NFL Injury Report: Key Injuries That Could Cripple Your Fantasy Team

The NFL injury report is one of the most read documents this time of year.

With league championships coming up, fantasy football owners want to know who they can count on in Week 16.

As we hear often in the NFL, injuries are a part of the game. But when it happens to one of your best players right before the playoffs, it hurts a little more.

Here are six injuries that could cripple your fantasy team as championship weekend approaches. 

A.J. Green, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals

Green suffered a sprained shoulder in the Week 15 win over the St. Louis Rams. Green was able to finish the game and played very well.

Green finished the game with six catches for 115 yards. He got hurt right before halftime, but came back and played the entire second half. 

The Bengals (8-6) are going to need Green in the lineup if they want to make a playoff push. Green is expected to play next week against the Arizona Cardinals, who rank 23rd against the pass this year.

With his 115 receiving yards on Sunday, Green surpassed 1,000 yards receiving for the season.

Green has been one of the great surprises this year in fantasy football and despite his shoulder injury, keep him in your lineup and hope he doesn't re-aggravate that injury during the game.

Steve Johnson, Wide Receiver, Buffalo Bills

Johnson aggravated a nagging groin injury in Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Johnson finished with five catches for 82 yards, but the Bills' top receiver was on the sidelines for the team's final two possessions.

Johnson is closing in on a 1,000 yards receiving this season and has six touchdowns. He has been listed as probable six times this season, but hasn't missed a game so far. 

Johnson's status is uncertain for the Bills' Week 16 match-up against the Denver Broncos. However, if history is any indicator he will play and he should be in your lineup if he's active.

Adrian Peterson, Running Back, Minnesota Vikings

Peterson returned in Week 15, but managed just 60 yards rushing. Peterson had missed three straight games with a high ankle sprain.

Peterson proclaimed himself back during the week, even tweeting to his followers to start him this week in fantasy football.

It's clear Peterson is still not 100 percent, but his injury wasn't the main reason he only had 10 carries against the New Orleans Saints. You can blame that on Drew Brees.

The Vikings played from behind most of the game, forcing Peterson to the sidelines.

Still, Peterson's ankle is not 100 percent and the Vikings may look to limit his touches again in Week 16 against the Washington Redskins.

If you own Peterson and you're still playing for something in your league, I recommend keeping him in your starting lineup. Even at 85 percent, Peterson is better than a lot of running backs.    

Ben Roethlisberger, Quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers

Roethlisberger has a high ankle sprain, but all indications are that he will play Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Steelers are locked in a tight battle with the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North title, so sitting Roethlisberger isn't an option. However, if he's too injured to play, the Steelers have no choice but to sit him.

Roethlisberger's injury not only impacts the fantasy owners that have him, it also effects Mike Wallace's and Antonio Brown's owners.

Both Wallace and Brown take a significant fantasy hit if Charlie Batch is under center instead of Roethlisberger.

We should learn more about Roethlisberger's ankle situation Monday night. If Roethlisberger is limited on Monday night, that is bad news for fantasy owners who are relying him, Wallace and Brown in Week 16.

Frank Gore, Running Back, San Francicsco 49ers

Gore has been dealing with an ankle injury for the past few weeks and his numbers have suffered.
Since Week 10, Gore has 272 yards and one touchdowns. Prior to that, Gore had rushed for 100-plus yards in five straight games and scored four touchdowns during that span.

Gore's ankle injury hasn't kept him out of the lineup, but with the 49ers clinching a spot in the playoffs in Week 13, one has to wonder if San Francisco will continue to limit Gore's touches going forward.

Gore had just 10 carries in Week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals, while his back-up Kendall Hunter had eight carries. 

The Niners could benefit from a rejuvenated Gore come playoff time, even though it would anger a lot of fantasy owners.  

We should learn more about Gore's ankle situation Monday night when the Niners host the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Gore is limited on Monday night, that is bad news for fantasy owners who are relying him in Week 16.  

Johnny Knox, Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears

Knox will undergo surgery Monday to stabilize vertebra in his back after a gruesome injury against the Seattle Seahawks.

Knox was injured in the first quarter after a hit bent his entire upper body back. Knox had to be stabilized and taken off the field on a cart.

The third-year receiver was a hot waiver wire pick after a big game in Week 11 when he caught three passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. He followed that up with a game against the Oakland Raiders where he caught four passes for 145 yards and a touchdown.

Since those two games, Knox hasn't been as relevant, catching just eight passes for 105 yards.

Despite his recent slump, Knox would have had two favorable match-ups ahead against the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. The Packers are ranked 31st against the pass while the Vikings are 26th.

The possible return of injured quarterback Jay Cutler was also expected to give Knox a boost. However, his season is now over and the Bears are without their most reliable receiver.