Fantasy football injury situations to watch for Week 7

Welcome to the Week 7 injury report and fantasy football impact article. Injuries are the worst part of football, but we can’t pretend like they don’t happen and 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 featuring injuries known on game-day. But because we don’t always know all of the bumps and bruises sustained until practices begin, we’ll also run an update Saturday so you have the latest info and analysis before kickoff.

Saturday Update

Here are the fantasy-relevant players nursing injuries. These players were either limited at practice or did not practice at all in their most recent practice report (typically Friday). Note that some other players may be playing through injuries that don’t prevent them from being limited or missing practice, so they won’t be listed here. This list is for the injuries that are serious enough to keep them off the field, even in practice.

Quarterback

Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns (shoulder) — Mayfield missed Thursday’s game. Case Keenum is a poor streaming option in the meantime and all Browns pass-catchers are downgraded.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (ribs) — He was limited this week but will start. He’s just a streaming option.
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers (calf) — Jimmy G was limited most of the week but will be the starter in Week 7 with Trey Lance (knee) logging DNPs all week.

Running Back

Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (ankle) — Barkley is out for Week 7 after not practicing two weeks in a row. Devontae Booker remains a solid fantasy RB2 in the meantime as New York’s fill-in workhorse.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team (shin) — Gibson has been playing through this shin injury with no limitation come game day, but it has prevented him from practicing in full for several weeks. It remains a situation to monitor but doesn’t impact his status as an every-week fantasy starter.
D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions (groin) — Swift has been limited in practice all year, but it has not impacted his game status yet. Start him.
Alex Collins, Seattle Seahawks (core) — Collins missed practice Thursday and Friday. He will be a game-time decision for a Monday game, making him extremely risky as a fantasy starter this week. Rashaad Penny will likely be the starter and a solid spot start during a heavy bye week if Collins misses.
Latavius Murray, Baltimore Ravens (ankle) — Murray missed practice this week and will miss Week 7. Devonta Freeman, who logged 9 rushes for 53 yards and a score last week, will be the primary ball-carrier for the Ravens. Le’Veon Bell will spell Freeman, and Ty’Son Williams will likely be active. Freeman is a viable flex option.
Sony Michel, Los Angeles Rams (shoulder) — Michel was limited Friday but is expected to play. He’s a punt flex play this week with the heavy byes because the Rams are expected to smash the Lions in Week 7. Just keep in mind that if the game is close, Darrell Henderson will see the vast majority of the touches and Michel could produce a near-zero floor game.
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns (calf) — Chubb missed Thursday night. D’Ernest Johnson logged 24 touches for 160-plus yards and a TD and is an every-week starter for as long as Chubb and Kareem Hunt are out.
Kareem Hunt, Cleveladn Browns (calf) — Hunt has been shipped to IR and will be out at least three weeks. D’Ernest Johnson logged 24 touches for 160-plus yards and a TD and is an every-week starter for as long as Chubb and Hunt are out.

Wide Receiver

Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs (quad) — Hill was limited with a quad all week. He dealt with this injury last week but played through it and still logged 12 targets and a TD. Start him.
DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks (foot) — Metcalf logged a DNP Friday, which is a concerning development considering the Seahawks play Monday night. But he missed a practice late last week and still played. Fantasy mangers should probably roll the dice with Metcalf’s availability in Week 7, but secure a backup plan just in case.
Antonio Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ankle) — Brown missed practice this week and is out for Week 7. His 20% team target market share is now up for grabs, with most of those targets likely going to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, who now have fantastic floor/ceiling combinations for Week 7. Tyler Johnson is a punt play for the desperate.
Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans (hamstring) — Jones was limited this week, but he’s expected to play in Week 7.
Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears (ankle) — Robinson was limited this week but is expected to play. It’s his best chance yet for a rebound game against the Buccaneers. He’s a WR3/flex but with legit upside this week.
Odell Beckham, Cleveland Browns (shoulder) — Beckham played Thursday night but appeared to re-aggravate his shoulder. Consider him week-to-week as a WR3/flex play when he’s on the field.
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts (quad) — Hilton was a DNP Friday and appears to be on the wrong side of questionable for Week 7. Michael Pittman is a must-start and a great play if Hilton misses. Hilton is a flex is he’s able to suit up.
Kenny Golladay, New York Giants (knee) — Golladay was DNP all week and will miss the game. He’s week-to-week at this point. Sterling Shepard should dominate targets in the meantime.
Kadarius Toney, New York Giants (ankle) — Toney also missed practices all week and is considered week-to-week. Sterling Shepard should dominate targets in the meantime.
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (hamstring) — Shepard was limited and questionable for the game, but he’s expected to play and lead the team in all receiving categories. Start him if he plays.
DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins (shoulder/hamstring) — These nagging injuries kept Parker out of Week 6 and limited in practice this week. Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki have become fantasy forces with the extra opportunities — just keep in mind that their floor/ceiling combo will be hamstrung once Parker is back out there, which may happen as soon as Week 7.
Curtis Samuel, Washington Football Team (groin) — Samuel can’t get or stay on the field this season. Dyami Brown improved in Week 6 and may earn more looks as a result. He’s not a must-add, but certainly the name to monitor. Ricky Seals-Jones is also an every-week starter at TE at this point.
Darius Slayton, New York Giants (hamsring) — Slayton was limited this week and appears to be nearing his return. He’s a flex play if he’s able to suit up as a likely starter in New York’s depleted offense.
Sammy Watkins, Baltimore Ravens (thigh) — Watkins missed practice this week and is out for Week 7.

Tight End

Darren Waller, Las Vgeas Raiders (knee) — It’s a little unclear if Waller missed practice because of a knee injury or rest, but it’s notable. You’re starting Waller if he plays, of course, but perhaps a lingering knee injury is the reason behind his major drop in target share.
Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ribs) — Gronk logged DNPs again this week and is already out for Week 7. O.J. Howard is the Bucs TE to own in the meantime.
TJ Hockenson, Detroit Lions (knee) — Hockenson was limited at practice this week, as he was the two previous weeks, but he should be able to play through and remain in fantasy lineups.
Evan Engram, New York Giants (calf) — Engram was added as “questionable” for Week 7 this week with the same calf injury that kept him out for the first month of the season. If he plays, he’s just a streaming TE option.

Original Injury Run

Quarterback

New injuries this week:

Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns (shoulder) — Mayfield hurt his shoulder but returned. He’ll undergo an MRI this week. It’s certainly a situation to monitor.

Player who were already hurt:

Nothing major.

Short-term IR players: Russell Wilson (keep stashed)

Running Back

New injuries this week:

Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns (calf) — He suffered a non-contact injury but it is not an Achilles, fortunately. It still doesn’t seem great, though, and fantasy manager should be prepared for Hunt to miss some time. Nick Chubb missed Week 6 with his own injury, and the Browns have a short week before playing Thursday. Demetric Felton and D’Ernest Johnson should split the backfield if both Chubb and Hunt miss, and both would be worthy waiver targets.
Latavius Murray, Baltimore Ravens (ankle) — Murray exited late with an ankle injury after scoring once and gaining 56 yards on 10 touches. He’s a flex option when heathy. Devonta Freeman and Le’Veon Bell are the next men up, with Ty’Son Williams likely to fill in if Murray misses.

Player who were already hurt:

Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers (hamstring) — McCaffrey landed on short-term IR, putting him out through at least Week 9. The Panthers seriously misled everyone regarding CMC’s status. Chuba Hubbard is a fantasy RB2 while McCaffrey is out.
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns (calf) — Chubb missed practice all week and missed the game. Kareem Hunt then suffered his own injury, and the Browns play Thursday night. Demetric Felton and D’Ernest Johnson should split the backfield if both Chubb and Hunt miss, and both would be worthy waiver wire targets.
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (ankle) — Barkley hasn’t been placed on IR, which suggests New York thinks he may be able to return as soon as next week. Devontae Booker is a solid fantasy RB2 in the meantime.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team (shin) — Gibson logged a season-low 12 touches in Week 6. Whether that was injury related or game flow related is debatable, but my hunch is that it was the latter as the Football Team lost 31-13 and J.D. McKissic logged a season-high 8 receptions.
Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks (neck) — Carson has been placed on IR and will not be eligible to return until at least Week 9. Collins is an RB2/flex play but has limited upside in the receiving game and may be gamescript-dependent.
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (ankle) — Mixon logged 23 touches and is good to go.
Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals (shoulder) — Edmonds had a season-low 7 touches, but the Cardinals rolled in this one. Still, Edmonds was more involved in wins earlier in the season. He may not get his 14-16 touches again until he’s 100% healthy.
Melvin Gordon, Denver Broncos (hip) — Gordon recorded his usual 12-15 touches, and the injury does not appear serious.
Damien Harris, New England Patriots (ribs) — Harris had his best game with 18 carries for 101 yards and a score. He appeared to tweak something and lost a TD rush to Rhamondre Stevenson as a result, but Harris returned. Harris is a gamescript-dependent RB2.
Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions (hip/illness) — Williams recorded a season-low 5 touches in a blowout loss. He’s officially 100% gamescript-dependent as a flex.

Wide Receiver

New injuries this week:

Kadarius Toney, New York Giants (ankle) — Toney suffered a first-quarter injury and didn’t return. The emerging star is a must-start at this point when he’s healthy. If he misses, Sterling Shepard becomes a must-start, and Kenny Golladay would get a bump once he returns to full health too.
Parris Campbell, Indianapolis Colts (foot) — Campbell missed the second half. He hasn’t been on the fantasy radar but was emerging as a possible boom/bust play, posting a line of 4-56 last week and catching a 51-yard TD this week before the injury.
Terrace Marshall, Carolina Panthers (concussion) — Marshall suffered a concussion. He’s not on the fantasy radar.

Player who were already hurt:

Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs (quad) — Hill seemed very questionable all week but played and caught 9 of 12 passes for 76 yards and a TD. He aggravated the injury and missed time during the game. Hill’s slate-breaking upside is probably gone while this injury lasts (he was visibly in pain at times), but his status as a fantasy WR1 is not.
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (ankle) — Jefferson went 8-80-0 and his ankle injury does not appear limiting.
Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers (knee) — Williams posted a 2-27-0 line, but the entire Chargers offense fell flat, so it’s impossible to know if the poor line was injury-related or just team-related.
Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team (hamstring) — McLaurin was held to 4-28-0 after landing on the injury report on Friday. His hamstring is clearly something to monitor.
Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings (foot) — Thielen was not limited and dropped a massive 11-126-1 line.
Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears (ankle) — Robinson was limited in Week 6 and posted a 6-4-53-0 line. He remains a WR3/flex option.
Kenny Golladay, New York Giants (knee) — Golladay missed practices last week and the game. The Giants WR room is a revolving door of health at the moment, but with everyone healthy, the top three clearly seems to be Toney, Golladay and Shepard — but the exact order of that trio remains to be seen.
DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins (shoulder/hamstring) — Parker missed the game which naturally put Mike Gesicki (8-115-0) and Jaylen Waddle (10-70-2) in the spotlight, and both thrived.
Darius Slayton, New YUork Giants (hamstring) — Slayton will still have big-play ability, but as noted above, he seems firmly in fourth (at best) in the Giants WR room when everyone is healthy — which he still isn’t (he didn’t play).

Short-term IR players: Jarvis Landry (keep stashed); Michael Thomas (keep stashed); Jerry Jeudy (keep stashed); Michael Gallup (keep stashed); Tre’Quan Smith (stashable but not a must); Will Fuller (stashable but not a must)

Tight End

New injuries this week:

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (arm) — Kelce missed a few plays after seemingly hurting his arm, but he returned and played his usual role. He should be fine, but something to keep an eye on this week.

Player who were already hurt:

Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ribs) — Gronkowski is week-to-week. O.J. Howard is the Bucs TE to own in the meantime.
T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions (knee) — Hockenson was not limited during the game, catching 8 of 11 targets for 74 yards.
Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers (knee) — Tonyan played but certainly does not need to be rostered at this point with just 11 catches for 92 yards and 1 TD through six games.

Short-term IR players: George Kittle (keep stashed); Logan Thomas (keep stashed)