The WR injury report for Week 10 of the NFL season makes for relatively good reading for fantasy football managers. With just a couple of fantasy-relevant players ruled out for the week and just three questionable, there is more good news than bad news.
Let’s examine the latest NFL injury updates and fantasy implications for Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins, and Kenny Golladay. Additionally, what is the fantasy impact of the absence of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Josh Reynolds, Romeo Doubs, and more?
WR Injury Report Heading Into Week 10
Brandin Cooks, HOU | Wrist (Questionable)
It was good to see Brandin Cooks work his way back into practice this week. He was limited on Thursday and Friday as he deals with a combination of his wrist injury and discontent with the Houston Texans not trading him. He enters the weekend listed as questionable on the Texans’ final injury report.
It is worth noting: Houston listed Cooks as questionable ahead of Thursday Night Football last week before being ruled out on game day. However, the fact he practiced at all would suggest some issues are on their way to being resolved.
The issue is, if Cooks plays, his fantasy value is tough to trust. He has only gone over 60 receiving yards once this year and has only found the end zone once. Just twice in seven games has Cooks crossed into double-digits in half-PPR scoring.
The way Cooks plays, he is always capable of having big weeks. Therefore, he at least carries some Best Ball value on Underdog Fantasy. The situation is slightly different in season-long and DFS formats.
With all the uncertainty, it might be best to plan rosters without Cooks this week. The matchup with the New York Giants is tough. They have allowed just 22.08 fantasy points to the WR position this year. That is the fifth-lowest number this season and demonstrates the limited upside for Cooks.
Nico Collins, HOU | Groin (Questionable)
Nico Collins has missed the last two weeks as he deals with a groin injury. However, he has a chance to play this week after returning to practice. Like with Cooks, his upside is reasonably limited, especially in this matchup. He would be a 14-team Flex consideration if he did suit up, but more likely, Collins would be a 16-team lineup option.
Kenny Golladay, NYG | Knee (Questionable)
We could see Kenny Golladay back on the field for the first time since Week 4. However, as he returns from his knee issue, it is nearly impossible for fantasy managers to trust him. Prior to the injury, Golladay had just two receptions for 22 yards on six targets.
MORE: Fantasy WR Start ’em Sit ’em Week 10
Until we see Golladay play a significant role, he has next to no fantasy value. In deep leagues with big benches, you might consider stashing him now. Still, it would need to be a very deep league and a very deep bench.
Keenan Allen, LAC | Hamstring (Out)
Keenan Allen will miss his seventh game of the season due to this hamstring issue. He briefly returned for Week 7 but only managed 23 offensive snaps. At this point, it feels like there is as much chance we see Allen get shut down this season as we see him have significant fantasy value.
With Allen out, Josh Palmer will continue to be the lead receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers. Palmer has had double-digit targets in his past two games. Across those two games, he has 17 receptions for 163 receiving yards. He should continue to see a significant target share as the leading receiver in this offense.
Mike Williams, LAC | Ankle (Out)
Mike Williams will also continue to miss time for the Chargers. He suffered an ankle injury late in their Week 7 game against the Seattle Seahawks. Most managers anticipated the likelihood of a four-week-ish injury, so Williams’ absence this week should not be a surprise. Hopefully, Williams can work back into practice next week, but Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals might be a more realistic target.
With Williams out, DeAndre Carter should continue to be the second WR in this offense. He has seen 18 targets in his last three games, resulting in 11 receptions and 107 receiving yards. His five receptions for 53 receiving yards in Week 9 seems like a reasonable outcome, putting Carter as a Flex consideration in 12-team leagues.
Josh Reynolds, DET | Back (Out)
As he deals with his third injury of the year, Josh Reynolds will miss his second straight game. This back injury has kept him out of practice for the majority of the past two weeks. Therefore, it is no surprise the Lions ruled him out as early as Friday.
With DJ Chark on the IR and not expected to return until next week, that leaves Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond as the likely starting receivers. St. Brown carries the most fantasy value, but Raymond is kind of intriguing in deeper leagues with this role. It did not play out well last week, but there is a chance for a rebound this week.
Romeo Doubs, GB | Ankle (Out)
After Romeo Doubs emerged with a walking boot and crutches last week, expectations were he would miss Week 10. The Green Bay Packers WR did not practice all week before being ruled out.
In his absence, we should see Christian Watson starting opposite Allen Lazard. Sammy Watkins should mix in, but this passing offense has not been good for consistent fantasy value. Lazard is the only one you can really rely on, but Watson has some deep-league boom/bust potential.
KJ Hamler, DEN | Hamstring (Out)
After injuries caused KJ Hamler to struggle in the first few weeks of the season, this one will cause him to miss his second game of the season. He had made some big plays but had struggled for consistent fantasy value.
The fantasy value of this absence is limited. The Broncos’ passing game struggles to support Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Greg Dulcich. Hamler, or whoever lines up as the fourth pass catcher in the offense, will always struggle for opportunities.
Russell Gage, TB | Hamstring (Out)
Unsurprisingly, we see Russell Gage ruled out again this week. That clears the way for Julio Jones to be the WR3 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10. Jones was cleared to play this week but was held out of the majority of the second half in Week 9. Consequently, he is hard to trust, especially with the majority of targets in this offense expected to be funneled to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Which WRs Have Been Cleared From the Week 10 Injury Report?
- Adam Thielen, MIN | Ankle
- Allen Lazard, GB | Shoulder
- Christian Watson, GB | Concussion
- Jarvis Landry, NO | Ankle
- Julio Jones, TB | Rest/Knee
- Mike Evans, TB | Back/Ribs
- Noah Brown, DAL | Foot
- Phillip Dorsett, HOU | Ankle
- Rondale Moore, ARI | Hand
- Sammy Watkins, GB | Knee