Happy December to everyone as we are on the precipice of the fantasy football playoffs.  The season has flown by and if you are still alive and competing for a playoff berth then kudos to you for surviving and enduring the brutal rash of injuries we have had this year.  There are some big names on today’s injury report, but some are just precautionary so read through it first before deciding to have a liquid lunch.  So, without further ado, let’s delve into the next edition of the fantasy football emergency room.

LeSean McCoy (RB-BUF) – McCoy practiced in a full capacity on Thursday but the Bills added him to their injury report after he possibly hurt his knee towards the end.  We will know more about his status over the weekend but at this point there is no reason to be concerned about his ability to play this weekend against New England.  McCoy has been a solid RB1 most of the season with 758 rushing yards and four touchdowns to go along with 46 receptions for 295 yards and one touchdown.

Tom Brady (QB-NE) – Before anyone panics, Brady is going to be fine and will play in Week 13.  He was listed on the injury report after being limited in practice on Thursday with an Achilles injury.  Fear not as the future Hall of Famer will be on the field and the clear-cut top quarterback option once again.  Brady is having another MVP-type season with 3,374 yards passing along with 26 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

Amari Cooper (WR-OAK) – All week it has seemed apparent that Cooper would not be able to play this weekend against the Giants as he continues to deal with a concussion and an ankle injury.  He did not practice again on Thursday which all but assures the fact that he will be out.  This is unfortunate for GMs because the Raiders have a very favorable matchup against a dysfunctional and depleted Giants team.  He hasn’t been ruled out officially but you can be comfortable leaving him on your bench unless an early Christmas miracle arrives in Oakland.

Robert Woods (WR-LAR) – We knew Woods would likely miss a couple games after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 11 and that appears to still remain true as he has been sidelined at practice this week.  Woods emerged as a fantasy darling a few weeks ago with a couple of huge games so his loss has had an impact as GMs head towards the playoffs.  Expect him to miss this week’s game with Cooper Kupp serving as a solid fantasy alternative.

Jarvis Landry (WR-MIA) – The Dolphins added Landry to the injury report on Thursday with a knee injury which limited him.  As of now there is no indication that his status for Sunday’s game against Denver is in jeopardy, but check back in again over the weekend for further updates.  Miami has been very inconsistent all season but Landry has provided solid production with 75 catches for 637 yards and six touchdowns including three scores in the past four weeks.

Adrian Peterson (RB-ARZ) – Peterson had been dealing with a neck injury but was back at practice on Thursday.  This is good news for GMs who are hoping Peterson has one of his patented big games this weekend against the Rams.  He has been very inconsistent since joining Arizona as he had a couple monster games to go along with a few duds.  He is a RB2 or Flex option with upside.

Alex Collins (RB-BAL) – Collins has been dealing with a calf injury since Monday night’s game against the Texans but was back at practice on Thursday.  There is no concern over his status for this week’s game against the Lions so fantasy GMs should feel comfortable putting him in as a RB2 or Flex coming off back to back games where he scored a touchdown.  The Ravens have been hot and control their own destiny for the playoffs, so look for Collins to be a big part of the offense the rest of the way.

Christian McCaffrey (RB-CAR) – Carolina’s offense is very banged up including rookie running back Christian McCaffrey who is dealing with a shoulder injury.  He does not appear to be worried about the injury as he indicated he did all of his normal routines during practice on Thursday.  McCaffrey has been terrific in PPR leagues with 59 catches for 468 and three touchdowns to go along with his two rushing touchdowns.  He is a solid RB2 option this week in a big NFC South showdown in New Orleans.

Greg Olsen (TE-CAR) – Olsen has not practiced this week after he re-aggravated his foot injury last week against the Jets.  It is possible that Olsen could still play this weekend against the Saints even if he does not practice at all.  Unfortunately for GMs, it appears that there may not be clarity of his situation until just before game-time on Sunday.  Olsen is a must-start if he plays and Ed Dickson would step in again if the Panthers decide to keep Olsen out. 

Ameer Abdullah (RB-DET) – Abdullah has missed practice the past couple days due to a neck injury and could possibly miss this week’s game against Baltimore.  He has accumulated 505 rushing yards and three touchdowns thus far making him a RB2 or Flex option at best.  If Abdullah is unable to play, then Theo Riddick and Dwayne Washington would play in his place against a solid Ravens’ defense which has three shutouts thus far on the season.

Kelvin Benjamin (WR-BUF) – The Bills are calling Benjamin’s status as day-to-day which is not helpful for fantasy GMs in need of making a decision.  Benjamin has been sidelined with a torn meniscus and was only able to do some stretching with the team on Thursday.  He has not been ruled out of Sunday’s game yet, but the signs point towards him sitting out.  Even if he does play, he is not a great fantasy option given he won’t be 100% and has not quite found his rhythm in Buffalo’s offense yet. 

Ty Montgomery (RB-GB) – Montgomery is still dealing with a rib injury and has not returned to practice.  It appears that he won’t be ready to go this weekend against Tampa Bay which means Jamaal Williams will see a heavy dose of action at least for another week.  Aaron Jones has been recovering from his knee injury and could possibly play this week as well if he continues to progress enough. 

Matt Moore (QB-MIA) – Miami’s offense is in disarray with a slew of injuries, and now we can add Matt Moore to the mix.  He missed a few days of practice this week with a foot injury and his status for Sunday’s game against Denver is very much in jeopardy.  The combination of Jay Cutlet and David Fales should not strike fear into the hearts of Denver’s defense which desperately needs a good showing after the freefall they have been in for two months.  Moore is not a viable fantasy option when healthy except in two-quarterback leagues, but with this injury he certainly belongs on the bench.

Tyler Kroft (TE-CIN) – Kroft has been dealing with a hand injury the past couple weeks and was limited in practice on Thursday.  He had been limited last week as well but ended up playing against Cleveland and scored a touchdown.  Kroft has caught 31 passes for 317 yards and five touchdowns overall so he is nothing more than a TE2 option for this Monday night’s showdown against the red-hot Steelers.

Donte Moncrief (WR-IND) – The Colts have been a mess all year thanks to Andrew Luck’s injury which has severely impacted players such as Donte Moncrief.  He has been limited to just 21 catches for 354 yards and two touchdowns all season rendering him irrelevant in fantasy terms.  Moncrief was limited at practice on Thursday with a groin injury but does not appear in danger of missing this week’s game against the Jaguars.  He should not be in anyone’s starting lineups, but if you are depleted with injuries then temper your expectations for him this week against Jacksonville’s terrific defense.

Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and co-host of the Fantasy Alarm Podcast.  You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment)