Fantasy Football Injury Report
Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game and their impact can destroy a well-constructed fantasy football roster in a hurry. Fortunately, unless you’re in a best-ball league, fantasy managers have the chance to hit the waiver wire and overcome untimely injuries. Let’s break down the fantasy-relevant injuries ahead of Week 9 and how fantasy managers can forge ahead. Week 9 NFL byes: Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Football Team Derrick Henry (RB) Tennessee Titans – The biggest injury of the season, Henry is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season with a broken bone in his foot. Henry suffered the injury early in Week 8 and toughed through it but an MRI revealed surgery would be necessary and put the league’s best running back on the shelf indefinitely. Obviously a devastating blow, the Titans quickly signed Adrian Peterson to take some of the early-down work and Jeremy McNichols is now a legitimate RB3/flex option in PPR formats. In honor of King Henry, use promo code KING30 for 30% off FULLTIME FANTASY MEMBERSHIP!! Christian McCaffrey (RB) Carolina Panthers – Out since hurting his hamstring back in Week 3, McCaffrey is eligible to come off of IR this week and Matt Rhule has expressed optimism that CMC will be able to suit up against the Patriots. More likely, they’ll err on the side of caution and bring back McCaffrey in Week 10 but we’ll update this situation later this week in Discord. Dak Prescott (QB) Dallas Cowboys – As last week progressed, Prescott’s status became more cloudy until he was ultimately ruled out of the Cowboys’ Week 8 victory against Minnesota. Now working on close to three full weeks of rest, Prescott is considered more likely to play in Week 9 but we’ll keep an eye on his health as his practice reps are ramped up later on this week. Deebo Samuel (WR) San Francisco 49ers – Samuel had a calf injury in Chicago and is expected to be limited throughout the week in practice. As of now, the calf injury isn’t considered serious or anticipated to be an issue for Samuel’s Week 9 availability against the Cardinals. Elijah Mitchell (RB) San Francisco 49ers – Samuel’s teammate Elijah Mitchell dinged his ribs in Week 8 and could also be limited in practice. The rib ailment shouldn’t keep Mitchell out Week 9, so expect a full workload against Arizona. The Niners also activated Jeff Wilson (knee) off IR and Wilson could be cleared to join the San Francisco backfield in the next three weeks. Taysom Hill (QB) New Orleans Saints – Hill is still in the league’s concussion protocol but is tentatively expected to be ready this week. And the Saints will need him after Jameis Winston was lost for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Hill offers elite rushing upside, which makes him an awfully intriguing weekly option once he’s cleared to return. Hopefully, that will be this week, otherwise, Trevor Siemian will get the starting nod. Sterling Shepard (WR) New York Giants – After sitting out Week 7 with a hamstring injury, Shepard played into the second quarter Monday before suffering a non-contact quad injury. Shepard was quickly ruled out and is looking like he’ll miss at least one game. Even if he’s able to suit up, a hobbled Shepard won’t be a recommended fantasy option against the Raiders’ dynamic cornerback duo. Teammate Kadarius Toney also returned only to injure his thumb late. Toney was able to return to the game but we’ll monitor his status ahead of Week 9. Dawson Knox (TE) Buffalo Bills – Out since breaking a bone in his hand Week 6, Knox is considered day-to-day and could start practicing in full this week. Once he’s cleared to play, Knox returns to TE1 status. T.Y. Hilton (WR) Indianapolis Colts – The Colts host the Jets on Thursday, which puts Hilton’s status in serious doubt. Hilton missed Week 9 with a concussion and six of the first eight weeks of the season with neck and quad injuries. He can no longer be counted on as anything other than a desperation play at this point unless the Colts are playing the Texans like they will again in Week 13. Zach Wilson (QB) New York Jets – Wilson (knee) will return to practice this week after missing Week 8, but considering Mike White just completed over 82% of his passes and surpassed 400 passing yards, the Jets won’t rush the No. 2 overall pick back until he’s close to 100%. Expect White to nab his second start in Week 9, especially on a short rest week. WR Corey Davis (hip) is also looking questionable after missing last week. Tyrod Taylor (QB) Houston Texans – Close to playing last week, Taylor ramp up practice reps this week in anticipation of facing the Dolphins. However, Houston has a bye in Week 10 so it might make more sense for the club to give Taylor another week off to be 100% as the Texans look to close out a lost season. Jalen Reagor (WR) Philadelphia Eagles – Reagor, who has topped 50 yards just once all season, was carted off the field in Detroit and could miss some time. He’s only topped three targets in a game once since Week 3, so there’s little reason for redraft fantasy managers to hold onto Reagor at this point. Allen Lazard (WR) Green Bay Packers – After sitting out Week 8 on the reserve/COVID list, Lazard had been activated and will be back in the lineup this week in Kansas City. No. 1 WR Davante Adams (reserve/COVID) should also return Week 9. Tutu Atwell (WR) Los Angeles Rams – On the field for all of 10 offensive snaps this season, Atwell’s rookie campaign is over after suffering a serious shoulder injury in Houston. Atwell’s first season will end with zero targets and one fumble. Chris Boswell (PK) Pittsburgh Steelers – Pittsburgh’s long-time kicker was hurt on a blatant late hit that should have drawn a flag on a fake field goal attempt. Boswell’s absence left the Steelers
Fantasy Football Injury Report
Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game and their impact can destroy a well-constructed fantasy football roster in a hurry. Fortunately, unless you’re in a best-ball league, fantasy managers have the chance to hit the waiver wire and overcome untimely injuries. Let’s break down the fantasy-relevant injuries ahead of Week 8 and how fantasy managers can forge ahead. Week 8 byes: Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders Dak Prescott (QB) Dallas Cowboys – According to Prescott, he could have kept playing on the calf injury he suffered in Dallas’ overtime win in Week 6. With a full bye week off to heal, the injury isn’t expected to hinder Prescott at all for the Cowboys’ Week 8 trip to Minnesota. Davante Adams (WR) Green Bay Packers – Not an injury, per se, but Adam was placed on the reserve/COVID list and is highly doubtful for Week 8 due to the short turnaround. Tuesday, Allen Lazard was also placed on the same list, leaving Green Bay dangerously thin at wide receiver and precious little time to add reinforcements. It’s possible Marquez Valdes-Scantling (IR) can be activated ahead of time but for now, plan on Randall Cobb, Amari Rogers, and Equanimeous St. Brown being the Packers’ main pass-catching options. DeAndre Hopkins (WR) Arizona Cardinals – Nuk injured his hamstring during Arizona’s Week 7 win against Houston and exited the game. He’s expected to be in the lineup on Thursday but is unlikely to practice much this week. As long as he’s active, fire up Hopkins as a WR1 in what shapes up to be the rare exciting Thursday Night matchup. Nick Chubb (RB) Cleveland Browns – After missing two games with a calf injury, Nick Chubb is tentatively expected to be back in the lineup this week as the Browns host the Steelers. As long as there are no setbacks, Chubb will be an RB1 but should cede passing-down work to Week 7 waiver wire hero D’Ernest Johnson. Saquon Barkley (RB) New York Giants – Barkley never came particularly close to practicing last week and will need to get multiple practices in before he’s cleared to return from his ankle injury. If Barkley has not returned to practice by Thursday, that’s a pretty good indicator that he’ll miss this week’s trip to Kansas City. Miles Sanders (RB) Philadelphia Eagles – Sanders was carted off the field after hurting his ankle in the first half of Philadelphia’s Week 7 loss. We’re still awaiting MRI results but Sanders is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks, which makes Kenneth Gainwell a priority waiver wire target. Julio Jones (WR) Tennessee Titans – Jones managed to survive Week 8 without any setbacks on his injured hamstring. In Tennessee’s blowout win, Jones managed to play 42.6% of the team’s offensive snaps. As long as there are no tweaks in practice this week, Jones will be on the WR3 radar this week in Indianapolis. Sterling Shepard (WR) New York Giants – Questionable all week, Shepard tried to practice in pre-game workouts but was quickly precluded from the lineup. Another week of rest should make it more likely that Shepard’s hamstring will heal enough for Shepard to return in Week 8. Teammate Kenny Golladay (knee) is considered less likely to play but is worth monitoring all week. DeVante Parker (WR) Miami Dolphins – Out since hurting his hamstring in Week 4, Parker remains questionable ahead of this week’s unappealing trip to Buffalo. Even if he’s active, Parker is no more than a WR4 against a stout Bills’ secondary. Baker Mayfield (QB) Cleveland Browns – Mayfield also missed Week 7 and is considered highly questionable for Week 8 with a banged-up non-throwing shoulder. Even if Mayfield is active, he would not be a recommended fantasy option at less than 100% health playing against a Pittsburgh defense that has done a good job holding Mayfield in check for most of his career. Zach Wilson (QB) New York Jets – The draft’s No. 2 overall pick sprained his MCL and is expected to miss the next 2-4 weeks. New York’s offense was already struggling and Wilson’s absence will only exasperate those issues. The Jets traded for Joe Flacco and also have Mike White, who relieved Wilson in Week 7’s blowout loss. There’s little reason to start any Jets at this point. Trey Lance (QB) San Francisco 49ers – Lance sat out last week with a knee injury but is expected to return to practice ahead of Week 8. Jimmy Garoppolo struggled last week but has been named the club’s Week 8 starter. Expect the veteran to have a short hook, with Lance possibly factoring in as a gadget/short-yardage weapon. It’s probably only a matter of time before Lance is named San Francisco’s starter, making him an intriguing free-agent add. Tyrod Taylor (QB) Houston Texans – Out since hurting his hamstring in Week 2, Taylor should resume practice the week and will reclaim Houston’s starting job as soon as this week. Taylor will be a big upgrade for all of Houston’s skill position players and can be a solid option in Superflex leagues. Malcolm Brown (RB) Miami Dolphins – Brown started Week 7 but was forced from the game after five snaps with a quad injury. Brown had minimal fantasy value already but is now expected to miss multiple weeks. He can be cut in nearly all formats. Dyami Brown (WR) Washington Football Team – Brown suffered a knee injury last week and is expected to be sidelined for at least one week. Brown is well off the fantasy radar. Will Lutz (PK) New Orleans Saints – Generally one of the league’s better kickers, Lutz never recovered from a groin injury that caused him to open the season on IR. Even though he was activated from that list, Lutz tweeted that he’ll miss the rest of the season. The 2021 NFL season is well underway but it’s not too late to get access to the best help out there! All FullTime Fantasy members get exclusive access to our 24/7 Chat Room on Discord! All morning on Sunday, Senior Analyst Jody Smith
Fantasy Football News & Notes
It’s bad enough we have to deal with a painful bye week, but plenty of other things are happening around the league that could have a major impact on Week 7. Here are some of the NFL news & notes to be aware of heading into the weekend. Quarterbacks Rumors flew this week that the Miami Dolphins were on the verge of acquiring Houston Texans’ star DeShaun Watson by the end of the week and potentially sending former first-round pick Tua Tagovialoa to the Washington Football Team. It’s the same story we’ve been hearing since March. Rumors came out of Houston and Miami denied any deal was in the works. The week is over and Watson is in Houston and Tua is in Miami. The San Francisco 49ers have ruled out Trey Lance with a knee injury and Jimmy Garoppolo will get the start. Lance didn’t exactly set the world on fire while he was in the lineup so expectations are that Garoppolo will probably retain the job. One major thing to be aware of ahead of San Francisco’s Sunday night game: weather looks awful, with wind and rain being a factor. Looks like a situation to decrease expectations for all 49ers and Colts. Baker Mayfield was not able to start for the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football. Case Keenum got the start and led the team to victory. Mayfield is now dealing with a fracture in his often dislocated non-throwing shoulder along with his already torn labrum. He hopes to be back in Week 8. New Orleans Saints backup Taysom Hill is expected to miss Sunday’s game with a concussion. Tyrod Taylor will not make his return this week and Davis Mills will get another start. Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll says the team has reached out to former MVP Cam Newton but the Seahawks signed Jacob Eason instead. Running Backs Alex Collins is looking unlikely to play on Monday Night Football with a core injury but is yet to be ruled out. There is a chance he is a game-time decision. Rashaad Penny has been activated off of injured reserve and is ready to play this week. This may not be situated until hours before game time. JaMycal Hasty is likely to be activated off IR prior to Week 7. The Baltimore Ravens have ruled out Latavius Murray with an ankle injury this week. Devonta Freeman and Le’Veon Bell should be in a timeshare, but don’t rule out Ty’Son Williams from also contributing. Tevin Coleman popped up on the injury reports for the Jets on Friday and is now looking very questionable with a hamstring injury. The New York Giants have once again ruled out Saquon Barkley with an ankle injury. He is yet to practice since sustaining the gruesome-looking injury. Antonio Gibson is struggling with a shin injury and is questionable for Week 7. However, he believes he will be out there. Damien Williams has yet to be activated off of Covid/IR as of Saturday morning but is not eligible to come off until Saturday so monitor the situation. Both Samaje Perine and Chris Evans have been limited this week and aren’t a lock to play Sunday. The backup situation for the Cincinnati Bengals is unclear. Malcolm Brown has been limited in practice this week with a rib injury and is questionable. The Saints have signed Lamar Miller. Miller hasn’t had much left in the tank for a while. The Los Angeles Rams have placed Jake Funk on IR with a hamstring injury. Wide Receivers Jerry Jeudy did not return to the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football but has now been medically cleared and is fully expected to play Week 8. DeVante Parker and Preston Williams are both questionable again this week after ultimately being ruled out last week. Both should be considered game-time calls. Sammy Watkins will not play this week. Parris Campbell is heading to season-ending IR for the Indianapolis Colts with a foot fracture and T.Y. Hilton is questionable at best this week with a quad injury. Deonte Harris has been able to practice all week due to a hamstring injury. He has not been ruled out yet. Michael Thomas will not be activated off the PUP list and is still expected to miss multiple weeks The Carolina Panthers have ruled out rookie Terrace Marshall with a concussion and sent Brandon Zylstra to IR. A.J. Brown missed Tennessee Titans practice all week due to food poison but is expected to give it go. Julio Jones looks less likely to play with a hamstring injury. The Giants have ruled out Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay this week, while Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, and John Ross are all questionable. Shepard looks likely to play, the other two are iffy. Curtis Samuel is once again out… The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have ruled out Antonio Brown with an ankle injury. Donovan Peoples-Jones tweaked his groin warming up for TNF and did not play. Jarvis Landry injured his knee during the game and did not return. Tight Ends The Bucs have ruled out Gronk once again this week and O.J. Howard is questionable, but trending in the right direction with an ankle injury. Evan Engram was downgraded to questionable mid-week with a calf injury. Jimmy Graham has been placed on the reserve/Covid list and will not play this week. Dallas Goedert has been activated off the reserve/Covid list and will play this week without restrictions. Zach Ertz is expected to make his debut with the Arizona Cardinals. Dawson Knox had surgery on his hand this week and there is no specific timeline for his return, but it’s not expected to be a lengthy recovery. The Buffalo Bills are on a bye this week.
Fantasy Football Injury Report
Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game and their impact can destroy a well-constructed fantasy football roster in a hurry. Fortunately, unless you’re in a best-ball league, fantasy managers have the chance to hit the waiver wire and overcome untimely injuries. Let’s break down the fantasy-relevant injuries ahead of Week 7 and how fantasy managers can forge ahead. Week 7 NFL byes: Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers Nick Chubb (RB) Cleveland Browns – A calf injury kept Chubb out last week and he was not at practice on Monday. With the Browns due to turn around and play again on Thursday, things aren’t looking good for Cleveland’s backfield. Teammate Kareem Hunt also hurt his calf in Week 6 and is looking very doubtful on short rest. D’Ernest Johnson would be next up but has a tough task against a solid Denver defense. Christian McCaffrey (RB) Carolina Panthers – The Panthers officially place McCaffrey on IR, meaning he’ll miss at least two more weeks. CMC hasn’t played since hurting his hamstring against the Texans in Week 3 and now won’t be able to suit up again until Week 9 at the earliest. Chuba Hubbard remains a weekly RB2 as long as McCaffrey is out. Antonio Gibson (RB) Washington Football Team – We’re still waiting for results on an MRI that Gibson had on his shin. The injury isn’t considered too serious, as Gibson was able to return and still see a handful of touches but it did bother him enough to see J.D. McKissic rack up 16 touches. Consider Gibson very questionable for Week 7. Saquon Barkley (RB) New York Giants – Barkley missed Week 6 with a low ankle sprain and could practice in a limited capacity this week. The safe assumption is that the Giants will hold Barkley out for at least one more game, but Barkley is known as a fast healer and wants to return as soon as he can. We’ll monitor news and update the FullTime Discord when word breaks. Chris Carson (RB) Seattle Seahawks – After carrying the ball 20 times for 101 yards and a TD in Pittsburgh, Collins exited the game with hip and glute injuries. Collins will get an extra day to recover, but if he’s not able to suit up on Monday, Rashaad Penny, who should be activated from IR this week, would be a good bet for plenty of touches against New Orleans. Dak Prescott (QB) Dallas Cowboys – Prescott strained his calf late in the Cowboys’ overtime win in New England. Following the game, Prescott says he could have kept playing and wasn’t concerned. Dallas also has a bye this week, so this sounds like a non-issue. Michael Thomas (WR) New Orleans Saints – Thomas (ankle) is eligible to come off of the PUP list this week but isn’t expected to be ready for action for another 2-3 weeks. Proactively adding Thomas off the waiver wire would be a savvy move. Baker Mayfield (QB) Cleveland Browns – Already playing with a hurt labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, Mayfield re-aggravated his shoulder on a hard hit to the turf but was able to return to the game. All indications are that Mayfield will be under center on Thursday, but at less than 100% and facing a stout Denver defense on three days rest, Mayfield shouldn’t be in fantasy lineups. Julio Jones (WR) Tennessee Titans – Well, that didn’t take long. In his first game back after missing two games with a hamstring injury, Jones re-injured the same hamstring and exited in the fourth quarter. Depending on the severity of this new ailment, Jones is likely to miss multiple games once again. In four games, Jones has been held to just 15 grabs and 263 scoreless yards. Odell Beckham Jr. (WR) Cleveland Browns – Yet another significant injury for the Browns, Beckham re-injured his shoulder on a hit and was in obvious pain before exiting the game. Eventually, Beckham was able to return, but with a short rest week before the Browns host Denver, Beckham’s Week 7 status is up in the air. Donovan Peoples-Jones and Jarvis Landry, if he’s active, would benefit from Beckham’s targets if he’s unable to go. Kadarius Toney (WR) New York Giants – Toney re-injured the same ankle that he previously hurt and was quickly ruled out of last week’s loss. Being ruled out that quickly doesn’t bode well for Toney’s Week 7 status. Consider the first-round rookie doubtful for this week. This makes Sterling Shepard a good bet for another heavy week of targets and would also help Darius Slayton if he’s able to return. Trey Lance (QB) San Francisco 49ers – Coming off of their bye, Lance still missing from practice doesn’t bode well for his Week 7 availability. Additionally, after a so-so start, Jimmy Garoppolo was already expected to be back under center for the 49ers. Lance is still a hold in dynasty formats but can be dropped in redraft. Tyrod Taylor (QB) Houston Texans – Out since Week 2 with a hamstring injury, Taylor is nearing a return from IR but unlikely to play this week. As bad as Davis Mills has looked, Houston undoubtedly would like to get Taylor back under center but won’t rush him back in a rebuilding season. If Taylor returns in Week 8, he won’t be a recommended start against the Rams. Parris Campbell (WR) Indianapolis Colts – Significant injuries are nothing new for Campbell, who looks to be sidelined for multiple weeks with another foot ailment. Campbell missed 23-of-32 games in his first two seasons and now could be out for a month or even the rest of 2021. There’s no reason to keep Campbell on redraft rosters. Zach Pascal will not man the slot full-time. Jake Funk (RB) Los Angeles Rams – Funk tore his hamstring in Week 6 and will need surgery. This likely ends his rookie campaign. Buddy Howell will take over as the third back behind Darrell Henderson and Sony Michel. The 2021 NFL season is well underway but it’s not too late to
Fantasy Football Injury Report
FullTime Fantasy’s weekly Fantasy Football Injury Report recaps all the fantasy-relevant injured that occurred and offers advice on how they will impact lineups. Here are the injuries to be aware of ahead of Week 6. Week 6 NFL Byes: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers Russell Wilson (QB) Seattle Seahawks – For the first time in his career, Wilson is slated to miss starts after dislocating his finger and receiving surgery. The recovery timetable is expected to sideline Wilson for a month or more. Pete Carroll now hands the reigns over to Geno Smith and while Smith fared well against the Rams on Thursday, it’s a massive downgrade for Seattle’s offense. Saquon Barkley (RB) New York Giants – The Giants suffered a brutal Sunday, not only losing to the Cowboys on the road, but also having their top RB, QB, and WR go down. Anyone watching Saquon Barkley’s ankle get rolled up was probably extremely concerned about his long-term status, but it sounds like Barkley avoided a major injury and had just a low-ankle sprain. This is a best-case scenario for Barkley, who should only miss 1-2 games. Devontae Booker offers weekly RB2 value while Barkley is sidelined. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB) Kansas City Chiefs – CEH had his knee rolled up on and was in immediate and visible pain before being carried off the field by teammates. An MRI revealed Edwards-Helaire sprained his MCL and will miss multiple weeks. His absence opens the door for Darrel Williams to be this week’s top waiver wire add, and should free up a few targets for Jerrick McKinnon. Trey Lance (QB) San Francisco 49ers – San Francisco has a bye in Week 6, so Trey Lance will have time to fully recover from his sprained knee. However, Jimmy Garoppolo (calf) is far more likely to reclaim the 49ers’ starting gig after Lance’s inconsistent performance in Arizona. Lance displayed elite rushing ability but is still a work in progress as a passer. There’s little reason to keep Lance rostered in shallow redraft leagues. Kenny Golladay (WR) New York Giants – The trip to Dallas also cost the Giants their top wideout. Golladay tried to play his way through a hyperextended knee but was ultimately forced from the game. Fortunately, the injury isn’t severe and Golladay is currently expected to miss just one game. Dallas Goedert (TE) Philadelphia Eagles – Goedert has been placed on the reserve/COVID list and is very much in doubt for Philadelphia’s Thursday night game with New England. Unless Goedert tests negative twice in two days, he’s going to miss Week 6. Zach Ertz becomes an interesting streaming option but is far from a must-start against New England’s solid TE defense. Juju Smith-Schuster (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers – Already struggling to gain traction in a contract year, Smith-Schuster dislocated his shoulder and will miss the remainder of the 2021 NFL season. Smith-Schuster’s absence opens up targets for James Washington (groin) when he’s healthy, and Ray-Ray McCloud. It also should mean more opportunities for Chase Claypool, who is now a borderline WR2/3. Julio Jones (WR) Tennessee Titans – Out since Week 3 with a hamstring injury, Jones has yet to return to practice and is looking like he’ll miss at least one more game. Damien Harris (RB) New England Patriots – Harris was in and out of New England’s lineup and had a costly goal-line fumble before injuring his chest/ribs in the fourth quarter. The injury isn’t considered serious and Harris is listed as day-to-day. He should be good to go this week against the Patriots but could begin to lose more touches to Rhamondre Stevenson and Brandon Bolden. Daniel Jones (QB) New York Giants – On a designed run, Jones took a blow to the head as he approached the end zone and suffered a scary concussion. Jones attempted to wobble back to the huddle but was assisted by concerned teammates. Jones has plenty of time to pass through the league’s concussion protocol, but fantasy managers who rely on Jones as their starter should start making other arrangements for Week 6. Sammy Watkins (WR) Baltimore Ravens – Watkins injured his hamstring late in Baltimore’s inspiring come-from-behind victory. Hamstring ailments are notoriously easy to reoccur when not given adequate time to heal, so Watkins could be due to miss a handful of games, depending on the severity of his injury. Tua Tagovailoa (QB) Miami Dolphins – Eligible to come off IR this week, Miami head coach Brian Flores is hoping Tagovailoa will practice this week and could be back in the lineup for the Dolphins, who have a must-win game in Jacksonville Week 6. Curtis Samuel (WR) Washington Football Team – Samuel re-injured his groin and is still listed as week-to-week. The best course of action might be for Ron Rivera to hold Samuel out a game or two until he is 100%. If Samuel is forced to miss time, Adam Humphries would be Washington’s full-time slot receiver and could be a cheap source of targets. Quintez Cephus (WR) Detroit Lions – Cephus broke his collarbone in Detroit’s loss in Minnesota and should miss the rest of the season. Amon-Ra St. Brown should see a boost in targets. Tyrod Taylor (QB) Houston Texans – Taylor, who has been out since injuring his hamstring in Week 2, isn’t expected to return this week, even though he is eligible. After Davis Mills‘s spectacular performance against New England, the Texans may choose to just keep Davis in the lineup to see if he can develop into an NFL starter. Taylor’s only value is in dynasty Superflex leagues. Gerald Everett (TE) Seattle Seahawks – Everett has been activated from the reserve/COVID list and is expected to start in Week 6. He’ll be a lesser TE2 with Geo Smith under center. THIS TOOL IS FREE THIS WEEK BUT IS TYPICALLY RESERVED FOR PREMIUM MEMBERS. Are you seriously still on the sidelines? Proven track record to help you win. Join the fun and Become a FULLTIME MEMBER! We’re chatting 24/7 in our Discord and when you join, you
Fantasy Football News & Notes
As a friendly reminder, please be aware that there will be an early kickoff on Sunday, as the New York Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons game will be played at 9:30 ET from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. Here are some other fantasy-relevant news, notes, and injury updates to be aware of before Week 5. Quarterbacks Russell Wilson tore a tendon in his finger during the Seattle Seahawks Thursday Night Football game this week and it will require surgery. He is expected to miss a minimum of a month but could miss as much as 6-8 weeks. Geno Smith will be the starter in Seattle for the foreseeable future… The San Francisco 49ers have ruled out Jimmy Garoppolo for Week 5 with a calf injury and rookie Trey Lance has been named the starter… The Chicago Bears have named rookie Justin Fields as their starter moving forward. Andy Dalton is no longer listed on the injury report… Teddy Bridgewater is in a race to clear the league’s concussion protocol before Week 5. The Denver Broncos expect him to be ready. Drew Lock would start for the Denver Broncos if Bridgewater can’t go… The Pittsburgh Steelers have no intention of benching Ben Roethlisberger this season… Carson Wentz participated in a full practice for the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday for the first time since before Week 1… Baker Mayfield suffered a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder in Week 2. It may impact his play but he is expected to be the Cleveland Browns starter going forward. Running Backs Dalvin Cook was not able to practice this week and will be a game-time decision due to his ankle injury. He is trending in the wrong direction and is looking unlikely to play. Alexander Mattison would be the Minnesota Vikings starter should Cook sit out… David Montgomery went down with a knee injury in the Chicago Bears Week 4 matchup. While he avoided catastrophic injury he’s still expected to miss 4-5 weeks… Antonio Gibson says he has a stress fracture in his shin that he has been able to play through. The Washington Football Team has listed him as questionable this week, but he’s likely to play… Despite showing glimmers of hope this week, the Carolina Panthers have listed Christian McCaffrey as doubtful and he’s likely to miss another week… The best case for the Cincinnati Bengals is looking like Joe Mixon being a game-time decision on Sunday. He’s trending in the wrong direction with an ankle sprain and could be ruled out on Saturday. Samaje Perine and Chris Evans are the next men up… Chase Edmonds is dealing with a shoulder injury and will be a game-time decision for the Arizona Cardinals this week… The Niners have removed Elijah Mitchell from their final injury report this week… The Los Angeles Chargers have listed Justin Jackson as doubtful this week with a groin injury… Ezekiel Elliott was listed as questionable with a knee injury this week by the Dallas Cowboys. However, Elliott says that he’s not concerned about it. As of now, there is no reason to believe it will cost him any time… DeAndre Swift is once again questionable with a groin injury for the Detroit Lions as has been the case all season. It has not cost him any time on the field. Jamaal Williams was also limited this week with a hip injury but is expected to be fine on Sunday… Nyheim Hines was held of practice late in the week with a shoulder injury and is listed as questionable for Week 5… Giovani Bernard returned to practice for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week and could be back after a one-week absence… Chris Carson was forced to sit out this Thursday with a neck injury that will need to be monitored moving forward… Peyton Barber is expected to miss time due to turf toe. Josh Jacobs looks ready to go this week…. The New Orleans Saints have placed Tony Jones on injured reserve with an ankle injury. He’s expected to miss 3-4 weeks. Wide Receivers The Tennessee Titans have ruled out Julio Jones. A.J. Brown is expected to return this week. Both have been dealing with hamstring issues… Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage have both been ruled out by the Atlanta Falcons for this weekend’s game in London… Courtland Sutton rolled his ankle in practice on Friday and is now listed as questionable by the Denver Broncos… Tee Higgins will return to action this week after sitting out Week 4 with a shoulder injury… Amari Cooper is expected to play despite a hamstring issue… The Miami Dolphins have placed Will Fuller on IR with a broken finger and DeVante Parker is questionable this week due to a hamstring injury that popped up in practice. Miami also traded Jakeem Grant to Chicago for a sixth-round pick… The New York Giants have once again ruled out Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton with hamstring injuries… Dyami Brown has been ruled out with a knee injury. Curtis Samuel has been absent from practice and is questionable with a groin injury… D’Wayne Eskridge has been placed on IR with concussion issues… Danny Amendola is expected to return this week for the Houston Texans. The team has also cut Anthony Miller… Chase Claypool is expected to return after a one-week absence. However, both he and Juju Smith-Schuster are officially listed as questionable… The Kansas City Chiefs have promoted Josh Gordon from the practice squad… The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed D.J. Chark on season-ending injured reserve with a fractured ankle. Tight Ends George Kittle is listed as doubtful and is unlikely to play this week due to a calf injury… T.J. Hockenson is listed as questionable this week with a knee injury and there is real concern he could sit out or be limited this week… Logan Thomas has been placed on IR with a hamstring injury. Ricky Seals-Jones is the next man up and the team also signed Jace Sternberger… Rob Gronkowski will miss
Fantasy Football Injury Report
Now that we are four games into the NFL season, injuries are starting to mount, including several big-name fantasy football starters. Monitoring these situations and knowing how to pivot is key towards building a winning fantasy roster. Here are the fantasy-relevant injuries ahead of Week 5 and how managers should approach those spots. David Montgomery (RB) Chicago Bears – After topping triple-digits and two scores against Detroit, Montgomery went down in the fourth quarter and appeared to be in serious pain. The good news here was that the team confirmed Montgomery did not suffer a torn ACL but the star running back is expected to miss a month or so. Damien Williams becomes an instant RB2 for however long Montgomery is sidelined, and Khalil Herbert would be in the change-of-pace role. Joe Mixon (RB) Cincinnati Bengals – Mixon exited Week 4 early with a sprained ankle and was initially ruled week-to-week–a scary proposition considering that Mixon was called week-to-week all of last season and never returned. However, on Tuesday, Mixon was deemed day-to-day, so the ankle doesn’t appear to be too serious. At this point, picking up Samaje Perine on the waiver wire seems like a solid move, but no need to overreact. Amari Cooper (WR) Dallas Cowboys – Cooper is dealing with rib and hamstring ailments and may be limited in practice all week but is expected to be in the lineup when the Cowboys host the Giants on Sunday. D.J. Chark (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars – As feared by those watching Thursday, Chark suffered a broken left ankle and was placed on season-ending IR. Chark can be dropped in redraft formats and his absence should mean more targets for Laviska Shenault and Marvin Jones. After Chark exited Week 4, Tavon Austin came in to play 73% of Jacksonville’s snaps but Austin is well off the fantasy radar. Logan Thomas (TE) Washington Football Team – Thomas was felled by a hamstring injury as is considered week-to-week. Hamstring injuries are prone to reoccur when not given time to properly heal, so Thomas could be looking at a multi-week absence. Ricky Seals-Jones will start in place for Thomas. Will Fuller (WR) Miami Dolphins – Fuller broke a finger in the second quarter of Miami’s Week 4 loss to Indianapolis and is expected to miss several games. Injuries are certainly no stranger to Fuller, who has yet to stay healthy for a full NFL season. Fantasy managers with shallow rosters can consider dropping Fuller. T.Y. Hilton (WR) Indianapolis Colts – Hilton (neck) is nearing a return and is already eligible to return from IR. Indy’s passing attack hasn’t exactly been firing on all cylinders but Hilton should immediately be re-inserted back into the starting lineup and could be a viable WR4 down the stretch in an offense with a very favorable strength of schedule for wideouts. Jimmy Garoppolo (QB) San Francisco 49ers – When San Francisco emerged from the halftime locker room, Garoppolo was on the sidelines with a calf injury. Trey Lance came off the bench to score over 20 fantasy points and Garoppolo was listed as week-to-week. Like Joe Mixon, Garoppolo’s status has been upgraded to day-to-day as further examination deemed the calf injury less severe. With the 49ers scheduled to have a Week 6 bye, it seems realistic to think that Kyle Shanahan will start Lance in Arizona to give Garoppolo another week to recover, but if the injury isn’t affecting his starter, Jimmy G. could be right back under center in the desert. Whoever leads San Francisco this week has solid fantasy appeal in what shapes up to be a shootout. Tee Higgins (WR) Cincinnati Bengals – Higgins has missed a pair of games but is expected to return to practice this week. His return would be a much-welcomed boost to a Cincinnati team that is humming along at 3-1. It would mean fewer targets for both J’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd, but all three are solid weekly WR2/3 options. Josh Jacobs (RB) Las Vegas Raiders – Out since Week 1, Jacobs returned to action Monday and logged 63.2% of the Raiders running back snaps and 89% of the backfield’s total touches. As long as he remains healthy, Jacobs is back on the weekly RB2 radar. Kenyan Drake only got two touches and wasn’t targeted while Peyton Barber played all of one snap. Barber can safely be dropped, while Drake is also on the verge of being fantasy persona non grata. Chase Claypool (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers – Another troublesome hamstring injury cost Claypool a game last week. There’s been no update on his status but we’ll monitor is participation in practice all week. If healthy, Claypool is looking at a tough Week 5 matchup against the Broncos. Sterling Shepard & Darius Slayton (WR) New York Giants – Both of New York’s solid wideouts are dealing with hamstring injuries and both are expected to potentially be back in time for Week 5’s NFC East showdown in Dallas. If active, Shepard is in the WR3 range while Slayton is a tier below. Elijah Mitchell (RB) San Francisco 49ers – After sitting for two weeks, Mitchell is trending in the right direction and could potentially be active in Arizona. Mitchell could actually take the lion’s share of carries this week if active, however Kyle Shanahan’s backfield is notoriously difficult to handicap. It also would make sense for Shanahan to rest Mitchell ahead of his team’s Week 6 bye, so that’s something to consider as well. Andy Dalton (QB) Chicago Bears – Matt Nagy proclaimed that Dalton (knee) would be Chicago’s starter once he’s cleared to play. After Justin Fields looked quite credible Sunday, we’re not so sure that Dalton will be re-inserted back into the starting lineup. Either way, this is a below-average passing offense but would be better served with the rookie starting. Elijah Moore (WR) New York Jets – Moore sat out last week with a concussion but is expected to clear the league’s protocol during the week. Before sitting out Week 4, Moore was playing over 70% of the Jets’ snaps, so his return will send Keelan Cole back to the
Fantasy Football Injury Report
With three weeks already in the books of a fast-moving 2021 NFL season, injuries are starting to take a toll on many fantasy football rosters. Staying informed of their potential impact is an important part of building a championship roster. Here are the key fantasy-relevant injuries for football fans to be aware of ahead of Week 4. Christian McCaffrey (RB) Carolina Panthers – Easily the biggest injury of the week, consensus No. 1 fantasy football draft pick Christian McCaffrey suffered a non-contact hamstring injury in Houston and is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks. With CMC out, Chuba Hubbard becomes the hottest waiver wire claim of the season and offers weekly RB2 value. Obviously, losing fantasy’s top player is a devastating blow for both the Panthers and fantasy managers, but missing a month in October is far preferable to doing so in December. At this point, root for McCaffrey to sit long enough to be a legitimate 100% healthy so he can be back to his excellence down the stretch, just when it’s needed most. Dalvin Cook (RB) Minnesota Vikings – Cook was considered questionable all week but as the days mounted without him participating in practice, it was more unlikely that he would play. The ankle injury that kept Cook sidelined isn’t considered serious, so he’ll likely trend towards playing in Week 4. If Alexander Mattison is somehow on your waiver wire, grabbing him would be a wise investment. A.J. Brown (WR) Tennessee Titans – Another huge loss, Tennessee wideout A.J. Brown tweaked his hamstring early in the Titans’ victory over the Colts and did not return. Brown has already been listed as week-to-week, but with a Week 4 date on tap against the feeble Jets, expect the team to err on the side of caution and give Brown a week off to heal up. If he is active, Brown is a must-start but could be on a snap count. Julio Jones (WR) Tennessee Titans – Like Brown, Jones has missed practice time due to a bum hamstring. Jones is considered less severe but anytime a wideout is sitting due to a hamstring ailment, it’s quite noteworthy. Josh Jacobs (RB) Las Vegas Raiders – Jacobs has now missed two straight starts and wasn’t particularly close to playing last week. With Peyton Barber filling in with a superb outing against the Dolphins, Jon Gruden could choose to take it easy with Jacobs and not push him into the lineup until he was 100%. We’ll monitor Jacobs’s practice participation all week and update the FullTime Discord as news develops. Tee Higgins (WR) Cincinnati Bengals – Higgins has already been ruled OUT for Thursday’s game with a shoulder injury. Hopefully, Higgins will be able to heal with an extra three days off ahead of Week 5’s home date with Green Bay. Darrell Henderson (RB) Los Angeles Rams – After sitting out Week 3 with bruised ribs, Henderson should have a good shot at suiting up in a potential shootout against the Cardinals. His practice status will need to be monitored all week. Also, Sony Michel got 23 touches with Henderson sidelined last week and could begin to take snaps away from Henderson, who logged a 94% snap rate in Week 1 and was also used as a bell cow in Week 2 before the injury. UPDATE: Henderson practiced on Wednesday and is trending towards playing. JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers – Smith-Schuster was limited to 33 snaps last week after bruising his ribs. The injury isn’t considered serious, but we’ll have to monitor JuJu’s practice status all week. If active, he’ll be on the WR3 radar against the Packers. Teammate Diontae Johnson (knee) should also be monitored all week after he missed Pittsburgh’s Week 3 loss to the Bengals. Justin Fields (QB) Chicago Bears – Making his first NFL start, Fields had an abysmal showing, as Chicago generated a minuscule 47 yards of offense. Fields completed just 6-of-20 passes and was sacked nine times. Furthermore, Fields also injured his hand late in the game and the Bears also have Andy Dalton nursing a knee injury. At this point, it doesn’t really matter who is under center for Chicago, at least not until Nagy is relieved of his duties. Avoid starting any Bears until things take a dramatic turn. James White (RB) New England Patriots – White suffered the same hip injury that forced Washington QB Ryan Fitzpatrick out for the remainder of the season. As for the Patriots, J.J. Taylor and Brandon Bolden could factor in on third downs, but keep an eye on rookie Rhamondre Stevenson, who has been a healthy scratch in each of the past two games. Sterling Shepard (WR) New York Giants – New York’s slot receiver exited Week 3 with a hamstring injury and is considered questionable for Week 4. Hamstring injuries tend to be easily re-aggravated, so Shepard is far more likely to miss this week than try to play through. Rob Gronkowski (TE) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gronk took a hard shot and hurt his ribs but X-rays turned out to be negative. He’s tentatively expected to be back in the lineup to face his former team, the Patriots in New England. Giovani Bernard (RB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Coming off of his best game of the season, Bernard suffered a slight MCL strain late in Tampa’s Week 3 loss in Los Angeles. Bernard only received two touches in each of the Buccaneers’ first two games before seeing extensive action last week as Tampa was playing from behind. We wouldn’t expect the Bucs to have a lot of trouble with New England in Week 4, so Bernard isn’t a good bet for touches even if he’s active. K.J. Hamler (WR) Denver Broncos – Unfortunately, Hamler tore his ACL and will miss the remainder of the season. After already losing Jerry Jeudy, the Broncos are getting thin at receiver. Tim Patrick makes for an outstanding waiver wire add, while Hamler can be dropped in all non-dynasty leagues. Gerald Everett (TE) Seattle Seahawks – Everett was placed on the reserve/COVID list