Injuries are inevitable in fantasy football. How you prepare and react to them is what can make or break your fantasy team. Did you build a bench with sufficient depth to withstand the running back carousel? How do you pivot if a key player goes on injured reserve? Each week we will look at the most impactful injuries in the fantasy world and what players will step up their fantasy production as a result.
The wide receiver position takes center stage on this week’s injury round-up which is usually filled with running backs. Fantasy owners gasped when they saw one of fantasy’s most elite difference makers go down with what looked like it would be a devastating injury.
Cooper Kupp
A worst-case scenario does not shed a ton of light on this situation other than hinting that it is not a season-ending injury. This likely means it is not broken or has a high ankle sprain. If it is a low ankle sprain I would still expect him to miss a couple of weeks. A high ankle sprain could mean four-plus weeks.
UPDATE!!
This is pretty close to the worst-case scenario. RIP to your fantasy teams. If you make it to the playoffs you may get a healthy Kupp but no guarantees. He has just been placed on the injured reserve and won’t be fully healthy until week 16 although he may return earlier.
Fantasy Impact: This is a devastating injury for fantasy owners. You can’t replace Kupp’s elite production. Allen Robinson has eight straight games of five or more targets. Look for this volume to increase but he will also be drawing top cornerback coverage as well. Van Jefferson may also have some minor fantasy relevance.
Leonard Fournette
I can’t say for sure this is the play Fournette was injured on but I can say he did not get another touch after this. The Bucs are lucky 45-year-old Tom Brady wasn’t injured on this ill-advised play as well. It appears the injury was a minor hip pointer. Fournette may be available as soon as this week.
Fantasy Impact: Rachaad White started over Fournette in this game and was already taking over this backfield. White finished with over 100 yards rushing. Meanwhile, Fournette hasn’t had over 65 yards since week 1. At less than 100%
Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy went down in a lot of pain and we feared the worst when he had to be carted off the field. An update came later that seems to indicate a less impactful injury.
Jeudy was just beginning to fulfill his fantasy potential with consecutive 15-plus fantasy point performances.
Fantasy Impact: Jeudy is likely to miss time but it shouldn’t be a lengthy absence.
Zach Ertz
Fantasy Impact: This is a tough break for the veteran tight end. However, where there is a challenge, there is opportunity. Trey McBride was the first tight end selected in this past draft, ahead of Isaiah Likely, Greg Dulcich, Daniel Bellinger, and Cade Otton who have each contributed this year. Mcbride had one of the top 10 receiving yards per team pass attempt rates in college since 2004.
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Schuster took a massive helmet-to-helmet hit on this play. Players from both teams gathered around him after the hit. Schuster did not return to the game and it seems highly unlikely he will play next week.
Fantasy Impact: Kadarius Toney’s arrival will come sooner than expected as he will be forced into a larger role with Schuster out. The Chiefs gave up a third and a sixth for him so they are invested in his success.
P.J. Walker
Another high ankle sprain here much like Cooper Kupp, Look for Walker to miss 3-4 weeks.
Fantasy Impact: Baker Mayfield assumes the quarterback reigns once again in Carolina.
Other notable players in the prior week’s estimated return to action:
Jameson Williams – ACL – Week 11-12
Gus Edwards – Week 11
Mark Andrews – AC Sprain – Week 11
Carson Wentz – Week 11-13
Marquise Brown – Week 11-12
Matthew Stafford – Week 11
Mike Williams – High Ankle – Week 12
J.K. Dobbins – Knee – Week 12-14
David Njoku – High Ankle – Week 12-14
Ja’Marr Chase – Week 12-13
Darren Waller – Hamstring – Week 14-Season
Daniel Bellinger – Broken eye socket – Week 14-15
Javonte Williams – ACL – Out for the season
Breece Hall – ACL – Out for the season
Rashaad Penny – Broken fibula – Out for the season
Michael Thomas – Turf Toe – Out for the season
Sterling Shepard – Out for the season
Trey Lance – Out for the season
I hope you enjoyed reading my article. My goal is to provide actionable advice you can utilize to improve your dynasty team. You can follow me on Twitter @force_fantasy. #DFFArmy #FantasyFootball #AlwaysBeBuilding #NFL #NFLDraft #NFLTransactions #NFLTrades #AlwaysBeScouting
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