Fantasy Football 2017: Is Tom Brady’s Achilles injury a concern?
By Nafisa H
Should fantasy football owners be concerned about Tom Brady’s Achilles injury?
Whether you’re in the playoffs or in the final stretch of the fantasy football season, a healthy and productive quarterback is a must. So, surely hearing news of Tom Brady missing back-to-back practices with the New England Patriots this week due to an Achilles injury might sounds concerning.
This, coupled with Brady coming off of one of his worst games this season against the Buffalo Bills — a game in which he threw for 259 passing yards (he’s averaged 302.67 yards per game this season) and one interception (one of only four this season) — further begs the question of whether or not Brady can still guide your team to a championship. Well, the answer is a resounding yes.
Brady was listed as injured four times beginning in Week 13 of the 2016 season with separate knee and thigh issues, including the week of the divisional playoffs. Yet, he didn’t miss a game within that period. Nor did Brady and the New England Patriots lose a game then. And Brady went on to win his fifth Super Bowl ring after that — a testament to his durability and capability of succeeding admist adversity.
Furthermore, Brady, who is currently leading the league in passing yards, has a favorable matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 14. Brady has thrown for 503 yards, seven touchdowns, and only one interception in his last two meeting with the Dolphins. He threw four of those touchdowns against Miami earlier this season.
Brady won’t have tight end Rob Gronkowski (who’s out serving a one-game suspension) against the Dolphins but with a choice of reliable receiving options, and the likely return of Chris Hogan, he should be able to repeat that four-touchdown performance and more.
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In the end, Brady isn’t untouchable, but he is pretty much unbenchable. Injured or not, Brady shows up and puts everything he has into the game, guiding the New England Patriots to victory and last year, yet another Super Bowl win. And he could very well still earn your fantasy football team the winning trophy this season. His Achilles injury may limit his mobility but Brady’s ability to throw passes under pressure with accuracy shouldn’t allow injury to hinder his stats.