Injury Status: Week 6
Thu Oct 14 10:04am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Unfortunately, the injuries continue to mount in the NFL. We had more key players go down last week, causing more problems for fantasy owners. It has not been a good few weeks in the NFL when it comes for injuries. Hopefully, you haven’t been hit too hard. Here is the latest. . . . .
Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles. Goedert was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list this week and is expected to miss the game Thursday. Zach Ertz should start and play a big role offensively for the Eagles in Week 6.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Chiefs. Edwards-Helaire injured his knee last week and was placed on Injured Reserve, meaning he will miss at least three games. The only positive is the injury isn’t season ending. He will be back and might be back soon after the three games on Injured Reserve. Darrel Williams is going to start while Edwards-Helaire is out of action.
Chris Godwin, WR, Bucs. Godwin has been limited in practice this week because of knee and ankle injuries. He was being rested as much as anything, though, and should be just fine for the game this week. He should play his usual big role in the passing game.
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Bucs. Gronkowski will miss his third straight game because of broken ribs and a punctured lung. He has already been ruled out for Week 6. This leaves Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard to handle most of the work for the Bucs at tight end.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Dolphins. Tagovailoa returned to practice Wednesday. His ribs are finally doing better. He is expected to be ready for the Week 6 game, barring a late-week setback. And his return to the lineup should be a positive for the entire Dolphins offense.
Daniel Jones, QB, Giants. Jones suffered a concussion last week and had to leave the game early. He is out of practice to start the week but early indications are the concussion is pretty minor. The Giants are encouraged that he will be ready to go by the end of the week. Keep an eye on the player notes for the latest on Jones. We should know his stats before the week is out. Mike Glennon starts if Jones has to miss the game.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants. Barkley has a low-ankle sprain. He has not been ruled out for this week yet but the expectations are he misses two to four weeks of action. The good news is the Giants haven’t even officially ruled him out for this week. That could mean he might not miss much time at all with this injury.
DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins. Parker had to miss the game last week because of a shoulder injury and remains out of practice to start the week. This is not a good sign for his status this week. Unless he get in some work before the week is out, look for Parker to miss another week of action for the Dolphins.
Kenny Golladay, WR, Giants. Golladay suffered a hyperextended knee during last week’s game. He left the week early and is out of practice right now. Golladay avoided a very serious injury, but could still miss a few weeks of action. Plan accordingly.
Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants. Shepard has missed the last two games because of a hamstring injury. He is finally back practicing, though, and claims to feel great. He is right on track to play Week 6, barring a setback with the injury before the week is out.
Darius Slayton, WR, Giants. Slayton is another Giants receiver that returned to practice this week. He also has been battling a hamstring injury. Slayton also should be ready to play Week 6 unless he has a setback.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs. Hill has a quad injury and was held out of practice Wednesday. There is not much concern about him missing the game, though. Check back later in the week to be sure, but consider Hill a pretty good bet to play Week 6.
T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts. Hilton is getting close to a return to the lineup from his neck injury. He remains on Injured Reserve but has been activated to practice. If he can start practicing and avoid any setbacks, he could be on track to play in another week or two. Hilton could be a good stash on fantasy benches if you have the room. He could play a big role in the offense once healthy.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Panthers. McCaffrey continues to practice on a limited basis. His hamstring injury keeps progressing but he still isn’t a sure thing to play just yet. The Panthers are giving him a 50/50 shot to play. That might just be coach talk, though. We think McCaffrey has a better than 50 percent chance to play. He was getting close last week. McCaffrey might be a game-time decision, so keep a close watch of the player notes for the latest on him.
Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington. Samuel remains out of practice because of a groin injury. He has been slowed by injury nearly all season. He missed last week and seems a good bet to miss the Week 6 game. He is going to need to start practicing some if he hopes to find he field anytime soon.
Julio Jones, WR, Titans. Jones is back at practice. He is practicing on a limited basis this week because of his hamstring injury. Jones is finally trending the right way but should be considered questionable after missing the past few weeks.
James Washington, WR, Steelers. Washington missed last week because of a groin injury, but is practicing on a limited basis to start the week. With JuJu Smith-Schuster done for the season, look for Washington to do all he can to play this week. Washington is going to have a much bigger role offensively with Smith-Schuster out.
Dalvin Cook, RB, Vikings. Cook was held out of the game last week because of an ankle injury. He has been battling the injury the last few weeks. The Vikings held him out last week to get the ankle stronger. Cook remains up in the air this week, but has a better chance to play after resting last week. Consider him a game-time decision once again. Alexander Mattison starts if Cook is out of action again.
Allen Robinson, WR, Bears. Robinson has a new injury, missing practice Wednesday because of an ankle issue. We aren’t sure of the severity right now. This might have been just a precaution for the veteran receiver. For now, consider him a decent bet to play, but get other options ready to be safe.
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.
- 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
- J.J. Watt leaves door open (slightly) for potential return to Texans
- Seahawks sign first-round pick Byron Murphy II
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- Michael Irvin out at NFL Network
- Bills sign Chase Claypool, Deion Jones, Dawuane Smoot
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- Chargers add wide receiver DJ Chark
- Chiefs decline WR Kadarius Toney's 2025 option
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- Ravens sign 5 draft picks, including first-rounder Nate Wiggins
- Steelers decline RB Najee Harris' fifth-year option
- Colts guarantee edge rusher Kwity Paye $13.4M, pick up 2025 option
- Fantasy Six Pack: Dynasty Football Mock Draft Review: Post-NFL Draft
- Fantasy Six Pack: IDP Expert Rookie Mock Draft – Post-NFL Draft
- Fantasy Six Pack: Dynasty Football Rookie TE Landing Spots
The Paur Report
New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler has an uphill climb to earn backup duties to veteran Derek Carr in his rookie season, which is why Jake Haener currently looks to be the favorite to be second on the QB depth chart out of training camp this summer. At the very least, though, Rattler is going to be in competition for the No. 2 spot with Haener. There are other veterans on the roster as well in Kellen Mond and Nathan Peterman, and Taysom Hill can't be ruled out for getting some work under center in camp, either. Rattler's growth could be tied to how quickly he can learn the offensive lingo and installs. Haener had a leg up last year since he ran a version of the Saints' offense at the Senior Bowl the previous season. Rattler might have to sit on the bench for a few years, so he's only worth drafting in dynasty/keeper leagues this fall.
From RotoBaller
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Dynasty | The Las Vegas Raiders have signed veteran wide receiver Jalen Guyton. Dynasty Analysis: The long-time Charger has had his moments over his five-year career but never really put things together consistently in Los Angeles. He'll compete with the likes of Tre Tucker and DJ Turner for a roster spot but he looks buried behind Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and the newly signed Michael Gallup. As the Stormtroopers would say, "Move along."
The New England Patriots informed quarterback Nathan Rourke that he is being waived on Monday, according to sources. The move thins the team's quarterback room to four -- veteran Jacoby Brissett, rookie third overall pick Drake Maye, Bailey Zappe and rookie Joe Milton III. The move shouldn't come as a surprise after the Patriots selected two quarterbacks in this year's NFL draft. The 25-year-old Rourke has never appeared in an NFL game, although he did make 11 starts in 2021 and 2022 with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. Rourke will now look for another opportunity elsewhere as a depth option at the position with another NFL team.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist) got glowing reviews while throwing at Monday's offseason workout. Burrow has been throwing during the offseason as he recovers from his injured right wrist, but Monday was the first day of Phase 2 of the team's offseason program. "He didn't miss a beat. Whatever he did in the offseason worked," receiver Kwamie Lassiter said. Burrow went through everything new QBs coach Brad Kragthorpe asked of him during the one-hour workout, which included footwork drills around obstacles. "I think he looked as quick and as athletic as I've seen him look," Kragthorpe said. "He looked like the Joe Burrow we're used to seeing. I didn't see any difference. I thought the ball came out of his hand well. Confidently. I'm happy where he's at."
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (leg) continues to recover from a gunshot wound sustained nearly a week ago. The 24-year-old, who was an innocent bystander during the shooting, still has some hurdles to clear, especially after also sustaining a fractured Fibula at the end of last season. However, he's expected to be cleared before training camp, although his status for Week 1 remains uncertain. Yet, if things continue to move positively, there's a good chance he'll be out there when the Texans begin their season. Dell finished the 2023-24 campaign by amassing 709 yards and seven touchdowns off 47 receptions. While fantasy managers are concerned about the injury and the potential for a decrease in production after the team added Stefon Diggs, Dell could still find himself surpassing the 1,000-yard receiving mark in the Texans' high-powered offense.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) has had well-documented struggles since being traded from the Houston Texans ahead of the 2022 season. He's appeared in just 12 games over the last two years, completing just under 60% of his passes for 2,217 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. Those stats are far from his days of MVP contention with Houston, but Browns general manager Andrew Berry remains confident. "Obviously, he's been rehabbing the shoulder injury, but he is well on his way there and in a really strong spot," Berry said. "We do expect to hit the ground running on that side of the ball, and I know he is very excited about returning to the playing field and getting over this injury. We have high expectations for him and the offense this season."Watson missed Week 4, 6, and 8 last season and played just a handful of snaps in Week 7 before returning in Week 9. He was then placed on season-ending Injured Reserve ahead of Week 11. A combination of poor play and injuries has put a bleak outlook on his career, and 2024 could be his last chance to prove he belongs as a starter in Cleveland. All that said, backup quarterback Jameis Winston is an intriguing stash option in Superflex and dynasty leagues.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White saw 75.3% of the team's running back carries and targets in 2023, but running back coach Skip Peete said there will be more competition for touches this season. Tampa Bay selected Oregon running back Bucky Irving in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, while Chase Edmonds and 2023 undrafted free agent Sean Tucker remain on the roster. Ultimately, none of the running backs behind White are expensive investments for the organization, and it's always tricky to know whether a coach is being transparent or just trying to motivate the players in his position room. White was the RB4 overall (PPR) last season behind 990 rushing yards, 549 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns. Although he could see his rushing volume take a hit, his receiving skill set that he's flashed since his collegiate career at Arizona State should keep him on the field for high-yield fantasy situations.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy is coming along quickly at rookie minicamp, according to head coach Andy Reid. "I thought he did a nice job picking things up," Reid said "We asked him to do a whole lot of stuff there. He was put in mostly the primary spots, so it was good for him to get in there and move around a little bit." The speedster out of Texas recorded two touchdowns in 7-on-7 drills on Monday, according to ArrowHeadPride.com. This year's No. 28 overall pick will have sky-high expectations right away because of his situation with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his record-breaking 4.21 forty-yard dash at the NFL combine. However, Kansas City has a complex offense to learn, and the pass-catching trio of Travis Kelce, Marquise Brown, and Rashee Rice presents stiff target competition for Worthy in Year 1.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent defensive lineman Marlon Davidson has agreed to terms to sign with the Tennessee Titans, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. The former First-Team All-SEC performer at Auburn was selected with the No. 47 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, but he played in just 19 games for the organization. After a brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers last offseason, he signed with the Titans as a member of the practice squad and ended up appearing in five games. Overall, the 25-year-old has accumulated 39 tackles, two sacks, one interception, two pass deflections, and three run stuffs through his first 24 NFL contests. He'll likely compete to be a rotational run-stopper after Tennessee selected Texas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin is moving back into the slot receiver role in 2024, according to his position coach, Bryan McClendon. Godwin, who has posted at least 1,000 receiving yards in four of his last five seasons, played just 32.1% of his snaps in the slot last year. In 2022, he lined up in the slot 57.6% of the time. The 28-year-old's 7.6 targets per game was his lowest clip since 2020, so perhaps a move back to his more natural position will see that figure come back toward the 9.0 per game range. Mike Evans remains in the X-role, while Trey Palmer and third-round rookie Jalen McMillan will compete to start in three-wide sets.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. won't be assured of a roster spot out of training camp this summer as part of a crowded backfield that includes Raheem Mostert, De'Von Achane and rookie fourth-rounder Jaylen Wright. The Dolphins also have Salvon Ahmed and Chris Brooks in the RB room. Head coach Mike McDaniel has an affinity for Wilson dating back to their time together with the San Francisco 49ers, but the fact remains that Mostert, Achane and Wright will be locks for the roster. The former undrafted free agent out of North Texas failed to take advantage of Achane's injuries in 2023 and only played in 10 games (zero starts) himself, running for just 188 yards and no touchdowns on 41 carries while adding 14 receptions for 85 yards and no touchdowns.
From RotoBaller
Most of the beat writers for the New York Giants would be surprised if first-round rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers isn't the team's most targeted player right away in 2024, but Wan'Dale Robinson should give him a good race. A fully healthy Robinson should push for the team lead in targets, but it's obvious that Nabers, the sixth overall pick in this year's NFL draft, has much more fantasy upside, both in the short and long term. The Giants are going to need playmakers like Nabers and Robinson to step now that running back Saquon Barkley is no longer in town. The 23-year-old Robinson, who was a second-rounder in 2022, suffered an ACL tear in his rookie year before catching 60 of 78 targets for 525 yards and a touchdown in 15 games (eight starts) last year. There's potential for a Robinson to take a big step forward in 2024, but it will also depend on quarterback Daniel Jones' (knee) health.
From RotoBaller
It sounds as though the Green Bay Packers have plans to integrate rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd into their offense right away in 2024. "I would like to get him out there as much as possible," offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. The coordinator said that Lloyd doesn't bring the same type of versatility that AJ Dillon does, but the rookie brings a different speed element to their backfield, and the Packers want to get Lloyd into open spaces. The 23-year-old was taken in the third round (88th overall). Josh Jacobs is going to be the Packers' clear-cut backfield leader, but it sounds as though Lloyd is seriously going to challenge Dillon for complementary touches right away, although he'll need to secure the ball better than he did in college to stay on the field. Lloyd might not make much noise in redraft formats in 2024, but he's a fine target for dynasty/keeper managers.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent wide receiver Zay Jones, who was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars after the NFL draft, is visiting with the Tennessee Titans on Monday, according to a source. Jones has an obvious connection to Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz, as the two worked together in Jacksonville in 2023. Jones became expendable for the Jags after they drafted Brian Thomas in the first round this year. The 29-year-old oft-injured receiver played in just nine games for Jacksonville last year due to a knee injury and finished with 34 catches for 321 yards and two touchdowns on 64 targets. If Jones does land in Tennessee with Holz, he'd merely be serving in a complementary depth role behind Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks if he can stay healthy, which would keep his fantasy ceiling and floor pretty low.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist) is back on the field during the team's offseason workouts. Burrow is expected to be cleared for full contact at some point this month, and barring any setbacks after having surgery in November to fix a torn ligament in his right wrist, he should be fully recovered in time for training camp in late July. The 27-year-old has developed somewhat of a reputation for being injury-prone early in his career, but when he's healthy, he also has high-end QB1 upside in an offense that remains explosive with receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The former first overall pick in 2020 out of LSU was a Pro Bowler in 2022 in his last full season, when he threw for 4,475 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 16 starts. Burrow will be a fine QB1 target in fantasy after the top names come off the board.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent running back Rashaad Penny plans to sign an undisclosed deal with the Carolina Panthers, according to a source. The former first-round pick will reunite with head coach Dave Canales from their time together with the Seattle Seahawks. Penny will likely officially sign after the team's rookie minicamp, which wraps up on May 12. The 28-year-old from San Diego State was the 27th overall pick in 2018. Penny spent the first five years of his career in Seattle, displaying home run-hitting ability on the ground but struggling to stay healthy, appearing in just 42 games (11 starts). He played in just three games with the Eagles in 2023 and had only 11 carries for 33 yards. Penny will be joining another crowded backfield in Carolina that already consists of Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and rookie Jonathon Brooks, so he's not going to be on the fantasy radar.
From RotoBaller
The Las Vegas Raiders signed former Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Jalen Guyton to an undisclosed deal on Monday. New Raiders general manager Tom Telesco also signed Guyton a few times when he was running the Chargers' front office. Guyton opened his last year with the Bolts in 2023 on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which caused him to miss the first eight games. When the 26-year-old returned, he had just 10 catches (21 targets) for 89 yards and a touchdown in eight games, even with Mike Williams (knee) missing most of the year with a season-ending injury. The former undrafted free agent out of North Texas can serve as a deep threat, but he's mostly served as receiving depth in his career and will continue to do so in Vegas behind Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker and Michael Gallup.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The New York Jets drafted running back Isaiah Davis in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Dynasty Analysis: Davis has an uphill climb to a roster spot with the New York Jets after being taken in the fifth round. The Jets already have Breece Hall as their starter and also took Braelon Allen to shore up their backfield. Still, he has a chance and could surprise as a late-round small school prospect. While he may need to beat out Allen to earn a spot on the team, Davis should still be kept on watch lists for the time being.
