How does the Week 5 RB injury report look for fantasy football managers as they digest the latest NFL injury updates? Which players are we expecting to see, who might be missing, and what does it all mean for fantasy managers this week?
RB Injury Report Heading into Week 5
David Montgomery, CHI | Ankle (Questionable)
Update: David Montgomery is active for the Bears in Week 5.
The last two days of Week 5 saw David Montgomery return to practice in a limited fashion. That has earned him the questionable tag for this week, which gives him a chance to play. However, it would be a surprise to see him take on a full workload just two weeks removed from injury. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Montgomery plans to play in Week 5. However, that will confuse the situation significantly for fantasy managers.
If Montgomery is out, Khalil Herbert would be a must-start in most formats, but with Montgomery active, things would change significantly. If there is a chance they split carries, neither could end up providing for fantasy managers. This is a tricky situation that is arguably best resolved for fantasy purposes with Montgomery inactive for one more week while Herbert handles the majority of the workload.
Tony Pollard, DAL | Illness (Questionable)
Update: Tony Pollard is active for the Cowboys in Week 5.
Tony Pollard was a late addition to the injury report this week with an illness. There never seemed to be a huge amount of concern he could miss the game, and Schefter reported Saturday night that Pollard is expected to suit up. His fantasy value takes a slight hit if he is not 100 percent, but he remains a 12-team flex option.
D’Andre Swift, DET | Shoulder (Out)
Another week without practicing means that D’Andre Swift will be inactive again in Week 5. We now will not see him for fantasy until Week 7, as the Detroit Lions are on a bye in Week 6. In Swift’s absence, Jamaal Williams remains a must-start RB option and has a tremendous ceiling.
Alvin Kamara, NO | Rib (Questionable)
Update: Alvin Kamara is active for Week 5.
Kamara could only manage to practice in a limited fashion again this week and is questionable. This mirrors last week when Kamara ended up inactive. However, Kamara assured reporters on Wednesday that he is good to go. His optimism was also reflected by Schefter’s Saturday report that he should be good to play. Additionally, we saw the Saints release their fourth RB, Tony Jones on Saturday.
If Kamara is active, then he is a player who is hard to bench. The Seattle Seahawks have been a reasonable matchup for opposing RBs. If Kamara is inactive, Mark Ingram is a tentative starter, especially with Latavius Murray now in Denver.
Breece Hall, NYJ | Knee (Cleared)
There was good news for the New York Jets when Breece Hall managed to be a full participant at practice on Friday. He is, therefore, a full go for Week 5 and should be a solid starting option in 12-team leagues after stepping up his role last week.
J.K. Dobbins, BAL | Chest (Cleared)
Justice Hill, BAL | Hamstring (Out)
The absence of Justice Hill this week opens an opportunity for the Baltimore Ravens to give a full workload to J.K. Dobbins. However, that is not something they usually like to do, so it would not be a shock if we see Kenyan Drake or Mike Davis mixing in. Dobbins is still in RB2 consideration this week, but it would be overly optimistic to expect him to see a significant increase in carries this week just because Hill is inactive.
Kenneth Walker, SEA | Shoulder (Questionable)
Update: Kenneth Walker is active for Week 5.
A week that started with Rashaad Penny absent from practice ended with Kenneth Walker listed as questionable. Walker was downgraded to limited on Thursday before getting the questionable tag on Friday. The fantasy impact is somewhat limited with Penny likely to be the lead back even before Walker’s injury.