Wednesday afternoon, 26 of the 32 NFL teams released their first injury report of the 2024 season. Ahead of Week 1, we now have a good idea of which players might be in line to play, giving fantasy football managers some insight into what they may be facing this week.
Let’s take a look at the latest injury news and the fantasy impact for the likes of Jaylen Warren, Keenan Allen, DeAndre Hopkins, Jordan Addison, Kyle Pitts, Brock Bowers, and others.
Latest NFL Injury News and Fantasy Analysis
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Early in training camp, McCaffrey strained his calf. The 49ers mostly downplayed the issue, maintaining all along they were just being extra cautious.
It’s not as if McCaffrey needs a ton of practice, and he was never going to play in the preseason anyway. By all accounts, he was good to go for Week 1.
On Thursday, McCaffrey was limited at practice. Later in the season, this would mean literally nothing.
But it’s Week 1. This is the one week where everyone should be healthy and practicing in full leading up to the game. That is already not the case for CMC.
This analysis was last updated at 5 p.m. on Sept. 5.
Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Warren was listed as a limited participant in practice Wednesday as he continues to try and return from a hamstring strain. He’s repeatedly said he plans to play in Week 1, and practicing Wednesday is encouraging news for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Warren’s impact on Sunday’s game (at the Atlanta Falcons) is certainly worth questioning. He injured his hamstring in the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills and was expected to miss multiple weeks with the injury.
So even though Warren has been able to get back on the field, how much should fantasy managers expect from the third-year RB? While he was the No. 1 fantasy producer among Steelers running backs (11.6 fantasy points per game) in 2023, he still shared time with Najee Harris, who averaged 11.5 fantasy ppg last season himself.
Even if Pittsburgh’s backfield is healthy, are fantasy managers going to see anything more from that unit than they saw a season ago?
This analysis was last updated at 8:45 p.m. on Sept. 4. and written by Fantasy Football Analyst Jason Katz
Keenan Allen, WR, Chicago Bears
With the Chicago Bears about to debut their No. 1 overall draft pick, quarterback Caleb Williams, they no doubt want as many skill-position players as healthy as possible for Week 1. So, when Allen suffered a heel injury in late August, there was likely some nervous tension in the Bears’ camp over his status for the season opener.
The good news is that Allen is back at practice this week as Sunday’s opener vs. the Tennessee Titans approaches. While he was a limited participant Wednesday and is still questionable, the fact that Allen is on the field practicing has to be viewed as a good sign that he’ll be ready to go.
Along with DJ Moore, Allen is a veteran presence at the wide receiver position. With the two, the Bears hope to make Williams’ rookie season as smooth as possible. Allen arguably had the best season of his career in 2023, when he had a career-high 103 receptions for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns.
If fantasy managers had designs on starting Allen in Week 1, the fact that he is practicing, even if no one will officially say it, gives him an excellent chance of starting on Sunday.
This analysis was last updated at 8:13 p.m. on Sept. 4. and written by Katz
Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
The status of L.A.’s franchise QB is being brought into question for their Week 1 showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders after appearing on the team’s injury report with a foot injury.
#Chargers will be adding QB Justin Herbert (foot) to the injury report after they said they were advised to do so by the league.
According to the team, nothing has changed since Herbert practiced Wednesday, other than the guidance from the league.
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) September 5, 2024
A recent report from Daniel Popper on X suggests the league advised the organization to add the star quarterback to the injury report.
This analysis was last updated at 2 p.m. on Sept. 5. and written by Derek Tate
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans
Although he hasn’t seen the field much since suffering a knee strain in late July, the Titans had to have been encouraged by Hopkins’ participation in practice, even if it was as a “limited” participant.
Hopkins’ return to the field this week falls smack dab in the middle of the initial timetable of 4-6 weeks for his return. He’s also repeatedly said he was expecting to play in Week 1.
Hopkins’ age (32) will almost always be a concern for the Titans and fantasy managers who want him to continue to be a solid WR2 in their lineups.
This analysis was last updated at 8:13 p.m. on Sept. 4. and written by Katz
Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Lockett re-signed a restructured two-year, $34 million deal this offseason, a sign that Ryan Grubb plans to keep him involved in an offense reportedly focusing on amplifying what Geno Smith does well.
Availability has been a calling card of Lockett (seventh in routes run over the past five seasons), resulting in him getting the benefit of the doubt among fantasy managers. His name popped up on the injury report down the stretch of the preseason with a thigh injury and while he has been limited at practice all week, he told reporters that he is “feeling pretty good.”
Tyler Lockett says he’s healthy heading into week one. pic.twitter.com/iDezEIWobw
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) September 2, 2024
Taking a player at his word can be dangerous, but there has yet to be a pessimistic report come out of Seattle, and he has spun it as a positive in that this buys him time to learn “the offense like it’s the back of my hand.”
Seattle hosts Denver on Sunday afternoon, and it is safe to assume that they will have their veteran slot receiver.
This analysis was last updated at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 5. and written by Kyle Soppe
Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings
An ankle injury suffered in practice in the middle of August no doubt sent scares throughout not only the Vikings team but fantasy managers looking for Addison to take a big leap in Year 2. The injury was serious enough on that day that Addison was carted off the field.
But Wednesday’s news from Vikings camp was encouraging. Minnesota’s injury report listed Addison as a limited participant in practice, which should provide optimism that he will be able to take the field in Sunday’s season opener at the New York Giants.
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If healthy, Addison and All-Pro Justin Jefferson have a chance to be the best receiving duo in the NFL.
As a rookie last season, Addison led the Vikings with 10 touchdown receptions. Fantasy managers no doubt had him in the WR2 category of their lineups, and even with Sam Darnold starting at quarterback, big things were expected from the second-year wide receiver.
This analysis was last updated at 8:13 p.m. on Sept. 4. and written by Katz
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
With all of the Falcons’ upgrades offensively, we saw ADP spikes for Bijan Robinson and Drake London. But one player who did not experience the same bump was Pitts, which we can attribute to two things: talent concerns and injury concerns.
Reportedly, Pitts wasn’t healthy for the entirety of the 2023 season. The prevailing belief heading into this year was that he finally was, but on Wednesday, we learned that’s not the case.
The good news is Pitts did practice, albeit in a limited capacity. Ideally, everyone is practicing in full ahead of Week 1. However, him practicing at all suggests this may just be Atlanta exercising extra caution ahead of the first game of the season.
Pitts has been practicing all summer. Missing a few reps just a couple of days before the first game is not that big of a deal.
Morris says Kyle Pitts tweaked his hamstring a couple weeks ago and it "hadn’t affected him too much." He practiced Monday and will again today, just in a limited capacity. #Falcons
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) September 4, 2024
Fantasy managers should expect Pitts to be active on Sunday and should have no reservations about starting him.
This analysis was last updated at 2 p.m. on Sept. 4. and written by Katz
Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Bowers was having a good introduction to the NFL in his first preseason game on Aug. 10, catching two passes for 25 yards against the Vikings. But an injury to his foot in that game sidelined him for a few weeks.
Nevertheless, Bowers returned to practice this week and was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s injury report. Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said that he expects Bowers to be able to play when they visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
This analysis was last updated at 11:35 p.m. on Sept. 4. and written by Fantasy Football Analyst Michael Freer
Hollywood Brown, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
It feels like a lifetime ago, but Hollywood Brown got hurt in the Chiefs’ first preseason game, suffering an SC joint injury similar to the one Tyreek Hill sustained in 2019. Hill’s injury cost him four games.
After being evaluated, Brown avoided surgery and was given a 4-6 week timeline. We are coming up on four weeks and by all accounts, Brown is progressing well. With that said, he won’t play Thursday when the Chiefs open their season at home against the Baltimore Ravens. Brown was ruled out several days ago by head coach Andy Reid.
The good news is Brown is expected to return no later than Week 3, with Week 2 still very much in play. For this week, however, fantasy managers will have to go forward without him.
Brown’s absence elevates rookie Xavier Worthy into the WR2 role opposite Rashee Rice. Worthy faces a tough opponent in the Ravens’ defense but is very much in play as a WR3 in fantasy lineups.
This analysis was last updated at 2 p.m. on Sept. 4. and written by Katz
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
As the Green Bay Packers prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil on Friday, fantasy managers looking to slide MarShawn Lloyd into their lineups in hopes of getting some production had to be encouraged by Wednesday’s injury report out of Green Bay.
While the Packers did not practice Wednesday, they did provide an updated injury report before traveling to São Paulo. Although Lloyd was a non-participant Tuesday, Green Bay upgraded him to limited participation in Wednesday’s report.
This is an obvious good indication that Lloyd’s hamstring injury, which bothered him during the preseason, has healed enough that he could see the field on Friday.
Lloyd is second on Green Bay’s RB depth chart behind Josh Jacobs, the former leading NFL rusher. But while his chances for playing in Week 1 are improved, Lloyd is probably someone fantasy managers would be better off avoiding this week.
This analysis was last updated at 8:45 p.m. on Sept. 4. and written by Katz
Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Early in training camp, Josh Downs went down with a high ankle sprain and hasn’t practiced in several weeks now.
It was always going to be a stretch for Downs to be ready for Week 1. While the injury shouldn’t sideline him much longer, his absence from Wednesday’s practice is an ominous sign for his availability this Sunday.
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Once the season gets going, Wednesday absences will be more common. However, ahead of Week 1, anyone not practicing Wednesday is almost certainly not going to play. I would place Downs’ odds of playing this week as close to 0% as I can get without saying it since, technically, we don’t know.
With him out, rookie Adonai Mitchell will get a chance to prove himself early on. Mitchell was likely set to open the season in a much smaller role but could very well be the primary WR2 opposite Michael Pittman Jr. He’s not a consideration for fantasy lineups this week but is a name to monitor in case he pops.
This analysis was last updated at 2 p.m. on Sept. 4. and written by Katz
Miles Sanders, RB, Carolina Panthers
Miles Sanders was listed as a limited participant on the Carolina Panthers’ injury report after suffering an injury to his finger in Wednesday’s practice, according to Steve Reed of the Associated Press.
According to Reed, Sanders injured his finger when he hit it on a helmet and had it wrapped in the locker room. However, indications are the injury isn’t serious enough to keep him out of the lineup for Week 1 Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Although he likely won’t garner much attention from fantasy managers as a backup to Chuba Hubbard, the Panthers are expecting bigger things from Sanders in his second season with Carolina. Thus, his situation going forward is worth following.
This analysis was last updated at 8:45 p.m. on Sept. 4. and written by Katz