De’Von Achane, Daniel Jones And More

Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season was not kind to quarterbacks in particular.

The Indianapolis Colts lost their signal-caller for the year. The Washington Commanders, New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders had to turn to their backups as well, although some of their starting quarterbacks could be back in Week 15.

With the fantasy football playoffs getting underway in most leagues this week, this level of uncertainty is the last thing that fantasy managers need. With that in mind, let’s walk through all of the major injury news that fantasy football managers need to know heading into Week 15.

Notable Injuries

1. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts QB (Achilles)

Daniel Jones was already playing through a fractured fibula in his left leg, which had drastically affected his performance in recent weeks. Catastrophe struck in Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, as Jones tore his Achilles in the first quarter of the game and will now miss the remainder of the season.

With backup quarterback Anthony Richardson still on IR due to an eye injury, the Colts had to turn to third-stringer Riley Leonard on Sunday when Jones went down. Leonard finished 18-of-29 for 145 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception.

Leonard did keep wide receivers Alec Pierce (five catches, 80 yards) and Michael Pittman Jr. (nine catches, 79 yards) afloat, but rookie tight end Tyler Warren finished with only two catches for 15 yards. Jones’ injury is a particularly devastating blow to managers with star running back Jonathan Taylor, who finished with 21 carries for only 74 yards and a touchdown and now figures to see even more stacked boxes for the rest of the season.

2. De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins RB (ribs)

After torching the New York Jets early on with only seven carries for 92 yards and a touchdown, De’Von Achane suffered a rib injury after a 29-yard run midway through the second quarter and did not return to the game. Afterward, head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that Achane “was hurting, but he was available to come back in the game in an emergency.”

The Dolphins were already up 24-7 when Achane got hurt, and the Jets had already turned to third-string quarterback Brady Cook, an undrafted-free-agent rookie. However, McDaniel stopped short of guaranteeing that Achane will be available in Week 15 when the Dolphins face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.

In Achane’s absence, Jaylen Wright had a career-high 24 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown. He’s the top waiver-wire pickup of the week by a country mile and is worth emptying your FAB clip for, although you’ll need a backup plan for Monday in case Achane gets cleared.

3. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys WR (concussion)

CeeDee Lamb was having a monster game in the Cowboys’ shootout loss to the Detroit Lions last Thursday, hauling in six catches for a season-high 121 yards in less than two-and-a-half quarters. However, he hit his head on the turf while leaping for a pass in the end zone and was eventually ruled out due to a concussion.

Since the Cowboys played on Thursday, Lamb had a few extra days to recover and work his way through the league’s concussion protocol. On Monday, head coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters that Lamb is “doing good” and is “progressing nicely.”

The Cowboys face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football in Week 15, so fantasy managers can only hope that Lamb clears concussion protocol by Friday. If not, they’ll need to have a backup plan in place. Ryan Flournoy, who caught a career-high nine passes for 115 yards and a touchdown in Lamb’s absence, would be the replacement to target.

4. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders QB (elbow)

After missing four games due to a dislocated left elbow, Jayden Daniels made his return Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. He lasted two-and-a-half quarters before he reinjured the same elbow, which caused him to miss the rest of the game.

After the game, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn told reporters that Daniels left the game for precautionary reasons and could have returned. According to local reporter Ben Standig, Quinn added that he expects Daniels to play again this season, “citing the growth opportunities trumping injury risk.” (Do the Commanders not remember the Robert Griffin III era, or…?)

Luckily, fantasy managers already know what the Commanders look like with Marcus Mariota under center instead of Daniels. The bad news is that Mariota’s receiving corps took a hit Sunday as well, although that could open additional targets for Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel moving forward.

5. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders TE (ACL)

While Daniels’ elbow injury might not be season-ending, the same can’t be said about veteran tight end Zach Ertz. He suffered an ACL tear toward the end of the third quarter and had to be carted off the field.

The Commanders had only one six-play drive after Ertz’s injury, so it’s unclear how their passing game will shake out in his absence. He’s second on the team in targets (72), receptions (50), receiving yards (504) and receiving touchdowns (four), which leaves a big void for the Commanders to fill.

John Bates (eight catches for 71 yards and three touchdowns) and Ben Sinnott (four catches for 41 yards and one touchdown) figure to see more snaps moving forward, although the Commanders’ passing game still figures to flow through McLaurin and Samuel. They do have a soft matchup against the New York Giants in Week 15, but it’ll be hard to start any Commanders skill-position player with confidence.

6. DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers (stomach)

DK Metcalf caught a season-high seven passes for 148 yards in the Steelers’ 27-22 win over the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, but he didn’t escape unscathed. He experienced stomach pain on the team plane after the game and stayed in Baltimore overnight to get evaluated at a hospital.

Metcalf returned to Pittsburgh on Monday, although his status for the Steelers’ Week 15 clash against the Dolphins on Monday Night Football remains unclear for now. Fantasy managers should begin making backup plans now just in case he can’t go Monday.

The Steelers’ passing game is already anemic with Metcalf in the fold, so if he sits against the Dolphins, Aaron Rodgers would be unstartable in leagues of any size. Calvin Austin III would be Rodgers’ top receiver target, although the Steelers would likely triple down on three-TE sets with Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Jonnu Smith.

7. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals WR (concussion)

Tee Higgins missed the Bengals’ Week 13 win over the Baltimore Ravens with a concussion, although he was back in the lineup for Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. He finished with six catches for a team-high 92 yards and two touchdowns, but his availability for the Bengals’ Week 15 rematch against the Ravens is now up in the air.

Higgins was checked for a concussion twice against Buffalo but cleared both checks at the time, which allowed him to return to the game. However, head coach Zac Taylor told reporters Monday that Higgins reported concussion-like symptoms after the game and is now back in the concussion protocol.

If Higgins can’t get cleared, the Bengals’ passing game once again figures to flow through WR Ja’Marr Chase and RB Chase Brown, both of whom had seven catches against the Ravens in Week 13. Tight end Mike Gesicki, who caught six passes for a season-high 86 yards and a touchdown against the Bills, could be a sneaky flier as well.

8. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns TE (knee)

David Njoku caught only one pass in Sunday’s 31-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans, but he made it count. He hauled in a one-yard touchdown catch early in the second quarter, although he suffered a knee injury on the play and missed the remainder of the game.

On Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t offer much of an update about Njoku. He just told reporters that the Browns needs to “see how it goes the rest of the week” before deciding on his playing status for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.

If Njoku misses Week 15, rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. will be in for a further uptick in targets. He led the Browns with eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown against the Titans and has become far more consistent ever since rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders took over under center a few weeks ago. He’d be a locked-in starter if Njoku sits.

Quick Hits

1. Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets QB (groin)

Tyrod Taylor went only 1-of-4 for six yards and an interception before he suffered a groin injury in the first quarter of the Jets’ blowout loss to the Dolphins that knocked him out for the game. Head coach Aaron Glenn didn’t have an update on his status Monday, but whomever starts for the Jets in Week 15 should be nowhere near fantasy lineups.

2. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders QB (shoulder)

Geno Smith left the Raiders’ loss to the Denver Broncos at the end of the third quarter after his shoulder “locked up,” head coach Pete Carroll told reporters after the game. Carroll added that early testing suggests Smith avoided serious damage and that he would lean toward starting the veteran in Week 15 if he’s healthy enough to play. Regardless of whether Smith or backup quarterback Kenny Pickett starts, the only Raiders players who belong in fantasy lineups are TE Brock Bowers and RB Ashton Jeanty.

3. Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens RB (knee)

After exploding for a 55-yard run midway through the third quarter against the Steelers, backup Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell was ruled out at the start of the fourth quarter with a knee injury. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters Monday that the team got good news on Mitchell’s injury and he’s considered day-to-day, but he’s nothing more than a handcuff for fantasy managers with Derrick Henry on their rosters.

4. Nick Chubb, Houston Texans RB (ribs)

Nick Chubb had only one carry for three yards in the Texans’ win over the Chiefs before he left with a rib injury and did not return. In his absence, rookie running back Woody Marks racked up a career-high 26 carries for 68 yards to go with two catches for eight yards and a touchdown. Marks had already overtaken Chubb as the Texans’ lead running back in recent weeks, but he could be their every-down back against Arizona in Week 15 if Chubb can’t go.

Possible Returns

1. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets WR (knee)

Garrett Wilson is eligible to come off injured reserve this week, although Jets head coach Aaron Glenn had no update on his status Monday. The Jets are 3-10, have already been eliminated from the playoffs and may be down to their third-string quarterback in Week 15, so even if Wilson does get activated, it’ll be hard to have much confidence in him.

2. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (collarbone)

Mike Evans has missed the Buccaneers’ past six games with a broken collarbone, but he began practicing last week and is “in play” to suit up Thursday in what’s shaping up to be a must-win game against the Atlanta Falcons. It’s unclear if he’ll have a full allotment of snaps in his first week back, so he’d be a low-floor, high-ceiling play if he does get activated from IR.