Welcome to the fantasy football IR injury report. Injuries are all too common in professional football. Sometimes, they are long-lasting, requiring NFL teams to place players on injured reserve. In this column, we will provide weekly updates on every relevant fantasy football player on injured reserve.
To stay up to date on the latest injury news, check out PFN’s injury tracker.
Which Players Are on IR in Week 1?
Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers’ rookie running back is coming off a November ACL tear. Jonathon Brooks has been working hard to get back on the field. He will play this season, but the earliest that can happen is Week 5.
Chuba Hubbard will continue operating as the RB1 until Brooks can return. Hubbard looks to be in store for a larger early-season role before eventually giving way to the rookie.
Given where the Panthers drafted Brooks — making him the first RB off the board — he’s going to be the starter sooner rather than later.
It will likely be a slow start for Brooks, but the second half of the season is more important than the first. If he’s as talented as he’s supposed to be, it shouldn’t be long before he overtakes Hubbard as the RB1.
Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns
Nick Chubb continues to make good progress recovering from tearing multiple knee ligaments in Week 2 of last year. To the surprise of no one, the Cleveland Browns placed him on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list forcing him to miss at least the first month of the season (likely more).
Jerome Ford is set to reprise his role as the lead back until Chubb both returns and ramps up to NFL game speed.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is not dealing with any sort of physical ailment. He’s experiencing PTSD and has been courageous in how open he’s been about his struggles. As a result, the Chiefs placed him on IR as he works through the issue.
First and foremost, mental health is no joke. Good on CEH for recognizing that he is dealing with something that cannot be fully addressed while he’s also playing professional football. Hopefully, he’s able to work through his issues and get back on the field.
From a fantasy perspective, Edwards-Helaire had seemingly already lost the RB2 job before this. With Kansas City now adding Samaje Perine, combined with the quality training camp of Carson Steele, CEH is unlikely to even return to a handcuff role. He doesn’t need to be rostered in fantasy leagues, even in the IR spot.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, Baltimore Ravens
It’s been a rough start to Keaton Mitchell’s career. Mitchell missed the first five weeks of his rookie season due to injury; then, after playing in two games, he got hurt again.
Mitchell appeared in the Baltimore Ravens’ next six games and thoroughly impressed before tearing his ACL. He is currently on the PUP list and can’t play until at least Week 5 but is almost certainly going to be out longer than that. Justice Hill should operate as the change-of-pace back behind Derrick Henry until Mitchell can return.
Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints
I know this column is supposed to focus on players who are potentially fantasy-relevant, but let’s make an exception for a sophomore RB playing behind two 29-year-olds with rapidly declining efficiency.
The oft-injured Kendre Miller is dealing with a hamstring strain and will open the season on short-term IR, guaranteeing he doesn’t return until at least Week 5.
If you want to throw Miller on your IR spot, that’s perfectly fine. However, don’t hesitate to drop him the moment you need it for someone else who gets hurt during the season.
Tyler Higbee, TE, Los Angeles Rams
Tyler Higbee remains on the PUP list as he works his way back from a torn ACL and MCL. Given that the injury was sustained so late last season, it’s unclear when he will be able to return.
In the interim, Colby Parkinson has been working with the first team. The former Seahawks TE hasn’t done much to start his career, but he could be poised to see his largest role yet.
The Los Angeles Rams’ TE1 has always been on the fantasy radar during the Sean McVay era. If Parkinson performs well, there’s no guarantee Higbee returns as a starter.
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings
It remains status quo on Minnesota Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson, who tore his ACL and MCL last season.
Given the nature of his position, it’s easier for Hockenson to return than a guy like Chubb. However, Hockenson’s injury occurred in Week 17. An injury that late in the season makes it highly unlikely that he’ll be anywhere close to fully recovered anytime soon.
Hockenson opened training camp on the PUP list and will remain there to start the year, forcing him to miss Minnesota’s first four games. He will probably return at some point, but fantasy managers absolutely should not burn a roster spot on him and is only worth stashing in the IR spot.