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: For the most recent updates, make sure to check out our up-to-date Week 8 Fantasy Football Injury Report.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: QB update
Let’s go through the injuries currently impacting quarterbacks.
Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers
Trey Lance missed Week 7 with a knee sprain. When asked whether Jimmy Garoppolo would start Week 8, Kyle Shanahan was less than emphatic about it. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Shanahan said, “We’ll see if Trey [Lance] can [go] next week. We’re still not sure yet, but I got a lot of things to figure out.” Garoppolo will start Week 8.
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
On a meaningless fourth-and-18 play, Patrick Mahomes took a vicious knee to the head. When he eventually got up, he was walking unbalanced and sure looked like he’d suffered a concussion. Miraculously, Mahomes cleared the concussion protocol and is set to play Monday night. As long as symptoms don’t emerge over the week, he appears to have dodged a bullet.
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield missed last Thursday’s game after his multiple shoulder dislocations and labral tear led to a fracture. If it were up to Mayfield, he’d be out there this week. Fortunately for his health, it’s not up to him.
Team doctors won’t clear Mayfield to return until he can adequately protect himself. We don’t know when that will be, but we do know it won’t be this week. Case Keenum will start until Mayfield returns.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Just in case the bye week made you forget, Dak Prescott strained his calf on the final play of the Cowboys’ Week 6 overtime win against the Patriots. Prescott did not practice Monday, but the team expects him to return to action Wednesday and ultimately play Sunday in Minnesota.
Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans
Texans head coach David Culley said Tyrod Taylor will return to practice Wednesday. Taylor has been on injured reserve since Week 3 with a strained hamstring. This starts the three-week clock to activate Taylor. He will be the starting quarterback when he returns.
Zach Wilson, New York Jets
Zach Wilson had an MRI on his injured knee. The results showed a sprained PCL that the Jets expect will keep Wilson on the sidelines for 2-4 weeks. Mike White will start while Wilson is out.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: RB update
Which running backs are dealing with injuries that may affect their game status?
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
On Monday, Giants head coach Joe Judge mentioned the possibility of Saquon Barkley returning to practice Wednesday. A Week 8 return would be the best-case scenario for Barkley. I would still be very surprised if he is able to return this week, but the fact that he may return to practice is very encouraging for his chances of playing in Week 9.
Malcolm Brown, Miami Dolphins
While obviously not fantasy-relevant, Malcolm Brown’s status is relevant given how many snaps he takes away from Myles Gaskin. The Dolphins placed Brown on IR Monday, which will sideline him for at least three weeks. Salvon Ahmed is in line for increased snaps as well.
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
The Browns practiced Monday following the extended weekend after a Thursday game, and Nick Chubb participated. That tentatively puts him on track to play this week against the Steelers. With Kareem Hunt on IR, Chubb could be a three-down back for the foreseeable future.
Chris Evans, Cincinnati Bengals
After looking great in Week 6 while Samaje Perine was out with COVID-19, it sure looked like Chris Evans had earned the RB2 role in Cincinnati. Instead, he barely played in Week 7. We learned on Monday that Evans pulled his hamstring, which led to his limited playing time. According to Ben Baby of ESPN, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor described Evans as day-to-day.
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Jacobs’ day was cut short on Sunday due to a chest injury. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, Jacobs avoided anything major. With the Raiders off in Week 8, Jacobs should be fine when the team returns to action in Week 9.
Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles
Miles Sanders appeared to sprain his ankle in the Eagles’ Week 7 loss to the Raiders. According to Mike Kaye of NJ.com, head coach Nick Sirianni does not believe anything is broken. We currently do not have a timetable on Sanders’ return. It does not sound like he will be able to play in Week 8, though. Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott would form a committee for as long as Sanders is out.
WR Injury Update
How are the fantasy-relevant wide receivers dealing with injuries?
Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns
It appears as though Odell Beckham Jr. will continue to play through his AC joint sprain. Beckham could land on his shoulder and suffer severe pain. However, the matter does seem to be merely a pain tolerance issue. He practiced Monday and should be out there on Sunday.
Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
On Monday, the Cowboys started the three-week clock for Michael Gallup’s activation off IR. Expect him to return to practice this week with an outside shot to play Sunday in Minnesota. If he doesn’t return just yet, I’d be very surprised if Gallup wasn’t back by Week 9.
Kenny Golladay, New York Giants
On Monday, Judge mentioned the possibility of Kenny Golladay returning to practice Wednesday. We knew Golladay would be out at least two weeks when he hyperextended his knee in Week 5. A Week 8 return would be the best-case scenario, and by the sound of things, it’s very much on the table.
Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
After missing over a month with a high ankle sprain, Jerry Jeudy is set to return from IR this week. The Broncos likely won’t officially activate him until the weekend but expect Jeudy to play this week.
Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns
Jarvis Landry did not practice Monday. It could just be the team being cautious after Landry limped off late in the Browns’ Thursday night victory over the Broncos. However, it’s an ominous way to start the week. Landry appears to be dealing with a knee injury, which is not great for a player that just returned after missing over a month with a sprained MCL.
TE Injury Update
Are there tight end injuries we need to be concerned about?
Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders
Darren Waller missed Week 7 due to heel and ankle injuries he sustained when a teammate tripped him at Friday’s practice. The good news is the Raiders have Week 8 off, and it doesn’t sound serious, so Waller should be ready to rock in Week 9.