Chance to Play: Questionable vs. Doubtful

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The Footballguys Injury Index contains injury timelines and fantasy performance outcomes specifically for quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends from 2017-2023. Altogether, there are over 2,000 injuries in the database. However, to avoid any confusion, it is important to lay some ground rules. I am not saying that this is exactly what will happen. I do not have a crystal ball, nor should this report be used as one. Like most things in life, context is important. Every injury is unique.

Enjoy.

Sections of the Footballguys Injury Index

Chance to Play, Questionable vs. Doubtful
Chance to Play, Practice Participation
Games Played and Positional Volatility
Fantasy Performance and Re-Injury Rate by Position

Questionable vs. Doubtful

Per the NFL rules, when a player is listed as Questionable (Q), there is uncertainty if that player will play that week, while the Doubtful (D) tag means a player is unlikely to be available. In short, questionable should mean that a player is truly 50/50 that week, and doubtful implies the chances are slim.

The numbers do not necessarily reflect that, as some NFL teams do not use the Questionable tag correctly. Doubtful was more straightforward.

Listed as Questionable on Team's Final Injury Report

• 71% of players ended up playing
• 29% of players did not play

Listed as Doubtful on Team's Final Injury Report

• 94.1% of players did not play
• 5.9% of players end up playing

Team Tendencies

Here are the specific tendencies when an NFL team lists a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, or tight end as Questionable or Doubtful on the final injury report. Teams like Tampa Bay and Chicago tend to be more liberal with the Questionable designation. Conversely, when a player is listed as Questionable on Philadelphia's final injury report, their chances of playing are much slimmer.

Doubtful designations are much more straightforward. Only four teams even allowed a player to player after being tabbed as Doubtful.