The fantasy football injury report heading into Week 9 is relatively quiet coming out of an NFL Sunday that did see a huge amount of fantasy-relevant injuries. However, with the likes of Cooper Kupp and Jonathan Taylor appearing to suffer injuries, there will be some fantasy managers nervously awaiting updates this week.
Fantasy Football Injury Report Week 9
Cooper Kupp, WR | LAR (Ankle)
Of the limited names on this Week 9 fantasy injury report, the ankle issue suffered by Cooper Kupp may very well be the most concerning right now. He suffered the injury very late in the Los Angeles Rams game when realistically, he should not even have been on the field. The initial positive sign was that Kupp walked off under his own power.
In his postgame media availability, Sean McVay said he was kicking himself for keeping Kupp in the game and not running the ball, with the result all but known at that point. However, Kupp told reporters that he felt he had dodged a bullet. The Rams’ WR said he felt the ankle get rolled up on a little, but he managed to slide out of there before it got too hurt. Kupp added that the ankle feels good right now, but he will need to see how it responds.
The initial reaction to the injury by Kupp is positive to hear. Additionally, Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that it’s a “regular low ankle sprain,” and Kupp should be considered “day-to-day” with a chance to play on Sunday. That will depend, of course, on how the ankle responds this week.
Chances are that we see him either held out of practice or at least limited early in the week. The key for Kupp’s Week 9 availability will likely be his status on Thursday and Friday this week.
Even if he is fully active this week, this might be a week you consider looking to play the under when it comes to Kupp’s projections on Underdog Fantasy. We simply have no idea how effective he might be, even if he is active.
Jonathan Taylor, RB | IND (Ankle)
This may ultimately not amount to anything, but Taylor is a player to keep an eye on this week. The Indianapolis Colts star RB briefly left the field during the game with an ankle injury. Taylor was initially listed as questionable to return but was back in the game quickly and remained in the game throughout, finishing with 16 carries for 76 yards.
However, after Taylor missed two games earlier in the year with an ankle injury, we should not dismiss any potential concerns. Hopefully, the injury ends up being nothing, but the continued concerns over the same area of the body add more worry than a different injury might entering Week 9.
The somewhat positive short-term outlook for Taylor’s fantasy managers is that the Colts’ season is hanging by a thread right now. However, the counter to that is that if Indianapolis does slip out of the NFL playoff picture in the coming weeks, we could see Taylor shut down if these ankle issues persist.
Mark Ingram, RB | NO (Knee)
Mark Ingram enters Week 9 with a knee injury after leaving Sunday’s game in the second quarter. We did not get an update after the game, but we found out on Monday that he suffered an MCL sprain. Ian Rapoport suggests Ingram will be out for three to four weeks.
MORE: Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups
The injury does not have a huge impact immediately, as Ingram is clearly playing second fiddle to Alvin Kamara. However, if Kamara were to miss time, then Ingram would have a reasonable weekly value. However, fantasy managers stashing Ingram on their bench will want to reconsider their stance on the Saints’ backup in light of Monday’s injury update.
Christian Watson, WR | GB (Concussion)
In his first game back from a hamstring injury, Christian Watson suffered a concussion early in the game Sunday night against Buffalo. Watson had played several snaps early in the game before the injury and appeared to have been given the starting role over Romeo Doubs.
Concussions have been tricky to judge so far in 2022. The average in previous years had been for a player to return between six and 10 days. However, this year that average has risen to just a touch over a week, on average. Therefore, fantasy managers should make plans for Watson to miss Week 9.
Assuming Watson does miss the game and Allen Lazard remains out, Doubs and Sammy Watkins would be the likely starting pair. Amari Rodgers has then tended to be the next man up in three-receiver sets. However, we saw Samori Toure pull in a late touchdown reception, which could have earned him more playing time.
Doubs appears to be the only player that carries significant fantasy value if Lazard is out. Even then, it is limited to 14-team or deeper leagues.
DeVante Parker, WR | NE (Knee)
We saw DeVante Parker leave the game on the first offensive play for the New England Patriots this past week. He did not return with a knee injury and could be in line to miss at least a few games.
The biggest potential impact is likely the slight boost it provides for the likes of Tyquan Thornton and Nelson Agholor in terms of future playing time.
Irv Smith Jr., TE | MIN (Ankle)
It has been a frustrating season if you drafted Irv Smith Jr. looking for a breakout. Last week appeared to be an ideal streaming week for Smith, but Johnny Mundt got the short touchdown. And on Monday, Jeremy Fowler reported that Smith suffered a high ankle sprain in the team’s win over the Cardinals. No timeline is known at this time, but he could miss some games, according to Fowler’s report.
Smith’s potential absence really only has value in deep or TE premium leagues. Even if he doesn’t miss time, Smith remains a streaming tight end option in 12 and 14-team leagues.