Fantasy Football Injuries: Key Updates on Saquon Barkley, Cam Skattebo, And More

Nothing can wreck a fantasy season like injuries.

But injuries also present opportunity. We can gain an edge over our competition by having a better understanding of injuries, how long they’ll keep players out, and how they’ll impact performance upon return.

That’s why we’re bringing in Tyler Smola -- a Doctor of Physical Therapy with more than a decade of sports medicine experience -- to break down what these injuries really mean for fantasy managers.

Each week, Tyler will separate rumor from reality, explain timelines, and give you the performance outlook you need to make sharper fantasy decisions.

Fantasy Football Injuries: RBs

Saquon Barkley, Eagles

Injury: Groin strain
Expected Games Missed: 0-2
Performance Impact Upon Return: Low-medium

Barkley left in the third quarter with a groin strain.

If we can take Saquon at his word, it is not a high-grade strain. After the game, he said, “I wasn’t worried about it. I came off, but I’ve dealt with this before. Nothing crazy.” He reportedly wanted to return to the game, but the Eagles wisely held him out to avoid the risk of worsening the injury.

With the Eagles’ bye week coming up, Saquon has a built-in week to recover.

As of now, we do not expect him to miss extended time. But he will remain at some risk of re-injury upon his return. 

Change of direction is likely to be the most affected aspect of his performance when he’s back on the field.

Cam Skattebo, Giants

Injury: Ankle dislocation
Expected Games Missed: Season-ending
Performance Impact Upon Return: Medium next season

Another RB goes down with a season-ending injury. 

Skattebo suffered an ankle dislocation with a likely associated compound fracture of the tibia. While full details are still pending, emergency surgery was performed Sunday at a local Philadelphia hospital. Skattebo has since been released and will begin a long recovery, with hopes of returning for Week 1 of the 2026 season.

Early reports indicate that surgery was successful. The main concern over the next month will be preventing infection — a rare but serious complication (think Alex Smith).

This will be a complex recovery involving fully torn ligaments, fractured bone(s), and potential chondral damage. While there’s optimism that he can return to the field to start next season, that’s not a guarantee. 

It’s uncommon for athletes to be at 100% in the first year following such an injury. But by the two-year mark, Skattebo should be back to full strength.

Quinshon Judkins, Browns

Injury: AC joint sprain
Expected Games Missed: 0-2
Performance Impact Upon Return: Low

Judkins left Sunday’s game with an AC joint sprain. 

This type of injury occurs when an athlete lands on the point of the shoulder, stretching the ligament that connects the clavicle to the acromion (shoulder blade). It’s a much more challenging injury to return from for a QB’s throwing shoulder than for a RB. The primary risk upon return is reinjury from landing on the shoulder in a similar way.

The Browns have listed Judkins as “day to day” and are heading into a bye week. This timing should allow him to miss little to no game action. Keep an eye out for an update from Cleveland following the bye.

Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs

Injury: MCL sprain
Expected Games Missed: 1-5
Performance Impact Upon Return: Medium

Reports out of Kansas City confirm that Pacheco suffered an MCL sprain Monday night against the Commanders. 

An MCL sprain occurs when excessive valgus force – typically a strike to the lateral aspect of the knee – is applied to the joint. The video of Pacheco’s injury is a textbook example of the classic mechanism for an MCL sprain.

This is another situation where the all-important grading system comes into play. Based on the video and reports, it appears to be a Grade 2 sprain, meaning he will likely miss some time. 

Fortunately, MCL injuries almost never require surgery, as the ligament has sufficient vascularization to heal on its own, unlike the ACL.

Fantasy Football Injuries: WRs

Marvin Mims, Broncos

Injury: Concussion
Expected Games Missed: 1-2
Performance Impact Upon Return: Low

Mims exited Sunday’s matchup with the Cowboys due to a concussion. 

The good news is that this is his first documented concussion, which makes it less likely he’ll miss extended time. However, it’s uncommon for players to progress through the five-step protocol quickly enough to return the following week — though it’s not impossible. 

Most often, players miss one game after a concussion.

Luther Burden, Bears

Injury:  Concussion
Expected Games Missed: 1-2
Performance Impact Upon Return: Low

Similar to Mims’ situation, Burden suffered his first documented concussion on Sunday. 

Following a concussion, players typically take a day of rest before beginning rehabilitation. Rehab after a concussion looks much different than recovery from other injuries. A concussion is far more complex, involving neurological systems like the ocular and vestibular systems. Because these systems are affected, balance is often disrupted.

The focus of concussion rehab is to identify activities or movements that trigger symptoms and to gradually reintroduce these through graded exposure and exercise. Teams also work to maintain players’ conditioning through aerobic and resistance training, carefully progressing up to, but not beyond, the point where concussion symptoms increase.

Expect Burden to miss a game or two.

What Do These Injuries Mean For Your Fantasy Team?

The smartest managers don’t just track injuries ... they act on them faster than the rest of the league.

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Tyler Smola, Injury Analyst

Tyler brings over a decade of sports medicine knowledge to Draft Sharks. He will be writing weekly injury analysis articles this season and will bring an expertise in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and sports performance to Draft Sharks.