Week 1 Fantasy Football Injury Report

It’s Week 1 in the NFL, and the injury report for fantasy football is likely to be as short as it will be all season long. The league can be a war of attrition, though, and we already have some players who will miss the first game of the season.

Fantasy Football Injury Report: Week 1

Russell Wilson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have a new-look quarterback room but might have to start their backup in the first week. Russell Wilson was not doing a whole lot at practice Friday while Justin Fields ran the offense, as it appears that Wilson is still dealing with a calf injury. The report is he will have a Sunday morning workout before the decision is made, but the Steelers are preparing to start Fields. There are plenty of flaws in what Fields brings to the field in real life, but there aren’t many quarterbacks who can put up the scores he can for fantasy. In the past two seasons, Fields has been a top-10 option in points per game at the position. If Wilson is out, Fields will be stone chalk in DFS and should likely be started in a lot of leagues.

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 17: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches the ball for a touchdown during the game against the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals on September 17, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire — CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 17: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches the ball for a touchdown during the game against the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals on September 17, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire

It sure looks like the Bengals could be without both of their top receivers in Week 1, or at least that they won’t have either operating at 100%. Let’s start with Tee Higgins, who hurt his hamstring Thursday and was downgraded to doubtful Friday. We also have Ja’Marr Chase listed as questionable because of his contract dispute, and the report is if he plays, he will be limited since he’s missed almost every practice in the offseason. My bet is Chase will top out at around 40-50% of the snaps, so he can try to get his legs under him for Week 2 against Kansas City.

In the meantime, Andrei Iosivas was already listed as the starting slot receiver, and he’s been drawing rave reviews at camp. Rookie receiver Jermaine Burton has had a learning curve by the same reports, so it also opens up Trenton Irwin in the passing game. Iosivas is going to be among the chalkiest players on the DFS slate Sunday, but Irwin could be a fascinating pivot. That could open up running backs Chase Brown and Zack Moss as well. The Bengals should still be able to handle New England, and they might be able to lean on the run more. I’m not very interested in stacking the Bengals in DFS, but the value pieces can come in clutch when building lineups.

Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 24: Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (1) catches a pass during the Indianapolis Colts versus Baltimore Ravens NFL game at M&T Bank Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Baltimore, MD. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire) — BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 24: Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (1) catches a pass during the Indianapolis Colts versus Baltimore Ravens NFL game at M&T Bank Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Baltimore, MD. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

There are plenty of questions about Anthony Richardson as a traditional quarterback and how many receivers he can keep afloat for fantasy. Michael Pittman Jr. is the alpha in the offense, but Indy will be without Josh Downs for the first week due to an ankle injury. Alec Pierce and rookie Adonai Mitchell will help fill that gap. Pierce ran 578 routes last year and was on the field constantly without huge production, so the excitement would go toward Mitchell. He should get the first crack at the WR2 role but is largely unknown since Richardson missed so much time in 2023.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans

DeAndre Hopkins is legitimately questionable since he has an MCL injury that held him out of most of the preseason. Newcomer Calvin Ridley would gain the benefit of being the alpha in the passing game for sure as opposed to a 1A and 1B option for quarterback Will Levis. Tyler Boyd would also see an expanded role out of the slot, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens with Hopkins Sunday morning.

Keenan Allen, WR, Chicago Bears

Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is one of the most hyped prospects to enter the NFL in a bit, but he might be missing a weapon in Week 1. Keenan Allen is being listed as questionable with a heel issue after being limited in practice until Friday. Coach Matt Eberflus said the outlook is good, so he’s not expected to miss, but sometimes teams can elect to be careful in Week 1.

Tommy Tremble, TE, Carolina Panthers
Ian Thomas, TE, Carolina Panthers

Both Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas are out Sunday, so the Panthers are down to Ja’Tavion Sanders and Jordan Matthews at tight end. Now, it’s debatable if that truly matters for fantasy, but they are the minimum price in DFS. You can mix them into MME builds, but the Panthers had just 58 receptions from their tight end corps last year and added both Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette to this offense.