Every week in this space, we will break down the injury report and what it means for Fantasy Football in Week 2. We'll talk about how we're handling injured players we expect to play, as well as waiver-wire replacements for those we don't expect to play. In Week 1 the majority of the injuries we saw were at the wide receiver position and that trend continued on Wednesday when Nico Collins left practice with a hamstring injury. We'll start there and work our way through the rest of the injury reports as they come in.
Nico Collins ruled out with hamstring injury
Collins didn't practice all week so this is not a big surprise. My favorite add off the waiver wire would be Xavier Hutchinson, though Kayshon Boutte and Jaylin Noel could get a boost as well. Dalton Schultz would be a top 10 tight end against the Bengals. No team gave up more Fantasy points to tight ends last year than Cincinnati. This was a small boost to David Montgomery as it should increase the team's rush rate unless the Bengals put them in a hole early. I really don't want to start C.J Stroud, but you might not have a choice in Superflex.
Zay Flowers returns to practice, but doubtful
The optimistic talk about Flowers doesn't seem to be enough, as he is expected to miss Week 2. With Ja'Kobi Lane also out there is now a ton of targets available in Baltimore. Mark Andrews had a 42.9% target share after Flowers and Lane went out in Week 1. I wouldn't expect that, but I would call him a start this week at tight end. I would really prefer to avoid the other Baltimore receivers. Chris Moore had a 29% target share in the second half last week, but there is nothing in his career that would indicate a repeat performance. Rashod Bateman could see an increase in targets, if you want to make that play.
Ladd McConkey officially questionable
McConkey has a chest injury and his Week 2 status is in doubt. But we are pleasantly surprised that McConkey got a practice in on Friday and earned a questionable tag. If he plays, you start him, simple as that. In the 4th quarter, without McConkey, both Quentin Johnston and Tre Harris ran at least 90% of the team's routes. If McConkey misses Week 2 we would vies Quentin Johnston as a borderline WR2 and Tre Harris as a boom/bust WR3. David Njoku would also have streamer appeal if McConkey is out. Njoku scored 10.8 PPR Fantasy points in Week 1 and looks like the primary pass-catching tight end for the team. Justin Herbert would take a hit without McConkey, and we would view him as a borderline QB1.
Jordan Mason on Injured Reserve with thumb injury
Mason will miss at least the next month, which means we should get a heavy dose of Aaron Jones against a suspect Bears defense. Jones has an outstanding history against Chicago and should see at least 15 touches in a game that projects as a shootout. You can start Jones as an RB2. Demond Claiborne is worth a look on the waiver wire in deeper leagues. Jones is 31 years old and missed five games last year. If he gets dinged up in the next four weeks, we like Claiborne to be the main beneficiary; he could even get some run alongside Jones this week.
TreVeyon Henderson is back
Henderson practiced in full on Thursday and says he will play in Week 2. We still expect Rhamondre Stevenson to lead this backfield but he won't come close to last week's 86% snap share. View Stevenson as a low-end RB2 and Henderson as a low-end flex. It is possible that with A.J. Brown out, we see a higher target share for both of these backs, which would make full PPR their best format.
It is another Cooper Rush week
Tua Tagovailoa is still out with his back injury and Michael Penix is still working his way back on the side field. That means another week of Rush, which is bad for everyone but Bijan Robinson. Robinson had a 52% target share in Week 1 and crushed the value of Drake London and Kyle Pitts. We're treating London as a low-end WR2 this week and avoiding Pitts until one of the other QBs gets healthy.
D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai removed from injury report
We project Swift as a high-end RB2 and Monangai as a touchdown-dependent flex. I wouldn't expect their midweek injury report appearances to impact their Week 2 availability at all. With Swift, it should probably be the expectation that he won't do a full load of practice most weeks.
Chigoziem Okonkwo is out
We expect Okonkwo to miss a very good matchup with the Cowboys. You probably don't want to trust John Bates, but this does give Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin a little extra room, where maybe both of them can be good instead of just one. They're both best viewed as high upside WR3s in Week 2.
Kyler Murray and Jauan Jennings ruled out
With Carson Wentz at quarterback and Jennings ruled out we view Justin Jefferson as an elite WR1 and Jordan Addison as a boom/but WR3 or flex. T.J. Hockenson had an increased role last week and could be a decent streamer in a pinch. The Vikings play a bad defense in the Bears and may want to throw a little more without Jordan Mason and their running QB. This could easily turn into a shootout which makes Addison and Hockenson more appealing as dart throws.
Chris Olave questionable with a hamstring injury
We don't like midweek injuries and this popped up for Olave on Thursday. The team says it is precautionary and it is a good sign he was back at practice on Friday, but just be prepared in case Olave can't go. Tyler Shough would be a big loser and lose his streamer appeal if he doesn't have his WR1. On the flipside, Devaughn Vele and Juwan Johnson would be better starting options if they didn't have to compete with Olave for targets.
Michael Pittman questionable with a foot injury
We are normally optimistic with guys listed as questionable, but not when they don't practice all week. Pittman is here more for his name than his projected impact, at least so far. He wasn't very involved in Week 1 and Aaron Rodgers has said the pair haven't had enough time to work together. This could give Roman Wilson some sleeper appeal but I am thinking it could be a win for the running backs, who were already very involved in the passing game last week. Both Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle are high end flexes that are borderline RB2s in full PPR.
Brock Bowers shows up to Friday practice, listed as doubtful
It as a surprise that Bowers even practiced this week. We do not think this means he will play against the Chargers in Week 2. You should be able to count on Michael Mayer as a low end starting tight end. Hopefully we get Bowers back at full speed next week.
Sean Tucker off the injury report
Tucker may not matter at all, but he did have nine carries inside the five yard line last year while Bucky Irving had zero. I did lower Irving's touchdown projection but he is still an easy start as an RB2. Gainwell is a flex at best, his role in Week 1 was smaller than we expected and the return of Tucker can't help.
Joe Burrow questionable with a back injury
Burrow has said he will play this week. We are ranking him as if he is, but not where we normally do. I have him right around QB12 against a very good Texans defense. The only real reaction to this news is that if Burrow is your only quarterback it would probably be good to carry a second until inactives come out on Sunday morning. But again, we expect him to play as he said he will.
