Even though we’re heading into only Week 2 of the NFL season, injuries are already starting to impact how fantasy football managers set their lineups.
The tight end position is already a tough spot when it comes to injuries. Here are updates on David Njoku, Jake Ferguson, and Dalton Schultz.
Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
David Njoku, Tight End, Cleveland Browns
Njoku suffered a high ankle sprain in the Cleveland Browns’ Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Now it’s going to cost him at least a game, as Njoku has been ruled out for Week 2 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Even with his injury that reduced Njoku to only 37% of the Browns’ offensive snaps last week, he was able to finish top 10 among tight ends in fantasy points. Njoku finished with four receptions (on five targets) for 44 yards and 8.4 fantasy points.
The good news going forward for Njoku is that he wasn’t placed on injured reserve, allowing him to potentially return for Week 3 vs. the New York Giants. However, with the Browns’ next four opponents — Jaguars, Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, and Washington Commanders — all starting with 0-1 records to begin their season like the Browns, perhaps they will not rush Njoku back to the lineup.
Expect veteran Jordan Akins to step into the starting role at tight end for the Browns this week. Akins had three receptions for 27 yards in Week 1 but was not much of a factor in Cleveland’s offense last season, catching just 15 passes and not scoring a single touchdown.
Jake Ferguson, Tight End, Dallas Cowboys
On a day when almost everything the Cowboys did was good news, one of the few bad news items from last Sunday’s win over the Browns was a knee injury to tight end Jake Ferguson.
Ferguson suffered a knee injury in the third quarter last week and finished with modest numbers on the day (three receptions, 15 yards). According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, tests this week revealed that Ferguson suffered an MCL sprain, which could keep him out for a while.
So far this week, however, Ferguson has yet to practice because of his injury. That will only fuel speculation that Ferguson will not be able to suit up for Sunday’s game. If he cannot go, little-used backup Luke Schoonmaker would likely step into the starting lineup.
Ferguson, who ranked in the top 10 in fantasy scoring last season (10.4 fantasy points per game – 10th), was one of only seven tight ends that was targeted 100 or more times in 2023.
Dalton Schultz, Tight End, Houston Texans
Although the Houston Texans head into Week 2 relatively healthy, one player that is battling an injury is tight end Dalton Schultz. The veteran, now in his seventh season, did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday because of an ankle injury, leaving his status for Sunday’s game against the Bears in Houston uncertain.
He finished last week’s win over the Indianapolis Colts with three receptions (on three targets) for 16 yards. His potential loss would not have a dramatic impact on the Texans’ offense, given Schultz’s declining numbers.
Schultz ranked outside the top 10 among tight ends in scoring (10.0 fantasy points per game – 11th) and receiving yards (635 – 12th) last season. He did, however, enjoy a career high in yards per reception (10.8).
If Schultz is unable to go Sunday, the Texans would most likely turn to Brevin Jordan and rookie Cade Stover.