Well, that certainly didn’t take long.
After just two short weeks around the league, most fantasy rosters already feel the sting of the injury bug and are scrambling to field an entire team. Luckily, when a starter goes down, opportunities arise for those behind him, who become intriguing adds off of the waiver wire.
I’m here to help you navigate which situations are worth spending some FAAB or waiver priority on, along with how to prioritize claims and expected durations before the starter returns. I’m not a doctor (though my wife is, ironically), so I won’t give any diagnosis per se, but I will relay the latest updates from medical professionals when applicable.
It’s time to dive in.
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Fantasy Football Injuries to Know: Week 3
Quarterbacks
Jordan Love was inactive this past Sunday as he continues to rehab from a sprained MCL in his left knee, which he suffered at the conclusion of Week 1. Initial reports had him projected to return around Week 5, but head coach Matt LaFleur has been highly optimistic.
Love will still need to practice before he returns to the field, and in his absence, Malik Willis will continue to fill in. This week, the much-maligned Willis was serviceable in the team’s 16-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Still, I would not attempt to acquire him unless I participated in an intense superflex league as a QB2.
Tua Tagovailoa’s rocky start to the season worsened after he exited Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter with an apparent concussion. Immediately ruled out, Skylar Thompson was able to wrap up the conclusion of Miami’s lopsided loss. Anyone following Tagovailoa’s career knows that he has an extensive concussion history dating back to 2022 when the league updated protocols based on the Dolphin’s mismanagement of his return.
Updated reports state that he has no plans to retire, but there is also no timetable for his return until after he meets with specialists to determine the best course of action. He will likely miss at least several weeks, and in his absence, wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will take massive downgrades. Miami brought in Tyler Huntley from Baltimore’s practice squad as a backup option, but I’d expect Thompson to continue starting as he is more familiar with the playbook. Both backups are off fantasy radars.
Running Backs
Subjected to the “Madden Cover Curse,” Christian McCaffrey missed the first two games of the year before being placed on IR due to calf and Achilles tendinitis. Now sidelined until at least Week 6, Jordan Mason has been admirably filling in as his replacement. The team would be wise to give McCaffrey as much time as needed to let this flare-up subside, as tendinitis tends to lead to Achilles tears, which would cost him the entire season.
Mason was widely added and is rostered in over 92% of leagues, but I’m not here to discuss him. If you have a roster spot to burn, I’d encourage you to grab fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo, a size/speed metric demon from Louisville. Rostering the next man up in San Francisco is always a wise decision, given the success of the Shanahan offense. Guerendo is worth throwing a few dollars to as a speculative add and dart throw.
Joe Mixon played exceptionally well before being ridden to the turf by a hip-drop tackle. He immediately hobbled to the blue tent for examination before being helped to the locker room. Mixon could return to the game briefly, but his explosiveness was gone, and it is evident he was having difficulty pushing off his leg.
With backup Dameon Pierce also out, starting duties would fall to the recently acquired Cam Akers. Early reports from beat writers stated that Mixon’s injury wasn’t considered severe or long-term, but he will undergo further evaluation. Keep an eye on reports, and be prepared to spend a few dollars on Akers as a one-week rental if Houston plays things cautiously.
Another one bites the dust. The most significant injury of the weekend, Isiah Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula when defenders wrapped up his legs and then awkwardly bent them backward. Early reports have the three-down bell-cow back missing at least six to eight weeks and potentially longer if surgery is required, pending MRI results.
With immediate backup Clyde Edwards-Helaire also sidelined, running back duties fall to rookie Carson Steele and pass-catching specialist Samaje Perine. The team is also discussing bringing in veteran assistance with Kareem Hunt. Regardless of whether Hunt signs, I’d prioritize adding Steele first as the early-down and goal-line option for Kansas City, followed by Perine if you happen to be in a deeper PPR format. I don’t think Hunt factors in as an add unless Pacheco misses the entire season.
Rachaad White briefly left Sunday’s game with a groin injury but was able to return shortly afterward. Rookie Bucky Irving has been a massive help in easing the load from White this year and has dramatically outplayed him when given the opportunity. Irving isn’t as adept as a receiver, but it is clear that Tampa Bay wants to make this a committee situation if possible. If you play in a shallow format where Irving isn’t on a roster, grab him immediately.
Wide Receivers
Cooper Kupp was tackled awkwardly along the sidelines and appeared to sustain a high-ankle sprain on Sunday. He attempted to return, but like Puka Nacua the week before, he couldn’t play. Head coach Sean McVay stated that Kupp is expected to miss “an extended period of time” and that the Rams are considering placing him on IR.
Should that happen, he would miss an additional four weeks. Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson will continue their ascent up the Los Angeles depth chart, sliding into the WR1 and WR2 options for Matthew Stafford in the short term. Both will see a significant bump in their value, with additional targets going to tight end Colby Parkinson as needed. They are the top adds this week if you are looking for help at the receiver position.
News broke late in the week that A.J. Brown had suffered a hamstring injury during practice, leading up to the Monday night game against the Atlanta Falcons. First deemed questionable before being ruled out on Sunday, ESPN’s Lisa Salters talked with him before the game, and the receiver revealed that he is expecting to be out “a couple of weeks” with this injury.
Jahan Dotson will see a sharp uptick in snaps for Philadelphia, but if last night’s game was any indication, he shouldn’t be a priority add for fantasy managers. DeVonta Smith stands to benefit the most, and he is universally owned. Expect Philadelphia to take a more run-heavy approach with Saquon Barkley. Unfortunately, Brown’s absence doesn’t equate to waiver wire adds directly.
Amon-Ra St. Brown sustained a soft tissue injury to his right leg that briefly knocked him out of the game on Sunday. He was able to return, but it was clear that he wasn’t at full strength and was playing through a fair amount of pain. Thankfully, Adam Schefter tweeted later that this was only a contusion, cramping and nothing more serious. Still, keep an eye on the talented wideout this week.
This situation is similar to St. Brown. Justin Jefferson also sustained a bruised quad, but he is likely to practice and play in Week 3.
Tight Ends
Right after noon on Sunday, Engram was declared a surprise inactive after he pulled his hamstring during warmups. Hamstrings are notoriously fickle and obnoxious due to their high recurrence rate, and we don’t have any further information regarding the severity of the pull. Head coach Doug Pederson currently has Engram listed as “week to week,” meaning that he is likely to be sidelined for Week 3, if not longer.
Brenton Strange would be the player to grab in this situation; he caught three of his six targets this past weekend for 65 yards. A former second-round rookie, Strange has a short-term upside as a flier for a team that will likely be playing from behind against Buffalo in Week 3.
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