Week 4 Injury Roundup. Updates on Key Fantasy Football Injuries.
Ian Hartitz breaks down every key injury ahead of Week 4 from a fantasy football perspective and advises fantasy managers how to react.
Injuries objectively suck. To this day it’s unclear why God hasn’t turned them off. Anyone who plays Madden of NCAA Football and does NOT turn off injuries is a monster in my humble opinion.
Of course, injuries continue to be a rather large part of fantasy football analysis, which is why Fantasy Life will continue to grind each and every fantasy-relevant issue throughout the season.
What follows is a breakdown on every fantasy-relevant injury ahead of Week 4. Check out the late Friday edition of The Fantasy Life Podcast for a full breakdown on the issues from yours truly.
Quarterback
Deshaun Watson (right shoulder, questionable), Browns
Reportedly dealing with a right shoulder contusion, Watson said himself that he’s okay and expects to face the Ravens on Sunday. Per Dr. Jeff Mueller, the issue is unlikely to overly limit Watson, but his intermediate to deep throw accuracy could be a bit impacted. This is unfortunate considering Watson objectively played the best football of his Browns tenure last week; he’s more of a borderline QB1 this week than a locked-in top-eight option, although the banged-up nature of this Baltimore secondary should help matters.
Anthony Richardson (concussion, not listed), Colts
Richardson is back after missing Week 3 with a concussion. The electric rookie dual-threat talent has looked the part of a difference maker in fantasy land thanks to his high-end usage as a rushing threat near the goal line. Fire up Richardson as a legit top-eight option at the position ahead of Sunday’s winnable matchup against the Rams.
Jimmy Garoppolo (concussion, questionable), Raiders
Jimmy G never got a full practice in this week, but his limited participation on Thursday and Friday seems to give him a chance to be ready for Sunday’s showdown against the Chargers. While Garoppolo isn’t a realistic fantasy option in his own right outside of two-QB/superflex formats, his absence would be relatively bad news for Davante Adams and company with either Brian Hoyer or preseason all-start Aidan O’Connell under center.
Bryce Young (ankle, not listed), Panthers
The Red Rocket put up far better numbers in Week 3 than what Bryce Young (ankle) managed in Weeks 1 to 2 in yards per attempt (6.1 vs. 4.2), passer rating (86.9 vs. 66.6) and PFF pass grade (79.1 vs. 40.1). The biggest difference in play-style was Dalton’s ability to get the ball out quickly: His average of 2.32 seconds from snap to throw was nearly a full second quicker than Young’s 3.18 mark. It’s been two weeks; there’s no reason to write-off Young’s chances at becoming a great NFL QB. Still, it’s not hard to see that Andy Dalton offers guys like Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark much more upside in Week 4, 2023.
Derek Carr (right shoulder, questionable), Saints
Inexplicably has a “very real shot at starting” per Nick Underhill. Specifically, Nick noted that Carr, “Looked sharp throwing passes today. Led the first-team offense. Had good velocity. Accurate. Threw downfield during routes on air. Sharp in red zone. Saw nothing that appeared limiting.” It’s possible that a fully healthy Jameis Winston is a better option than a limited Carr, but either way: These WRs are far too talented to downgrade in a meaningful way against this banged-up Buccaneers secondary. Whoever winds up under center is more of a low-end QB2.
Running Back
Austin Ekeler (ankle, doubtful), Chargers
Joshua Kelley is once again expected to handle the majority of the snaps at RB, although offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has been more than willing to simply air the ball out in Ekeler’s absence than pretend like nothing has changed. Kelley’s underlying per-snap utilization is legit top-15 stuff – but his porous performance and lack of any extra work in the passing game makes him more of a borderline RB2 at best. I’ll be answering the majority of close start/sit questions involving Kelley with the other guy.
Saquon Barkley (ankle), Giants
Starting the week with back-to-back limited practices is a good sign, but Barkley is still trending towards carrying a questionable tag into the weekend ahead of the Giants’ Monday night matchup against the Seahawks. While it’d certainly be great news for him to be healthy and ready to go, fantasy managers shouldn’t rely on his services if you can help it. Matt Breida is the preferred handcuff stash and more of a low-end RB3 if Barkley remains sidelined. Hopefully we get some clarity by Sunday morning on the situation; for now I’m content to play most top-24 RB options ahead of Barkley while he continues to recover from this high-ankle sprain.
Breece Hall (knee, not listed), Jets
Parlayed last week’s season-best utilization with back-to-back full practices to end the week. Now if only Hall could play inside of an offense that, you know, has a prayer of moving the ball down the field every now and then. Ultimately, Hall still profiles as just the lead back of a committee as opposed to a true workhorse, which is a problem ahead of Sunday night’s miserable spot against the Chiefs. While the talented second-year back is a reasonable RB3 play any time he’s healthy enough to suit up, we still need to see legit bell-cow usage here before firing him up as someone who NEEDS to be jammed into starting lineups at all costs.
Jerome Ford (shoulder, not listed), Kareem Hunt (ribs/groin, not listed), Browns
On the one hand, Ford has made more than a few GREAT plays over the past two weeks and certainly looks the part of the team’s best RB.
On the other, his Week 3 utilization alongside Hunt and Pierre Strong Jr. wasn’t exactly locked-in RB1 material:
This could have more so been the result of the Browns 1.) Not wanting to force the run game against the Titans’ pass-funnel defense, and 2.) Blowout game-script that featured Cleveland up multiple scores for the last 31 minutes of the game.
Throw in the reality that Hunt is a bit banged up in his own right, and it would be shocking if the Browns don’t find a way to feed Ford 15-plus combined carries and targets. Maybe not quite the locked-in RB1 workhorse usage managers envisioned, but still good enough for consensus top-22 treatment from the Fantasy Life ranking crew.
Miles Sanders (groin, questionable), Panthers
Didn’t practice on Friday, although head coach Frank Reich said the Panthers are “optimistic” he’ll suit up Sunday against the Vikings. Fire up Sanders as his usual volume-driven RB2 self; just realize the floor for everyone involved is MUCH lower with Bryce Young back under center in place of Andy “The Red Rocket” Dalton.
James Conner (back), Keaontay Ingram (neck), Cardinals
Conner is his usual volume-based RB2 self ahead of Sunday’s tough matchup against the 49ers. Overall, the veteran has now peeled off seven consecutive RB2-level finishes since Kyler Murray (knee, IR) went down at the end of 2022. The 49ers haven’t made ANYTHING easy on opposing offenses this season; just realize it’s awfully tough to bench any RB poised to rack up 20-plus touches during any given week.
Justice Hill (foot, questionable), Gus Edwards (concussion, not listed), Ravens
Hill’s presence would likely relegate Melvin Gordon or (more likely) Kenyan Drake back to the inactive list. Gus Bus should be the lead early-down option either way, although this isn’t exactly the spot to expect anyone from this backfield to flirt with their high-end range of outcomes. Overall, Myles Garrett and company have allowed just 12.6 PPR points per game to opposing RBs through three weeks – the single-lowest mark in football. Edwards is more of a TD-dependent RB3 this week, while Hill is a low-tier FLEX who shouldn’t win out in most close start/sit decisions.
Elijah Mitchell (knee, questionable), 49ers
Mitchell isn’t a realistic fantasy option in his own right, but his absence takes Christian McCaffrey from “no doubt overall fantasy RB1” to “rich man’s version of himself.”
Salvon Ahmed (groin, questionable), Dolphins
Ahmed’s return to action could lead to more of a three-back committee alongside De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert compared to what we saw last week. Still, it’s hard to see head coach Mike McDaniel taking too much off the plate from either of his speedy playmakers regardless of Ahmed’s eventual status. The fact Ahmed failed to get in a full practice this week is telling. Mostert is a borderline RB1 ahead of Sunday’s shootout against the Bills, while Achane is also a recommended start as a low-end RB2 capable of making the most out of whatever touches are thrown his way.
Cordarrelle Patterson (thigh, questionable), Falcons
Sadly, the NFL’s GOAT kick returner (I said kick, not punt, chill out Bears fans) could be on the verge of missing his fourth straight game to start the 2023 season after failing to get in a full practice all week. We should know C-Patt’s status by Saturday considering the Falcons-Jaguars matchup takes place in London. Even if active, Patterson profiles as more of a gadget/returner option as opposed to someone fantasy managers should be actively adjusting the ranks for.
Wide Receiver
Jaylen Waddle (concussion, not listed), Dolphins
Friendly reminder that this Dolphins offense put up 70 points without the services of their electric No. 2 WR. Waddle immediately regains his place inside the position’s top-16 options ahead of Sunday’s likely shootout against the Bills. No matchup has a higher game total (53.5) in Week 4; Waddle should be started with confidence in fantasy leagues of all shapes and sizes.
Marquise Brown (thumb), Cardinals
Hollywood injured his thumb in practice on Thursday. Per science, having an injured thumb doesn’t help with the art of catching a football. Throw in a potentially miserable matchup against the 49ers that takes place in the late Sunday afternoon time slot, and Brown managers should REALLY consider looking elsewhere this week.
Keenan Allen (hip, not listed), Chargers
Registered a limited session on Friday after not being listed on the injury report all week. Still, Allen doesn’t have a final designation, meaning he’s good to go for Sunday’s potential shootout against the Raiders. Fire up the veteran target-hog as his usual WR1 self against this burnable secondary.
DeAndre Hopkins (ankle, not listed), Treylon Burks (knee, out), Titans
Look for Chris Moore and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to start in three-WR sets alongside Hopkins with Burks out of the picture. Still, Nuk is the only realistic fantasy option here, and even without Burks it’s tough to move him up much further than upside WR3 territory in the ole fantasy ranks. The newfound condensed volume is undoubtedly a plus; just realize this offense couldn’t even muster triple-digit total yards last week against the Browns. This defensive matchup doesn’t figure to be quite as tough, but Hopkins remains more of a solid FLEX as opposed to someone who needs to be started in lineups of all shapes and sizes.
Puka Nacua (oblique), Ben Skowronek (Achilles), Rams
Don’t be surprised if Matthew Stafford and company get back on track in a major way this week against a Colts defense that runs less man coverage than just about anyone. I’m starting Nacua and Kyren Williams in fantasy leagues any chance I get, while Tutu Atwell (the PPR WR14!) is also a recommended start against a Colts defense that has allowed the sixth-most PPR points to opposing WRs this season.
Jerry Jeudy (knee, not listed), Broncos
Had a TD in Week 3 wiped out by a rather weak illegal shift call that had no impact on the score. Jeudy is an upside WR3 this week in a prime get-right spot against the Bears’ sad excuse for a professional football team.
DeVonta Smith (illness, not listed), Quez Watkins (hamstring, out), Eagles
Smith missed practice on Thursday, but he’s good to go for Sunday’s NFC East showdown against the Commanders. Don’t be surprised if the passing game as a whole posts the sort of get-right production that this group has been lacking. Friendly reminder that Jalen Hurtsracked up 515 passing yards and five scores through the air in two games against the Eagles’ NFC East rival last season; Smith is his usual top-15 self ahead of this potential smash spot. Olamide Zaccheaus will continue to take Watkins’ role as the offense’s low-volume field-stretching WR.
D.K. Metcalf (ribs), Seahawks
Metcalf is expected to continue playing through the pan for the Seahawks’ Monday night matchup against the Giants. While Tyler Lockett is always a threat to be the man of the hour, this Geno Smith-led attack has produced 37 points in back-to-back weeks even without getting a true blowup performance from their alpha No. 1 WR. It’s a matter of when, not if, Metcalf REALLY puts together a big-time performance – he remains locked in as an upside WR2 in fantasy leagues of all shapes and sizes.
Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle, out), Rashod Bateman (hamstring, out), Ravens
Zay Flowers and Nelson Agholor will be the featured receivers, while No. 2 TE Isaiah Likely should also see more run than usual ahead of Sunday’s AFC East showdown with the Browns. Outside of DFS formats, Flowers remains the only WR in Baltimore worth overly pursuing in fantasy land. He’s a borderline WR2 with additional upside in full-PPR formats. That said, the bigger issue this week is the presence of a Myles Garrett-led defense that has allowed just one offensive TD all season. The group has managed to create more havoc than any defense outside of the Cowboys and Bills on their way to allowing just 335 passing yards after 180 minutes of action.
Kadarius Toney (toe, not listed), Chiefs
This is better news than last week when Toney was questionable going into Sunday, but Toney still figures to be part of a WR rotation that features not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, but six different members. While Toney’s high-end open-field elusiveness and target-earning abilities in this high-octane offense still give him theoretical upside down the stretch, he’s nothing more than a boom or (likely) bust WR5 option this week.
Allen Robinson (ankle, not listed), Steelers
A-Rob isn’t a recommended start due to the reality that he’s seen just seven targets in two games without Diontae Johnson (hamstring, IR) in the picture. This passing game is content to flow through George Pickens and Calvin Austin first and foremost; Robinson is nothing more than a desperate FLEX play despite the winnable matchup against the Texans.
Zay Jones (knee, out), Jaguars
This offense hasn’t been overly pretty, although it remains tough to overly fade the key parties involved in fantasy land thanks to the expected volume at hand. Trevor Lawrence is more of a low-end QB1 while the struggles persists as opposed to the ascending top-eight option he was drafted as, while Travis Etienne, Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk and Evan Engram all remain recommended starts thanks to the combination of hope that each’s innate talent will overcome their respective sluggish early-season starts as well as the condensed volume at hand inside of this Zay-less attack.
Jonathan Mingo (concussion, questionable), Panthers
Mingo’s bigger issue is the presence of Bryce Young under center, who has objectively been a bottom-three QB in the NFL through two career starts. The rookie is nothing more than a desperate WR5 play inside of a passing game happy to feature Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark ahead of him.
Deebo Samuel (ribs/knee, questionable), Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder, not listed), Jauan Jennings (shin, doubtful), 49ers
Aiyuk will leap into legit upside WR2 territory should Deebo be sidelined, while the presence of the team’s baller WR/RB hybrid would leave the returning Aiyuk as more of a borderline WR2. Ultimately, both Samuel and Aiyuk should be started in *most* fantasy lineups due to the reality that this 49ers offense is averaging a robust 30 points per game and are currently implied to score a week-high 28.75 points against the Cardinals.
Tight End
Tyler Higbee (Achilles), Rams
Higbee remains a TD-dependent TE2 if active inside of a Rams offense that *should* look more like its Weeks 1 to 2 self this week against a Colts defense that plays less man coverage than just about any defense in the league. Of course, Higbee should still remain a distant No. 3 to No. 4 pass-game option for Matthew Stafford behind the team’s WR duo and potentially Kyren Williams.
Gerald Everett (Illness, not listed), Chargers
Everett could be leaned on more in the red zone with Mike Williams (knee, IR) out of the picture, but then again monstrous backup TE Donald Parham has typically been Justin Herbert’s preferred target inside the 20-yard line this season. While Everett continues to demonstrate absurd YAC abilities on a near weekly basis, he’s nothing more than a low-floor TE2 due to the likelihood that he works as a distant complementary option in this still crowded passing attack.
Irv Smith (hamstring, out), Bengals
The Bengals featured Tanner Hudson, Drew Sample and Mitchell Wilcox in complementary part-time roles in Smith’s absence last week. None are realistic fantasy options due to the lack of projected volume inside of an offense more than content to flow the passing game through its WRs.
Logan Thomas (concussion, not listed), Commanders
Look for Thomas to get back to leading the way as the Commanders’ lead TE, although this passing game should continue to flow through its pair of talented outside WRs first and foremost. Thomas’ presence is a ding to any Cole Turner or John Bates truthers out there.
Will Dissly (shoulder), Seahawks
Sadly, the Seahawks don’t feature Noah Fant any more than usual without Dissly in the lineup; Colby Parkinson just gets additional work instead. None are realistic fantasy options outside of DFS showdown slates inside of a passing game always content to flow most of the targets through the WRs.
Foster Moreau (ankle, out), Saints
Look for Juwan Johnson to continue to work as the offense’s primary receiving TE, while Jimmy Graham should also see a handful of high-leverage routes. While Johnson has just seven catches for 61-scoreless yards this season, he remains the team’s lead option at the position in terms of route participation and deserves low-end TE2 consideration against this banged-up Buccaneers defense.