Consistency in performance is the key to a successful fantasy football season. However, injuries during practice sessions or live matches can have a severe impact on the performance of a player.
In the 2020 season, players are dealing with a variety of injuries, which can influence your draft and team strategies.
Here is the list of a few players who are injured and can affect your fantasy football team.
1. Cam Newton, QB, New England Patriots
Cam Newton dealt with numerous injuries in his football career. The Carolina Panthers released Newton after the 2019 season in which he dealt with a Lisfranc injury in foot.
After his release from the Panthers, he signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots in the 2020 offseason.
Injury: Lisfranc Surgery
In a Lisfranc injury, a ligament in the midfoot, around the arch, is injured. When the Lisfranc ligament ruptures, there is a possibility that first and second metatarsals or other bones in the midfoot can separate.
Newton suffered the Lisfranc injury in the Panthers' third preseason game against the Patriots. In the 2019 season, he played the first two games, but Panther lost both the matches.
On November 5, 2019, the Panther placed him on the injured reserve list. Newton had surgery on his left foot to repair a Lisfranc injury in December 2019.
2. Josh Adams, RB, New York Jets
In 2018, the Eagles signed Adams as an undrafted free agent once he completed his college. In his rookie season, he finished with 511 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
On August 31, 2019, the Eagles waived Adam during final roster cuts. The New York Jets practice signed him on September 1, 2019, and promoted him to the active roster on November 5.
However, the Jets waived Adams on September 5, 2020, and he got signed to the practice squad the next day.
Injury: Hamstring
Adams recently suffered a hamstring injury in practice. He was competing with Trenton Cannon and Kenneth Dixon for a roster spot as a depth running back.
3. Todd Gurley, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Over the last three years, Todd Gurley is second in the NFL in rushing yards and first in rushing touchdowns. During the 2017-18 seasons, he finished with league-best 2,556 rushing yards and scored 30 touchdowns.
However, in the later stage of his career, he becomes marred by leg injuries. He appeared in most of Los Angeles’ matches, but his quality decreased. After the 2019 season, the Rams released him on March 19, 2020.
On April 6, 2020, Gurley signed a one-year contract worth $5.5 million with the Atlanta Falcons.
Injury: Chronic Knee Issues
Todd Gurley played college football at Georgia, where he had suffered a torn ACL.
A lingering left knee injury resulted in a sudden drop in his workload during the latter stages of the 2018 regular season. Gurley struggled when he ran four times for 10 yards in the NFC Championship game against the New Orleans Saints.
In Super Bowl, he recorded just 11 touches in the team's 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots. During the time, his injury status showed that his knee was significantly hurt. In June of 2019, the news came out that he had arthritis in his knee.
For the 2020 season, Gurley passed his physical and demonstrated his leg health during offseason. He looks healthy, but it could be deceiving.
4. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger is one of the most efficient passers in NFL history.
In 2019, Roethlisberger signed a two-year contract extension with the Steelers. However, in Week 2 of the 2019 season, he completed eight passes for 75 yards and injured his right elbow. He did not play in the second half and subsequently missed the full season.
Injury: Forearm Flexor Reconstruction
In the 2019 season, Roethlisberger injured his elbow that involved tears of three of the five flexor tendons. He had season-ending surgery to reattach three torn flexor tendons in his right elbow.
After 12 months of rest and rehab, the veteran quarterback has entered his 17th season. The Steelers are banking on Roethlisberger this year.
5. Eddy Pineiro, K, Chicago Bears
Pineiro played only two seasons with the Florida Gators after which, he declared for the 2018 NFL Draft. On May 4, 2018, he signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent. However, the Raiders placed him on the injured reserve on September 1, 2018.
In 2019, the Raiders traded him to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. In 16 games last season, he made 23-of-28 field goals and 27-of-29 extra points for Chicago.
Injury: Groin
Pineiro was not be able to play against the Detroit Lions in Sunday’s opener to the 2020 season due to a groin injury. On September 8, 2020, the Bears placed him on the injured reserve list.
Pineiro was dealing with a groin injury during training camp that prevented him from kicking in training camp. He will be eligible to return only after three weeks for the Bears.
Final Thoughts
Yes, there are several questions and concerns around the season, given the coronavirus pandemic. However, fantasy general managers should proceed with drafts and operate normally.
As there were no preseason games, you only had practice and training reports to know about a player’s health and injury status. Thus, with your fantasy football team, the above list will help you identify the common injuries that players might go through.
