It has been an exciting and unpredictable Week 1 of the NFL season as we immerse ourselves in fantasy football.  As always, injuries wreaked havoc on rosters and lineups so it is now up to GMs to call an audible and make adjustments.  So without further ado, here is the first edition of the fantasy football walking wounded for 2016.

Keenan Allen (WR-SD)

It did not take very long before the first devastating season-ending injury took place when Allen sustained a torn ACL in his right knee.  The Chargers placed the oft-injured wide receiver on IR thus ending his season.  Allen has now severely injured both of his knees in his young career, so fantasy GMs will be hesitant to put their trust in him as an early round draft pick in 2017.  Look for Travis Benjamin to assume the WR1 role in San Diego.

Russell Wilson (QB-SEA)

Wilson suffered an ankle injury during Seattle’s win over Miami in Week 1 but managed to finish the game and play through it.  Initial reports on Monday were that Wilson’s status for Week 2 was in jeopardy, but those concerns appear to have been quelled by the Seahawks.  Wilson will likely be limited in practice most of the week but should be just fine to take the field against the Rams next Sunday.  Seattle’s offense sputtered against the Dolphins but Wilson remains a must-start for Week 2.

 

Rob Gronkowski (TE-NE)

Fantasy GMs who drafted Gronkowski in the first round were immediately hung out to dry when he did not make the trip to Arizona and missed Week 1 with a hamstring injury.  Gronk is hopeful he will play next week against Miami so keep a close eye on this situation over the next several days.  He is clearly a must-start option if active and any additional time missed could have a severe impact on fantasy owners getting off to a slow start.

Sammy Watkins (WR-BUF)

The initial news on Watkins following Buffalo’s loss to Baltimore was not promising as it was speculated that he could miss some significant time.  However, reports on Monday indicate that he is just dealing with soreness in his foot and Watkins has guaranteed that he will play on Thursday night against the Jets.  Watkins is one of the most talented receivers in the league and can light up the fantasy scoresheet, but his constant nagging injuries have held him back and relegate him to a WR2 at best. 

Jamaal Charles (RB-KC)

Charles was inactive this past weekend as he still was not ready to take the field after undergoing season-ending surgery last year.  His status for Week 2 is questionable at best right now, but either way he is not a good fantasy option even if he suits up.  Spencer Ware had a big game filling in for him on Sunday and he remains the best fantasy option in the Chiefs’ backfield.  Charles will not be fantasy relevant for a while so stash him on your bench for now.

Zach Ertz (TE-PHI)

Ertz suffered a displaced rib up near his collarbone and could miss up to a couple weeks.  The Eagles have acknowledged that this isn’t something he can play through so Ertz’s status for Week 2 is in serious jeopardy.  The timing of this injury couldn’t come at a worse time as the Eagles are heavily featuring the tight end in their offense which clicked on all cylinders during their win over Cleveland.  Start getting a backup plan ready at tight end for next week when the Eagles play the Bears next Monday night.

Julius Thomas (TE-JAX)

Thomas had a solid performance against Green Bay catching five passes including one for a touchdown.  He is primed to have a big season in an improved Jaguars’ offense if he can stay healthy.  Jacksonville announced that he suffered an ankle injury during the game against the Packers but it did not seem to impact his ability to stay on the field and be productive.  Follow up on this throughout the week out of caution, but right now you can confidently stick him in your lineup next Sunday against San Diego.

Robert Griffin III (QB-CLE)

The once promising RGIII thought he had a fresh start in Cleveland but the dream is over for now after suffering a serious left shoulder injury.  The Browns placed him on Injured Reserve and he will be re-evaluated in a few weeks.  RGIII was atrocious against Philadelphia and was not going to be a viable fantasy option anyway.  However, this injury could be the end of the road for him which is a terrible shame, especially considering where he was just a few years ago.

Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and is also the co-host of the Fantasy Alarm podcast. You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment),