While rankings and projections are beneficial, nothing is more critical for fantasy football than following injuries, as the landscape will change with nearly every significant one. Now that the preseason is officially behind us and we await opening night, here is an update on some critical injury reports to watch and their fantasy football impact.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: QB update
Here is where we currently stand on several of the critical fantasy football QBs dealing with injuries.
Carson Wentz
All signs point to Carson Wentz’s 5-12 week timeline following his foot surgery being on the shorter end. Wentz returned to the field this week and has been taking part in team drills. While setbacks can always happen, there is optimism Wentz will be under center for the Colts in Week 1.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, on Monday [August 30], the Colts placed Wentz on the COVID-19/reserve list along with C Ryan Kelly and WR Zach Pascal. All three were in close contact with a staff member who tested positive, per sources. The Colts planned on using this week to give Wentz necessary reps, but this will halt their plans. With less than two weeks before the Colts begin their season, Wentz going on the COVID-19 list jeopardizes his Week 1 availability.
Ryan Tannehill
As reported last week, Tannehill was among nine Titans players and coaches who tested positive for COVID-19. Tannehill remains on the reserved list, but as of now, is not in danger of missing Week 1.
Joe Burrow
In what can only be described as a welcomed sight to fans and fantasy football managers alike, Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow took part in the team’s preseason finale on Saturday. While his debut lasted one series, it was a great sign as he continues recovering from his horrific knee injury suffered in 2020.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: RB update
Let’s see how injury bugs are affecting RB committees.
J.K. Dobbins
I’ll be honest — I am sick and tired of talking about young running backs suffering potentially career-altering injuries. Still, here we are again, this time with Baltimore Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins.
Early in the first quarter of Baltimore’s preseason Week 3 contest, Dobbins took a hit to his knee on a screen pass and immediately went down in pain. He was helped off the field by medical staff after being unable to put weight on his left leg. After a quick stint in the medical tent, Dobbins was carted to the locker room. On Sunday [August 29], an MRI confirmed Dobbins tore his ACL and will be out for the remainder of the season.
Ravens RB Gus Edwards will now assume RB1 duties with Ty’Son Williams and Justice Hill rounding out the committee. Edwards is a must-draft player in fantasy as he projects to be a high-end RB3 or low-end RB2 in a run-happy offense.
Michael Carter
Connor Hughes of The Athletic reports that New York Jets RB Michael Carter may be dealing with an injury. Yet, there is apparently no concern that this will carry over into Carter’s rookie season.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Edwards-Helaire did not dress for the team’s final preseason game as he continues to mend a minor ankle injury. As of now, there is no concern that he will miss Week 1.
Xavier Jones
According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, Jones appeared to injure his left ankle near the end of Saturday’s preseason loss to the Denver Broncos. Stu Jackson, a Senior Writer for the Rams, reported head coach Sean McVay said Jones is “going to be okay.” With Cam Akers and Raymond Calais out for the season, Jones is in the mix with Jake Funk for the RB3 role behind Darrell Henderson and newly acquired Sony Michel.
WR update
News for pass catchers is essential in PPR leagues — let’s break down the WR fallout.
T.Y. Hilton
Colts WR T.Y. Hilton is expected to miss time after reaggravating a neck injury in practice on August 25.
“He was experiencing some discomfort during the trip to Detroit (last week),” head coach Frank Reich said. “Got scans done. It’s a disk issue. That’s a complicated issue. More meetings, more evaluations to come, more opinions to come. We want to do due diligence there … While he will miss some games, we don’t know exactly how many. We’re optimistic it’s not season-ending.”
Hilton’s injury continues a brutal preseason for the Colts health-wise. With Hilton on the shelf, second-year wideout Michael Pittman Jr. will see an increased workload along with Parris Campbell and Pascal once he returns from the COVID-19 list. Additionally, rookie Michael Strachan is a deep sleeper that needs to be on the radar of fantasy managers heading into their drafts.
Brandon Aiyuk
Last week, Aiyuk suffered a mild strain in his left hamstring. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said, “hopefully, it’s just one to two weeks.” There is an optimism that Aiyuk will practice this week, but the team will take a cautious approach heading into Week 1. He missed Week 1 last season due to a hamstring injury, making this feel like déjà vu.
CeeDee Lamb
Lamb was placed on the NFL’s COVID-19/reserve list last week. According to Brianna Dix of D210Sports, barring any setbacks or new cases, Lamb and FS Damontae Kazee, LG Connor Williams, DT Carlos Watkins, and DC Dan Quinn will be back in the building on Thursday [September 2], per head coach Mike McCarthy.
Michael Thomas
Thomas is expected to miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery on his ankle in June. At the time of his surgery, Thomas’ initial timeline was 4-5 months, placing his return around the Saints’ Week 6 bye week. There is concern that Thomas could be on the sideline longer, but there have been few updates on his recovery. On August 31, Thomas was placed on the PUP list, meaning he cannot return until after the Week 6 bye.
The Saints have Marquez Callaway, Tre’Quan Smith, and Deonte Harris atop their receiving corps with Thomas out.
TE update
Which fantasy-relevant tight ends are on the injury report as the season draws closer?
Irv Smith Jr.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr. is expected to undergo surgery for a meniscus injury that will sideline him for at least the start of the regular season. In a press conference on Monday [August 30], head coach Mike Zimmer declined to specify how long the Vikings would be without Smith.
“We’ll just see where he’s at,” Zimmer said. “A lot of times you can’t really tell anything until you get in there. We really won’t know until they get in there.”
Recovery from meniscus surgery could range from several weeks to several months, depending on whether it’s a simpler debridement, clean-up procedure, or a complete repair.
Tyler Conklin would become Minnesota’s TE1 for the foreseeable future. However, Conklin has been dealing with a hamstring issue for the past two weeks. Still, he no longer had his hamstring wrapped on Monday, indicating he could return to practice this week.
Noah Fant
Although Fant has missed time (lower leg), including the Broncos’ preseason finale on Saturday, NFL Network’s James Palmer reported the team does not anticipate him missing any time in the regular season.
Evan Engram
During the final game of the preseason, Engram limped off the field and was quickly ruled out with what the team is calling a calf injury. Head coach Joe Judge told reporters on Monday that Engram is seeing a doctor to determine the severity.
To make matters worse, Kyle Rudolph, who the Giants signed in the offseason, is up in the air for Week 1. Rudolph has been on the PUP list since the start of training camp after undergoing foot surgery.
Adam Trautman
According to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, Trautman worked out off to the side on Monday. Trautman was carted to the locker room in the Saints’ Week 2 preseason game with an ankle injury. The initial timeline for return was 1-3 weeks.
TE Nick Vannett was also working out on the sidelines of practice today — he is dealing with a knee injury.
Hunter Henry
On August 8, Henry suffered a shoulder injury while participating in a blocking drill during a team practice. He was wearing a shoulder brace under his jersey during joint practices with the Giants and did not participate in the final preseason game. He is currently questionable for Week 1.
