It is a battle of the AFC North this Thursday when the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams are still in the playoff hunt and want all of their players healthy and ready to head out onto the field.
However, some players have been dealing with injuries, which is a concern for both regular football and fantasy football managers. What are the most current fantasy injury updates regarding Ja’Marr Chase, Chase Brown, and Najee Harris?
Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
It was scary for the Bengals’ stud WR Chase when QB Joe Burrow went down to injury. Fantasy managers immediately felt concerned for Chase and his ability to provide fantasy value with backup QB Jake Browing under center. It hasn’t been the easiest for Chase to produce with Browing since Burrow’s injury in Week 11; Chase only has one finish in the top 20.
However, Browning has started to find his groove, but he may have to do it without Chase. Chase had to leave last week’s game against Minnesota late and was quickly seen wearing street clothes and a hood over his head on the sideline. He did not return to the game, and the Bengals eventually won in overtime.
Head coach Zac Taylor described the injury on Sunday after the game, calling it an AC joint sprain to his right shoulder. On Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Chase would miss Saturday’s game at Pittsburgh and potentially time beyond that. Taylor responded on Tuesday, stating that Cincinnati will “take it day-to-day” and will “see as the week goes.”
If Chase is held out this week, fantasy managers can expect to see more from Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. Higgins had a fantastic Week 15, finishing as the WR15. He was targeted eight times and caught four for 62 yards and two TDs. Fantasy managers need to keep an eye out for the practice reports on Wednesday and Thursday. If Chase logs some practice, there is a chance he will tough it out.
Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
RB Joe Mixon has had another year of workhorse production in Cincinnati. The RB7 on the season has played 72% of the snaps in 2023 and averaged 84% of the RB carries. However, the rookie Brown has started to mix in lately.
The speedy, dynamic back is the RB66 on the season, but over the last three weeks, he has been RB35 or better, including an RB9 finish in Week 14 against the Indianapolis Colts.
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Brown had seven carries on Saturday against Minnesota, but he popped up on the injury report this week and was limited at Tuesday’s practice. It was reported that he has a sternum injury, but there is no indication of how severe the injury is. Brown seemed to sustain the injury in the third quarter of last week’s game. He left the field briefly and was replaced by Trayveon Williams but later returned to the game.
If Brown misses this week’s matchup, I expect the Bengals to lean even more heavily on Mixon. When Williams took the field in Brown’s absence, he only had one carry, and I do not expect the Bengals to use him more in the offense.
Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
After a rough start to the fantasy season, Harris has been a serviceable RB for the Steelers and for fantasy managers, splitting carries with Jaylen Warren. Warren has still looked like the more explosive RB, though, and he might get more of a chance to show it as Harris did not practice Tuesday.
Harris has been dealing with a knee issue over the last few weeks, but he has managed to still play. This day off might simply be a veteran rest day — Harris was a DNP last Tuesday and then went full on Wednesday with a knee designation. Fantasy managers should monitor the upcoming practice reports in case they need a pivot.
Warren would be a fantastic pivot if Harris cannot go. In Week 15, Warren was the RB21 with 68 scrimmage yards and five catches.
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