While rankings and projections are beneficial, few things are more important in fantasy football than following injury updates. Injuries not only impact the player in question but the teammates and the offenses around them. Here’s an update on some critical injury reports to watch and their fantasy football impact.
For the most recent injury news, make sure to check out our most up-to-date fantasy football injury report.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: QB update
Let’s go through the injuries currently impacting quarterbacks.
Justin Fields and Andy Dalton, Chicago Bears
Both candidates to start for the Bears are dealing with injuries. Justin Fields is managing a hand issue, but he practiced fully. Meanwhile, Andy Dalton has an ankle injury and was limited. If Dalton is healthy, Matt Nagy has made it abundantly clear that he will start.
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Jamison Hensley of ESPN reported that Lamar Jackson was not present for the portion of Baltimore’s practice open to the media. This is the same dance we saw last week. Jackson will be just fine for Sunday’s trip to Denver.
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger is still nursing his pectoral injury, so he did not practice Wednesday. No cause for alarm here — Big Ben will be out there Sunday.
Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts
Carson Wentz was limited at Wednesday’s practice due to his dual ankle sprains. He played last week and came out of the game no worse for wear, so the Colts are just managing his reps. He will be fine for Sunday when Indianapolis faces Miami.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: RB update
Which running backs are dealing with injuries that may affect their game status?
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Saquon Barkley was limited at Wednesday’s practice. Due to his injury history, he’s likely going to be limited at every Wednesday practice for the rest of the season — if not his career. Barkley is fine and will be available in Week 4.
Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucs reporter Scott Smith indicates Giovani Bernard did not practice Wednesday. Typically, we wouldn’t care about veterans missing a Wednesday practice, but Bernard reportedly has a slight MCL sprain. Thursday and Friday practice reports will be telling, but my early guess is Bernard won’t play this week.
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
After missing last week’s contest with a sprained ankle, Dalvin Cook returned to practice Wednesday. The fact that he’s practicing this early in the week suggests he will be ready to rock on Sunday.
Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams
After sitting out Week 3 with bruised ribs, Darrell Henderson participated in Wednesday’s walkthrough. Head coach Sean McVay said that while he expects Henderson to play this week, it’s not 100%.
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones was limited in Wednesday’s practice due to an ankle issue. He was in and out of last week’s win over the 49ers, so his status isn’t a huge surprise. Given that Jones is practicing at all on a Wednesday, he will be good to go on Sunday.
Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
Unsurprisingly, Christian McCaffrey did not practice Wednesday. The Panthers elected not to put him on short-term injured reserve, which means he should be able to return in fewer than three weeks. Regardless, he’s out for Week 4, and rookie Chuba Hubbard will start in his place.
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
Elijah Mitchell was limited in Wednesday’s practice due to his shoulder issue. Given that he didn’t practice at all last week before missing Week 3, even a “limited” designation is a good sign for Mitchell’s Week 4 availability. He will likely return to his role as the 1a in San Francisco’s backfield.
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor was limited at Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury. Nevertheless, it’s not considered serious, and Taylor will be ready to go on Sunday.
James White, New England Patriots
James White is done for the season with his hip injury. He’d already been placed on IR, but now we have confirmation that we won’t see New England’s pass-catching specialist again in 2021.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: WR update
How are the fantasy-relevant wide receivers dealing with injuries?
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens activated Rashod Bateman from IR on Wednesday. He is eligible to play Sunday, but even if he’s active, I would not insert him into fantasy lineups until we have a better idea of how he will be used.
Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns
Odell Beckham Jr. apparently picked up a minor shoulder issue last week and was limited in Wednesday’s practice. He will be fine for Sunday.
A.J. Brown and Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans
The top two members of Tennessee’s pass-catching corps are banged up, as both A.J. Brown and Julio Jones missed practice Wednesday. Brown strained his hamstring and is not going to play in Week 4. Jones, meanwhile, has a leg injury, and his status for Sunday is unknown at this point.
Antonio Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bruce Arians said Antonio Brown will be activated from the COVID-19 list on Thursday. AB will be ready to go for Tom Brady’s homecoming game in New England Sunday.
Jamison Crowder & Elijah Moore, New York Jets
Both Jets slot receivers were absent from Wednesday’s practice. Jamison Crowder is dealing with a groin issue, while Elijah Moore is in the concussion protocol. Head coach Robert Saleh did say Crowder is trending toward playing this week.
D’Wayne Eskridge, Seattle Seahawks
Head coach Pete Carroll said D’Wayne Eskridge will be cleared to practice tomorrow as he makes his way back from a concussion, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. If and when Eskridge does return, the second-round rookie will need to battle Freddie Swain for Seattle’s WR3 job.
Will Fuller, Miami Dolphins
The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported that Will Fuller missed Wednesday’s practice with an injury. The nature of the injury is unknown at this time, but given Fuller’s history of ailments, consider his status for Sunday up in the air.
Kenny Golladay, New York Giants
The Giants’ WR1 was limited at Wednesday’s practice. Nothing to worry about — Golladay will play Sunday.
Josh Gordon, Kansas City Chiefs
Josh Gordon is not injured, but he’s worth providing an update on. Andy Reid already said Gordon won’t play this week and that “it’s gonna take a while” to get him up to speed. Gordon is currently on Kansas City’s practice squad.
N’Keal Harry, New England Patriots
The Patriots designated N’Keal Harry to return from IR on Wednesday. They now have 21 days to return him to the active roster, where he would compete with Kendrick Bourne for a role behind Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor.
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Despite getting in a limited practice last Friday, Tee Higgins missed Cincinnati’s Week 3 game and hasn’t practiced at all this week. While it doesn’t appear as if Higgins’ shoulder issue is overly concerning, he has been ruled out for Week 4. The Bengals play on Thursday Night Football this week, so Higgins will get 10 days of rest before Week 5.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
After missing Week 3 with a knee injury, Diontae Johnson returned to practice Wednesday in a limited capacity. The fact that a veteran like Johnson is practicing at all on a Wednesday is very encouraging for his chances of playing Sunday.
Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
Tyler Lockett was down for a while late in Seattle’s Week 3 loss to the Vikings. He ultimately walked off under his own power. Carroll says Lockett is fine, so nothing to worry about here.
John Ross, New York Giants
The Giants designated John Ross to return from IR. Normally, I wouldn’t bother putting a player like Ross in this report, but given the injuries to Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard, it’s possible Ross starts in two-receiver sets once he’s activated.
Curtis Samuel, Washington Football Team
Ron Rivera’s claim that Curtis Samuel would return to practice this week proved true. Samuel did indeed practice on Wednesday, which starts the 21-day clock for Washington to activate him from IR.
Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard, New York Giants
The Giants held a walkthrough on Wednesday. Had it been a full practice, Shepard and Slayton (hamstring injuries) would not have participated, according to the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz. Consider both highly unlikely to suit up on Sunday.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers
JuJu Smith-Schuster missed Wednesday’s practice with bruised ribs. While it doesn’t seem too serious, he will need to practice Thursday or Friday in order to play Sunday.
Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings
Adam Thielen did not practice on Wednesday, but it was just a day off for the veteran. He will be available on Sunday.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers
Marquez Valdes-Scantling did not practice on Wednesday with a hamstring issue.
Sammy Watkins, Baltimore Ravens
Sammy Watkins did not practice on Wednesday. At this time, it’s unclear why Watkins wasn’t on the field. Thursday and Friday practices will provide more clarity on Watkins’ status for Sunday.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: TE update
Are there tight end injuries we need to be concerned about?
Tyler Conklin, Minnesota Vikings
Tyler Conklin did not practice Wednesday due to what is being described as a glute/elbow issue, which is an interesting combination. As long as he returns Thursday or Friday, he should be ready for Sunday.
Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks
Gerald Everett was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday following a positive test. If he is vaccinated, he will need to test negative twice in 24 hours to return to Seattle’s active roster. Given the timing of his positive test, Everett is not going to play Sunday. As a result, fellow TE Will Dissly should see an uptick in snaps.
Anthony Firkser, Tennesee Titans
Anthony Firkser returned to practice on Wednesday, putting him on track to play Sunday. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t be newsworthy as Firkser is not fantasy-relevant. However, with Brown out and Jones very questionable, Firkser could be on the streaming radar given the lack of options in Tennessee’s passing game.
Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In last week’s loss to the Rams, we saw Rob Gronkowski take a nasty hit to the ribs/hip area. Gronk didn’t practice on Wednesday, but given how insignificant mid-week practices are for veterans, we shouldn’t be concerned just yet.
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Don’t be alarmed at seeing George Kittle’s name here. Kittle missed practice with a calf issue, but Kyle Shanahan said he was just taking it easy with his elite tight end. Kittle is expected to play Sunday against the Seahawks.
Tyler Kroft, New York Jets
Tyler Kroft is dealing with a chest injury and missed Wednesday’s practice. Regardless of whether he plays, he is not fantasy-relevant.