Week 8 delivered another brutal batch of NFL injuries with major fantasy names going down. From Saquon Barkley tweaking his groin during his best game of the season to Cam Skattebo suffering a devastating ankle fracture-dislocation, fantasy managers are scrambling once again. Below, I break down every key Week 8 injury with clear return-to-play expectations and the fantasy impact you need to know heading into waivers, lineup decisions, and the Week 9 bye week chaos.

Quarterbacks

Joe Flacco

Injury: Right shoulder injury

Analysis: Flacco briefly left Sunday's game after being tackled directly onto his right throwing shoulder, resembling an AC joint sprain. He was able to finish the game and is considered day-to-day. It will be interesting to see how a 40-year-old responds to an injury like this. It's not surprising he returned in-game, as it normally takes time for the swelling and stiffness to set in. I expect he was in much more pain and functionally limited on Monday morning. If Flacco is able to get his range of motion and strength back by next week, he should play, but expect some limitations on his throwing power. Quarterbacks average a 24% dip in fantasy points after an AC joint injury.

Carson Wentz

Injury: Left shoulder injury

Analysis: Wentz will undergo season-ending surgery for his left (non-throwing) shoulder. The Vikings won't give us specifics on the tissues being repaired, but most shoulder surgeries have a 5-6 month return to sport timeline, which would allow Wentz to be ready for training camp next year if he chooses to play another season. Wentz is firmly a backup at this point in his career and likely can be dropped in dynasty formats.

Running Backs

Saquon Barkley

Injury: Groin injury

Analysis: Saquon left his best game of the season with a mild groin injury. He personally does not appear too concerned, and fantasy managers shouldn't be either. Philly has a bye in week 9, which will give Barkley an additional week to rest and rehab. Functionally, the groin is involved in flexing and extending the hip during sprinting, but is not the primary mover and can often be played through without any impact on production. Running backs average missing less than one game and no drop off in fantasy points after a groin injury.

Alvin Kamara

Injury: Ankle injury and Knee injury

Analysis: Kamara finished the game on Sunday, but with a season low 51% snap share. In the latter portion of the second quarter, he took an awkward tackle in which his left ankle was rolled up on, and his right knee slammed into the ground. He limped off the field and only played sparingly in the second half. To date, there is no reported injury, and this is just a situation to monitor ahead of practice reports this week. Don't be surprised if Kamara is limited or doesn't practice at all in some of the early sessions this week.

Cam Skattebo

Injury: Right ankle fracture and dislocation

Analysis: The most exciting and productive running back in this year's rookie class has a long road ahead of him. Skattebo was carted off the field and sent to the hospital after a grumsum ankle fracture and dislocation. There is some speculation that this was an open fracture where the tibia bone protrudes through the skin, exposing the risk for infection.

Skattebo underwent surgery Sunday night and is in good spirits, but this is an incredibly difficult injury to come back from. The first concern is for infection. Over the next few weeks, doctors will be routinely checking for any signs of infection. An infection would significantly alter his course of rehab and recovery, so let's hope that does not happen.

Operating under the assumption that this remains a purely orthopedic situation, an ankle fracture with dislocation is a 9+ month return to sport timeline. During the rehab, there is a long non-weight-bearing period and limitations on the range of motion. The combination of these in the early phases post-operatively leads to temporary (hopefully temporary, sometimes chronic) stiffness and significant loss of strength. Over the next several months, rehab focuses on regaining motion, strength, balance/proprioception, and later, running, agility, jumping, and finally, several months down the road, sport-specific moves.

A recent comparison is Chris Godwin's last season, though even Godwin's injury was not as severe as Skattebo's. Godwin dislocated his ankle and fractured his fibula in week 7 of 2024, returned in week 4 this season, did not look great, and has been out since week 5 with a different injury that is almost definitely due to mechanical changes from his surgery. I am most certainly not saying Skattebo has the same fate as Godwin, but he has a long road of rehab ahead of him. Skattebo is just 23 years old, which will be his biggest advantage in tackling rehab and returning to a high level of play. Full recovery is possible, but more likely to happen in 2027 versus 2026.

Quinshon Judkins

Injury: AC joint sprain

Analysis: Judkins is day-to-day with an AC joint sprain. He is considered day-to-day and has the advantage of a week 9 bye to heal. An AC joint injury obviously won't impact his speed, cutting, acceleration, etc, but can impact his willingness to take contact. Running backs average missing 2.5 games and see a 19% dip in fantasy points in the first game after an AC joint sprain.

Isiah Pacheco

Injury: MCL Sprain

Analysis: The Chiefs' bruiser sprained his MCL on Monday night and is considered week-to-week. The good news is that the MCL receives a good blood supply, so generally grade I-II injuries heal really well. The bad news is that in the NFL, running backs average missing 3 games and see a 13% dip in fantasy points when they return. With Kansas City on a bye in week 10, expect Pachecco to miss week ,9 and we will revisit his status ahead of week 11.

Wide Receivers

Rashid Shaheed

Injury: Right hip injury

Analysis: Shaheed went down late in Sunday's game with a hip injury but was able to jog off the field. So far, there is not much in the way of reporting, and we will closely monitor Wednesday's practice report. As a speed guy, a hip injury could impact Shaheed's deep balls and ability to separate and run after the catch, but it all depends on the severity. Receivers historically average no drop off in fantasy points after a hip injury.

Terry McLaurin

Injury: Quad Aggravation

Analysis: McLaurin aggravated his quad injury on Monday night. He states that he is okay, but this is one to monitor closely. Re-injury was a big risk I've been highlighting with McLaurin, and unfortunately, the 30-year-old did re-injure in just the first game back. I expect McLaurin to be extremely limited in practice (if he even practices at all) this week and may carry another questionable tag into week 9.

Quad injuries have about a 10% recurrence risk, but the visit with a "core specialist" at the onset of his injury raised eyebrows that perhaps this was more than just a quad injury. Core injuries, or even rectus femoris tendon (proximal quad tendon) injuries, are challenging to treat conservatively. While McLaurin can likely play well this season, he likely remains a frequent flier on the injury report.

Luther Burden

Injury: Concussion

Analysis: Burden is in the NFL's concussion protocol. Most players miss at least one game, but some return without missing any time.

Marvin Mims

Injury: Concussion

Analysis: Mims will have to pass through the NFL's concussion protocol before returning to play.

Tight Ends

Harold Fannin Jr.

Injury: Undisclosed injury

Analysis: Fannin has an undisclosed injury, but it does not appear to be serious. We will look out for more information.

Daniel Bellinger

Injury: Neck injury

Analysis: Bellinger injured his neck on Sunday. There is little in the way of reporting, and we will look out for practice reports this week.