{"id":138474,"date":"2024-09-19T19:00:23","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T19:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/19\/what-does-pup-mean-in-fantasy-football-and-how-does-it-works\/"},"modified":"2024-09-19T19:00:23","modified_gmt":"2024-09-19T19:00:23","slug":"what-does-pup-mean-in-fantasy-football-and-how-does-it-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/19\/what-does-pup-mean-in-fantasy-football-and-how-does-it-works\/","title":{"rendered":"What does PUP mean in Fantasy Football and how does it works?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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M<\/span>anaging NFL<\/a> rosters has turned into a real balancing act for general managers. With the constant flow of injuries and player evaluations, it’s like a game of musical chairs trying to keep the roster at its peak. Teams start with a hefty 90 players during training camp, and after grueling practices, only 53 make it to the regular season. But the roster shuffling doesn’t end there.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Players can be placed on different lists depending on their injuries and recovery status. One of these is the Injured Reserve (IR)<\/strong> list. “Players on IR are sidelined for at least a few weeks due to injury and don’t count against the active roster<\/em>,” the league’s guidelines explain. <\/p>\n

If they’re on IR before the season starts, they could be out for the entire year unless they’re designated to return.<\/strong> This year, teams can have up to two players designated for return from IR, with a minimum of four games they need to miss. Once a player is cleared to practice, they have a 21-day window to be activated or put on season-ending IR<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What exactly is the PUP?<\/h2>\n

Then there’s the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP)<\/strong> list. Players on the active\/PUP list at the start of training camp have injuries but can still participate in team activities.<\/strong> They can be activated at any time, provided they’re medically cleared. However, players can’t be placed on the PUP list after they’ve practiced or played<\/strong> in a preseason game. If a player is on the reserve\/PUP list, they’re not counted towards the 53-man roster and must sit out the first four games of the season. “A player on Reserve\/PUP can practice and rejoin the team after six weeks, but they must be activated within 21 days<\/em>,” the league’s rulebook states.<\/p>\n

The Reserve\/PUP list<\/strong> is crucial for managing injuries. “Players on Reserve\/PUP can’t practice or play during the first six weeks, but they’re eligible to return after that<\/em>,” notes a 2013 ESPN blog post by Mike Sando. After the six-week period, players have a 21-day window to be activated or put on the inactive list.<\/p>\n

For example, Jonathan Stewart<\/strong> of the Carolina Panthers<\/a>, who had offseason surgery on both ankles, will miss the first six weeks of the season. Meanwhile, players like Michael Crabtree<\/strong>, who tore his Achilles, are on the Reserve\/PUP list and won’t return until at least Week 11. And while Ed Reed was on the Active\/PUP list with a hip injury, his status was re-evaluated by the end of August.<\/p>\n

Overall, while no player wants to land on these lists, understanding their purpose and impact is key to navigating the NFL season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n