If you have reason to read the week 17 injury report, congratulations, that means you are still playing!?This season has hit us worse than ever with injuries, and the Fantasy Injury Team has been here to guide you through injuries all season long.?Let's dive into the injuries impacting championship week.

Quarterbacks

Trevor Lawrence

Injury: Shoulder

Lawrence, who continues to heal from a high ankle sprain, added yet another injury to his list.?Lawrence sprained his right (throwing) shoulder while stretching out for a first down.?This being his throwing shoulder has obvious implications on both throwing power and accuracy.?Lawrence will not play in week 17.

Expected Return: Week 18

Fantasy Impact: Quarterbacks see a substantial 35% dip in fantasy production after a sprain to their throwing shoulder.?This does not come as a surprise.

Tua Tagovailoa

Injury: Thumb, Quad

Tua popped up on the injury report this week, limited with both a left thumb and quad injury but will play.?The thumb is essential for gripping and, therefore, throwing.?Without a properly functioning thumb, accuracy becomes a real issue.?The quad injury can impact his ability to evade defenders.?With Tua able to practice removed from the injury report, this is likely not a major issue.

Expected Return: Week 17

Fantasy Impact: He should not be impacted by this injury.

CJ Stroud

Injury: Concussion

Stroud has cleared the concussion protocol and will play.

Expected Return: Week 17

Fantasy Impact: We do not expect a decline in fantasy production after a concussion.

Running Backs

Josh Jacobs

Injury: Quad

Jacobs missed another game with a quad injury and does not appear on track to play in week 17.?The quad is a group of strong muscles in the thigh that are critically important for acceleration, sprinting, and changing direction. Additionally, medical literature sites a 10% recurrence rate for quad injuries.  Jacobs is not expected to play this week.

Expected Return: Week 18

Fantasy Impact: Running backs see no decline in fantasy production when they return from a quad injury.?If Jacbos can play next week, he will be a solid start.

Brian Robinson

Injury: Hamstring

Robinson has missed two games plus a bye week with a hamstring injury.?Now four weeks out from injury, Robinson is ready to go.?Hamstrings carry a very high recurrence rate, especially when rushed back, but fortunately, the Commanders have allowed Robinson several weeks to rehab.?Hamstring injuries impact an athlete's ability to hit top speed, which takes 30-40 yards to get to.?Robinson is a downhill power runner, rarely hitting his top speed.?For this reason, Robinson is less likely to be affected by a hamstring injury than other runners would be.?

Expected Return: Week 17

Fantasy Impact: Running backs see no decline in fantasy production after a hamstring injury.?Robinson is a solid start.

Isiah Pacheco

Injury: Concussion

Pacheco took a knee to the helmetless dome on Sunday, causing a concussion.?Pacheco will have to progress through the concussion protocol before he can play.

Expected Return: Week 17-18

Fantasy Impact: We do not expect a decline in fantasy production after a concussion.

Rhamondre Stevenson

Injury: High Ankle Sprain

High ankle sprains are challenging to recover from, as the nature of the injury creates instability in the ankle, making it difficult to push off for explosive cuts and power.?In order to play, pain and swelling must resolve, stability must be restored, and the back must be able to cut on a dime without restriction.?There is a wide spectrum of 0-6 games missed for running backs.?With New England firmly out of contention, Stevenson has been placed on the IR. 

Expected Return: 2024

Fantasy Impact: Stevenson will be back to 100% by next season.

Raheem Mostert

Injury: Ankle

Mostert has been dealing with ankle injuries all season but suffered a new one last week. He was able to practice on Friday, making this less than concerning, especially considering he's been dealing with these injuries all year. 

Expected Return: Week 17

Fantasy Impact: RBs see a dip of 14% in fantasy production after ankle sprains. For the RB2 on the year, who cares? Start him. 

Kenneth Walker

Injury: Shoulder, Illness

Walker missed practices Wednesday and Thursday but returned on Friday.?This is the same shoulder injury he dealt with last week before ultimately playing and logging 58% of snaps and handling 17 touches.?Assuming he plays, his shoulder should be in good enough condition to perform well.?The illness is more of a mystery that fantasy players should check in before the game to ensure he is playing through.

Expected Return: Week 17

Fantasy Impact: Walked saw a 27% decline in his average fantasy production last week when he was playing through this injury.?Stil, he logged 17 touches, which is more than enough for him to produce.?He should be able to play well through this injury.

Chuba Hubbard

Injury: Hamstring

Initially listed with a hamstring injury earlier this week, has since been removed from the injury report. Hamstrings impact top-end speed and do carry high recurrence rates, but with him being completely off the injury report, this is a non-issue. 

Expected Return: Week 17

Fantasy Impact: RBs see no drop in fantasy production after hamstring

Chris Rodriguez

Injury: Ankle

Following his MRI, Rodriguez was placed on the injured reserve, and his season is over.

Expected Return: 2024

Fantasy Impact: This should not impact his availability for week 1 next season.

Wide Receivers

Jaylen Waddle

Injury: High Ankle Sprain

Waddle suffered a high ankle sprain this weekend, putting his status for the fantasy football championship in question.?Waddle is a shifty, speed-based receiver.?This type of injury profiles to hinder this type of play.?High ankle sprains create a degree of instability within the ankle, making it difficult to change direction quickly.?Waddle will have to regain this stability in order to play well.?Receivers average missing 4 games with a high ankle, making it possible we do not see Waddle until the playoffs.

Expected Return: TBD

Fantasy Impact: Receivers see a mild 5% dip in fantasy production when they return from a high ankle sprain.

DJ Moore

Injury: High ankle sprain

Moore's situation is essentially the same as Waddle's above, as both have similar playing styles, and both are dealing with high ankle sprains.?Moore, however, was able to return to the game, though not very effectively.?Nonetheless, Moore was a full participant in practice on Wednesday.?It's unlikely he's at 100%, but should be healthy enough to be effective.

Expected Return: Week 17

Fantasy Impact: Receivers only see a mild 5% dip in fantasy production after a high ankle sprain.?

Ja'Marr Chase

Injury: AC joint injury

When reported as a “separated shoulder,” this typically indicates at least a grade 2 injury.?Grade 2 AC joint injuries are described as tearing of the acromioclavicular and coracoclavicular ligaments, leading to laxity in the AC joint, therefore allowing it to “separate.”?

Receivers average missing only 1.2 games with AC joint injuries, and with Cincinnati fighting for their playoff lives, Chase will push hard to be ready to play.?He was able to log limited practices on Thursday and Friday, but his availability will come down to game time.

Expected Return: Week 17-18

Fantasy Impact: Receivers do average a 26% decline in fantasy points after an AC joint injury, however we have seen numerous players play well in the first game.?Keenan Allen and Puka Nacua are two examples this season who picked up right where they left off after an AC joint injury.?If he can return for the fantasy championship, he may be able to help your team. 

DK Metcalf

Injury: Back

Metcalf is dealing with stiffness in his back but is expected to play.?We have seen this a few times this season.?Ja'Marr Chase and Rhamandre Stevenson both played just fine after similar injuries, and this fits the general trajectory of low back stiffness.?Acute low back stiffness is not very hard to improve; in fact, in my practice, I routinely help patients move and feel much better in just a few days.?Additionally, this type of injury will feel much better as the athlete warms up.?This should not impact Metcalf's game.

Expected Return: Week 17

Fantasy Impact: This should not impact Metcalf's game; he's a solid start.

Jordan Addison

Injury: Ankle

Addison is listed as day-to-day after injuring his ankle last week.?Addison has been incredible this season, but these injuries can impact receivers' ability to change direction, impacting their route running and run-after-catch ability.?Addison's was limited in practice this week and is a game-time decision.

Expected Return: Week 17-18

Fantasy Impact: Receivers average a decline of 14% in fantasy production after ankle sprains.?Being limited in practice, he will likely be playing well below 100% if he plays.?While he's been spectacular this year, with the addition of this injury, he is a fringe WR3 this week.

Keenan Allen

Injury: Heel

When no fracture is present (it’s not), heel injuries typically feel better when the player is warmed up but can frequently worsen.?These injuries can impact top speed and acceleration.?Allen has been uber-reliable his entire career, but this injury, combined with the direction of the Chargers season, Allen will not be playing this week.

Expected Return: Week 18

Fantasy Impact: Allen will not play this week.

Michael Pittman

Injury: Concussion, Shoulder

Pittman is questionable as he continues to recover from both a concussion and shoulder injury, but he is expected to play.?Pittman was close to playing last week but began to experience concussion symptoms ahead of the week 16 game, resulting in him not being cleared to play.?

With it being the concussion, not the shoulder that held him out, it is likely that his shoulder is mobile and strong enough to play.?This should not impact his production.

Expected Return: Week 17

Fantasy Impact: Concussions are not expected to hinder fantasy production when players return.?Receivers do not see a drop off in fantasy production after shoulder injuries.?In total, if Pittman plays, he should be a reliable start.

Zay Flowers

Injury: Calf

Flowers popped on the Wednesday injury report with a calf and missed Thursday as well before a limited practice Friday.?His practice participation tells us this is a problem.?

These are bad injuries for wide receivers. The calf muscles are critical for acceleration, sprinting, and jumping, and the calves carry a 14-16% recurrence rate. Calf injuries historically zap fantasy production from receivers.

Expected Return: Week 17-18

Fantasy Impact: Receivers average a decline of 43% in fantasy production, and <5% are able to meet or exceed their pre-injury production levels in the first game after a calf injury.?He's been great, but you need to consider benching him.

Puka Nacua

Injury: Hip

Nacua missed Friday's practice with hip tightness but is expected to play. Hip tightness will usually feel better after treatment and warming up, so if he can suit up, this shouldn't impact his production. Check-in before the game to make sure he plays. 

Expected Return: Week 17

Fantasy Impact: WRs see no decline in production when returning from hip injuries. Puka is a great start as long as he suits up. 

Josh Palmer

Injury: Concussion

Palmer as been ruled out with a concussion.

Expected Return: Week 18

Fantasy Impact: We do not expect any decline in fantasy production when players return from a concussion.

Dontayvian Wicks

Injury: Chest, Ankle

Wicks was "very limited" in practice this week with both a chest and ankle injury.?Chest injuries typically come down to pain tolerance, of course respecting that key muscles such as the lats, pecs, and obliques attach to the ribs and can influence movement.?However, receivers typically play just fine after chest injuries.

Ankle injuries can be more problematic as they can slow down a change of direction.?

Expected Return: Week 17-18

Fantasy Impact: The chest injury is less concerning; however, receivers see a 14% drop off in fantasy production after ankle injuries. While not a huge drop-off, Wicks has not been reliable just yet.?

Courtland Sutton

Injury: Concussion

Sutton has been ruled out with a concussion.

Expected Return: 18

Fantasy Impact: We do not expect a decline in fantasy production after a concussion.

Tight Ends

TJ Hockenson

Injury: ACL + MCL

Tough break for the star tight end.?Hockenson's season ended this weekend after tearing both his ACL and MCL, which will require season-ending surgery and put his availability for week 1 next season in doubt.?When returning from an ACL (or ACL+) injury, there are four main factors that influence a player's readiness for week one.?Let's break down Hockensons situation.

• Age: At 26 years old, age is not working for or against Hockenson.
• Number of Tissues Involved: The addition of the MCL will slow down the early phases of rehab.?Typically, surgeons do not allow full weight bearing for two weeks and put limits on range of motion into knee flexion for the first 4-6 weeks.?Not weight bearing leads to rapid strength loss, and restricting knee range of motion occasionally can lead to scarring, making it harder to regain range of motion.?It could be worse, but we would prefer an isolated ACL injury.
• Time From Surgery To Week One: At present, we are about 8.5 months from week one.?Regardless of when Hockenson has surgery, he will be hard-pressed to be ready in week one.?Often when there are multiple tissues injured, there is a period of time the athlete must wait before surgery to allow swelling to dissipate.?Let's hope Hockenson can get surgery sooner rather than later.
• Freak Athlete?: This is in Hockensons favor.

Overall, it is highly unlikely that Hockenson will be ready for week one next season.?There are numerous obstacles ahead of him, and it is impossible to predict what week he will play, but at this point, I would guess somewhere around week 8.

Expected Return: Mid-season 2024

Fantasy Impact: Most recently, Zack Ertz and Logan Thomas saw 40-50% declines in their fantasy production the season after an ACL or ACL+ injury.?Hockenson is a higher-level player than both, so he likely won't see that big of a hit, but it would be naive to expect Hockenson to be elite next season.?

Cole Kmet

Injury: Knee

Kmet banged up his knee this weekend and missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday before logging a limited practice on Friday.?Knee injuries slow down lateral agility, which is not going to impact a tight end as much as it would a running back or receiver.

Expected Return: Week 17-18

Fantasy Impact: I would not anticipate this impacting his fantasy bottom line.

Darren Waller

Injury: Knee

Death, taxes, and Darren Waller being injured.?Waller was limited Wednesday with a knee injury but did practice in full on Thursday and Friday.?Like Kmet above, these typically impact running backs and receivers more so than tight ends.?He should be fine.

Expected Return: Week 17

Fantasy Impact: He should not be hindered by this injury.