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. To make them easier to follow, we will break down the injuries by division. Without further ado, let us examine the Regular Season Week 9 injuries and the next men up.
AFC East:
#JaylenWaddle
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) November 5, 2023
Left knee scare but hoping for return. Details: https://t.co/hXcSfm21Gh pic.twitter.com/fvc5RnuzGq
Miami receiver Jaylen Waddle was in and out of his team’s international games against the Kansas City Chiefs. The dynamic receiver has dealt with some minor ailments throughout the season, and this one was no different. With a Week 10 bye on tap, Waddle should be just fine going forward. However, watch for his practice reps ahead of Miami’s Week 11 game. If, for some reason, he can’t go, the Dolphins would turn to some combination of Robbie Chosen and Chase Claypool to play alongside Tyreek Hill, Cedrick Wilson, and Braxton Berrios.
AFC South:
Treylon Burks almost made an insane fourth down catch… but he’s down on the field and hasn’t moved since.
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) November 3, 2023
Praying for him.
pic.twitter.com/iABAEThI24
Tennessee wide receiver Treylon Burks suffered a scary-looking head injury late in his team’s Week 9 contest. The talented playmaker attempted to make a circus catch along the sideline late in the game before coming down on his head/neck along the sideline. Burks remained down on the field for some time before being evacuated from the field via ambulance. He is currently in the league’s concussion protocol, and it is fair to assume he will miss at least a week of game action. The Titans would be forced to turn to Chris Moore and Kyle Philips to take the field with DeAndre Hopkins and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. You can also likely expect an uptick in targets for talented tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo.
Indianapolis wide receiver Josh Downs suffered an apparent knee injury during his team’s Week 9 victory over the Panthers. He had struggled with the ailment throughout the week and exited early after only a single catch. Downs has been one of the better rookie wide receivers in the league this year. He has displayed some really good chemistry with quarterback Gardner Minshew. Keep an eye on his practice reps this week, as the Colts may choose to rest their talented rookie. If he does miss time, the Colts will turn to Isiah McKenzie and Juwaan Winfree to compliment Michael Pittman Jr and Alec Pierce. Neither McKenzie nor Winfree would be a recommended play in your lineup.
AFC North:
Ja’Marr Chase didn’t say what play he hurt his back on specifically but this play surely didn’t help his back feel any better if he did in fact hurt it earlier in the game pic.twitter.com/9qQXAluMfH
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) November 6, 2023
Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase appeared to suffer a back injury during his team’s Week 9 victory. The uber-talented playmaker seemingly hurt his back while going up to make a catch on a deep ball. After the game, Chase was somewhat coy about his status, stating, “I’m alive; that’s the best thing right now.” We do not yet know the severity of the injury, but the team has the talent in reserve to allow him time to rest if needed. Keep an eye out for news about his injury as the week continues. If he cannot go, the Bengals will lean on Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, supported by Andrei Iosivas and Trenton Irwin, to carry the load. Both Higgins and Boyd would be must-starts in a dynamic Bengals offense.
Cleveland wide receiver Amari Cooper briefly exited his team’s Week 9 victory with a foot injury. The star receiver was able to return to the game and continued to make plays. At this point, he appears to have avoided a serious injury. If he did miss game action, the Browns would lean on Elijah Moore and Cedick Tillman with a heavy dose of tight end David Njoku. Marquise Goodwin could also be an option, but he was knocked from this game with a head injury and would need to pass the league’s concussion protocol to suit up for Week 10.
AFC West:
The AFC West emerged from Week 9 without any major fantasy injuries.
NFC East:
Daniel Jones #NYGiants
— Jesse Morse, MD (@DrJesseMorse) November 5, 2023
Right knee injury
Initial thoughts:
1. Meniscal tear
2. MCL sprain
3. ACL tear (possibly all 3)
Here’s the play ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/X34WifPZEm
New York quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a non-contact knee injury in his team’s Week 9 loss. The former Duke star has been struggling through a brutal 2023, which will now be cut short. Testing confirmed that Jones suffered a torn ACL, and his season is over. Chalk up yet another terrible injury to turf fields. After receiving a heavy extension from the team, the Giants will be in limbo with their presumptive franchise signal caller. It is fair to wonder if the team would consider pulling the trigger on a new signal caller if the right player falls to them in the coming NFL draft. With fellow quarterback Tyrod Taylor on IR with a chest injury, the Giants will be forced to turn to rookie Tommy DeVito in the short term. The team added Jacob Eason to the practice squad with veteran Matt Barkley. With the exception of Saquon Barkley, the Giants are a team to avoid for fantasy proposes until further notice.
Philadelphia tight end Dallas Goedert suffered a fractured forearm in his team’s Week 9 victory. The former South Dakota State star has been a major part of the Eagles passing game as of late. Team officials have announced he will need surgery and will almost certainly be headed for a stint on IR. With the Eagles getting a bye this week, Goedert will get an extra week on his IR, helping him heal up for the stretch run. In his absence, the Eagles will look to Jack Stroll and Albert Okwuegbunam to hold down the fort until Goedert can return. Expect an uptick in targets for the Eagles dynamic duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts briefly exited his team’s Week 9 victory with a knee bruise. The star signal-caller has been dealing with a leg injury for some time. In this game, he took a decent shot in the pocket and struggled to get up before limping to the sideline. He came right back into the game and didn’t miss a beat. The Eagles have a Week 10 bye, which should give Hurts some time to heal up. Marcus Mariota is his backup and would get any game action Hurts were to miss.
NFC South:
INJURY REPORT: @Saints RB Kendre Miller undergoing more tests on ankle sprain suffered on Sunday pic.twitter.com/JG0Rc8BqsH
— The Fantasy Source (@FantasySource_) November 6, 2023
New Orleans running back Kendre Miller suffered an apparent ankle injury in his team’s Week 9 victory. The talented rookie has dealt with injuries all season to this point. He did make a big play in this one before exiting. At this point, he is likely more of a stash towards 2023, with Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams taking up a big portion of the touches. Keep an eye on his practice reps as the week progresses. His potential absence would only buoy the outlooks for Kamara and Williams until he returns.
Atlanta wide receiver Mack Hollins injured his ankle in his team’s Week 9 contest. Hollins has been one of Atlanta’s top receivers in 2023, but that has not translated into steady fantasy relevance. The team has expressed concern that he will not be able to go for Week 10. In that case, the Falcons would turn to Van Jefferson and Scotty Miller to play alongside alpha wide receiver Drake London. Only the latter would be a recommended fantasy play for the week.
NFC North:
Footage of the Cam Akers injury looks grim. Possibly a Torn Achilles on the opposite foot to his 2021 tear.#Vikings #NFL pic.twitter.com/hMWQasPRuq
— Bobblehead Sports (@Bobbleheadsprtz) November 5, 2023
Minnesota quarterback Jaren Hall was forced from his team’s Week 9 contest with a concussion. This was a shame for the rookie as this was his first career start, and he looked pretty decent out of the gates. However, once he exited, the Vikings turned to newly acquired Joshua Dobbs, who, despite only being on the team for a matter of days, led the team to a dramatic victory, likely securing the starting role moving forward for as long as he plays well. Hall will need to clear the league concussion protocols but will likely be forced into a backup role, given how good Dobbs has looked this season.
Minnesota running back Cam Akers exited Week 9 early with a lower leg injury. Tragically, post-game testing revealed that Akers suffered another torn Achilles tendon, and his season is over. This is the second time in a couple of years that Akers has torn an Achilles. His departure will yet again lock in Alexander Mattison as a true bell-cow back for whatever points that role is currently worth on the Vikings. Third-down specialist Ty Chandler will once again spell Mattison. Mattison will likely return to his role as a low-end RB2 for your teams down the stretch.
Minnesota wide receiver K.J. Osborn was forced from his team’s Week 9 victory with a head injury. Subsequent testing revealed that Osborn had indeed suffered a concussion, and he will need to progress through the league protocol before being allowed back on the field. If he cannot gain clearance before Week 10, the Vikings will be forced to turn to Brandon Powell, N’Keal Harry, and Trishton Jackson to play alongside talented rookie Jordan Addison. Tight end T.J. Hockenson and Addison are likely in for a hefty target share until Osborn can get back on the field.
Green Bay wide receiver Christian Watson went down late in his team’s Week 9 victory with a chest/back injury. The former North Dakota State star also underwent testing for a concussion. This is shaping up as a lost season for the talented sophomore who has dealt with a rash of injuries all season. If he misses further game action, the Packers will look to Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks to hold down the fort until Watson returns. Doubs and Reed can both be looked at as upside-flex plays in a suddenly conservative Packers offense.
NFC West:
The NFC West escaped Week 9 without any fantasy-relevant injuries.
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