Injuries play a key role in the (mis)fortunes of every team over the course of the NFL season. Nearly a quarter of the way through the 2026 campaign, the list of star players facing significant injuries is staggering, leaving bettors and bookmakers alike scrambling to adjust.
Quarterbacks play the most important position in the game and are, naturally, perennial favorites for Most Valuable Player. Thus far, five quarterbacks who began the season as starters have sustained serious injuries: Jayden Daniels, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, Caleb Williams and Jaxson Dart (who is out for the season).
A sampling of names from other offensive skill positions include Saquon Barkley, Travis Etienne Jr., A.J. Brown, Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, DeVonta Smith and De'Von Achane (who is also out for the season). There have been several big names to go down on the defensive side of the ball as well, though those generally have less impact for betting purposes.
Individual games are usually a starting point for sportsbooks when adjusting for injuries. Every player has a value that plays into any given game's line, so when an injury occurs -- whether before a game or during it -- sportsbooks take into account how many points to the spread that player is worth.