Week 2 Fantasy Football Injury Report
Nick Mensio rounds up all of the notable injuries for all fantasy-viable skill players.
The Red Line Football Injury Report analyzes injury designations for notable quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends for every Week 2 contest.
Chiefs @ Jaguars (51, KC -3)
Questionable: TE Travis Kelce (knee); RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness)
Analysis: Kelce (knee, questionable) has been cleared to play Sunday. After the Chiefs’ passing offense looked dysfunctional without him in Week 1’s home loss to the Lions, we should expect Kelce to lead Kansas City in targets as Week 2’s TE1. … Edwards-Helaire was DNP Wednesday, full Thursday, and DNP again Friday. If CEH does miss this game, it’ll be a big boost to Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon after Edwards-Helaire started Week 1, saw seven opportunities, and played 22% of the snaps. Removing him from the equation makes both backs safer. … UPDATE: The Chiefs activated RB La’Mical Perine from the practice squad for Week 2. It could be viewed as a potential sign that CEH is on the wrong side of questionable.
Bears @ Bucs (41, TB -2.5)
N/A
Seahawks @ Lions (47.5, DET -5)
Suspended: WR Jameson Williams
Analysis: With Williams suspended the first six weeks, Josh Reynolds paced the Lions’ wide receiver group in air yards and receiving (80) in the Week 1 win over the Chiefs, running 29 routes on 36 dropbacks. Veteran Marvin Jones was the third receiver with 21 routes, but he looked cooked with 2/8/0 and a fumble on six targets. … Both offensive lines will be missing key starters, as the Seahawks will be down both LT Charles Cross (toe) and RT Abraham Lucas (knee, I.R.) after they were injured in Week 1. Desperate for help, Seattle signed 41-year-old Jason Peters this week. In Detroit, LT Taylor Decker (ankle) is doubtful after missing practice all week.
Raiders @ Bills (47, BUF -8.5)
Out: WR Jakobi Meyers (concussion)
Analysis: Meyers was severely concussed toward the end of Week 1’s win over the Broncos. With him out, the Raiders will lean on veterans DeAndre Carter and Hunter Renfrow behind Davante Adams. Adams should be force-fed targets against the Bills. He practiced full Thursday and Friday after missing practice Wednesday.
Packers @ Falcons (40.5, ATL -1.5)
Questionable: RB Aaron Jones (hamstring); WR Christian Watson (hamstring)
Analysis: Jones pulled his hamstring in the second half of Week 1’s win over the Bears but downplayed it after the game. He ended up DNP’ing all three practices this week and is likely on the wrong side of the questionable tag. AJ Dillon and Patrick Taylor will handle backfield duties if Jones indeed can’t play. In a game with a 1.5-point spread, Dillon will have a chance at 15-18 carries as a volume-driven RB2. … Watson missed Week 1 and was DNP Wednesday and Thursday before getting in a limited session Friday. He looks like a possible game-time call. In Watson’s absence last week, the Packers employed a five-man weave at receiver. Romeo Doubs and rookie Jayden Reed are the best bets for box-score production after each ran a position-best 20 routes in Week 1. Reed saw a big-time 18.4-yard aDOT on a team-high five targets. … After missing Week 1, Cordarrelle Patterson (thigh) was removed from the injury report Friday and has been cleared to make his season debut. He’s expected to serve in a “Joker” role as a hybrid RB/WR. Patterson is yet another candidate for carries in Atlanta. … UPDATE: Jones and Watson are both expected to miss Week 2.
Chargers @ Titans (45.5, LAC -3)
Questionable: WR DeAndre Hopkins (ankle)
Doubtful: RB Austin Ekeler (ankle)
Injured Reserve: WR Kyle Philips (knee)
Analysis: Hopkins missed practice all week, but the 31-year-old has been known to not practice and still play on Sundays. He’s already said that he’s preparing as if he’s going to play in Week 2. … Ekeler is one of the major injuries of the week. It looks like Joshua Kelley is going to lead this backfield after he went 16/91/1 on the ground behind Ekeler last week versus Miami. The Titans’ run defense is a much tougher test after they were able to stamp out Jamaal Williams in Week 1, holding him to a forgettable 18/45/0 rushing line. Kelley looks like a back-end RB2. … UPDATE: Ekeler was downgraded to out. … Hopkins is expected to play Sunday.
Ravens @ Bengals (46.5, CIN -3)
Questionable: TE Mark Andrews (quad); RB Chris Evans (hamstring)
Injured Reserve: RB J.K. Dobbins (Achilles)
Andrews is listed as questionable yet again after missing Week 1, but he was promisingly upgraded to a full practice Friday. That’s the best sign we’ve gotten that Andrews might be able to play Week 2. If he can’t, Isaiah Likely will again play heavy snaps after playing 72% of the snaps and running 23 routes in the opener. It translated to just 1/4/0 on one target, but Likely would make sense as a contrarian DFS play. … Evans was limited Wednesday, DNP Thursday, and limited again Friday. Neither Evans (13% snaps, 3 opportunities) nor Trayveon Williams (29%, 2) made much of a dent in Joe Mixon’s Week 1 workload before the game got out of hand. … UPDATE: Andrews is expected to play Sunday.
Colts @ Texans (39.5, HOU -1.5)
Questionable: QB C.J. Stroud (shoulder); TE Drew Ogletree (concussion); TE Kyle Granson (hamstring)
Injured Reserve: WR Noah Brown (hamstring); TE Jelani Woods (hamstring); RB Evan Hull (knee)
Reserve/PUP: RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle)
Analysis: Zack Moss (arm) was removed from the Week 2 injury report and will play after missing last week’s opener. After Deon Jackson’s nightmarishly unproductive Week 1, Moss is expected to handle the lion’s share of the backfield work against Houston. … With Woods still on I.R., the Colts ran a three-way TEBC against Jacksonville last week. Kylen Granson (61%) paced the trio in playing time and routes (34), turning six targets into a respectable 4/39/0 line. The Texans have historically struggled against tight ends, putting Granson on DFS tournament radars. UPDATE: Granson was added to the injury report Saturday with hamstring tightness. That’s not a good sign, and I’m probably off him for Week 2 now, even if he plays. Ogletree cleared concussion protocol Saturday and will play. … Brown being out at least the next four weeks for the Texans opens up the third receiver spot for rookie Tank Dell, who impressed during the preseason. He could quickly emerge as a top-two target in this pass game. Second-year WR John Metchie (hamstring) will make his pro debut after battling leukemia as a rookie. … Stroud was a late addition to the injury report after he was limited in Friday’s practice. UPDATE: Stroud is expected to play Sunday.
49ers @ Rams (44.5, SF -7.5)
Questionable: WR Puka Nacua (oblique)
Injured Reserve: WR Cooper Kupp (hamstring)
Analysis: Nacua was dinged up in his big Week 1 against the Seahawks and didn’t practice Thursday before returning to the field Friday. But beat writer Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports the Rams expect Nacua to play Sunday. Coming off of a 10-catch game on 15 targets, Nacua has positioned himself as Matthew Stafford’s favorite target while Kupp is out. As for Kupp, coach Sean McVay said he hopes he’s able to play Week 5.
Giants @ Cardinals (40, NYG -4)
Doubtful: WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee)
Reserve/PUP: QB Kyler Murray (knee)
Analysis: Darren Waller (hamstring) was DNP Wednesday before returning to limited practices Thursday and Friday. The Giants are going to give Waller plenty of rest days this season as they try to massage a full 17-game season out of the injury-prone 31-year-old. He’s been cleared to play versus Arizona after leading the Giants in Week 1 targets, catches, and receiving yards. This is a get-right spot for the entire offense. … Robinson is still working his way back from a torn ACL. … Joshua Dobbs will make another start under center in place of Murray.
Jets @ Cowboys (38.5, DAL -9)
Questionable: RB Breece Hall (knee); K Greg Zuerlein (groin); WR Brandin Cooks (knee)
Injured Reserve: QB Aaron Rodgers (Achilles)
Analysis: With Rodgers done for the regular season, Zach Wilson will make the start in Dallas. Good luck. Chances are New York will be looking at external quarterback options again next week. With Rodgers out, the Jets figure to lean even more on their backfield duo of Hall and Dalvin Cook. Coach Robert Saleh has said Hall will remain on a pitch count after he played 31% of the Week 1 snaps behind Cook’s 50% share. Hall was the best player on the field, turning 12 chances into 127 total yards and several big gains. Cook, meanwhile, averaged 2.5 YPC on 13 runs. … Zuerlein was added to the injury report Friday, missing practice. The Jets are expected to sign a kicker to their practice squad as insurance. … Cooks is reportedly dealing with a sprained MCL and didn’t practice at all this week. He could be headed for a game-time call. If Cooks sits, Michael Gallup will soak up extra reps, though the matchup is extremely tough against the Jets’ outside cornerback duo of Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed. … UPDATE: Cooks is unlikely to play Sunday. … Zuerlein has also been downgraded to out. The Jets signed Austin Seibert to kick Sunday afternoon.
Commanders @ Broncos (39, DEN -3.5)
Out: TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring)
Analysis: The big news is the return of Jerry Jeudy (hamstring) after he was removed from the injury report Friday and cleared to make his season debut Sunday. Coach Sean Payton said Jeudy will have no restrictions. He’s fine to tee up as an upside WR2/3. Courtland Sutton’s stock takes a hit with Jeudy’s return. … Dulcich is expected to miss multiple weeks after injuring the same hamstring that cost him all of training camp and the first five games of last season. Adam Trautman ran 23 routes on 72% of the snaps and 37 dropbacks last week, leading the team with five catches on five targets. We should aim higher at tight end, but it’s hard to ignore Payton’s infatuation for Trautman.
Dolphins @ Patriots (46.5, MIA -3)
Questionable: WR DeVante Parker (knee)
Injured Reserve: RB Jeff Wilson (abdomen); WR Tyquan Thornton (shoulder)
Analysis: On the Miami side, all three of Raheem Mostert (knee), Jaylen Waddle (oblique), and De’Von Achane (shoulder) were removed from the final injury report Friday and have been cleared to play following full practices. It’s unclear if Achane will actually be active after he was a healthy Week 1 scratch. … Parker got in a round of limited practices this week but did the same thing last week before being inactive against Philadelphia. If Parker can’t go, rookie Kayshon Boutte will likely again handle X receiver duties after running 43 routes on 58 dropbacks in Week 1’s loss. Boutte posted a team-high 23.3 aDOT but failed to catch any of his four targets. He’d be an intriguing tournament option on single-game DFS slates if Parker is forced to sit.
Saints @ Panthers (40, NO -3)
Questionable: WR DJ Chark (hamstring); RB Kendre Miller (hamstring)
Injured Reserve: WR Tre’Quan Smith (groin)
Suspended: RB Alvin Kamara
Analysis: Chark looks like he’s going to make his Panthers debut Monday night. After being limited Thursday and Friday, Chark bumped up to a full practice Saturday. Look for Carolina to run a four-man WRBC, featuring Chark, Terrace Marshall, Adam Thielen, and Jonathan Mingo. … After missing practice all last week before being listed questionable and then missing Week 1, Miller was upgraded to limited work this week and appears to have a decent shot at making his NFL debut. Miller should take most of the passing-game work after Jamaal Williams saw both backfield targets for the Saints last Sunday.
Browns @ Steelers (39, CLE -2.5)
Questionable: WR Amari Cooper (groin)
Out: WR Diontae Johnson (hamstring); RB Anthony McFarland (knee)
Analysis: Cooper aggravated his groin in Saturday’s practice and looks like he’ll be a game-time call. Season-long players need to have another option lined up. … Johnson is expected to miss multiple weeks with his hamstring pull. Notably, George Pickens (hamstring) was added to the injury report Saturday, getting in a limited session, but he doesn’t carry an injury designation for Monday night.