Yesterday, I covered 6 tight ends with high risk for injury in 2025, and last week, I covered the running backs and receivers. In my final “players with high risk” installment, below, I cover the 5 quarterbacks with high risk for injury in 2025.
When categorizing players into risk for injury level, I carefully utilize the latest peer-reviewed scientific research to combine intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors that are publicly known in regards to each player. By combining age, injury history, and other factors, we can gauge the number of risk factors and the severity of these risk factors for injury each player has. As a doctor of physical therapy, I am rooting for each of these players to stay healthy. The reality is, in the NFL, players get hurt. As fantasy football players, we need to utilize every tool we have to gain an edge against our league mates, and assessing risk factors for injury is a massive tool.
The below information is a preview from my Fantasy Football Draft Injury Guide, available now. If you find this information valuable, be sure to purchase the entire guide!
Dak Prescott: ADP QB12/ OV91
Age: 32 Position: QB Height: 6’2 Weight: 238 Exp: 9
Injury Risk Rating
Dak’s injury list is steadily growing. In the past five seasons, only in 2023 did he play every game, and in three out of those five seasons, he missed five games or more due to surgery. A pattern we are seeing with Prescott is that all of his injuries are on the right side of his body. The right ankle fracture and dislocation, right calf injury, and right hamstring injury can all occur from altered mechanics and muscle function following the initial injury, the ankle fracture.
Most recently, the right hamstring avulsion fracture is a concern. A quarterback must strongly contract the right hamstring when pushing off the ground to throw. While the surgery was successful, his hamstring tendon is now more at risk for future injury, and oftentimes players’ mechanics will change subtly after similar injuries. As we can see, Dak’s injury history is a big risk factor for future injury, and at 32 years old, so is his age. He can still play at a very high level, but fantasy players should be mindful of his risk level.
Tua Tagovailoa: ADP QB21/ OV128
Age: 27 Position: QB Height: 6’1 Weight: 225 Exp: 5
Injury Risk Rating
Oh boy, where to start? Tua’s injury history is well documented, and everyone on Twitter has an opinion on it. Let’s start with the concussions. We have four recorded concussions, possibly a 5th (Buffalo “back injury” game). Two of these concussions resulted in a fencing posture, which indicates injury to the brainstem, not good. We know that prior concussions make it so there is less threshold required for subsequent concussions to occur, meaning that Tua’s head does not need to get hit as hard to still bring on a concussion. Tua will forever be at high risk for another concussion, and a Guardian cap will not change that.
Tua also has several significant lower-body injuries in his past. Two high ankle sprains with tight-rope procedures and a major hip dislocation and fracture in college are nothing to sneeze at. Sprinkle in a shoulder, a few finger and hand injuries, and another hip injury ending last season, and Tua has a very lengthy injury history. We know that prior injury is one of the major risk factors for future injury, and Tua’s injury history is as long as a 27-year-old can be.
Tua’s age is technically not working against him, and we will not consider it a risk factor, but his past injuries are a lot to take in. Let’s hope he can stay healthy, but fantasy players should consider Tua at very high risk for injury in 2025.
Matthew Stafford: ADP QB23/ OV 137
Age: 37 Position: QB Height: 6’3 Weight: 214 Exp: 16
Injury Risk Rating
Considering age and prior injury are the two biggest risk factors for future injury, and Stafford is 37 with a very lengthy injury list, he can be considered a high risk for getting injured in 2025. Adding to his situation is a lack of mobility, though he often makes up for this with quick decision-making and a high football IQ. Still, fantasy players should understand that Stafford has a lot of factors working against his health.
Aaron Rodgers: ADP QB28/ OV165
Age: 41 Position: QB Height: 6’2 Weight: 223 Exp: 20
Injury Risk Rating
Rodgers is a sure thing first-ballot Hall of Famer, but for fantasy purposes, he has numerous risk factors for injury in 2025. The man is 41 years old, which alone is a massive injury risk. Add in a lengthy history of injuries, many of which I have NO IDEA how he played through (tibia plateau fracture specifically), and we have a player that is very high risk for injury in 2025. Rodgers’ mobility has declined over the years, impairing his ability to protect himself in the pocket, which will also add risk. The good news is that Rodgers’ experience allows him to get the ball out quickly, reducing the total number of hits he takes.
Anthony Richardson: ADP QB29/ OV182
Age: 29 Position: QB Height: 6’4 Weight: 244 Exp: 2
Injury Risk Rating
Richardson’s age is not a risk factor and is working in his favor, but that’s about it. The 3rd year quarterback has dealt with his share of injuries in his NFL and even college career. He has two major surgeries on his resume: a meniscus repair in 2021 and an AC joint repair in 2023. He also has multiple smaller injuries, including two concussions, a hip and oblique injury, and intermittent bouts of back spasms, which don’t help his case.
Prior injury is one of the biggest risk factors for future injury. A total of 8 recorded injuries, two of which are major, increase his risk for future injury. Lower body soft tissue injuries add up over time, and after suffering one or two concussions, subsequent concussions take less impact to occur. Richardson plays a reckless style of football, taking unnecessary big hits and refusing to protect his body. This playing style cannot hold up in the NFL and will have to change for him to stay on the field.
Authors Note
I hope you all enjoyed my series on players with high risk for injury. Stay tuned for an upcoming series on players with the lowest risk factors for injury. Be sure to enjoy this content now while it’s free! I will be putting all posts behind a paywall (a very affordable paywall) when the season starts. In-season posts will include a weekly injury recap (on Tuesdays), and an upcoming week injury preview (on Saturdays)!