The New England Patriots injury report has seen 10 players listed on it this week. Heading into the weekend, they have ruled three of those players out and listed a further six as questionable. With the likes of Rhamondre Stevenson, Damien Harris, Jakobi Meyers, Tyquan Thornton, and DeVante Parker on the injury report, let’s examine the fantasy football implications of the latest Patriots’ injury update for Week 16.
Rhamondre Stevenson Injury Update
Rhamondre Stevenson continues to deal with the ankle injury he picked up during the Patriots’ Week 14 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. The good news is that Stevenson was at least able to practice in a limited fashion all week this week. However, the Tuesday practice report was based on a walkthrough, so that was just an estimated report.
Being limited all week is actually an upgrade for Stevenson after he was absent from practice for the first two sessions last week before being limited to close out the week. Stevenson still managed to play last week, carrying the ball 19 times for 172 yards and adding two receptions on three targets. Despite dealing with the injury, Stevenson was still the lead back, with Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris working in as the secondary options.
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We have not had confirmation that Stevenson will play this week, but we have also not heard that he will not. Therefore, heading into Saturday, the expectation is that Stevenson will play and should be the lead back. However, his workload could very much depend on whether we see Damien Harris back on the field this week.
Damien Harris Injury Update
We have not seen Damien Harris on the field since Week 12. Over the last three weeks, he has been dealing with a thigh injury that has kept him out. For the second straight week, Harris has been limited all week in practice and then tagged as questionable. Last week he was then ruled out for the game on Saturday but appears on track to be at least a game-time decision this week.
If Harris does play, his fantasy value will be somewhat limited. When Harris and Stevenson have played together, we have generally seen the pair rotating drives. However, Stevenson has then been playing more on third-and-long, as well as in two-minute drills. Therefore, Harris’ value has been extremely dependent on big plays and touchdowns.
If Harris does end up suiting up, he would not be an immediate starting fantasy option. We have no idea how much he would play, with both Strong and Kevin Harris having proven their value in recent weeks. If anything, the presence of Damien Harris may slightly detract from the value of Stevenson without providing significant replacement value in Harris himself.
Jakobi Meyers Injury Update
Coming off a brutal end to the game last week, Jakobi Meyers has spent the week limited at practice as he dealt with a shoulder issue. Meyers had been dealing with a shoulder issue earlier in the season before spending Week 14 and Week 15 dealing with a concussion. However, Meyers does not seem in danger of missing the game, barring a setback in pregame on Saturday.
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If Meyers does manage to play this week, his value is really limited in non-PPR formats. Meyers has only gone over 50 receiving yards twice in the last five weeks but has at least managed to get into 14-team startable territory in half-PPR and PPR scoring.
Tyquan Thornton Injury Update
We saw Tyquan Thornton be a mid-week downgrade ahead of Week 16 as he dealt with a knee injury that he appeared to pick up in practice. Thornton managed to remain limited on Thursday, having first appeared on the injury report Wednesday. That is usually a good sign that he has a chance to play. However, Thornton carries very little fantasy value, with just nine receptions for 90 yards in the last six weeks.
DeVante Parker Injury Update
DeVante Parker will miss his second-straight game with a concussion after not managing to get back to practice in any form this week. Parker is not really a fantasy option that managers can trust even when active. He has gone over 60 receiving yards on just four occasions this season.