Carolina Panthers WR DJ Chark has been prone to injuries during the last couple of years of his career. He suffered an ankle fracture early in the 2021 season, causing him to only play four games that year. He followed that up with a sprained ankle in 2022 that landed him on IR. He played 11 games for the Lions that year, finishing with just over 500 yards and three TDs.
The injury issues have persisted into 2023. Here is the latest on Chark’s injury and what it means for fantasy football.
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Latest News Surrounding DJ Chark
In late August, it was reported that Chark had a hamstring injury. It persisted long enough to hold him out of Week 1, limiting Rookie QB Bryce Young’s receiving targets.
The majority of targets went in the direction of TE Hayden Hurst and WR Terrace Marshall, so Chark would be welcomed back with open arms for a QB who only managed 146 passing yards and two interceptions in Week 1.
Will Chark Play This Week?
Chark returned to practice Thursday and participated in a limited fashion. The Panthers only held a walkthrough on Friday, but Chark was listed as limited again in their estimated practice report. Carolina will practice on Saturday, and a lot will be garnered from how Chark is listed that day.
What Does This Mean for Chark’s Fantasy Rankings?
Even if Chark is available to play, it is hard to slide him into your fantasy lineups. Young will need at least a few more weeks to get comfortable in the NFL, and when a QB throws more interceptions than TDs, it is scary to start one of their WRs. A wait-and-see approach is the best idea for Chark.
MORE: Week 2 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
Carolina plays on Monday night, so remember to check out our PFN Consensus Rankings as soon as Chark’s status for the game is released.