Fantasy Injury Updates: News on Austin Ekeler, Saquon Barkley, and Javonte Williams

Fantasy football managers know they will have to deal with injuries eventually, but they are piling up in a hurry, and you need to react now if you want to be in a position to win your league when your roster returns to full strength. Pay attention to fantasy injury updates and be prepared for anything!

Savvy managers will slide these players into their Flex spot as we await clarity, a move that maximizes your flexibility when attempting to pivot late. Here is what we currently know about Austin Ekeler, Saquon Barkley, and Javonte Williams as we prepare for Week 6.

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Injury Updates for Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

• Injury: Ankle
• Week 6 Opponent: Dallas Cowboys (MNF)

Ekeler lit up the Dolphins for 164 total yards and a touchdown in the season opener, but we haven’t been graced with his presence in a game since.

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With the Los Angeles Chargers fresh off of their bye and getting the added bonus of this being a Monday Night Football showdown, the hope is that the All-Pro will be able to return to action against a Dallas Cowboys defense that has looked shaky in two of their past three games:

• Week 3 at AZ: 28 points and 222 rushing yards allowed
• Week 5 at SF: 42 points and 421 yards allowed

It goes without saying that if Ekeler is declared active (as of Tuesday, he said he was “99% sure” he’d suit up this week), he’s in your lineup, and that’s the current plan. That said, there is a significant risk in counting on a player like this during the final game of the week. If Joshua Kelley, Josh Palmer, or Quentin Johnston were cut during their bye week, quality fantasy managers will make the add to buy them as much time as possible as we await the official word on Ekeler.

Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

• Injury: Ankle
• Week 6 Opponent: Buffalo Bills (SNF)

We were holding out hope for Barkley until late last week, and that has early reports painting an optimistic picture about the star RB’s status for Sunday Night Football.

Eric Gray (fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma) appeared to have the inside track last week on the RB2 role behind Barkley with Matt Breida (2023: 2.7 yards per carry and without a 10-yard rush) on the short end of a committee.

Top 10 RBs in Expected Fantasy PPG

(25.9) Alvin Kamara
(23.7) Austin Ekeler
(21.5) Christian McCaffrey
(20.6) Tony Pollard
(19.8) Kyren Williams
(19.3) Josh Jacobs
(18.2) Zack Moss
(18.0) David Montgomery
(17.6) Alex Mattison
(17.4) Saquon Barkley

— Alex Caruso (@AlexCaruso) October 4, 2023

If you’re a Barkley manager interested in waiting this out (limited on Wednesday), assuming we don’t have clarity prior to late Sunday afternoon, prioritizing the Charger pass catchers mentioned above is the best play should they be available on your wire. They offer a level of one-play upside that Gray/Breida simply do not behind a shaky offensive line.

If neither of them is available, Michael Gallup also plays on Monday night and would have my interest before I’d be willing to go to the New York Giants’ backfield for help.

Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos

• Injury: Quad
• Week 6 Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs (TNF)

This is the situation that requires the most attention, as Williams may not be coming back to the same backfield he left.

On the health front, Williams was a limited participant on Monday and will be monitored as we near Thursday’s kickoff. The team very well could opt to sit him for this game, taking advantage of the mini bye and consecutive home games that come their way following Week 6.

Jaleel McLaughlin has looked all sorts of explosive over the past two weeks (22 touches for 193 yards and two scores) and doesn’t figure to go away, regardless of Williams’ status. He was featured in Week 5, while Samaje Perine was the situational back who was on the field plenty in the loss to the New York Jets.

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Assuming McLaughlin was scooped off of waivers already, replacing Williams isn’t too hard. There are only two teams on a bye this week and the Broncos play in the first game of Week 6.

Our own Jason Katz hit on a number of good options in his Week 6 RB waiver wire targets piece and if you’re looking to take a leap of faith, Jeff Wilson Jr. has seen his stock rise over the past 24 hours with the De’Von Achane injury update that we received.

Editor’s Note: Williams was upgraded to a full participant in practice on Tuesday.