Week 1 is here and it’s time to get those players into our fantasy football lineups! Injuries are no joke, and even thought a guy can go out there and play most of a game, they may not be fully healthy (cough cough A.J. Brown cough cough). Let’s take a peek at the injury report of fantasy-relevant players and do our best to decipher who we can or can’t trust in Week 1.

As a reminder, if you do not see a player listed here who you saw in the previous article, they are no longer listed on the injury report.

 

 

 

NFL Week 1 Injury Report: Quarterbacks

Lamar Jackson, BAL

Lamar had a scary moment in camp, as the quarterback had to leave the field after an injury to his foot. Luckily, this injury did not limit him for long, and he was back at practice last week. Lamar is expected to be fully healthy and ready to go for their Week 1 matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

Matthew Stafford, LAR

9/6 UPDATE

After missing almost the entirety of the preseason, we got word today that Matthew Stafford will be ready to go on Sunday. While Stafford himself is firmly entrenched in the QB2 tier of players, this is huge news for his skill position players such as Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, as well as Kyren Williams. Not only can we fire up Stafford, but we have much more confidence in his options as well.

 

NFL Week 1 Injury Report: Running Backs

Christian McCaffrey, SF

9/6 UPDATE

To the dismay of everyone who has Christian McCaffrey on their rosters this year, CMC popped up on the 49ers' injury report this week with a calf injury. This adds additional concern due to the fact that this sounds shockingly similar to the Achilles tendonitis that sidelined him for most of 2024. This will be one to monitor, and while I expect CMC to play, Brian Robinson and Isaac Guerendo would both be capable in relief and will likely see a decent workload.

Roschon Johnson, CHI

Roschon Johnson has been dealing with a foot injury that has limited him throughout the preseason. Johnson is expected to open the season as the RB2 in new Head Coach Ben Johnson’s revamped offense, with many expecting him to play a role similar to what David Montgomery did last season in Detroit. Kyle Monangai is also dealing with an undisclosed injury, so the RB situation behind D’Andre Swift is murky at best. Until we get closer to game time, we should not be counting on any RB after Swift as a result to step up as the RB2.

9/6 UPDATE

With Roschon Johnson expected to be the RB2 for this new-look Chicago offense, it’s unfortunate to say he missed Thursday's practice with his foot injury. With rookie Kyle Monangai at least logging limited practices, there’s a strong chance that Monangai will be the RB2 in the opener as opposed to Johnson. I will be avoiding either option until we get more clarity on this backfield, but it's safe to say that Roschon should not be in lineups this week.

MarShawn Lloyd, GB

MarShawn Lloyd will start the season on injured reserve with a designation to return. Lloyd, expected to back up Josh Jacobs, has dealt with numerous injuries both in college and in the NFL and as a result has not been the piece both fans and the team expected. If you have drafted Lloyd, he is droppable unless you plan to keep him on IR to begin the year.

Joe Mixon, HOU

Joe Mixon’s injury has been much discussed this offseason, and Mixon is not currently expected to be available before October at the earliest. To make matters worse, Houston’s GM Nick Caserio stated that he was not even sure if/when Mixon would be available to return. 
Nick Chubb is expected to be the lead back in his absence, but anyone counting on Mixon should consider adding Woody Marks, the rookie in the backfield who offers a unique skill set as a pass catcher.

De’Von Achane, MIA

De’Von Achane has been dealing with a calf issue recently, but head coach Mike McDaniels has stated that as long as Achane has no setbacks, he will suit up and be good to go. With fellow Miami running back Jaylen Wright doubtful with his own injury, I would consider picking up rookie Ollie Gordon due to Achane himself being banged up. Gordon could provide standalone value this year, and with Achane’s injury, could find himself as the lead back should issues occur.

9/6 UPDATE

Achane has been dealing with a calf injury, but on Friday, Miami head coach Mike McDaniel stated that he is “absolutely” on track to play this week. The Miami RB room is riddled with injuries this week, so while I’d normally be a bit more cautious given Achane’s injury, the lack of RB’s on the roster past Ollie Gordon make me fairly confident that Achane keeps his RB1 upside this week.

Rhamondre Stevenson, NE

Rhamondre Stevenson was held out of the final preseason game due to an undisclosed injury. This could be due to the speculation out there that a trade was possible to allow rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson to take over the lead back role. Regardless, we must monitor the situation here as it seems Stevenson still maintains at least a sizeable portion of the workload in this new look offense.

Rachaad White, TB

White has been hampered by a groin injury throughout the preseason, but is expected to be ready to go for week 1. White lost work last season to Bucky Irving, and while it’s expected to be a split backfield again, White has clear advantages in pass protection and as a pass-catcher. We should keep an eye on White, who I still like as a deep RB2 option who provides RB1 upside should an injury to Irving occur.

Jaylen Wright, MIA

Jaylen Wright has been dealing with a leg injury, but unlike his backfield mate he won't play this week. Wright was ruled out on Friday, given that Wright had yet to log a practice this week. I’m expecting him to be inactive with Ollie Gordon taking the RB2 role for Miami in Week 1 as he’s the only other back on the depth chart right now. 

 

 

 

NFL Week 1 Injury Report: Wide Receivers

Darnell Mooney, ATL

Mooney returned to practice last week after dealing with a shoulder injury sustained early in the offseason. Mooney should be good to go for Week 1, but we still lack some information on this injury, as well as what this offense will look like. After sustaining his injury, Mooney is still expected to operate as the WR2 in this offense and is looking to build on his successful 2024 campaign, where he fell just shy of his 2nd 1,000-yard season and set a career high with five touchdowns.

9/6 UPDATE

Mooney was able to record a limited practice this week, and is questionable going into this matchup this weekend against Tampa Bay. That said, Mooney will be a game-time decision. If you have available options, I would lean against starting Mooney at this time. At minimum, I would place Mooney in one of my flex spots, so I have more options if he gets ruled out prior to game time.

Malik Nabers, NYG

9/6 UPDATE

Nabers did not practice on Friday, but is not listed on the injury report for Sunday's game against Washington. Fire up Nabers with confidence as a high-end WR1.

Khalil Shakir, BUF

Shakir has missed some time this preseason with an injury to his ankle, but he did return to practice last week. Shakir is expected to be ready to go for week 1, as he hopes to build on his 100-target season last year.

Keon Coleman, BUF

9/6 UPDATE

Coleman was limited in practice Friday, his third straight limited session, as he continues to deal with a lingering groin injury. Coleman was already a risky fantasy play given how much the Buffalo offense spreads the ball around, but I’m fully fading him until we can at least see him log some full practices.

Jalen Coker, CAR

Coker was placed on IR on Saturday due to a quadriceps injury and is expected to be out for between 4-6 weeks as a result. Coker, who was expected to take over a larger role in the Carolina offense as the starting slot receiver after the trade of Adam Thielen back to Minnesota, is a preferred IR stash for me, and I fully expect him to hop back into a big role upon return from injury. 

Marvin Mims, DEN

Marvin Mims is dealing with a groin injury, but did return to practice on Monday, Sept 1st. Mims is expected to continue to take on a larger role in the offense, but a groin injury for a player with his skillset is a major concern. Mims is not someone we were likely counting on for high-level production, but this removes him from lineup consideration for me until we can see that he’s fully healthy.

Christian Kirk, HOU

9/6 UPDATE

Kirk, in his first year with Houston, will have to wait to make his debut as he was ruled out today. Kirk suffered a hamstring injury that is expected to sideline him for at least the first two weeks of the season. With the addition of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the draft, I expect one of these two (more likely Noel than Higgins) to take his spot in the lineup this week. I’m hesitant on all pass catchers past Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz this week for Houston. 

Jayden Reed, GB

Jayden Reed has been diagnosed with a Jones fracture in his left foot, but is expected to play through the injury this season, according to Jason Wilde of CBS Madison. With Reed being a shiftier player, I’m expecting this injury to hamper his production in the early part of the season. With reinjury or lightened workload being a concern here, Reed falls down to flex consideration at most for me.

9/6 UPDATE

Reed has been hobbled by a suspected Jones fracture in his foot, but has returned to practice as of Thursday. That said, he does not look fully healthy, and with the addition of rookie WR Matthew Golden, Reed is no more than a flex option for me this week. I’m even nervous with the reinjury risk that presents himself and I would shy away if I have decent options.

Josh Downs, IND

Downs has yet to return to practice after suffering a hamstring injury on August 14th during the team's joint practice with the Green Bay Packers. That said, head coach Shane Steichen expects Downs to return to practice on Wednesday. Downs is looking to build on his performance from last season, and the offense is expected to flow more smoothly with Daniel Jones earning the starting QB job. This is one to monitor, but I’d fire Downs up as a WR3/Flex option should he be able to log full practices this week. 

Tyreek Hill, MIA

Tyreek Hill is dealing with an oblique injury, though he did practice through the injury this Monday. Tyreek was limited by injuries last season, putting up his worst full-season campaign since his rookie season in 2016, and his end-of-season actions caused him to not be named a team captain for the first time since he joined the team. I’m firing Hill up as a low WR1/high WR2 regardless of injury, as if he’s active, he can easily put up elite numbers once again.

9/6 UPDATE

Hill remains limited in practice with his oblique injury, but this seems to be mostly cautionary. Much like De’Von Achane, Hill is “absolutely” on track to play per head coach Mike McDaniel. Fire Hill up with confidence as a high end WR2/low end WR1.

Stefon Diggs, NEP

Diggs is expected to be ready to play week 1, according to head coach Mike Vrabel. Diggs is coming off a torn ACL sustained in Week 8 of the 2024 season, so production upside is limited. That said, Diggs is fully expected to be the WR1 for the new look New England Patriots, and I’m firing him up in lineups if he’s active this week. 

Jauan Jennings, SF

Jennings has returned to practice this week after being limited with a calf injury. Jennings is expected to be the WR1 for the team with the offseason departure of Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from his own injury sustained in 2024. Jennings had weekly WR1 upside for stretches of 2024, and I expect that to be the case again. Fire him up with confidence if he’s active. 

9/6 UPDATE

Fresh off his recent new contract that increased his potential compensation this year, Jennings was a limited participant in the team's practice Friday. That said, I’m expecting Jennings to be just fine and he can be fired up as a high-end WR2 given the upside he showed last season as the de facto WR1 in this San Francisco offense.

Jalen McMillan, TB

Jalen McMillan will begin the season on IR with a designation to return due to a neck injury. McMillan was expected to take a larger role this year with Chris Godwin recovering from the dislocated ankle he suffered last season, but between the addition of Emeka Egbuka in the draft and Godwin being activated from the PUP list to start the season, McMillan belongs on waiver wires at this point unless you don’t have a better player to stash on IR to begin the year.

Chris Godwin, TB

9/6 UPDATE

Godwin has been confirmed out this week due to his ankle injury and has yet to practice. I’m not expecting Godwin back until Week 5 at the earliest, so no surprise here. With no other WR listed on the injury report after the team placed Jalen McMillan on IR, I expect rookie Emeka Egbuka to remain startable with Mike Evans also healthy and ready to go for this offense.

 


 

NFL Week 1 Injury Report: Tight Ends

Darren Waller, MIA

9/6 UPDATE

Darren Waller had joined Miami earlier this offseason, but his season debut will have to wait. Waller had been dealing with a hip injury, and while he looked good to go, he suffered a setback and is officially out for Sunday's game.

Isaiah Likely, BAL

Likely is dealing with a foot injury that continues to keep him out of practice. As a player already in a rotational role with no clear line to starting, Likely can be dropped from squads without much concern. If he misses Week 1 and can be stashed on IR, dropping is not a necessity, but Mark Andrews is expected to continue to be one of the leading options in this offense.

9/6 UPDATE

Likely has yet to practice this week after suffering a foot injury this preseason and has officially been ruled out. With Likely already in a split workload, it’s safe to avoid or even drop Likely from rosters at this stage.