NFL Offensive/Defensive Line Injury Impact: Week 6
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 6
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Sunday Games
Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati
Pittsburgh Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Morgan Burnett (O)
Cincinnati Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Billy Price (O)
Defense – William Jackson (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
The Steelers will be without starting safety Morgan Burnett again who is nursing a groin injury. That pretty much sums up the Pittsburgh injury report in a whole as the team we have seen for the past few weeks is exactly what we are getting on Sunday.
Williams Jackson has been limited in practice for the week with a knee injury that could keep the starting corner out against the rival Steelers. Pittsburgh is a team you should have on your radar almost every week from the skill positions and his absence would only help the receiving corps in this case.
Tampa Bay @ Atlanta
Tampa Bay Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Beau Allen (Q) Jordan Whitehead (Q) Carlton Davis (Q)
Atlanta Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Grady Jarrett (O) Derrick Shelby (O)
Fantasy Impact:
This game features two teams who have been hurt on the defensive side of the ball in key spots. Not only have the Bucs lost starting corner Vernon Hargreaves and starting safety Chris Conte to the IR, but this week the secondary depth looks even weaker with the possibility that Davis cannot go with a groin injury. He was limited in practice and appears to be a true questionable here. With the offensive weapons that Atlanta has it makes sense to love them for DFS and the injuries play into it, which we see baked into that lofty O/U.
If you have been reading this article for the season then you know that attacking this Atlanta defense is a solid play given the studs they have lost for the season. It is just as important to talk about those IR players in Neal, Allen, and Jones than the guys on the current report. Make no mistake bot Jarrett and Shelby play a key role on the line, but the overall picture is one where we want to load up against Atlanta once again.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Cleveland
Los Angeles Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Russell Okung (O) Joe Barksdale (Q)
Defense – Kyzir White (O) Jatavis Brown (D) Joey Bosa (O)
Cleveland Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – James Burgess (Q) Tanner Vallejo (O)
Fantasy Impact:
The Chargers are hurting at weakside linebacker with starter Kyzir White ruled out and his backup Jatavis Brown looking unlikely to go with a groin injury. Once again we see that Joey Bosa is not playing and the defense at this point is what we have seen and a slight downgrade with both White and Brown gone. Barksdale was able to get some practice in this week, but is still a true questionable coming into the weekend, while Okung is out for another week.
Cleveland comes into the game about as healthy as we have seen them for the purposes of this article. There would be a little bit of concern with the linebacker depth, but nothing that is going to be a game changer coming in for DFS.
Seattle @ Oakland
Seattle Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – K.J. Wright (O) Dion Jordan (Q)
Oakland Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Kelechi Osemele (D)
Defense – Frostee Rucker (D) Karl Joseph (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
The Seahawks are pretty much carrying the roster we have seen for a few weeks now coming into this London game. Wright is out yet again and Jordan did not participate in practice making him closer to doubtful than questionable. Overall you are not changing your mind in fantasy based on this injury report.
Oakland is in a similar situation as Seattle with the same names popping up on the injury report once again. With that said each of the three were limited in practice and it will be a situation where we do not have much clarity on the players until inactives. Again you are not going to change your projections based on the news.
Chicago @ Miami
Chicago Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Marcus Cooper (O)
Miami Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Laremy Tunsil (Q)
Defense – Cameron Wake (D) T.J. McDonald (Q) Bobby McCain (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
Chicago remains one of the healthiest teams in the league. Cooper being out hurts the secondary depth a bit, but proceed as usual with this team on both sides of the ball.
Miami will be without Wake again who did not practice this week while McDonald was a full participant and McCain was limited. The Dolphins are banged up a bit across the board, but most of it will be depth related outside of McCain and Wake. Attack this team as you usually would.
Arizona @ Minnesota
Arizona Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – D.J. Humphries (Q) Mike Iupati (Q) Andre Smith (Q)
Defense – Robert Nkemdiche (Q) Markus Golden (Q)
Minnesota Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Riley Reiff (O)
Defense – Andrew Sendejo (O) Everson Griffen (O)
Fantasy Impact:
All of the Cardinals players listed are questionable and all were limited in practice. We are going to need clarity as Minnesota has the personnel to destroy a makeshift line and will attack Rosen with pressure. This is a line that is terrible to begin with and will only be worse without any starters.
Minnesota will be without starting safety Anderw Sendejo this week, which is a blow to the secondary, but overall this is a great situation for both the offense and defense of the Vikings.
Indianapolis @ New York Jets
Indianapolis Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Ryan Kelly (Q) Denzelle Good (O)
Defense – John Simon (Q) Darius Leonard (Q) Clayton Geathers (O)
New York Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Marcus Maye (Q) Doug Middleton (Q) Trumaine Johnson (D) Buster Skrine (O)
Fantasy Impact:
Indy remains one of the most injured teams in the NFL and it has hit every part of the roster. The offensive line is in shambles and obviously we have some key skill guys out as well. This is a team I think you can attack with a DST and offensive weapons.
The biggest trouble spot for New York is the secondary, which remains beat up at this point of the season. The big question is whether or not the Colts can take advantage of that weakness. My guess is the answer for the most part will be no, but keep and eye on the status of Maye and Middleton come Sunday.
Carolina @ Washington
Carolina Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – None
Washington Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Shawn Lauvao (D)
Defense – None
Fantasy Impact:
Carolina is healthy with nobody showing up on the report for this week, but it is worth noting that they have lost two starters on the offensive line to the IR in Kalil and Williams.
The Redskins come into the week with only one injury that hits this article as Shawn Lauvao is likely to miss the game due to a calf injury. All things considered this game is going to be played as close to straight up as any on the slate in terms of injuries affecting the outcome.
Buffalo @ Houston
Buffalo Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – None
Houston Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Andre Hal (O) Aaron Colvin (O)
Fantasy Impact:
It is pretty incredible to see an injury report that is blank, but that is the case for Buffalo coming into the weekend. They may be a bad team, but injuries are not to blame.
Houston continues to suffer in the secondary with Kevin Johnson on IR and starting safety Andre Hal out along with starting corner Aaron Colivn. Can Allen and company take advantage? I doubt it, but worth mentioning none the less.
Los Angeles Rams @ Denver
Los Angeles Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – None
Denver Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – Jared Veldheer (O)
Defense – Adam Jones (O)
Fantasy Impact:
The Rams have a lot going for them right now as not only do they have a dynamic team, but they remain one of the healthiest in the league.
Veldheer will miss yet another game for the Broncos because of his ongoing knee injury. We have seen the same line for a couple weeks now so that is little change from what we have been getting for Denver. Adam Jones will also miss this game due to a thigh injury which hurts the secondary depth a bit for Denver against a passing attack that is ruthless.
Jacksonville @ Dallas
Jacksonville Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Jalen Ramsey (Q)
Dallas Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – DeMarcus Lawrence (Q) Maliek Collins (Q) Chidobe Awuzie (Q) Sean Lee (O) Joe Thomas (O) Randy Gregory (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
The Jags superstar corner is a true questionable headed into Sunday with limited participation in practice this week. Obviously that would be a blow to the secondary, but the real question is who on Dallas is able to take advantage of that scenario?
Dallas has a pretty banged up defense at the moment and the linebacker depth is very thin. All players were limited in practice this week except for Thomas and Lee who have already been ruled out. The Jags offense could make for a sneaky good option when trying to squeeze in those high priced players from higher O/U games.
Baltimore @ Tennessee
Baltimore Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Michael Pierce (Q) Tavon Young (Q) Brandon Carr (Q)
Tennessee Breakdown
Offensive Lineman – None
Defense – Wesley Woodyard (Q)
Fantasy Impact:
Baltimore is healthy up front and the main issue is depth in the secondary with depending on whether Carr and/or Young can go for them. I do not know that you want to go too crazy here, but I like the Titans receivers a bit more if either or both cannot play especially if they are able to spread it out a bit.
Woodyard may be the lone name here, but do not forget that they have four players on the IR from this defense. From a fantasy perspective I like the idea of attacking this team and John Brown looks pretty enticing to me, but this isn’t a tout article ;)