Last-minute med check: Week 16

By Will Carroll, Special to SI.com

Frank Gore's owners will have to wait until kickoff before knowing the status of the Niners' running back. Rick Stewart/Getty Images

The NFL has already played a couple games this week, so the med check is a bit shorter than normal. (By this point in the season, teams have shut guys down and started looking towards either the playoffs or next year, so it's bound to be a brief list.) But in Fantasy Championship week, those injuries are even more significant, as are other issues affecting playing time. At this point in the season, you also need a handle on weather and field conditions -- but I'm no meteorologist. Here are the injuries I'm watching this weekend:

RED

Matt Hasselbeck QB SEA: The Seahawks have nothing to gain, so they'll push Hasselbeck to QB3 duty and keep thinking about 2009.

Anquan Boldin WR ARI: The Cardinals, stunningly, have nothing to play for and face a Pats team that does. In bad weather, the Cards are going to protect the shoulder of Anquan Boldin. Honestly, that he's playing at all is pretty amazing given his injuries this season. Next week looks like an off-week for most of the Cards as well.

GAMETIME

Clinton Portis RB WAS: Back spasms, added to a long list of injuries, might finally be enough to push Portis to the sidelines. He wants to play, but even so, don't expect him to get the majority of carries.

Frank Gore RB SF: Gore isn't any different than he was last week, meaning he's a gametime decision. For you, if there's any other option, you shouldn't wait that long.

YELLOW

Brandon Jacobs RB NYG: Jacobs will play, will start, but he's likely to do just enough to help keep the other backs healthy while not hurting himself. The Giants wish they could rest him, but with the bye, they'll use him to get past Week 16.

Jeff Garcia QB TB: Garcia made it past Jon Gruden's tests and will get the start. The calf is still a worry and if he shows any problem with mobility, Gruden's shown no hesitation in going to his backup, in this case Luke McCown.

Kevin Smith RB DET: Smith is active, but be careful - the ankle injury might cut his carries down.

Trent Edwards QB BUF: Edwards took almost all the first team snaps in practice, though the groin is still limiting him a bit. If he's ineffective or the cold tightens him up, the Bills will see whether Gibran Hamdan can be Trent Green part II.

Marshawn Lynch RB BUF: The Bills want to see Lynch play, but he won't get his normal carries. Fred Jackson might be the better play.

Panthers O-Line: The Panthers have been running wild, but without Keydrick Vincent, the RBs will have to do a bit more work or go outside more. That doesn't match up that well with the Giants strengths.

Dolphins DST: With Channing Crowder unlikely to play, Kansas City is set up to play spoiler by jamming Larry Johnson down their weakened middle. Bad for Fins fans, good if you've carried L.J. this far into the season, though if you did, you're probably in the consolation games.

GREEN

Adrian Peterson RB MIN: The ankle injury isn't enough to keep him out of a regular game, especially a must-win.

Willie Parker RB PIT: The matchup isn't as bad as it looks, plus Parker made it past the Ravens without getting more banged up. Look for him to take the majority of carries this week over Mewelde Moore.

Matt Forte RB CHI: The Bears are playing for their lives and Forte's toe won't get in their way. Is he next year's No. 2 pick?

Brett Favre QB NYJ: Bill Simmons reminds us this week that Brett Favre doesn't play well in the cold. It's expected to snow. If you think Favre is a freak of health, you're right. But he's also human.

P.J. Pope RB DEN: Selvin Young? Tatum Bell? No, it appears the healthiest RB in Denver is someone named P.J. Pope. Yeah, I'd never heard of him either, but sources say he's a straight-ahead runner who's this week's lump of coal to fantasy players from Santa Shanahan.