Fantasy football injury situations to watch for Week 3

Welcome to the Week 3 injury report and fantasy football impact. 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 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). 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

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (rib) — He’s out for Week 3 with fractured ribs, and he’s considered week-to-week. Jacoby Brissett takes over as Miami’s starter in the meantime and is a deep streaming option against the Raiders, but certainly not the best option on the table.
Andy Dalton, Chicago Bears (knee) — Dalton is out with a bruised knee, paving the way for Justin Fields to make his first career start. Fields is a legitimate streaming option with huge upside thanks to his rushing ability, but the passing work might take a while to click (he completed only 46% of his passes in Week 2 with 60 yards, 0 TDs and an INT). Dalton is supposedly the starter again once he’s healthy, but we’ll believe that when we see it. Fields is way, way better for fantasy purposes.

Running back

Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams (ribs) — Henderson missed every practice this the week. He’s considered questionable and a game-time decision for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff game — the worst combination in fantasy football. It’s a brutal matchup against the Tampa Bay rushing defense even if he does play. You’re better off paying it safe and assuming he doesn’t play unless you have a really great backup plan. Sony Michel is a flex play if Henderson sits.
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders (toe/ankle) — Jacobs is doubtful for Week 3, setting him up to miss his second straight game. Kenyan Drake and Peyton Barber will split the backfield against the Dolphins. Barber paced the team in attempts last week (13 compared to 7 for Drake), but Drake still got his work through the air (5 catches for 46 yards). Drake is in play as a mediocre Flex option in PPR leagues, while Barber is a TD-or-bust flex play.
D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions (groin) — Swift was limited in practice all week and is questionable for Week 3. We think it’s safe to assume he’ll be out there, and you should keep him in your fantasy lineups.
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers (shoulder) — He missed practices this week and is considered day-to-day. It’s a great matchup against the Packers weak run D, but Mitchell’s health is a legitimate concern. If he doesn’t play, Trey Sermon will be the team’s starting RB and is a strong flex play.
Trey Sermon, San Francisco 49ers (head) — Sermon has been removed from the concussion protocol and appears primed to serve as San Francisco’s lead back after another wave of injuries to the RB room. He could see a hefty workload with only Trenton Cannon and Jacques Patrick to contend for touches.
JaMycal Hasty, San Francisco 49ers (ankle) — Hasty has been ruled out for Week 3 and likely beyond with a high ankle sprain. It gives Sermon a big opportunity.

Wide receivers

DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals (ribs) — Hopkins is questionable after missing practice all week. He’s a game-time decision, but the game is on the early slate (1 p.m. ET), so you’ll have plenty of time to make a switch if he’s out. A.J. Green, Rondale Moore and Christian Kirk all get boosts if Hopkins is out — as does Chase Edmonds — but no single player will replace Hopkins’ presence. Tall, lanky Green is the best bet to see some of Hopkins’ red-zone targets, though,
Kenny Golladay, New York Giants (hip) — Golladay was limited in practice all week and appears to be on the good side of questionable for Week 3. He’s a passable WR3 option as a player that will see good volume (14 targets in two games), but poor QB play (on 7 catches).
Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens (ankle) — He missed practice Wednesday and Thursday but returned in limited fashion Friday, suggestion he should have the green light for Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff. Brown has 12 receptions and 2 TDs so far this year and has made a case to be an every-week starter, at least until Rashod Bateman comes off IR.
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (shoulder) — Higgins was able to get a limited practice designation Friday — which is usually a great sign — but he’s doubtful for Week 3 nonetheless. Ja’Marr Chase becomes a top-20 WR if Higgins doesn’t play, and Tyler Boyd would become a WR3/flex you could feel good about.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers (knee) — Johnson is out for Week 3. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Chase Claypool are must-plays, and James Washington becomes a viable punt. Eric Ebron and Pat Freiermuth also get slight bumps, but not enough to push them into “good streaming TE” option territory.
Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns (knee) — Landry is out for a few weeks (he’s on short-term IR), but it coincides with Odell Beckham returning from injury, so the fantasy shockwaves aren’t as huge as they’d otherwise be. Landry’s absence alone is enough to make OBJ a great start in Week 3, but it may also open up targets for TE Austin Hooper.

Tight end

Evan Engram, New York Giants (calf) — Engram was limited in practice all week and is questionable for Week 3, his most optimistic game-day designation yet. If he plays, Sterling Shepard takes a hit, but not enough to take him out of lineups just yet. Engram is not in play as a weekly starter in 1TE leagues right now, but he’s not a terrible streaming option.
James O’Shaughnessy, Jacksonville Jaguars (ankle) — O’Shaughnessy landed on short-term IR. Chris Manhertz is the next man up for the Jaguars, but he doesn’t need to be on the fantasy radar. More targets for the RBs and Laviska Shenault.
Anthony Firkser, Tennessee Titans (knee) — Firkser is out for Week 3. Geoff Swaim should see between 2-4 targets with Firkser out, but he’s nothing more than a desperation play or 2TE-leaguer.

Original injury run

Quarterback

New injuries this week:

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (rib) — He suffered bruised ribs and didn’t return. Tagovailoa will get an MRI Monday. HIs backup, Jacoby Brissett, would be a steaming QB option in good matchups.
Andy Dalton, Chicago Bears (knee) — Dalton suffered a bone bruise but appears to have avoided a major injury. No word on Week 3’s starter for Chicago, but Justin Fields would be a streaming QB option if he starts. There’s also a chance Fields starts and never lets the job go. He should be rostered in every league.
Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts (ankle) — Wentz sprained both of his ankles late in Week 2. He will undergo tests Monday to determine the length of time (if any) he will miss. His backup, Jacob Eason does not need to be rostered in fantasy leagues.
Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans (hamstring) — Taylor has already been ruled out for Thursday’s game while the team completes an MRI on his injured hamstring. David Mills will get the start. He doesn’t need to be on fantasy rosters.
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns (shoulder) — Mayfield hurt his non-throwing shoulder but ended up not missing any snaps. It’s something to monitor, but it doesn’t seem serious.

Short-term IR players: Ryan Fitzpatrick (droppable)

Running back

New injuries this week:

Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings (ankle) — Cook suffered an ankle sprain but did play through it in Week 2. If he can’t play in Week 3, Alexander Mattison becomes a borderline fantasy RB1. Mattison needs to be rostered everywhere.
Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams (ribs) — Henderson was solid with 13 carries for 54 yards and a score (with 3 receptions too) before getting hurt in the fourth quarter. If he can’t play, Sony Michel steps right into Henderson’s role. Jake Funk would see work on passing downs but doesn’t need to be rostered.
Trey Sermon, San Francisco 49ers (head) — Sermon looked great on his first career touch but suffered a concussion. Keep him stashed for now.
JaMycal Hasty, San Francisco 49ers (ankle) — Hasty injured his ankle and will get more testing Monday. The 49ers backfield is in complete flux. Every 49ers player is rosterable, but their futures and future roles remain question marks — and health isn’t bringing clarity to the situation. Hasty can still be stashed on your bench, but he’s not a must-roster.
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers (shoulder) — The 49ers lead back (for now) hurt his shoulder but returned. If Hasty and Sermon both miss Week 3 (or beyond), Mitchell becomes an absolute smash play.

Players who were already hurt:

Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (knee) — Barkley is still ramping up. You probably feel forced to start him, but if you have two better options, don’t feel bad about using them until Barkely is himself again.
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders (toe, ankle) — Jacobs missed Week 2. In his absence, Peyton Barber took over lead rushing duties with 13 attempts to Kenyan Drake’s 7. Drake still saw the passing work (5 receptions). Drake is fine in PPR leagues with or without Jacobs, but it doesn’t appear he has a ceiling this year.
Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks (calf) — Chris Carson handled all but 1 of Seattle’s rushing attempts with Penny out.

Wide receiver

New injuries this week:

Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys (ribs) — Cooper hurt his ribs but played through it. He was ineffective on the day, catching 3-of-5 targets for 24 yards, but it’s hard to say that was injury related. If Cooper plays, you play him.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers (knee) — Johnson had 12 targets, 9 receptions, and 105 yards in Week 2 as Pittsburgh’s leading receiver. However, on the game’s last play, he appeared to suffer a serious knee injury. Test results this week will tell more, but if Johnson is out, Chase Claypool shoots up in value, JuJu Smith-Schuster sees a slight bump and James Washington becomes a desperate flex option.
Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns (knee) — Landry suffered an MCL injury and will undergo more tests Monday. It seems likely he’ll miss some time. If he’s out, Anthony Schwartz becomes Cleveland’s WR1 until Odell Beckham returns. For fantasy, just lean into the Browns RBs until their WRs are healthy.
Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons (ankle) — Gage was hobbled in Week 2 but played through it, taking periodic rests (presumably injury related). He only gained 28 yards on 6 targets though. He’s become borderline droppable, but not just yet.

Players who were already hurt:

Odell Beckham, Cleveland Browns (knee) — Beckham has been limited in practice for two weeks but hasn’t suited up. Consider him week-to-week. With Landry likely out, OBJ could step into a huge role as soon as he’s healthy.
Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills (ankle) — Davis played in Week 2 but produced a 0 in the stat line. With Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders and Cole Beasley, there’s no reason for the Bills to rush back a hobbled Davis.

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

Tight end

New injuries this week:

James O’Shaughnessy (ankle) — O’Shaughnessy only played 3 snaps in Week 2, catching 1 pass for 24 yards before exiting. If he plays in Week 3, he is a legitimate streaming option. He appears to be a core part of Jacksonville’s passing attack this year.

Players who were already hurt: