Fantasy Football Week 16: Thursday's Daily Fantasy Market Report

Fantasy football news reports and updates on Wednesdays are important. It's never a good sign when a player misses practice, but when players miss Wednesday practice, you can start getting skeptical about their availability for the upcoming contest.

This applies even more to Week 16—with most games scheduled on Saturday, players have less time to recover and prepare.

There are a fair amount of starters that did not practice Wednesday. If those first-stringers are sidelined for the Week 16 slate, it could open up value for their backups.

Let's see what we're dealing with midway through this week.

Giants RB Paul Perkins to See Increased Workload?

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

According to ESPN.com's Tim McManus (h/t Rotoworld), New York Giants running back Paul Perkins should have an "even greater" role for the remainder of the year.

Yup, all two weeks.

As Rotoworld also notes, Perkins and fellow running back Rashad Jennings have had equal shares of the backfield duties: Jennings has played in 119 of the team's snaps, while Perkins has played in 95.

However, with the injury to Shane Vereen, Perkins could assume a more consistent pass-catching role.

There aren't many weeks left in the regular season, but I can't get excited about anything involving Giants running backs.

Panthers TE Greg Olsen DNP Wednesday (Elbow)

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

According to David Newton of ESPN.com, after a scheduled doctor appointment on Tuesday, Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen missed practice on Wednesday due to an elbow injury.

While this sounds like it could be bad, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera has expressed that he is not concerned about the injury, according to Steve Reed of the Associated Press.

Based on Rivera's comments, Olsen should be available for Week 16, but he's worth keeping an eye on nonetheless.

On Saturday, the Panthers will host the Atlanta Falcons. When the Panthers faced the Falcons in Week 4, Olsen caught six passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Despite the fact that Olsen hasn't scored since Week 9, he is getting his fair share of targets (7.2 per game over that span). If the tight end suits up this week, he's in a nice spot to end his touchdown drought.

At $5,200 on DraftKings, he's the second-highest priced tight end, but that number is still cheap.

The Falcons rank 20th in DVOA against tight ends.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson DNP Wednesday

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

After an abysmal return in Week 15, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson did not practice Wednesday, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

As Rotoworld notes, his absence was due to groin and knee injuries, and AP was non-committal about his Week 16 status.

With the Vikings out of the playoff picture, Peterson could just hang 'em up for the rest of the year.

Going up against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16, I'm just not rostering him if he plays.

His 2016 season is toast in my eyes.

Jets RB Matt Forte Could Sit in Week 16

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

It appears that New York Jets running back Bilal Powell could see a decent uptick in value in Week 16.

According to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, fellow Jets running back Matt Forte could sit out his team's Christmas Eve game against the New England Patriots with a shoulder injury.

What makes matters worse is that it is a "nerve issue," according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.

It's sounding more and more like Forte will sit in Week 16, opening up more value for Powell.

While his $6,000 price tag on DraftKings is deflating (hoping for a reduced price for value), Powell should see plenty of targets against the Patriots—the Jets are 16.5-point road dogs, per OddsShark.

Expect the Jets to throw and Powell to see double-digit targets.

Vikings WR Stefon Diggs Has Hip Injury, Not Concussion

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

The Minnesota Vikings reported wide receiver Stefon Diggs did not practice Wednesday. Though the Vikings put out a release stating this was due to a concussion, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the team later clarified that Diggs actually has a hip injury.

Despite the confusion, the hip injury makes it more likely Diggs will suit up this week than if he had a concussion.

Going on the road against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16, Diggs should see lots of Quinten Rollins, who ranks 64th in coverage.

Since recording three straight games of double-digit targets in Weeks 8-10, Diggs has averaged just over six targets in his last four games.

For Diggs, catches are what make him relevant—he has just two touchdowns this season.

At $5,900 on DraftKings, I don't hate Diggs, but the way Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford is playing leaves a lot to be desired. If you make multiple lineups, I'd get some exposure to Diggs, but don't go crazy.

Bengals TE Tyler Eifert DNP Wednesday

Gail Burton/Associated Press

According to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert did not practice Wednesday with a back injury.

Yup, a back injury.

You know, the same injury that kept Eifert out for the first six weeks of the season.

Eifert has been about as close to a human body cast as a player can be, so this isn't a surprise.

Thursday and Friday will be important in determining whether Eifert will suit up, but it's not looking good.

Let's check back in then.

It's Confirmed: Jets QB Bryce Petty to Start in Week 16

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

After suffering a chest injury, there was some speculation that New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty would miss time. But Adam Schefter of ESPN has confirmed Petty will start in Week 16 against the New England Patriots.

And under no circumstance am I rostering him.

The only Jets players I'd consider this week are running back Bilal Powell and wide receiver Robby Anderson.

Their team is going to get demolished.

Chargers RB Melvin Gordon DNP Wednesday

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

According to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon missed practice on Wednesday.

With the Chargers set to play on Saturday, it's safe to look at this as a short week, making the Wednesday news that much more critical for Gordon.

If he doesn't practice Thursday, it's fair to assume he'll be out again and looking to return in Week 17—he's just three yards shy of a 1,000-yard rushing campaign.

If he suits up this week, he'll draw a matchup with the lowly Cleveland Browns. Play him if he's active.

Bengals RB Jeremy Hill DNP Wednesday

David Richard/Associated Press

It appears the Cincinnati Bengals could be without two starters in Week 16.

According to Geoff Hobson of the Bengals team site, running back Jeremy Hill missed practice Wednesday with a knee injury.

There was a point in Week 15 when Hill was hurt and down for a bit, but considering he returned to the game, it didn't seem so impactful.

If Hill is unable to suit up against the Houston Texans, backup running back Rex Burkhead will assume starting duties.

In the event Burkhead does start, he'll face a Texans team that ranks 17th in DVOA against the run and 28th in DVOA against pass-catching backs.

We'll check back in on this on Friday.

Redskins TE Jordan Reed DNP Wednesday

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

According to Rotoworld, Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed did not practice Wednesday due to a shoulder injury. If you'll recall, Reed was ejected in Week 15 for throwing a punch at Carolina Panthers defensive back Kurt Coleman. 

Reed suffered an AC joint sprain in the same shoulder on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys. In the two games since his return from the initial injury, Reed has just two caches for 16 yards.

I don't trust him this week if he suits up against the Chicago Bears.

Fade him.

Statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Football Outsiders. 

Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.