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Fantasy Football Injury Updates: James Conner, TY Hilton, Davante Adams, Adam Thielen and more

Week 9 features tons of banged up stars. Find out who's in, out, and where to pivot if needing replacements

The Fantasy Football Trainers room is here to update you on all the Key Week 7 Fantasy Football Injuries, while (more importantly) giving you a backup plan for your lineup. To get up-to-kickoff updates on all Actives and Inactives, be sure to tune into the Fantasy Tailgate LIVE on Facebook. We’ll cover all these plus answer every single one of your Sit / Start dilemmas.

1) James Conner (shoulder) is doubtful… so Jaylen Samuels will be an RB1

https://twitter.com/DavisMattek/status/1189174585037643776

After exiting 5 of 7 games with four different injuries, James “The Walking Flesh Wound” Conner is finally expected to rest. Behind him Benny Snell is also out 2-3 weeks after undergoing minor knee surgery.

All of this lines Jaylen Samuels up for the classic Steelers workhorse role. In two 2018 contests in this role, Samuels racked up:

  • Week 14: 18 touches (7 rec), 92 YFS (16.2 PPR FPs)
  • Week 15: 21 touches (2 rec), 172 YFS (19.2 PPR FPs)

Essentially, RB1 numbers without even finding the end zone. The Colts have limited RBs to the seventh fewest FPs, and have been especially limiting to receiving work. Still, Samuels has to be treated as a Top-15 RB play, and has exploded up to my RB14 for the week.

2) T.Y. Hilton (calf) has been ruled out for the Colts’ Week 9 matchup against the Steelers, looking at 3+ game absence

Hilton suffered a calf injury during Wednesday’s practice, and is now sidelined for the foreseeable future. He’s consistently played through pain as a professional, so Hilton could beat his 3-4 week timetable. Still, owners need a backup plan.

Expect Zach Pascal (14%) to emerge as the top WR here. He was playing 92% of the snaps, and had a 2 TD explosion just two weeks ago. Still, already boom-or-bust and now drawing top-coverage, he’s a tough sell outside of desperation. Nonetheless, he has risen to my WR42. I’d look to Danny Amendola (WR31, 44%) and Chris Conley (WR34, 31%) first, as well a Cole Beasley (28%) or AJ Brown (20%). 

Perhaps explosive rookie Parris Campbell (3%) will see a solid uptick in deep shots as well. He’s the most natural deep threat here, and could be a stash in deep leagues. Chester Rogers is the other name… but let’s just go puke now and move on.

Of all positions, expect Marlon Mack to be the most consistent gainer. The offense is already ground-centric, and Mack is the most trusted weapon left. Also, both Jack Doyle (TE15) and Eric Ebron (TE6) should see even more volume increase, especially against a PIT team surrendering the 8th most FPs to TEs. Both are highly viable Week 9 streamers.

3) Davante Adams (toe) is legitimately questionable, a lineup lock if out there

Sidelined since Week 4, Davante Adams seems to be genuinely questionable for the first time in five weeks. He practiced all week in a “limited” fashion, including his first padded practice since suffering the injury. After declaring himself “two million times better” last week, Adams was “reported running faster” than he has been since going down. These all point towards a return.

If out there, Adams HAS to be in lineups. The Packers have wisely been uber-cautious, so Adams should be just about 100% when on the field. Moreso, even without his top hog, Aaron Rodgers has looked more-and-more comfortable in LaFleur’s attack every passing week. The two should make immediate magic, and Adams is my current WR10.

Already balling, Rodgers rises to my QB3 for the week if his top-weapon plays. The other surrounding WRs were already inconsistent, and become even more untrustworthy with Adams back. Last, Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams have become true offensive centerpieces. They’d likely cede work to the Alpha Target Hog here, but should still feast, especially against a soft Chargers front seven.

4) Adam Thielen (hamstring) shaping up to be a true game-time decision; questionable for the Vikings’ Week 9 matchup against the Chiefs.

Thielen remains optimistic about his chances at playing, but he’s become a true game-time decision. The matchup is certainly appealing against a leaky Chiefs defense, although they’re sneakily limiting WRs to the 7th fewest points, and are far more susceptible to the run.

If Thielen plays, Stefon Diggs‘ value would take a hit. He’s feasted to exactly 7 catches and 143 yards in back-to-back weeks as the sole Alpha, and his volume would be far less reliable. Still, Diggs is just about unbenchable. Assuming Thielen plays, Diggs is my WR11 and Thielen my WR12.

5) Curtis Samuel (shoulder) misses Friday’s practice but is “more probable than questionable.”

The explosion is finally coming, right?! Samuel should be out there on Sunday, and every owner chasing his 7th-most “Air Yards” of 2019 have a shot to finally hit their appraisal. Samuel projects to line up most against LeShaun Sims, owner of a robust 39.1 PFF Grade and fresh off being eaten alive by Mike Evans.

Granted, Samuel is no Evans… not even close. But during Bye Week crunches, he always comes with an enormous ceiling. Meanwhile, DJ Moore would see a solid value bump if Samuel does sit.

6) O.J. Howard (hamstring) is out for Week 9 against the Seahawks. Brate Streaming Time?

I hate to admit it, but Buck Tooth Brate may just be a viable option in Week 9. Seattle surrenders the fourth most FPs to Tight Ends, including a ton of TDs. Granted, TE usage in Bruce Arians‘ offense has been painfully low, and Brate only played 68% of snaps even with Howard out last week. As such, I’d prefer Dallas Goedert (26%, TE12) or the aforementioned Jack Doyle (TE14, 20%). 

7) On TEs… Delanie Walker (ankle) has been ruled out for the Titans’ Week 9 matchup against the Panthers. Can Jonnu Smith (38%) keep rolling?

Jonnu was an easy smash button against Tampa Bay’s second-worst defense versus TEs, and he delivered 16.8 FPs. He appears to be new starter Ryan Tannehill‘s top option, and possesses drool-worthy athleticism. Still, Smith should find much tougher sledding against a Panthers team giving up the 10th most FPs to TEs. As such, he’s just my TE14 for the week. I much prefer the lower ranked Darren Fells, and even Goedert.

8) Even more Injured TEs… no one optimistic about Chris Herndon returning this week. He’s “unlikely” to play.

Unfortunately, Herndon won’t get to feast upon the lowly Dolphins. This secures more volume for Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder, who were already +8 spots higher in my Week 9 Rankings.

Meanwhile, fresh off a 2-TD day, Ryan Griffin enters the streaming radar. The Jets should visit the Red Zone plenty against this awful defense, and the big-bodied Griffin has been Darnold’s preferred target within the 20s. He’s now my TE17.

9) The Eagles Backfield gets more crowded, with Miles Sanders and Darren Sproles off the injury report

While we still love Jordan Howard’s revenge game narrative, he entered Week 9 with a chance at true workhorse volume. Unfortunately, not only is Sanders not expected to miss any time, but Sproles is now returning. Howard wasn’t much involved as a pass-catcher anyways, and should maintain a stranglehold on the early-down and GL touches. He remains my RB18, with the hope the Eagles go up big early and he’s bleeding clock.

10) Broncos placed Joe Flacco (neck) on injured reserve. No one cares for his own fantasy value… but what could it mean elsewhere?

Joe Flacco may have been the worst starting QB in the league. Still, he was enough to fend off whatever Brandon Allen creature is about to go under center. The Broncos were already an offense to target for D/ST streamers, and now the Browns should be considered a Top-8 fantasy play for Week 9.

Elsewhere, sophomore breakout Courtland Sutton becomes far riskier. As bad as Flacco is, he seemed honed in on his stud. Perhaps Allen shatters expectations and gets Sutton even more chances, but we’re not holding out breath. He can be benched for owners that can afford to “wait-and-see.”

Players Returning:

  • DeSean Jackson is expected back after his lengthy absence with an abdomen injury. The Bears are exploitable through RBs and TEs, but matchup well to neutralize DeSean Jackson. He’s always a threat to explode, so he can be injected into flexes needing upside, and is my WR39 for the week.
  • Sterling Shepard practiced in full and cleared concussion protocol. DAL has surrrendered the 4th fewest FPs to WRs, so he’s a risky start. Still, he and Daniel Jones had a strong rapport, so Shepard is my WR36 on the week. Golden Tate falls to my WR26 with his volume now more questionable — still a very viable option.
  • Keenan Allen is no longer listed on the injury report. He feels due for an outburst after failing to top 60 yards in four straight.

Others to Monitor

  • Dede Westbrook (neck, shoulder) is questionable after exiting Week 8 early with a neck and shoulder injury. He’s been a limited practice participant, so he could suit up, and the matchup is certainly ripe versus HOU (2nd most FPs to WRs).
  • Patrick Mahomes was listed as questionable, though no one truly expects him to play. We’d obviously have this as the top story if anything does happen, as both offenses benefit greatly from the shootout this could create.
  • Cam Newton is reportedly “not getting better” and he’s now heading to see foot specialist Robert Anderson. Once a nice stash due to a juicy Week 11-16 schedule, don’t expect to see Cam in 2019.
  • Chris Thompson (toe), Vernon Davis (concussion), and Case Keenum (concussion) are either out or expected to sit. Dwayne Haskins has already been announced as the starter. If you can afford to sit Terry McLaurin, please do. If you can afford to stream Buffalo D/ST, please do. Adrian Peterson should be the offensive centerpiece (lol), a sign of how things are going in Washington. Still, he’s racked up 25, 20 and 16 touches on snap rates of 63, 65 and 72 percent under Bill Callahan, and should again hit the 20 touch, 70% snap share threshold, making him a viable flex. he’s my RB25 this week, with Buffalo allowing a surprising 11th most FPs to RBs.

To catch up on the final word on all these players, make sure to catch The Fantasy Tailgate @ 11am EST — our LIVE Sit/Start Show. Homebase is Facebook, although we should be (fingers crossed) on both YouTube and Twitter this week if easier.

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The Wolf

Founder of Roto Street Journal. Lover of workhorse backs, target hog wideouts, and Game of Thrones. Aspiring to be the "Brady" and "Leo" of the fantasy universe.
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