It’s bad enough when injuries run rampant across the NFL. It’s even worse when many of the injured players are somewhat unexpected. For those fantasy football managers trying to get a handle on every running back injury, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s go through all of the injured RB1s, the likely replacement, and whether that player is worth starting in fantasy this week in this week’s Fantasy RB Injury Report.
James Cook, Buffalo Bills
One of the more surprising injuries ahead of Week 6 is James Cook. The Buffalo Bills’ RB1 did not suffer a noticeable injury last week but has now missed the team’s first two practices.
RB James Cook (foot/toe) remained sidelined at Thursday’s #Bills practice. Cook’s second straight absence. Looking less likely that he will play against the Jets, but the longer week gives him a better chance #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/h1QvZZ2RS3
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) October 10, 2024
There have been unconfirmed rumors that Cook might be dealing with turf toe, which could be a multi-week injury. Specifically for Week 6, though, I don’t want to say things are not looking good just yet, as the Wednesday missed practice doesn’t really count. The Bills play Monday night, so their first official practice was actually on Thursday. If Cook doesn’t at least get in a limited session on Friday, then we should be concerned.
If Cook is out, the prevailing belief in the fantasy community is going to be to plug in rookie Ray Davis as the replacement. Davis will undoubtedly be involved. However, this is not a Kenneth Walker III-Zach Charbonnet situation. Davis would not assume anywhere near 100% of Cook’s role. In fact, my guess is veteran journeyman Ty Johnson ends up with the slightly higher snap share in what would end up being a very even split.
I can’t tell you for sure who would be the better fill-in for fantasy managers, but I can tell you for sure that most managers are going to presume it will be Davis. If you can’t get to Davis in time, Johnson is a viable desperation Flex.
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
Another injury we didn’t exactly see coming is to Rhamondre Stevenson. The New England Patriots’ RB1 responded quite well to his “benching” in Week 5. Antonio Gibson started, but Stevenson entered the game rather quickly and performed like the superior player he is, running 12 times for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Evidently, Stevenson hurt his foot at some point in last week’s game, though. Much like Cook above, Stevenson has also sat out the Patriots’ first two practices of the week.
Gibson is coming off a season-high 47% snap share last week. He has experience as a feature back from his time in Washington. JaMycal Hasty would definitely be involved, but this could be Gibson in a 70% role.
The Texans are allowing the ninth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. They also have really limited RBs in the passing game, with just 12% of their total receiving yards allowed going to the position. Even so, Gibson would profile as a volume-based RB3 if Stevenson doesn’t play.
Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders
I wasn’t even going to include Zamir White at first, but let’s cover him quickly. This is nothing new or surprising, as White missed last week’s game with a groin strain. Regardless of whether White plays, Alexander Mattison has taken the RB1 role. He’s an uninspiring RB3 against a very good Denver Broncos defense this week.
Zack Moss and Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
It looked like Zack Moss suffered a pretty serious ankle sprain last week. He went down and immediately pointed to his ankle and had some trouble getting off the field. Somehow, Moss returned to the game, but that is often the adrenaline, with players needing time to recover going forward.
This week got off to an inauspicious start when Moss sat out Wednesday’s practice. With Wednesday practices largely meaningless, Thursday was always going to be key. Fortunately, Moss returned to practice, which puts him on track to play this week against the New York Giants.
Chase Brown has played significantly better over the past two weeks. He’s currently 13th in the league in rush EPA — that’s a cool 179 spots higher than Moss — but Brown is dealing with an injury of his own. He was limited on Thursday with a quad injury. Given his absence from Wednesday’s report, it appears Brown picked up the injury at practice. We’ll have to see if he can practice on Friday.
With that said, Moss is still the main back, playing 67% of the snaps last week. It is worth noting that he was at 80% and 76% in Weeks 2 and 3. Brown is pushing Moss for more playing time. More importantly, though, the touches have been pretty even.
Despite playing fewer snaps, Brown has touched the ball 15 and 17 times in the past two weeks. Moss was at 12 and 19.
The Giants have allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to RBs, but where they have been vulnerable is to running backs through the air — 21.5% of their total receiving yards allowed has gone to RBs.
That bodes well for Moss, who has run more routes than Brown every game. Brown has yet to hit double-digit routes run in a game this season. Consider Moss a solid RB2 this week.
Joe Mixon, Houston Texans
One of the strangest injury sagas this season has been Joe Mixon’s. He suffered a high ankle sprain on a very illegal hip drop tackle in Week 2. Mixon never had a chance for Week 3 but practiced on Friday ahead of Week 4, drawing a questionable tag. Then, he was nowhere close to playing in Week 5, logging three DNPs and an out tag on Friday.
Ahead of Week 6, head coach DeMeco Ryans did not provide the most optimistic outlook on Monday. After Mixon missed practice on Wednesday, we seemed doomed to another week without him.
Then, on Thursday, Mixon returned to practice. By the time you’re reading this, we’ll know his official designation. I’m going to go out on a very short limb and say he will be listed as limited.
Given Mixon’s progress, or lack thereof over the past three weeks, fantasy managers are justifiably reluctant to get excited about his potential return. We need to see how his ankle responds and whether he can get in another limited session on Friday. A full session, while unlikely, would all but guarantee his return on Sunday.
The most likely scenario is Mixon practices on a limited basis and draws a questionable tag. That would put him on track to, at the very least, return in Week 7. Dr. David Chao is more inclined to think Mixon misses another week.
"We think he misses another week." @profootballdoc on Texans RB Joe Mixon#HTownMade
▶️https://t.co/HywG3JN6kt pic.twitter.com/kHp9uG57pb
— Sports Injury Central (@SICscore) October 10, 2024
If Mixon is out this week, absolutely do not start Cam Akers. The Texans have reduced his snaps each of the past two weeks. They have had just about enough of his inefficiency.
Dameon Pierce returned to a limited practice last Friday and has been practicing all week. He got in a full practice on Thursday and is going to play. I expect him to serve as the lead back if Mixon is unable to go.
Against a bad Patriots team starting a rookie quarterback, the Texans should see a positive game script. Without Nico Collins, they might be inclined to lean a bit more on the run. Pierce is a viable high-RB3 if Mixon sits another week.
Regardless of Mixon’s status, expect Dare Ogunbowale to serve as the passing down back. He and Pierce are locks to be active. I expect J.J. Taylor to be the third back if Mixon is out, and for Akers to be a healthy inactive.
Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Etienne Jr. has been nursing a shoulder injury for a couple of weeks now. His limited designation is just the team managing his reps. Etienne said it is something he will continue to deal with but continue to play through. He is not at risk of missing this week’s game. The bigger issue is that he’s not the most talented running back on his own team.
Tank Bigsby this season:
* 1st in Rush Yards Over Expectation Per Attempt
* 3rd in PFF grades
* 50.0% Success Rate
* 1st in Yards Per CarryTravis Etienne this season:
* 18th in Rush Yards Over Expectation Per Attempt
* 55th in PFF grades
* 56.6% Success Rate
* 27th in Yards Per… pic.twitter.com/EhijcgYYEL— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) October 7, 2024
Head coach Doug Pederson reiterated that Etienne is still the lead back, but things can change, especially if Bigsby continues to vastly outplay his counterpart. The much-improved sophomore needs to be rostered and is a viable Flex play on a week with so many byes and injuries.
Jonathan Taylor and Trey Sermon, Indianapolis Colts
High ankle sprains are an epidemic across the running back landscape. Jonathan Taylor missed last week’s game with the injury. While Taylor is feeling better, he hasn’t practiced this week. With back-to-back DNPs coming off a missed game, he’s almost certainly not going to play for a second straight week.
#Colts RB Jonathan Taylor:
“Oh, I’m feeling way better, which is a positive sign. Anytime you can progress throughout the week, you’re closer to getting back on the field.”
“(The pain) has gone down tremendously. That’s the biggest thing.”
He still hasn’t practiced this week. pic.twitter.com/t2h2f9BOBU
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 10, 2024
It sounds as though Taylor is trending toward a Week 7 return, but that does fantasy managers no favors for Week 6.
The obvious replacement, Trey Sermon, also missed practice on Wednesday with a collarbone issue. That’s not something we see very often, which obviously raises concern. Fortunately, Sermon returned to a full practice on Thursday, putting him on track to make a second straight start.
Sermon will operate as the lead runner and goal line back, while Tyler Goodson serves as the change-of-pace back and plays on passing downs. They had about a 60/40 split last week. There’s no reason to think anything will be different in Week 6. Sermon is a viable RB3, while Goodson is a desperation Flex play.
Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders
Last week, Brian Robinson Jr. got in just a single limited practice on Friday. While he did end up playing through his knee injury, Robinson was quite limited, playing just 34% of the snaps and carrying the ball a season-low — by far — seven times for 18 yards.
Robinson opened up Week 6 the same way. He did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
History may repeat itself, but that wouldn’t necessarily be a good thing for fantasy managers. Robinson is doing himself, the Commanders, and fantasy managers no favors by pushing through this injury at far less than 100%.
At this point, unless we get some positive news on Friday, Robinson needs to be heavily downgraded, even if he suits up.
A very not-cooked Austin Ekeler played 49% of the snaps last week. Although he only touched the ball eight times, he turned those eight touches into 97 yards. In a potential shootout with the Baltimore Ravens, Ekeler is very much in play as an RB2 if Robinson sits or is limited.
Devin Singletary, New York Giants
It would behoove Devin Singletary to get back on the field as soon as possible, but it might already be too late. Singletary missed last week’s game with a groin strain. Starting in his place, rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. carried the ball 18 times for an impressive 129 yards.
To open the week, Singletary has gotten in two limited practices. Normally, I’d say that puts him on track to play. However, head coach Brian Daboll’s comments are mildly concerning.
Speaking before Thursday's practice, Brian Daboll said WR Malik Nabers is in the same spot as yesterday. They're taking it "day by day." RB Devin Singletary (groin) is "advancing." G Jon Runyan is still sick but Daboll is "hopeful" for him for Sunday night.
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) October 10, 2024
The description of Singletary as “advancing” definitely is open to interpretation. I’m choosing to view that more negatively. Singletary seems destined for three days of limited practice and a questionable tag.
Tracy may have already forced a full-blown timeshare. Singletary will be a risky start if he plays, even against a laughably bad Bengals defense. If he doesn’t go, Tracy will be a mid-RB2, at worst.
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Several Twitter doctors expressed concern over Rachaad White following last Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Rachaad White –
I know he came back in for a catch, but looked fairly limited. Have a feeling this one will hurt later tonight/tomorrow.
Concern: Right high ankle, Right knee as it gets pinned by defender & he gets bent backwards.
Could’ve been worse. Gets extra rest too. https://t.co/n3EdouKJNb pic.twitter.com/9YpfsQLr2S
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) October 4, 2024
With an extra three days to recover, though, White got in a limited practice on Wednesday, listed specifically as dealing with a foot issue. However, White did not practice on Thursday. It may be part of the maintenance plan to have him practice Wednesday, rest Thursday, and practice Friday. But if White doesn’t practice on Friday, expect him to miss this Sunday’s game.
He is on track to play against the Saints in Week 6 but is an uninspiring start, as he is slowly losing his job to the vastly more talented Bucky Irving. If White ever had to miss time, I have every confidence in the world that he would not be the starter (or only be the starter in name) when he came back.
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
For a couple of weeks, Alvin Kamara has been dealing with hip and rib issues. He’s been sitting out practice on Wednesday before returning on Thursday. That’s nothing out of the ordinary for a veteran like Kamara. He is fine and will play on Sunday.