Can a player listed as doubtful still play?
Yes, but it rarely happens. Doubtful means the team considers him unlikely to play, so fantasy managers should have a backup plan in place.
Doubtful (Injury Designation)
Doubtful is an official NFL injury tag meaning a player is unlikely to play in the upcoming game, giving fantasy managers a strong signal to bench him.
Each week, NFL teams must list injured players with a designation: questionable, doubtful, or out. Doubtful sits between those two, and it means the team expects the player probably will not suit up. In practice, a doubtful player is officially active only a small fraction of the time, so fantasy managers should treat him as almost certain to miss the game.
The smart move with a doubtful player is to plan for life without him. If you have a healthy alternative on your roster or a waiver option, start that player instead. Only consider rolling with a doubtful player if he plays in a very early game, you can watch the inactives list about 90 minutes before kickoff, and you have a same-day backup option ready. If he plays in a Sunday night or Monday night game and you have no bench alternative, you risk getting zero points from that roster spot.
Be careful with timing. A player can practice in a limited fashion all week and still get tagged doubtful on Friday's final report. Designations can also change late in the week, so check the final injury report before setting your lineup. Handcuffs and backups for doubtful players often become popular waiver wire targets, since they can inherit a full workload on short notice.
Common questions
When should I start a doubtful player?
Only if he plays in an early game, you can confirm his status before kickoff, and you have another player in a later game who can replace him if needed.
What should I do if my doubtful player's backup is available?
Consider adding the backup off waivers. If the starter sits, the backup often gets most of the carries or targets and can be a useful spot start.
Related terms
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