• Create a contingency plan for Johnson: Pittsburgh Steelers WR Diontae Johnson should play in Week 1 despite an A/C joint sprain in his shoulder; however, fantasy managers need to be aware that Johnson might have to wear a harness and carries re-injury risk.
• Don't start Godwin: It would be unwise for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to rush back star WR Chris Godwin for Week 1, but even if he does play, fantasy managers should look elsewhere because he's going to be extremely limited.
• Sit Kittle: San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle has played through injury throughout his career, but the risk outweighs the reward Week 1. Even if he plays, he carries significant re-injury risk and should only see limited snaps.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
A player's injury status can have a significant effect on both real life and fantasy football. So, each week, PFF injury analyst Mario Pilato will comb through the official injury reports for each NFL game and give updates and analysis for fantasy-relevant players.
Injuries are fluid, so make sure to stay up to date by following @PFF_Mario on Twitter.
KEY
DNP: Did not participate in practice
LP: Limited participation in practice
FP: Full participation
(-): Not listed
OUT: Player will not play
D: Player is unlikely to play
Q: Player is not certain to play
Rest: Not injury-related or resting veteran
Last updated: 09:15 pm ET, Friday, Sept. 9
LAR @ BUF | BLT @ NYJ | NO @ ATL | NE @ MIA | CLV @ CAR | PIT @ CIN |
SF @ CHI | PHI @ DET | IND @ HST | JAX @ WAS | KC @ ARZ | LV @ LAC |
GB @ MIN | NYG @ TEN | TB @ DAL | DEN @ SEA
Sunday, Sept. 11
Baltimore Ravens @ New York Jets
Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status |
J.K. Dobbins | RB | BLT | Knee | RB41 | 13.9 | LP | LP |
Nick Boyle | TE | BLT | Rest/Ankle | N/A | 0.4 | – | DNP |
Zach Wilson | QB | NYJ | Knee | N/A | 0.3 | DNP | DNP |
Injury Analysis: Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins has been slow to recover from his multi-ligament injury that he suffered in early September of last year. I am pessimistic he plays in Week 1 but if he ends up playing, I do not believe he would see a normal volume.
Jet's QB Zach Wilson suffered a bone bruise and meniscal tear in the first preseason game. He will not play in Week 1 and I believe he will come back in the next four weeks.
New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons
Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status |
Drake London | WR | ATL | Knee | WR40 | 11.6 | LP | (-) |
Michael Thomas | WR | NO | Hamstring | WR25 | 11.4 | LP | LP |
Parker Hesse | TE | ATL | Personal | N/A | 2.9 | DNP | (-) |
Tre'Quan Smith | WR | NO | Groin | WR115 | 2.8 | DNP | DNP |
Dwayne Washington | RB | NO | Hamstring | N/A | 0.0 | DNP | DNP |
Injury Analysis: Falcons WR Drake London has been dealing with knee injury since the first game of the pre-season. He has been limited this week but I do believe he makes his NFL debut in Week 1.
Saints WR Michael Thomas has been dealing with a hamstring injury for the past couple of weeks. I believe he is dealing with a Grade 1 and will be ready for Week 1. WR Tre-Quan Smith has a groin injury and has been ruled out for Week 1. He is likely dealing with a Grade 1 strain, RTP two to three weeks.
New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins
Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status |
Jaylen Waddle | WR | MIA | Quad | WR21 | 12.2 | LP | FP |
Jakobi Meyers | WR | NE | Knee | WR49 | 11.1 | LP | LP |
Chase Edmonds | RB | MIA | Groin | RB22 | 9.5 | LP | FP |
Ty Montgomery | RB | NE | Knee | RB79 | 2.6 | LP | LP |
Myles Gaskin | RB | MIA | Neck | RB85 | 1.8 | LP | FP |
Salvon Ahmed | RB | MIA | Heel | N/A | 1.0 | LP | LP |
Alec Ingold | RB | MIA | Hamstring | N/A | 0.0 | LP | LP |
Tanner Conner | TE | MIA | Knee | N/A | 0.0 | LP | LP |
Injury Analysis: Dolphins RB Salvon Ahmed has been a limited participant all week with a heel injury. I do not believe it is a major concern and he will be ready for Week 1.
Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers injured his knee in the final preseason game and his been limited in practice all week. I am optimistic Meyers plays in Week 1. RB Ty Montgomery suffered a potentially serious ankle injury in the preseason finale. The Patriots have interestingly enough labeled Montgomery as a knee injury on their report. When I saw his injury I thought he would be a long shot to play Week 1, he has a chance to play but is likely a game-time decision.
Cleveland Browns @ Carolina Panthers
Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status |
Christian McCaffrey | RB | CAR | Shin | RB1 | 19.5 | (-) | FP |
Eddy Pineiro | K | CAR | Left Hip | K32 | 8.0 | FP | FP |
Giovanni Ricci | TE | CAR | Hip | N/A | 0.0 | LP | LP |
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status |
Diontae Johnson | WR | PIT | Shoulder/Cramps | WR19 | 10.6 | LP | LP |
Drew Sample | TE | CIN | Knee | N/A | 1.5 | FP | FP |
Trent Taylor | WR | CIN | Hamstring | N/A | 1.4 | (-) | LP |
Mitchell Wilcox | TE | CIN | Ankle | N/A | 0.3 | LP | LP |
Devin Asiasi | TE | CIN | Quad | N/A | 0.0 | DNP | DNP |
Injury Analysis: Steelers WR Diontae Johnson has been dealing likely with an A/C joint sprain in his shoulder. I believe he will play in Week 1 but he may require a harness and/or pain injection. If he does land in a similar manner he could easily reinjure his shoulder.
San Francisco 49ers @ Chicago Bears
Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status |
George Kittle | TE | SF | Groin | TE5 | 12.8 | DNP | TBD |
Jimmy Garoppolo | QB | SF | Right Shoulder | N/A | 0.3 | FP | TBD |
Injury Analysis: 49ers TE George Kittle was reported to be dealing with a groin injury Monday. He is a tough player that is known for playing through injuries but I just do not believe he will be ready for Week 1. If he does he as at high risk for making the groin injury worse and would be limited on the field.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions
Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status |
Miles Sanders | RB | PHI | Hamstring | RB28 | 10.6 | FP | FP |
Austin Seibert | K | DET | Right Groin | K27 | 8.6 | LP | FP |
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans
- No fantasy-relevant players listed
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Washington Commanders
Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status |
Logan Thomas | TE | WAS | Knee | TE39 | 5.7 | LP | LP |
John Bates | TE | WAS | Calf | TE41 | 3.0 | FP | FP |
Cam Sims | WR | WAS | Concussion | N/A | 2.8 | LP | LP |
Cole Turner | TE | WAS | Hamstring | N/A | 0.0 | LP | LP |
Kansas City Chiefs @ Arizona Cardinals
Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status |
JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR | KC | Knee | WR30 | 11.4 | FP | FP |
Rondale Moore | WR | ARZ | Hamstring | WR48 | 10.1 | (-) | LP |
Zach Ertz | TE | ARZ | Calf | TE9 | 9.5 | LP | DNP |
A.J. Green | WR | ARZ | Hip | WR73 | 8.8 | FP | FP |
Jonathan Ward | RB | ARZ | Shoulder | N/A | 0.2 | LP | LP |
Injury Analysis: Cardinals WR Rondale Moore has been ruled out of Week 1 with a hamstring injury. He is likely dealing with a Grade 1 strain and could miss one to three weeks. TE Zach Ertz sandwiched Thursday's DNP with two limited practices due to his calf issue. I am optimistic Ertz is ready in time to play Week 1.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers
- No fantasy-relevant players listed
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status |
Donald Parham | TE | LAC | Hamstring | TE36 | 4.9 | DNP | DNP |
Isaiah Spiller | RB | LAC | Ankle | RB69 | 2.1 | FP | FP |
New York Giants @ Tennessee Titans
Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status |
Sterling Shepard | WR | NYG | Achilles | WR90 | 8.9 | LP | LP |
Injury Analysis: Giants WR Sterling Shepard has been working his way back since tearing his Achilles last season. He will be ready to play Week 1 but his production will likely get better as the season progresses.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Dallas Cowboys
Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Wed. Status | Thurs. Status |
Dak Prescott | QB | DAL | Ankle | QB11 | 20.4 | (-) | LP |
Russell Gage | WR | TB | Hamstring | WR57 | 13.6 | LP | LP |
Chris Godwin | WR | TB | Knee | WR42 | 10.9 | FP | DNP |
Julio Jones | WR | TB | Not Injury Related | WR56 | 6.3 | DNP | FP |
Giovani Bernard | RB | TB | Ankle | RB82 | 3.6 | LP | LP |
Michael Gallup | WR | DAL | Knee | N/A | 0.0 | LP | LP |
Injury Analysis: Bucs WR Chris Godwin has been making great progress from his multi-ligament injury he suffered in early January. I do not believe it is smart for a Super Bowl-aspiring team to rush their star player back from a serious injury. Risk drastically decreases after nine months. I believe he will not play in Week 1, but if he does play he will likely be extremely limited volume-wise and will increase as the season goes. WR Russell Gage will likely be ready for Week 1 after dealing with a hamstring issue for the past few weeks.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott suffered an ankle injury this week but it sounds like it was more of a shoe malfunction. He will be ready to go Week 1. WR Michael Gallup has been working his way back from an ACL tear. He did not get surgery until February so I do not believe he plays Week 1 and will not play until around the nine month mark.
Monday, Sept. 12
Denver Broncos @ Seattle Seahawks
Name | Position | Team | Injury | Fantasy Rank | Proj. points | Thurs. Status |
Kenneth Walker III | RB | SEA | Hernia | RB68 | 8.4 | DNP |
K.J. Hamler | WR | DEN | Knee/Hip | WR77 | 9 | LP |
Injury Analysis: Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III is recovering from his hernia surgery and I do not expect him to be ready for Week 1. He should be ready to make his rookie debut in the next week or two.
Broncos WR K.J. Hamler has made great progress with his serious knee/hip injury he suffered 11 months ago. I believe he will be ready to go for Week 1.