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 2024-25 season. Here’s your complete guide to the fantasy-relevant players currently unavailable and what it means for your lineup decisions.
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
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, Sept. 9, the 49ers elected to place their star tight end on IR.
Historically, Kittle has been a pretty quick healer. He may miss a minimum of four games. But for at least the next three contests, fantasy managers will need to go without Kittle.
Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans (NFI)
Joe Mixon is out for at least the first four games of the 2024-25 season. On Aug. 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.
The injury was confirmed to be related to his ankle, and when asked about a potential return timeline, Houston Texans GM Nick Caserio was noncommittal. “We’ll see, we’ll take it one day at a time,” Caserio said, according to ESPN.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio was noncommittal about whether Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon will play in 2025.
Story via @Djbienaime:https://t.co/ZZUsqNxk1x
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 27, 2025
Nick Chubb was again the go-to back for Houston in their Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, carrying the ball 12 times for a pedestrian 43 yards and a TD. However, that workload won’t change until Mixon returns, making Dameon Pierce a must-start option for fantasy managers.
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
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.
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.
Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans (PUP)
Tank Dell was officially placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list, meaning he will also miss the Texans’ first four contests of the 2024-25 campaign. 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.
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, but he and Dalton Schultz were the only two pass-catchers for Houston to record three receptions in the Texans’ loss to Tampa Bay.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans officially moved Tyjae Spears to the IR before the start of the season, meaning he will be eligible to return for their Week 5 game against the Arizona Cardinals as soon as possible.
Tony Pollard will see most snaps at running back, while Julius Chestnut and Kalel Mullings will be backups in Spears’ absence. This injury solidifies Pollard’s role as the clear lead back for fantasy purposes.
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 2024-25 season on the PUP list.
Brandon Aiyuk running routes pregame. #49ers | #FTTB pic.twitter.com/NGoief7dnf
— Matt Lively (@mattblively) August 16, 2025
He won’t be eligible to play until at least Week 5, but the San Francisco 49ers think a Week 6 return for their matchup against Tampa Bay may be more likely.
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 on the injury report with some nagging issues.
Now 30 years old, his body may be beginning to betray him. Jones strained his hamstring in last week’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Evidently, the injury is significant, as he was quickly placed on IR on Tuesday.
The Minnesota Vikings are perilously thin at running back behind new starter Jordan Mason. With Ty Chandler on IR, 2023 UDFA Zavier Scott was the only other active running back on the roster. As a result, the team signed Cam Akers, who fantasy managers should expect to serve as the RB2. In an unexpected twist of fate, Akers is actually worth a speculative add in deeper leagues as the presumptive handcuff to Mason.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Washington Commanders (IR)
Austin Ekeler, unfortunately, went down in Sunday’s game with a torn Achilles 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.
Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers placed Jalen Coker on IR due to a quad injury suffered during practice last Thursday in August. They re-signed Hunter Renfrow, who was with the team through training camp and the preseason, and will fill in for Coker while he is sidelined. Renfrow was quiet in Week 1 with just two catches, but he may still ramp up shortly.
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Carolina’s young core of receivers in Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan will also have a bigger role in the passing game while Coker is on the shelf.
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers saw their current WR1, Jayden Reed, go down with an injury on Thursday night in the win over Washington. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Reed is expected to miss 6-8 weeks recovering from his fractured collarbone. Tucker Kraft stepped up big time in Week 2, with six catches for 124 yards and a touchdown.
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. The Packers have their bye week during Week 5.
Packers QB Jordan Love will be targeting Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, and first-round pick Matthew Golden until Watson returns. Wicks stepped up after Reed went down in Week 2, but Doubs and Golden were pretty quiet, though the latter saw hardly any targets.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
The Packers also placed MarShawn Lloyd on the IR, where he spent nearly all of his young career. 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.
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ian Rapoport and Judy Battista of NFL Network report that Chris Godwin is targeting the Buccaneers’ Week 5 matchup with the Seahawks on October 5 for his 2024-25 debut.
CHRIS GODWIN
🏴☠️ 11 receptions
🏴☠️ 125 yards
🏴☠️ 2 TDs
🏴☠️ 35.5 fantasy pointsSTEAL. OF. THE. DRAFT.pic.twitter.com/0ALZBS1VFm
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 13, 2024
Mike Evans and rookie Emeka Egbuka will see the bulk of the targets among wideouts, while Jalen McMillan is also out to start the year. Egbuka has had a great start to his career, filling in with four catches in each game and three touchdowns during the young season.
Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Speaking of McMillan, he started the 2024-25 season on the IR, meaning he won’t be playing until at least Week 5 either. However, reports from the Bucs camp suggested that the sophomore wide receiver would be sidelined for at least half the season, if not longer. Keep an eye on veteran Sterling Shepard to fill in while McMillan is out.
Suspended Players
Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Rashee Rice was finally dealt his suspension for personal misconduct, with the NFL deciding on six games, making him eligible to return for the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 7 contest against the divisional rival Las Vegas Raiders.
Rashee Rice still has that burst even after the injury. He’s going to have top 5 WR production this yr. pic.twitter.com/g9f9biYXbb
— Robert (@RobertRaymond46) August 24, 2025
In his absence, sophomore wideout Xavier Worthy was set to be the WR1, while Hollywood Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster were expected to see more targets to start the 2024-25 campaign. However, Worthy then went down in the first quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs’ opener against the Los Angeles Chargers with a dislocated shoulder, and Brown stepped up big time to the tune of 10 catches for 99 yards.
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The Patrick Mahomes-Travis Kelce connection is alive and well, with Kelce still pacing the team with four catches and 61 yards. Tyquan Thornton was the team’s second leading receiver behind Kelce, right behind him with 59 yards and a touchdown.
Demarcus Robinson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Meanwhile, Demarcus Robinson was suspended for three games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He’ll be eligible to return in Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Ricky Pearsall had another solid game, and Jajuan Jennings looks to be back to 100% as he hauled in 5 catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. Kendrick Bourne is still filling the WR3 role, stepping in for Robinson, Aiyuk, and Kittle.
Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Addison will miss the Minnesota Vikings’ first three games due to his suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He will be eligible to return in Minnesota’s Week 4 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Both T.J. Hockenson and Adam Thielen have been pretty quiet thus far, but part of that is Vikings QB JJ McCarthy having struggled in six of eight quarters. He is, after all, a rookie quarterback playing in his first regular-season action. The passing game will continue to funnel through elite WR1 Justin Jefferson.
