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.
Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
The New York Giants finally won a football game on Sunday, but they lost their star receiver, Malik Nabers, to a torn ACL. 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 main targets.
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.
Historically, Kittle has been a pretty quick healer. He may miss a minimum of four games. But fantasy managers will need to go without Kittle until at least their game on October 12.
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 2025 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.Â
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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.
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 in Week 2.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans officially moved Tyjae Spears to the IR before the start of the season, meaning he is technically eligible to return for this upcoming Week 5 game against the Arizona Cardinals. Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday that the Titans are opening the 21-day practice window for Spears this week.
Tony Pollard continues to be the clear lead back, rushing 14 times for 64 yards in the Titans’ Week 4 shutout loss to their division rival, Houston.
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 is 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.
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 last Tuesday, September 16.
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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.
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. The Packers have their bye week during Week 5.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
The Packers also placed MarShawn Lloyd on the IR, where he spent nearly all of his young career.
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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 could technically return for the Bucs’ upcoming Week 5 game, but we haven’t heard an update yet.
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.
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.
Woody Marks split the carries with Nick Chubb for Houston in Week 4, meaning, unless you’re in deeper leagues, it’ll be tough to play either confidently for the time being.
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.
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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.
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. Trey Benson will step up and be the lead back for Arizona going forward, with Emari Demercado also seeing some touches here and there.
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.
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 Xavier Worthy was set to be the WR1, while Hollywood Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster were expected to see more targets to start the season.
However, Worthy 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, making 10 catches for 99 yards.
The Chiefs finally won a game in 2025, but it wasn’t exactly an offensive masterpiece. Tyquan Thornton was their leading pass catcher, hauling in five receptions for 71 yards on nine targets and a touchdown.
