Every week, players across the NFL suffer injuries. This weekly article will explore the injuries that affect your dynasty squads. We will briefly discuss both the injured players themselves and the players who stand to benefit or suffer as a result. In order to make them easier to follow, we will break down the injuries by division. Without further ado, let’s examine the Regular Season Week 1 injuries in The Next Man Up.
AFC EAST INJURIES
After being tested for a concussion Jayle Waddle responds with a 63-yard catch! pic.twitter.com/95H5wPXKo8
— IG: NFLPreme (@premefootball) September 8, 2024
Jaylen Waddle | WR | Miami Dolphins | Concussion
Jaylen Waddle exited his team’s Week 1 victory over the Jaguars with a possible concussion. He was forced to miss some of the game before being allowed to re-enter after passing the league’s mandated concussion protocol. At this point, he appears to have dodged any real injury. However, it is a good idea to monitor his practice reps. He has a history of head injuries and, however unlikely, he could have some issues pop up throughout the week. If he does miss time, the Dolphins would be forced to turn to Braxton Berrios and Robbie Chosen. Neither player would be a recommended fantasy play. [Editor’s note: Jaylen Waddle was a healthy start for the TNF game vs. the Buffalo Bills.]
Josh Allen | QB | Buffalo Bills | Non-throwing hand
Josh Allen hurt his non-throwing hand in his team’s Week 1 victory. The All-Pro QB has already been checked out and cleared for his next contest against the division-rival Dolphins. File this away as we move forward. The team could look to limit his rushing attempts moving forward. If he were ever forced to miss time, the Bills would turn to Mitchell Trubisky. [Editor’s note: Josh Allen played in full on TNF Week 2 vs. the Miami Dolphins.]
Ty Johnson | Buffalo Bills | Knee
Ty Johnson was forced from his team’s Week 1 victory with a knee injury. The veteran had been slated for a change-of-pace role behind starter James Cook. The former University of Maryland star appeared to have his knee driven down onto the turf at Highmark Stadium. We will have to wait to work out the exact severity of the injury. Johnson’s absence would open up additional work for rookie Ray Davis who would be thrust into a more prominent role as a reserve behind Cook. Davis would be hard to trust, but Johnson’s injury could boost the overall outlook for Cook who would likely garner most, if not all, of the passing down work on top of his regular duties as a starter. [Editor’s note: Ty Johnson was a healthy start in Week 2 vs. the Miami Dolphins.]
AFC SOUTH INJURIES
The AFC South was one of the few divisions to make it through Week 1 without any fantasy-relevant injuries.
AFC NORTH INJURIES
#DavidNjoku with ankle injury.
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) September 8, 2024
I hope they are checking his head as well. pic.twitter.com/SpVA5TxF4I
David Njoku | TE | Cleveland Browns | Ankle
David Njoku was forced from his team’s Week 1 loss with a painful-looking ankle injury. Njoku was the recipient of a brutal hit in the second half. He was immediately removed from the game and wasn’t able to return to the field. Cleveland reporter Mary Kay Cabot revealed that the star tight end left the facility in a walking boot. Early indications are that the star TE is dealing with a high-ankle sprain. He is listed as week-to-week. However, whether he is put on IR or not should give us some indications of a timeline if he is likely to miss 4 or more weeks of action. Njoku’s absence would be felt. Jordan Akins would be the next man up in the deepest of desperate TE premium plays. The most likely result of a Njoku absence would be additional targets for a strong WR corps.
AFC WEST INJURIES
The AFC West squads managed to get through Week 1 healthy on the fantasy football front.
NFC EAST INJURIES
NFC East:#JakeFerguson @dallascowboys
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) September 9, 2024
Worry for significant left knee injuryhttps://t.co/DEsgmT899T pic.twitter.com/cQ5PxvuPQ1
Jake Ferguson | TE | Dallas Cowboys | Knee
Dallas TE Jake Ferguson was forced from his team’s Week 1 victory with a knee injury. The emerging tight end was looking to build off of a breakout sophomore campaign. However, after coming down awkwardly on the play above, Ferguson may miss some time. There have been conflicting reports about the exact nature of the injury after it was revealed as an MCL sprain and a bone bruise. Some have said he could miss multiple games. Other reports have seemingly indicated that he could potentially play this coming week. I am extremely dubious of the latter reports given his importance to Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense. It’s hard to imagine them rushing such an important player back on the field if he isn’t fully healthy. The Cowboys will turn to former 2nd-round pick Luke Schoonmaker. Dak Prescott has always loved to make use of the TE position in the passing game. Schoonmaker could provide some TE2 appeal in your TE premium leagues. Keep your ears open for any injury news around Ferguson this week.
Darius Slayton | WR | New York Giants | Concussion
Darius Slayton has entered the league’s concussion protocol following his team’s Week 1 loss. The tenured starter for the Giants will need to pass through a series of tests in order to gain clearance ahead of his team’s Week 2 contest against the division rival Commanders. If he is unable to progress through the testing, the Giants will be forced to turn to sophomore Jalin Hyatt. The two primary beneficiaries of a Slayton absence would be Wan’Dale Robinson and Malik Nabers, both of whom would see an uptick in their targets. Nabers should be looked at as an every-week start with Robinson being more of a flex option.
NFC SOUTH INJURIES
If you own an NFC South fantasy relevant player you are happy because they made it through Week 1 healthy.
NFC NORTH INJURIES
Jordan Love has an MCL sprain in his knee that he hurt in yesterday’s loss to the Eagles #GoPackGo #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/ffseuY5ZUp
— Philly sports complex (@philly_complex) September 7, 2024
Jordan Love | QB | Green Bay Packers | Knee
Jordan Love suffered a significant knee injury at the hands of Philadelphia DT Jalen Carter in his team’s Week 1 defeat. Subsequent testing revealed that the quarterback suffered an MCL sprain. His initial timetable for a return is 3-6 weeks. As it currently stands, newly acquired Malik Willis and practice squad QB Sean Clifford are the next men up. Neither player is anything but the most desperate of Superflex plays heading forward. Willis could offer something with his legs, but I cannot recommend playing him. This will be a downgrade for the entire Packers offense as the pass catchers will suffer the dropoff with the QB play and the RBs are likely to face stacked boxes.
Jordan Addison | WR | Minnesota Vikings | Ankle
Jordan Addison exited his team’s Week 1 victory with an ankle injury. Interestingly enough, this is not the ankle that he has been nursing throughout the preseason but an injury to the other leg. Following the game, Ian Rappaport indicated that team officials do not believe this is a significant injury. Nevertheless, he is scheduled for additional testing early this week to determine the extent of the injury. In his absence, the Vikings will look to Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell to play alongside All-Pro Justin Jefferson. Nailor could provide some deep flex appeal if you are brave enough to play him in a potential Addison absence.
Rome Odunze | WR | Chicago Bears | Knee
Rome Odunze sustained a knee injury during his team’s Week 1 victory. The highly coveted wide receiver was rolled up on while blocking in the Bears’ home opener. An MRI revealed that Rome suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain. Judging by the looks of the video, it could have been much worse. Team officials are currently calling him week-to-week. Keep an eye on whether or not he goes on IR as it will indicate if they are expecting him to miss more or less than 4 games. The Bears will lean heavily on their dynamic duo of D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen. You could also see some additional work in the passing game for the team’s talented TE duo of Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett. Tyler Scott and Deandre Carter would be the primary fill-in players in 3-wide sets. They may also funnel some touches to Velus Jones.
NFC WEST INJURIES
Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua shaken up after this play… 😬 pic.twitter.com/qnEheDkOWv
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) September 9, 2024
Puka Nacua | WR | Los Angeles Rams | Knee
Puka Nacua was forced from his team’s Sunday Night contest against the Lions with a knee injury. The sophomore sensation has been dealing with a bursa sack injury in this knee all pre-season. He tried to get back into the game before eventually being carted off the field. There has been some reporting from Ryan Evans of ESPN that the team fears Puka may have torn his ACL. This would obviously be devastating for his season-long outlook. Cooper Kupp would once again become a target monster if that comes to pass. Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, and Tyler Johnson are the next men up for the Rams. Rookie WR Jordan Whittington could also get some run with the starters. Robinson and Johnson would be my preferred adds but only as deep flex options. There will be no replacing Puka in the lineup for however long he misses. You could also see an uptick in looks for TE Colby Parkinson.
Kenneth Walker III | RB | Seattle Seahawks | Core
Kenneth Walker III suffered an abdominal injury late in his team’s Week 1 victory. There has been very little trickle-out about exactly what type of injury Walker is dealing with. Immediately following the game, Walker indicated he was fine. On Monday, Head Coach Mike Macdonald indicated that Walker was day to-day. If Walker were to miss time, the Seahawks would look to former 2nd-round pick Zach Charbonnet. If you hold the Seahawks handcuff on your bench and Walker misses any game action, fire him up as an upside RB2 sure to see some really nice volume.
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