Week 5 has been another busy one for the WR injury report with fantasy football managers being left hanging on the latest NFL injury updates. After game status reports were released for 28 teams on Friday, let’s take a look at the latest WR injury report and the fantasy implications of the latest injury updates from around the NFL.
WR Injury Report Heading Into Week 5
Marquise Brown, ARI | Foot (Cleared)
Rondale Moore, ARI | Knee (Questionable)
Update: Rondale Moore is active for the Cardinals in Week 5.
Marquise Brown ended the week cleared for game action this weekend and is a 12-team starting Flex option. Rondale Moore suffered a knee injury Thursday, but it is not believed to be serious. There is hope he will be active this week, but his fantasy value is limited only to deep leagues.
Rashod Bateman, BAL | Foot (Out)
After not practicing all week, Rashod Bateman has been ruled out by the Baltimore Ravens for Week 5. This leaves the Ravens’ pass catchers in an intriguing situation this week because there is no clear number two at WR. While both Devin Duvernay and Demarcus Robinson could see additional opportunities, this offense should funnel through the run game and Mark Andrews. The Ravens’ tight end is already averaging nine targets per game, but that could rise to double-digits this week.
Isaiah McKenzie, BUF | Concussion (Out)
Isaiah McKenzie was ruled out for Week 5. In his absence, we could see Khalil Shakir get increase playing time.
Tee Higgins, CIN | Ankle (Questionable)
Higgins was limited all week and enters the weekend questionable. The expectation is that he will suit up but this game being on Sunday night is frustrating for managers. If Higgins is active, you would consider him a must-start, but unless you have Tyler Boyd on your roster, it is risky to wait all day for the team to release its inactive list given the possibility that Higgins sits.
In a best-case scenario, fantasy managers would plan to start Higgins, then be able to pivot to Boyd late if the former is inactive. If you’re going to roll with Higgins and don’t roster Boyd, look to pick up a potential last-resort option playing on SNF or MNF.
CeeDee Lamb, DAL | Groin (Questionable)
Update: CeeDee Lamb is active for the Cowboys in Week 5.
After appearing on the injury report as a non-participant on Thursday, Lamb managed to be a limited participant on Friday. The hope is that he will be active, and if he is, then it will be hard to not start him. If Lamb is inactive, then Michael Gallup has a solid chance to be the WR1. Noah Brown would also see an increase in value if Lamb misses time. On Saturday night, Schefter reported that Lamb is expected to play.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET | Ankle (Questionable)
DJ Chark, DET | Ankle (Out)
Josh Reynolds, DET | Ankle (Questionable)
Update: Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds are active for Week 5.
Mixed news for the Lions’ pass catchers. Amon-Ra St. Brown was able to get back to practice for the first time in two weeks and is listed as questionable. He joins Josh Reynolds with that status this week. If St. Brown is active, it will be hard not to start him in fantasy lineups. The situation is similar for Reynolds, given his recent performances. According to Schefter’s report on Saturday night, Reynolds is expected to play, while St. Brown will be a game-time decision.
DJ Chark was downgraded to out after missing practice Friday. He will miss his second game after what appears to be a setback. His absence strengthens the case for starting St. Brown and Reynolds if they are active.
Allen Lazard, GB | Ankle (Cleared)
Despite being limited in practice all week, Lazard carries no status into the weekend. He is a solid 12-team flex option based on his usage through the last two weeks.
Zay Jones, JAX | Ankle (Questionable)
Update: Zay Jones is active for Week 5.
After Zay Jones was out last week, he is listed as questionable this week. He is a 16-team Flex option if he plays, and if he doesn’t, then Marvin Jones creeps into 14-team consideration.
Keenan Allen, LAC | Hamstring (Out)
Once again, Keenan Allen remains out for the Los Angeles Chargers while dealing with a hamstring injury. The fantasy value situation remains the same in Los Angeles. Mike Williams is a must-start, Josh Palmer is a 14-team PPR Flex option, and DeAndre Carter is a deep-league upside play.
Jaylen Waddle, MIA | Groin (Questionable)
Tyreek Hill, MIA | Quad (Questionable)
Update: Jaylen Waddles and Tyreek Hill are active for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins will enter Week 5 with both of their top two receivers listed as questionable. Jaylen Waddle is expected to play after working from a non-participant to being limited. If he is active, it is hard not to start him, even with Teddy Bridgewater under center.
Tyreek Hill’s status is more concerning after he was downgraded to limited on Thursday. His quad injury popped up during practice on Thursday, but he did at least manage to get back on the field Friday. If he plays, he would be a tough player for fantasy managers to bench. If Hill is inactive, Waddle gets the biggest boost, but it is tough to know who would be the next pass-catching option for fantasy managers.
According to Schefter’s report on Saturday night, both Hill and Waddle are expected to suit up in Week 5.
Jakobi Meyers, NE | Knee (Questionable)
Update: Jakobi Meyers is active for Week 5.
Jakobi Meyers missed Week 4 but enters this weekend with a questionable tag. There is some hope he can play, but it might not matter for fantasy managers. With Bailey Zappe under center, the potential for fantasy value in this offense is limited. It would be tough to start Meyers outside of 14-team PPR leagues.
Michael Thomas, NO | Toe (Out)
Jarvis Landry, NO | Ankle (Questionable)
Update: Jarvis Landry is inactive in Week 5.
For the second straight week, Michael Thomas will be out for the New Orleans Saints. Thomas’ absence will open the door for Marquez Callaway on the outside after he had a solid performance last week. Callaway’s fantasy value is largely limited to 16-team leagues, but he could be considered in deep 14-team leagues.
Landry enters the weekend questionable after being limited in practice. The hope is that he will be active again, but it is hard to trust him after last week’s output. If Landry misses time, then Tre’Quan Smith would be a deep league option.
Kenny Golladay, NYG | Knee (Out)
Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG | Knee (Out)
Kadarius Toney, NYG | Hamstring (Out)
Richie James Jr., NYG | Ankle (Cleared)
The Giants ruled out Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, and Wan’Dale Robinson ahead of their Week 5 matchup in London. The Giants are now extremely short-handed at WR, but the situation actually changes very little with these absences. Robinson and Toney have missed a lot of games already, and Golladay has seen just a handful of targets all season. James is the strongest fantasy option at WR, but his value is limited to deeper leagues.
Chris Godwin, TB | Hamstring (Cleared)
Julio Jones, TB | Knee (Questionable)
Russell Gage, TB | Hamstring (Cleared)
Breshad Perriman, TB | Hamstring (Questionable)
Update: Julio Jones and Breshad Perriman are inactive for the Buccaneers in Week 5. Russell Gage and Chris Godwin are active.
Chris Godwin being cleared makes him a must-start option. He saw 10 Week 4 targets despite being limited in practice last week, and his usage should be similar this week. Gage saw a huge falloff in targets last week (four). That was hardly surprising given the return of Godwin, as Gage had been playing out of the slot.
Jones and Perriman will both be tough to trust, even if active. Neither should see a significant number of targets this week. Perriman would be a boom-bust play in deeper leagues, while Jones could see Flex consideration in 18- or 20-team leagues.
Treylon Burks, TEN | Toe (Out – IR)
It is no surprise that Trylon Burks has been ruled out. The biggest beneficiary for fantasy purposes should be Robert Woods. Unfortunately, there is no clear second pass-catching option that could benefit. This offense runs largely through Derrick Henry and is really only capable of supporting one pass catcher right now. Burks was later placed on the IR by the Titans.
Jahan Dotson, WAS | Hamstring (Out)
Unsurprisingly, Jahan Dotson has been ruled out for the Commanders’ Week 5 game against the Titans. Dotson’s absence could open the opportunity for either Dyami Brown, Cam Sims, or Dax Milne to see extra snaps. The combination of Dotson being out with Logan Thomas being questionable could push more targets toward Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, and J.D. McKissic.