What is the WR injury report and the fantasy football implications as we head into Sunday of Week 2? Let’s examine the latest updates from the NFL injury reports and what it means for managers when it comes to setting fantasy lineups in Week 2.
WR injury report for Week 2
Mike Evans, TB | Calf
Official game designation: Active
Update: Evans is active for the Buccaneers Week 2 game.
It’s been a roller coaster week for Mike Evans and his fantasy managers. Evans was seen at practice with his calf strapped Wednesday and was then absent from practice Thursday before returning on Friday. He entered the weekend with a questionable tag, but according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Evans is expected to play.
Evans is a really tough call this week for fantasy purposes. The Buccaneers are without Chris Godwin, while Julio Jones, Russell Gage, and Breshad Perriman are all questionable. On top of that, RB Leonard Fournette could be limited. Normally when a player is limited like this, you try to avoid them, especially in a tough matchup.
Since Tom Brady arrived in Tampa, Evans has averaged essentially half his weekly fantasy point average when facing the Saints. If you have the options available to be able to bench him this week, you should seriously consider it.
Gabriel Davis, BUF | Ankle
Official game designation: Questionable
On Saturday, Gabriel Davis was listed as questionable on the Buffalo Bills’ final injury report. The WR took part in a limited practice Saturday, indicating he likely injured it during the session. With Davis playing on Monday night, fantasy managers now have a tough decision.
Unless you have other starting options playing Monday night, you could leave yourself with nowhere to turn by waiting on Davis. The good news this week is that there are two games on Monday, so there are more options than there usually would be. If Davis is out, Isaiah McKenzie and Jamison Crowder could be set for full workloads after splitting snaps in Week 1.
Allen Lazard, GB | Ankle
Official game designation: Questionable
Whenever a Sunday Night Football player is questionable entering the weekend, it is somewhat of a headache. Having to wait for that late notice of whether he is active or not is not ideal as it leaves you with limited options. The good news is that early reports on Sunday are that Allen Lazard is due to be on the field for the Green Bay Packers this week.
However, that doesn’t mean fantasy managers should automatically start him. Lazard did not practice at all in Week 1 and was limited for all of Week 2. There’s no guarantee we see him with a full workload, so caution should be advised. Based on where you likely drafted Lazard, you should have the options available to leave him on your bench this week. But if you’re stuck for options, the good news on Sunday morning is that he should at least be active.
Tee Higgins, CIN | Concussion
Official game designation: Active
Update: Tee Higgins has cleared the concussion protocol and is active for Week 2.
Coming out of Friday, there appeared to be optimism that Tee Higgins would be active for Sunday’s Week 2 game. However, there was no news regarding his clearance of the concussion protocol on Saturday. Early on Sunday morning, Ian Rapoport reported that Higgins is expected to play today, barring a setback.
Entering Sunday, fantasy managers could face a tricky decision. Higgins may not be officially cleared until the early slate of games has begun, with the Bengals playing in the afternoon window. Therefore, if we get to 12:30 p.m. ET with no definitive news, fantasy managers will have little choice but to sit Higgins if they don’t have other options to turn to in the later windows. However, if we hear Higgins has been cleared, he should be a full go and a player you can start.
Julio Jones, TB | Knee
Official game designation: Out
Update: Jones will miss the Buccaneers’ Week 2 game with the Saints.
We are likely going to have to wait for the NFL inactives to be released before we find out whether Jones will be active for Week 2. According to Schefter, Jones is a game-time decision.
This is a shame because, with Godwin out, there was a chance for Jones to play a major role for fantasy managers. Even if Jones is active, it will be hard to start him. Given his injury history, it’s hard to imagine the Buccaneers giving him a full workload, especially with their current injury concerns at WR.
Russell Gage, TB | Hamstring
Official game designation: Active
Update: Gage is active for the Buccaneers’ Week 2 game.
Gage looks set to be active for Week 2, according to Rapoport. Given he was ultimately active with the same injury last week, this is hardly a surprise. When you also consider all of the issues Tampa Bay has among their WR group, they will likely need him active, even if they limit him during the game itself.
For fantasy managers, Gage is another hard player to trust. Someone in this Buccaneers pass-catching group is likely going to have a big day, but with the top four options all hobbled entering the game, it’s tough to predict. Tampa Bay is clearly concerned because they elevated WR Kaylon Geiger from the practice squad. That is despite having Jaelon Darden and Scotty Miller as depth options on their 53-man roster.
Kadarius Toney, NYG | Hamstring
Official game designation: Active
Update: Kadarius Toney is active the Giants’ Week 2 game.
The early Sunday report from Rapoport has Kadarius Toney suiting up in Week 2. In his tweet, Rapoport called the injury “hamstring tightness,” making it seem a relatively minor injury and more of a precaution to limit him in practice. Ahead of inactives being announced, Brian Daboll confirmed that Toney is expected to be active.
However, at this point, regardless of whether he suits up or not, it is tough to use the second-year receiver in fantasy lineups. His opportunities were extremely limited last week, and that is when he was seemingly fully healthy.
Which WRs have been ruled out this week?
Alec Pierce, IND | Concussion
Official game designation: Out
Alec Pierce was placed into the concussion protocol at the beginning of Week 2. He was unable to clear enough steps to either return to practice or get a questionable tag heading into the weekend. We will now wait to see if he can clear out of the protocol ahead of Week 3.
Pierce is one of two Colts receivers absent this week, with Michael Pittman Jr. also ruled out. That likely leaves Parris Campbell as the top option, with Mike Strachan and Ashton Dulin set to see additional playtime. Dulin saw an intriguing amount of work last week, and he might actually be the most fantasy relevant of these three right now.
Chris Godwin, TB | Hamstring
Official game designation: Out
Unsurprisingly, Godwin has been ruled out for Week 2. The injury has been dubbed week-to-week, so there is an outside chance we could see him back for Week 3. There’s enough optimism that Godwin will be back by Week 5, or else he would likely have been placed on IR.
It’s hard to project who will benefit in his absence, with Jones, Gage, and Breshad Perriman all questionable entering the weekend. Fantasy managers will have some tough calls to make in terms of the Buccaneers’ wide receivers once the injury report is announced. To find out how our analysts view it, be sure to sign up for PFN Pass and join us on the PFN Discord server on Sunday morning.
KJ Hamler, DEN | Knee/Hip
Official game designation: Out
KJ Hamler was unable to practice all week and was ruled out Friday. He saw just one target in Week 1, so his absence should not have a major fantasy impact. Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon, and Albert Okwuegbunam remain the main fantasy assets in Denver right now.
Michael Gallup, DAL | Knee
Official game designation: Out
Michael Gallup will miss Week 2 as he continues his recovery from a knee injury. This was largely expected entering the season, with Weeks 3 and 4 viewed as the real target. Noah Brown will likely join CeeDee Lamb as a starter. Then KaVontae Turpin, Simi Fehoko, Dennis Houston, and Jalen Tolbert are scrapping for snaps behind them. Tolbert was a healthy scratch last week, so we have no idea if he will manage to make the active roster this week.
When it comes to your fantasy lineups, the Cowboys are somewhat of a situation to avoid with Dak Prescott out. It’s hard to sit Lamb unless you’re loaded at WR, but the others bring limited value. Brown saw nine targets last weekend, so if you have to pick one, he would be the ideal target. Still, whenever backup QBs are promoted to start, they can often target players deeper on the depth chart that they’ve spent time with at practice.
Michael Pittman Jr., IND | Quad
Official game designation: Out
Not having Michael Pittman Jr. for Week 2 is incredibly frustrating. He had a really good Week 1 performance and was potentially in line for another against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pittman seemingly injured himself in practice Wednesday, where he was listed as limited. He was then a non-participant on Thursday and Friday.
While he carried the questionable tag into the weekend, Pittman was ruled out Saturday. On Friday, head coach Frank Reich seemed unconcerned, stating, “I’m optimistic Pitt will be fine.” That hopefully sets Pittman up to potentially return in Week 3. In his absence, with Pierce also out, it’s tough to decipher who will have the fantasy value in Indianapolis.
Rondale Moore, ARI | Hamstring
Official game designation: Out
After leaving practice in Week 1 with a hamstring injury, Rondale Moore has yet to return to practice. He and fellow WR Andy Isabella were ruled out on Friday by head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
The Cardinals are short at WR this week, with DeAndre Hopkins suspended. That will likely promote Greg Dortch into a starting role alongside Marquise Brown and A.J. Green. Dortch could have intriguing fantasy value after he saw nine targets last week.
Van Jefferson, LAR | Knee
Official game designation: Out
Van Jefferson remains absent for the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2 with a knee injury. Last week, it was Ben Skowronek who took the WR3 snaps, finishing with six targets. He finished with four receptions for 25 yards, with 4.0 yards before the catch on average. His fantasy value is limited to deep-league PPR formats if that trend continues.
Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG | Knee
Official game designation: Out
Unfortunately, Wan’Dale Robinson will miss Week 2 after leaving Week 1 early with a knee injury. His absence will leave Kenny Golladay, Richie James, and Sterling Shepard as the starting trio. James saw the most targets last week, but it was Shepard who found the end zone on a deep pass from Daniel Jones. All three of them are tough to trust in 12-team leagues but are potential Flex starters in deeper formats.