Fantasy football injury situations to watch for Week 5

Welcome to the Week 5 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 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

• Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (finger) — Obviously this injury won’t matter for your Week 5 lineups, but it’s the big injury news of the week. Wilson had a torn tendon, a fracture and a dislocation of the finger Thursday and went into surgery Friday. Initial timetable for his recovery is six weeks, though Seattle has a Week 9 bye, so he’s likely shooting for Week 10. For however long he’s out, Geno Smith is a low-floor fantasy option, and this hurts the stocks of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett as well.
• Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers (calf) — He will miss Week 5, giving Trey Lance the first start of his career. Lance is an immediate back-end fantasy QB1. If Lance does well, he may remain the starter, but coach Kyle Shanahan said Garoppolo will be the starter when he’s healthy again (the team has a bye in Week 6).
• Teddy Bridgewater, Denver Broncos (concussion) — Bridgewater is on pace to play, giving a slight boost to the Broncos skill players.

Running back

• Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers (hamstring) — He’s listed as doubtful for Week 5, though CMC sounded optimistic Thursday and practiced Friday. It’s possible he plays, but it seems more likely Chuba Hubbard is a tail-end RB2 again for one more week.
• Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings (ankle) — Cook missed the first two practices of the week and got light work Friday. He did play through this same injury las week but ended with only 11 touches as he was limited. Alexander Mattison is in play this week and is a top-10 option if Cook misses.
• Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers (ankle) — He was limited in every practice this week but is already ruled in for Sunday’s game. He’s in play as an RB1 even with AJ Dillon’s role growing.
• Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team (shin) — Gibson has been playing through a stress fracture in his shin. He’s going to play Sunday, but his long-term availability is now a question mark. He’s a tail-end RB1 or high-end RB2 against the Saints this week.
• Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (ankle) — Mixon did not practice this week, which is usually a very bad sign for Sunday availability. He may end up being a game-time decision — but at least the Bengals kick off at 1 p.m. ET. Samaje Perine would see rush attempts if Mixon misses, and Chris Evans would get a bump in targets, though neither makes for an amazing fantasy option. Mixon is a risky RB2 if he plays given the threat of being limited.
• Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys (knee) — He’s questionable but expected to play. Elliott is firmly in play as a fantasy RB1.
• Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals (shoulder) — Edmonds missed Wednesday and Thursday but got in a limited practice Friday. He will be a game-time decision, but the game kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET, so fantasy players need a backup plan. Edmonds has been a fantasy RB1 in PPR leagues through four weeks and is a must-start if he plays. If he misses, James Conner becomes a must-start.
• David Montgomery, Chicago Bears (knee) — Montgomery is expected to miss 4-5 weeks. Damien Williams becomes a tail-end fantasy RB1 or high-end fantasy RB2 for as long as Montgomery is out.
• Melvin Gordon, Denver Broncos (lower leg) — Gordon missed Wednesday practice but was limited Thursday and Friday. Gordon is likely to play and will continue to split the backfield with Javonte Williams as a viable flex play.
• D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions (groin) — Swift should play. He’s been on the questionable list all year but hasn’t been limited in any games.
• Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions (hip) — He was limited all week but should be able to play. Williams has seen his target share decrease (9, 3, 2, 0) but his rushing attempts increase (9, 7, 12, 14) through four weeks. He’s a flex option but has limited upside with his targets decreasing.
• Peyton Barber, Las Vegas Raiders (toe) — Barber won’t be a key player in Las Vegas’ offense with Josh Jacobs healthy, but if Barber is out or limited, it may mean an even bigger role for Jacobs (and possibly a few extra snaps for Kenyan Drake).

Wide receiver

• Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons (personal) — Ridley will not play Sunday for non-injury reasons. Kyle Pitts is a must-start. Olamide Zaccheaus becomes a punt option if you’re needy at WR.
• A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans (hamstring) — He was limited in the first practice of the week but a full participant in the final two. He’s going to play and should see a lot of targets with Julio Jones out.
• Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans (hamstring) — Jones is out for Week 5, paving the way for A.J. Brown and Derrick Henry to have monster volume roles.
• Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys (hamstring) — Cooper is expected to play. He played only 48% of the snaps last week after injury his hamstring but was still able to haul in a 35-yard TD. Cooper is still a fantasy WR2.
• Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers (hamstring) — Claypool was limited in the team’s first two practice but a full participant Friday and will play.
• Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (ankle) — Sutton injured his ankle in Friday’s practice. Jerry Jeudy is still out, as is KJ Hamler. If Sutton misses, Tim Patrick becomes a very solid flex play or WR3.
• Curtis Samuel, Washington Football Team (groin) — He’s questionable but likely to play. Dyami Brown is out for Week 5, as is Cam Sims, which means Samuel should be in line for more work assuming he plays. He saw four targets on 35% of the team’s snaps last week (his first week back). He’s a desperate flex play but not a must-start by any means.
• DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins (shoulder, hamstring) — He was limited all week and is nursing both a shoulder and hamstring injuries. He’s likely to be a game-time decision. If he doesn’t play, Jaylen Waddle becomes a fantastic fantasy play this week and Mike Gesicki bumps firmly into the TE1 group.
• Will Fuller, Miami Dolphins (finger) — Fuller has been placed on IR and will miss at least three games. DeVante Parker (assuming he plays), Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki should comprise the majority of Miami’s target tree now.
• Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (hamstring) — Shepard didn’t practice again this week and will miss Week 5. Kenny Golladay is a solid WR3/flex, while Kadarius Toney makes for a boom/bust option. Evan Engram should see more targets but is just an “OK” streaming TE option given this lackluster production through two games (7-48-0).
• Darius Slayton, New York Giants (hamstring) — Everything that can be said for Shepard above applies to Slayton as well.

Tight end

• George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers (calf) — Kittle was dealing with this injury last week and played 92% of the snaps and saw 10 targets, but he’s now listed as doubtful for Sunday and didn’t log any practices this week. It’s not a great sign. If he plays, you start him, but a backup plan is certainly needed at this point.
• Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ribs) — Gronkowski will miss his second game after cracking four ribs, breaking a rib and puncturing his lung. The Bucs have a short turnaround for Week 6, playing Thursday night. Gronkowski may be a long shot for that game, too. Cameron Brate is a streaming TE option after seeing 6 targets last week.
• T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions (knee) — Hockenson didn’t practice Wednesday and logged limited sessions Thursday and Friday. He’s questionable for Week 5. Darren Fells is his backup but doesn’t need to be on the fantasy radar if Hockenson misses. If you’re a Hockenson manager, it’s time to get a backup.
• Logan Thomas, Washington Footbal Team (hamstring) — He’s on IR and will miss at least three games. Ricky Seals-Jones is the backup and is on the fantasy streaming radar. Seals-Jones logged 4 targets last week and secured a TD back in Week 2. With a banged-up group of pass-catchers, Seals-Jones’ role may be bigger than people expect.
• Maxx Williams, Arizona Cardinals (shoulder) — Williams missed practice on Wednesday and was limited Thursday and Friday. He’s a streaming TE option with two big games in his last three, posting lines of 7-94-0 in Week 2 and 5-66-1 in Week 4. He’s gong to be a streaky option with so many weapons in Arizona.

Original injury run

Quarterback

New injuries this week:

• Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers (calf) — He played the first half but none of the second with a calf injury. For what it’s worth, he tried to play through it — so it’s not a completely debilitating injury. But Garoppolo did say after the game that he expected to miss a couple weeks at least. In that second half, Trey Lance went 9-of-18 for 157 yards and 2 TDs. He added 7 rushes for 41 yards. In short: Lance is a fantasy goldmine. If he starts, he’s immediately in the fantasy QB1 conversation.
• Teddy Bridgewater, Denver Broncos (concussion) — Bridgewater will have to clear the concussion protocol before returning. In the meantime, Drew Lock will be the Broncos QB. He’s a perfectly capable backup and from a fantasy perspective, there’s not much change from Lock to Bridgewater — except it’s likely the highs will be higher and the lows will be lower.

Players who were already hurt: 

• Andy Dalton, Chicago Bears (knee) — Dalton missed Week 4. Justin Fields was better in his second start, but still not spectacular. The QB job in Chicago is likely still up in the air once Dalton is healthy. Neither player is a must-own, but Fields obviously has higher upside.

Short-term IR players: Tua Tagovailoa (droppable), Ryan Fitzpatrick (droppable), Tyrod Taylor (droppable)

Running back

New injuries this week:

• Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings (ankle) — Cook was either not fully healthy or was re-injured in Week 4 (this might belong in the lower section), because he finished the game with only 9 rush attempts and was seen limping around halftime before hardly playing in the second half. Alexander Mattison would be a fantasy RB1 again if Cook misses more time.
• David Montgomery, Chicago Bears (knee) — Montgomery suffered a knee injury late in the game. The underrated fantasy RB1 was immediately ruled out and will undergo further testing Monday. Early results indicate a hyperextended knee and no major injury. If further tests reveal a more significant injury, Damien Williams becomes a must-add.

Players who were already hurt: 

• Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers (hamstring) — Chuba Hubbard handled 15 touches in CMC’s absence, but TD vulture Sam Darnold took the high-value carries. Still, Hubbard is an RB2 while we wait for McCaffrey’s return.
• D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions (groin) — I’m hoping he’s removed from the injury report this week so I can stop writing about him. He’s not limited on game days.
• Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers (ankle) — Jones was limited all week but played in Week 4 and handled 18 touches. However, AJ Dillon saw 15 rushing attempts too. The volume was still there for Jones, though, and he’s a fantasy RB1 still.
• Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders (toe/ankle) — Peyton Barber will handle Vegas rush attempts while Jacobs is sidelined — though there’s a chance Jacobs is back as soon as the team’s Week 4 Monday game. Kenyan Drake’s role is unchanged with or without Jacobs as he fills in through the air.
• Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (knee) — Taylor gained 103 yards and a TD on 16 rush attempts and caught three passes. Marlon Mack earned 10 carries, which may be a byproduct of Taylor nursing his knee, but 19 touches for Taylor is golden either way.
• Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams (ribs) — Henderson was limited this week but still handled 19 touches as the clear lead back. Henderson appears over his injury.
• Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers (shoulder) — Mitchell was limited this week and missed Week 4. Trey Sermon had 19 carries for 89 yards as the lead back, but he saw no targets. Sermon is a flex consideration as long as he’s the starter.

Wide receiver

New injuries this week:

• Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys (hamstring) — Cooper was hurt in the first quarter but returned shortly after and went on to catch a 35-yard TD. Cooper was already playing through an upper-body injury, so this is definitely a situation to monitor.
• Will Fuller, Miami Dolphins (hand) — Fuller hurt his hand and was ruled out shortly after. Nobody replace this deep-threat ability in Miami, but the trio of Jaylen Waddle, DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki should continue to be the focal point of the passing offense in a relatively narrow target tree.
• Dyami Brown, Washington Football Team (knee) — Curtis Samuel returned and displaced Brown, and then Brown got hurt. Brown appears to be much more of a dynasty asset right now than 2021 contributor.

Players who were already hurt: 

• A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans (hamstring) — Brown missed Week 4. Chester Rogers, Josh Reynolds and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine — and RB Jeremy McNichols — filled the void left by Brown and Julio Jones. Oh, and Derrick Henry had 33 rushing attempts even in a losing effort.
• Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans (hamstring) — Jones missed Week 4. Chester Rogers, Josh Reynolds and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine — and RB Jeremy McNichols — filled the void left by Jones and A.J. Brown. Oh, and Derrick Henry had 33 rushing attempts even in a losing effort.
• Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers (hamstring) — With Claypool out, the Steelers predictably force-fed Diontae Johnson even more. He finished the game with a 9-92-1 line.
• Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (hamstring) — Shepard traveled for Week 4, a potentially good sign for his availability next week. Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram each had at least 5 receptions with Shepard and Darius Slayton out.
• Darius Slayton, New York Giants (hamstring) — Slayton traveled for Week 4, a potentially good sign for his availability next week. Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram each had at least 5 receptions with Slayton and Sterling Shepard out.
• Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers (hamstring) — Randall Cobb was the Packers WR to step up with MVS out for Week 4, as Cobb caught 5 passes for 69 yards and 2 scores.
• Elijah Moore, New York Jets (concussion) — Moore missed practice this week and the game. Jamison Crowder took advantage of less slot competition and produced a 7-61-1 line.

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)

Tight end

New injuries this week:

• Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team (hamstring) — Thomas left the game early and didn’t return. Ricky Seals-Jones is Washington’s next man up at TE, but he’s nothing more than a TD-or-bust punt even in a starting role.

Players who were already hurt: 

• George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers (calf) — Kittle seemed uninhibited and was finally unleashed in the offense, albeit ineffectively. He saw 11 targets in Week 4. The results this week weren’t good, but the usage is arguably more important for his season-long outlook.
• Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ribs) — Gronk has multiple cracked ribs and a punctured lung, and he’s far from a guarantee to return in Week 5. It may take a few weeks for the rejuvenated Gronk to return to the field.