NFL Offensive/Defensive Line Injury Impact: Week 5
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 5
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Sunday Games
Tennessee @ Buffalo
Tennessee Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Dennis Kelly (Q)
Defense – Kenny Vaccaro (O) Wesley Woodyard (O)
Buffalo Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Micah Hyde (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
The Titans will have Jack Conklin back to help solidify the offensive line, but have two key pieces missing on the defensive side with both Kenny Vaccaro and Wesley Woodyard out. This is most likely to help the intermediate passing game for Buffalo, but I do not think we should go crazy with upping projections.
Buffalo comes into the game pretty healthy with safety Micah Hyde as the lone player showing up for this articles purposes. It is worth noting that while he is officially questionable heading into Sunday, he did not practice, which puts him in serious jeopardy.
Sunday Games
Miami @ Cincinnati
Miami Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Cameron Wake (D) Bobby McCain (O) Reshad Jones (Q) T.J. McDonald (Q)
Cincinnati Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Billy Price (O)
Defense – None
Fantasy Impact:
The Phins are pretty beat up on the defensive side, with Wake and McCain doubtful and out, respectively. If there is any encouraging news it is that Jones and McDonald put in full practices, which means I lean more toward probable for both. This is a Bengals offense that has been clicking thus far and the Miami injury report plays into the Cincy strengths. Fire away.
Cincinnati may have some issues with key skill players out this week, but the defense is getting healthy and also adding Burfict who is done serving his suspension. Do not be surprised if the Bengals are able to put together their best defensive game of the young season here.
Sunday Games
Baltimore @ Cleveland
Baltimore Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Alex Lewis (Q)
Defense – Michael Pierce (Q) Brandon Carr (Q)
Cleveland Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Christian Kirksey (Q) Damarious Randall (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
Baltimore will be getting Jimmy Smith back this week after serving his suspension, but they do have a couple of questionable players in Pierce and Carr on the defensive side. Carr was a full participant and I expect him to play while Pierce did not practice and would not be a surprise inactive. The secondary should play pretty tough for Mayfield to navigate with Smith back.
On the Browns side of things, they are hurting on defense with both Kirksey and Randall carrying true questionable tags. Randall has a better chance to play than Kirksey and the Ravens will likely test their replacements if unable to go.
Sunday Games
Green Bay @ Detroit
Green Bay Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Kentrell Brice (Q)
Detroit Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – TJ Lang (O)
Defense – Ezekiel Ansah (O) Nevin Lawson (Q) Quandre Diggs (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
Overall, the Packers are pretty healthy when it comes to this article and the main thing to watch will be how their wide receivers shake out.
Lang has been ruled out due to a concussion and that is a pretty big blow for the Lions up front. In addition to that, there are a few pretty big names on the defensive side of things with Ansah out, Diggs limited, and Lawson the most likely to play. I play this game pretty neutral with a slight bump to the Packers offense.
Sunday Games
Jacksonville @ Kansas City
Jacksonville Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – None
Kansas City Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Eric Berry (D) Dee Ford (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
One of the few games that pretty much have nothing to report. Kansas City will be without Dee Ford, but this is a team we can attack even if it is the Jaguars.
Sunday Games
Denver @ New York Jets
Denver Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Jared Veldheer (O)
Defense – Todd Davis (Q) Adam Gotsis (Q)
New York Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Trumaine Johnson (O) Marcus Maye (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
The Broncos lost a starter on the line in Veldheer, who is dealing with a knee injury. Both of their defenders on the list were able to get some limited practice in this week and would probably be more likely to play. In short these injuries do not move the needle at all for me in terms of Jets players.
The Jets are pretty healthy overall, but their secondary is the one spot where they are dealing with injuries. Trumaine Johnson will miss this game due to a quadricep injury and it is always worth noting when a starter in the secondary will miss a game.
Sunday Games
Atlanta @ Pittsburgh
Atlanta Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Grady Jarrett (O) Justin Bethel (O) Derrick Shelby (O)
Pittsburgh Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Morgan Burnett (D) Vince Williams (D)
Fantasy Impact:
The season theme for Atlanta is that they continue to lose players on the defensive side of the ball. and it is without question something you want to attack when the damage is this significant.
Continuing the defensive trend, the Steelers are likely to be without Burnett and Williams, which means yet another team that is going to be without a starting linebacker and safety. Typically, this means intermediate passing game gets a boost, which could play into the hands of Pittsburgh tight ends which Ben is targeting often.
Sunday Games
New York Giants @ Carolina
New York Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Olivier Vernon (O)
Carolina Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – None
Fantasy Impact:
Pretty much no impact based on this as Vernon has been out several weeks.
Sunday Games
Oakland @ Los Angeles Chargers
Oakland Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Kelechi Osemele (Q)
Defense – Karl Joseph (O)
Los Angeles Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Joe Barksdale (D) Russell Okung (Q)
Defense – Kyzir White (O) Joey Bosa (O)
Fantasy Impact:
Oakland has one of the cleanest injury reports in the league, but will likely be without two starters in Osemele and Joseph. Overall, I do not anticipate these injuries making you any more or less interested in the Chargers.
Los Angeles will likely be without Barksdale again and Okung is in danger with just limited participation in practice. The Raiders defense against a banged up line and a quarterback who cannot escape pressure seems like a good idea.
Sunday Games
Minnesota @ Philadelphia
Minnesota Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Everson Griffen (O) Tashawn Bower (O) Trae Waynes (O)
Philadelphia Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Derek Barnett (O) Haloti Ngata (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
Minnesota has not been great on defense and the injuries they have been dealing with do not help that one bit. Obviously, Griffen is dealing with more than just his knee injury, but his absence is huge.
The Eagles defensive front is going to be without Barnett, who has already been ruled out, and could possibly be without Ngata after just limited participation in practice. I would not be surprised to see the Vikings trying to get the running game going a bit more this week and the injuries play into that well.
Sunday Games
Arizona @ San Francisco
Arizona Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Markus Golden (Q) Robert Nkemdiche (Q) Bene’ Benwikere (Q) Corey Peters (Q) Jamar Taylor (Q)
San Francisco Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Mike McGlinchey (Q) Joe Staley (Q) Weston Richburg (Q)
Defense – Richard Sherman (Q) Jimmie Ward (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
Arizona has a injury report that New England would be proud, of as everyone is listed as questionable despite different practice designations. Based on practice I would guess that Golden and Nkemdiche are closer to doubtful, while the others are true questionable with limited participation. I am not sure how popular the 49ers will be this week, but I like them quite a bit especially considering the price points are generally reasonable.
San Francisco has their share of injuries as well, with two key players in the secondary making the report at questionable. All three starting offensive lineman were able to practice in full, making me less worried about that side of the ball.
Sunday Games
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle
Los Angeles Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Mark Barron (Q)
Seattle Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Ethan Pocic (Q)
Defense – KJ Wright (O) Rasheem Green (O) Frank Clark (Q)