I’ve been a fantasy football analyst (I prefer not to use the term expert, nor would I claim that title) for the last 15 years. Traveling back in my imaginary time machine, I’ve seen plenty of trends come and go within the space, the creation of new websites, statistics to track and the rise of DFS and betting.
One thing which I’m grateful for (that I’ve seen others appreciate as well) is the advent of medical professionals chiming in on injuries as they occur, providing expected timelines, factors to consider and possibilities of outcomes. A special tip of the cap goes out to Stephania Bell from ESPN for being one of the first professionals I can remember who offered guidance and expertise in this sphere. Her ability to explain injuries in layman’s terms is an invaluable asset for those of us without a medical background, setting a path forward for others to follow.
- More Waiver Wire Pickups
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Injuries to Know
Injuries are never black and white. Two players who sustain seemingly identical hits can come away with completely different issues, with one being more serious than the other. Players can take a nasty hit and return later in the game (think of Lane Johnson‘s knee that was rolled into by a defender last night), or take a seemingly innocuous blow to the helmet and suffer a concussion.
Several years ago, I spoke with Dr. David Chao (@ProFootballDoc) on social media, asking questions about the status of a player. He was unbelievably kind and offered to call me over the phone to walk me through the timetables and other details. I’ll never forget how he made time for me, even though I was a total stranger who was (in hindsight) likely asking basic questions. Tip of the hat to you, Dr. Chao.
When a player is injured in this extremely violent sport, analysts immediately flock to social media to seek the thoughts of medical professionals. Will this quarterback be sidelined for a month and need to be placed on injured reserve (IR)? What sort of medical tests will they undergo? What is their outlook? The list goes on.
It never hurts to take a step back sometimes and thank them for sharing their knowledge and opinions. I, for one, find their assistance invaluable.
Quarterback
Jaxson Dart (QB – NYG)
Jaxson Dart’s home away from home has been the blue tent on the sidelines this year, given his reckless style of play and propensity to scramble under pressure. During the third quarter against Chicago, Dart was examined by the New York staff on the sidelines after taking a big hit and losing a fumble. He was eventually escorted to the locker room and later ruled out of the game with a concussion, and subsequently placed into the league’s concussion protocol.
Fantasy Impact: It was already difficult to start anyone on New York other than Jaxson Dart, and this complicates matters further. Technically speaking, Russell Wilson is second on the Giants’ depth chart behind Dart, but in his limited action this season, he has appeared totally cooked.
Jameis Winston is the team’s third-string option, and one could make a strong case that he would allow New York to be more competitive. The firing of head coach Brian Daboll throws a further monkey wrench in this situation, with offensive coordinator Mike Kafka assuming temporary head coaching duties. We’d look to avoid this situation entirely for fantasy purposes.
Joe Burrow (QB – CIN)
How about a little positive news on the injury front for once? This was certainly unexpected. Cincinnati formally opened up the return window for Joe Burrow, after he had been sidelined with a Grade 3 turf toe injury since Week 2. Originally expected to miss the entire season, there is a possibility that he returns for the fantasy playoffs. ESPN’s Ben Baby confirmed that Burrow isn’t expected to start on Sunday against Pittsburgh in Week 11, but there is a possibility he could return by Week 13 against Baltimore.
Fantasy Impact: Joe Flacco has done an admirable job of keeping the Bengals competitive during his tenure, constantly peppering Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase with targets all over the field. Like many, I’ve been “Wacko for Flacco” as he has performed like a low-end QB1, and was one of this season’s best waiver wire additions. Burrow’s eventual return would relegate Flacco to the bench. Hopefully, he can keep this team within reach of a Wild Card berth or claim the AFC North.
Running Back
J.K. Dobbins (RB – DEN)
J.K. Dobbins was one of the lone bright spots for Denver in their sloppy 10-7 victory over Las Vegas on Thursday Night Football. In the middle of the third quarter, Dobbins left the field after being tackled awkwardly (it appeared to be of the hip-drop variety) at the end of a two-yard run.
Dobbins spoke with the Broncos’ medical staff briefly before returning to the game several drives later, and he was able to finish the contest. Reports surfaced on Friday that he is dealing with a foot injury and will seek a second opinion for the best course of action moving forward. No further updates have been released.
Fantasy Impact: Should J.K. Dobbins receive a recommendation to rest, rookie RJ Harvey would be the main beneficiary, with veterans Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie splitting duties behind him.
Harvey has been sensational when afforded an opportunity this year, but (per usual), head coach Sean Payton seems reluctant to trust the rookie. His blend of elusiveness and speed is elite, and he would enter the RB2 discussion if he drew the start in Week 11 against Kansas City, despite the difficult matchup.
Bam Knight (RB – ARI)
Which unit is more decimated: Arizona’s running backs or San Francisco’s wide receivers? At this point, it might be a coin flip. Bam Knight left Sunday’s contest against Seattle in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury, after he averaged a paltry 28 rushing yards on 10 attempts. Ruled questionable to return, he remained sidelined for the rest of the game.
Fantasy Impact: With Bam Knight going down, the lone healthy options in this backfield are Emari Demercado and Michael Carter. Although Trey Benson is eligible to return at any point, he failed to log a practice last week, and head coach Jonathan Gannon stated that he wasn’t ready to come back.
Demercado would be the preferred option to grab off the waiver wire if he is available (he is currently rostered in fewer than 19% of ESPN leagues) over Carter, due to his breakaway speed and receiving ability. He is sure to be one of the week’s most-added players, but we’d encourage managers to keep a vigilant eye on news from Arizona’s beat reporters about Knight’s status.
Wide Receiver
Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ)
Talk about adding insult to injury. Garrett Wilson was active for Sunday’s game against Cleveland and drew the start after logging multiple practices during the week. After failing to secure any of the three targets that went in his direction early on, Wilson left the field and was unable to return.
Wilson appears to have aggravated the injury that forced him to miss Weeks 7-8, and will undergo further tests to determine his status moving forward. Initial MRI results were positive, confirming that he wouldn’t require surgery, nor would he miss the remainder of the season. ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported that he will likely sit out until Week 14 against Miami.
Fantasy Impact: Considering the current state of New York’s offense, we aren’t sure that this will have any major impact outside of Garrett Wilson’s absence. Justin Fields only attempted a whopping 11 attempts this past Sunday, with the Jets opting to run the ball 33 times instead.
Rookie tight end Mason Taylor stands the most to benefit from a target perspective in Wilson’s absence, with both Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis becoming more involved in the passing game with check-downs or screen passes. We wouldn’t condone rushing to the waiver wire to grab Adonai Mitchell, John Metchie or Arian Smith — this team just doesn’t have enough upside to warrant a bid or claim.
Davante Adams (WR – LAR)
Amidst Los Angeles’ trouncing of San Francisco 42-26 on the road, Davante Adams left the game in the second half after grabbing his side on a route, without contact from a defender. Visibly in pain, he slowly came off the field and talked with medical personnel. It was later revealed that Adams had an oblique strain, but he is hopeful that the injury won’t force him to miss any time.
Fantasy Impact: Most medical professionals stated that if Davante Adams is indeed confirmed with a strain, they would expect him to miss Week 11 against Seattle, allowing it to heal. This is an injury that isn’t just painful to play through; it also carries a high risk of aggravation, which would cost him a significant amount of time.
Given the Rams’ 7-2 record and hopes of making the playoffs, I would be surprised to see the team push him out there if he were less than full strength. Should Adams miss time, his target share would be spread to Jordan Whittington and Xavier Smith, with tight ends Tyler Higbee and Terrance Ferguson also seeing looks. That said, Seattle’s defense is exceptionally strong, and not a unit that we would advise targeting.
Zay Jones (WR – ARI)
Zay Jones fell to the end zone turf after an incompletion in the second quarter against Seattle, and couldn’t place any weight on his left leg. After he was carted to the locker room, Jones was ruled out for the remainder of the game with an Achilles injury, and head coach Jonathan Gannon stated he will be placed on IR.
Fantasy Impact: It is doubtful that any fantasy manager was relying on Zay Jones to make a major weekly impact, but his absence will allow Greg Dortch more snaps. Both he and Michael Wilson have had spurts of relevance. With quarterback Jacoby Brissett under center, I’d at least place them on a watch list moving forward, as we navigate through the remainder of the bye weeks.
Tight End
Dalton Kincaid (TE – BUF)
This is an incredibly frustrating injury, since it appeared that things were finally starting to come together for Dalton Kincaid this season. After catching two of his three targets in the first half against Miami for 37 yards, Kincaid suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the remainder of the game.
Veterans Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes stepped into expanded roles for the remainder of the contest. Early reports have Kincaid listed as “week to week” with the strain, and his status for Week 11 against Tampa Bay is doubtful at best.
Fantasy Impact: Fantasy managers should be well acquainted with hamstring issues and how notoriously fickle they are. Most moderate strains require at least two to four weeks to fully heal, with a moderate risk of re-injury upon return. Dawson Knox would be the preferred pickup at the position and is a low-end TE1 streamer for managers looking for help at a thin spot.
Oronde Gadsden II (TE – LAC)
When I first saw the replay of Oronde Gadsden’s injury against Pittsburgh, it was difficult not to compare it to Tucker Kraft and the torn ACL he suffered last week. Thankfully, news out of Los Angeles was more positive than I initially expected. Though he missed the remainder of the game against the Steelers, Gadsden is currently considered “day to day” with a bruised quadriceps muscle, and it appears he managed to avoid anything more serious that would require an IR stint.
Fantasy Impact: All reports mainly have Oronde Gadsden’s return as a pain tolerance and soreness issue, rather than anything else. There is a chance he suits up for Week 11 against Jacksonville, but don’t be surprised to see the Chargers play things cautiously and allow him time to rest, considering their bye in Week 12.
Los Angeles has a deep stable of receiving options, so his presence is more of a luxury than a necessity to keep the offense moving. Should he miss the game against the Jaguars, Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin would split his reps and targets.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
