The fantasy championships are over, and if you have been reading my articles all season, I hope you are a champion! While the general fantasy season is over, let's be honest: you are probably going to continue playing daily fantasy or making prop bets from Week 18 through the Super Bowl, making it critical that you continue to tune in for breakdowns of all the major injuries. Week 17 didn't hit us too hard, with no star players suffering major injuries, but plenty sustaining mild to moderate injuries that will be a factor ahead of Week 18. Let's dive into the week 17 NFL injury recap and learn about the injuries to Josh Allen, Blake Corum, Luther Burden, and many more.

Quarterbacks

Josh Allen

Injury: Right foot injury

Analysis: Allen clearly aggravated his right foot on Sunday. However, he did continue to play, and although he looked slightly slower, he still performed fairly well. Allen had X-rays again, which were negative, continuing to hint at a sprain in the mid-foot. As we discussed during last week's injury preview article, the mid-foot is a critical junction in the foot for throwing and running. The mid-foot adapts shape depending on what the foot and body are doing. When the foot is accepting weight, it flattens out to absorb ground reaction forces, and when the foot is ready to pushoff the mid-foot creates a rigid arch to generate power from. When an injury is mild, this function is spared, but moderate-severe sprains (which do not appear to currently be the case for Allen) disrupt the mid-foots shape-shifting ability and impact power generation needed for throwing and running.

Right now, there is no indication Allen is dealing with anything more than a mild injury, and pain is the main factor that could impact performance. Allen will receive plenty of treatment throughout the week and will likely utilize either a supportive insert or heavy tape job to protect the midfoot and allow him to play fairly well, but he may not be at 100% until this foot heals more. Rushing upside is the main potential impact, though at times it appeared Allen was not comfortable fully pushing off his right foot to throw.

Malik Willis

Injury: Right shoulder injury

Analysis: As we discussed last week, Willis was able to play really well through his right shoulder injury, accounting for 288 passing yards and over 34 fantasy points before re-injuring. With an aggravation of his right shoulder injury, it is unclear if he will be able to get the pain and function where it needs to be for week 18. Packers starter Jordan Love may also be back from a concussion, buying Willis time to rehab before potentially being needed again in the playoffs.

Geno Smith

Injury: Ankle Injury

Analysis: A rough season continues for Smith. Geno's season is likely over as he won't be rushed back from a significant ankle sprain to play in a meaningless week 18 game. An ankle sprain can make it difficult for a quarterback to be mobile in the pocket and load up for throwing power, but it will be fully resolved by next season.

Running Backs

Saquon Barkley

Injury: Right ankle injury

Analysis: Barkley's foot and ankle briefly got caught into an eversion moment, which loads the medial portions of the ankle and can cause high or medial ankle sprains. He sat out for a handful of plays but was able to return to run strongly. Video review shows that Barkley's ankle was not trapped long, likely saving him from a more significant injury. Barkey should be safe from anything major, but sometimes these get worse the next morning, and it will be critical to look out for weekly updates.

Javonte Williams

Injury: Shoulder injury

Analysis: Williams, who has been dealing with a stinger, apparently injured his shoulder in week 17. Oftentimes, a stinger and a shoulder injury can be related; it's unclear if this is the case for Javonte. Generally, shoulder injuries that do not require surgery are not the most devastating for a running back, as they average missing under one game, but do see a substantial 19% drop in fantasy points when they return from injury. With Dallas playing for nothing in week 18, it would not be a surprise if Javonte does not play.

James Cook

Injury: Neck/shoulder injury

Analysis: Cook landed awkwardly on his neck/shoulder and appeared a little shaken up, but did finish the game. Cook did not look particularly hindered after the hit, and this should not be a big deal going forward, but is one that fans and fantasy players will want to keep an eye on.

Aaron Jones

Injury: Ankle injury

Analysis: Jones was injured again on Christmas following a hip drop tackle. Jones reported feeling pain in his ankle, knee, and hip, but was able to power through and finish the game. Jones was not reported to have any injury designation after the game, but it would not be surprising if he either misses practice or is limited to start the week on Wednesday. Jones production has taken a gigantic hit this season as the 31-year-old's list of injuries continues to pile up. Another injury to the list and a meaningless game in week 18 could cause the veteran to sit, or at least cede snaps.

Blake Corum

Injury: Ankle injury

Analysis: Corum injured his right ankle early in Monday night's game. Official word has not been released on what his injury is, but it was suspicious for a high ankle sprain. If true, running backs average missing 2.4 games, threatening their availability for the first round of the playoffs. High ankle sprains impact the stability within the ankle joint, which is critical for planting and cutting to change direction, and have a longer recovery time than a lateral (low) ankle sprain. The good news is that running backs average no drop-off in fantasy points after injury.

Wide Receivers

Marvin Harrison Jr.

Injury: Heel injury / Foot injury

Analysis: Harrison aggravated his heel injury and picked up a foot injury on the other leg, forcing him out of Sunday's game before recording a single catch. Harrison wants to play in week 18, but at this point may be shut down for the season, so what does this mean for next year? Heel injuries usually are not long-term issues. A heel injury that can be played through is likely one of two things. 1) A bad bruise. 2) A plantar fascia issue.

If Harrison's situation is a bruise, a few weeks of rest will do the trick, and he will be ready to go for all off-season activities. If Harrison has a plantar fascia issue, this can still easily get under control with all of the off-season team activities, but it will have a longer course of rehab. Either way, fantasy managers should expect Harrison to have most of the offseason to train and be ready to go next year with no hindrance from this heel injury.

As for his new foot injury, clearly it is not a fracture or a major sprain. If either of those were the case, there is no shot he would play in week 18. Receivers average missing 2.3 games from non-surgical foot injuries, but many have missed no time at all. The foot's health and function are critical for the receiver's ability to change directions smoothly and create space, as well as the ability to get deep down the field. As such, receivers average a whopping 50% decline in fantasy production when they return from a foot injury. If you are playing daily fantasy in week 18, Harrison should not be on your roster.

Michael Pittman

Injury: Calf strain

Analysis: Pittman left Sunday's game for a period of time due to a calf injury, but did return. He was not productive before or after injury, and a lingering calf injury will threaten week 18 production. Let's see what his practice statuses look like of course, but historically, receivers see a massive 33% dip in fantasy production after a calf injury. This is rooted in the essential function of the calf to power acceleration and sprinting. When these functions are even slightly reduced, it is very challenging for a receiver to get off the ball and create space. A big-bodied receiver like Pittman will have an easier time overcoming speed and acceleration loss, but is still at a disadvantage from a fantasy standpoint.

Jaylen Waddle

Injury: Rib injury

Analysis: Waddle injured his ribs on Sunday but was able to return, though if you purely looked at the statsheet you wouldn't have known that he returned. The ability to continue to play all but rules out a fracture, and no doubt he is dealing with soreness. The question is, does this rib injury impact his torso and shoulder mobility enough that he can move the way he needs to? Most of the time, receivers play through rib injuries, as they average missing less than one game, but do see a steep 18% decline in fantasy production. It remains to be seen if this will limit Waddle in week 18.

Devonta Smith

Injury: Left shoulder/side injury

Analysis: Smith landed hard on his left shoulder and sat out one play. It was unclear if his injury was to his shoulder or his side, but it did not appear to slow him down, and there was no chatter of injury after the game. He may be okay, but we will monitor practice reports.

Rashid Shaheed

Injury: Concussion

Analysis: Shaheed exited Sunday's game with a concussion and will need to clear the NFL's protocol before playing.

Dontayvian Wicks

Injury: Concussion

Analysis: Wicks also suffered a concussion and will need to pass through the NFL's protocol. Wicks played Saturday, giving him an additional day to get ready.

Luther Burden

Injury: Quad injury

Analysis: At the very end of his best game of his career Burden injured his quad requiring the cart to transport him off the field. Fourtunatley Burden avoided major injury. The quad muscles are a big-time power and speed generator and must be functioning optimally for a receiver to get open down the field and create separation. Receivers average missing just over one game, but see no drop-off in fantasy points after injury. Recurrence rates are 10-15%.

Tight Ends

Jake Ferguson

Injury: Calf injury

Analysis: Calf injuries have close to a 20% recurrence risk, we saw that with Jake Ferguson who originally injured his calf in week 14 and is now out again. With Dallas out of playoff contention, I would be shocked if Ferguson plays in the final contest. With a whole off-season to rehab and train, Ferguson's calf will be back to 100% by next season.

Harold Fannin Jr.

Injury: Groin strain

Analysis: Fannin played well initially through his groin injury, with 30 yards and a touchdown until re-injuring his groin while making an athletic twisting catch, the perfect way to stress the groin. Fannin did not return, and I do not expect him to play in week 18. An amazing rookie season is likely over, but there should be no lingering effects into 2026. Fannin is one of the best young tight ends and will be a TE1 during fantasy drafts next season.

Ja'Tavian Sanders

Injury: Ankle fracture

Analysis: Sanders broke his ankle after being rolled up on while blocking. Details have not emerged, but this usually leads to a fibula fracture. It's unclear if his injury will require surgery or natural healing, and the exact details will dictate how long rehab is. If this is purely a fibula fracture with routine healing, he will be ready to go for offseason activities.

Darnell Washington

Injury: Forearm fracture

Analysis: Washington broke his arm in week 17. The absolute shortest amount of time missed would be four weeks, which would require his teammates to make a deep run into the playoffs. Four weeks would still be a very quick return to action.