, but the Eagles’ line is patchwork.
  • Lamar Jackson (BAL) is still struggling with a back contusion but says he is playing against the Steelers with the playoffs on the line. His rushing ability will be seriously hindered, as one big hit could put him out for longer, should they survive.
  • With the Colts’ elimination, Philip Rivers (IND) is headed back to retirement. Riley Leonard will start under center for Indy.

Running Backs

  • Although Alvin Kamara (NOS) has not been placed on the injured reserve (IR), he has been ruled out for this weekend, just as he has several weeks prior.
  • Jaydon Blue (DAL), the Cowboys’ running back prize in the fifth round of the 2025 draft, will suit up for action for the first time since Oct. 26. He’s played sparingly, but starter Javonte Williams and backup Malik Davis have both been ruled out for the final contest. Finding themselves short at the position, Blue is likely in line to start and get a significant number of carries. He’ll be backed up by some combination of fullback Hunter Luepke and fellow rookie pick Phil Mafah. Mafah was just activated from an extended stay on the IR and practice squad; he does not have a carry this season. Luepke has just 14 carries this year, and 32 in his career. Blue stands to get every opportunity to lay claim to the starter’s job for 2026 and is a “fire him up” in every format.
  • Dylan Sampson (CLE) will start for the Browns for the second straight week after the team lost Quinshon Judkins and Jerome Ford for the season. This week, he gets a crack at rival Cincinnati’s soft run defense, which is improved but still can be taken advantage of. So, too, does Trayveon Williams in his first season not across the field in a striped helmet and Raheim Sanders, who is inexperienced but scored a touchdown when these teams met to start the season.
  • There has been no indication that banged-up Woody Marks (HOU) will have a lightened workload, but everything is on the table.

Even More Running Backs

  • Aaron Jones (MIN) has been ruled out with a hip injury. Jordan Mason is in line to handle the workload.
  • Breece Hall (NYJ) is out with a knee issue. Primary backup Isaiah Davis has already been ruled out with a concussion. Either Kene Nwangwu or Khalil Herbert will lead the way in the Jets’ backfield.
  • Rookie Omarion Hampton (LAC) will not play this weekend. Kimani Vidal will likely start the game for Los Angeles.
  • The Rams said they would not be resting starters, although several are limping into the playoffs. Kyren Williams (LAR) will likely handle his usual heavy workload. That’s because backup Blake Corum (ankle) has not practiced all week. Although he is “questionable,” his ability to go is unlikely. That leaves Ronnie Rivers and rookie Jarquez Hunter as Williams’ backups.
  • De’Von Achane (MIA) is unlikely to go for the ‘Fins, leaving Jaylen Wright and rookie Ollie Gordon II to handle the load. Both talented backs have flashed at times this season; there’s no news as to who will get the first carry.
  • Saquon Barkley (PHI) is not injured, but it’s widely expected he will get limited action in the game against the Commanders. Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley can hold down the fort if that’s the case. The jury is out on Eagles players as a whole for the game.

Wide Receivers

  • Ricky Pearsall (SFO) is a true “questionable” and should be a game-time decision for tonight’s tilt.
  • Chris Olave (NOS) will not be available for Tyler Shough and the Saints for the finale.
  • The three top pass-catchers for the Falcons (ATL) are all listed as questionable. From context, it sounds like Darnell Mooney is unlikely to play, but a small army could not prevent Drake London from being on the field.
  • Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) is questionable with a bothersome knee, but he has said that he will suit up for the division matchup with Chicago.
  • Rome Odunze (CHI) is questionable and unlikely to play, meaning more work for Luther Burden III, who is showing no ill effects from last week and is not on the injury report.
  • Xavier Worthy (KCC) remains out for the Chiefs.
  • Jaylen Waddle (MIA) is “questionable” but expected to play.
  • The “Brothers Vion,” Savion Williams, and Dontayvion Wicks will not suit up for the Packers this weekend.
  • Davante Adams (LAR) only practiced in a limited fashion this week and will likely be held out.
  • Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG) is out, on IR with a rib injury.

Tight Ends

  • After the 49ers were cautious with George Kittle (SFO) last week, he says this week he feels “Fabulous” and that he is looking forward to punching the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
  • Harold Fannin Jr. and David Njoku (CLE) have each been ruled out versus the Bengals.
  • Gunnar Helm (TEN) has been ruled out for the Titans.
  • T.J. Hockenson (MIN) has also been ruled out of that game for McCarthy and the Vikings.
  • Theo Johnson (NYG) is out for the New York Giants of New Jersey at the Meadowlands Complex, Central Park-adjacent.
  • Tight ends Mason Taylor and Jelani Woods (NYJ) will both miss the Jets’ finale.
  • Dalton Kincaid (BUF) sat out last week. He is listed as questionable this weekend and seems like a long shot to play.
  •  Tyler Higbee (LAR) only practiced in a limited fashion this week and will likely skip this mostly inconsequential game for the Rams.
  • Darren Waller (MIA) has been shut down for the game/season.
  • Dallas Goedert (PHI) is another of the many Eagles who will be sitting out Week 18.
  • Kyle Pitts (ATL) will be a game-time call.

Ring in the New Year!

That is everything up to the minute for the weekend, whether you’re playing for a fantasy football championship, cheering on your hometown team, or throwing dough down on some parlays or DFS, best of luck! This may be the final written entry of the season, but during the offseason, Fantasy Whiplash LIVE! will be popping up with news, draft talk, and free agency. Make sure you subscribe to the channel RIGHT HERE!

Whiplash Live

See you in September!!!

-Samwise

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