Week 1 has already begun with the Detroit Lions’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday. Next up: a full slate of Sunday games that will give us the first full action of our fantasy football teams in the 2023 season!
With a plethora of injury reports coming out over the last few days, we have compiled the updates you need to know for the wide receivers heading into this weekend. Let’s dig in and find out who’s healthy, who may be out, and any other news on your fantasy wide receivers.
Be sure to check out other positional injury updates: QB+TE | RB
Injury Updates for Top Fantasy Football WRs
Here is the latest news on fantasy-relevant wide receivers entering Week 1 of the 2023 season.
Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
If you are a Cooper Kupp manager, you may be waiting a bit to see him take the field. Not only has Kupp already been ruled out for the Los Angeles Rams’ opening game in Seattle, but he is at risk of missing even more time.
Head coach Sean McVay has not ruled out the possibility that Kupp could end up being placed on the injured reserve (IR). This would guarantee that Kupp would miss the first four games of the regular season.
Editor’s Note: Kupp has been placed on the IR and will miss at least the next four games.
For Week 1 (at least), Kupp is out. Make sure to bench him in all of your leagues.
Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers
A late-week add to the injury list, the news is not good for Christian Watson. The Green Bay Packers second-year receiver was added to the injury report mid-week for a hamstring injury. On Friday, he was officially ruled out for Sunday against the rival Chicago Bears.
There is no word if this will impact Watson for more than Sunday, but for Week 1, Watson is out.
Marquise Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Editor’s Note: Marquise Brown is active for the Cardinals Week 1 game.
The Arizona Cardinals are one of the shallowest rosters heading into the 2023 season. And one of their contributing wide receivers is already banged up.
Marquise Brown was listed on the Cardinals’ injury report on Friday with a hamstring injury. Apparently, the injury is significant enough that he has officially been listed as questionable for Sunday when the Cardinals open in Washington, D.C. We will have to wait for official word before the game, but be aware if Hollywood is currently in your lineup that he may not play this weekend.
Editors Note: On Sunday morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Brown is expected to play in Week 1.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders
Editor’s Note: Terry McLaurin is active for the Commanders Week 1 game.
Terry McLaurin suffered a turf toe injury in the Washington Commanders’ second preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. He has been nursing the injury back to health since the initial damage.
But we have good news for McLaurin managers: Scary Terry is officially active Sunday against the Cardinals. There is no word if McLaurin will be under any snap count, but I believe if he is active he likely won’t be held back — unless the toe injury is reaggravated. McLaurin is good to start in your leagues.
Treylon Burks, WR, Tennessee Titans
Editor’s Note: Treylon Burks is active for the Titans Week 1 game.
After weeks of showing up on injury lists, second-year wide receiver Treylon Burks is officially good to go for Sunday. The Tennessee Titans head to New Orleans to play the Saints in their opener, and Burks will be on the field.
Burks was a full participant in practice on Friday. With nothing holding him back, he is perfectly safe for managers to start him in their lineups this weekend.
DJ Chark Jr., WR, Carolina Panthers
Editor’s Note: DJ Chark is inactive for the Panthers Week 1 game.
The Carolina Panthers have been banged up at WR leading to their opener in Atlanta. The positive news is Terrace Marshall Jr. is good to go for Sunday. The bad news is DJ Chark Jr. is officially out.
Chark was limited in practice on Friday with a hamstring injury. Although he was able to practice a bit, he was officially listed as out by the Panthers coaching staff. Make sure to bench Chark in leagues where you have him rostered.
Adam Thielen, WR, Carolina Panthers
Editor’s Note: Adam Thielen is active for the Panthers Week 1 game.
Same team, slightly different news to share. Adam Thielen popped up mid-week on the Panthers injury report with an ankle injury that limited him in practice. That limited tag continued all the way through Friday’s team practice.
MORE: FREE Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer
Thielen has officially been ruled questionable for Sunday. If you are in a spot where Thielen is an optional start on your team, make sure to check on his official status Sunday morning before the Panthers kick off at 1:00 PM EDT.
Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers
While Watson is out for the Packers, the same is not yet said for Romeo Doubs. Also dealing with a hamstring injury, Doubs was able to practice on a limited basis on Thursday and Friday of this week.
As of now, Doubs is questionable to play. This will certainly be an injury to keep an eye on. If Doubs can go, he could see a fair share of targets with Watson missing the game in Chicago. But his game is in the late-afternoon slate, so waiting could mean missing out on a good replacement playing at 1:00 PM EDT if he can’t play.
Editor’s Note: The report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday morning suggests that Doubs is expected to suit up. However, Schefter stated that this will likely be in a limited fashion. Therefore, fantasy managers should proceed with caution.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has been nursing a hamstring injury of his own for several weeks. The hampered hammy is still causing Jeudy to be limited in the Broncos’ practices.
As of now, Jeudy is listed as questionable. This has been trending toward Jeudy not seeing action on Sunday, so make sure you have an alternate in mind on your team. With the Broncos not playing their home opener against the Las Vegas Raiders until the afternoon slot, you may need to sub Jeudy out with one of your bench players that has a 1:00 PM EDT start.
Editor’s Note: Jeudy has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
DeVante Parker, WR, New England Patriots
We can’t really be sure what the New England Patriots passing game is going to look like this year. But if you are buying into it and you believe in a DeVante Parker resurgence, you may be waiting another week.
Parker is questionable with a knee injury in the Pats home opener against the reigning NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. With a later slot game and a tough matchup, you are probably best just pulling Parker from your lineup. Even if he goes, he won’t be 100% and has stiff competition.
Editor’s Note: Parker is not expected to play in Week 1, per Rapoport.
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, New York Giants
Finally, if you have a league with a deep starting lineup, be aware that Wan’Dale Robinson is doubtful for the New York Giants with a knee injury. The Giants play Sunday night at home against their division rival, the Dallas Cowboys.
With a late start game and a doubtful status, Robinson should be out of your lineups. It’s highly unlikely he plays. And if he did, it would be hard for him to make a major impact.