Does anyone else wish their players would stop making appearances inside the medical tent each week? I, for sure, am done with injuries. Of course, there are no excuses in fantasy football. Yes, injuries have been a big part of this season. Pivoting from those injuries is always what makes a champion, though. Unfortunately, this year, I have not been able to make the trades and pick-ups needed to recover. If you are in the same boat as I am, stay strong. We are not done yet, and it is still miracle season.

On the other hand, Brian Scott has been crushing these predictions this year. He has given us some real insight into what we can expect from some of these injuries. Hamstrings and ankle injuries have seemed to be the main culprits this year, which of course, have been some of the hardest to predict. Keenan Allen, for example, was thought to just going to miss a game or two after exiting Week 1. It is now week 10, and he is still questionable to play this week.

Enough talking about the past and the players I am frustrated with. Let’s dive into Week 10 and see who is making an appearance inside the medical tent this week.

Hunter Renfrow

Andrew Leduc: Now on the IR with his oblique injury, he will miss at least 4 weeks. Do you think he could actually just sit for the rest of the year with this injury?

Brian Scott, MEd, PA-C, ATC-ret: Given the way this season has gone for him, it would not surprise me in the least if he just shut it down after going on IR. Oblique injuries are tough to deal with, and at his position, there is not much that he will do that does not revolve around his core oblique muscles. He battled through a concussion that kept him out for several weeks, and now this. It’s been a tough year physically for him. Sometimes it makes sense from an organizational standpoint to protect your investments or give some younger guys a shot to see what they can do and let your veterans live to play another day.

Prognosis: I think it is fair to say we are entering the territory of “is Renfrow droppable.” Returning only one double-digit week, barely, he has been a massive bust on the year. We need to start thinking about the playoffs, and if you are currently on the outside looking in, it’s time to drop Renfrow if you do not have an open IR slot. In games he has played this year, he has not seen more than 5 targets since Week 2. Last year he found success mostly based on volume. When you take that volume away from a receiver like Renfrow, you have nothing more than a low-end FLEX option.

Josh Allen

Andrew Leduc: Allen hurt his elbow toward the end of the game last week. With this UCL injury, is it likely that he misses time?

Brian Scott, MEd, PA-C, ATC-ret: Apparently, he injured the ulnar collateral ligament and nerve in his throwing elbow late in the 4th Quarter in the loss to the NY Jets. He had a similar injury during his rookie season and missed 4 weeks. There have been reports that he was seeking a second medical opinion about what to do with this elbow, if anything. If he were a baseball pitcher, this would have been the end of the story, as he would likely have surgery. As a quarterback, the mechanics are slightly different, and the stresses on the elbow are slightly less. So if he could play through it, he probably will, as he did his rookie year. However, until we see him take some reps in practice, I am very concerned about his elbow’s health and how this might affect his big arm with downfield passes and velocity. There is a chance he could have something done surgically, but it’s not as common in NFL as in MLB. This is definitely a story to keep an eye on.

Prognosis: This could have the biggest effect on leagues moving forward. Allen is the QB1 on the year and an all-around force for the Bills. From a real football standpoint as well, given the state of the AFC East, this story should be at the top of everyone’s list moving forward. If Allen misses time, Case Keenum will step into an offense with all the firepower he would need. The question would be, can he utilize it? The good news is that when Keenum had his best year with the Vikings back in 2017, Steffon Diggs was a member of that team and was second on the team in receiving behind Adam Thielen. Allen, however, has not practiced yet this week and seems to be trending toward missing the game. Watch closely and add Keenum in a desperate situation if needed.

Mike Evans

Andrew Leduc: Evans has a bunch of smaller injuries, with his ribs and ankle being the main concern. There is no reason to think he will miss this week. Does the long flight to Germany have any effect on these types of injuries, though?

Brian Scott, MEd, PA-C, ATC-ret: The problem with long charter flights to destinations like Europe on commercial airplanes is the sheer uncomfortable seating that comes with it. It’s important that he get up, move around, and try not to sit still the entire flight. The injuries themselves are not necessarily directly affected, but the prolonged periods of being stationary can certainly cause increased swelling, stiffness, and pain of the joints, that can certainly set a player back somewhat. So long as he has enough time to adjust once they arrive, I do not think there will be any lingering effects of the flight on his performance. It could actually play more of a factor on the return trip home after the game.

Prognosis: Evans struggled with some drops last week and ultimately had Brady looking to Scotty Miller when the game was on the line. Looking to turn it around this week on this long road trip, Evans should be able to return to form. To this point, the injuries have not slowed him down too much, as he is still WR11 on the season. What is funny is that a lot of people are saying he has been a disappointment this year. I think that stems from Brady’s frustrations mostly because even in garbage time, Evans has been his main target. The chemistry should be able to rebound after the drops last week. Stay the course with Evans at this point.

Dameon Pierce

Andrew Leduc: Pierce is on the injury report with a chest and shoulder injury. What have you seen with those, and what is your level of concern?

Brian Scott, MEd, PA-C, ATC-ret: His sudden arrival on the injury report for the Texans caught many by surprise because it is a mystery how or when he even got injured. Some reports said it was during his best game of the season last week or happened in practice afterward. Despite the surprising report, I am not overly concerned when it comes to running backs and injuries of this nature because running backs are always playing slightly dinged up. Especially with shoulder/chest-type injuries. The fact that he showed no ill effects from it if it happened in the game eases any anxiety. If it was a practice injury, it was not likely sustained during any type of significant contact or force.  Seeing as how he has become a featured back with the team, they are likely just treating him cautiously and preparing him for his next matchup.

Prognosis: This would be great news for Pierce owners. Pierce is likely on many teams who are in contention for a championship this season. The darling of the draft right now has carried front-loaded teams through the season. This would be a devastating time of year for him to go down. Luckily, it seems like he will be alright. Given his physical running style, it should be no surprise to have him pop up with some minor injuries that he nurses throughout the week. Look for him to keep churning though, and carry you to victory.

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