Injury Status: Championship Games

Thu Jan 25 9:02am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

The good news is the injury reports aren’t too long this week. Now there are a few key players hurting, though, which could impact the game. The Chiefs have some injuries along the offensive line and the 49ers could be without one of their best offensive players. So it isn’t all great when it comes to injuries. There are a few to watch.

Here is the latest. . . .

Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens. It is looking more and more like Andrews will make his return this week. He is practicing in full and seems closer to full strength than last week. He has yet to be activated from Injured Reserve but look for that to happen before the week is out. Andrews still might not play his usual role in the game but look for him to be out there and helping the team.

Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs. Pacheco has a toe injury and is out of practice to start the week. He is resting more than anything, though, and it seems the toe injury isn’t too serious. It would be a shock if Pacheco is not active for the big game this week. He should be ready to go.

Marlon Humphrey, CB, Ravens. Humphrey has not played since Week 17 because of a calf strain. He is back at practice this week, though, and trending towards being ready for the game. It would be a big boost to the secondary to have Humphrey back in the lineup for the Ravens.

Skyy Moore, WR, Chiefs. Moore seemed finally close to returning last week, returning to some practice. But he seemed to have a setback late last week with the knee injury. He missed Friday’s practice and has not practiced since. This is not a good sign for a return for Moore. He should miss another week of action.

Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers. Samuel has the big injury to watch this week. He was knocked from last week’s game because of a shoulder injury. He is out of practice to start this week. He is apparently not dealing with a significant injury but it is serious enough that it could sideline him this week. He is truly up in the air to play. It might come down to a game-time decision for Samuel.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 5

Player Notes
Gardner Minshew II Oct 7 7:20pm ET
Gardner Minshew II

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce declined to name a starting quarterback on Monday after the team's Week 5 loss to the division-rival Denver Broncos in which Gardner Minshew II was benched in favor of Aidan O'Connell. Minshew went 12-for-17 for 137 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions (one pick-six) in the eventual 34-18 blowout loss. O'Connell didn't exactly do anything to impress after replacing Minshew, though, going 10-for-20 for 93 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Minshew has completed a career-high 70.7% of his 140 pass attempts through five games in 2024, but he has only four touchdowns and five interceptions and has been sacked 15 times. It's not helping either Minshew or O'Connell that the Raiders appear to be on the verge of trading Pro Bowl wideout Davante Adams. Whoever is named the starting QB will be a low-upside QB2 in fantasy in Week 6 versus a tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

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Zay Jones Oct 7 7:20pm ET
Zay Jones

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Zay Jones was reinstated from his five-game suspension by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday and he can officially rejoin the team. However, the Cardinals are expected to request that they be given a roster exemption for one or two weeks for Jones after he was suspended under the league's personal-conduct policy. So the 29-year-old is unlikely to play in the upcoming Week 6 contest against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Jones will eventually be competing for the WR3 role in Arizona with Greg Dortch behind rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. The former second-rounder of the Buffalo Bills in 2017 out of East Carolina belongs on the waiver wire in the vast majority of fantasy leagues. Jones played in nine games (seven starts) for the Jaguars in 2023 and had a 34-321-2 line for Jacksonville.

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Rashee Rice Oct 7 7:10pm ET
Rashee Rice

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that while Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice's (knee) season is expected to be over, he received positive news on Monday from Dr. Dan Cooper, according to sources. Rice needs his right LCL to be fixed, but there's a chance that's all he needs fixed, and he's expected to make a full recovery. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports there's "a lot of optimism" that Rice didn't suffer a knee injury as significant as initially believed, according to a source. He will have an arthroscopic procedure on Tuesday to determine the full extent of his knee injury, but the belief now is that it could be a "much shorter" recovery timeline than initially believed. It's unclear if Rice actually has a chance to return this season, but the bottom line is that fantasy managers need to hang onto him for now. The likelihood is still pretty remote that Rice will be able to help fantasy managers when it matters most in the playoffs, but nothing is ruled out just yet.

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Clyde Edwards-Helaire Oct 7 7:00pm ET
Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) remains on the Non-Football Injury list and will not play on Monday night against the New Orleans Saints to close out Week 5 action. Edwards-Helaire had his practice window opened last week, but he was listed as doubtful to play this week on Saturday's final injury report. KC will continue forward with Kareem Hunt, Samaje Perine and rookie Carson Steele on Monday night with CEH still out and Isiah Pacheco (leg) on Injured Reserve. The 25-year-old hasn't played this year as he deals with post-traumatic stress issues. When Edwards-Helaire does return to the Chiefs, he'll just be battling with Steele to be on the active game-day roster. The Chiefs have their bye in Week 6, so we won't see Edwards-Helaire until Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers at the earliest.

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Tua Tagovailoa Oct 7 6:50pm ET
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) is scheduled to meet with an expert on head injuries during the team's bye in Week 6. It was reported last week that Tagovailoa has been symptom-free since suffering another scary concussion in the Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills. However, the 26-year-old was placed on Injured Reserve, and there's currently no timetable for his return. Tagovailoa will be eligible to come off IR for Week 8, but expecting him to return that soon would be foolish. The good news is that it sounds as though Tagovailoa has a shot to play again this year, which seemed unlikely at the time of his injury. At least for Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts, Tyler Huntley is expected to make a second straight start under center for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa deserves to be stashed as a QB2 in single-year fantasy leagues.

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Tyler Huntley Oct 7 6:50pm ET
Tyler Huntley

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said that he would "guess to forecast" that quarterback Tyler Huntley will remain the team's starting quarterback, regardless of Skylar Thompson's (ribs) status. The Dolphins are on bye in Week 6, but if Thompson is fully recovered from his rib injury coming out of the bye, it still sounds like Huntley will given a second straight start in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts. Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) won't be eligible to come off Injured Reserve until Week 8, but there's a good chance he won't be cleared by then. Huntley went 18-for-31 for 194 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in the Week 5 win over the division-rival New England Patriots. Miami's offense will be a shell of its former self until Tagovailoa can return. Huntley will remain a desperation QB2 play in superflex leagues.

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Jalen Tolbert Oct 7 6:48pm ET
Jalen Tolbert

Dynasty | Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert had seven catches for 87 yards and a touchdown in a win against Pittsburgh. Dynasty Analysis: Tolbert led the team in catches and targets while the Steelers focused much of the defensive game plan on CeeDee Lamb. Tolbert now has double digit fantasy points in three of four games and is quickly emerging as a legitimate option in fantasy leagues. With Brandin Cooks on injured reserve, Tolbert has a chance to take the WR2 job in Dallas and run with it. He'll be a flex consideration moving forward and maybe more if he can keep it up.

Rico Dowdle Oct 7 6:48pm ET
Rico Dowdle

Dynasty | Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle had 87 rushing yards, two catches, 27 receiving yards, and a touchdown in a win against the Steelers. Dynasty Analysis: After beginning the season in a rotation with Ezekiel Elliott, Dowdle has now taken over the backfield in Dallas. He had 22 touches this week compared to just six for Elliott. While his production has been far from dominant, his workload merits him to be in consideration each week. The Cowboys could still bring up Dalvin Cook but it seems Dowdle is going to finally get a chance to earn the job. He's a solid hold in dynasty leagues.

Trent Taylor Oct 7 6:43pm ET
Trent Taylor

San Francisco 49ers WR Trent Taylor reverted back to the practice squad Monday, Oct. 7, after being on the active roster for the Week 5 game.

From TheHuddle

Travis Etienne Oct 7 6:40pm ET
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said that running back Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) "got popped pretty good" on his shoulder in the Week 5 win over the division-rival Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Etienne had only six carries for 17 yards in the game but did help salvage some of his fantasy day with six receptions for 43 yards. Peterson said Etienne's carries from scrimmage were limited to keep him out of harm's way. The 25-year-old played 22 offensive snaps to Tank Bigsby's 23, while Bigsby had 13 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Bigsby also had a 28-yard catch. Etienne should be good to go for the Week 6 game in London against the Chicago Bears, but even if/when he puts his shoulder injury in the rearview mirror, it's looking like Bigsby will continue to demand a larger share of the backfield touches next to Etienne

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Matthew Stafford Oct 7 6:30pm ET
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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) came out of the Week 5 loss to the Green Bay Packers with a sore back, but it shouldn't impact Stafford's availability coming out of the Week 6 bye. It's something to note, but Stafford should be fine to play next against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7 at SoFi Stadium. The 36-year-old definitely has had much more of a challenge putting up points the last several weeks without both of his top receivers, Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee). Through the first five weeks of the 2024 season, Stafford has been the QB25 in fantasy with 1,238 passing yards, only three touchdowns and three interceptions. You aren't getting any rushing production from the aging veteran, either. Stafford isn't guaranteed to have Kupp or Nacua back in Week 7, although the matchup is a nice one at home against Vegas' D.

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Romeo Doubs Oct 7 6:20pm ET
Romeo Doubs

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs plans to attend practice on Wednesday coming out of his meeting with the team on Monday, according to a source. The source said that Doubs' meeting with the team "went well" after he was suspended for the Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Rams for conduct detrimental to the team. Doubs decided not to show up to a few practices last week because he has been upset with his role in the offense, which led to him being suspended for Sunday's contest. It sounds like the 24-year-old will return to the mix in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals in a solid matchup, and if Christian Watson (ankle) misses a second straight game, Doubs could get the squeaky wheel treatment and be fed plenty of targets by quarterback Jordan Love. Doubs was a big part of Green Bay's offense last year and finished with 674 yards and eight touchdowns.

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Cooper Kupp Oct 7 6:20pm ET
Cooper Kupp

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that a Week 7 return for wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) "would be an ideal target" while adding that was the "optimistic target date" from a few weeks ago. "By no means is that guaranteed," McVay said. The head coach declined to say whether Kupp would be back at practice after the team's bye in Week 6. A sprained left ankle suffered back in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals has kept the 31-year-old sidelined ever since. Fantasy managers are desperately waiting for Kupp's return, as he was looking like his 2021 self when he was named the Offensive Player of the Year. Through two games before spraining his ankle in 2024, Kupp had 18 catches on 27 targets for 147 yards and one touchdown. With Puka Nacua (knee) on Injured Reserve as well, Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Whittington have seen role boosts.

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Geoff Swaim Oct 7 6:13pm ET
Geoff Swaim

Cleveland Browns TE Geoff Swaim reverted back to the practice squad Monday, Oct. 7, after being on the active roster for the Week 5 game.

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Evan Engram Oct 7 6:10pm ET
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson thinks that tight end Evan Engram (hamstring), who hasn't played since the season-opening loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, is likely to return for the Week 6 contest in London against the Chicago Bears. "I think the chances of him getting back in here this week are pretty good," Pederson said. Engram injured his hamstring before the Week 2 game and hasn't played since. However, the 30-year-old was able to practice last week and is nearing his return. Fantasy managers are probably going to be hesitant to use him as a TE1 in London against a strong Bears defense if he returns, but remember that the former first-rounder did lead all TEs in catches a year ago. In four weeks that Engram hasn't played, backup Brenton Strange has filled in nicely as a TE2 in fantasy with 120 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

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Khalil Shakir Oct 7 5:00pm ET
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott called wide receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) day-to-day on Monday. The Bills will continue to evaluate Shakir's ankle injury after he was forced to sit out of the Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. The 24-year-old will hope to make some progress in practice this week and hopefully have a chance to return this Sunday against the division-rival New York Jets in Week 6. Fantasy managers will have a better idea of whether Shakir can return later on in the week. In his absence in Houston, quarterback Josh Allen and Buffalo's offense really struggled to sustain drives and put up points in a 23-20 loss. Allen threw for a season-low 131 yards on just nine completions, and rookie receiver Keon Coleman led the team in receiving on a 49-yard touchdown reception.

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Brian Robinson Jr. Oct 7 5:00pm ET
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said running back Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) came out of the Week 5 win over the Cleveland Browns "well." Robinson didn't have a carry in the second half of the game on Sunday, which Quinn said was "a coaching decision" as they monitor his knee. In the first half, B-Rob had seven carries for only 18 yards, but he saved the day for his fantasy managers by finding the end zone twice in an easy win over Cleveland. With the Commanders up big in the second half, there was really no need to push the 25-year-old after he came into the game questionable due to a knee injury. Robinson has five rushing touchdowns through five weeks, but fantasy managers have to be a little concerned that his workload will continue to be monitored heading into a Week 6 contest versus the Baltimore Ravens.

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Chris Conley Oct 7 4:53pm ET
Chris Conley

San Francisco 49ers WR Chris Conley (oblique) and WR Jacob Cowing (shoulder) are considered day-to-day because of injuries, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

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Nico Collins Oct 7 4:50pm ET
Nico Collins

After initially being deemed day-to-day on Monday, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said that the team will evaluate wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) "week-to-week." "It takes a hamstring a couple weeks," Ryans said. Collins managed to catch both of his targets for 78 yards and his third touchdown of the season in the Week 5 win over the Buffalo Bills before leaving the game, and now his status for the Week 6 contest against the New England Patriots is firmly up in the air. Fantasy managers should already be preparing as if he won't be available this week. The 25-year-old's status will be more clear once the Texans hold a few practices later this week. He currently has a league-high 567 receiving yards through five weeks and would be a big loss for Houston's offense. Second-year wideout Tank Dell, would be the biggest beneficiary in the Texans offense from a fantasy standpoint if Collins misses any time.

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Joe Mixon Oct 7 4:50pm ET
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Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said that running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is still being evaluated this week. "Definitely improving, see where he is as the week goes on," Ryans said. Mixon tweaked his ankle in the Week 2 win over the Chicago Bears and hasn't played since. The Texans are going to play it coy with Mixon's status for now, but we should have a better idea of his status for Week 6 versus the New England Patriots once the team resumes practicing on Wednesday. There's also the status of Dameon Pierce (hamstring) to take into account in this backfield. Pierce hasn't played since Week 1 but is apparently getting close to a return. Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale have been splitting the backfield for Houston in each of the last three weeks, but Mixon will be the Texans' primary back once he's fully healthy.

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