Injuries are an unfortunate but inevitable part of football. As a result, fantasy football managers have to navigate this minefield.
As we approach the first week of the season, it’s important to know which players are dealing with injuries. We cover every fantasy-relevant injury throughout the NFL.
De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
De’Von Achane is sidelined with a mild calf strain. The team has downplayed the severity and expects him to be ready for Week 1. He practiced on Monday.
Should Achane not recover by opening day, rookie Ollie Gordon would be the lead back, as Jaylen Wright has already been ruled out for Week 1.
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III is managing an ongoing foot issue that has plagued him for much of his career. The team has strategically held him out of practices to protect him, but there are no concerns that he won’t be ready for the opener. Walker returned to multiple full practices two weeks ago.
If Walker is limited or out, Zach Charbonnet would be a workhorse. As things currently stand, he may have a bigger role than he has had while Walker has been healthy in previous years anyway.
Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans
Joe Mixon has not practiced at all in camp due to a lingering non-football foot injury. In the final week of August, the Houston Texans placed their RB1 on the NFI list. This is tantamount to the PUP list for our purposes and will sideline Mixon for at least the first four weeks of the season.
The vibes have been very bad for Mixon all summer. There is a very real chance he will not play a snap this season, and there is a non-zero chance we will see Mixon’s last NFL down.
.@HaydenWinks is Hearing Rumblings That Joe Mixon May Not Play A Snap of Football This Year 🫣 pic.twitter.com/wegOmLWpFu
— Underdog Fantasy – Josh & Hayden (@UDFootballShow) August 25, 2025
Regardless, Nick Chubb figures to get the first crack at lead back duties. If he struggles, Dameon Pierce and rookie Woody Marks are waiting in the wings for opportunities.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
Rhamondre Stevenson has missed practice time with an ankle injury, but is not at any risk of missing Week 1. He will start and form a committee with electric rookie TreVeyon Henderson.
Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants
Cam Skattebo strained his hamstring early in training camp and has not gotten many reps. However, he returned to practice two weeks ago and played in the Giants’ final preseason game.
Cam Skattebo’s first carry and listen to Elijah Chatman on his block from fullback! pic.twitter.com/EsZ6535Rsi
— Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) August 22, 2025
The rookie Day 3 pick was supposed to push Tyrone Tracy Jr. for the RB1 role. While that still may be the case, he is now quite a bit behind. Fantasy managers who draft Skattebo likely won’t be able to start him for a few weeks.
Jaydon Blue, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Jaydon Blue sprained his ankle in the Dallas Cowboys’ final preseason game. The team is hopeful he will be ready for Week 1.
The rookie’s fantasy value will open the season in the gutter, but competing with the likes of Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, Blue could end up being the Cowboys’ RB1 sooner rather than later.
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns
Despite his legal case not moving forward, Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned as the Cleveland Browns may be waiting for the NFL to complete its investigation, suggesting the rookie may still face discipline.
Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson look to be an even timeshare based on preseason usage. Both are draftable, but neither is startable in fantasy right away.
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rachaad White suffered a groin strain in the preseason opener and remains day-to-day. He is not expected to miss the start of the season, but he does not have a fantasy-relevant role regardless.
Bucky Irving is the clear RB1, and if he were to miss time, Sean Tucker is the handcuff you want. Do not draft White under any circumstances.
Isaac Guerendo & Jordan James, RBs, San Francisco 49ers
Ironically, Christian McCaffrey is the healthiest member of the San Francisco 49ers’ backfield. Isaac Guerendo has a shoulder injury, and Jordan James has a hand issue. Guerendo returned to practice two weeks ago, but was wearing a shoulder brace. He is not a lock to be ready for Week 1, but shouldn’t be out much longer beyond that if he does miss the game.
McCaffrey is set for a heavy early-season workload. Ke’Shawn Vaughn was the healthiest back behind “CMC” for a few days until the team traded for former Commander Brian Robinson Jr.
We know Kyle Shanahan doesn’t typically utilize a committee. According to Shanahan himself, if McCaffrey were to miss time, Robinson is the appropriate handcuff.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
Expected to form more of a committee with Tony Pollard, that is, once again, not going to happen, at least to start the season. Tyjae Spears sustained a high ankle sprain in the Tennessee Titans’ final preseason game. He was still using a scooter as of two weeks ago.
Tyjae Spears (high ankle sprain) still in a boot as of yesterday. Not ideal. pic.twitter.com/Ps2DtPAA7d
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) August 24, 2025
Last Tuesday, the Titans placed Spears on IR, which will cost him at least the first four games of the season. In September, Pollard will face a massive workload.
Najee Harris, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Najee Harris has missed all of training camp due to an eye injury sustained from a Fourth of July fireworks incident. The Los Angeles Chargers have been very secretive about exactly what’s going on. However, they did maintain that they expected him to be ready for Week 1.
Last week, the Chargers activated Harris from the NFI list, which puts him on track to play. If not Week 1, he should be back early in September.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
MarShawn Lloyd’s sophomore season is looking exactly like his rookie one — he’s injured. During his year and change in the NFL, he has spent more games on IR than touches he’s handled in games. Now, once again, Lloyd is on IR. And once again, he is dealing with a hamstring strain.
At this point, Lloyd can be written off in all fantasy formats. It’s not happening. Don’t draft him. Drop him if you did — or stash him on IR until you need the spot. There is nothing here for fantasy. Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks will reprise their roles behind Josh Jacobs.
Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins
We still don’t know exactly what injury Jaylen Wright is dealing with. However, he’s been absent from practice for multiple weeks and reportedly underwent surgery. Head coach Mike McDaniel indicated the Miami Dolphins RB2 could be back in September.
It’s not exactly the most optimistic of updates. While Wright has been out, Ollie Gordon II has performed infinitely better than Wright could ever dream of. At this point, there’s no reason to believe Wright will reclaim the RB2 role when he returns.
