Injury Status: Week 3
Thu Sep 22 11:24am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Before we get to the rest of the injury news, we wanted to give you a quick update on the status of Bucs receiver Mike Evans. So the NFL upheld his one-game suspension for his transgressions last week, meaning he will miss the Week 3 game. The Bucs will be awfully shorthanded at receiver once again, so plan accordingly. Now for the injury news of the week. . . .
Michael Gallup, WR, Cowboys. Gallup is looking good to return to the lineup this week, barring a setback. He is returning from a torn ACL and is ramping up his activity in practice. He might be eased into action his first game back, so keep that in mind if you plan to play him. He could be a little hit or miss.
Michael Pittman, WR, Colts. Pittman was a late scratch last week after hurting his quad in practice. He is back practicing this week, though, and seems on track to return to the lineup Week 3. He should be good to go, barring some late-week setback. And as long as he is playing, he is a top No. 1 receiver for fantasy teams.
James Conner, RB, Cardinals. Conner is day-to-day because of a sprained ankle. He has a shot to play this week if he starts ramping up his work in practice. Don’t rule him out just yet but he is out of the practice to start the week. Keep an eye on the practice reports for the latest. If Conner can’t go, Eno Benjamin and Darrel Williams will likely split the work at running back for the Cardinals.
Rondale Moore, WR, Cardinals. Moore is yet to play this season because of a hamstring injury. He is being called day-to-day for this week. He is iffy to play once again. We might just steer clear of Moore until he returns to action and plays a full game.
Harrison Butker, K, Chiefs. Butker missed last week because of a sprained ankle and is out of practice to start this week. Butker is up in the air for Week 3. We would just plan on other options. Matt Ammendola would get another start for the Chiefs if Butker is forced to sit once again.
Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints. Kamara missed the game last week because of a rib injury. He has been limited in practice to start the week. The good news is he is doing some stuff in practice and is trending towards a return. He should be considered questionable to play, but we like his chances right now.
Jakobi Meyers, WR, Patriots. Meyers suffered some sort of knee injury and had to undergo tests Wednesday, which revealed favorable news. He is dealing with something minor but his status is still in question for the week. He will need to get in some practice before the week is out. Keep an eye on the player notes for the latest. If he plays, Meyers is a solid fantasy start in a favorable matchup.
Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers. Herbert got beat up in his last game, suffering a rib injury. He is sore and practicing on a limited basis. He is being called day-to-day by the Chargers. It is good to see him practicing some, though. We would expect him to play this week. He might be sore, but it would be a surprise to see him sit the game out.
Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers. Allen is doing some work in practice on the side. His hamstring is improving some. He still seems likely to miss another week of action, but don’t rule him out just yet. We should have a better idea on his status before the week is out.
Gabe Davis, WR, Bills. Davis hurt his ankle late in practice last week, but he is practicing some to start the week. His sprained ankle is doing better. He seems on track to play. It is a great sign that he is already practicing this early in the week.
D'Andre Swift, RB, Lions. Swift played last week on his sprained ankle but was limited to seven touches. He still made some big plays with his limited workload. He claims to be feeling much better this week on his sprained ankle. This is a good sign for Swift to get a bigger workload in Week 3. His health is trending up.
Chris Godwin, WR, Bucs. Godwin remains out of practice because of a hamstring injury. He has not played since Week 1 and is expected to miss another week of action. He still seems a few weeks away from playing.
Julio Jones, WR, Bucs. Jones is another Bucs receiver that remains out of practice. He has a knee injury and is not looking great to play once again this week. We would expect him to miss the Week 3 game, barring a big turnaround late in the week.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Broncos. Jeudy had to leave the game early last week after hurting his ribs and shoulder. He is out of practice right now. He seemed to avoid something serious, but is not a sure thing to play this week. He should be considered questionable right now, looking like a game-time decision.
George Kittle, TE, 49ers. Kittle was close to a return last week, so the chances of him playing this week look pretty good. He has been limited in practice to start the week. His groin injury is getting better and the team is optimistic he will play Week 3.
Dawson Knox, TE, Bills. Knox has popped up on the injury report because of a foot injury. He was unable to practice Wednesday, making him questionable to play this week. We would not rule him out by any means because the Bills played Monday night, so Knox is on short rest. He could be resting as much as anything. Make sure he gets in some practice before the weekend. If that happens, expect Knox to play.
Devin Duvernay, WR, Ravens. Duvernay suffered a concussion last week and was forced from the game. He is out of practice to start the week and will need to clear concussion protocol to be able to play. At this point, it isn’t looking great for Duvernay to play.
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ravens. Dobbins practiced in full last week but was still held out of the game as he tries to recover from his torn ACL. He is practicing full once again this week. We would expect him to make his season debut Week 3, but we aren’t sure his workload in his first game back. He will be a hard player for fantasy teams to trust.
Hunter Renfrow, WR, Raiders. Renfrow suffered a concussion on the last play of last week’s game. He is out of practice to start the week and needs to clear concussion protocol before he is allowed to play. We wouldn’t rule him out just yet, but get other options ready. It isn’t looking great for Renfrow right now.
Alec Pierce, WR, Colts. Pierce missed the game last week because of a concussion, but he is right on track to make his return in Week 3. He is practicing already to start the week. Unless he has some sort of setback in the next day or two, expect Pierce to return to his role in the starting lineup in Week 3.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
- Saints sign first-round OT Taliese Fuaga to $17.3M deal
- Pro Football Hall of Fame CB Jimmy Johnson dies at 86
- Rams releasing veteran WR Ben Skowronek
- Lions GM: QB Jared Goff 'earned' extension, a high priority
- Giants sign WR Allen Robinson
- NFL to release 2024 schedule on May 15
- Broncos release QB Ben DiNucci
- Chiefs' Rashee Rice suspect in alleged assault in Dallas
- Broncos' 'Orange Crush' DC Joe Collier dies at 91
- Giants add QB Nathan Rourke
- Reinstated S C.J. Moore agrees to deal with Lions
- WR Tyler Boyd to sign 1-year deal with Titans
- Ex-Jags WR Zay Jones visits Cardinals
- Bengals QB Joe Burrow resumes throwing at offseason workouts
- WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling visiting Chargers
- Raiders sign free agent WR Jalen Guyton
- Panthers to sign RB Rashaad Penny
- Pats waive Nathan Rourke, down to four QBs
- RB Duke Johnson retires from NFL after 8 seasons
- Former Bears QB Bob Avellini dies at age 70
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Rankings | Post-NFL Draft Update
The Paur Report
The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Michigan running back Blake Corum in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft despite breakout star Kyren Williams racking up 1,350 total yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023. In a media availability, general manager Les Snead said that the decision to draft Corum was related to keeping Williams fresh. "It's a tough league. It's a 17-game season plus playoffs, so we always felt like we needed to have as many quality runners as possible... so we don't just totally run down Kyren," Snead said. "And we have one or two or even three guys that can contribute... keep everyone fresh." The organization implemented a workhorse backfield approach with 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley, and he ultimately had a short shelf life as a pro due to durability concerns. As most teams shift to a committee backfield, high-end fantasy running back producers are becoming more scarce. Williams missed five games last year on the Injured Reserve list, so the organization is being proactive and adding depth in the backfield. Williams remains an RB1 candidate, but his floor and ceiling take a hit with the addition of Corum.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has vastly exceeded expectations since being traded from the Los Angeles Rams to Detroit ahead of the 2021 season. The former No. 1 overall pick has thrown for 12,258 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions through his first 48 games with the organization. More importantly, he led the team to Detroit's first playoff win since 1991 last year, and he had the San Francisco 49ers on the ropes in the NFC Championship game. He did not sign a contract extension along with right tackle Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown two weeks ago, but general manager Brad Holmes said the two sides are working on a deal. "He's earned an extension. It's important, it's a high priority for us. Both sides are working really, really hard. These things just take time," Holmes said. "In a perfect world, we would've had all three of them done. Bang, bang, bang. But these things just kind of take a while, especially with the quarterback market, but I do have faith that it's gonna get done." Assuming Goff receives a high-dollar multi-year deal, his dynasty value with be secure over the next three or four years. While his ceiling is capped by a lack of rushing upside, he should remain a fringe QB1 as long as the Lions retain key offensive linemen and pass-catching weapons.
From RotoBaller
Despite the Tennessee Titans signing veteran wide receiver Tyler Boyd this week, head coach Brian Callahan and the organization still have hope for third-year wideout Treylon Burks. "We've made very clear to Treylon that the signing of Tyler is not about him. It's about helping our team get better, adding better players to our team, making us a competitive football team," Callahan said. "What he's done and how he's worked has been great, and I'm anticipating him still being able to play a good role for us." While the Boyd signing almost surely pushes Burks to the WR4 role and destroys any 2024 fantasy football value he had, it sounds like the team is not going to trade him this offseason as many have speculated. Burks was a promising prospect coming out of Arkansas, but he's totaled just 665 receiving yards and one touchdown through his first two NFL seasons. He might be worth holding in deep dynasty leagues, but it'd be surprising if he's on the fantasy radar in redraft formats.
From RotoBaller
The Houston Texans acquired wide receiver Ben Skowronek from the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, according to sources. The Rams were set to waiver Skowronek, but the Texans swooped in before he hit waivers to get something done to add receiving depth behind Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Robert Woods, Noah Brown, John Metchie III and others. The 26-year-old Skowronek was the Rams' seventh-round pick in 2021 and has mostly been limited to a role on special teams in his three years in the NFL. That will likely continue to be the case with his move to Houston, and he won't be on the fantasy radar at all. In his three years in the NFL in LA, Skowronek only had 58 receptions for 575 yards and one touchdown on 93 targets in 45 games (12 starts).
From RotoBaller
In what is the weakest wide receiving corps the Buffalo Bills have had in several seasons, rookie second-round wideout Keon Coleman should start right away in his first NFL season alongside veteran Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir. Coleman has a lot of potential, but asking a 21-year-old to produce in a way he never has at a higher level of football seems like asking for too much, too soon, according to The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia. Depth is also an issue for this unit, with journeyman veteran Mack Hollins as their top reserve. Coleman has good size at 6-foot-3, 213 pounds, but his lack of production at Florida State made him a polarizing draft prospect. The good news is that he's going to have his opportunities right away, although that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be a starting fantasy option on a weekly basis right away.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox likely knows a reduced role is on the way again for him in 2024, although he is a favorite of quarterback Josh Allen's in the locker room, so it remains to be seen how much he'll be on the sidelines in favor of second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid. Allen may need to rely on Kincaid more to pick up a big amount of slack to keep the offense moving with an unproven receiver unit this year. Buffalo moved away from heavy usage of 12 personnel early in 2023 and mostly settled into 11 personnel. If that's the plan again in 2024, it will be interesting to see how they divvy up the snaps between Kincaid and Knox. Either way, unless Kincaid misses time with an injury, it's going to be hard to justify starting Knox outside of two-TE leagues.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook bounced back from being benched last year and enters his third season in the NFL in 2024 as the unquestioned lead back with a giant gap between him and either Ty Johnson or rookie Ray Davis. Cook should continue to push toward some of the heaviest involvement the Bills have seen in recent years out of their top back. Johnson's game is similar to Cook's, so he'll likely have a game-day role when Cook needs a breather. The Bills are hoping Davis can add power and short-yardage ability, something the team has been wanting to add for years to the backfield. The 24-year-old Cook had a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2023 but added just two rushing TDs. What Cook lacks in scoring opportunities, he could make up for with his pass-catching abilities and sheer volume in 2024.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Zac Jackson writes that the Cleveland Browns believe wide receiver Cedric Tillman can make a second-year leap in 2024. Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore figure to start in most three-receiver sets this year, but Tillman should have an opportunity for a bigger role as the No. 4 as the season progresses. The 24-year-old third-round pick last year out of Tennessee caught 21 of his 44 targets for 224 yards and no touchdowns in 14 games (three starts) in 2023 in his rookie season. Behind Tillman, David Bell, rookie Jamari Thrash, James Proche II, Jaelon Darden and Michael Woods II will have to battle for playing time in training camp this summer. Tillman won't be worth drafting in standard-sized leagues this fall, but he could become intriguing as a waiver-wire pickup if one of the three starters goes down with injury at any point.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Rams released wide receiver Ben Skowronek on Thursday, according to a source. The former seventh-round pick in 2021 out of Notre Dame had emerged into a team captain last year but also had a career-low eight receptions on 12 targets for 66 yards and his first career touchdown in 17 regular-season games (zero starts). The 26-year-old has mostly contributed on special teams in his three-year NFL career and will likely continue to do so wherever he winds up next. In his three years in LA, Skowronek caught 58 of his 93 targets for 575 receiving yards and just one touchdown in 45 games played (12 starts). He'll be off the fantasy radar wherever he lands next.
From RotoBaller
There's a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Cleveland Browns' backfield heading into this summer with running back Nick Chubb (knee) months away from having a timetable to return. Nyheim Hines (knee) is also recovering from a torn ACL as well. D'Onta Foreman figures to operate as the team's short-yardage back, while Jerome Ford could go anywhere from first in line to a specialized role while mostly helping in the passing game. Pierre Strong Jr. and John Kelly Jr. round out the RB room. The Browns have nice depth at the position, but the pecking order and specific roles are to be determined based on Chubb's availability and effectiveness. Foreman's fantasy value will hinge on Chubb as well, but in a best-case scenario if Chubb isn't ready for the start of the season, he'll be a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex.
From RotoBaller
The New York Giants signed free-agent wide receiver Allen Robinson on Thursday, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The move to acquire a cheap veteran makes sense considering the weak group of pass-catchers on New York's roster, but Robinson has looked like a shell of his former self over the last three seasons. After two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020, Robinson has totaled just 1,029 yards and four touchdowns over the last three campaigns. He tallied 280 yards and no touchdowns with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023. Although he could provide value as an experienced leader in the locker room, it'd be surprising if he made an impact in fantasy football. Rookie first-round pick Malik Nabers is expected to be the No. 1 wide receiver for Daniel Jones right away, while Jalin Hyatt, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayon with compete for looks behind him.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Titans have signed wide receiver Tyler Boyd. Dynasty Analysis: Amazingly, Boyd has already spend eight years in the league (all with the Bengals). Over the span of his career, he's posted 513 catches for exactly 6,000 yards with 31 touchdowns. The Titans were steadfast in their approach to improve their offense and have now added Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley and Boyd to a new-look team. The move will certainly have fantasy implications, most notably pushing Treylon Burks down one more spot in the pecking order. Boyd remains a low-ceiling player to have on a dynasty roster but he could have real short-term value should an injury (or a suspension) occur with Hopkins or Ridley.
Dynasty | The Carolina Panthers are signing running back Rashaad Penny. Dynasty Analysis: Penny is going to compete with rookie Jonathon Brooks, Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and Raheem Blackshear for a roster spot this Summer as nothing here should be looked at as guaranteed. Penny has had his moments in the league, including a stretch in Seattle where he was the best fantasy football player in the world for about a month. Unfortunately, injuries have always held him back and he wasn't really even able to sniff the field last year in Philadelphia. Penny's value has dropped all the way down to "watch list," but he'd certainly be roster worthy should he make the team this Fall.
Free-agent WR Allen Robinson (Steelers) agreed to an undisclosed deal with the New York Giants Thursday, May 9.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent WR Zay Jones (Jaguars) is scheduled to visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, May 9, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
From TheHuddle
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold could be named the team's Week 1 starter over first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. As Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com writes, "It's only a matter of time before McCarthy becomes the Vikings' starting quarterback [...] but it is not likely to happen as quickly as some fans might hope, and if anything, the Vikings are poised to err on the side of methodical caution." Such a scenario could see Minnesota let Darnold, whom they signed this past offseason when Kirk Cousins left for Atlanta, start a few games before transitioning to McCarthy. Darnold has struggled to support major fantasy production from his playmakers at previous stops, including the Jets and Panthers, so fantasy managers might want to temper expectations with players like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson to start the year. Darnold himself falls to the low-end QB3 tier in fantasy football drafts.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft can elevate the offense to the next level, according to tight ends coach John Dunn. "I think in terms of the creativity, it's limitless," Dunn told the media on Wednesday. Musgrave and Kraft were both members of the 2023 draft class and impressed in their own roles throughout last season. Musgrave was the Packers' top tight end for their first 10 games before a lacerated kidney caused him to miss six weeks. With Musgrave sidelined, Kraft emerged as one of Jordan Love's favorite targets, averaging four catches and 47 yards per game. When Musgrave returned in Week 18, he caught one pass for 11 yards while Kraft tallied three receptions for 31 yards. Long story short, Green Bay feels confident that it has two talented, young, impactful playmakers at the tight end position and is prepared to utilize them both in creative ways throughout the 2024 season. Until we get more clarity on their respective roles, they both rank as fringe top-24 options at the tight end position in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs believes he has a chip on his shoulder, according to running backs coach Ben Sirmans. "I think he's coming in with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder because we all have something to prove," Sirmans told the media on Wednesday. "I think he wants to prove we made the right decision in investing in him." Jacobs doesn't necessarily have a whole lot more to prove after tallying 3,154 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns over his final two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. However, his signing with Green Bay did surprise many NFL fans, so perhaps he feels a little extra motivation to silence the critics and make sure he lives up to every penny of his four-year, $48 million deal. The Packers parted ways with fellow veteran Aaron Jones this offseason and (barring any unforeseen additions) will enter 2024 with a backfield headlined by Jacobs, AJ Dillon, and rookie MarShawn Lloyd. Given his track record as an every-down back in Vegas, Jacobs easily has the most fantasy appeal of the bunch, ranking as a low-end RB1 heading into drafts.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent wide receiver Zay Jones will visit with the Kansas City Chiefs next, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Jones, who was cut loose by the Jacksonville Jaguars recently, has already visited with the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, and Dallas Cowboys. All of those teams have varying levels of need for a new wide receiver, but Kansas City could be the most appealing for Jones given that they are competitive year in and year out, offer the opportunity to catch passes from an elite quarterback, and currently have a significant void near the top of their depth chart. It's no secret that second-year receiver Rashee Rice could be facing a lengthy suspension for a pair of off-the-field issues this offseason. Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy would benefit from playing alongside someone like Jones, especially if Rice does end up missing time. Such a dynamic would give Brown, Worthy, and Jones plenty of opportunities to carve out meaningful volume, though Brown would likely have first dibs on the No. 1 receiver role. Therefore, any free-agent deal for Jones would likely keep him off the fantasy radar in a typical 12-team league, at least for the time being.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills WR Curtis Samuel could be used out of the backfield this season by offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who utilized Samuel as a runner while the two were with the Carolina Panthers.
Fantasy Spin: Samuel saw a career-high 41 carries and ran for 200 yards in 2020 with Brady running the offense in Carolina. Samuel should already have a chance to carve out a solid role in the passing game thanks to Buffalo's overhauled receiving corps, and a few carries a game would only boost his value. He has upside as a flex option.
From TheHuddle
