Week 8 Injury Roundup. Updates on Key Fantasy Football Injuries.

Injuries objectively suck. To this day it’s unclear why God hasn’t turned them off. Anyone who plays Madden of NCAA Football and does NOT turn off injuries is a monster in my humble opinion.

Of course, injuries continue to be a rather large part of fantasy football analysis, which is why Fantasy Life will continue to grind each and every fantasy-relevant issue throughout the season.

What follows is a breakdown on every fantasy-relevant injury ahead of Week 8.

Check out the late Friday edition of The Fantasy Life Podcast for a full breakdown on the issues from Fantasy Life lead betting analyst Matthew Freedman.

Quarterback

Brock Purdy (concussion, questionable), 49ers

Didn’t look to have much of a chance at suiting up to start the week, but has seemingly progressed right on through the protocol and now is tentatively expected to start Sunday against the Bengals.

We should know Purdy’s final status by Saturday afternoon.

Sam Darnold will get the start if Mr. Relevant is unable to suit up. The Bengals’ eighth-ranked pass rush in pressure rate won’t make life too easy, but Purdy remains firmly on the QB1 borderline if active.

Trevor Lawrence (knee, questionable), Jaguars

T-Law surprisingly rushed for a season-high 59 yards despite seemingly being truly questionable ahead of last Thursday night’s win over the Saints.

With an extra long week to get right, Lawrence should be even closer to 100% and has a chance to boom against a Steelers defense that has allowed the third-highest explosive pass play rate in the NFL this season.

Lawrence is the Fantasy Life consensus QB10 and a recommended start in leagues of all shapes and sizes.

Deshaun Watson (right shoulder, out), Browns

P.J. Walker will once again start under center.

While Walker has led the Browns to back-to-back wins, his performance has left quite a bit to be desired. Overall, the backup QB is PFF’s single-lowest graded passer (29.4) out of 40 qualified signal-callers.

Walker has completed a league-low 50% of his passes this season; only Amari Cooper is even somewhat of a recommended start inside of this brutal and banged-up passing “attack”. 

Justin Fields (right thumb, out), Bears

Get ready for another week of the Tyson Bagent AKA T-Bag experience with Fields still not ready to return to action.

Credit to T-Bag for getting the W last week, but he ranks dead last in average target depth (4.6) among 40 qualified QBs this season.

The undrafted rookie will most likely need to take the training wheels off on Sunday night if the Bears hope to keep up with Justin Herbert and company.

Daniel Jones (neck, out), Giants

Shoutout to Tyrod Taylor for posting the league’s highest big-time throw rate (PFF) in Jones’ absence – the 34-year-old veteran has made a TON of great throws over the past two weeks while giving something resembling life to an offense that was widely considered the single-worst unit in the league just a few short weeks ago.

Obviously, Taylor still isn’t a recommended start in non-DEEP-superflex formats, but the fantasy floors for Saquon Barkley and Darren Waller are looking better than ever.

Kyler Murray (knee, doubtful), Cardinals

The Cardinals have made it clear that Murray is fully healthy. Still, reports about Murray mostly working with practice squad players – combined with Ian Rapoport’s assertion that Murray isn’t necessarily playing this week – make it seem more likely than not that we get at least one more week of the Joshua Dobbs experience.

Jan 2, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) rolls out in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

A Week 9 road trip to Cleveland also doesn’t exactly seem like the best spot to ease the $230.5 million QB back into action, but it seems to be in play.

Now is a good time to check those waiver wires one last time to see if you can land one of just five QBs averaging 20-plus fantasy points per game for their career … ever.

Ryan Tannehill (ankle, out), Titans

Rookie Will Levis AND second-year QB Malik Willis are expected to both see action with Tannehill sidelined.

Still, the Titans are reportedly “planning” on Levis to be their primary QB ahead of their matchup with the Falcons. All of this comes after the team traded longtime stud FS Kevin Byard; both RB Derrick Henry and WR DeAndre Hopkins have been involved in trade rumors.

Henry is the only one in this offense who should be started with any level of confidence – and make sure you peep those waiver wires to stash Tyjae Spears if you haven’t already.

Jimmy Garoppolo (back), Raiders

We won’t know Jimmy G’s official designation until Saturday afternoon, but he managed to kick off the week with back-to-back limited practices and seems fully on pace to suit up Monday night against the Lions.

While Lamar Jackson and company had little problem dealing with Aidan Hutchinson and what seemed like a respectable Lions D, the Raiders’ 30th-ranked scoring offense doesn’t exactly deserve the same benefit of the doubt.

Yet to crack 21 points in a game all season, Garoppolo is nothing more than a borderline QB2 – the better news here is that Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Josh Jacobs get slight boosts to their potential scoring upside.

Running Back

Raheem Mostert (ankle, questionable), Dolphins

Mostert confirmed that he’ll suit up Sunday against the Patriots.

He commanded a season-high 75% of the team’s rush attempts in Week 7 despite the return of Jeff Wilson.

While head coach Mike McDaniel said he has a “heightened desire to get him (Wilson) some touches this week,” there’s a chance that simply comes at the expense of Salvon Ahmed, not Mostert. The Fantasy Life consensus RB9: Mostert continues to be a must-start option regardless of the matchup.

Saquon Barkley (elbow, not listed), Giants

The injury looked bad when it happened last week, but didn’t stop Barkley from quickly re-entering the game and ripping off a PPR RB8 finish.

He posted elite marks in snap rate (83%), rush attempt share (72%) and route participation (53%); fire up the long-time stud RB as the upside RB1 he’s been for most of his career against a Jets defense that has allowed the seventh-most PPR points per game to the position this season.

Kenneth Walker (calf, not listed), Zach Charbonnet (hamstring, not listed), Seahawks

Back-to-back DNPs for Walker isn't great, but the Seahawks are well known for having generally wonky injury reporting.

Ultimately, fantasy’s RB8 in half-PPR points per game is good to go for Sunday, but it’d make sense if a returning Charbonnet handles a larger role than usual. Neither are set up particularly well against the Browns’ league-best defense in EPA allowed per play.

Alvin Kamara (illness, not listed), Saints

Kamara is good to go for Sunday’s matchup against the Colts. Don’t let a career-worst 5.1 yards per reception concern you when it’s coming with an unreal career-high 8.8 receptions per game.

Nov 7, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

While Derek Carr’s check-down Charlie nature isn’t overly helping the offense’s upside, it sure is great for Kamara’s fantasy managers: Fire up the veteran as the upside RB1 he’s been ever since returning from suspension.

Serious BOOM potential is here ahead of a matchup against the league’s third-worst scoring defense.

David Montgomery (ribs), Lions

Expected to be once again sidelined, meaning Jahmyr Gibbs once again becomes a must-start option thanks to the reality that he should handle something close to a true every-down role inside of the Lions’ ever-well-schemed eighth-ranked scoring offense.

Gibbs is the Fantasy Life consensus RB7 in half-PPR scoring; you cannot show me a fantasy lineup that should have him on the bench.

Aaron Jones (hamstring, not listed), Packers

Has only posted mundane 34% snap rates in two games back from injury, as the Packers have continued to feature AJ Dillon as their lead back. Head coach Matt LaFleur pretty much confirmed this will continue to be the case.

Credit to Dillon for posting back-to-back top-24 PPR finishes, but this usage could swing back to more of a normal 50/50 split at any time.

The Vikings have allowed the sixth-fewest PPR points per game to opposing RBs this season – neither Jones nor Dillon are MUST-start options, although the former still comes in at a decent enough RB23 mark in the Fanasy Life consensus ranks.

Jerome Ford (ankle, questionable), Kareem Hunt (thigh, not listed), Browns

Ford seemed all set to miss at least this week with his “low grade” high ankle sprain, but he returned to practice on Friday – reportedly impressed – and now seemingly has a chance to suit up Sunday against the Seahawks.

When fully healthy, Ford is the 1A to Hunt’s 1B and a viable RB2 thanks to his proven big-play ability.

However, it’d make sense if Pierre Strong is more involved than normal if Ford plays through the pain; I’ll be answering most reasonably close start/sit questions involving a Browns player with the other guy should all three parties be active on game day. Hunt is a low-end RB2 play if Ford is ultimately sidelined. 

Zack Moss (elbow/heel, questionable), Colts

Moss sandwiched a limited session on Thursday with two DNPs. He’s officially questionable for Sunday’s matchup with the Saints.

Moss continues to hold the edge over Jonathan Taylor in terms of raw yards per carry (4.6 vs. 3.5) this season, but the latter back easily put forward his best performance of the season on the ground in Week 7.

It’d make sense if this gap widens in future weeks; JT is a recommended upside RB2 this week even in a tough matchup against the Saints’ third-ranked defense in limiting PPR points to opposing RBs.

Miles Sanders (shoulder, not listed), Laviska Shenault (ankle, out), Panthers

Head coach Frank Reich spoke about Sanders’ role earlier this week:

“We’ll see how the week goes. I mean, Chuba [Hubbard]’s been doing pretty well. And, again, it’s more by rotation and more by play. A lot of times, we have our eye on certain guys for certain plays.”

Banged up or not, Sanders has largely been out-played by Chuba Hubbard all season long, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see far more of a split committee moving forward. Neither RB is cracking the top 30 at the position in the Fantasy Life consensus ranks.

Roschon Johnson (concussion, not listed), Bears

I’m giving D’Onta Foreman the Week 8 nod as the expected touch leader even with Johnson back in action, but that role certainly isn’t guaranteed to produce fireworks inside of a Bears offense implied to score just 19 points.

None of these backs need to be in starting lineups, particularly in a likely trailing game script if the Bears’ status as 8.5-point underdogs is any indication of how this Sunday night showdown with the Chargers will go.

Jerick McKinnon (groin, not listed), Chiefs

Squeezed in a PPR RB8 finish in Week 3, but otherwise hasn’t scored more than five PPR points in a game all season.

McKinnon is nothing more than a DEEP league FLEX in full-PPR scoring; this backfield has pretty much become the Isiah Pacheco show in recent weeks.

Keaton Mitchell (hamstring, questionable), Ravens

Even if active, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill are expected to continue working as the offense’s clear-cut top-two RBs.

The former in particular is in play this week as a recommended low-end RB2 start thanks to the potential for all kinds of positive and fantasy-friendly game-script with the Ravens sitting pretty as 9.5 points favorites against the Cardinals.

Chase Brown (hamstring, out), Bengals

Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans should combine to see 20% to 30% of the offense’s snaps while working as clear-cut backup options to Joe Mixon, who continues to produce RB2-level production on RB1-level utilization.

The 49ers haven’t been as good against the run as they have been against the pass, but it’s still tough to be overly optimistic that Week 8 will finally produce fireworks for Mixon against Fred Warner and company.

Wide Receiver

Tyreek Hill (hip, not listed), Jaylen Waddle (back, not listed), Dolphins

While Tua Tagovailoa scared the fantasy community to death by noting that “somewhere down the line we’re going to get Tyreek back”, that line was apparently this Sunday.

Fire up Hill as the overall WR1 he’s been all season, and Jaylen Waddle also warrants must-start treatment against a Patriots secondary that he’s posted 4-61-1, 5-27-1, 4-69-1, 3-52-0 and 4-86-0 receiving lines against in his career.

Deebo Samuel (shoulder, out), 49ers

Brandon Aiyuk continues to warrant must-start WR1 treatment: He’s ranked as a top-12 option at the position by each of the four Fantasy Life rankers.

Look for Jauan Jennings and Ray-Ray McCloud to also factor more heavily into the passing game than usual, although Kyle Shanahan figures to probably just focus his play-calling more so around Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle than anything.

Diontae Johnson (hamstring, not listed), Steelers

A Thursday scare wasn’t ideal, but Johnson is good to go for Sunday’s matchup against the Jaguars. Similar to Atlanta: Things are extra frustrating here because even something close to average QB play could open up bunches of reliable fantasy options.

George Pickens and Johnson are both in the WR2 conversation anyway, but their respective roles and talents have WR1-level upside in a higher-efficiency passing game. Ultimately, only the Texans and Giants have scored fewer TDs than the Steelers since Matt Canada took over as offensive coordinator in 2021.

Reasonable enough matchups ahead against the Jaguars, Titans and Packers might not be enough to take this offense from bad to decent, but it can’t hurt!

D.K. Metcalf (ribs/hip, not listed), Tyler Lockett (hamstring, questionable), Seahawks

Metcalf is good to go, while Lockett seems truly iffy after failing to practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

Still, the Seahawks are notoriously wonky when it comes to injury, and Lockett has been an absolute iron man over the years on his way to missing just three total games since entering the league in 2015.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo will have enhanced roles if Lockett is ultimately sidelined and/or limited. All parties involved will need to bring their a-game against Myles Garrett and the Browns’ top-ranked defense in EPA allowed per play.

Christian Watson (knee, not listed), Packers

Good to go for Sunday after managing to practice in full all week. He’s been back to his usual WR1 role over his past two games, but the Jordan Love experience (32nd in completion percentage over expected) hasn’t exactly done anyone a ton of favors.

Jan 8, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) rushes with the football during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Up next is a Vikings defense that has blitzed on a league-high 63.3% of their opponent's dropbacks.

While Love actually boasts top-12 marks in PFF pass grade and passer rating against the blitz this season, it wouldn’t be surprising if life in this offense continues to present more struggle than joy in the near term.

Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder, not listed), Ravens

Mid-week additions to the injury report are never good, especially coming off OBJ’s season-best PPR WR33 finish in Week 7. Of course, that was the first time the veteran even cracked the position’s top 50 fantasy scorers.

Even though Beckham is good to go for Sunday, he’s nothing more than a desperate boom-or-bust WR5 despite the winnable matchup against the Cardinals.

Zay Jones (knee, out), Jaguars

The Jaguars have mostly featured Jamal Agnew in Jones’ absence, but guys like Tim Jones and Elijah Cooks mix in as well. Ultimately, Christian Kirk and Calvin Ridley are the only WRs fantasy managers should be messing around with here in non-DFS formats.

Both are recommended starts against a Steelers defense that has allowed the third-most PPR points per game to opposing WR groups this season.

Treylon Burks (knee, not listed), Titans

Good news: Burks is healthy following the bye and set to resume his role as the offense’s No. 2 WR. Bad news: Ryan Tannehill (ankle) is not, meaning all parties involved will have to deal with the Will Levis and Malik Willis experience.

Burks it the Fantasy Life consensus WR69 and not someone who should be started if you can at all help it. 

Tank Dell (concussion, not listed), Robert Woods (foot, out), Texans

The absence of Woods – who actually leads the Texans in total targets this season – makes each of Nico Collins, Dell and Dalton Schulz even more enticing fantasy plays than before.

While the former receiver has emerged as the alpha of the group, both Dell and Schultz are also recommended starts ahead of a matchup with a banged-up Panthers defense that has allowed 37 or more points in three of their last four games. 

Curtis Samuel (foot, questionable), Commanders

Will assume his usual No. 2 role to Terry McLaurin if healthy enough to suit up, although Jahan Dotson technically continues to play a full-time role in his own right. There is a chance that Samuel’s health compels Washington to keep Dyami Brown more involved than usual.

Ultimately, it’s tough to be overly thrilled about anyone in this passing game other than McLaurin: The Sam Howell experience might include a few great throws per game, but the steady dose of sacks and turnovers has ultimately led to this offense ranking just 20th in points per game this season.

Joshua Palmer (knee, questionable), Jalen Guyton (knee, questionable), Chargers

Palmer didn’t practice all week, but is officially questionable. He’s fetched as many targets as Keenan Allen since the team lost Mike Williams (knee, IR) for the season. Guyton would presumably slide into three-WR sets if active ahead of guys like Derius Davis and Keelan Doss.

Surely Twitter won’t overreact if/when Guyton out-performs rookie WR Quentin Johnston? Anyway, the most likely answer here is Allen; don't be surprised he and his QB get back to partying like it's September again against a Bears defense that has posted bottom-eight numbers in TD rate, passer rating and contested target rate allowed this season.

Palmer managers should be ready to pivot early if needed considering Bears-Chargers won’t kick off until Sunday night.

Brandon Johnson (hamstring, questionable), Broncos

Johnson’s absence could potentially lead to Marvin Mims seeing something closer to a full-time role, but who knows when Lil’Jordan Humphrey is also around.

Seriously though: There has been enough smoke to the Jerry Jeudy trade fires to make Mims an enticing bench stash; he’ll be a recommended waiver wire addition in leagues of all shapes and sizes should the Broncos make a move.

Justin Watson (elbow, not listed), Chiefs

Back to soaking up routes and the occasional deep ball target. Waton’s presence hurts Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s boom potential just a hair; hopefully, Rashee Rice’s enhanced role won’t suffer as well.

Of course, there’s also Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman to worry about here – only Rice is a somewhat recommended start, and even then he comes in as just the consensus WR41 in the Fantasy Life rankings.

Tight End

Darren Waller (hamstring, questionable), Giants

It hasn’t been pretty, easy, or particularly fun, but Waller has scored the position’s fifth-most fantasy points both overall and on a per-game basis after seven weeks of action.

If active, he once again warrants must-start TE1 treatment, especially with this passing game suddenly (somewhat) clicking with Tyrod Taylor under center. The Giants play the Jets at 1:00 p.m. ET, so fantasy managers don’t need to worry about mid-afternoon/primetime contingency plans.

T.J. Hockenson (foot, not listed), Vikings

Jordan Addison actually has fewer targets than Hockenson (19 vs. 15) over the past two weeks. The TE4 in half-PPR points per game: Hockenson earned weekly top-five treatment a long time ago.

Hunter Henry (ankle, not listed), Patriots

Has been playing banged up for weeks now and accordingly has posted back-to-back season-low marks in route participation rate (54% and 45%). Mike Gesicki has worked as the more involved and more productive Patriots TE during these two weeks; he’s a low-end TE 2 ahead of Sunday’s #RivalryGame with the Dolphins.

Zach Ertz (quad, IR), Cardinals

Trey McBride is suddenly looking at a legit every-down role. Top-five in virtually any per-route or per-reception efficiency metric: McBride has made the most out of his opportunities this season and has a chance to flirt with the TE1 conversation sooner rather than later with Kyler Murray (knee, IR) seemingly set to return as soon as Week 9.

The Cardinals rank fourth in total targets to TEs since Week 1 of last season; McBride is a GREAT bench stash for TE-needy managers.

David Njoku (knee, not listed), Browns

Narrowly missed both of his end zone targets last week and continues to play a near every-down role.

Still: This historically meh Seahawks defense against TEs has actually allowed the sixth-fewest PPR points per game against the position this year, and Njoku will once again have to deal with the P.J. Walker experience. None of the Fantasy Life consensus rankers have Njoku ranked as a top-12 option in Week 8.

Taysom Hill (chest, questionable), Juwan Johnson (calf, not listed), Jimmy Graham (illness, questionable), Saints

Johnson’s return lowers the floor for everyone involved in this Alvin Kamara-centered passing game.

It remains to be seen if Hill’s newfound target involvement (13 over the last two weeks) will persist with Johnson back in the picture; the professional vulture is more of a low-end TE2 than someone managers should feel hyped about starting despite the winnable matchup against the Colts’ zone-heavy defense.

Gerald Everett (hip, questionable), Chargers

Hasn’t hit a 60% route rate in a single game all season – we prefer 80%-plus in fantasy land. This is due to the presence of both Donald Parham, Stone Smartt and Tre’ McKitty (meow).

The offensive coordinator is suddenly a fan of rotating TEs, and it’s rendered all parties involved as mediocre fantasy options. Credit to Everett for posting TE10 and TE9 finishes in Weeks 6 and 7, but his potential for limited snaps makes him even more of a low-end TE2 than usual even in a smashable matchup against the Bears.

Luke Musgrave (ankle, questionable), Packers

The Packers figure to rely more on Josaiah Deguara and Tucker Kraft regardless of Musgrave’s final status.

None are overly appealing options inside of this erratic passing game – don’t be surprised if Jordan Love and company continue to struggle against the Vikings’ blitz-happy defense.

Kylen Granson (concussion, out), Colts

Andrew Ogletree becomes the expected starter, but Mo Alie-Cox and Will Mallory should also maintain plenty of involvement.

None are recommended fantasy options inside of an offense that loves to rotate bodies at the position.

Other

• Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey (knee, questionable), CB Xavien Howard (groin, questionable), CB Nik Needham (Achilles, questionable), CB Cam Smith (foot, questionable)
• Patriots OT Calvin Anderson (illness, out), OT Trent Brown (ankle/knee, questionable), OT Vederan Lowe (ankle, questionable)
• Jets CB Sauce Gardner (concussion, not listed), CB D.J. Reed (concussion, not listed), CB Michael Carter (hamstring, questionable)
• Giants OT Andrew Thomas (hamstring, doubtful), OT Evan Neal (ankle, questionable), C John Michael Schmitz (shoulder, questionable)
• Saints G James Hurst (ankle, out), G Max Garcia (illness, questionable), G Andrus Peat (ankle, questionable)
• Ravens FS Marcus Williams (hamstring, out)
• Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. (calf, questionable), DT Cameron Heyward (groin, not listed)
• Browns OT Jedrick Wills (foot/ankle, questionable)
• Panthers EDGE Brian Burns (elbow, questionable), OLB Kamu Grugier-Hill (illness, questionable), LB Frankie Luvu (hip, questionable), FS Xavier Woods (hamstring, questionable), S Vonn Bell (quad, out)
• Bears OL Nate Davis (ankle, out), OL Dan Feeney (knee, questionable)
• Raiders CB Marcus Peters (back), CB Nate Hobbs (ankle), CB Jakorian Bennett (shoulder/knee)
• Lions G Jonah Jackson (ankle), C Frank Ragnow (toe/calf), G Halapoulivaati Vaitai (back)
• Packers CB Jaire Alexander (back, questionable)
• Jaguars OL Walker Little (knee, questionable), OL Brandon Sherff (ankle, questionable)