Injuries are inevitable in Fantasy Football. How you prepare and react to them can make or break your fantasy team. Did you build a bench with sufficient depth to withstand the running back injury 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.
We are entering the prime bye week territory of the NFL season. The Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, New York Jets, and Tennessee Titans each have byes this week. Any injuries our rosters incur are magnified by our inability to start a decent asset. Unfortunately, this week had several injuries of note to compound the bye week challenges. We will start our injury roundup this week at the quarterback position with one of the more polarizing players in Fantasy.
Justin Fields
I can’t say this is a tough break for the rebuilding Bears. This only helps to improve their draft position in a rebuilding season. However, it certainly is a tough break for Justin Fields Fantasy owners. After a slow start, Fields ascended all the way to the QB3 overall on the season. If he needs surgery, this could be a season-ending injury.
Fantasy Impact:
Tyson Bagent will be a very popular waiver add this week. After Fields’ departure, undrafted rookie Bagent assumed the reigns of starting quarterback for the Bears. Bagent completed 10 of 14 passes for 83 yards. Bagent set the Division II career records with 17,034 yards and 171 total touchdowns.
Expected Return: Week 8-10 (Bye Week 13)
Christian McCaffrey
The MRI will reveal the grade of the oblique injury. A grade 1 strain will likely cause him to miss one week, perhaps two. A grade 2 strain will make him questionable, with a 50/50 chance to play this week. The 49ers have a bye in Week 9, which may play into how much time he misses, especially if it is a grade 1 strain. Then it would likely make sense for the 49ers to keep him out through the bye.
Fantasy Impact:
The most important thing for the playoff-bound 49ers is to ensure a healthy McCaffrey for their Super Bowl push. A mid-season break could keep him fresh come playoff time.
Expected Return:
Week 7-10 (Bye Week 9)
Kyren Williams
Williams has been a revelation for Fantasy owners this season. In drafts before the season, he was largely a late-round bench staff with contingent injury upside. After relegating Cam Akers to a just-above-worthless trade commodity, Williams has assumed a workhorse role for the Rams. He is the RB 5 overall on the season.
Ankle sprains come in a range of severities. Given he is already being deemed unlikely to play this week, this is likely a high ankle sprain. He could be sidelined next week as well. Then there is only one more game before the bye week. He may return in Week 11.
Expected Return: Week 8-11 (Bye Week 10)
Fantasy Impact:
Rams’ backup running back Ronnie Rivers also incurred an injury. Per Ian Rappaport, Rivers suffered a grade 3 PCL and is likely heading for the IR. That leaves only Zach Evans remaining on the Ram’s running back depth chart. Evans was a Devy and Dynasty darling for years. However, the NFL was not as high on him as he went in the sixth round of the NFL draft. If you are playing chess vs. checkers and burned all your FAAB on Emari Demercado, look for who the Rams pickup this week to claim on waivers.
David Montgomery
A rib injury is particularly difficult to come back from for a running back. They receive contact every rush attempt that would aggravate such an injury. The Lions have a bye in Week 9, so it could be a while before we see Monty on the field again.
Fantasy Impact:
Jahmyr Gibbs was the 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft. He was a top-five Dynasty rookie draft pick. With that came big expectations. His usage so far this season has been less than spectacular. Now is his time. The Lions need to lean on him in Montgomery’s absence. He could be due for some huge games. I would also expect Craig Reynolds to contribute close to double-digit touches while Montgomery is out.
Expected Return:
Week 10 (Bye Week 9)
Jimmy Garoppolo
Garoppolo went to the hospital to get checked out for a back injury that forced him out of this Week 6 matchup vs. the Patriots. The initial prognosis was positive, so this should not be a long-term injury for Garoppolo. He will likely miss this week but could be back the week after.
Fantasy Impact:
With six teams on bye, many Fantasy managers will need a short-term quarterback option. Brian Hoyer is probably the bottom rung of the Fantasy ladder in terms of options to start at quarterback. He threw for 102 yards once Garoppolo exited this week’s game.
Expected Return:
Week 7-8 (Bye Week 13)
Other notable players in the prior week’s estimated return to action:
Khalil Herbert – Ankle Sprain – Week 8-10 (Bye Week 13)
Jahmyr Gibbs – Week 7
Kyler Murray – Torn ACL – Week 7-8 (Bye Week 14)
Jamaal Williams – Week 7-8 (Bye Week 9 )
Daniel Jones – Neck – Week 7-10 (Bye Week 13)
Diontae Johnson – Hamstring – Announced he will play week 7 (IR)
Miles Sanders – Week 8-9
James Conner – Knee – Week 10-12 (IR) (Bye Week 14)
De’Von Achane – Ankle – Week 11 (Bye Week 10)
Justin Jefferson – Hamstring – Week 11-14 (Bye Week 13)
Anthony Richardson – Grade 3 AC Sprain – Week 12-Season (Bye Week 13)
Nick Chubb – Torn MCL – Out for the season
Mike Williams – Torn ACL – Out for the season
Aaron Rodgers – Achilles – Out for the season
J.K. Dobbins – Achilles – 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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