NFL Offensive/Defensive Line Injury Impact: Week 17
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 17
Find this article helpful? Let us know in the comments section!
Sunday Games
Miami @ Buffalo
Miami Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Kiko Alonso (Q) T.J. McDonald (D) Xavien Howard (Q)
Buffalo Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – None
Fantasy Impact:
The Dolphins feature the injured starters on this report with McDonald not practicing all week and Howard limited they are obviously at risk. Kiko was able to get in full practice and appears to be closer to probable than questionable at this point. This is not the sexiest game for fantasy purposes but I would imagine Allen and company should have a slightly easier time if McDonald and Howard are to miss the game.
Detroit @ Green Bay
Detroit Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Quandre Diggs (Q) Nevin Lawson (O) Damon Harrison (Q) Jamal Agnew (O)
Green Bay Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – David Bakhtiari (Q) Lane Taylor (Q)
Defense – Kentrell Brice (Q) Jaire Alexander (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
The Lions are going to be a bit thin in the secondary coming into this matchup with the Packers. It would not surprise me to see Rodgers and company light it up in the finale and these injuries favor that scenario. Green Bay is not without injury on their side although both offensive lineman put in full practice. The real question marks come in the secondary as Brice and Alexander were not able to practice during the week putting them closer to doubtful than questionable.
New York Jets @ New England
New York Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Darron Lee (O) Jordan Jenkins (Q)
New England Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – None
Fantasy Impact:
Not a ton of injuries on this report and for the most part little to no impact for the projections of these teams.
Carolina @ New Orleans
Carolina Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Trai Turner (O)
Defense – Kawann Short (O)
New Orleans Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Terron Armstead (O) Larry Warford (O) Jermon Bushrod (O)
Defense – None
Fantasy Impact:
A bunch of lineman out of this game but it is New Orleans who is affected the most with three offensive lineman listed as out. They will be very thin in this matchup although with nothing to play for we are going to see a fair amount of players that we normally would not. For this week it seems more important to figure out what their plan of attack will be rather than worry about the injuries.
Dallas @ New York Giants
Dallas Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Tyron Smith (Q) Zack Martin (Q)
Defense – Tyrone Crawford (O) Sean Lee (Q)
New York Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Alec Ogletree (O)
Fantasy Impact:
According to Jerry Jones the Cowboys will be playing week seventeen as it was any other week despite there being no real reason to risk further injuries. With that said Martin and Smith were both limited in practice this week and I honestly would be a little surprised to see them playing in this game given the true impact they have in a meaningful playoff game.
Atlanta @ Tampa Bay
Atlanta Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Wes Schweitzer (O)
Defense – None
Tampa Bay Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Jason Pierre-Paul (Q) Devante Bond (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
The battle of decimated defenses in Tampa this weekend as Atlanta comes to town. It is well documented at this point the the IR has been a frequent landing spot for starters on both squads. This is a game that would not shock me to see an offensive explosion from both squads in what amounts to last hurrah on the season, might as well go out in style.
Jacksonville @ Houston
Jacksonville Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – A.J. Bouye (O) D.J. Hayden (Q)
Houston Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Brandon Dunn (Q) Johnathan Joseph (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
The Texans need a win here to take the division making this a meaningful game, yay. Jacksonville will be a little thin in the secondary with Bouye out and Hayden limited in practice this week making him a real question mark. Expect a lot of Hopkins in this one and the injuries favor him moving around a bit to get some coverage away from Ramsey.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver
Los Angeles Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – None
Denver Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – None
Fantasy Impact:
None
Oakland @ Kansas City
Oakland Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Maurice Hurst (Q) Marcus Gilchrist (Q) Gareon Conley (Q)
Kansas City Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Eric Berry (Q) Kendall Fuller (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
Berry did not practice this week leaving him in danger of missing the game. Fuller on the other hand was a full participant and should be considered probable. Given the fact that Kansas City played the entire year without Berry this is not as significant a blow as it typically would be missing a player of his caliber. This one should be played straight up in my opinion.
San Francisco @ Los Angeles Rams
San Francisco Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – None
Los Angeles Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Lamarcus Joyner (O)
Fantasy Impact:
Injuries are not a factor here.
Chicago @ Minnesota
Chicago Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Eddie Jackson (D)
Minnesota Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Tom Compton (Q)
Defense – Eric Kendricks (O) Xavier Rhodes (Q) Marcus Sherels (O)
Fantasy Impact:
Eddie Jackson is a big time play maker for the Bears defense and will not be in the lineup most likely this weekend. The good news for Chicago is that they have had a week without him and should be more prepared with any scheme changes necessary. Of equal or more importance is the Vikings defense who could be without star corner Xavier Rhodes and will be thin if that is the case considering Marcus Sherels is already listed as out. Look for Chicago to stretch the field a bit more than usual if this is the case.
Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh
Cincinnati Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Vontaze Burfict (O)
Pittsburgh Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Vince Williams (D) Sean Davis (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
The Bengals are a train wreck at this point in the season and their point man on defense is out once again. Pittsburgh should be able to do whatever they want on offense here. Although Sean Davis carries a questionable tag it is safe to play him closer to probable with a full week of practice which is a big uptick for their defense.
Arizona @ Seattle
Arizona Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Markus Golden (Q) Benson Mayowa (Q)
Seattle Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – J.R. Sweezy (D) D.J. Fluker (Q)
Defense – Dion Jordan (Q) Bradley McDougald (Q) Tedric Thompson (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
McDougald was the only Seahawks player on this report to get in full work during the week. The rest of the group was either limited or did not practice at all. Seattle currently owns the number one wild card spot and will lock that up with a win here but I would also expect some of these guys to end up on the inactive list as health will be a priority come wild-card weekend.
Philadelphia @ Washington
Philadelphia Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Issac Seumalo (O) Jason Kelce (Q) Jason Peters (Q)
Defense – Michael Bennett (Q) Sidney Jones (O) Jordan Hicks (Q)
Washington Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Tony Bergstrom (Q)
Defense – Montae Nicholson (O)
Fantasy Impact:
The Eagles have been dealing with injuries all season long and this is no different. Surprisingly they still have a shot at the playoffs here but having three offensive lineman in serious doubt is a legitimate concern for them. Seumalo has already been ruled out and Kelce and Peters were both limited on the week in practice. It will without a doubt cause issues if they somehow all end up on the inactive list Sunday.
Cleveland @ Baltimore
Cleveland Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Denzel Ward (O)
Baltimore Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Alex Lewis (Q)
Defense – Terrell Suggs (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
Overall we are not going to have a huge impact as Lewis has been on the report for several weeks and Suggs is a go most likely after getting a full week of practice in.