Fantasy Injury Updates: Christian McCaffrey, Antonio Gibson, Myles Gaskin, more impacting Week 15 RB rankings

Because the second week of the fantasy playoffs get rolling, there are a number of key accidents on the operating again place that can require the eye of fantasy soccer homeowners. Christian McCaffrey (shoulder/thigh), Antonio Gibson (toe), and Joe Mixon (foot) have all missed time in latest weeks, whereas Myles Gaskin and David Johnson landed on the COVID record late final week and missed Week 14. These accidents and diseases will have an effect on our Week 15 RB rankings and potential waiver wire pickups, so homeowners might want to pay shut consideration to them.

For the most recent on banged-up pass-catchers Julio Jones, George Kittle, Kenny Golladay, Brandin Cooks, and D.J. Moore, click here; for updates on extra injured RBs, together with James Conner, Raheem Mostert, and Ronal Jones II, go here. For all the most recent fantasy updates, comply with us on Twitter @SN_Fantasy.

WEEK 15 STANDARD RANKINGS: 
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Is Christian McCaffrey taking part in this week?

UPDATE: Based on ESPN’s David Newton, Matt Rhule does not anticipate McCaffrey to play on Saturday. Fireplace up Mike Davis if in case you have him or search for potential streamers to focus on on the waiver wire if you happen to want RB assist.

McCaffrey (shoulder/thigh) has performed simply as soon as since Week 2 as he has battled quite a few accidents. With the Panthers out of the playoff race, many are seemingly questioning whether or not McCaffrey will return to motion this season, nevertheless it seems that he’s planning on it.

Based on Panthers beat writer Bill Voth, each coach Matt Rhule and McCaffrey predict McCaffrey to return in 2020. His means to take action will clearly hinge on how he performs at observe, however neither aspect is prepared to close him down simply but.

McCaffrey might want to see an enchancment in observe standing to have an opportunity at taking part in in Week 15 in opposition to the Packers. Final week, he was listed as “restricted” on Wednesday earlier than being a non-participant on Thursday and Friday. The Panthers are taking part in a Saturday afternoon sport, so that would complicate any potential return for McCaffrey. If he cannot play, Mike Davis would be the group’s starter as soon as once more and could be trusted as a strong RB2 in opposition to a shaky run protection.

Is Antonio Gibson taking part in this week?

Gibson (toe) missed the primary sport of his rookie season whereas coping with a painful turf toe damage he suffered in opposition to the Steelers in Week 13. Gibson was all the time unlikely to play final week, however he missed each day of Washington observe with the damage. Except he can return to observe early within the week, even when it is simply on a restricted foundation, Gibson will in all probability should miss one other week whereas recovering.

If Gibson is not able to go in a tricky matchup in opposition to the Seahawks, J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber will as soon as once more cut up the work for Washington. McKissic has extra upside since he’s extra explosive and catches extra passes, however Barber does have some TD potential. Each could be thought of as flexes, however in a matchup like this, McKissic is the higher play, particularly in PPR codecs.

WEEK 15 WAIVER WIRE: Top pickups | FAAB budget planner

Is Myles Gaskin taking part in this week?

Gaskin was positioned on the COVID record final Saturday after testing optimistic for the virus. As ESPN’s Field Yates reported, Gaskin is anticipated to overlook Week 15 given the timing of his optimistic check coupled with the NFL’s COVID protocols. 

With Gaskin anticipated to overlook the sport, DeAndre Washington might be in line to be the Dolphins’ lead again as soon as once more if Salvon Ahmed (shoulder) cannot return to motion. Ahmed did not observe in any respect final week after being restricted for all of Week 13, so his outlook seems to be bleak, and Washington could be trusted as a fringe-RB2/flex based mostly on his quantity within the backfield.

Is David Johnson taking part in this week?

Like Gaskin, Johnson was positioned on the COVID record late final week, and that introduced up some concern about whether or not he’d have the ability to play in Week 15. Nonetheless, in line with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, Johnson was positioned on the COVID record as a result of he was an in depth contact, and coach Romeo Crennel expects him to return for this week’s sport in opposition to the Colts.

With David Johnson returning, Duke Johnson will return to having minimal affect as a runner. He nonetheless will catch some passes and might be thought of a PPR flex play, however David Johnson will get a bulk of the carries in opposition to a tricky Colts run protection.

WEEK 15 PPR RANKINGS: 
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Is Joe Mixon taking part in this week?

Mixon (foot) nonetheless hasn’t performed since Week 6, however as ESPN’s Ben Baby reported final week, Bengals coach Zac Taylor nonetheless views Mixon returning as a “chance.” For that to occur, Mixon should return to observe — a feat he hasn’t achieved because the lead-up to Week 6 — so it appears unlikely that he’ll return, particularly with the Bengals heading for one more top-five draft alternative.

With Mixon out, Giovani Bernard has principally been used because the lead again for the Bengals, however that modified final week, as Samaje Perine and Trayveon Williams each out-carried the veteran. With all three set to tackle the Steelers and their wonderful run protection in Week 15, none are really useful begins — and Mixon could be robust to belief on the unlikely likelihood that he returns to motion, too.