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 of every fantasy-relevant injury ahead of Week 9.

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

Quarterback

Josh Allen (right shoulder, not listed), Bills

Allen will continue to play through the pain for Sunday night’s showdown with the Bengals. Still, the issue hasn’t impacted the two-time Pro Bowl QB’s usage: Allen has posted back-to-back weeks with season-high marks in designed rush attempts (14% and 15%). Still not quite at last year's season-long 18% mark, but certainly a (designed) step in the right direction amidst a season in which he’s averaging career-low marks in rushing yards (23.6) and carries per game (4.5).

Deshaun Watson (right shoulder, not listed), Browns

Watson is expected to play his first full game since Week 3. While his full sample size with the Browns remains absolutely abysmal, the ex-Texans veteran was showing signs of improvement in fantasy land with QB8 and QB10 finishes in two of his first three games of the season. The floor here is low, but the brutal state of the QB position as a whole sets up Watson as a low-end QB1 ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the league’s ninth-worst defense in fantasy points per game allowed to the position.

Kyler Murray (knee, questionable), Cardinals

The Cardinals are expected to roll with Clayton Tune for Sunday’s matchup against the Browns. It’d make sense if Kyler is back under center for Week 10’s home spot against the Falcons. Overly trusting anyone in the Cardinals' offense this week is risky business: Arizona is currently implied to score a week-low 14.5 points against Myles Garrett and company.

Matthew Stafford (right thumb, questionable), Rams

Is considered day-to-day, but didn’t manage to practice all week. Even if somehow active on Sunday, it’s tough to believe Stafford will be operating at peak efficiency. Honestly, that’s something this Rams offense hasn’t exactly made a habit of doing over the last month even with a healthy No. 9 under center: This group has scored 20 or fewer points in three of their last four games.

Moving from Stafford to Brett Rypien – PFF’s third-lowest graded QB in pure passing grade among 83 qualified signal-callers with 100-plus dropbacks since 2020 – is objectively a massive downgrade for everyone involved. Cooper Kupp is the only player involved who should continue to be started in a heavy majority of lineups.

Justin Fields (right thumb, doubtful), Bears

The Bears will once again roll with Tyson Bagent. The undrafted rookie has posted 162-1-0 and 232-0-2 passing lines in two spot starts this season, leading the Bears to a total of 36 offensive points along the way. T-Bag has condensed targets enough around D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet for both to maintain solid enough fantasy relevance; just realize the ceiling of this offense will remain low as long as the team keeps the training wheels on: Bagent’s 6.1-yard average target depth is the single-lowest mark among 39 qualified QBs with at least 50 dropbacks this season.

Daniel Jones (neck, not listed), Tyrod Taylor (ribs, out), Giants

Jones will be back under center for the first time since Week 5. It’s tough to expect too much out of this passing game with No. 1 option Darren Waller (hamstring, out) sidelined.

Daniel Jones

Nov 1, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Jones also didn’t exactly demonstrate much upside with a healthy Waller either, averaging a brutal 176.8 passing yards per game while throwing a total of two TDs across his first five starts of the season.

This isn’t exactly a layup matchup against Maxx Crosby and company, who have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing QBs this season; Jones is only in the borderline QB1 conversation thanks to his rushing upside, although it’s worth wondering if his designed usage will be down coming off a neck injury.

Running Back

Joe Mixon (chest, questionable), Bengals

Practiced in full on Thursday and Friday, so we expect Mixon to play through his questionable tag and suit up Sunday night against the Bills. He returned his first top-12 PPR finish of the season during the Bengals’ Week 8 upset win over the 49ers.

Mixon has maintained RB1 usage all year, but Joe Burrow’s calf injury neutered both the offense’s overall scoring upside and willingness to run the ball from under center. Both problems are seemingly solved at the moment; Mixon is an auto-start RB1 ahead of Sunday night’s potential shootout against a Bills defense that has allowed the ninth-most PPR points per game to the position this season.

Raheem Mostert (ankle, not listed), Dolphins

Mostert has returned relatively underwhelming PPR RB34 and RB20 finishes after his breathtaking overall RB1 performance back in Week 6.

The underlying utilization hasn’t exactly changed; Mostert just hasn’t managed to average north of six rushing yards per carry as he did in four of his first six games of the season. Only one reception on three total targets over the past two weeks also hasn’t overly helped matters.

Of course, there’s too much scoring upside inside of the Dolphins’ league-best offense in points per game to consider benching Mostert; he’s the RB6 in the Fantasy Life consensus ranks. 

Saquon Barkley (ankle, not listed), Giants

Barkley continues to have his reps managed in practice, but he’s good to go for Sunday’s matchup against the Raiders. This offensive line is finally getting healthier, while the return of Daniel Jones (neck) is at least an upgrade over Tommy DeVito if nothing else. Fire up Barkley as the RB1 he’s been for the heavy majority of his career when healthy enough to suit up.

Aaron Jones (hamstring, not listed), Packers

Last week head coach Matt LaFleur admitted that Jones still wasn’t operating at 100% despite the lack of a final injury designation. He sang a different tune this week.

The Packers’ longtime stud RB has only posted 34% and 48% snap rates in two games since returning from injury, as the offense continues to lean on A.J. Dillon as the 1.A in the backfield.

The Rams have allowed triple-digit rushing yards in five of their last seven games, so this should be a winnable enough spot if Jones gets unleashed.

Dameon Pierce (ankle, out), Texans

Suddenly Devin Singletary is on the streaming radar. This backfield was already trending towards being more of a 1.A/1.B situation; the problem is guys like Mike Boone and Dare Ogunbowale could ultimately take more of Pierce’s leftover volume than Singletary.

Throw in a Buccaneers’ pass-funnel defense that has allowed the eighth-fewest PPR points per game to opposing RBs this season, and Singletary profiles as more of a borderline RB2 as opposed to someone who should be relied on as a difference-making top-12 option at the position.

Jerome Ford (ankle, not listed), Browns

Surprisingly didn’t miss a single week with his “low grade high ankle sprain”, although Ford’s 31% snap rate in Week 8 was his lowest mark since Nick Chubb (ACL, IR) was lost for the season.

It’d make sense if the Browns go back to more of a two-RB committee with Ford leading the way now that he’s healthier, but it’s not a given that Pierre Strong completely exits the equation.

Treat Ford as more of a borderline RB2 due to the volume uncertainty at hand despite the smashable matchup against the league’s third-worst defense in PPR points per game allowed to the position.

Emari Demercado (toe, out), Cardinals

Demercado dominated usage in back-to-back weeks in the absence of James Conner (knee, IR), opening a door for Keaontay Ingram and Damien Williams to potentially see some major volume boosts this week.

Still, Conner is on pace to be back in Week 10, rendering both backups as nothing more than short-term meh FLEX plays due to the uncertain volume at hand inside an offense implied to score a horrific 14.5 points this week with Clayon Tune under center.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness, out), Jerick McKinnon (groin, not listed), Chiefs

Look for the Chiefs to embrace a two-RB committee featuring Isiah Pacheco as the clear No. 1 and McKinnon filling in admirably in pass-first situations. This combination led to all sorts of late-season success for McKinnon last year, although to be fair CEH hasn’t been THAT involved in 2023 anyway.

Overall, the 2020 first-round pick hasn’t had more than five touches in a game since September; continue to fire up Pacheco as a legit RB1 in fantasy land, while McKinnon is more of a PPR-induced RB3 at best.

Gus Edwards (toe, not listed), Keaton Mitchell (hamstring, not listed), Ravens

The Gus Bus is good to go for Sunday. He’s racked up 17, 15 and 21 touches over the last three weeks as the clear-cut lead back of this J.K. Dobbins (Achilles, IR)-less offense.

Justice Hill remains involved in clear-cut pass-first situations, but for now, Edwards remains the only recommended start. He’s a consensus top-20 back in the Fantasy Life rankings ahead of Sunday’s potential shootout with the Seahawks.

Kendre Miller (illness, questionable), Saints

Didn’t practice on Friday after not being listed on the injury report all week. Miller’s absence would lead to slightly more work for Alvin Kamara who you are obviously starting regardless, as well as Jamaal Williams, who won’t be a recommended start anyway against the Bears’ surprising league-best defense in yards per carry allowed.

Wide Receiver

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

Both Metcalf and Lockett are tentatively expected to have their usual full-time roles ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Ravens. Of course, the matchup is horrific against the Ravens’ top-ranked scoring defense.

Geno Smith ranks fourth in completion percentage over expected this season and can win this matchup if at his best; just realize there’s a low floor for any passing game going up against the Ravens. Metcalf and Lockett are considered low-end WR2/FLEX options in this tough spot.

Puka Nacua (knee, questionable), Rams

Moving from Stafford to Brett Rypien – PFF’s third-lowest graded QB in pure passing grade among 83 qualified signal-callers with 100-plus dropbacks since 2020 – is objectively a massive downgrade for everyone involved.

Cooper Kupp is the only player involved who should continue to be started in a heavy majority of lineups.

Puka Nacua

Sep 17, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) runs the ball against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (2) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Puka remains a rock-solid WR2 in our Fantasy Life consensus rankings; just realize there’s a far lower floor than usual, and the waiver wire MVP doesn’t deserve the same “start and forget” treatment as he’s had during the first two months of the season.

Drake London (groin, out), Falcons

London sadly won’t get the opportunity to work alongside Taylor Heinicke for Sunday’s winnable matchup against the Vikings. This is good news for guys like Van Jefferson, KhaDarel Hodge and Mack Hollins when it comes to per-route usage, but the BIG winner here is certainly TE Kyle Pitts, who has worked his way back into the top-nine players at the position in Fantasy Life’s consensus ranks.

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

Palmer was fairly obviously operating at less than 100% in Week 8, but still managed to run a route on 80% of Justin Herbert’s dropbacks. Of course, the PPR WR61 finish wasn’t exactly what fantasy managers had in mind.

Keenan Allen is the only truly recommended start among Chargers WRs ahead of Monday night’s matchup with the Jets. CeeDee Lamb (143), A.J. Brown (131) and Stefon Diggs (102) all cleared 100 yards against this group; otherwise, no WR has gained more than 50 receiving yards against Sauce Gardner and company.

Curtis Samuel (toe, out), Commanders

The absence of Samuel (15.8% target share on the season) will elevate Jahan Dotson to clear-cut No. 2 pass-game option duties and Week 8 surprise boom Jamison Crowder to a starting role. It’d make sense if the Commanders’ already porous 31st-ranked scoring defense 

Josh Downs (knee, questionable), Colts

With Gardner Minshew under center this season: Michael Pittman (55 targets) and Downs (42) have worked as the clear-cut top two options ahead of second-year talent Alec Pierce (24).

Minshew hasn’t done a great job protecting the football this season, but has accounted for multiple TDs and/or thrown for 300-plus yards in each of his last three games. Downs is a PPR-friendly WR3 if healthy enough to suit up.

D.J. Chark (elbow, questionable), Laviska Shenault (ankle, out), Panthers

Adam Thielen, Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall will occupy three-WR sets if Chark is ultimately unable to suit up. Even if active, Chark has finished outside of fantasy’s top-50 PPR WRs in three of his last four games and isn’t someone who fantasy managers should rely on as anything more than a deeper league FLEX.

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

OBJ’s Week 8 goose egg did include two long defensive pass interference penalties that helped set up TDs for his teammates, but sadly Beckham didn’t get any fantasy points for that.

The Ravens remain content to rotate Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor and OBJ behind clear No. 1 WR Zay Flowers; none of these complementary options are recommended starts due to the lack of expected volume.

Robert Woods (foot, out), Texans

Absence will continue to lock Noah Brown into three-WR sets alongside Nico Collins and Tank Dell.

This week’s hopeful get-right spot against the Buccaneers has C.J. Stroud and company poised to see the week’s second-best advantage in combined pass yards per dropback – I like the chances of all key parties involved getting back to business in the Houston pass game this week, especially with targets (again) condensed with Bobby Trees sidelined.

Kendrick Bourne (knee, IR), DeVante Parker (concussion, out), Tyquan Thornton (foot, questionable) Patriots

Patriots rookie WR Demario Douglas led the Patriots in route participation rate last week and could continue to do so moving forward with Bourne sidelined.

Douglas was featured in the Fantasy Life Waiver Wire Tool and is set up BRILLIANTLY in Week 9 against the Commanders’ 31st-ranked defense in PPR points per game allowed to the position … and that was WITH recently traded pass rushers Chase Young (49ers) and Montez Sweat (Bears).

K.J. Osborn (chest, not listed), Brandon Powell (shoulder, not listed), Vikings

New QB Jaren Hall posted the preseason’s fourth-lowest completion rate at 54.2% and was PFF’s seventh-lowest graded qualified passer.

Maybe that was just a minor setback for a major regular season comeback, but Vegas doesn’t seem to think so: Minnesota is implied to score just 17 points on Sunday – the fourth-lowest mark in Week 9. Neither Osborn nor Powell are recommended fantasy options inside this likely abysmal passing game.

Wan’Dale Robinson (knee, not listed), Giants

Joins Darius Slayton as the only two consistent full-time WRs in this passing “attack.” Hopefully, the improved health of Daniel Jones and this offensive line provides a boost, but Robinson still isn’t someone fantasy managers can actively trust at this point coming off PPR WR61 and WR83 performances.

Michael Wilson (shoulder, questionable), Greg Dortch (ankle, questionable), Cardinals

The Cardinals are expected to roll with Clayton Tune for Sunday’s matchup against the Browns.

Overly trusting anyone in the Cardinals' offense this week is risky business: Arizona is currently implied to score a week-low 14.5 points against Myles Garrett and company.

Braxton Berrios (hamstring, questionable), Dolphins

Less Berrios would mean more Cedrick Wilson. Either way: This passing game flows almost entirely through Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle; Berrios isn’t a realistic fantasy option with four consecutive finishes outside the position’s top-60 performers.

Tight End

Darren Waller (hamstring, out), Giants

Backup TE Daniel Bellinger should assume something close to a near-every-down role in Waller’s absence.

This alone isn’t enough for fantasy relevance in traditional re-draft formats – this is the league’s single-worst scoring offense we’re talking about here after all – but desperate deep league managers and/or DFS grinders can take solace in Bellinger as a low-owned/priced option who could perhaps fall into the end zone on one of his handful of targets.

Taysom Hill (hip, not listed), Saints

This Saints offense is finally showing signs of life and has racked up 109 total points in their last four games after only scoring 62 points during their first four contests of the season.

Hill is deserving of weekly low-end TE1 consideration for however long he can hold on to this goal-line vulture/receiving TE role that he’s carved out for himself.

David Njoku (ankle, not listed), Browns

Deshaun Watson’s return could spark this passing game, although the Cardinals have surprisingly been adept at limiting TEs this season on their way to joining the Steelers and Browns as the only units surrendering fewer than 6.5 half-PPR points per game to the position. 

Still, beggars can’t be choosers at TE; Njoku is the consensus TE11 this week ahead of guys like Logan Thomas, Cole Kmet and Luke Musgrave.

Gerald Everett (hip), Chargers

Return will still leave him in a committee alongside Donald Parham and Tre’ McKitty (meow). Credit to Everett for turning in back-to-back top-10 PPR finishes in his last two healthy games, but this is a passing game that continues to prioritize Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler ahead of everyone else.

Maybe Everett flirts with an upper-end outcome against the Jets and the league’s seventh-worst defense in half-PPR points per game allowed to the position, but even then he’s not deserving of more than borderline TE1 treatment.

Logan Thomas (heel, not listed), Commanders

Thomas’ 14.8% target share on the season isn’t too far removed from Curtis Samuel (15.8%) and Jahan Dotson (15.9%). Continue to fire up the veteran TE as the volume-based borderline TE1 that he’s been all season.

Sam Howell is pacing for 4,560 yards and 28 TDs through the air; all of these complementary options get nice upticks this week with Samuel (toe, out) sidelined.

Luke Musgrave (ankle, not listed), Packers

Has yet to parlay his full-time role into much-realized fantasy production, but Musgrave *should* have bigger and better days ahead eventually as he continues to get healthier and maybe, just maybe, Jordan Love gets back to partying like it’s September again. For now, Musgrave is more of a boom-or-bust TE2.

Durham Smythe (ankle, questionable), Dolphins

Already an extremely thin TE2 play when healthy; Smythe isn’t on the fantasy grid with limited snaps a possibility ahead of Sunday’s Germany-themed matchup against the Chiefs.

Kylen Granson (concussion, not listed), Colts

Granson’s return once again devolves this TE rotation into a four-piece committee that regularly renders all parties involved as non-viable fantasy options.

Quintin Morris (ankle, not listed), Bills

Presence could hinder Khall Shakir’s newfound every-down role with Dawson Knox (wrist, IR) sidelined, although it’s not a given.

Other

  • Bills LB A.J. Klein (back, out), LB Baylon Spector (hamstring, out)
     
  • Dolphins OT Terron Armstead (knee, questionable), G Robert Hunt (hamstring, out), OL Connor Williams (groin, questionable)
     
  • Dolphins CB Xavien Howard (groin, questionable), CB Justin Bethel (foot, questionable), DB Nik Needham (Achilles, questionable), S Brandon Jones (concussion, out)
     
  • Patriots OT Calvin Anderson (illness, out), OT Trent Brown (ankle/knee, questionable), OT Vederian Lowe (ankle, questionable)
     
  • Patriots DT DAvon Godchaux (illness, questionable), DE Deatrich Wise (shoulder, questionable), DT Christan Barmore (knee, questionable), LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (hamstring, questionable)
     
  • Ravens FS Marcus Williams (hamstring, questionable), CB Daryl Worley (shoulder, questionable), CB Rock Ya-Sin (illness, questionable)
     
  • Seahawks G Phil Haynes (calf, questionable), G Anthony Bradford (ankle/knee, questionable)
     
  • Panthers S Vonn Bell (quad, doubtful), CB Donte Jackson (quad, questionable)
     
  • Giants OT Andrew Thomas (hamstring, questionable), OT Evan Neal (ankle, questionable)
     
  • Bears MLB Tremaine Edmunds (knee, out), S Jaquan Brisker (concussion, out), DB Terell Smith (illness, out)
Injury Roundup