It is a busy Week 8 WR injury report, with injuries popping up all over the place to keep fantasy football managers on their toes. Let’s examine the latest updates regarding the likes of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Brandin Cooks, Davante Adams, Ja’Marr Chase, and more for Week 8.
WR Injury Report Heading Into Week 8
If you are tired of dealing with the constant injury concerns in your fantasy league, then Underdog Fantasy can offer you another option. With a wide range of game-play options and up to a $100 deposit bonus for new users, fantasy managers can make a new start to their season every single week.
DK Metcalf, SEA | Knee (Active)
Update: DK Metcalf is active for the Seahawks in Week 8.
It did not seem likely at the start of the week that Metcalf would be questionable coming out of Friday, but that is where we are. When speaking to the media on Friday, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said that Metcalf “did some stuff” and “ran around.” That was clearly enough for the Seahawks to feel they could delay this decision until Sunday, with Carroll calling Metcalf a game-time decision.
The expectation was that Metcalf would not play. However, late on Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Metcalf is expected to play in Week 8.
Fantasy managers now have a tough situation for fantasy managers. Metcalf is always a hard player to sit if active. However, this is a late-afternoon kickoff, with inactives not announced until after the 1 p.m. ET games have begun. Therefore, fantasy managers may have to make a decision about Metcalf before we even know his status.
MORE: Fantasy WR Start’em Sit’em Week 8
If managers have bench options playing in the late window or primetime games, then they have more flexibility. If not, then playing this on the safe side and benching Metcalf for Week 8 feels like the prudent move. Even if he suits up, he should be heavily limited.
We might get some kind of indication as to Metcalf’s status on Saturday. With Penny Hart doubtful and Tyler Lockett also questionable, the Seahawks could look to elevate one of their five WR options from their practice squad. If we see them elevate two, that would be a good sign that at least one of Metcalf or Lockett is unlikely to play this week.
Tyler Lockett, SEA | Hamstring/Ribs (Active)
Update: Tyler Lockett is active for the Seahawks in Week 8.
It has been quite the rollercoaster of a week for Lockett. He started the week limited with a hamstring injury. He was then upgraded to a full participant Thursday. However, on Friday, he was listed as questionable with an added designation of “ribs.”
When speaking with the media after practice, Carroll described the injury as an “oblique kind of something” that came up on Thursday. Lockett will now be a game-time decision on Sunday, which is frustrating for fantasy managers. Leading into Sunday, Schefter reported that Lockett is expected to play. Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport stated he was still a game-time decision but with optimism that he will play.
As discussed with Metcalf, this is a late-afternoon game. Therefore, Lockett managers need to be prepared in case he is ruled inactive after the 1 p.m. ET window begins. The hope is that he will play, but it is prudent to have a plan in place just in case he is not.
If Lockett plays, it will be hard not to start him, even against a solid Giants’ secondary. However, if he is inactive, then there is limited value to be found deeper on the roster at WR. Marquise Goodwin has intriguing boom-bust deep-league value if both Lockett and Metcalf are out.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET | Concussion (Cleared)
After Amon-Ra St. Brown left last week’s game due to being in the concussion protocol with ataxia, the expectation was that he would play in Week 8. St. Brown opened the week limited but was able to practice in full on Friday. However, he was still listed as questionable, indicating there were a couple more hurdles to clear.
On Sunday morning, Rapoport reported that St. Brown had progressed through the concussion protocol and had been cleared to play.
St. Brown is a matchup-independent starting WR option, and players returning from concussions do not generally see a performance impact.
Brandin Cooks, HOU | Wrist (Active)
Update: Brandin Cooks is active for the Texans in Week 8.
This appearance of Brandin Cooks with a questionable tag on Friday came out of the blue. Cooks is often on the Wednesday report for a rest day, but seeing him pop back up Friday was unexpected.
When you look closer, it gets even stranger. Cooks is listed with a wrist injury as a full participant on Friday but is questionable for Week 8. The situation here may well be that Cooks hurt himself late in practice, and the severity was only realized after practice.
However, Cooks has also been the subject of trade rumors this past week, so this designation may be setting a path for him to be inactive in order to avoid getting hurt ahead of the 2022 NFL trade deadline. On Sunday morning, Rapoport reported that Cooks is expected to play in Week 8.
Fantasy managers should look to make a contingency plan if Cooks is a surprise inactive. The Texans play in the late window, so we may not find out if he is inactive until after the 1 p.m. ET window games begin. Therefore, fantasy managers should be proactive in making sure they have another late-window or primetime option to turn to if he is out. If Cooks plays, he is a 12-team Flex consideration in Week 8.
Ja’Marr Chase, CIN | Hip (Out)
Ja’Marr Chase remained a non-participant through Friday’s practice. Chase was ruled out by Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor on Saturday. However, Chase will not go on the IR as, while the injury has a four to six-week timeframe, there is hope that he could return sooner rather than later.
With Chase out, Tyler Boyd should benefit in terms of target share. Meanwhile, Mike Thomas could see additional playing time. Boyd is a 14-team Flex consideration, while Thomas is a deep-league boom-bust option.
Davante Adams, LV | Illness (Active)
Update: Davante Adams is active for the Raiders in Week 8.
It was not a huge surprise to see Davante Adams get out onto the field on Friday as he recovers from an illness. Rarely do illnesses early in the week impact a player’s status on Sunday. However, Adams is questionable for the weekend, so fantasy managers will need to monitor. On Saturday, Schefter reported that Adams is expected to play in Week 8.
Assuming he plays, then Adams is a solid starting option in all leagues, as normal. If he were to miss time, Hunter Renfrow would be an intriguing upside play as a Flex option in 12-team PPR formats. Renfrow was cleared from the injury report after dealing with a hip injury.
Mack Hollins, LV | Heel (Active)
Update: Mack Hollins is active for the Raiders in Week 8.
Much like Adams, Hollins is expected to suit up. He was limited all week in practice but played through the same injury last week. If Adams and Renfrow are both active, then Hollins’ value is as a boom-bust 16-team Flex option. However, if Adams ends up being inactive, Hollins has intriguing 12- and 14-team league potential.
Deebo Samuel, SF | Hamstring (Out)
Deebo Samuel did not take part in San Francisco 49ers practice all week and has subsequently been ruled out of Week 8. With the 49ers on a bye next week, it always seemed like it was trending this way after Samuel was on the injury report as a non-participant on Wednesday.
With Samuel out, we could see his workload split between Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, and Jeff Wilson Jr. However, with Jauan Jennings listed as questionable, Ray-Ray McCloud is an intriguing deeper league boom-bust play. McCloud is able to play that hybrid-type role of Samuel but likely will not see double-digit opportunities in Week 8.
Jaylen Waddle, MIA | Shoulder (Cleared)
While Jaylen Waddle was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, he was a full participant on Friday. He carries no designation into the weekend and retains must-start value into Week 8.
Michael Thomas, NO | Toe (Out)
Considering the week started with Michael Thomas being seen in pads at practice, his continued absence over the course of the week is somewhat mystifying. On Friday, New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen ruled Thomas out for Week 8.
When asked, Allen said he was optimistic that Thomas would play again this year. However, he also said he had no timetable and did not get into specifics about the injury. All of this is extremely confusing and frustrating for fantasy managers who have no idea when they might see Thomas on the field again this season.
With Thomas out, Marquez Callaway is expected to get the start on the outside. Despite the extended playing time, Callaway has struggled to establish himself as a consistent fantasy option. He is currently the fantasy WR3 in New Orleans behind Chris Olave and Tre’Quan Smith. Callaway is very much a deep league boom-bust play on a weekly basis while Thomas is out.
Jarvis Landry, NO | Ankle (Out)
The Saints will also be without Jarvis Landry again as he deals with an ankle injury. We have not seen Landry on the field since the Saints faced the Vikings in London. In his absence, Smith should continue to have intriguing fantasy relevance as a 14-team Flex consideration in PPR formats.
In the last two weeks, Smith has seen nine targets, catching eight for 102 yards and a touchdown. While his number of opportunities has not been the highest, he has been a solid producer with the opportunities he has been given. That should remain the case for as long as Landry is out.
Noah Brown, DAL | Foot (Out)
Update: Noah Brown is inactive for the Cowboys in Week 8.
Despite not practicing all week, Noah Brown is listed as questionable for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8. It seems unlikely that Brown will suit up, but he appears to have at least a shot to be a game-time decision. If he does play, it will be tough for fantasy managers to trust Brown in their lineups.
If Brown is inactive, Michael Gallup should pick up some extra work. Additional snaps could go the way of either KaVontae Turpin or Jalen Tolbert. Turpin appears to have the more intriguing upside for fantasy, but that is still only limited to deeper leagues.
Allen Lazard, GB | Shoulder (Out) & Christian Watson, GB | Hamstring (Questionable)
After being absent from practice all week, it is no surprise that Allen Lazard was ruled out for Week 8 on Friday. Meanwhile, Christian Watson was listed as questionable after practicing in a limited fashion all week. Heading into practice Friday, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was cautiously optimistic that Watson would be active Sunday.
With Lazard out, Sammy Watkins and rookie Romeo Doubs will be expected to start. However, we could also see significant playing time for Watson if he is active. Doubs carries the most value as a 12-team Flex option, while Watkins has 14-team Flex consideration. Watson’s upside is limited by the hamstring injury, making it tough to start him other than as a touchdown-dependent boom-bust consideration in deeper leagues.
Jahan Dotson | Hamstring (Out) & Dyami Brown | Groin (Questionable)
After seemingly re-aggravating his hamstring injury in Week 7, Jahan Dotson was unable to practice all week ahead of Week 8. He was subsequently ruled out for this week, and the race is on to be ready for Week 9.
Dyami Brown is listed as questionable with a groin injury. He was limited all week but has a chance to suit up. If Brown is active, he could see extended playing time. However, if he is limited by the groin injury, it restricts him to a deep-league Flex option.
Nico Collins, HOU | Groin (Questionable)
It is really surprising to see Nico Collins listed as questionable after he didn’t practice all week. It seemed like Collins could be set for an extended absence, but the questionable tag suggests he could be back quicker than first expected.
If Collins plays, it will be tough to trust him in lineups. However, if he is absent, Phillip Dorsett and Chris Moore would see a bump in value as boom-bust deep-league plays.
Corey Davis, NYJ | Knee (Out)
It was always trending toward Corey Davis missing Week 8. With Davis’ absence, Garrett Wilson sees a boost in value lining up outside. Wilson has seen more efficiency on snaps when lined up outside. With Davis out, Wilson becomes a 14-team Flex consideration.