Nothing can ruin a fantasy football manager’s season more than a lingering, limiting injury to a star. We have you covered on the latest injury report news from around the NFL. We’re diving into Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown’s injury update to see if he’s worth starting on your fantasy roster.
Amon-Ra St. Brown Injury Update
Raise your hand if you predicted the Lions to have the No. 1 scoring offense through the first month of the season. Well, here we are, and the Jared Goff-led unit has dominated through the air and on the ground. Unfortunately for the Lions, the defense has given it all back, ranking dead last in points and yards allowed.
If nothing else, this team is wonderfully entertaining. Their Week 5 matchup against the New England Patriots will be the easiest of the season for their defense and the offense can exploit a weak rushing defense. The Patriots pass defense is above average despite allowing 32.4 fantasy points per game to receivers, good for 14th in the league.
St. Brown looks like an excellent start for fantasy managers for this game, but he may not be available. He didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday due to his ankle injury. With a bye week looming in Week 6, the Lions appear willing to play it safe and let St. Brown fully heal before getting back on the field.
MORE: CeeDee Lamb Week 5 Injury Update
If St. Brown is active, he’s a no-brainer start for fantasy managers. He’s averaging 84.3 yards and a touchdown per game, catching just under 70% of targets in the NFL’s No. 5-ranked passing game. He’s a star who should be cemented into your lineups.
Even after missing Week 4, St. Brown is still the No. 2 red-zone fantasy producer thanks to his four catches and three touchdowns on five targets. Now that’s efficiency.
If St. Brown Doesn’t Play, What is Josh Reynold’s Fantasy Value?
If you’re looking for a solid waiver wire addition for Week 5, Josh Reynolds is a hot name who is still available in 75% of Yahoo and 82% of ESPN leagues. Reynolds had already stolen the WR2 role with his own explosive playmaking, but it’s an even clearer path with DJ Chark out. The last two weeks have been a big breakout for Reynolds as he’s reunited with Goff.
With 18 targets for 13 catches and 187 yards and one touchdown over the last two weeks, Reynolds will be the top target alongside T.J. Hockenson with St. Brown out. There’s plenty of volume right now within the offense to sustain three stud pass catchers plus two star backs. That’s how impressive this unit is rolling right now.
You absolutely want the WR1 or even WR2 in this offense, so you can roster and start Reynolds against the Patriots in Week 5 with great confidence he’ll be in a position to produce at a high level. The only concern is whether Reynolds will be easier to handle with receivers like Kalif Raymond and Tom Kennedy around him instead of St. Brown and Chark.
Still, I think it’s worthwhile to take a gamble on Reynolds if you need a WR2 starter or Flex option. He could be this season’s most unlikely waiver wire hero.