Chris Allen and Jorge Martin delve into the NFL injuries that are most pertinent to fantasy football heading into Week 9.

Here we are, armed with practice reports and any other information necessary to make some early determinations on injury statuses impacting fantasy football. With the 49ers and Steelers on bye, this information could help fantasy managers make better start/sit decisions as we're firmly in the back half of the season.

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Quarterback

Lamar Jackson (back): The reigning MVP went DNP both days to start the week, which may be due to him carrying so many fantasy teams on his back. Seriously, two missed practices have to be a cause for concern. Check the Friday practice reports to see his level of participation, if any. But in the meantime make sure to have a backup plan.  UPDATE: Jackson is healthy and going to against a stingy Denver pass D (No. 3 with 9.7 fantasy points per game allowed to QBs).

Jordan Love (groin): The Packers’ stud signal-caller did not finish the Week 8 victory over Jacksonville. He started the practice week with a DNP then practiced in limited fashion. That’s a good sign for his availability for the upcoming AFC North showdown with the Lions that has a healthy over/under of 48.5. Stay tuned for Friday reports. UPDATE: Reports came out on Saturday that Love was in line to start the game, keep in mind that groin injuries are at risk of recurring. He's rushed only 10 times through 6 games, so his rushing upside is not very high. But mobility in the pocket and extending plays for deep shots downfield might be impacted. Fire up Jayden Reed, and if need be Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks, and if he's your fantasy team's starter, Love is a go. But a ceiling game may not be on tap. There is a possibility of rain in this game as well. 

Jayden Daniels (ribs): The Hail Mary touchdown pass to close out the unbelievable 18-15 victory over the Bears and No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams has to make his painful ribs feel better. At least good enough to get in a couple limited practices. Daniels is trending toward playing against the Giants, who are No. 13 with 219 passing yards allowed per game and just gave up 278-1 to Russell Wilson. 

Drake Maye (head): Maye is in the concussion protocol, but has logged a pair of limited practices to start the week. What is going to be the final authority is the independent medical examiner, who will determine if Maye can play this week. Maye is likely only starting in superflex leagues, though fantasy managers should be ready if he needs to sit. UPDATE: He passed the concussion protocol and is slated to start. 

Derek Carr (oblique): Getting in a pair of limited practices seems to have Carr pointing toward a return to the starting lineup. This is good news, as the Saints have scored just 18 points in the past two weeks. A glowing matchup is on tap against the Panthers, who are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to QBs at 18.6 points.

Will Levis (shoulder): The mayo king has missed a pair of games to injury, and has returned to the practice field on a limited basis the first two sessions of the week. Levis is probably not even a start in superflex leagues after failing to reach 100 yards in the past two starts. Whether Levis plays will impact Calvin Ridley, who popped for 10-143 on 15 targets with Mason Rudolph last week. UPDATE: Levis is inactive, so be ready to start Ridley with confidence.

Running Back

Tyrone Tracy (concussion): His 20-145-1 MNF effort was a spectacular showing on a national stage, but his leaving and entering the concussion protocol was a gut punch to fantasy managers who were celebrating the rookie. He logged DNP-LP statuses the first two practice sessions of the week, and Brian Daboll is encouraged about Tracy clearing concussion protocol. If he plays, he’s in fantasy starting lineups in a week he’ll face the Commanders, who just got gashed for 129 yards by last week. UPDATE: Tracy cleared the concussion protocol, so he should resume his regular bellcow role.

Josh Jacobs (ankle): After blowing through the Jaguars for 25-127-2 last week, Jacobs missing a practice then going LP garners attention to close out the week. Could it be that he’s getting a little break after a heavy workload? That’s likely, especially going into a game against the Lions, who are giving up 62.2 rushing yards per game to RBs. UPDATE: Early reports said he would play, and with rainy conditions expected that could make the footing uneven for Jacobs' ankle.

Keaton Mitchell (torn ACL): After full practices the first two days of the week, there is anticipation that Mitchell could return to the Ravens’ backfield to add lightning to Derrick Henry’s thunder. This is a little more than a month shy of a year following him suffering a torn ACL in Week 15 last season. Mitchell would only be an emergency or deep-league starter upon his return. He’s a bench stash for most (9% rostered in Yahoo leagues), to see how many snaps he sees alongside Henry. 

Jonathon Brooks (torn ACL): After logging full practices the first two days to start the week, it looks like Brooks’ NFL debut is nearing. That prospect is exciting for so many analysts and fans who had the top running back taken in the 2024 NFL Draft as someone to watch. He’s nearing a year from the late-November surgery date, which is about when players are considered fully recovered from knee surgery. It’s not recommended that he start even after he’s deemed active. Maybe let him sit a week to see his involvement.

Travis Etienne (hamstring) After sitting out the past two games—and finishing under 20 rushing yards the prior two games—Etienne went LP the first two practices of the week. Could he return? What role will he return to? Tank Bigsby registered an 81% rush share on the way to an 18-78 line last week. At best it looks like Etienne is returning to a timeshare.

Bucky Irving (toe): With the Buccaneers playing on MNF, Irving starting the practice week with a DNP is not encouraging. He looked fine against the Falcons, turning 16 touches into 84 total yards. That was his sixth straight game with 10+ touches. Irving will get further updaets. 

Tony Pollard (foot): After four games in a row with at least 18 touches, Pollard was diagnosed with a DNP the first two practices of the week. . This No buenois going to get an update on Friday afternoon, when there could be a definitive determination on Pollard’s status for Week 9.

Tyjae Spears (hamstring): Spears went DNP after logging a limited practice. That’s going in the wrong direction. Another DNP could mean Spears will miss his third straight game. 

Brian Robinson (hamstring): Robinson missed Week 6 before toting the ball 28 times combined in the next two outings. He started the practice week with LP designations the first couple days. The Giants allowing 109.9 rushing yards to RBs are facing the Commanders this week, an inviting matchup if Robinson can play. UPDATE: Robinson is INACTIVE so be ready to start Austin Ekeler in a great matchup against the Giants.

Wide Receiver

Tee Higgins (quad): After missing Week 8 with a quadriceps injury, he started this week out with a pair of DNP designations. That’s trending in the direction of him sitting this week as well. The Bengals-Raiders game has a 46.6 over/under, which would appear to be a great passing environment. UPDATE: Higgins is INACTIVE, so a good chunk of targets should go toward Ja'Marr Chase on the afternoon.

Mike Evans (hamstring) and Sterling Shepard (hamstring): Evans has already been ruled out, and Shepard started the week with a DNP. If he sits, it could be another big game for Cade Otton, less so for Trey Palmer and Jalen McMillan.

Adam Thielen (hamstring-IR) LP both days

Am I depending on a 34-year-old WR for fantasy production? In deeper leagues, sure.

However, in standard leagues, I'd rather Thielen wait another week. Jalen Coker's routes, targets, and air yards hit season-highs with Diontae Johnson out. And, unfortunately, the Holy Cross product played from the slot on 72.5% of his snaps. The Saints rank sixth in fantasy points allowed to WRs and just gave up 20.9 points to Ladd McConkey from the interior alone. If Thielen delays his return to play by a week, Coker becomes a sneaky option for Week 9. UPDATE: Thielen is INACTIVE.

Xavier Legette (toe): The rookie sat out practice then was limited on Thursday, with him trending in the right direction toward playing with Diontae Johnson now in Baltimore. Legette’s Friday practice participation needs to be monitored. 

BrIan Thomas Jr. (chest): Initial reports anticipated that Thomas would miss multiple weeks with this injury, then he logged LP-LP designations to start practice sessions. If he plays, Thomas could see a bump in opportunities with Christian Kirk out for the season. Kirk leaves behind a 20% target share that could be diverted toward Thomas to make the talented rookie even more valuable in fantasy. UPDATE: Thomas is active and could have a large role in a game where the Jaguars could be playing from behind and need to pass. 

JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring): JuJu missed practice to start the week after missing the past two games following his 7-130 performance got the fantasy community excited about a pass catcher hooking up with Patrick Mahomes. Now he might sit another game. If anyone has an idea where the targets will go for the Chiefs, it’s not true. It’s hard to trust even a healthy JuJu with any consistency. UPDATE: JuJu has already been ruled out, so expect more targets aimed at Xavier Worthy and Travis Kelce. 

Puka Nacua (knee): Seeing Nacua go from DNP to LP appears to be a good indication that Nacua could return to the lineup, but there’s more to that. This knee is the same one that made him miss a chunk of training camp and 5 games of the regular season. Nacua’s injury history has some red flags. Keep an eye on his Friday status and come back here for more analysis. UPDATE: Nacua is expected to be active in the afternoon slate, though Dr. Edwin Porras offers warning that he might be limited in his snaps. 

DK Metcalf (knee): It’s not looking good for Metcalf after he sat out the first couple practices of the week with the same knee injury. Going against the Rams defense that just gave up 115 yards to Justin Jefferson, it would appear that Metcalf could have to sit out a potential good matchup. UPDATE: Metcalf has been downgraded to OUT. This game could be a shootout with plenty of passing. While some Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett get upgrades, as does Kenneth Walker. 

Amari Cooper (wrist): Cooper was downgraded to INACTIVE on Sunday morning, giving Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman upgrades in targets. Dalton Kincaid as well. 

Tight End

David Njoku (ankle): Seeing Njoku log a DNP with an ankjury issue on Thursday is quite discouraging, seeing as how the Browns’ offense received a jolt of energy with the emergence of Jameis Winston behind center. The 21 targets that the tight end drew in the past two games led the team, so if he goes Njoku will be a focal point of the offense, as evidenced by his 19% target share. The Chargers are allowing TEs just 49.2 receiving yards per game, 19th in the league.

T.J. Hockenson (ACL): Hockenson is just nine months past his Jan. 29 surgery date, and logged full practices the first two days of the week. If he does return this week it would be right about the earliest point where players return to play from a torn ACL, according to Dr. Edwin Porras. Jefferson is still the head honcho for Vikings targets, but Hockenson could slot in either second or third. Could he be worth a start right out of the gate? Maybe wait a week to see his usage. The Colts are 9th in most receiving yards allowed to TEs, and Jonnu Smith stuck them for 96 yards and a score in Week 7. 

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