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Fantasy injury report: Week 16

The following is a list of injured players for Week 16 (Dec. 20-24) and all the fantasy implications:

Dec. 22

**Carolina Panthers**
Inactives: QB Vinny Testaverde (3rd QB), WR Drew Carter, DB Patrick Dendy, LB James Anderson, G Evan Mathis, T Frank Omiyale, DE Julius Peppers, DT Gary Gibson.

Fantasy take: QB Matt Moore, not Testaverde, will start in Week 16. QB David Carr will be second on the depth chart. IDP leaguers need to find a healthier alternative for Peppers, who is inactive.


**Dallas Cowboys**
Inactives: WR Terry Glenn, FS Pat Watkins, RB Tyson Thompson, C Andre Gurode, OT Doug Free, OT James Marten, WR Isaiah Stanbeck.

Fantasy take: Romo is active and will start in Carolina. The loss of Gurode hurts the Cowboys' offensive line. G Cory Proctor will move over to center and start in his absence. Glenn did not make the flight to North Carolina, so WR Patrick Crayton will continue to start.


Dec. 16-17

**Arizona Cardinals**
Out: DE Ross Kolodziej (quadriceps); Questionable: WR Larry Fitzgerald (groin), WR Anquan Boldin (toe); Probable: QB Kurt Warner (left elbow).

Fantasy take: Warner was active in Friday's practice and is a solid starter for fantasy footballers against Atlanta. Fitzgerald and Boldin were both limited but should start in Week 16, barring setbacks.


**Atlanta Falcons**
Doubtful: DT Tim Anderson (knee), WR Joe Horn (foot), CB Antoine Harris (knee); Questionable: CB Chris Houston (knee); Probable: QB Byron Leftwich (ankle), DE John Abraham (knee), C Todd McClure (illness).

Fantasy take: QB Joey Harrington (illness) was removed from the injury report, as was TE Alge Crumpler (team decision). The Falcons have some injuries on defense, which is good news for Arizona's offensive skill position players. Look for WRs Michael Jenkins and Laurent Robinson to see more work with Horn listed as doubtful.


**Baltimore Ravens**
Out: QB Kyle Boller (head), CB Samari Rolle (shoulder), WR Demetrius Williams (ankle); Doubtful: TE Todd Heap (thigh), TE Daniel Wilcox (thigh); Questionable: LB Ray Lewis (hand), LB Gary Stills (knee), LB Terrell Suggs (thigh); Probable: C Mike Flynn (foot), RB Le'Ron McClain (back), S Gerome Sapp (thigh), T Adam Terry (ankle).

Fantasy take: QB Troy Smith will start in Seattle with Boller at less than 100 percent. Heap is likely out again, so TE Quinn Sypniewski could start with Wilcox also a question mark. With CB Chris McAlister out for the season, Lewis hurt and Rolle on injured reserve, Baltimore's defensive backfield could be vulnerable in Seattle.


**Buffalo Bills**
Out: DE Copeland Bryan (knee), DE Ryan Denney (foot), LB Coy Wire (neck); Probable: TE Robert Royal (knee).

Fantasy take: Royal returned to full work in Friday's practice, but his value is limited to larger formats.


**Chicago Bears**
Doubtful: DE Mark Anderson (knee); Questionable: LB Lance Briggs (hip), QB Rex Grossman (knee), DT Tommie Harris (knee), CB Nathan Vasher (groin), DT Darwin Walker (elbow).

Fantasy take: QB Kyle Orton will make his second consecutive start. The Bears have some injuries on defense, but this unit still should be active in most leagues with 12-plus teams.


**Cincinnati Bengals**
Out: RB Rudi Johnson (hamstring); Doubtful: S Madieu Williams (thigh); Questionable: T Willie Anderson (knee), S Dexter Jackson (calf); Probable: CB Deltha O'Neal (illness), G Stacy Andrews (knee), DT Domata Peko (ankle), WR Chris Henry (ankle).

Fantasy take:Fantasy footballers who have Johnson or need a running back should add RB Kenny Watson now. He's a terrific sleeper against Cleveland. Henry is listed as probable and will be active.


**Cleveland Browns**
Probable: CB Leigh Bodden (back), LB Antwan Peek (ankle), DE Orpheus Roye (knee), DE Robaire Smith (back), DE Shaun Smith (back) .

Fantasy take: The Browns have some injuries on defense, but this unit warrants little fantasy football attention in most formats.


**Denver Broncos**
Doubtful: LB Ian Gold (knee); Questionable: TE Daniel Graham (ankle), WR Brandon Stokley (knee); Probable: DE John Engelberger (shoulder), C Chris Myers (ankle), WR Javon Walker (knee).

Fantasy take: Stokley was limited in Friday's practice, so keep tabs on his status throughout the weekend. Walker was active and should be fine to face San Diego on Monday night. TE Tony Scheffler could see more work in the pass attack if Stokley and Graham are out.


**Detroit Lions**
Doubtful: G Edwin Mulitalo (concussion), WR Troy Walters (concussion); Probable: DT Langston Moore (quadriceps), RB T.J. Duckett (illness), CB Fernando Bryant (quadriceps).

Fantasy take: Duckett put in full work at Friday's practice and will be second on the depth chart behind RB Kevin Jones in Week 16.


**Green Bay Packers**
Out: RB Korey Hall (hip); Doubtful: QB Aaron Rodgers (hamstring); Questionable: CB Jarrett Bush (calf), TE Bubba Franks (knee), DT Ryan Pickett (groin), LB Tracy White (toe); Probable: S Aaron Rouse (shoulder), CB Charles Woodson (toe).

Fantasy take: The Packers have some injuries on defense, but this unit is still a solid option for fantasy footballers in Week 16. TE Donald Lee will continue to see more work if Franks is unavailable in Week 16.


**Houston Texans**
Questionable: LB Danny Clark (groin), QB Matt Schaub (left shoulder), G Kasey Studdard (neck); Probable: K Kris Brown (left foot), RB Ron Dayne (ankle), LB DeMeco Ryans (knee).

Fantasy take: Dayne was limited in Friday's practice but is expected to be active in Indianapolis. However, reports out of Houston indicate RB Darius Walker, not Dayne, will start. Schaub didn't practice, but QB Sage Rosenfels is still the favorite to start in Week 16.


**Indianapolis Colts**
Out: DT Raheem Brock (rib), T Ryan Diem (knee), WR Marvin Harrison (knee); Questionable: DE Robert Mathis (knee), LB Clint Session (ankle), TE Ben Utecht (shoulder), LB Ramon Guzman (foot), CB Antoine Bethea (knee); Probable: WR Craphonso Thorpe (illness).

Fantasy take: Harrison is out for another week, so look for rookie WR Anthony Gonzalez to start against Houston. DB Bob Sanders (team decision) was removed from the injury report and will start in Week 16.


**Jacksonville Jaguars**
Out: LB Mike Peterson (hand); Doubtful: DE Reggie Hayward (groin); Probable T Tony Pashos (thigh).

Fantasy take: The Jaguars have some injuries on defense, but this unit is still a viable option for fantasy footballers in Week 16.


**Kansas City Chiefs**
Out: CB Tyron Brackenridge (knee), RB Larry Johnson (foot), WR Eddie Kennison (ribs); Questionable: LB Donnie Edwards (hamstring), S Jarrad Page (hamstring), T Damion McIntosh (knee); Probable: DT Alfonso Boone (head), S Greg Wesley (knee).

Fantasy take: Johnson suffered a setback in Wednesday's practice and missed another week. RB Kolby Smith will continue to see most of the carries for Kansas City. Kennison is out as well, so WR Samie Parker will be called on to start in Week 16.


**Miami Dolphins**
Out: LB Channing Crowder (knee); Questionable:DE Jason Taylor (foot), LB Joey Porter (shoulder), RB Jesse Chatman (ankle), DT Keith Traylor (knee), DE Matt Roth (groin), T L.J. Shelton (ankle).

Fantasy take: Chatman did some limited work in Friday's practice and has a chance to return in Week 16, so RB Samkon Gado is not a lock to start in New England. The Dolphins have some injuries on defense, but this unit warrants no real consideration in fantasy circles.


**Minnesota Vikings**
Questionable: WR Sidney Rice (ankle), LB Dontarrious Thomas (groin), CB Antoine Winfield (shoulder); Probable: S Tank Williams (knee).

Fantasy take: The potential absence of Winfield would make Washington WR Santana Moss a more attractive option for fantasy footballers.


**New England Patriots**
Questionable: TE Kyle Brady (foot), G Steve Neal (shoulder), TE Benjamin Watson (ankle), LB Adalius Thomas (team decision), G Billy Yates (foot); Probable: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), S Rodney Harrison (team decision).

Fantasy take: Watson was limited in Friday's practice, so keep tabs on his status throughout the weekend. Of course, Brady will start against Miami.


**New Orleans Saints**
Doubtful: TE Eric Johnson (groin); Questionable: RB Reggie Bush (knee); Probable: WR Marques Colston (back).

Fantasy take: There's a chance that Bush, who missed Friday's practice, will return to action in Arizona, so keep tabs on his status throughout the weekend. RB Aaron Stecker would lose some value if Bush does come back against Philadelphia. Colston missed Friday's practice but should be fine for Week 16. TE Billy Miller would start if Johnson misses another week.


**New York Giants**
Doubtful: CB Kevin Dockery (hip), WR Sinorice Moss (back), WR David Tyree (player decision); Questionable: WR Plaxico Burress (ankle), DT Manuel Wright (ankle); Probable: S James Butler (hamstring), RB Brandon Jacobs (hamstring), T Kareem McKenzie (illness), DE Justin Tuck (neck), S Gibril Wilson (knee) ).

Fantasy take: Burress missed Friday's practice but is expected to start in Week 16. Jacobs put in a full practice and will start, barring setbacks. The Giants have some injuries on defense, but this unit remains a nice option for fantasy footballers in Buffalo.


**New York Jets**
Questionable: TE Chris Baker (back), QB Kellen Clemens (rib), WR Laveranues Coles (ankle), TE James Dearth (foot), WR Justin McCareins (thigh), G Brandon Moore (neck), DT Dewayne Robertson (knee); Probable: WR Jerricho Cotchery (finger), WR Brad Smith (back).

Fantasy take: Coles was limited in Friday's practice, so keep tabs on their status throughout the weekend. He's a real risk for fantasy footballers. Clemens was limited as well, so QB Chad Pennington could be called on to start in Tennessee. Cotchery returned to work against should start in Week 16.


**Oakland Raiders**
Out: QB Daunte Culpepper (quadriceps), RB Justin Fargas (knee); Questionable: WR Tim Dwight (hamstring); Probable: CB Chris Carr (shoulder), QB Josh McCown (left finger).

Fantasy take: McCown put in full work in Friday's practice and should start in Week 16 with Culpepper still at less than 100 percent. WR Jerry Porter (team decision) and DT Warren Sapp (team decision) both returned to practice and were removed from the injury report. RBs Dominic Rhodes and LaMont Jordan will see more work with Fargas out the remainder of the season. Rhodes is expected to start in Jacksonville. C Jake Grove (knee) was placed on injured reserve and S Rashad Baker was added to the roster.


**Philadelphia Eagles**
Out: LB Takeo Spikes (shoulder), TE L.J. Smith (knee), G Shawn Andrews (knee); Doubtful: TE Matt Schobel (concussion); Questionable: RB Brian Westbrook (knee), WR Reggie Brown (knee), DT LaJuan Ramsey (groin); Probable: S Brian Dawkins (back).

Fantasy take: Westbrook was limited in Friday's practice but is still expected to start in Week 16, barring setbacks. RB Correll Buckhalter (illness) was removed from the injury report and should be active. Brown put in a full practice but remains questionable to face New Orleans. The loss of Spikes hurts the value of the Philadelphia defense.


**San Diego Chargers**
Out: RB Lorenzo Neal (fibula); Questionable DE Luis Castillo (ankle), LB Shawne Merriman (knee), RB Michael Turner (shoulder); Probable: QB Philip Rivers (knee).

Fantasy take: Merriman vows to return this week, but he was limited in Friday's practice. RB Darren Sproles will be second on the depth chart behind RB LaDainian Tomlinson if Turner is out.


**San Francisco 49ers**
Out: QB Trent Dilfer (concussion); Questionable: CB Marcus Hudson (knee), RB Michael Robinson (shoulder), CB Shawntae Spencer (quadriceps); Probable: WR Arnaz Battle (ankle), RB Frank Gore (ankle), LB Roderick Green (illness), LB Jeff Ulbrich (ankle).

Fantasy take: With QBs Alex Smith and Dilfer out, QB Shaun Hill will start against Tampa Bay. Gore put in full work in Friday's practice and will start in Week 16.


**Seattle Seahawks**
Questionable: DT Rocky Bernard (groin), WR D.J. Hackett (ankle), CB Josh Wilson (quadriceps); Probable: RB Shaun Alexander (wrist), S Mike Green (knee), T Walter Jones (shoulder).

Fantasy take: Hackett did some work late in the week and has a chance to return in Week 16. Alexander is listed as probable and will start against Baltimore, but he's a huge risk.


**Tampa Bay Buccaneers**
Doubtful: DE Patrick Chukwurah (hamstring); Questionable: RB B.J. Askew (ankle), LB Ryan Nece (groin); Probable: RB Michael Pittman (ankle), DE Greg Spires (calf).

Fantasy take: WR Joey Galloway (team decision) was removed from the injury report and will start in San Francisco.


**Tennessee Titans**
Doubtful: LB Gilbert Gardner (calf); Questionable: DT Albert Haynesworth (hamstring), C Kevin Mawae (calf), S Vincent Fuller (shoulder); Probable: LB Keith Bulluck (knee), G Benji Olson (thigh), LB David Thornton (knee), RB LenDale White (knee).

Fantasy take: Haynesworth missed Friday's practice and is a question mark for Week 16. His absence would improve the value of N.Y. Jets RBs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. White put in a full practice and will start.


**Washington Redskins**
Out: QB Jason Campbell (knee), OL Mike Pucillo (back); Doubtful: TE Todd Yoder (knee); Questionable: S LaRon Landry (quadriceps), WR Keenan McCardell (calf).

Fantasy take: QB Todd Collins is slated to start in Minnesota with Campbell out of action. WR Santana Moss (illness) and RB Clinton Portis (illness) were both removed from the injury report and will start in Minnesota.