Fantasy football managers know the drill: injuries can derail even the most carefully crafted rosters. With several key players already sidelined on injured reserve or suspended, understanding who’s out and for how long becomes crucial for navigating the early weeks of the 2025 season.
Here’s your complete guide to the fantasy-relevant players currently unavailable and what it means for your lineup decisions.
Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Rookie running back Omarion Hampton injured his ankle in Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders and has been placed on Injured Reserve, meaning he will miss at least the next four games. Fellow RB Najee Harris was just placed on IR himself last week.
Now it will be up to Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins to fill the void for the time being, though neither was very productive after Hampton went down, as the Chargers trailed for most of the contest and were in a pass-heavy game script for a decent chunk of the second half.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill suffered a dislocated left knee and multiple torn ligaments, including his ACL, in their Week 4 game against the New York Jets. Hill is out for the remainder of the season, and Malik Washington and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will look to step up in his absence, while Jaylen Waddle will elevate to the Dolphins’ WR1, of course.
Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals suffered another blow to their Running Back room with the news that RB Trey Benson would be placed on IR in addition to James Conner, who was ruled out for the season the week prior. Benson injured his meniscus in Week 4, leading to Michael Carter seeing the bulk of the carries in the past game.
While Carter rushed 18 times, he only amassed 51 yards, but did manage a touchdown. And the Cardinals’ other backup RB Emari Demercado rushed just three times but totaled 81 yards.
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ersÂ
George Kittle strained his hamstring in the first half of the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 1 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Players who exit with hamstring issues are typically listed as questionable to return. Kittle was ruled out immediately, which was an ominous sign.
Sure enough, news quickly emerged that Kittle would be out for multiple weeks. On Tuesday, September 9, the 49ers elected to place their star tight end on IR.
According to Head Coach Kyle Shanahan’s update from October 3rd, Kittle is more likely to return in the 49ers’ Week 7 game against the Falcons than their upcoming matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Aaron Jones Sr., RB, Minnesota Vikings
Mostly healthy throughout his entire career, Aaron Jones Sr. started showing signs of breaking down last season. He didn’t miss a game, but he was listed on the injury report due to some nagging issues.
Now 30 years old, his body may be beginning to betray him. Jones strained his hamstring in the Vikings’ week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The injury was significant enough to land him on the IR back on Tuesday, September 16.
RELATED: Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
The Minnesota Vikings are still pretty thin at running back behind new starter Jordan Mason. Fortunately, Mason has averaged 16.1 fantasy points per game since taking over for Jones after his injury.
But to this point in the season, no other Viking has more than 50 rushing yards on the season, so if you need injury backups, look to other teams. Jones’ earliest possible return date is 10/23 against the Chargers on Thursday Night Football.
Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers placed Jalen Coker on IR due to a quad injury he suffered during practice on the last Thursday in August. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, he is making progress but is still considered “week-to-week.”
The Panthers still aren’t consistently having any fantasy production out of their receivers on a week-to-week basis outside of rookie Tetairoa McMillan.
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay PackersÂ
Jayden Reed went down with a fractured collarbone in the Packers’ Week 2 win over Washington. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Reed is expected to miss “6-8 weeks.”
Dontayvion Wicks and Matthew Golden have been stepping up while Reed and Christian Watson are out.
Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers (PUP)
Christian Watson was officially placed on the list of physically unable to perform, meaning the earliest he can return is in the Green Bay Packers’ Week 6 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.Â
The Packers designated Watson (knee) for return from the reserve/PUP list Monday, 10/6, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports. This means his 21-day practice window for activation is now open, and he’ll see game action sometime in the next three weeks.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
The Packers also placed MarShawn Lloyd on the IR, where he has spent nearly all of his young career.
MORE: Free Fantasy Start/Sit Lineup Optimizer
Josh Jacobs will be the workhorse here, and his stock value increases while Lloyd is sidelined. No one is getting consistent carries besides Josh Jacobs while Marshawn has been out.
Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jalen McMillan started the 2025 season on the IR, meaning he technically could have returned for the Bucs’ Week 5 game, but we still have not heard an update.
Reports from the Bucs camp suggested that the sophomore wide receiver would be sidelined for at least half the season, if not longer. Veteran WR Sterling Shepard has filled in for McMillan in the WR3 role while he is out.
Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans (PUP)
Tank Dell was officially placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list before the start of the 2025 season, meaning he would also miss at least the Texans’ first four contests of the year. There’s significant doubt he returns at all this season, which would be understandable given the fact that he tore his ACL, damaged his MCL, LCL, and meniscus, and dislocated his kneecap.Â
MORE: Free Fantasy Waiver Wire Tool
Houston brought Christian Kirk, Justin Watson, and Braxton Berrios to address his absence and Stefon Diggs’s departure. The team also drafted Iowa State receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the second and third rounds of the draft.
Nico Collins will remain quarterback CJ Stroud’s favorite target. Still, Christian Kirk and Dalton Schultz finally pitched in as the Texans’ offense broke out this week and put up 44 points on a depleted Ravens defense this past Sunday.
Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans (NFI)
Joe Mixon is out for at least the first four games of the season. On August 26, he was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list. The details surrounding how the injury occurred still have not been shared publicly, and there is some doubt as to whether he will suit up this season.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reported that Houston Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans provided a non-update on Monday, stating that Mixon is not close to returning to the field.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers (PUP)
Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 last season against the Kansas City Chiefs and starts the season on the PUP list.
Although he was technically eligible to return in Week 5, the San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch gave an update on Friday stating Aiyuk is “not close” to returning.
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati BengalsÂ
Once again, the Cincinnati Bengals fans are shaking their heads as their star quarterback, Joe Burrow, suffers another long-term injury. He will miss a minimum of three months after Cincy finally got off to a good start, winning both of its first two games.
WHICH QUARTERBACK SHOULD YOU PICK UP? CHECK OUR QB RANKINGS
If your league has an IR spot and you have a decent backup quarterback, it might make sense to hold out hope that Burrow will be able to return in time for the fantasy playoffs in mid-December.
Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
Malik Nabers tore his ACL in Week 4. He will miss the rest of the 2025 season, meaning Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton, and Jalin Hyatt will be new starting quarterback Jaxson Dart’s primary targets for the foreseeable future.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Washington CommandersÂ
Unfortunately, Austin Ekeler suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Washington’s Week 2 game and will now miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
The Washington Commanders’ rookie and popular sleeper pick, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, will now step up to see the majority of carries. If you’re looking for a stash in deeper leagues, Jeremy McNichols may get some reps.
James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
James Conner injured his ankle in Week 3’s loss to the 49ers severely enough that it will require season-ending surgery. Michael Carter and Emari Demercado will share the backfield duties for Arizona until one or the other breaks out.
Najee Harris, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers’ running back Najee Harris suffered a torn Achilles tendon in their Week 3 win over the Broncos. He will, of course, miss the remainder of the season, meaning Omarion Hampton’s stock value increased exponentially until he landed on IR in Week 4 as well. Third and fourth string RBs Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins will have their chance to shine now for L.A.
SEE WHERE OMARION HAMPTON IS IN OUR RB RANKINGS
If you play in deeper leagues, the Chargers’ new RB2, Kimani Vidal, may be worth a waiver claim also.
Suspended Players: Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Rashee Rice was dealt a six-game suspension for personal misconduct, making him eligible to return for the Chiefs’ Week 7 game against the divisional rival Las Vegas Raiders. In his absence, sophomore wideout Tyquan Thornton and Hollywood Brown have shared the WR1 mantle while Xavier Worthy was dealing with an injury.
