Many NFL teams have been kind to us (well really me - the guy who has to write the injury article) by proactively listing players as "Out" and making start/sit decisions easier.
Unfortunately, some marquee players will be out of fantasy football lineups, but at least we know ahead of time. Below are some players who are more on the fence. I'll discuss how likely they are to play during Sunday/Monday's slate of games.
Understanding the NFL's Injury Report
(per Dr. Bramel)
"The injury report released by the NFL is [made up of] two reports. The first is the Practice Participation report, which lists which injured players practiced and their participation level. It also includes players who rested or missed practice for non-injury-related reasons. The second is the Game Status Report, which gives the probability a player will play, i.e., Questionable, Doubtful, Out. The Practice Participation Report is released every day of the week (Monday through Saturday). The Game Status Report is released with the Friday participation report (Wednesday for Thursday games, Saturday for Monday games). In this feature, I'll include the Game Status Listing and my expectations of their likelihood of playing."
If you are reading this article on Saturday, make sure to come back on Sunday morning as more updates trickle in within the next 24 hours.
Current Status on High-Impact Injured Players
Gameday Decision
- QB Justin Herbert
- QB Jordan Love
- TE/QB Taysom Hill
- WR Tee Higgins
Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)
Trending Probable (Expected to Play)
- RB Rachaad White
- WR Jayden Reed
Ruled Out
- WR Cooper Kupp (ankle)
- WR A.J. Brown (hamstring)
- QB Tua Tagovailoa (concussion - on IR)
- RB Isiah Pacheco(broken leg - on IR)
- WR Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf)
- WR Keenan Allen (heel)
- WR Jordan Addison (ankle)
- TE David Njoku (ankle)
- RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring)
Key:
Player | Injury | Game Status Listing | Playing Expectation
Sunday 1:00 PM EST Games
RB Joe Mixon, Houston | Ankle Sprain | Doubtful | Likely Inactive
Joe Mixon has not practiced all week due to his ankle injury and is officially listed as "Doubtful" heading into Sunday's game. More than 95% of players listed as "Doubtful" end up sitting out. Combine this with the fact that Mixon is likely dealing with a high ankle sprain, which averages a three-week absence for NFL running backs, and all signs point to Mixon sitting in Week 3.
Cam Akers becomes an interesting option for fantasy managers as Dameon Pierce has also been ruled out for Week 3.
Update: Per Ian Rapoport, Mixon has been downgraded to "Out."
QB Justin Herbert, LA Chargers| Ankle Sprain | Questionable | 50/50
Justin Herbert is questionable heading into Sunday's game at Pittsburgh and on Friday we learned that he was also dealing with a high ankle sprain. Although this is typically a multi-week injury, due to the different positional requirements for QBs compared to RBs/WRs there is a chance Herbert could play through his high ankle sprain.
Since 2017, a small portion of QBs have played through high ankle sprains without missing any time so I could see a scenario where Herbert starts. LA has also left the door open, officially listing Herbert as "Questionable" and history has shown us when they do so there is a high likelihood players start that week. The Chargers rank 6th in percent chance to play when a player is listed as "Questionable" on the final injury report.
Luckily the Chargers play in the early slate of games so managers should know before games kick off if they need to pivot.
Update: Justin Herbert spotted in pre-game warm-ups. He is expected to start.
RB Rachaad White, Tampa Bay | Groin Strain | Questionable | Likely Active
For most of the week, Rachaad White was limited with a groin strain, but on Friday, he was a full participant in the Buccaneers' practice (FP). Players who log an FP on the final practice end up starting that week nearly 90% of the time.
Update: Rachaad White is expected to play. Data suggests that RBs are minimally impacted by groin strains. Although Bucky Irving has looked good in spots, I would be okay leaving White in lineups.
QB Jordan Love, Green Bay | MCL sprain (knee) | Questionable | 50/50
Jordan Love has made a good amount of progress following his MCL sprain during the Packers' matchup with Philadelphia in Brazil.
If you remember when the injury was originally reported, Love was given a timeline of 3-6 weeks. However, based on the return to play data, that seemed aggressive, so I projected Love for a 2-week return.
It would appear that Love is on that timeline. He is likely a true game-time decision.
Update: Per Adam Schefter, Love is not expected to play in Week 3.
WR Jayden Reed, Green Bay | Calf| Questionable | Likely Active
Jayden Reed has been limited all week during practice with a calf injury. However, Reed was on the injury report last week with the same injury and ended up playing in Week 2. Without any work of a setback, it would seem that Green Bay is just being cautious with their second-year wideout.
TE/QB Taysom Hill, New Orleans | Chest Injury | 50/50
The Saints have listed Taysom Hill as "Questionable" heading into Sunday's game. Following Sunday's win over Dallas, Hill needed to go to the hospital with his chest injury. This would suggest that the Saints' medical staff was concerned with internal/organ injury. Hill's chest injury may be a rib injury as well. During practice, Hill has been limited for most of the week, but due to his injury, I would like to see him as a full participant before being optimistic he plays. It sounds like Hill is a game-time decision, but I lean towards him sitting Week 3 out.
Update: As expected, Taysom Hill is out.
Sunday 4:05 PM EST Games
RB Ken Walker III, Seattle | Oblique Strain | Doubtful | Likely Inactive
Seattle has Ken Walker III listed as "Doubtful" with his oblique injury, meaning Zach Charbonnett gets another crack as the starting role. Walker was able to return to practice this week, but he was limited. This would suggest Walker is getting close, but Week 3 is unlikely to be his return date.
RB Raheem Mostert, Miami | Chest Injury | Doubtful | Likely Inactive
Raheem Mostert practiced all week but in a limited fashion. Miami has Mostert listed as "Doubtful" meaning he also is likely to not play in Week 3. De'Von Achane figures to get a healthy workload with Jaylen Wright and Jeff Wilson Jr.. mixed in.
Sunday 4:25 PM EST Games
TE George Kittle, San Franciso | Hamstring | Doubtful | Likely Inactive
George Kittle was a late addition to the injury report with a hamstring strain. We have seen this with A.J. Brown already this year, that late week soft tissue injuries result in time missed. I would not expect Kittle to play Sunday.
Monday Night 7:30 EST Game
TE Evan Engram, Jacksonville | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely Inactive
Another TE dealing with a hamstring issue is Evan Engram. Engram injured his hamstring during warmups in Week 2. He has not practiced all week and it would seem that he is unlikely to play.
Update: Evan Engram is out.
Monday Night 8:15 EST Game
WR Tee Higgins, Cinncanti | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely Active
Tee Higgins, who has been battling a hamstring injury for the past two weeks, returned to practice heading into Week 3. Although he has been limited all week, Higgins has indicated that he plans on starting Monday night. Fantasy gamers have been burned before by waiting for game-time decisions came Monday, so a backup plan is always recommended.
However, Higgins is typically someone who has returned sooner than the average timeline for his injuries, and with hamstrings causing NFL WRs to miss 2-3 weeks on average, Higgins is on track with the recovery timeline. There is a lot of data to suggest he plays Monday.
Update: Per Ian Rapoport, Tee Higgins is "good to go" for Monday night.
