The Training Room: Week 10 Injury Updates
Fantasy football is such a funny game. No matter how many times I remind myself of that, I sometimes forget. A lot of websites/services put so much time and effort into rankings and projections but sometimes it just comes down to dumb luck. For instance, I am in a league where I am probably going to win this week with two zeros from Mike Gesicki and T.J. Hockenson. Last week Bryan Edwards felt like a solid flex option only to lay a goose egg. Fast forward one week and he is a top-10 WR (as of Sunday night). Jamal Agnew is fantasy relevant, c'mon who saw that coming?
Another prime example of the randomness of fantasy football is my wife likely crushing me this week in a family league. Fantasy football is literally a job for me. I research things the second the season ends, she put in 30 seconds of work before our draft (of course using 4for4 rankings to support the brand). As I sit here typing this Sunday night, she is fast asleep, no clue that her team spearheaded by Tyreek Hill is kicking my butt. I hope she doesn’t realize it until after Thanksgiving. Otherwise, the turkey is not the only thing that is going to be getting carved up this holiday season.
Aaron Jones, RB Green Bay Packers
Injury: MCL sprain
Timetable for recovery: 2-4 weeks
Potential Replacement(s): A.J. Dillon
Initial Thoughts:
Late in Sunday’s contest, Aaron Jones was tackled from behind and twisted his right knee when per sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson, Jones was visibly upset when he exited towards the locker room. The early word out of Green Bay is that Jones has an MCL sprain but the Packers want to conduct further testing. Typically the average games missed for an NFL RB with an MCL sprain is four weeks (timeline for David Montgomery this season). However, Green Bay will need to give the official extent of the injury this week. His season will be over if Jones has a complete (grade-3) MCL tear or ACL involvement. Dillon should be the guy in Jones’ absence. Update: Jones' injury is consisdered minor. He will avoid IR although it is still possible he could miss 3 weeks with an MCL sprain, espicially with the Packer's Week 13 bye.
Robert Woods, WR Los Angeles Rams
Injury: ACL tear
Timetable for recovery: season-ender
Potential Replacement(s): Van Jefferson, Odell Beckham, Ben Skowronek
Initial Thoughts:
In case you missed it, Robert Woods suffered an ACL tear during the Rams’ Friday practice. His season is over.
Alvin Kamara, RB New Orleans Saints
Injury: knee sprain (likely MCL)
Timetable for recovery: 2-4 weeks
Potential Replacement(s): Mark Ingram
Initial Thoughts:
This week, Alvin Kamara’s Week 9 injury became a hot button topic as many speculated on the extent of his injury. Originally I was concerned about a high ankle sprain based on his mechanism of injury, only to find out later that Kamara had a knee injury. Based on this information it is likely that Kamara is dealing with a left MCL sprain. Although Kamara was able to play through this injury in Week 9, the progression of the injury after the fact (which is normal) kept him out in Week 10. The Saints RB could miss another week, so his practice reports will be worth following. Mark Ingram handled nearly 90% of the Saints rushing attempts. He could be in line for another stud week should Kamara miss Week 11.
Chase Claypool, WR Pittsburgh Steelers
Injury: turf toe
Timetable for recovery: 3-4 weeks
Potential Replacement(s): James Washington, Ray-Ray McCloud
Initial Thoughts:
An injury that has been underreported is Chase Claypool’s toe injury. Claypool sustained the injury on Monday night, so we did not get official word until mid-week. Turf toe typically results in multi-week absences so it was surprising to not see Pittsburgh put Claypool on IR. There’s a chance Claypool is not back till Week 13, if not later.
Ricky Seals-Jones, TE Washington
Injury: quadriceps/hip flexor injury
Timetable for recovery: 4-6 weeks
Potential Replacement(s): Logan Thomas (when healthy), John Bates
Initial Thoughts:
Ricky Seal-Jones looked to injure his right hip/quadriceps. He had to be helped off the field and did not return. By video, it would appear to be either a hip flexor or quadricep strain. These soft tissue injuries can take ~4 weeks to heal. Seals-Jones was stepping in for Logan Thomas who has been out for six weeks with a hamstring injury. The bad luck continues for the WFT.
Terry McLaurin, WR Washington
Injury: clavicle injury
Timetable for recovery: 0-3 weeks
Potential Replacement(s): Dyami Brown, DeAndre Carter
Initial Thoughts:
Washington wideout Terry McLaurin landed hard on his shoulder Sunday and was diagnosed with a collarbone injury. McLaurin had to walk to the locker room for further testing. The good news is he was able to return and made some big catches for his team upon his return. Testing by the Washington Football staff revealed there was not a fracture. I think it is possible McLaurin could have a minor AC joint sprain. Like many of the injuries discussed in the column, it’s possible that McLaurin’s shoulder gets sorer later this week. I expect him to be ready for Week 11.
Baker Mayfield, QB Cleveland Browns
Injury: knee contusion
Timetable for recovery: 0-1 week
Potential Replacement(s): Case Keenum
Initial Thoughts:
Injuries continue to pile for Baker Mayfield, who could not finish Sunday’s game with a knee contusion. It sounds like Mayfield could have returned but given the blowout, Cleveland elected to keep him out.
Cordarrelle Patterson, RB/WR Atlanta Falcons
Injury: right ankle sprain
Timetable for recovery: 2-6 weeks
Potential Replacement(s): Mike Davis, Wayne Gallman
Initial Thoughts:
In the 1st quarter, Cordarrelle Patterson injured his right ankle. By video, it did look like a high ankle sprain. Patterson was able to return to the game in the 2nd quarter for a pair of plays but ultimately was shut down for the day. The Falcons play on Thursday night this week, meaning it’s almost certain they will be without Patterson in Week 11.
CeeDee Lamb, WR Dallas Cowboys
Injury: arm contusion
Timetable for recovery: 0 weeks
Potential Replacement(s): N/A
Initial Thoughts:
CeeDee Lamb injured his right arm in Sunday’s game. The official word was: arm contusion. By video, the injury looks minor. It would appear the Lamb’s arm took a blow from a Falcon defender. The occurrence of a more serious shoulder injury is unlikely since after he was tackled a teammate pulled his right arm to help Lamb up off the ground. If the injury was more serious this Lamb likely would not have used this arm. At the time, Dallas was up 36-3 and in control of the game. Holding Lamb out was precautionary. I have little fear CeeDee Lamb misses anytime for this injury.
Dallas Goedert, TE Philadelphia Eagles
Injury: concussion
Timetable for recovery: 1-4 weeks
Potential Replacement(s): Jack Stroll, Tyree Jackson
Initial Thoughts:
Dallas Goedert suffered a concussion Sunday and was immediately ruled out for the remainder of the game. He will have to clear the concussion protocol before he is able to return.
Jordan Howard, RB Philadelphia Eagles
Injury: possible ankle/knee sprain
Timetable for recovery: unknown
Potential Replacement(s): Boston Scott
Initial Thoughts:
In the 3rd quarter, Jordan Howard exited the game after he was tackled from behind. When a defender rolls up on the back of a ball carrier’s legs there can be concern about an ankle or knee sprain. Howard was able to return and log five more carries in the game but I mention it so fantasy managers are prepared heading into next week should Howard pop up on the injury report as we have seen injuries get worse later in the week. It could be irrelevant as I expect Miles Sanders to return to action this week.
Passed Injuries Discussed:
| Player | Team | Position | Injury | Week | Projected Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Fuller | Miami | WR | finger fracture | 4 | Week 11 |
| Chris Carson | Seattle | RB | neck | 4 | Unknown |
| Saquon Barkley | New York (G) | RB | inversion ankle sprain | 5 | Week 11 |
| Curtis Samuel | Washington | WR | groin strain | 5 | Week 11-13 |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire | Kansas City | RB | MCL sprain | 5 | Week 11-12 |
| Parris Campbell | Indianapolis | WR | foot injury | 6 | N/A |
| Latavius Murray | Baltimore | RB | ankle | 6 | Week 11 |
| Kareem Hunt | Cleveland | RB | calf strain | 6 | Week 11 |
| Antonio Brown | Tampa Bay | WR | eversion ankle sprain | 6 | Week 11-12 |
| Miles Sanders | Philadelphia | RB | inversion ankle sprain | 7 | Week 11 |
| Zach Wilson | New York (J) | QB | right PCL sprain | 7 | Week 11-12 |
| Rob Gronkowski | Tampa Bay | TE | back spasms | 8 | Week 11-12 |
| Kyler Murray | Arizona | QB | ankle sprain | 8 | Week 11 |
| DeAndre Hopkins | Arizona | WR | hamstring strain | 8 | Week 11-12 |
| Damien Williams | Chicago | RB | knee (unspecified) | 8 | Unknown |
| Tua Tagovailoa | Miami | QB | finger fracture | 9 | Week 11 |
| DeVante Parker | Miami | WR | hamstring strain | 9 | Week 12 |
| Chase Edmonds | Arizona | RB | ankle sprain | 9 | Week 13-14 |
| Alvin Kamara | New Orleans | RB | knee (likely MCL) | 9 | Week 12 |
| Julio Jones | Tennessee | WR | hamstring strain | 9 | Week 13 |
| Chase Claypool | Pittsburgh | WR | turf toe | 9 | Week 13 |
| Damien Harris | New England | RB | concussion | 9 | Week 11 |
| Aaron Jones | Green Bay | RB | MCL sprain | 10 | Week 14 |
| Ricky Seals-Jones | Washington | TE | hip injury | 10 | Week 14-15 |
| Terry McLaurin | Washington | WR | shoulder | 10 | Week 11 |
| Baker Mayfield | Cleveland | QB | knee contusion | 10 | Week 11 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | Atlanta | RB/WR | ankle sprain | 10 | Week 13 |
| CeeDee Lamb | Dallas | WR | arm contusion | 10 | Week 11 |
| Dallas Goedert | Philadelphia | TE | concussion | 10 | Week 12 |
