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.
Update 11/12/2021: For the most recent news on fantasy-relevant players, make sure to check out our up-to-date Week 10 Fantasy Injury Report.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: QB update
Let’s go through the injuries currently impacting quarterbacks. Which of the fantasy-relevant QBs need to be monitored?
Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers
Sam Darnold is dealing with a shoulder injury on top of going through the concussion protocol. Darnold cleared the protocol on Saturday and will be active this week, but P.J. Walker may still start. Darnold is a game-time decision and will work out pre-game. The expectation is that Darnold will at least be active as the backup. Be prepared that we may not know who is starting until the Panthers’ offense takes the field for the first time.
Update: Sam Darnold is active and the starting QB for Carolina.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Taysom Hill practiced in full and is set to return from IR. However, head coach Sean Payton already named Trevor Siemian the starter.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray did not practice all week due to a sprained ankle. While the injury is not long-term, Ian Rapoport reported that there is not a lot of optimism that Murray will play Sunday.
With the Cardinals playing in the 4 PM ET window, we likely won’t have a definitive answer before the games start. Fantasy managers should go with an alternative, such as Tyrod Taylor.
Update: Kyler Murray is officially inactive for their game against the 49ers.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott is not listed on the injury report and will return after missing last week’s game due to a calf strain.
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 and cannot return to the Packers until November 13 at the earliest. Jordan Love will start this week, and if Rodgers doesn’t record back-to-back negative tests by next Sunday, he may start again.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford did not practice Friday due to a back issue. He’s expected to play, though.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa is dealing with a swollen finger that he banged on a helmet last week. He’s listed as questionable, but head coach Brian Flores expects him to play. With the Dolphins playing at 1 PM, we’ll know in time for fantasy managers to adjust if necessary.
Update: According to Adam Schefter, Dolphins’ QB Tua Tagovailoa has a small fracture in the middle finger of his throwing hand that has not recovered enough to allow him to start today’s game against the Texans. He will be the backup to Jacoby Brissett.
Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans
The Texans activated Tyrod Taylor from IR. He’s back and ready to roll in Week 9.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: RB update
Which running backs are dealing with injuries that may affect their game status? Will Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey play this week?
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Unsurprisingly, Saquon Barkley will not play this week. Expect the Giants running back to return following the team’s Week 10 bye.
Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
Matt Rhule said he is hopeful Christian McCaffrey can play. Given McCaffrey’s struggles with his hamstring strain all season and having already aggravated it once by returning too early, I’d be surprised if McCaffrey played this week.
Related | Week 9 RB Rankings: Are Myles Gaskin, Chuba Hubbard options to start this week?
However, the Panthers activated CMC from IR and will test him out pre-game to see if he can go. If McCaffrey is active, even with less than a full complement of snaps, he needs to be in fantasy lineups.
Update: Christian McCaffrey will be active for the Panthers today against the Patriots.
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
Elijah Mitchell practiced all week in a non-contact jersey. The team beat reporters believe it is precautionary, and Mitchell will play this week. Yet, he’s listed as questionable, so fantasy managers will need to have an alternative in place.
Ian Rapoport reported Mitchell should be good to go Sunday. However, Adam Schefter added a concerning report for fantasy managers, that the 49ers are not certain how long Mitchell may play if he is active.
Update: Elijah Mitchell is officially active for the 49ers game against the Cardinals.
David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
The Bears started the three-week clock to activate David Montgomery from IR. With the game on Monday night, the team does not have to activate Montgomery from IR before the Sunday slate begins.
NBC Sports Chicago’s Adam Hoge reported Matt Nagy said, “There’s a really good chance, yes,” in response to a question regarding whether Montgomery will play Monday. I would still be surprised if the Bears elected to bring Montgomery back one week before the team’s bye, but we certainly can’t rule it out. Fantasy managers without both Montgomery and Khalil Herbert will have to prepare for all possibilities.
James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
After not practicing Wednesday or Thursday, James Robinson returned to a limited session on Friday. His heel/ankle injury has him listed as questionable. Robinson will test his foot this morning in pre-game before a decision is made, per Ian Rapoport. Carlos Hyde is not startable if JRob plays.
Update: According to Ian Rapoport, Robinson is out today.
Jeff Wilson, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers activated Jeff Wilson from the PUP list on Saturday. It sure wouldn’t make sense for them to activate him and not play him. Expect Wilson to be active Sunday.
WR Injury Update
How are the fantasy-relevant wide receivers dealing with injuries? Are any big-name players going to miss Week 9?
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
Rashod Bateman wasn’t on the injury report all week until he popped up as a DNP on Friday. Apparently, he tweaked his groin at some point between Thursday and Friday. Head coach John Harbaugh did not sound alarmed in the slightest, but Bateman is listed as questionable and certainly no guarantee to play. Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that Bateman is expected to play against the Vikings.
Update: According to Ian Rapoport, Bateman is active and expected to play for the Ravens.
Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills
After not practicing Wednesday and Thursday, Cole Beasley got in a limited session on Friday. He’s listed as questionable but looks to be on track to play.
Update: According to Ian Rapoport, Cole Beasley is active and will play for the Bills today.
A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans
A.J. Brown did not practice Friday due to his ongoing knee issue. He wasn’t listed on the injury report the entire week, so this is concerning. Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning that Brown should be fine today. However, with the Titans playing Sunday night, fantasy managers need to have a backup plan in place.
Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
Both Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Broncos. Cooper is dealing with a hamstring pull, and Lamb sprained his ankle at practice Wednesday. Both are expected to play according to a report Sunday morning from Tom Pelissero.
Mike McCarthy said Michael Gallup looks good at practice. Gallup has not yet been activated from IR due to his calf strain. It appears as though Gallup could have played this week, but the team is being extra cautious and giving him one more week to rest up. He will be back in Week 10.
Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, and Kadarius Toney, New York Giants
Sterling Shepard is out with a quad injury. Kadarius Toney is not on the injury report and will play Sunday. Kenny Golladay is questionable after getting in limited practices Thursday and Friday.
Related | NFL RB Start’ Em, Sit ‘Em Week 9: Are Zack Moss, Jeremy McNichols, and Mike Davis options?
How his knee feels in the morning will go a long way toward determining his playing status Sunday. The Giants would probably prefer to hold him out through the bye, but injuries may force their hand.
Update: Kenny Golladay is active and will play for the Giants.
DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals
Much like Murray, DeAndre Hopkins didn’t practice all week. If anyone can play without practicing, it’s Hopkins, but I wouldn’t count on it. It makes too much sense for the Cardinals to just hold out their star QB and WR for a week to get healthy and have them return in Week 10. Rapoport’s report on Sunday morning indicated that if there was a time that Hopkins would be held out, this would likely be it.
Update: DeAndre Hopkins is officially inactive for their game against the 49ers.
Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears
Darnell Mooney was fully healthy entering Friday’s practice but apparently tweaked his groin. With the Bears playing Monday night, fantasy managers will have to make a call on Mooney before we know if he’s playing.
DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins
DeVante Parker has been dealing with a hamstring strain for a few weeks now. He aggravated it at practice this week, and the Dolphins placed him on IR on Friday. He’s out for at least three weeks.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel was limited at Friday’s practice, but his calf is described as “worse this week.” That’s not great. It initially sounded like Samuel is on the wrong side of questionable. The situation was slightly clarified Sunday morning. Adam Schefter tweeted that Samuel should be active, but the 49ers were uncertain how long he would play against the Cardinals.
With the game at 4 PM and the uncertainty surrounding how long Samuel may be on the field, fantasy managers will either need a backup plan in place or make the call earlier in the day.
Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams
Robert Woods has been dealing with a foot issue. He didn’t practice Friday, but head coach Sean McVay has been consistent all week that Woods will play. I believe him.
TE Injury Update
Are there tight end injuries we need to be concerned about? There aren’t many, but the few we talk about are significant.
Noah Fant, Denver Broncos
Noah Fant tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week and is out Sunday. Albert Okwuegbunam will start at tight end and is a nice streaming option.
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
George Kittle practiced Friday and was activated from IR. He will play Sunday. However, Sunday morning, Adam Schefter reported that Kittle will be on a pitch count.
Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills
Dawson Knox remains out with his broken hand. He hopes to return in Week 10.