Week 7 Fantasy Football Injury Roundup: Marvin Harrison Jr. Is A Go
Chris Allen and Jorge Martin tackle the prominent injuries impacting fantasy football ahead of NFL Week 7. For a game-by-game breakdown on the latest inactives starting at 11:30 a.m. ET, check out our Inactives Tool.
We're in Week 7, and there are plenty of injury situations worth monitoring. Some players have already been ruled out, and more than a few are game-time decisions that will impact fantasy managers. Let's get into the Injury Roundup.
Quarterback
Drake Maye: New England's new QB1 did wind up on the injury report to start the week after getting an MRI on his knee. Luckily, the move was just a precaution, as the Patriots took him off the list ahead of their matchup against the Jags in London. However, his health is something to monitor. Maye took the third-most hits (including four sacks) of any QB in Week 6. Jacksonville may struggle to get after the QB, but Maye's playstyle (11.9% scramble rate—third-highest in Week 6) could be the gift that gives and takes away in fantasy.
Anthony Richardson: On the one hand, it's good to see Anthony Richardson will be back on the field in Week 7. However, we're left wondering about how HC Shane Steichen will deploy his franchise QB. Richardson was injured while using his cheat-code ability as a runner. Beforehand, he was a top-6 rusher amongst QBs at 5.9 PPG on the ground. But his passing acumen still needs to improve (34th out of 35 qualifiers in CPOE). Without clarity on his usage, he's a high-end QB2 with upside if he's still a part of the running game against the Dolphins.
Will Levis: The news came out Saturday that Levis had suffered an AC shoulder sprain that Adam Schefter reports this could be a 4-to-5-week injury. That’s a big blow to the development of Levis, who has just 5 touchdowns to go with 7 interceptions. If this is indeed a multi-week injury, Mason Rudolph will take over behind center, and the hope is he can unlock the Titans offense more than Levis had up to now. If Rudolph can do anywhere close to what he did with George Pickens in the closing weeks of the 2023 season, Titans fans and fantasy managers would be over the moon. Perhaps this could bring some life to Calvin Ridley in the next few weeks.
Running Back
Brian Robinson Jr.: Robinson couldn't even log a practice ahead of Week 6. Accordingly, he sat out of the Commanders' narrow loss to the Ravens. Things have changed for the better this week. Washington's RB1 got in multiple limited sessions and was able to speak to the media regarding his status for Week 7. He didn't give any indication regarding his status, but all are positive signs.
If he's active, Robinson should be in your lineup. Through four weeks he ranked in the top 10 in carries, and his 10.4% target share was between Kyren Williams’ (11.0%) and James Cook’s (10.2%). The matchup against Carolina only enhances his value. Should he sit, Austin Ekeler slides into the RB1 role, after taking a commanding (pun intended) lead over the carries (9 to 2) and targets (5 to 0) in Week 6.
Jonathan Taylor: Taylor will be out again in Week 7, and Trey Sermon is set to take over as the RB1 for Indianapolis again. In Week 5, Sermon handled 53.0% of the carries while earning a 14.0% target share. However, Tyler Goodson posted greater adjusted yards after contact per attempt and forced missed tackle rate. The trend continued in Week 6, enabling a bump in opportunities for Goodson.
The Dolphins have allowed at least one rushing TD in every game this season. Rhamondre Stevenson was the last to barrel through their defensive line for 89 yards and a score. With Sermon's questionable health status (DNP to start the week), fantasy managers should at least roster Sermon, as he has FLEX viability for Week 7.
Devin Singletary: Singletary will return after a two-game absence from a groin injury. However, his return won't be met with open arms from fantasy managers.
Tyrone Tracy had the 7th-most PPR PPG among all RBs through Weeks 5 and 6. Only Derrick Henry and Chuba Hubbard accrued more yards on the ground. Tracy was also 8th in receiving yards. Like the Buccaneers' backfield, we have another three-headed monster on our hands. But, for folks holding Tracy, we have one more week for the rookie to wedge a gap further. The Eagles are in the middle of the pack in receiving yardage allowed to RBs, giving Tracy RB3 value in PPR leagues. If he can keep the Giants on schedule, Singletary may become the RB1B in this offense moving forward.
Tyjae Spears: Spears didn't practice all week and will miss Week 7. Tony Pollard has the Titans' backfield to himself, along with a new QB under center. However, Pollard didn't need Spears out with an injury to be a viable RB1.
Pollard's utilization has him ahead of workhorse backs like Joe Mixon. However, Pollard has Mason Rudolph piloting the offense. Mixon has C.J. Stroud. But playing against Buffalo's defense may tip the scales toward the Titans' RB1. They're 1st in fantasy points allowed to RBs, after allowing two rushers to crack the century mark over the last three weeks (Derrick Henry, Breece Hall). With Pollard's projected workload and matchup, he should be in the high-RB2 discussion for Week 7.
De'Von Achane: Week 4 was Achane's last full game. During that contest, he ceded 31.0% of the attempts to rookie Jaylen Wright. However, Achane still maintained his receiving role with a 15.0% target share. Wright's bump in snaps and touches dampen Achane's outlook coming out of the bye, but the matchup makes them both viable for fantasy.
With some of their primary defenders out, the Colts have surrendered 238 yards and 3 scores on the ground over the last two weeks. Miami's offense has averaged less than 20 yards per drive without Tua Tagovailoa in the starting lineup. But with the bye week to get Tyler Huntley further integrated, Achane's outlook should be on the upswing.
Jordan Mason: Yes, Mason got in a full practice to close out the week.
Yes, the team expects him to play against the Chiefs.
But I'm concerned.
We've already seen something similar with Travis Etienne. After he popped up on Jacksonville's injury report in Week 5 with a shoulder issue, we saw his snaps and attempts diminish over a three-week span. The most yardage a single rusher has gained on Kansas City is 46 yards (Derrick Henry, Week 1). They've given up just 2 TDs on the ground all season. The risk of reaggravation puts Mason in the "if-you-have-to-play-him" category despite being in (what should be) a back-and-forth matchup in Week 7.
Aaron Jones: Jones injured his hamstring and was limited to just 16 snaps in Week 5. Coming out of the bye, he logged a pair of limited practices to end the week. Not great, but not exactly looking like an automatic sity. With the Vikings acquiring Cam Akers this week, there is speculation that there is a lack confidence in Jones’ health. That may be warranted, as Jones has an injury history. Dr. Edwin Porras said that there is a 28% reinjury rate for players coming off hamstring injuries in the same year the players were injured. Jones is also 29, which is the age when running backs start to slow down.
The matchup is daunting for an RB, as the Lions are allowing just 45.8 rushing yards per game to the position (3rd fewest in the league). They’ve been better against the pass—17th in the league with 213 yards allowed to QBs—though they did allow 258 yards and 4 TDs to Jordan Love last week. With this game having shootout written all over it with a 50.5 over/under, Jones might need to get it done more in the passing game if he’s able to play.
Travis Etienne: A 2021 1st-round pick, Travis Etienne has just nine total targets for the Jaguars in Week 6 and popped up on the injury report with limited practices all three days this week. He was ruled inactive before the London game, so fire up Tank Bigsby! D’Ernest Johnson may steal some touches in the passing game—Johnson had 2 targets and Bigsby ) last week—but from a pure rushing standpoint this is a great spot for Bigsby. Last week Joe Mixon stuck them for 102 yards and a score, a week after Raheem Mostert and Jaylen Wright both hit the 80-yard mark against the Pats, who are allowing the 4th-most rushing yards to RBs at 117.4 per game.
Rachaad White: Foot injuries on running backs are no joke, and the Buccaneers have given some action to multiple young players in White’s stead when he’s been out.
White is trending in the right direction toward playing, though the Tampa Bay backfield gained another option in UDFA Sean Tucker and his 192 total yards and a pair of TDs last week. HC Dave Canales predicted a three-way RB committee. The sound you just heard was that of fantasy managers collectively growning. It’s almost best to sit them all in Week 7, as the Ravens are allowing just 45 rushing yards to RBs per game this season.
Wide Receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr.: The good news is Marvin Harrison Jr. will be on the field for the Cardinals' Monday night game against the Chargers. Most expected him to miss time like his classmate Malik Nabers, so Harrison's recovery is remarkable. However, how the Cardinals have used him isn't. Just 14 of his 37 targets (37.8%) have come on looks of less than 10 air yards. And Greg Dortch and Trey McBride are the primary slot receivers. There hasn't been a concerted effort to "get the ball into the hands" of their first-round WR unless he out-athletes a seasoned defender. So, Harrison's 22.0% target share might force you to start him, but the result (against the Chargers allowing the 11th-fewest adjusted fantasy points allowed) may not match expectations.
Dontayvion Wicks: A shoulder injury limited Wicks to just a 19% snap share in Week 6. With Christian Watson returning to health and Romeo Doubs coming off suspension, this could once again be a crowded WR room for Wicks. We’ll know fairly quickly if Wicks is a go against the Texans, as the teams play in the early window.
Houston is 12th in the league, allowing 142.2 receiving yards to the WR position. Jordan Love has looked great in his return from injury, so if Wicks is active he’s very much in play. Though don’t be surprised if the targets don’t go his way, as Jayden Reed has been the only consistent target earner when all the pass catchers are healthy in Green Bay. This game has the 5th-highest total on the day at 48 points, so a shootout between Love and Stroud could mean plenty points for the pass catchers.
Mike Evans: The future Hall of Famer has a history of hamstring injuries dating back to 2018. That is a huge concern, said Porras, and the doctor is expressing caution in considering trades for Evans. But against a tantalizing matchup against the Ravens on Monday Night Football, Evans is very much start-worthy.
The Ravens have been getting lit up in the secondary, as they’ve allowed the 2nd-most receiving yards and most fantasy points to the WR position. This is another game with a high over/under (49.5), so fire up Evans with confidence as long as he’s active.
Ladd McConkey: With three limited practices on the week, McConkey goes into the Monday Night Football game against the Cardinals with a questionable designation. He should play, and Arizona might be a good matchup, as it is 29th in the league allowing 36.7 fantasy points to WRs. McConkey has 21 targets in his last three games, far and away the most for the Chargers.
Amon-Ra St. Brown is the most recent slot WR to face the Cardinals, and he turned 8 targets into 7-75-1 in Week 3. The Chargers have some injuries on the back end of the defense, so McConkey could be a sneaky play on MNF.
Cooper Kupp: Let’s all remember that his sprained ankle was on the opposite ankle that required surgery and ended his 2022 season as Kupp was leading in fantasy points per game. So this is a new injury with no history.
Porras found that wide receivers coming off high-ankle sprains return to the field after 2.5 weeks. The problem with Kupp is that he plays in the afternoon window, so if you can back him up with Jordan Whittington, do it! The early reports from Adam Schefter and beat writer Jourdan Rodrigue are not encouraging that Kupp will play this week. What could be factoring into the decision is that the Rams play the Vikings on Thursday Night Football, so the organization may err on the side of caution and activate Kupp for the latter game. He has shown disdain for playing on turf, and the team might feel confident in the ability to beat the Raiders without the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year. Be ready with afternoon contingency plans, and if he can’t go be ready to start Whittington, Demarcus Robinson, and even TE Colby Parkinson.
Jakobi Meyers: After three consecutive DNPs, the Raiders have Meyers listed as doubtful for Week 7. However, buying low on the Raiders' would-be WR1 should be on our radar. Meyers' 22.0% target share should increase with the departure of Davante Adams while maintaining a modest 1.5 YPRR. In the meantime, Tre Tucker is in line to take on the bulk of the targets against a Rams defense that's allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing WRs.
Tight End
Dallas Goedert: Philadelphia has already ruled out Dallas Goedert for Week 7 after an early exit against the Browns last Sunday. In his stead, Grant Calcaterra's route rate (89.0%) and target share (17.0%) hit season highs. Given the state of the TE position (read: it's a wasteland, yet again), streaming the Eagles' TE2 in deeper formats is a defensible reaction. However, two points to consider.
One, the Giants rank in the bottom 12 in fantasy points allowed to TEs. Granted, their toughest outing was against Jake Ferguson. Regardless, no TE has found the end zone against the GMen. In addition, A.J. Brown was the only pass-catcher with a red-zone target, with everyone else back healthy. Without clear upside, fantasy managers should look at other options before rostering the third or fourth passing-game option for Jalen Hurts.
Hayden Hurst: You'd think Hurst's absence would (somewhat) benefit the rest of the Chargers' passing game. His 11.0% vacated target share could (hopefully) condense around the more fantasy-relevant options. But they're all hurt, too! Plus, Will Dissly (55.0% route rate, 18.0% target share), Stone Smartt (13.0%, 4.0%), and Eric Tomlinson (18.0%) took turns getting some cardio on the field. Even in a positive matchup against the Cardinals, there aren't any backup targets to roster in the low-pass-volume offense that is the Chargers (31st in neutral passing on early downs).