The Week 7 WR injury report has some intriguing headline names on it that will have grabbed fantasy football managers’ attention. As we peruse the latest NFL injury updates, let’s examine the fantasy implications from around the league for the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jaylen Waddle, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, CeeDee Lamb, Keenan Allen, Tyler Lockett, and more.
WR Injury Report Heading Into Week 7
Note that practice status listings are as follows: DNP – did not participate, LP – limited participant, FP – full participant.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET | Ankle (LP)
DJ Chark, DET | Knee (DNP)
Josh Reynolds, DET | Knee (DNP)
Fantasy managers of Amon-Ra St. Brown will be delighted to know that the impressive WR returned to practice in full to open Week 7. We last saw St. Brown looking extremely limited in Week 5, prior to the Lions’ bye week. Barring an injury setback, we should expect to see St. Brown back to his old self in Week 7 and back in your starting lineups.
This news is also intriguing for those looking to utilize St. Brown when it comes to Underdog Fantasy. When St. Brown has been active this year, he has been a superb play and should be once again. If you want to get him in your weekly Underdog Fantasy lineup, new users can get a $100 deposit bonus when signing up with the code “PFN”. Whether in fantasy or pick’em games, St. Brown could be a valuable asset on Underdog in Week 7.
The return of St. Brown is crucial for the Lions as they have multiple WR options injured heading into Week 7. Both Josh Reynolds and DJ Chark were non-participants on Wednesday with knee injuries. We did not get much of an update on whether either would be available this week, so we will need to watch the injury reports this week closely.
There appeared to be more concern for Chark, so if Reynolds is active, we could see him continuing to see plenty of targets as the WR2 alongside St. Brown. If both end up being inactive, then T.J. Hockenson would see an increase in value, but identifying which other WR might be fantasy relevant is tough.
Jaylen Waddle, MIA | Shoulder (LP)
It is going to feel like a very long week for Jaylen Waddle’s fantasy managers. The second-year WR is dealing with a shoulder injury entering Week 7. According to Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, he did not expect to see much from Waddle in practice on Wednesday, but he was “confident” and “optimistic” about the WR’s chance to suit up.
If Waddle plays, there is no real question over whether you start him. The second-year star had his second game seeing double-digit targets this season in Week 6 and his third game going over 100 receiving yards. While he lost a fumble against the Vikings, it is unlikely to impact his opportunities.
If Waddle misses time, it is tough to predict who might benefit. Mike Gesicki is third on the team in targets, with 19 in six games. Behind him are Trent Sherfield (17), Chase Edmonds (15), and Raheem Mostert (14). To put that in context, Waddle has 49 targets, and Tyreek Hill has 65. Sherfield could be a deeper league upside play, but with just 88 yards on his 17 targets, he’s a dart throw at best.
Ja’Marr Chase, CIN | Hip (LP)
Tee Higgins, CIN | Ankle (LP)
While we mostly expected to see Tee Higgins on the injury report to open Week 7, the appearance of Ja’Marr Chase was somewhat of a surprise. However, there does not appear to be any major concern with either. Higgins started last week as a non-participant before being active and seeing 10 targets.
MORE: Fantasy Injury IR Updates Week 7
Meanwhile, Chase had his best game of the season with 132 yards and two touchdowns. Both should be expected to suit up this week and very much should be in your starting lineups against the Atlanta Falcons. If either did miss time, Tyler Boyd and Mike Thomas would be the main beneficiaries at WR.
CeeDee Lamb, DAL | Hip (LP)
This is the same designation we saw for CeeDee Lamb in Week 6, so it is not a huge surprise to see him on the Dallas Cowboys’ injury report. Lamb played through a late-week questionable tag against the Philadelphia Eagles last week. The fact he has started the week limited is a sign we should expect Lamb to be active.
If Lamb were to miss time, then Michael Gallup would be expected to be the WR1 as he ramps up his work upon returning from injury. Meanwhile, Noah Brown or Jalen Tolbert could also benefit as the Cowboys prepare to welcome back Dak Prescott at QB this week.
Keenan Allen, LAC | Hamstring (LP)
Josh Palmer, LAC | Concussion (DNP)
This is now the fourth practice in a row that Keenan Allen has been listed as limited on the Los Angeles Chargers injury report. The hope is that he can continue to work through the week and be active in Week 7. However, there are some reasons for uncertainty about if we will see Allen this week and, if we do see him, how much he will actually do in the offense.
On Wednesday, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper quoted Allen as saying there was a thought process to the WR sitting out one more week, knowing that the Chargers have a bye in Week 8, essentially giving him two more weeks of recovery while only missing one game. Allen stated, “Definitely want to play it the smartest way, and if that’s the best thing, then that’s what it will be.”
That is not a guarantee that we will not see Allen in Week 7, but it does ring alarm bells. Even if he is active, it would be a surprise if we see the Chargers use him extensively. Allen has already suffered one setback while recovering from his hamstring injury, so they will not want to risk that happening again.
Therefore, even if Allen is active, he may end up being a player that fantasy managers should be suspicious about using in Week 7. We could see a very limited version of himself, only playing on high-leverage snaps and with a limited target share.
If Allen is out or limited, there is an opportunity for DeAndre Carter or Michael Bandy to have a big day. Josh Palmer is in the concussion protocol to open Week 7. Additionally, tight ends Gerald Everett (illness) and Donald Parham (Concussion) missed practice Wednesday. There could be a lot of targets available in Los Angeles this week, as they come off Monday Night Football last week.
Tyler Lockett, SEA | Hamstring (DNP)
The presence of Lockett on the Seattle Seahawks’ injury report with a hamstring issue was somewhat of a surprise. We have seen with the likes of Keenan Allen that hamstring issues should never be underestimated, especially for WRs. Therefore, we will need to watch the injury report for the rest of the week to see if Lockett can progress back onto the field.
Lockett is coming off his worst game of the season against the Arizona Cardinals, but the Los Angeles Chargers should present a bounce-back opportunity. If Lockett is out, it boosts the potential value of DK Metcalf, but beyond that, it is tough to predict which WR might step up. No other WR than Lockett and Metcalf on this roster has more than 10 targets through the first six weeks.
Rashod Bateman, BAL | Foot (LP)
It was promising to see Rashod Bateman back out on the practice field as he deals with his foot injury. The Ravens’ passing game could use the boost that Bateman’s presence would provide. However, we know the Ravens tend to be cautious in bringing players back from injuries. In his Wednesday media availability, QB Lamar Jackson alluded to Bateman taking his time to return.
There is a chance we see Bateman play but be limited in terms of snaps. Right now, he is a tough player to trust, but with four teams on a bye, Bateman is very much in fringe 12-team Flex consideration if active.
Jahan Dotson, WAS | Hamstring (LP)
We got some good news out of Washington on Wednesday with the return of Jahan Dotson to practice. The rookie WR had been having a solid start to the year before his hamstring issue. Early signs pointed to him having a chance to play. However, he appeared to have a setback Thursday, as he was seen leaving the field with a trainer, per Jordan Schultz.
Even if Dotson returns, it is tough to know how the passing game in Washington will look with Taylor Heinicke under center for the coming weeks. That uncertainty means it is tough to identify who might benefit if Dotson does remain out.
Mack Hollins, LV | Heel (LP)
Coming off the bye week, Mack Hollins started Week 7 listed as limited. Hollins has been a surprise fantasy asset at times this year but has managed just 33 receiving yards on three receptions from eight targets in the past two games. Therefore, even if he is active, Hollins would be a tough player to trust in leagues shallower than 16 teams this week.
Randall Cobb, GB | Ankle (DNP)
Christian Watson, GB | Hamstring (DNP)
We know that it is almost impossible that we see Randall Cobb this week, but it seems like Christian Watson could be set to miss Week 7 as well. Last week, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that they had considered shutting Watson down as he deals with a hamstring issue. The fact that they did not place him on the IR would suggest they believe he could be ready before the four-week minimum absence that an IR designation mandates.
MORE: Week 7 PPR Fantasy Football Rankings
Even when he returns, it is not clear what role Watson will have, as Allen Lazard and Romeo Doubs appear to have a solid grasp on the starting jobs. Combine that with the potential return of Sammy Watkins, and Watson is hardly a bench stash in any league that is comprised of 14 teams or shallower at this point.
Julio Jones, TB | Knee (DNP)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ injury situation at WR appears to be clearing, but Julio Jones continues to struggle with his knee injury. Jones opened Week 7 as a non-participant and is on track to be inactive once again. Jones has played just 18 snaps since Week 1, and we could continue to see this absence stretch.
With the Buccaneers having Chris Godwin, Russell Gage, and Breshad Perriman back and healthy, there is no rush to get Jones on the field. For now, he is a tough player to roster in fantasy leagues unless you have a deep bench. He needs at least one injury (if not more) on the depth chart ahead of him to have significant fantasy value.