The fantasy football IR space can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you know your player will miss at least four games, and that level of clarity helps you in making roster decisions. On the other, not all stays on the IR are created equal — some result in longer-than-expected stays that sink your season.
With that in mind, here are the running backs currently on IR and what we expect at this moment in terms of their recovery.
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Which Running Backs Are on IR in Week 6?
De’Von Achane | Miami Dolphins
The fantasy football cheat code that is the rookie out of Texas A&M is only expected to miss the mandated four weeks with a knee injury that he suffered in Week 5.
With the Dolphins on bye in Week 10, that means a Week 11 return in a favorable spot against the Raiders. Of course, there are a lot of moving pieces here. Fantasy managers not only have to worry about a limited touch count with Jeff Wilson back in the mix, but also a tough stretch to end the fantasy season when all the chips are on the line.
- Week 14: vs. Titans
- Week 15: vs. Jets
- Week 16: vs. Cowboys
- Week 17: at Ravens
That’s no picnic, and if Achane’s historic efficiency regresses to a reasonable level, it’s more than likely that his best days in 2023 have already been had.
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You’ll have him back down the stretch, but counting on him as a top-10 back seems optimistic.
Dolphins’ RB De’Von Achane is likely to miss only four games and return for Miami’s Week 11 game vs. the Raiders, per league source. Achane enters this week as the NFL’s second-leading rusher with 460 yards, despite having only 38 carries. The 38 carries rank outside the top-35…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 15, 2023
James Conner | Arizona Cardinals
For the seventh time in seven seasons, Conner will fail to play the full complement of games. He is eligible to return from the knee injury in Week 10 against the Falcons, but we are talking about an uphill battle to return the fringe RB2 value that he had through the first month of the season.
The first question is that of motivation — why would the Cardinals rush him back? Layer that on top of a late-season schedule that includes the Steelers in Week 13, a Week 14 bye, the 49ers in Week 15, and the Eagles in Week 17, and we are looking at an asset in distress.
The injury history makes Conner a threat to miss more than just the minimum four games. It could render him close to unplayable in a below-average offense. If you need help now, Conner is a fine piece to sell low on in an effort to give you a chance to get into your playoffs.
Jamaal Williams | New Orleans Saints
Williams went on IR ahead of the Week 3 win in Green Bay, making him eligible to take on the Jaguars in Week 7 (Thursday Night Football). The team has been cautiously optimistic about the strides he has made. There is some hope that he can return in time for that game, allowing him an extended week to recover before taking the field again in Week 8 against the Colts.
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That said, don’t assume this to be the case. We saw Aaron Jones return from injury, get in limited snaps on a Thursday night, and then miss the following week. Williams isn’t a fantasy starter as he plays behind Alvin Kamara, but he does make for nice depth due to his scoring equity and is a fine stash at this moment in time.
Khalil Herbert | Chicago Bears
Herbert (ankle) was placed on IR following the Week 5 win in Washington — that rules him out through Week 9 at the minimum.
Not all high ankle sprains are created equal, but we’ve seen this type of injury derail seasons in the past. Saquon Barkley is currently attempting to return after three weeks due to the same injury. This will be a wait-and-see situation, but if we get reports that his absence will extend beyond the four weeks, cutting ties with him comes into play.
The Bears not only have Justin Fields coming into his own, they also have a talented rookie in Roschon Johnson waiting in the wings in terms of backfield touches. Herbert showed signs of owning this backfield in Weeks 4-5. But with Johnson getting a runway and veteran D’Onta Foreman in the mix, this is shaping up to be a frustrating committee whenever Herbert returns.
He needs to remain rostered for now with the hope that he can return after a minimum stay on the IR. Still, understand that there is no guarantee he will offer much value the rest of the way.
Jeff Wilson Jr. | Miami Dolphins
Wilson is close to being added to the active 53-man roster, but it didn’t happen ahead of Week 6 with a handful of roster moving pieces to deal with. That said, a Week 7 return in Philadelphia is certainly on the table.
Mike McDaniel mentioned a pitch count of 25 snaps for Wilson upon his return, making whenever his season debut comes a spot to sit him on your fantasy bench. Having said that, if he can prove healthy in Week 7, he could emerge as a Flex-worthy back in Weeks 8-9 (Patriots and Chiefs) as the ‘Fins await the return of Achane (as previously discussed).
Wilson should be rostered across the board as fantasy managers look for any way possible to get a piece of the Dolphins’ explosive offense.