NFL Offensive/Defensive Line Injury Impact: Week 15
Each week we will provide a game-by-game breakdown of offensive and defensive line injuries and what that impact they may have for DFS purposes._
Week 15
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Sunday Games
Oakland @ Cincinnati
Oakland Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Gabriel Jackson (Q) Kelechi Osemele (O)
Defense – Maurice Hurst (Q)
Cincinnati Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Cordy Glenn (Q)
Defense – Vontaze Burfict (O) Michael Johnson (Q) D’Andre Kirkpatrick (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
For Oakland, we have much of the same as we have seen from them for several weeks. The same could be said for the Bengals and this is a rare case where I think Oakland has viable fantasy options due to Cincinnati’s injuries and just general lack of energy on the defensive side of the ball.
Arizona @ Atlanta
Arizona Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Budda Baker (Q) Deone Bucannon (Q)
Atlanta Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Terrell McClain (O)
Fantasy Impact:
At first glance this injury report for Arizona looks like one of the cleanest for them all year. The reality is they have three starting offensive lineman on the IR and two would-be starters on defense joining them. This team has been beat up all season and this is no different. Very similar things can be said for Atlanta, who have had their injuries pretty well documented to this point. It would not surprise me to see this one shoot out.
Detroit @ Buffalo
Detroit Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Richard Wagner (O) Taylor Decker (Q)
Defense – Devon Kennard (Q) Da’Shawn Hand (O)
Buffalo Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – None
Fantasy Impact:
The Lions are finishing the season with injuries across several key positions, while the Bills have the exact opposite. Buffalo has been sneaky good with Allen taking the snaps and the injuries work in their favor here for another sneaky team to sprinkle in a couple players.
Green Bay @ Chicago
Green Bay Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Bryan Bulaga (D)
Defense – Bashaud Breeland (Q) Kenneth Clark (Q)
Chicago Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Eddie Jackson (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
Every player listed above is in serious doubt for this game, with none of them practicing. Eddie Jackson would be a pretty sizable void for Chicago as he has been fantastic for the Bears beyond his five interceptions. The Packers have been dealing with the same players being injured for multiple weeks and rebounded last week with a huge game.
Dallas @ Indianapolis
Dallas Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Zach Martin (O) Tyron Smith (Q)
Defense – Randy Gregory (Q) Sean Lee (Q)
Indianapolis Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Mark Glowinski (O)
Defense – Michael Mitchell (O) Skal Moore (O) Clayton Geathers (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
Dallas has quite the “issue” this week with Sean Lee likely active and ready to play. Their young linebackers have been fantastic in revitalizing this defense, but it is hard to imagine the return of Lee will hurt things. Zach Martin has already been ruled out by Dallas, which stings a bit considering Tyron Smith has been limited as well. The Colts will be without a starting lineman as well and a couple starters on the defensive side. This seems to be more of a slug fest than shoot out and injuries lean to more pressure on the these two QBs.
Miami @ Minnesota
Miami Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Xavien Howard (D) Tim McDonald (Q)
Minnesota Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Mike Remmers (Q)
Defense – Sheldon Richardson (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
Howard is doubtful with his knee injury and as has been the case before that would be a decent blow to this secondary. The Vikings players were limited in practice and we likely will not know their status until inactives drop. Overall the way things look it should favor Cousins and his wide receivers.
Tennessee @ New York Giants
Tennessee Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Brian Orakpo (O)
New York Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – None
Fantasy Impact:
This is as clean an injury report we have for this article and the fantasy impact is virtually nothing.
Washington @ Jacksonville
Washington Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Tony Bergstrom (O) Morgan Moses (Q) Ty Nsekhe (Q)
Defense – None
Jacksonville Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Jeremy Parnell (O) Joshua Walker (O)
Defense – Leon Jacobs (O) Lerentee McCray (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
If you have followed the NFL for any length of time then Washington offensive line injuries should be no surprise and the trend continues here. Jacksonville is not without their own offensive line trouble, with a couple players out as well. This is not exactly the most exciting game to begin with, but I like the Jaguars to create pressure and have a game plan for the more elusive Johnson.
Tampa Bay @ Baltimore
Tampa Bay Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Demar Dotson (Q)
Defense – Justin Evans (O) Carlton Davis (Q) Adarius Taylor (Q) Beau Allen (Q) Jason Pierre-Paul (Q)
Baltimore Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Alexander Lewis (D)
Defense – Tavon Young (Q) Marlon Humphrey (Q) Tony Jefferson (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
Another week where the Bucs have a ton of questionable players on top of the list of starters already on the IR. They are a team we have been targeting for quite some time and this is an interesting dynamic considering the ways Baltimore score fantasy points. Lamar Jackson is certainly someone to be looking at, the real question is how you pair him if at all.
Seattle @ San Francisco
Seattle Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Danny Fluker (D)
Defense – K.J. Wright (O) Jarran Reed (Q) Bradley McDougald (Q)
San Francisco Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Jaquiski Tartt (O) K’Waun Williams (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
New England @ Pittsburgh
New England Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – None
Pittsburgh Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Marcus Gilbert (O)
Defense – None
Fantasy Impact:
A huge game with virtually no fantasy impact with regard to this article.