We scour the news around the NFL to bring you what matters most to you and your dynasty team: the most current news on players, both superstars and the relative unknowns, and analysis to decipher the respective situations. These are many of the major stories and not meant to be an exhaustive look at all the recent happenings around the league.
The injuries mounted Sunday. The quarterback position was not immune to the bad news. Adam Schefter was one of the first to tweet an update on San Francisco quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, “49ers’ QB Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a high ankle sprain today.” Expect Nick Mullins to see extended action leading the depleted San Francisco offense. We lowered Garoppolo in the dynasty rankings due to his middling play and the injury gives Mullins an opportunity to seize the starting role.
Drew Lock was another quarterback who went down Sunday. He has a shoulder injury and is expected to miss a few weeks. Lock was replaced in the lineup by Jeff Driskel. Driskel is a middle-of-the-road backup and offers little upside for the Broncos against a tough schedule. Lock went down on his 13th snap. Driskel played the remaining 64, completing 18 of 34 passes for 256 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an interception. Broncos QB Drew Lock (shoulder) will miss two to six weeks with a sprained AC joint. Given the lack of passing-game options for Denver, Driskel should be considered an add in only the deepest of SuperFlex leagues. On the severity of Lock’s injury, beat writer Mike Klis tweeted, “Per sources: Relatively good news on QB Drew Lock: He does have rotator/labral issue in the back of his shoulder. Out 2-6 weeks. #9sports.” His return might be dependent on the team’s success … or lack thereof at that time.
Fantasy players were shocked to see Tyrod Taylor inactive Sunday afternoon against the Chiefs. Rookie Justin Herbert played well, making some mistakes, but showing that the moment was not too big for him. On Monday, Adam Schefter tweeted an update, “Chargers’ QB Tyrod Taylor is considered week to week with the chest injury that prevented him from playing Sunday, per source. So Chargers unsure of who their QB will be Sunday against Carolina.” Ian Rapoport tweeted Monday afternoon, “#Chargers QB Tyrod Taylor missed Sunday’s game because he experienced complications from a pregame injection that was administered to address a rib injury, per me and @MikeGarafolo. His status for this Sunday is not yet clear. But that’s why Justin Herbert was called upon.” We cannot imagine the Chargers coaches going back to Taylor at this juncture but we will never understand the loyalty some coaches feel towards veterans.
Saquon Barkley tore his ACL in the loss Sunday to the Chicago Bears. Dion Lewis was ineffective in his stead. Lewis is a good receiver out of the backfield but offers little as a ball carrier. This is a sad ending to a promising year for Barkley. He is a great player and will need to wait until 2021 to show it. Hopefully, the Giants will be marginally good by then.
By comparison, the Christian McCaffrey ankle injury seems mild. Adam Schefter tweeted an update Monday morning, “Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey is expected to be sidelined 'multiple weeks' with the ankle injury he suffered Sunday, per source.” A little later, Ian Rapoport tweeted, “Source: #Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey is out 4-6 weeks with a high-ankle sprain. This is following his MRI. Brutal news.” Mike Davis is now thrust into the starting lineup. He is a very good receiver out of the backfield and can be a viable flex in deeper PPR leagues.
Raheem Mostert left the game against the New York Jets right before halftime and did not return. It was later reported that he suffered a mild MCL sprain. Expect him to miss a week or three. Making matters worse, Coach Shanahan told reporters Monday that Tevin Coleman is also nicked up. Adam Schefter tweeted Monday afternoon, “49ers’ RB Tevin Coleman is expected to miss ‘multiple weeks’ with the knee injury he suffered Sunday, per source. So 49ers are expected to be without Coleman and Raheem Mostert on Sunday at the Giants.” It will be up to Jerick McKinnon to pick up the slack. San Francisco has suffered its share of injuries giving those so inclined to believe in the superstition of bad luck to the Super Bowl loser the following season.
Few expected this season to go well for LeVeon Bell and the New York Jets, but for the veteran to be placed on injured reserve (hamstring) before Week 2 was a surprise. He is eligible to return in a couple of weeks. Lamical Perine, Josh Adams, and Frank Gore replaced him in the New York lineup. Two difficult matchups for the Jets offense, the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers, to start the season was not what Sam Darnold and Adam Gase needed.
While low-balling star receiver Allen Robinson, the Chicago Bears found some pocket change to pay satellite back, Tarik Cohen at a time it is foolish to lock up big money at the position. Chicago game Cohen $17.25 over 3 years. Adam Schefter reported that the deal gives Cohen $9.5 million in fully guaranteed money and has the potential to be worth an extra million. After doling out the cash to Cohen, the Bears gave him a whopping 5 carries (for 12 yards) and 1 target (15 yards) while David Montgomery received at least three times those numbers in every category.
Beat reporter, Joe Fann, reported last Friday, “Pete Carroll indicated that Rashaad Penny (knee) is ahead of schedule. He could be back midseason, if not before.” Penny is nine months removed from a torn ACL after a strong stretch of games in 2019. With the PUP designation, Penny will miss at least the first six games of the season. Many are taking Carroll’s comments as Penny will be ready when eligible to return in late October, but the coach is not known for transparency, so caution is advised. The addition of Carlos Hyde permits Carroll and the Seahawks to be conservative and not rush Penny back.
Mike Klis was the first to report the severity of Courtland Sutton’s knee injury. Klis said that Sutton “tore up” his knee. He added the following tweet for context, “I understand it was more than ACL on Sutton’s knee. Incredibly bad luck as he toughed it up to play with right shoulder injury yesterday vs PIT. Had 3 catches, 66 yds. His knee went out while chasing down and tackling Joe Haden on an interception return late in 1st half. #9sports.” So, now, the Broncos are without Lock, Lindsay, and Sutton on offense and Von Miller on defense. This is not what fans expected for 2020.
On Thursday, Adam Schefter rocked the fantasy community with one tweet, “Titans' WR A.J. Brown missed practice today with a bone bruise in his knee that is jeopardizing his availability for Sunday's game against the Jaguars and possibly beyond, per source. Brown is likely to be week to week with his knee injury.” Brown did not suit up for the game against the Jaguars and may miss multiple games. The injury is reported as a “bruise” but there is a chance it is more severe than reported.
Plugged-in Rams reporter Lindsey Thiry was the first to report about Robert Woods extension, “Per source Robert Woods gets a four-year extension, $32 million guaranteed, up to $68 million, with the Rams.” This new deal locks up Woods and Cooper Kupp for several years. Jared Goff will have stability.
The hits kept coming Sunday as Parris Campbell was carted off in the victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The team knew the injury was not a torn ACL via on-field testing. Adam Schefter tweeted Monday, “Colts WR Parris Campbell suffered a PCL injury that is expected to sideline him indefinitely, per source.“ Later Monday, it was amended to “MCL”. Campbell was just beginning to assert himself into a large role in the Colts passing game. We expect him to miss the remainder of the season even though it has yet to be reported as such. Michael Pittman better get ready for a larger role.
On Monday, Ian Rapoport tweeted an update for New York Giants receiver, Sterling Shepard, “#Giants WR Sterling Shepard, knocked out yesterday with a toe injury, is believed to be dealing with turf toe, source said. He’ll have an MRI today, but that’s an ailment that generally causes a WR to miss some time.” New York is now without its top running back and receiver. Things will be difficult for Daniel Jones and the Giants offense.
Combined with the Bell injury noted above, the loss of Jamison Crowder took a toll on the Jets offense against the 49ers. Beat reporter Rich Cimini tweeted, “Jets early injury report: WR Jamison Crowder, who had seven catches for 115 yards and a TD last week, won't practice today due to a hamstring injury. He ‘pulled up’ and was limited yesterday, per Adam Gase, who indicated it's not a long-term injury.” Then, a day later, Crowder was ruled out for the game against San Francisco. Interestingly, Gase called Crowder “probably our best player on offense the last two years.” We do not disagree. Rather, it is sad that the veteran receiver was thrust into that role. Making the receiving corps even thinner, the team placed rookie Denzel Mims on injured reserve this week due to his hamstring injuries. It is very unlikely Mims will contribute much until later in the season after such a slow start. By then, Gase may not be the coach.
The 49ers are another team battling receiver injuries at almost every position. Deebo Samuel is on injured reserve with a foot injury and suffering a setback as he neared a return. This past week, Richie James was placed on injured reserve and was replaced by veteran Mohamed Sanu, who played under coach Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta a few years ago. New England released Sanu which makes us nervous about his balky ankle. San Francisco needs weapons with George Kittle gimpy and Jimmy Garoppolo having a slow start to the season.
The Cincinnati Bengals are searching for weapons to help Joe Burrow. In the Thursday night loss to Cleveland, receiver Auden Tate was a healthy scratch with Mike Thomas and John Ross seeing extended time. Tate was considered the “Offensive MVP” of training camp illustrating how meaningless those designations are when it comes to translating to fantasy outcomes. In the game, A.J. Green looked like he has lost a step … or three. Tyler Boyd is the team’s top pass catcher at present. Tee Higgins is seeing extended snaps. And, Thomas was used in high-leverage situations, even catching a pass on a slant near the goal line.
Last week, Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich disclosed that tight end Jack Doyle had an ankle injury that may make him miss Week 2. Later in the week, Reich said that Doyle was out and that he may miss multiple games. With Trey Burton already on injured reserve, Mo Alie-Cox had the first crack at the starting role and THRIVED. After teasing the fantasy community for years, Alie-Cox has arrived. This is an offense that needs playmakers after Marlon Mack was also injured in the Week 1 loss to Jacksonville.
Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah went down in ugly fashion on Thursday night. Ian Rapoport tweeted, “#Bengals TE C.J. Uzomah, who has a TD catch tonight, left the game on a cart. He has been declared out with an Achilles injury... which is never good.” Beat reporter Jay Morrison later tweeted, “#Bengals TE C.J. Uzomah has a right Achilles injury. He is out.” It will be Drew Sample who has the opportunity to step into a fantasy-viable role as Joe Burrow’s security blanket. Expect Sample to be a hot waiver wire topic this week. He played well after Uzomah exited.
If you would like to review our most recent Dynasty rankings, here is a link.
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