Welcome to your Pro Football Network Week 9 QB and TE fantasy football injury report. As always, there are injured players left and right. What is their status heading into Sunday and Monday, and can we trust their fantasy projections if they are active?
Update 11/07/2021: For the most recent injury news, check out our up-to-date NFL Week 9 Injury Report.
Fantasy QB Injury Report
The following QBs have either notable injuries or are coming off notable injuries. How will this impact their fantasy value going forward and the value of their potential replacements?
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is a game-time decision with an ankle injury, and the kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 PM ET. As of Sunday morning, his status doesn’t look promising. In other words, this is a less-than-ideal fantasy situation for managers (like me) who are depending on Murray to provide QB1 production. Do we add Colt McCoy as a fallback option? Well, that depends on who’s available on waivers. But clearly, we need a backup plan. Mine was Justin Fields. Then I traded him Friday for Daniel Jones. Hopefully, yours is better.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott was forced to sit last week with a calf injury. Backup Cooper Rush fared admirably in his place, leading Dallas to a somewhat unlikely road victory over Minnesota. Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb shined. In other words, Prescott’s absence did not harm the fantasy outputs of his two top receivers.
That’s good news for many fantasy managers. Even better, barring a setback, Prescott should be okay in Week 9 against Denver. However, keep an eye on Weeks 16-18, because assuming the Cowboys clinch the NFC East title, I wouldn’t be surprised if they ease up on their franchise quarterback, which would be bad news for many fantasy managers.
Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers can go one of two ways this season: a surprising playoff berth, or another injury-plagued disaster. As dismally as Sam Darnold has performed since Week 5, backup P.J. Walker likely would set this offense back even further.
If you have DJ Moore, you’re hoping Darnold can play Sunday against the Patriots. He’s currently questionable with a concussion and a shoulder injury.
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
As reported all week, Aaron Rodgers is on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He will miss Week 9, with a shot at returning for Week 10.
Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans
Few quarterbacks have experienced a tougher four-year injury history than Tyrod Taylor. But the 32-year-old is poised to relieve rookie Davis Mills at the helm of Houston’s bottom-five offense. Generally a fringe streamer, he has an ideal matchup this week against the Dolphins.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa (ribs/finger) has been limited in practice all week ahead of his game against the Texans. He should be fine for this one.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Trevor Siemian has been named the Week 9 starter, so Taysom Hill (concussion) will have to wait at least one week to return to the fold. If Siemian continues to play well, Hill might have to wait much longer, though he could still be used as a gadget player — not that this would help fantasy managers very much.
Fantasy TE Injury Report
Looking at the injury report for fantasy tight ends in Week 9, what is the value for those impacted? Furthermore, what is the fantasy value of their potential replacements?
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
The longtime elite fantasy TE returned to practice this week after missing the last four games with a calf injury. The latest reports Sunday morning suggest George Kittle might be on a snap count Sunday, meaning he would be a risky TE1 in his first game back.
Related | Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: Can you trust Khalil Herbert or Devontae Booker this week?
Beyond this week, I’d like to say he’ll be elite again, but pre-injury, he was playing more like a borderline TE1/2.
Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills
A broken hand kept him out of Week 8, and on Friday, Dawson Knox was declared out for Week 9. Bills head coach Sean McDermott declared he was “day-to-day” last Monday, so consider him day-to-day heading into Week 10.
Noah Fant, Denver Broncos
Noah Fant landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list this past Tuesday. He’ll need two negative tests before Sunday, each 24 hours apart. Those desperate for a top-14 TE could add backup Albert Okwuegbunam in case Fant can’t play.