As fantasy football teams move on to Week 16 and fantasy championship games, there are a couple of key receiver injuries that fantasy owners will be watching closely this week. Keenan Allen (hamstring) played less than half of the Chargers' snaps in their over the Raiders, while Stefon Diggs (foot) exited the Bills' win late. Each of these players will have a big impact on start 'em, sit 'em decisions, and their statuses could have an impact on waiver wire pickups and strategy for owners looking to take home their league titles.
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WEEK 16 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Keenan Allen injury update
Allen (hamstring) was questionable to suit up against the Raiders last Thursday, but he did end up seeing the field. However, he played just 24-of-66 offensive snaps, as his hamstring bothered him throughout the night. He was in the game in important situations late, but after failing to connect with Justin Herbert on a red-zone target, he barely did anything for fantasy owners.
Heading into Week 16, Allen's status is unclear. The Chargers have been out of playoff position for a while, however, and Allen has still been playing through the injury, so with 10 days to heal up between games, it's possible that he will see the field. His practice status this week will go a long way to determining whether he'll play against the Broncos, so that will need to be watched closely this week.
WEEK 16 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
If Allen can't play, Mike Williams (if healthy), Tyron Johnson, and Jalen Guyton would be the top three receivers for the Chargers. Johnson has come on in recent weeks, so he can be trusted as a worthwhile flex play with upside. Guyton could be picked up, but he's more of a boom-or-bust deep threat, so he's not someone to trust in fantasy championship games.
WEEK 16 WAIVER WIRE: Top pickups
Stefon Diggs injury update
Diggs suffered a foot injury late in the Bills' blowout win over the Broncos. He exited and didn't return. The good news is that NFL Network's Kim Jones has reported that Diggs' injury "isn't serious" and "will not affect his availability going forward."
This is great news for Diggs' fantasy owners, as Diggs leads the NFL in receptions (111) and has posted 1,314 receiving yards and five TDs on the year. He will continue to be a top-tier WR and should have a chance to take advantage of the Stephon Gilmore-less Patriots in Week 16. Trust him as a WR1, and don't worry about his status unless something changes in the coming days of Bills practice.
