Fantasy football injury situations to watch for Week 1

Injuries are the worst part of football, but we can’t pretend like they don’t happen or that they don’t have an impact on fantasy football decisions.

Each week during the 2021 NFL season, I’ll walk us through the key injury news and notes to know each week. We’ll do an initial run Monday and an update Saturday so you have the latest info and analysis before kickoff.

Saturday update

(See the early-week injury info at bottom.)

Here are the fantasy-relevant players who were either limited at practice or did not practice at all in their most recent practice report (typically Friday).

Quarterback

• Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers (finger) — Lance was a limited participant in practice all week. He’s not the Week 1 starter and shouldn’t be in fantasy lineups this week. Still worth keeping on your bench, though.

Running back

• Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (knee) — Barkley was limited all week and has the Questionable tag for Sunday. He’ll play and should be in your lineups, but the workload is likely be to somewhat reduced for at least the first few games.
• Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers (hamstring) — Ekeler was hurt early in the week and missed practices Wednesday and Thursday. He was back on the field as a limited participant on Friday and appears on track to play in Week 1. If he plays, you play him, but Justin Jackson would be the biggest riser if Ekeler misses time.

Wide receiver

• DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks (calf) — Metcalf was limited Friday but is already listed as IN for Sunday’s game. You can start him with confidence.
• Odell Beckham, Cleveland Browns (knee) — Beckham didn’t play in the preseason and was a limited participant all week. We will not know Beckham’s availability until the inactive list comes out 90 minutes before 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday. Keep Beckham in your flex spot and/or have a backup plan at WR if he’s ruled out.
• Emmanuel Sanders, Buffalo Bills (foot) — Limited all week. Gabriel Davis would be the name to know if Sanders misses time.
• Nelson Agholor, New England Patriots (ankle) — Either limited or a non-participant all week (limited on Friday), questionable for the game. The limited session on Friday suggests he should play, but he will contend with Jakobi Meyers for the No. 1 role in New England.
• Curtis Samuel, Washington Football Team (groin) — Samuel was placed on IR and will miss Weeks 1-3 at a minimum. Rookie big-play threat Dyami Brown is an add in 12-team leagues or bigger.
• Keelan Cole, New York Jets (knee) — Cole did not practice Friday and is listed as a game-time decision on Sunday. Corey Davis and rookie Elijah Moore would see huge target shares if Cole is out.
• Jamison Crowder, New York Jets (Reserve/COVID-19 List) — Crowder is out for Week 1. Rookie Elijah Moore gets his chance right from the start.
• Tre’Quan Smith, New Orleans Saints (hamstring) — Smith was planned on IR Friday and will miss at least Weeks 1-3. Marquez Callaway may become an every-week fantasy starter in the meantime. Alvin Kamara gets a bump and Deonte Harris, Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Chris Hogan all enter the radar but are not must-adds.
• Preston Williams, Miami Dolphins (foot) — Limited in practice all week and questionable for Sunday. Tough matchup against the Patriots defense and shouldn’t be in fantasy lineups.
• Josh Reynolds, Tennessee Titans (foot) — Reynolds was limited Thursday and Friday. He’s not on the fantasy radar.
• James Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers (undisclosed) — Limited in Friday’s practice, but not on the fantasy radar anyway. Chase Claypool has the No. 2/3 role in Pittsburgh locked down.
• Kadarius Toney, New York Giants (hamstring) — Limited participant all week but already rule IN for Sunday. Not on the fantasy radar.

Tight end

• Evan Engram, New York Giants (calf) — Engram was limited in practice last week and then missed every practice this week and has been ruled OUT for Week 1. Kyle Rudolph becomes a TD-or-bust desperation play.
• Kyle Rudolph, New York Giants (foot) — Rudolph was limited in practice all week, but with starter Engram ruled out, Rudolph becomes a streaming TE option, albeit not the most exciting one.

Original injury run

Quarterback

• Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers (finger) — Lance has a finger injury with an estimated timeline that bumps right up against Week 1. It reduces his odds of being the SF starter right from go but shouldn’t change his general appeal for season-long.
• Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts (foot) — Wentz has hardly practiced with the first-team offense due to a foot injury and then a stint on the Reserve/COVID-19 List, but last week he participated in 11-on-11 drills and there’s optimism he’ll be out there for Week 1. He’s not on the radar in 1QB leagues, though.

Running back

• Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (knee) — Barkley has been increasing his workload all summer, culminating in actual contact last week at practice. It’s looking more and more likely that he’ll play in Week 1. To what extent remains to be seen. But if he plays, you start him.
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs (ankle) — CEH sprained his ankle in preseason Week 2 and missed preseason Week 3. It’s not supposed to sideline him for too long, but it’s certainly something to monitor for Week 1. Darrel Williams is his direct backup, but he’s also nursing an injury. Jerick McKinnon would be the next man up.
• D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions (groin, core) — Swift’s slow summer is now threatening his Week 1 playing time, both from a health standpoint as well as conditioning. Jamaal Williams is a must-roster in all leagues.
• Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams (thumb) — The Rams traded for Sony Michel and Henderson is nursing a thumb injury, but the severity of the injury isn’t known. If it’s enough to limit his touches, it could open the door for a solid role for Michel.
• Michael Carter, New York Jets (undisclosed) — He popped up as questionable but it’s supposedly not serious. Still something to monitor for the Jets’ starting RB.
• Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ankle) — Bernard suffered a “mild” high-ankle sprain but resumed practice Sunday. To what extent remains to be seen. If Bernard misses time (the Buccaneers play Thursday), Leonard Fournette becomes a solid Week 1 fantasy starter.
• Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears (knee) — Cohen is on the reserve/PUP list and will miss at least the first six games of the year. This locks in Damien Williams as the backup RB to roster in Chicago.
• Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings (undisclosed) — Mattison missed time at practice last week. He still belongs on fantasy benches as a top handcuff.

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Wide receiver

• Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints (ankle) — Thomas is opening the season on the PUP list and will be first eligible to return in Week 7. Stash him in your IR spot.
• A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans (knee) — Brown practiced last week and, despite a light workload this training camp, is expected to be just fine for Week 1. The long-term lingering knee issue isn’t great, though.
• Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (shoulder) — Jefferson missed time early in preseason with an AC joint sprain in his shoulder but resumed practicing in mid-August and should be ready for Week 1.
• Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans (undisclosed) — Jones has been ramping up his practice participating and appears on track for Week 1.
• Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks (groin) — Lockett is nursing a groin, but there’s nothing to indicate it’s very serious. Just something to monitor.
• Odell Beckham, Cleveland Browns (knee) — Beckham didn’t play in the preseason but is expected to be available for Week 1.
• Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers (hamstring) — He apparently looked 100% fine at practice last week. Nothing to worry about here.
• Kenny Golladay, New York Giants (hamstring) — Golladay practice last week and says he’s improving. He seems on track for Week 1, but monitor the situation.
• Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens (groin) — Bateman is opening the season on IR but is worth a stash in leagues with an IR spot.
• Tyrell Williams, Detroit Lions (groin) — He’s been dealing with a groin but has been practicing for the last two weeks. He’s the presumed WR1 in Detroit.
• T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts (neck) — Hilton received neck surgery and landed on IR, keeping him out a minimum of three games. Stash him in your IR spot for now. How long he will be out remains to be seen.
• Marvin Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars (shoulder) — He sprained his AC joint in late August but is expected to be ready for Week 1.
• D.J. Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars (finger) — Chark had finger surgery and missed time early in camp, but he’s expected to be ready for Week 1.
• Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings (thigh) — Thielen suffered a thigh bruise in preseason Week 3, and it sidelined him for their third preseason game. He should be ready for Week 1, but monitor the situation.
• Tre’Quan Smith, New Orleans Saints (undisclosed) — Smith missed practice time last week. If he misses Week 1, Marquez Callaway becomes an even better play.
• Jamison Crowder, New York Jets (groin) — Crowder is on the Reserve/COVID-19 List and is day-to-day with a groin injury. The age of Elijah Moore may come sooner than expected.
• Curtis Samuel, Washington Football Team (groin) — Samuel was removed from PUP in mid-August and has been limited ever since, but he seems on track for Week 1.

Tight end

• Noah Fant, Denver Broncos (leg) — Fant missed practices last week but will apparently be fine for Week 1.
• T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions (shoulder) — Hockenson appeared on the injury report in late August, but there’s no real reason to think he’ll miss Week 1.
• Irv Smith, Minnesota Vikings (knee) — Smith’s season is either entirely over or mostly entirely over the point that he can be dropped. Christopher Herndon is not worth a roster spot in seasonal leagues but may carry some streaming TE appeal down the line.
• Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (shoulder) — He has been limited in practice with a shoulder injury. It’s a situation to monitor, especially with Henry contending with Jonnu Smith for looks in New England’s offense.
• Adam Trautman, New Orleans Saints (ankle) — Trautman was given a timeline of 1-3 weeks in late August, throwing his Week 1 availability into question. He’s a sleeper pick, but he’s not a required hold on your roster with this injury.
• Evan Engram, New York Giants (calf) — Engram was limited in practice last week. He should be fine for Week 1, but the situation should be monitored.

Other positions

• Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys (COVID-19) — Martin’s absence will make life tougher for Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, but you certainly shouldn’t be benching either of those players. Their floor just gets lower, but it’s still plenty high.