You’ve spent four months grinding. You survived the bye weeks. You somehow dodged the early-season carnage of losing your first-round pick. And now, as we stare down the Divisional Round in January 2026, the wheels are falling off. Honestly, looking at the current injury reports is like reading a horror novel where your favorite characters get picked off one by one.
The biggest gut punch? George Kittle.
Losing the heart of the 49ers' passing game to a torn Achilles during the Wild Card win in Philly isn't just a blow to San Francisco; it's a crater in the middle of DFS lineups and playoff challenge rosters. Dr. David Chao and the team at Sports Injury Central aren't sugarcoating it. An Achilles at his age and position is a "see you in 2027" type of situation. If you’re playing in a playoff league, Jake Tonges is the name you’re desperately googling right now. He’s the "next man up," but let’s be real—nobody is replacing Kittle's YAC (yards after catch) or his blocking.
The San Francisco MASH Unit
It’s not just Kittle. The 49ers are essentially a walking infirmary. We finally got some hope when the team opened the 21-day practice window for All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, who has been out since Week 6 with that nasty dislocated and broken ankle. But Kyle Shanahan dumped cold water on that fire Thursday, confirming Warner is OUT for Saturday’s clash against the Seahawks.
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Then there’s Ricky Pearsall. He’s officially questionable with a PCL/knee issue. He was limited all week, which usually signals a "game-time decision" that ends in frustration for fantasy managers. If Pearsall can't go, and with Brandon Aiyuk already long gone, the 49ers are down to Jauan Jennings and... well, a lot of prayers.
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Limp
Switching over to the AFC, the Buffalo Bills are the personification of "winning ugly." Josh Allen is listed with a foot injury, but honestly, the guy is a tank. He’s been dealing with three different ailments for weeks and hasn't missed a snap. He told reporters this week he feels "better than he has in weeks," which is classic QB-speak for "I’m hurting, but I’m playing."
You shouldn't bench Allen. Ever. But you have to wonder how much that foot saps his rushing floor against a Denver defense that's playing out of their minds.
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The real mess in Buffalo is the receiving corps. Gabe Davis is on IR. Tyrell Shavers is on IR. Both with ACL tears. It’s like a curse. Joshua Palmer is also done for the year with an ankle. If you’re looking for injury updates fantasy football geeks can actually use, look at Curtis Samuel. He’s questionable with an elbow, but he practiced in full on Thursday. He’s going to have to be the volume king by default.
The Patrick Mahomes Shadow
Even teams that are out of the playoffs are casting a shadow on the 2026 landscape. Patrick Mahomes spoke to the media on a Zoom call this Thursday, and while he says he’s hitting "all the checkpoints" in his rehab from that mid-December ACL and LCL surgery, the reality is sobering.
Dr. Chao has pointed out that the LCL involvement makes this way more complex than a standard ACL tear. He likened it to Carson Wentz back in 2017. Wentz didn't look like himself for a long time after that. If you're in a dynasty league or already looking at 2026 ADP, Mahomes is no longer a "set it and forget it" top-3 QB. He might not even be ready for Week 1.
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Real-Talk on the "Questionable" Tag
We’ve all been there. It’s 11:30 AM on a Sunday, and your star WR is "Questionable." You check the beat writers. You refresh Twitter.
Data from Fantasy Six Pack shows that players tagged as Questionable see an average 18.6% decrease in production. It’s not just about whether they play; it’s about the decoy factor.
Take Nico Collins in Houston. He’s currently in the concussion protocol after going head-to-grass on Monday night. He hasn't practiced. As of Thursday, he’s still in the dark room. If he somehow clears the protocol and plays against the Patriots, are you really starting him with confidence? Probably not. Concussions are finicky, and the "limited" version of Nico Collins is a risky bet when Jayden Higgins and Christian Kirk are ready to soak up targets.
Actionable Strategy for the Divisional Round
- Pivot to Jake Tonges (TE, SF): With Kittle out and the Seahawks' defense focusing on Deebo Samuel, Tonges is the primary red-zone pivot for a fraction of the cost in DFS.
- Monitor Sam Darnold’s Oblique: He’s questionable for the Seahawks, but he’s planning to play. Oblique injuries are nightmare fuel for QBs because they affect the rotation on deep balls. Expect a heavy dose of the run game if he’s stiff.
- Trust the Bills Defense (with caution): They lost Jordan Poyer (hamstring) and Maxwell Hairston (ankle), but the Broncos are missing TE Lucas Krull. The middle of the field is going to be a wasteland of backups.
- The "Handcuff" Reality: If you’re in a playoff challenge, Jawhar Jordan (RB, Houston) being limited with an ankle means Joe Mixon's workload—which is already massive—is virtually guaranteed to be 25+ touches.
The playoffs aren't about who has the best roster on paper anymore. They're about who has the fewest players on the training table. Keep an eye on the 90-minute inactives on Saturday. That’s where championships are actually won.
Next Steps:
Go verify the official active/inactive list exactly 90 minutes before the 4:30 PM ET kickoff on Saturday. Specifically, look for Ricky Pearsall's status; if he’s out, Jauan Jennings becomes a mandatory "Value" play in all formats. Also, check the weather in Denver—if it’s windy, Josh Allen’s foot injury becomes a bigger factor in his ability to plant and drive the ball, making the Bills' run game even more vital.