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.
Travis Hunter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Hunter suffered a non-contact injury to his right knee in Thursday’s practice; fortunately his ACL is intact. But it was significant enough to land him on the IR, meaning he will miss still three more games after being out for Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 9 overtime win against the Las Vegas Raiders.
In his absence, Parker Washington and Dyami Brown will have to continue to step up, and Tim Patrick’s role will also likely increase as well.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels suffered another injury in their Sunday night loss to the Seahawks, this time dislocating his elbow. It was gruesome enough to the point a cast was placed before he left the field.
That coupled with head coach Dan Quinn’s comment that he expects his quarterback to be “out for a while, for sure” would signal Daniels is likely headed for the IR in the coming days. He has not officially been ruled out for the season at this point, but backup QB Marcus Mariota will take over the reigns again for the time being.
Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers just cannot catch a break when it comes to the injury bug and their pass-catchers. This time it has hit TE Tucker Kraft, who suffered a torn ACL in the Pack’s surprising loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Rough timing too as Kraft had a career day racking up 143 yards, seven receptions and two touchdowns. The Packers will now call upon Luke Musgraves as their main TE for the rest of the season.
Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants
New York Giants rookie RB Cam Skattebo suffered a dislocated ankle in the Week 8 loss to their divisional foes, the Philadelphia Eagles. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, he underwent surgery Sunday night and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season. Tyrone Tracy will step into the lead RB role again, while Devin Singletary should also see some touches.
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay’s elder statesman, perennial 1,000-yard season receiver Mike Evans, was placed on IR on Wednesday. He is expected to miss eight weeks after suffering a “clean break” of his collarbone. However, eight weeks would be through the end of the fantasy playoffs, so look to pick up Sterling Shepard if Tez Johnson isn’t available. Chris Godwin may also return after the Bucs’ Week 9 bye.
Darren Waller, TE, Miami Dolphins
Darren Waller, the Dolphins tight end, tore his pectoral and was placed on IR last Wednesday. He should return this season sometime in Week 13 at the earliest. Out of the guys who fill in for Waller over the next several weeks, only Greg Dulcich has been fantasy-relevant in years past.
Carson Wentz, QB, Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings made a QB change out of necessity, and now the veteran, Carson Wentz, who had taken over for the Week 1 starter, J.J. McCarthy, will undergo season-ending surgery to repair his dislocated shoulder, which includes a torn labrum and fractured socket. McCarthy will return to the lineup for this week’s big divisional showdown against the 5-2 Detroit Lions, who are coming off their bye week.
Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie tight end Brenton Strange was placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss at least five weeks due to his quad and hip injury, which includes a ligament tear.
Neither of the Jags’ next two TEs on the depth chart proved to be fantasy relevant in Week 6, with Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt only combining for three receptions total between the two of them again in Week 7. The Jags had their bye in Week 8.
Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Rookie running back Omarion Hampton injured his ankle in Los Angeles’ Week 5 game against the Washington Commanders and has been placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least one more game. Fellow RB Najee Harris was placed on IR as well.
Kimani Vidal has taken over the lead back role, especially now that Hassan Haskins has been injured.
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 a trio of backups taking over the past several games.
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But in their last game, in Week 9, Emari Demercado re-emerged as the lead back carrying the ball 14 times for 79 yards, a solid 5.6 YPC average.
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers
Jayden Reed went down with a fractured collarbone in the Packers’ Week 2 win over Washington. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network states that Reed’s expected recovery timeline is 6-8 weeks.
Dontayvion Wicks and Matthew Golden have been stepping up while Reed and Christian Watson are out. At this point, the realistic return timeline for Reed looks to be the Packers’ Week 10 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
The Packers also placed MarShawn Lloyd on IR, where he has spent nearly all of his young career.
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No surprise, Josh Jacobs has been the workhorse here, and his stock value has increased while Lloyd has been sidelined. No one is getting consistent carries besides Josh Jacobs while Lloyd has been out.
Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jalen McMillan started the 2025 season on IR, meaning he technically could have returned for Week 5, but head coach Todd Bowles reported on Oct. 10 that McMillan is still in a neck brace, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reported.
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; Emeka Egbuka has been a breakout star filling in for Evans (who now looks to be out several months) and Chris Godwin amid their respective injuries.
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.
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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. Still, Nico Collins has remained quarterback C.J. Stroud’s favorite target.
Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans (NFI)
Joe Mixon was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list back on Aug. 26. Details of how the injury occurred have not been shared publicly, and there is some doubt whether he will suit up this season.
Texans GM Nick Caserio provided another non-update recently, confirming there is no timetable for Mixon’s return, and they will “take it one day at a time”.
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.
San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch updated on Thursday that Aiyuk is getting closer to returning. “He’s better today than he was last week at this time,” he said in an interview on KNBR.
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 at least three months after Cincy finally got off to a good start, winning both of its first two games.
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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 Commanders
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 occasionally gets some reps.
James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
James Conner injured his ankle in Week 3’s loss to the 49ers severely enough to require season-ending surgery. Michael Carter, Bam Knight, and Emari Demercado have shared the backfield duties for Arizona, but Knight has been the main guy lately.
Miles Sanders, RB, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys’ running back Miles Sanders went down with a knee injury that will require season-ending surgery. Rookie RB and (popular sleeper draft pick) Jaydon Blue will be the complementary back to Cowboys starter Javonte Williams in the future.
Najee Harris, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers’ running back Najee Harris suffered a torn Achilles tendon in his team’s Week 3 win over the Broncos. He will, of course, miss the remainder of the season, meaning 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.
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 have looked to step up in his absence, while Jaylen Waddle has elevated to the Dolphins’ WR1 as expected (though that isn’t saying much these days).
Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints RB Kendre Miller suffered a torn ACL in The Saints’ Week 6 loss to the Chicago Bears, meaning he will miss the remainder of the 2025 season. Alvin Kamara’s stock has increased again, and with backup 2023 third-round draft pick Devin Neal mixing in on rare occasions.