Inside the Tent - Week 6 NFL Injury Insight

Injury updates and analysis for Week 6 of the 2018 NFL season. Medical expert Aaron Burger, SPT, provides analysis on fantasy football's biggest injuries to help you make informed lineup start/sit decisions.

Seemingly, everyone in the NFL is dealing with a hamstring strain or a sprained MCL. Leonard Fournette has been dealing with a lingering hamstring issue for weeks as well as Dalvin Cook. For the wide receivers, T.Y. Hilton and Geronimo Allison are dealing with hamstring strains as well. Sprained MCLs are also all the rage with Evan Engram, O.J. Howard, and Giovani Bernard all ailing from one right now with Doug Baldwin finally returning after being sidelined. This week's slate of games is interesting and some matchups (Steelers vs. Bengals, Tampa Bay vs. Atlanta, and KC vs. New England) could be high scoring affairs with plenty of fantasy points to go around.

At RotoBaller, we can't stress enough the importance of keeping up with injuries and playing your best lineup week after week. Players are going to get injured, that's an unavoidable fact. What's avoidable though is making the wrong roster decisions based on the injuries surrounding your fantasy squad. If you want to dominate your leagues and win some dough in daily contests, you have to be proactive with injury research.

That's where I come in to serve you guys, the readers! I'm Aaron Burger, a third-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student, graduating in May. About a year ago, I decided to combine my love, fantasy football, with what I've been learning for three years now, injuries and the human body. Each week, I'll be checking in on fantasy's biggest injuries to keep you informed. Be sure you also have RotoBaller bookmarked and follow us on social media to catch all the latest breaking NFL news updates.

Inside the Tent Updates

Leonard Fournette, RB - Jacksonville Jaguars

Fournette strained his hamstring Week 1 and here we are still talking about the same hamstring leading up to Week 6. He reaggravated his injury Week 4 and missed Week 5 as a result. Fournette was ruled out for Week 6 early in the week by Head Coach Doug Marrone which is never a good sign. This suggests there wasn't a glimmer of hope he'd play. According to a report from Florida Football Insiders, Fournette may not play until Week 10 after the Jaguars' Week 9 bye. This whole season has been a tough break for anyone who spent a late first or early second round pick on the oft-injured running back. Fantasy football players who have T.J. Yeldon on their squad are looking like geniuses right now.

Dalvin Cook, RB - Minnesota Vikings

Dalvin Cook was inactive Week 5 against the Eagles after re-aggravating his hamstring strain Week 4 on a short week against the Eagles. He practiced in full Thursday so that sets him up to be good to go Sunday against the Cardinals. Hopefully he is fully healed at this point and he can deliver the value fantasy players were expecting when they drafted him. Latavius Murray was quite disappointed in Cook's absence so the Vikings turned to Kirk Cousins and the passing game.

Giovani Bernard, RB - Cinncinati Bengals

It was reported that Bernard suffered a sprained MCL the Friday before Week 5. Bernard will be out 2-4 weeks meaning he'll be back Week 9 at the absolute latest. With Bernard out, Mixon has the Bengals' backfield essentially all to himself with Mark Walton spelling him when he needs a breather. Considering the volume he'll get and the potency of the Bengals offense, I consider Mixon an RB1 until Bernard comes back with the slightest downgrade when he returns.

T.Y. Hilton, WR - Indianapolis Colts

Another player, another guy dealing with a hamstring strain. T.Y. Hilton predictably missed the Colts' Week 5 matchup against the Patriots on a short week. This week, Hilton hasn't practiced at all and is considered "week to week" by Head Coach Frank Reich. Considering he hasn't practiced at all this week, his status is looking doubtful for Sunday.

Geronimo Allison, WR - Green Bay Packers

It was reported Allison cleared concussion protocol on Thursday and returned to practice although there was some concern over a minor hamstring strain. Aaron Rodgers made Marquez Valdes-Scantling look like a superstar, catching seven passes for 68 yards and a touchdown, so Allison should be stepping back into his FLEX role in an offense that can easily support three receivers.

O.J. Howard, TE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Howard, like Gio Bernard, is dealing with an MCL sprain. His timeline to return was 2-4 weeks so this put him returning for Week 9 at the latest. Out of nowhere like an RKO from The Viper Randy Orton, Howard was able to turn in limited practices Wednesday and Thursday. He was spotted using a brace at practice but it's looking like he may miraculously play this Sunday against the Falcons and their sub-par secondary.

Evan Engram, TE - New York Giants

Engram obviously did not play Thursday night against the Eagles and to be honest, I don't know if it would have mattered. Like O.J. Howard, Engram is sidelined with an MCL sprain because seemingly everyone in the NFL has one. If this game would've been on Sunday, he likely would've been able to give it a go but with a short week, the Giants thought it was smarter to give him an extra week.

Greg Olsen, TE - Carolina Panthers

Well, this is a shocker to me to be honest. Olsen missed the majority of the year in 2017 with a Jones fracture in his foot. He then reinjured the surgically repaired foot in Week 1 which is actually really common with Jones fractures.  I supposed this is why Olsen didn't elect for surgery and the Panthers did not place him on the IR. The Panthers will enjoy Olsen's presence in the lineup although he may be a risky play considering the risk of re-injury.

Week 6 Injury Updates

Jay Ajayi, RB - Philadelphia Eagles

• Injury: Ajayi tore his ACL in Week 5's game against the Vikings. The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, attaches the femur to the tibia and provides stability to the knee.
• News: He was placed on the IR on Monday and had ACL reconstruction surgery Thursday.
• Outlook: The return to play for ACL reconstruction surgery is anywhere from 9-12 months but Ajayi has had knee issues in the past including a chronic "bone on bone" condition. Gosh I hate the saying "bone on bone." Ajayi should be back in some capacity during training camp. With Ajayi out, Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood figure to split time in the Eagles backfield. Their workloads should be monitored going forward but like I've said before, Doug Pederson loves to rotate his running backs.

Matt Breida, RB - San Francisco 49ers

• Injury: Breida got his foot caught underneath him as a defender brought him down and his foot turned outward. After watching the video, I was surprised but pleased that the injury was not more serious. Breida is dealing with an ankle sprain, likely to the deltoid ligament on the inside part of the ankle. Most ankle sprains are lateral (outer part of the ankle) but Breida's is medial. A sprain of any ligament could result in residual laxity making future injuries or re-injury possible.
• News: He has not practiced all week and at this point looks like a long shot to play on Monday night against the Packers. It was reported by Matt Maiocco though that Breida was walking without a noticeable limp on Thursday which means there is certainly some hope Breida could play.
• Outlook: If Breida isn't able to suit up, Alfred Morris obviously gets a huge boost in volume. Morris toted the rock 18 times for 61 yards as well as caught three of five targets for 30 yards. If Breida misses Week 6, I definitely expect him to be active in Week 7 considering he avoided a high ankle sprain which can keep players out several weeks.

Devonta Freeman, RB - Atlanta Falcons

• • Injury: Freeman is dealing with a bone contusion in his foot. This is essentially a bone bruise and although it may not seem like much, these can be really painful considering the weight the bones must accept during the rigorous activities of a football game
  • News: Freeman has been ruled OUT for Week 6 against the Buccaneers.This was reported Friday after he did not practice all week.
  • Outlook: With Freeman out, Tevin Coleman and Ito Smith figure to once again handle the running back duties in Atlanta. This has to be frustrating for Freeman owners that likely spent a second round pick on him.

Corey Grant, RB - Jacksonville Jaguars

• Injury: Grant was tackled from behind Week 5 and suffered a Lisfranc injury to his left foot. Lisfranc injuries involve the midfoot and are considered fairly serious. Each Lisfranc injury is unique and involves the tearing of a ligament or ligaments in the midfoot and could involve fractures as well at the base of the 2nd metatarsal.
• News: He was placed on the IR on Monday, October 8th. He will likely undergo surgery if he has not already and will begin rehabbing his foot.
• Outlook: Corey Grant is a free agent in 2019. In his absence, T.J Yeldon is officially the man in Jacksonville while Fournette is out as well. The Jaguars signed Jamaal Charles but I'm not concerned considering he was not able to carve out a true role in Denver last year.

Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, WRs - Los Angeles Rams

• Injury: Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp are dealing with concussions and were removed from the Week 5 game and did not return. Obviously, a concussion is the result of a blow to the head and the subsequent chemical changes cause the typical signs and symptoms of a concussion including headaches, nausea, sensitivity to light, dizziness, and confusion.
• News: Cooks and Kupp were able to practice this week in some capacity which is always a good sign no matter what injury an athlete is dealing with. McVay felt optimistic earlier this week saying, "We’ll go through the standard operating procedure, and if everything checks out...then we’re hopeful to get those guys this week."
• Outlook: With Cooks and Kupp back, which I fully expect to happen, Jared Goff will have his full plethora of receivers to carve the Denver secondary with. If he can get good pass protection against the likes of Bradley Chubb and Von Miller, he can likely exploit the Denver secondary that is not as daunting as they once were.

 
Give me a follow on Twitter at @FFAchesAilments - Check back next week and all season for insight regarding fantasy's biggest injuries!

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