Fantasy football buzz: Updated status of Alvin Kamara, George Pickens and more

Everything that happens in the NFL has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.

Our fantasy football buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the NFL.

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Dec. 19: Saints RB Kamara likely out Monday, season in jeopardy

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Why Alvin Kamara’s injury means an increased workload for Kendre Miller

Stephania Bell and Field Yates discuss why Kendre Miller could be a good addition for fantasy managers in the final weeks.

Stephania Bell: New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara suffered a groin injury in the second half of Week 15 and was originally listed as questionable to return but ultimately remained out. On Monday, interim head coach Darren Rizzi said he thought Kamara was injured on a diving touchdown catch and specifically referenced Kamara’s injury as an adductor strain. The adductors (often referred to as the “groin” muscles) run from the pelvis to the inner thigh and are responsible for providing core stability when the foot is on the ground and the athlete cuts to the inside.

For a running back, the adductors are critical for sharp cuts but also, more generally, for explosive power when running. Specific to Kamara, who has such excellent contact balance and agility, an adductor strain can be not only painful, it can also compromise his effectiveness. As of Thursday, Kamara has not practiced and is unlikely to play Monday night. At this point, it is unclear when or if he will be able to recover to the point of returning to game action. A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the injury is still being evaluated but it is potentially season ending. In Kamara’s absence, Kendre Miller is expected to see his workload increase.

Dec. 19: Steelers will be without WR Pickens again vs. Ravens

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without wide receiver George Pickens for Saturday’s huge AFC North matchup against the Ravens on Saturday in Baltimore. Pickens, who will miss his third straight game because of a hamstring injury, leads the Steelers with 55 receptions and 850 yards. Tight end Pat Freiermuth and wideout Calvin Austin III, the only players who had multiple catches for Pittsburgh in last week’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, will be among the receivers tasked with picking up the slack.

On the bright side for the Steelers, T.J. Watt, who injured his ankle late against the Eagles last Sunday, was removed from the injury report Thursday and will play in Saturday’s game.

49ers RB Guerendo likely out Sunday: After losing RBs Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell to season-ending injuries, it now looks as if the San Francisco 49ers will be without RB Isaac Guerendo for Sunday’s game vs. the Miami Dolphins, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Guerendo is dealing with a hamstring injury and is unlikely to play, per source.

Tristan H. Cockcroft: A top-25 fantasy wide receiver three seasons ago who was brought in to strengthen the receiver-needy Chiefs this past offseason, Brown suffered a shoulder injury in his preseason debut and hasn’t made an appearance since. That’ll change on Saturday against the Houston Texans, though it’s unclear how extensive his role will be, with the added question marks surrounding the team’s quarterbacking situation with Patrick Mahomes trying to play through an ankle injury and the erratic Carson Wentz his fill-in if needed. Brown will probably be a touchdown-dependent fantasy option for larger-than-standard leagues for the remainder of the season, though his usage warrants close examination in Week 16. More of a non-PPR player than one for our standard scoring, with a strong showing this week, he could make it into the WR3/flex tier for Week 16 at the Pittsburgh Steelers or Week 17 at the Denver Broncos, granted both challenging matchups for his position, . Brown’s arrival should cut into both DeAndre Hopkins’ and Xavier Worthy’s targets, further pulling them down in that similar valuation tier.

Tristan H. Cockcroft: With Alvin Kamara nursing a groin abductor injury and unlikely to play Monday’s night’s game against the Green Bay Packers, the Saints added Edwards-Helaire to pad their running back depth. At casual glance, it signals the team’s concern for Kamara’s availability, strengthening the fantasy flex-play appeal of Kendre Miller, who totaled 13.8 PPR fantasy points in limited duty (35% of the offensive snaps played, 19 total touches) the past two weeks. Edwards-Helaire’s arrival hardly puts him on the fantasy map, probably providing them more of a passing-downs alternative to Miller, who has only 16 career targets, or Jamaal Williams, who despite averaging 38.8 targets per year from 2017-20 has seen only 45 total since the beginning of 2022. Miller is still the running back you want in fantasy if you’re a Kamara manager, though even as a full-fledged Week 16 fill-in he’d shape up as more of a high-end flex, in part because the Packers are heavy favorites (-14 ½) for Monday’s game. — Cockcroft

Dec. 18: How will the Falcons’ offense look under Michael Penix Jr.?

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What does Michael Penix Jr. at QB mean for other Falcons in fantasy?

Field Yates and Liz Loza break down what Michael Penix Jr. starting means in fantasy for players like Drake London.

Matt Bowen: With the Falcons benching Kirk Cousins because of his subpar play and turning to rookie Michael Penix Jr., what should fantasy managers expect from the Atlanta offense over the final three weeks of the season?

For starters, we must look at the upside Penix brings to the field based on his traits and physical profile. There is a jump in arm talent here, as Penix can drive the ball down the field, especially on perimeter concepts, plus he brings more mobility to the position. That creates opportunities for him to extend plays as both a runner and thrower, which was a missing element with Cousins under center.

Now, from a playcalling perspective, the running game with Bijan Robinson will remain a foundational piece of this system, but we should look for the Falcons’ coaching staff to give Penix more defined reads as a passer. Think play-action concepts here, moving the pocket on boot schemes, while also opening middle of the field voids to target Drake London and scripting shot plays for Darnell Mooney. In addition, I wouldn’t be surprised to see empty concepts, one to give Penix clear coverage indicators, but also to throw the quicks underneath. See it. Ball out. Catch and run targets here.

Improved QB play and mobility is a boost for Kyle Pitts managers, but his volatile production and usage this season keep him in the TE2 range despite his perceived upside.

Given the traits of Penix, plus the anticipated offensive plan, London should remain a locked-in WR2 for 10-12 team leagues in the fantasy playoffs, while Mooney does fit as a deeper league WR3 with big play upside.

Dec. 17: Mahomes practices, waiting to see how ankle responds

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Andy Reid: Mahomes ‘most likely’ to play vs. Texans

Andy Reid provides an update on Patrick Mahomes’ likelihood to play for the Chiefs vs. the Texans.

Stephania Bell: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a right ankle sprain last Sunday against the Cleveland Browns when he got caught in a pile in the fourth quarter. He actually appeared to be twisted and bent sideways through his torso as he got taken to the ground, initially prompting other concerns. But when he came up limping, it was apparent the injury was to his lower extremity. Mahomes did walk somewhat stiffly off the field with assistance from the Chiefs’ medical staff and was then evaluated on the sideline. He did not return to the game, although coach Andy Reid later said he believed he could have, had it been necessary.

Later reports of a high ankle sprain fit the mechanism of his foot being trapped underneath defenders in an externally (outwardly) rotated position as he fell in the aforementioned pile. Mahomes is no stranger to high ankle sprains, having sustained one to his left ankle in a divisional playoff matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023.

The biggest challenge with an injury to the ligaments that constitute the “high ankle” is the act of advancing the body weight over the leg. As the lower leg bone (tibia) moves forward over the articulation with the ankle (talus), there is strain placed on the ligaments. Any twisting of the foot in the direction of outward rotation also stresses the injured area. Athletes with these injuries are often immobilized with either a short-term cast (several days to a week) or a walking boot initially to avoid this strain as the ligaments are trying to heal. The early focus for rehab is controlling pain and swelling while maintaining relative mobility and strength, to the degree possible without compromising the healing process.

On Tuesday when speaking with reporters, Mahomes indicated this episode was not as severe as his prior injury, saying his ankle has responded “better quicker” thus far. One important note from Mahomes was that, with this injury, one of the differences from his prior high ankle injury mechanism was he felt like he got his foot “out at the very end.” In other words, his foot was not fully trapped or planted on the field surface, allowing some of the force that would have resulted in more serious injury to dissipate.

The positive of having a comparison to a prior injury is helpful for any athlete, as the road map from rehab to return to play has been established and there is a “feel” for how the injury can limit performance. Still, each injury event is unique and timetables can fluctuate depending on severity, precise location and response to treatment. Benchmarks to getting back on the field for Mahomes are the ability to move as necessary to play his position and, more importantly, to protect himself. Running with a normal gait is likely to be challenging at first, especially within days of the injury, along with pivoting towards the left off the right foot. Getting rid of the ball quickly to avoid contact becomes more imperative, and protection up front will be key.

The upcoming schedule complicates matters for the Chiefs, as they have not only a short week initially (with a game this Saturday against the Houston Texans) but a very limited recovery window before their next game (Wednesday, December 25th at the Pittsburgh Steelers). On Tuesday, Mahomes was listed as a full participant in practice, but it’s worth noting this was a light workout. For his part, Mahomes indicated he planned to push it in practice this week with an eye on being able to evaluate how well he can perform in a game situation just six days post-injury. He also noted he would not put himself out there on game day if he thought it might compromise the team.

The day-to-day label is quite literal in this case, and it would not be a surprise if the decision about his status comes down to the final 24 hours.

Latest on Lions’ RB David Montgomery

Bell: Montgomery hurt his right knee in the second quarter of Sunday’s game and came off the field to be examined. He returned to action in the second half but ultimately did not finish the game, exiting for good just under five minutes into the fourth quarter. Early reporting from ESPN’s Adam Schefter indicated an MCL injury was the culprit, placing Montgomery out indefinitely. On Monday, coach Dan Campbell added clarification, confirming a torn MCL for Montgomery with a season-ending surgical plan to follow.

On Tuesday however, while hosting a charity coat drive, Montgomery told the Lions official website that he had not yet been placed on injured reserve as he worked through “logistics.” When asked if he could play again this season, Montgomery simply said, “I hope so.”

Is that a realistic hope? It’s hard to say without more specific details of the injury. Isolated MCL injuries can often heal without a surgical intervention. That said, depending on the specifics of both the location (what portion of the ligament is involved) and the severity (partial vs complete tear), as well as joint stability and whether other structures are impacted or not, surgery may be a preferred option. For a running back, any injury to the MCL can be both painful and limiting, particularly when it comes to lateral agility and overall power, the latter an element critical to Montgomery’s style of play.

A surgical intervention would require a several month recovery, with more time involved if the injury extends beyond the MCL (ex: Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts required an entire offseason to recover following surgery; worth noting he later revealed that he had two ligaments repaired, the MCL and PCL).