If you’re reading this, in all likelihood, you’ve made it to your league’s Fantasy Football playoffs. Congrats! Fantasy football managers know the drill: injuries can derail even the most carefully crafted rosters, so if you’ve made it this far, you’ve either been fortunate enough to have limited injuries or have been active on the waiver wire, trading block.
With several key players sidelined on injured reserve, understanding who’s out and for how long is crucial for navigating the final two weeks of the 2025 season. Here’s your complete guide to the fantasy-relevant players currently unavailable and what it means for your lineup decisions as you chase that coveted fantasy championship trophy!
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix Jr. was placed on IR mid-November, but he won’t be returning this season. Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris confirmed Penix underwent complete reconstructive surgery to repair his partially torn ACL in his left knee and experienced no complications from the procedure, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Veteran QB Kirk Cousins will continue to lead the Falcons for the remainder of a lost season.
Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray was placed on IR on Nov. 5 due to a mid-foot sprain and would have been sidelined until at least Week 14. But there is now speculation that he may have played his last game as a Cardinal, as Jacoby Brissett will be the starter to finish out the 2025 campaign.
Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed on Dec. 8 that QB Daniel Jones suffered a torn right Achilles in their loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 7. He will, of course, miss the remainder of the season.
Philip Rivers came out of retirement to suit up after the injury to backup Riley Leonard. Yet, even with Leonard healthy, the 44 year old was named the starter for Week 16. Do not start Rivers in fantasy’s most important weeks.
Patrick Mahomes, QB. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs’ reign of terror in the AFC is over for now, at least. But the bigger story at this point is quarterback Patrick Mahomes tearing his left ACL and MCL as he tried to lead the game-tying or go-ahead drive Sunday to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network noted that the MCL tear may also lengthen the recovery timeline next fall, which is, of course, the bigger concern now that there will officially not be a 2025 postseason run for Kansas City. The Chiefs noted that Mahomes will begin rehab immediately, and backup QB Gardner Minshew will finish out the year as their starting QB.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders second-year QB Jayden Daniels has had a rough sophomore campaign, playing in only seven games. He will now be shut down for the year, a decision head coach Dan Quinn stated was part injury-related and partially related to where the team is in the standings.
Washington sits at just 4-10, and there wouldn’t be much sense in playing Daniels for the team’s last three meaningless games of the season. He will still practice once medically cleared, but playing it safe after Daniels’ outstanding rookie year in 2024 seems to be the right call here. Marcus Mariota will take over as QB to finish up the season for the Commanders.
James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
James Conner injured his ankle in Week 3’s loss to the 49ers severely enough to require season-ending surgery. Michael Carter, Bam Knight, and Emari Demercado have shared the backfield duties for Arizona.
Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals suffered another blow to their running back room with the news that RB Trey Benson would be placed on IR in addition to James Conner, who was ruled out for the season the week prior. Benson injured his meniscus in Week 4, leading to a backfield committee (see above) for the majority of the games since that point.
He was not activated within the 21-day window and, therefore, has been shut down for the season and will not return until 2026.
Miles Sanders, RB, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys’ running back Miles Sanders went down with a knee injury that will require season-ending surgery. With Jaydon Blue failing to impress, Malik Davis is the complementary back to Cowboys starter Javonte Williams.
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Denver Broncos
It seems the only chance Denver Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins has of playing again this season is if they make the Super Bowl. And the Broncos do have a decent shot to get there, sitting at 11-2 with a healthy 2-game lead in the AFC West.
Dobbins was officially placed on IR on Nov. 22, but is slated to miss the rest of the regular season after undergoing surgery on his foot, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. RJ Harvey has stepped up in his absence, posting fantasy outputs of 21, 22, and 10 points in the last three weeks.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
The Packers also placed MarShawn Lloyd on IR, where he has spent nearly all of his young career. No surprise, Josh Jacobs has been the workhorse here, and his stock value has increased while Lloyd has been sidelined. No one is getting consistent carries besides Josh Jacobs while Lloyd has been out.
MORE: Free Fantasy Start/Sit Lineup Optimizer
Lloyd’s 21-day practice window was officially opened Dec. 1, but a ramp-up period was required. It remains to be seen if he’ll be activated ahead of Week 16, but this would be his last chance before the Packers would shut him down for the season.
Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans (NFI)
Joe Mixon was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list back on Aug. 26. Details of how the injury occurred have not been shared publicly, making this situation as bizarre as ever. It’s been clear for months that Mixon will not play this season.
Najee Harris, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers’ running back Najee Harris suffered a torn Achilles tendon in his team’s Week 3 win over the Broncos. He will, of course, miss the remainder of the season, meaning Hampton’s stock value increased exponentially until he landed on IR in Week 4 as well.
RELATED: Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
Kimani Vidal had taken over the lead-back role in Harris and Omarion Hampton’s absence until the latter returned on Monday night, though Vidal still saw a healthy share of the carries as they split just about 50-50.
Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints RB Kendre Miller suffered a torn ACL in the Saints’ Week 6 loss to the Chicago Bears, meaning he will miss the remainder of the 2025 season. Alvin Kamara remains the starter when healty, but both he and rookie sixth-rounder Devin Neal are currently injured. That leaves the backfield to Audric Estime and Evan Hull, neither of whom should be players that are active on gameday.
Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants
New York Giants rookie RB Cam Skattebo suffered a dislocated ankle in the Week 8 loss to their divisional foes, the Philadelphia Eagles. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, he underwent surgery that same night and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. served as the Giants’ lead RB in their last game, with Devin Singletary mixing in as the change-of-pace back.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Washington Commanders
Unfortunately, Austin Ekeler suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Washington’s Week 2 game and will now miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt took advantage of a second chance to prove himself Sunday when Chris Rodriguez was also out. Croskey-Merritt ran 18 times for 96 yards and a touchdown after struggling in the lead-back role previously this year.
Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans (PUP)
Tank Dell was officially placed on the physically unable to perform list before the start of the 2025 season, but he was never expected to play this year. Given that he tore his ACL, damaged his MCL, LCL, and meniscus, and dislocated his kneecap, it would be a success if he ever played football again.
MORE: Free Fantasy Waiver Wire Tool
Houston brought Christian Kirk, Justin Watson, and Braxton Berrios to address his absence and Stefon Diggs’s departure. The team also drafted Iowa State receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the second and third rounds of the draft. Still, Nico Collins has remained quarterback C.J. Stroud’s favorite target.
Travis Hunter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Hunter suffered a non-contact right knee injury in practice before Week 10; fortunately, his ACL is intact. But it was significant enough to land him on IR, and on Tuesday, the Jacksonville Jaguars announced that he would not return in 2025.
In his absence, Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas Jr. have served as Trevor Lawrence’s top options.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill suffered a dislocated left knee and multiple torn ligaments, including his ACL, in their Week 4 game against the New York Jets. Hill is out for the remainder of the season, and Malik Washington has stepped up a bit in his absence, while Jaylen Waddle has elevated to the Dolphins’ WR1 as expected (though that isn’t saying much these days).
Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
Malik Nabers tore his ACL in Week 4. He will miss the rest of the 2025 season, meaning Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton, and Isaiah Hodgins are the Giants’ primary targets now.
Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
Garrett Wilson was placed on injured reserve before the New York Jets’ Week 11 loss to their division rival, the New England Patriots. Given the timing, that means he was eligible to return last week. However, head coach Aaron Glenn stated that the decision will be made between Wilson and the team doctors, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.
If Wilson is out again, it’s hard to say if there is a reliable fill-in guy in this Jets’ offense. Adonai Mitchell was the recommended pickup last week, and he has broken double-digit fantasy points in two of his past three games, but the one in between was a dud, where he only scored 3.2, which most teams can ill afford in the fantasy playoffs.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers (PUP)
Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 last season against the Kansas City Chiefs and started the season on the PUP list. The San Francisco 49ers have since placed him on the “left the team” list. He won’t play this season and has undoubtedly played his last snap as a member of the 49ers.
Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions’ Tight End Sam LaPorta was placed on IR on Nov. 29 with a back injury before their game against the Eagles on Sunday night. Head coach Dan Campbell indicated he does not expect LaPorta to return this season.
Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers cannot catch a break when it comes to the injury bug and their pass-catchers. This time, it has hit Tucker Kraft, who suffered a torn ACL in the Pack’s Week 9 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Luke Musgrave has since been called upon as their primary TE for the rest of the season, but is not fantasy relevant at all.
Tyler Higbee, TE, Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams placed tight end Tyler Higbee on the injured reserve list on 11/26, meaning the earliest he can return is also right in the middle of fantasy playoffs (Week 16, no indication yet). Colby Parkinson has been a TE1 largely due to touchdowns since Higbee went down.
