This article will be updated as practice reports roll in throughout the weekend. For the most up to date injury data between updates, bookmark this link and check it periodically.
What This Is:
*A no-nonsense quick-hitting analysis of fantasy-relevant player injuries that could impact performance on game day.
*A preview of the current week’s fantasy-relevant players with an injury through Friday night.
General Guidelines:
The following general rules apply for big shake-ups on the weekend:
*Players who are downgraded from full or even partial practice to “Did Not Practice” on Friday or Saturday, for any medical reason, are a long shot to play. Typically you’ll see teams say these players are a “game time decision” which is code for “they ain’t playing”.
*Players who have a concussion have up until Saturday night/Sunday morning to clear the protocol.
*If no “final update” is available, the player has either been officially ruled out or no news is good news.
The following players have already been ruled out as of Friday evening so get them out of your lineup!
Blake Jarwin - Doubtful
Latavius Murray - Doubtful
Justin Jackson
Saquon Barkley
Dawson Knox
Odell Beckham Jr
Dante Pettis
Sterling Shepard
The following notable players practiced in full on Friday and/or carry minimal concern.
Baker Mayfield - highly volatile rest of season.
Justin Herbert
AJ Brown
Tua Tagovailoa
Austin Ekeler
Travis Kelce
Brycen Hopkins
Emmanuel Sanders
Terrace Marshall Jr - moderately volatile due to re-injury risk
Brandin Cooks
Tyreek Hill
Cooper Kupp
Ty Montgomery
QUARTERBACKS
Kyler Murray - Ankle
K1’s medial ankle sprain sounds like it will keep him out of Sunday’s contest. Kingsbury says Murray will start if "he can function on a high level in the pocket". This sounds more like gamesanship than a game time decision. If Murray happens to play, don't expect a ceiling game as he'll come with high volatility. If K1 sits, the likelihood of Hopkins also sitting are extremely high as the Cardinals have already beaten the 49ers and are atop of the NFC West. There’s no incentive to rush either of these two back.
Matthew Stafford - Back
Stafford is dealing with a “back” injury which of course could mean many different things but since he’s had low back fractures in the past, it’s probably from that history. He was limited on Friday. There’s no telling how serious this is as of right now so as a result, the recommendation is not to be overweight on Stafford in DFS this week.
Sam Darnold - Concussion/Right Shoulder
Darnold has a chance to clear the protocol but is also dealing with a shoulder issue that dates back to 2020. Given Darnold’s sporadic 2021 so far and the risk of re-injury, he’s an avoid in Week 9 even if active.
Dak Prescott - Calf
Prescott had a stepwise increase in participation this week and is looking to be active in Week 9. There is minimal to moderate volatility associated with this calf strain due to some risk of re-injury. Don’t let it scare you too terribly bad but the risk is still non-zero until he gets through this week.
Taysom Hill - Concussion
There’s moderate volatility that this will recur in Week 9 so plan accordingly.
RUNNING BACKS
Christian Jackson McCaffrey - Hamstring
If CMC is active on Sunday, you absorb the high volatility and start him. In DFS, there’s only risk to be had coming off a hamstring strain that recurred. However, don’t bank on his return as Matt Rhule has been “hopeful” of his active status since Week 5.
Chase Edmonds - Shoulder
Edmonds is on the mend but still on the injury report with what appeared to be an AC sprain several weeks ago. He’s already had a micro-recurrence. There’s minimal to moderate volatility with him this week.
James Robinson - Heel
Robinson didn’t practice two days in a row then was limited on Friday. Heel bruises can be a real killer so even though he’ll likely be active, there’s moderate risk for re-injury.
Elijah Mitchell - Ribs
Mitchell has been limited in practice with a ribs injury this week. It’s likely he’ll be active and there’s minimal to moderate concern he’ll re-injury after taking a big hit.
Damien Williams and David Montgomery or Khalil Herbert
Let me clarify this one. Montgomery practiced this week and by the sounds of it, he’ll be activated on Saturday afternoon. However, this isn’t a slam dunk yet. Meanwhile, Damien Williams has missed two practices in a row leading into Monday night. If Williams sits and Montgomery is held out through the bye week, it is absolutely Khalil Herbert szn. If Montgomery returns, he should be fresh and there’s no reason for concern.
WIDE RECEIVERS
DeAndre Hopkins - Hamstring
Hopkins put up a lack-luster stat-line last Thursday due to this injury. He still hasn’t practiced this week and there’s legitimate concern for his status on Sunday. Most of the time a GTD for Hopkins means almost nothing. This time, after re-aggravating a hamstring injury last Thursday, there's a legitimate shot he doesn't play. If he does, you can't trust him in DFS. You might not even be able to trust him season-long depending on your replacements. He’s highly risky this year.
Rashod Bateman - Groin
Bateman sat Friday’s practice out but Harbaugh says he has a “real good chance” to play. This is likely just a minor flare after surgery that the Ravens are taking extra precautions with. There’s minor volatility this week.
Darnell Mooney - Groin
Mooney has been on and off the injury report with his groin issue all year and this is likely closer to nothing than something.
Amari Cooper - Hamstring
Cooper was seen rolling out his hamstring during the SNF thriller last week and the issue is lingering causing two limited practices this week. Cooper comes with moderate to high volatility this week due to re-injury risk.
CeeDee Lamb - Ankle
Lamb is likely to go this week after sustaining a (probable) low/lateral ankle in practice. There’s minimal to moderate volatility due to re-injury risk but not enough to fade him in most formats.
Robert Woods - Foot
Not much is known about this foot injury for Woods but we do know he was limited in practice on Friday. This is likely to be nothing but we’ll wait for Woods to prove it before pulling the minimal volatility tag.
Kenny Golladay - Knee
Golladay is returning from a hyperextended knee and definitely took his time getting back. At this point, there’s minimal reason to believe he’ll re-injure the knee.
Kadarius Toney - Knee
Toney had his thumb stepped on and avoided fractures which is great. There’s no reason to worry about him catching the ball until he shows that’s an issue.
Julio Jones - Hamstring
There’s no “dip” to be “bought” here as the 32 year old has been battling this same hamstring strain all year. I’ll need to see him get through an entire game before I trust him anywhere. He’s a full fade for me in Week 9.
Deebo Samuel - Calf
Cam Inman reports that Deebo’s calf is “worse than last week and as a result is at legitimate risk to miss Week 9. If active, do not use him in cash lineups. In season-long, he’s highly volatile but hard to pass up.
TIGHT ENDS
George Kittle - Calf
Kittle is set to return this week. He’s minimally volatile for re-injury but it’s not a reason to fade him.
Dalton Schultz
His teammate Blake Jarwin seems unlikely to play. He’s a great DFS option.
TENTATIVE PROJECTED RETURN DATES:
The following dates are based primarily on updates directly from beat reporters or the team. When appropriate, historical data & clinical experience are used to refine these dates. They are educated guesses. Not set in stone.
Derrick Henry - Week 16-18
Russell Wilson - Week 12/13
Wilson’s camp will do all they can to bring Wilson back in Week 10 (the soonest he can return) but he’ll likely need more time than that to gain full strength and range of motion. Then again, this is a classic ``what will they do versus what should they do?”.
Saquon Barkley - Week 11
Sterling Shepard - Week 11/12
Dawson Knox - 10/11
Sammy Watkins - Week Nine/10
Rob Gronkowski - 10/11
Latavius Murray - Week 10/11
Miles Sanders - Week 11
Antonio Brown - Week 10/11
Chris Carson - Week 9/10
Carson’s (presumably) arthritic neck is a volatile condition. Carson is highly volatile the rest of the season.
Will Fuller - Week 10/11
Logan Thomas - Week 10
Jeff Wilson - Week 10-12
Clyde Edwards-Helaire - Week 10/11
Kareem Hunt - Week 10/11
Ryan Fitzpatrick - Week 10/Unknown
DeVante Parker - Week 12
