Fantasy Football: Injury notes and analysis for Week 1

Quarterback

• Zach Wilson (knee) is out: Joe Flacco is up. He’s not a realistic fantasy option unless you’re in one of those “Bad QB fantasy leagues.” Honestly, that does sound fun.
• Dak Prescott (ankle) is good to go: He was only listed on the injury report because he was breaking in a new pair of shoes at practice on Thursday. Seriously. C’mon, man.

Running back

• Miles Sanders (hamstring) is not listed: Sanders is healthy and ready to go against the Detroit Lions’ underwhelming front-seven. He could flirt with 20-plus combined carries and targets with a positive game script, which seems likely given that the Philadelphia Eagles are favored by 4.5 points. Sanders is my RB19 on the week, and I love him in DFS tournaments.
• Ty Montgomery (knee) was limited all week and is listed as questionable: Montgomery isn’t on the fantasy radar in his own right, but his absence would be great news for both Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson. I’m treating the latter two backs as mid-tier RB3 types with Montgomery in the lineup – and borderline RB2 options if not.
• Chase Edmonds (groin) is not listed after being a full practice participant on Thursday: Edmonds was elevated to a full practice on Thursday and appears poised to handle a hefty workload as the Miami Dolphins’ starter. He’s firmly in the low-end RB2 conversation. As my RB21, I’d start Edmonds ahead of Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Ezekiel Elliott and David Montgomery.
• Christian McCaffrey (shin) is not listed: It was silly for CMC to ever be on the injury report in the first place; he was cleated in the shin on Thursday and practiced in full all week. Nobody deserves to be ranked higher in full-PPR scoring.
• J.K. Dobbins (knee) is questionable: Dobbins is a true game-time decision, which seems like awfully suspect decision-making for a player coming off such a serious knee injury. A full workload wouldn’t be a given even if Dobbins had practiced in full all week. He’s my RB38 if active and that feels too high. Please try to find someone else to start. Mike Davis will be a middling RB4 if Dobbins is ruled out. Kenyan Drake’s brief tenure with the team could limit his ability to split the backfield early in the season, but maybe not.
• Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) is on the PUP list: Antonio Gibson is set up rather nicely as the Washington Commanders’ lead back as a home favorite against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. He’s a top-16 option at the position this week with the potential to flirt with 20-plus touches if a positive game script emerges. Of course, J.D. McKissic is still around to limit the overall upside at hand. Hopefully, Jonathan Williams doesn’t factor too heavily into the equation.
• Isaiah Spiller (ankle) is good to go: Stay away from any Los Angeles Chargers running back not named Austin Ekeler until further notice.
• Kenneth Walker (hernia) is not practicing: It’s impossible to trust anything that comes out of Pete Carroll’s mouth when it comes to injuries, but at this point, it’s truly tough to expect Walker to do much of anything on Monday night. This locks in Rashaad Penny as the featured early-down back, but just realize Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas will also be involved. I’m cautiously cool with firing up Penny as an upside RB3 ahead of the New England Patriots running backs, Dameon Pierce, Kareem Hunt and A.J. Dillon, although I’d still start CEH, Zeke and David Montgomery over him.

Wide receiver

• Velus Jones (hamstring) is doubtful: Jones was never a realistic fantasy option to begin with. Darnell Mooney continues to be the only Chicago Bears wide receiver worth concerning yourself with in fantasy land
• Diontae Johnson (shoulder) is not listed: Johnson ended the week with a full practice; he’s a borderline WR2 at less than 100% ahead of Sunday’s rainy date against the Bengals, which is expected to feature a shadow date against No. 1 CB Chidobe Awuzie.
• Jakobi Meyers (knee) was limited all week and is listed as questionable: The Patriots always do this, although Meyers may truly be questionable after getting dinged up during the preseason. The Patriots’ tough matchup and potential for early-season struggles while allegedly implementing a new scheme make it tough to trust any of the pass-catchers involved in this offense.
• Jaylen Waddle (quad) fully practiced on Thursday and is not listed: Waddle is expected to play his usual allotment of snaps after getting in back-to-back full practices to end the week. While Tyreek Hill should be Miami's No. 1 pass-game option, Waddle is still on the WR2 borderline and especially playable in full-PPR. He’s my WR25 on the week, ahead of Jerry Jeudy, Brandin Cooks and Mooney.

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