Saying hello to the NFL and fantasy football season has a real first-day-of-school feel to it. Even wondering what we’re going to wear. Sunday, I’ll be sporting my “Husband. Father. Fantasy Football Legend” Fantasy Life T-shirt. Let’s call it aspirational, though not on the first two.

Enough about wardrobes. It’s time for some injury talk. Whether you follow the NFL year-round or just jumped in when training camp kicked off in late July, there have been some injuries that must be followed from last season like Jonathon Brooks returning from a torn ACL in November. Others, like Christian McCaffrey’s calf injury, popped up during the preseason when information is not plentiful.

Some need monitoring even with the season starting, which brings us here. Before joining Fantasy Life, I co-hosted the Injury [PRO]ne Podcast with Dr. Edwin Porras. I learned from Porras to remember that players are not injury-prone, they just play a violent game that results in a lot of, well, injuries. It’s also important to keep in mind a player's injury history, because one injury could make a player susceptible to future injuries of the same kind. 

So, every week this space will be filled with fantasy-specific injury information—there might be a quote or two from Porras from time to time—heading toward the weekend games, with Start/Sit Recommendations for fantasy managers who might be teetering. Or they just need reassurance that a player is going to be fine to start and perform on their fantasy teams. The information will remain the same. That said, let’s start with a player who flew off at the top of so many draft boards before this season.

Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

CMC sat out two weeks during training camp with what the team was calling a calf/Achilles injury. The 2023 RB1 was as clear a bet to go 1.01 in nearly all fantasy drafts before this news came out. He did sit out a meaningless Week 18 game last year with what was called a calf injury, then put up 460 scrimmage yards and 5 TDs in three postseason games. 

The two-week designation to miss time during the preseason was consistent with what Porras has seen in his past research. Fantasy managers were largely undeterred,  McCaffrey returned to practice this week, and wasn’t expected to play in the preseason anyway.

Start/Sit Recommendation: CMC was the consensus 1.01 for a reason, and as long as he’s active he should be in every fantasy lineup.

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

In an odd development, the NFL had the Chargers include Herbert on their injury report with a foot injury designation, even though he’s been back at practice since Aug. 19.

He had missed the bulk of training camp and the preseason with a plantar fascia injury that required him to be in a walking boot. Since his return to practice, Herbert has not missed a beat and players have talked about how his ball just felt different, but in a good way.

Herbert has practiced fully on Wednesday and Thursday, which is what fantasy managers should look at. We have him at QB21 in our consensus rankings, though that might be low in a matchup against the Raiders team against which he’s thrown for 300+ yards four times in seven career meetings. In three of those games, he went over 3 TDs.

Start/Sit Recommendation: Herbert might be a starting option over players like Dak Prescott (at CLE), Kirk Cousins (vs. PIT), and Brock Purdy (vs. NYJ).

Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

Right when our amigo Peter Overzet was like so many of us and “back in” on Pitts, that dreaded injury designation rears its ugly head when, on Sept. 4, it came out that the highly regarded tight end practiced in limited fashion with a hamstring injury.

Without washing away the optimism over Pitts being nearly two years past his multi-ligament knee surgery that limited him last year, this hamstring has to be monitored because he does have a history. 

That said, fantasy managers who spent up and drafted Pitts as a top-6 TE are starting him if he’s on the field. The Steelers were 13th in the NFL in allowing 12.5 fantasy points/game to the tight end position.

Start/Sit Recommendation: If Pitts is suiting up, you’re starting him. Though look for a backup if you don’t already have one on the bench, just in case.

Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

Nacua injured his knee on Aug. 4, and missed a chunk of the preseason, though HC Sean McVay does not play his starters in exhibition games. So we’ll have to keep an eye on if McVay limits Nacua’s snaps during real games, but optimism is high that Nacua will be fine to start the season. 

Nacua went 15th overall in Yahoo drafts, and his absence may have played a part in driving up Cooper Kupp to No. 31. More likely it was the optimistic health reports this season for Kupp. This week the Rams travel to Detroit for a playoff rematch with the Lions. Nacua caught 9-of-10 targets for 181 yards and a score in that exhilarating track meet of a game.

Start/Sit Recommendation: Perhaps McVay doesn’t give Nacua a full workload to open the season, but Nacua is coming off a record-setting 105-1,486-6 rookie season and needs to be in fantasy lineups in a game with a 52.5 over/under.

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

Warren was a popular player among fantasy drafters coming off a season with 1,154 and 4 TDs, and he looked like a player on a discount at RB30 and an ADP of 100.5 in Yahoo drafts because of a preseason hamstring injury.

The Steelers looked like a team that could have two fantasy-relevant RBs, and Warren’s return is vital to that attack alongside Najee Harris. He got back to practice ahead of the Week 1 game against the Falcons.

Start/Sit Recommendation: Warren is on the flex radar, even going against an Atlanta defense that allowed just 18.7 PPR fantasy points/game to RBs. Unless a good receiving option like Christian Watson going into a high-scoring game with the Eagles is on the bench, start Warren.

Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

The 6-foot-4 WR is going into a vital season, as his rookie contract is nearing completion. So nearing free agency, a healthy and complete season could set him up handsomely in the future. He was limited in practice with a hamstring designation, which is somewhat concerning because Higgins missed time last season with the same injury.

Higgins said he’s feeling “amazing” going into the home opener against the New England Patriots. Watch for a full practice on Friday to make sure he’s headed toward playing on Sunday.

Start/Sit Recommendation: As the WR27 in Yahoo ADP, Higgins is not heading to benches anytime soon, especially if Ja’Marr Chase sits out of the game. Keep an eye on that hammy, though, as this type of injury can reoccur.

Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears

The Bears’ talented trio of receivers of Allen, DJ Moore, and Rome Odunze could be special if rookie Caleb Williams lives up to the hype. Allen landed on the injury report with a heel injury, which needs extra attention because he missed four games last season with the same injury.

Allen’s injury history and age (32) are red flags, but check the Friday practice report to see if he’s a full participant.

Start/Sit Recommendation: Allen was drafted as WR32, so he was selected by fantasy managers to be a starter. At the very least a flex play. The Titans come to Soldier Field with a revamped secondary that allowed 245 passing yards/game last year. If he’s active, get him in your fantasy lineup, at least as a flex play.