A player's injury status can have a significant effect on fantasy football and DFS — it can alter draft strategy, roster construction and, most importantly, it can determine start-or-sit decisions.
Each week, I will comb through the official injury reports for each game and give updates and analysis for fantasy-relevant players. Injuries are fluid, so make sure to stay up to date by following @mario_pilato on Twitter.
BLT | BUF | CHI | CLE | IND | LAR | NO | PIT | SEA | TB | TEN | WFT
BALTIMORE RAVENS
| Player | Pos | PFF grade | Consensus Rank | Injury | Status |
| Robert Griffin III | QB | 52.9 | N/A | Hamstring | IR |
| Trace McSorley | QB | 57.4 | N/A | Knee | IR |
| Willie Snead IV | WR | 71.6 | WR32 | Ankle | Questionable |
Mario’s take: Griffin injured his hamstring in Week 13. The Ravens placed Griffin on IR, and he will miss the rest of the season.
McSorely suffered a MCL sprain in Week 14 and was placed on IR, effectively ending his season.
Snead IV did not practice Wednesday but was a limited participant Thursday and Friday. I am optimistic Snead IV returns against the Titans.
BUFFALO BILLS
| Player | Pos | PFF grade | Consensus Rank | Injury | Status |
| Cole Beasley | WR | 84.9 | WR23 | Knee | Questionable |
| Stefon Diggs | WR | 89.4 | WR1 | Oblique | Questionable |
Mario’s take: Beasley did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday but a limited participant Thursday. I believe Beasley has a shot at playing in the first round of the playoffs.
Diggs was a limited participant Tuesday, did not participate Wednesday, and was a limited participant Thursday. However, I believe he will play in the Bills’ Wild Card game.
CHICAGO BEARS
| Player | Pos | PFF grade | Consensus Rank | Injury | Status |
| Darnell Mooney | WR | 68.7 | WR20 | Ankle | Questionable |
Mario’s take: Mooney did not practice= all week and I am not optimistic he will be ready to go for the Bears’ Wild Card game against the Saints.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
| Player | Pos | PFF grade | Consensus Rank | Injury | Status |
| Odell Beckham Jr. | WR | 75.3 | N/A | Knee | IR |
Mario’s take: Beckham tore his ACL in Week 7, and I believe he also damaged his meniscus. Beckham will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
| Player | Pos | PFF grade | Consensus Rank | Injury | Status |
| Jonathan Taylor | RB | 83.9 | RB3 | Shoulder | (-) |
| Philip Rivers | QB | 77.2 | QB9 | Toe | (-) |
| Parris Campbell | WR | 72.8 | N/A | Knee | IR |
Mario’s take: Taylor was a limited participant at practice Tuesday and Wednesday but a full participant Thursday. He will play in the Colts’ Wild Card game.
Rivers did not practice Tuesday but was a full participant Wednesday and Thursday. He will play against the Bills.
Campbell was carted off the field in Week 2 after spraining his MCL and PCL. He was placed on IR and will miss the rest of the season.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
| Player | Pos | PFF grade | Consensus Rank | Injury | Status |
| Cam Akers | RB | 68.4 | RB5 | Ankle | (-) |
| Darrell Henderson | RB | 80.4 | N/A | Ankle | IR |
| Jared Goff | QB | 71.4 | QB12 | Thumb | Questionable |
Mario’s take: Akers was limited at practice Tuesday but a full participant Wednesday and Thursday. He will play in the Rams’ Wild Card game.
Henderson suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 16 and has been placed on IR. He will miss the first round of the playoffs.
Goff suffered a dislocated thumb and fracture in Week 16. He underwent surgery on Monday last week. He was a limited participant all week and I expect him to play against the Seahawks.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
| Player | Pos | PFF grade | Consensus Rank | Injury | Status |
| Alvin Kamara | RB | 82.1 | RB2 | COVID-19 | (-) |
| Michael Thomas | WR | 85.2 | N/A | Ankle | (-) |
| Tre-Quan Smith | WR | 59.9 | N/A | Ankle | IR |
Mario’s take: Kamara missed Week 17 due to being on the reserve/COVID-19 list but was activated on Wednesday. He will play in Wild Card match-up vs the Bears.
Thomas has been designated for return from IR. I believe he will be ready to go for the Wild Card game.
Smith injured his ankle in Week 15 and was placed on IR. I am not optimistic he will play in the first round of the playoffs.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
N/A
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
| Player | Pos | PFF grade | Consensus Rank | Injury | Status |
| Bo Scarbrough | RB | 73.0 | N/A | Hamstring | IR |
| Chris Carson | RB | 78.1 | RB6 | Foot | (-) |
| DeeJay Dallas | RB | 72.1 | N/A | Ankle | (-) |
| Greg Olsen | TE | 62.0 | TE17 | Foot | (-) |
| Rashaad Penny | RB | 55.6 | RB24 | Knee | (-) |
| Travis Homer | RB | 58.0 | N/A | Wrist/Thumb/Knee | Questionable |
Mario’s take: Scarbrough tore his hamstring and will miss the remainder of the season.
Carson was a DNP Tuesday due to maintenance but was a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday. He will play in the Seahawks’ Wild Card game.
Dallas was carted off of the field in the second quarter of Week 16 and hasn’t played since. He was a full participant at practice Wednesday and Thursday, and I expect Dallas to return to action in the first round of the playoffs.
Olsen left Week 11 after injuring his foot but returned in Week 16. Olsen has been a full participant all week and will play in the Seahawks’ playoff game against the Rams.
Penny was a limited participant Thursday but he will play against the Rams.
Homer did not practice on Wednesday and needs to be monitored as the week progresses.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
| Player | Pos | PFF grade | Consensus Rank | Injury | Status |
| Mike Evans | WR | 74.1 | WR13 | Knee | Questionable |
| O.J. Howard | TE | 80.1 | N/A | Ankle | IR |
Mario’s take: Evans did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday but was a limited participant Thursday due to a bone bruise suffered in Week 17. Evans will play in the Buc’s playoff match-up with the Washington Football Team. I would be cautious rolling him out in DFS. I do not believe he is fully healthy.
Howard tore his Achilles in Week 11. He underwent surgery and will miss the remainder of the season.
TENNESSEE TITANS
| Player | Pos | PFF grade | Consensus Rank | Injury | Status |
| Adam Humphries | WR | 69.9 | N/A | Head | IR |
| A.J. Brown | WR | 90.1 | WR2 | Ankle | Questionable |
Mario’s take: Humphries was placed on IR due to a concussion.
Brown was a limited participant Wednesday and did not practice Thursday or Friday, but he will play in the Wild Card match-up with the Titans.
WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
| Player | Pos | PFF grade | Consensus Rank | Injury | Status |
| Alex Smith | QB | 66.0 | QB11 | Calf | Questionable |
| Antonio Gibson | RB | 80.9 | RB9 | Toe | Questionable |
| Kyle Allen | QB | 68.5 | N/A | Ankle | IR |
| Terry McLaurin | WR | 78.0 | WR9 | Ankle | Questionable |
Mario’s take: Smith strained his calf in Week 14 and did not play in Week 15 or 16. He was able to tough it out in a must-win Week 17 matchup. He was a DNP Tuesday and was a limited participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday. Smith's calf is still causing him issues and I am pessimistic he returns to action against the Bucs.
Gibson suffered a serious turf toe injury in Week 13 and did not play in Week 14 or 15. He returned to action in Week 16. Gibson was a DNP Tuesday but a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday. He will be good to go in the Wild Card game.
Allen is undergoing surgery to repair his fractured dislocated ankle. He will miss the remainder of the season.
McLaurin was a DNP Tuesday but a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday. I expect McLaurin to play in the first round of the playoffs.
Mario Pilato has a master's degree in Kinesiology and a bachelor's degree in Exercise Sports Science, along with eight years of experience in the strength and conditioning industry, including at the collegiate and NFL level. His injury analysis articles will appear weekly.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.