A player's injury status can have a significant effect on both real life and fantasy football. So, each week, PFF injury analyst Mario Pilato will comb through the official injury reports for each NFL game and give updates and analysis for fantasy- and DFS-relevant players.
Injuries are fluid, so make sure to stay up to date by following @PFF_Mario on Twitter.
Click here for more PFF tools:
Rankings & Projections | WR/CB Matchup Chart | NFL & NCAA Betting Dashboards | NFL Player Props tool | NFL & NCAA Power Rankings
Best Bets Tool
KEY
DNP: Did not participate in practice
LP: Limited participation in practice
FP: Full participation
(-): Not listed
OUT: Player will not play
D: Player is unlikely to play
Q: Player is not certain to play
NIR – Rest: Not injury-related or resting veteran
[email protected] | [email protected] | [email protected] | [email protected]
CINCINNATI BENGALS @ TENNESSEE TITANS (-3.5)
SATURDAY, JAN. 22 | 4:30 P.M. ET | CBS
N/A
Injury Analysis: RB Derrick Henry will return from his Jones fracture. He was seen on recent video dancing but also displayed a visible limp. I do not believe he is 100%, but I do think it matters. The Titans will use him as normal, and he likely produces like normal.
Fantasy Analysis: The Titans will activate running back Derrick Henry for Saturday's AFC divisional-round playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals, and he is expected to start when the offense takes the field.
I expect him to see his normal workload based on NFL Insider Greg Cosell reporting he will see 20-plus carries. Cosell has an inside track to information in Nashville; he correctly projected Tennessee would use D'Onta Foreman over Adrian Peterson when Henry first got hurt.
For DFS, the strategy remains the same: If he is under-rostered, play him with hopes he reclaims his 29.6 touches per game role and breaks the slate. Henry has averaged 27 touches and 121.5 rushing yards in his last four postseason contests. If he’s popular, he becomes an easy fade due to re-injury concerns, and his role could be in serious question due to a potentially negative game script.
The Over/Under for this game is currently 47.5 PFF Greenline uses exclusive game and player data to make projections on NFL game spreads, moneyline, and over/under.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers @ GREEN BAY PACKERS (-5.5)
SATURDAY, JAN. 22 | 8:15 P.M. ET | FOX
| Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Tues. Status | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status | Game Status |
| Aaron Rodgers | QB | GB | Toe | QB4 | 23.4 | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
| Jimmy Garoppolo | QB | SF | Right Shoulder, Right Thumb | QB8 | 17.3 | LP | FP | FP | (-) |
| Aaron Jones | RB | GB | Knee | RB5 | 16.2 | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
| Elijah Mitchell | RB | SF | Knee | RB4 | 14.7 | LP | FP | FP | (-) |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | WR | GB | Back | WR | 0.0 | LP | DNP | DNP | D |
| Marcedes Lewis | TE | GB | NIR – Rest | TE12 | 0.0 | (-) | DNP | FP | (-) |
Injury Analysis: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is dealing with a back injury, and I do not expect him to play in the Divisional Round.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo injured his shoulder last week and is still dealing with a thumb injury. He will start, but you should keep an eye on the zip on his balls. I believe he suffered a rotator-cuff contusion which can potentially affect velocity.
LB Fred Warner suffered a low-ankle sprain in the second half against the Cowboys. He will start, and I do not expect him to be slowed down from the injury.
DE Nick Bosa was able to clear the concussion protocol and he will play in the Divisional Round vs the Packers.
Fantasy Analysis: Allen Lazard has manned the slot for Green Bay in Randall Cobb’s absence over the past five weeks, finishing with more than 40 yards while receiving at least five targets in four of the five games. He has also averaged 16.6 fantasy points per game — 16th best at the position.
If we get reports of a limited snap count for Cobb, Lazard is an awesome pay-down WR option for cash and GPPs alike. The 49ers defense ranked 29th in passer rating allowed and 25th in receptions allowed to slot wide receivers during the regular season.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling is also doubtful, furthering the case for taking the over on Lazard's receiving yards prop.
The Over/Under for this game is currently 47.5. PFF Greenline uses exclusive game and player data to make projections on NFL game spreads, moneyline, and over/under.
LOS ANGELES RAMS @ TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-2.5)
SUNDAY, JAN. 23 | 3:00 P.M. ET | NBC
| Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status | Fri. Status | Game Status |
| Tom Brady | QB | TB | NIR – Rest | QB6 | 25.7 | (-) | DNP | FP | (-) |
| Rob Gronkowski | TE | TB | NIR – Rest | TE3 | 13.1 | (-) | (-) | DNP | (-) |
| Giovani Bernard | RB | TB | Hip/Knee | RB12 | 6.6 | LP | LP | FP | (-) |
| Brandon Powell | WR | LA | Ribs | WR | 0.1 | LP | LP | FP | (-) |
| Buddy Howell | RB | LA | Hamstring | RB | 0.0 | DNP | DNP | DNP | D |
| Breshad Perriman | WR | TB | Hip/Abdomen | WR | 0.0 | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
Injury Analysis: RB Ronald Jones II is out against the Rams with an ankle injury.
OL Tristan Wirfs and Ryan Jensen were shown practicing later in the week. Jensen looked like a guy ready to play, but Wirfs looked extremely iffy. I do not believe Wirfs will be able to play, but I do not expect him to be himself and be far less than 100% if he does try to give it a go.
Fantasy Analysis: Offensive linemen Tristan Wirfs and Ryan Jensen both practiced Friday. Getting back Wirfs — PFF's sixth-highest graded tackle this season — is huge for the Buccaneers' offense.
WR Breshad Perriman has not practiced all week, making it unlikely he plays. Cyril Grayson would be next man up, followed by Scotty Miller. Both are cheap DFS options.
The Over/Under for this game is currently 48. PFF Greenline uses exclusive game and player data to make projections on NFL game spreads, moneyline, and over/under.
BUFFALO BILLS @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-1.5)
SUNDAY, JAN. 23 | 6:30 P.M. ET | CBS
| Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status | Fri. Status | Game Status |
| Tyreek Hill | WR | KC | Heel | WR5 | 17.0 | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
| Stefon Diggs | WR | BUF | NIR – Rest | WR6 | 16.6 | (-) | (-) | DNP | (-) |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire | RB | KC | Shoulder | RB10 | 6.0 | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
| Darrel Williams | RB | KC | Toe | RB18 | 5.3 | DNP | DNP | LP | Q |
Injury Analysis: RB Darrel Williams was a DNP all week until his limited session Friday. He has been dealing with a toe injury for weeks but was able to give it a go last week. I expect Williams follows last week's participation.
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire will be returning from his shoulder injury to give the Chiefs' running game a boost.
Fantasy Analysis: Clyde Edwards-Helaire was a full participant in practice for the third consecutive day. That is a good sign as far as his availability for Sunday’s game is concerned. Darrel Williams was DNP Wed/Thurs and does not look like he will be ready for game day.
Jerick McKinnon took over the Kansas City Chiefs’ backfield on Sunday night to the dismay of the many DFS gamers that played Williams. He played 78% of the snaps, scored 19.2 expected fantasy points and compiled 18 touches — six of which were receptions.
Williams played just eight snaps as he dealt with a lingering toe injury.
I’d presume the Chiefs continue to ride the hot receiving hand with McKinnon even as Edwards-Helaire returns. The ex-49er has looked explosive with the ball in his hands, averaging 7.4 yards per touch over the last two weeks. CEH will likely see carries on early downs and potentially at the goal line.
If all three guys are active, DFS gamers should avoid the backfield entirely.
The Over/Under for this game is currently 54. PFF Greenline uses exclusive game and player data to make projections on NFL game spreads, moneyline, and over/under.
© 2023 PFF - all rights reserved.