• Major QB Questions: Justin Fields, Josh Allen, and Jimmy Garoppolo headline a handful of QBs facing injury concerns.
• Bye-pocalpse: Six teams on bye this week match a season-high (week 13) and stretches fantasy lineups even thinner.
• Dominate your fantasy league in 2023: For up-to-date fantasy draft rankings and projections, check out PFF’s fantasy rankings tool!
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Officially over a third of the way through the NFL season, we continue to face tough questions surrounding injuries to some of the league's most talented players. The Indianapolis Colts officially announced Anthony Richardson (shoulder) will miss the remainder of the season, meaning Minshew Mania is fully back, while contributors such as Diontae Johnson, Jamaal Williams, Pat Freiermuth, and Jeff Wilson Jr. are all set to return in full this week.
Likewise, Kyler Murray has returned to practice for the Arizona Cardinals and could play as early as next week barring any setbacks. We have a whopping six bye weeks to cope with this week, truly testing the depth and waiver wire management of fantasy managers. With just 13 games on the slate, we should be treated to some great matchups, but first, let’s have a look at the biggest injury news around the league and how it could affect your squad heading into Week 8.
Week 7 bye weeks
QB Justin Fields (thumb), Chicago Bears
After dislocating his thumb in Sunday’s loss, Fields has not practiced this week and is doubtful for Week 8, propelling undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent into the starting role. Bagent finished the Week 6 game after Fields left with mixed results, posting one big-time throw up the seam to D.J. Moore to go along with two turnover-worthy plays (including a game-ending interception) on 5.5 yards per passing attempt. Beyond Moore, it's hard to feel confident in any Chicago pass catcher this weekend even against a shaky Raiders secondary.
RB Christian McCaffrey (oblique), San Francisco 49ers
The PPR RB1 left the 49ers loss Sunday in the third quarter due to an oblique/rib injury and did not return. After putting in a limited practice on Wednesday, there is optimism he could return with an extra day of rest ahead of Monday night. If he plays, it is likely he is on some form of a pitch count, making Jordan Mason a sneaky play in deeper leagues due to his touchdown upside, but this is not an injury that is expected to affect CMC long-term.
QB Josh Allen (shoulder), Buffalo Bills
Allen suffered a shoulder sprain in Sunday night’s win. He was limited in practice Wednesday, but the injury is not expected to limit his immediate availability. There are concerns over whether it lingers, but unless it clearly affects his on-field play, this is not an issue to be worried about moving forward
RB Kyren Williams (ankle), Los Angeles Rams
One of the best surprises of the season thus far, Williams left the Rams' win late in Week 6, and despite positive reports immediately following the game, it is expected that he will miss multiple weeks to fully rehab, potentially sidelining him until the Rams' Week 10 bye. Likewise, backup Ronnie Rivers suffered a PCL injury in the game and was placed on injured reserve, forcing him out for the next four weeks. The remaining back on the roster that was in training camp is rookie Zach Evans, who was a popular waiver wire add this week, but the Rams also brought in Myles Gaskin, elevated Royce Freeman and brought back old friend Darrell Henderson. Henderson’s familiarity with Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay’s offense likely gives him the edge for high-leverage snaps, but this is a situation that will take at least a week to fully sort itself out.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (back), Las Vegas Raiders
After leaving at halftime of the Raiders win over New England, Garoppolo has been ruled out for this week, leaving the Raiders to rely on Brian Hoyer or Aidan O’Connell once again for Week 7 and potentially beyond pending the full diagnosis of the injury. Hoyer would certainly bode better for the Raiders' pass catchers, and against a Chicago defense that has allowed the fifth-most passing yards per attempt and the second-most passing touchdowns this season, fantasy managers can still feel OK about rolling out Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers this weekend.
QB Ryan Tannehill (ankle), Tennessee Titans
Tannehill went down with an ankle injury in the Sunday morning loss in London, dropping Malik Willis into the signal-caller role to finish the game. The Titans do have a bye this week, giving them an extra week to weigh their options between Willis and rookie Will Levis assuming Tannehill’s injury lingers. The Titans offense has not been encouraging this season, and Tannehill missing any extended time relegates their pass catchers to streaming or matchup-based plays.
RBs David Montgomery (ribs)/Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring)/Craig Reynolds (hamstring), Detroit Lions
Montgomery was limited to just 18 snaps before suffering a rib injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the Lions' Week 6 victory. In his stead, Craig Reynolds averaged just 1.6 yards per carry, but he also has popped up on the injury report this week due to a hamstring issue while Gibbs continues to rehab the hamstring that has sidelined him the previous two weeks. With Montgomery likely on the shelf this weekend after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday, Gibbs is expected to return and handle the bulk of the RB work with Reynolds (barring health) mixing in against Baltimore this weekend.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle), New England Patriots
Limited on Wednesday due to an ankle injury, Stevenson should be good to go for Sunday against the Buffalo Bills barring any setbacks. The Patriots offense has been disastrous this season, hampering Stevenson’s ceiling, but he is coming off his best finish yet, keeping him firmly in RB2 territory should he play.
WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring)/TE Dallas Goedert (groin), Philadelphia Eagles
Smith did not practice Wednesday but returned Thursday while Goedert was limited both days. Ahead of a highly anticipated matchup on Sunday night, these appear to be more precautionary than anything, but having a Sunday/Monday night pivot if you are relying on either is not a bad idea.
WR Amari Cooper (ankle) /QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder), Cleveland Browns
Cooper popped up on the injury report after missing Wednesday due to an ankle injury while Watson continues to rehab his throwing shoulder. Cooper’s status has been more about rest than the ankle itself, providing optimism around his Week 7 status. Watson has not played since Week 3 but returned to practice Thursday, giving him a chance to play Sunday as well. Keep an eye on their status Sunday morning.
WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder), San Francisco 49ers
Deebo was knocked out of the 49ers loss due to a shoulder issue and is reportedly day to day. He has a tendency to play through minor injuries, giving him a solid chance to play Monday, but a pivot to another WR3/FLEX would not be the worst idea if you are hesitant.
Others to monitor
WR Davante Adams (shoulder), Las Vegas Raiders
Adams was once again limited this week due to a shoulder issue dating back a few weeks. Barring anything unforeseen come Sunday morning, he remains a WR1 for this week against Chicago.
RB Roschon Johnson (concussion), Chicago Bears
A concussion suffered two weeks ago kept Johnson out of Week 6 and has his Week 7 availability in jeopardy after missing Wednesday’s practice, leaving D’Onta Foreman and Darrynton Evans to carry the load once again unless Johnson can clear protocol by this weekend.
RB Saquon Barkley (ankle) /QB Daniel Jones (neck), New York Giants
Jones was limited this week in practice but has not been cleared for contact, putting his status in doubt ahead of a matchup with Washington, while Barkley remains limited as well. Expect Tyrod Taylor to start again this weekend while another week removed from his high ankle sprain should offer more confidence for Barkley managers.
TE Sam LaPorta (calf), Detroit Lions
A late addition to the Week 6 injury report, LaPorta did not seem to be limited, as he played a career-high in snaps against Tampa, but he remains limited ahead of this weekend’s matchup in Baltimore. Barring a major setback, continue to fire the rookie phenom up as a TE1.
TE Hunter Henry (ankle), New England Patriots
One of the lone bright spots for the Patriots this season, Henry is struggling with an ankle injury that limited him Thursday and kept him out of practice Wednesday. He remains in TE2 territory despite a positive matchup with Buffalo this weekend.
WRs DK Metcalf (ribs)/Tyler Lockett (hamstring), Seattle Seahawks
Metcalf missed Wednesday’s practice as he continues to work through a rib injury that has plagued him the majority of the season while Tyler Lockett popped up on the injury report this week due to a hamstring ailment. While neither should be expected to miss Week 7, here is your reminder that Jaxon Smith-Njigba should be owned in all leagues and formats in the chance either Metcalf or Lockett miss time.
RB Aaron Jones (hamstring), Green Bay Packers
Coming off a Week 6 bye, Jones returned to practice and is expected to play Sunday. The Packers offense and run game has struggled in Jones’ absence, so a matchup with the Broncos' league-worst run defense could allow Green Bay to ease him back in while A.J. Dillon handles the bulk of the work. Consider him an RB2 with upside should he play.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.