The Fantasy Football Trainer’s Room is here to update you on the fantasy football-related NFL Week 1 injury report. Check out our Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings to keep up with individual player rankings as more information comes in each day. Also, check back here for continuous injury updates.
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RB D’ANDRE SWIFT, DETROIT LIONS (GROIN)
9/9 update:
More good news on the fantasy front – No workload limits on Detroit Lions RB D'Andre Swift: 'We can count the reps Monday' https://t.co/4MHxTbl7qy via @freep
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) September 9, 2021
The oft-injured second-year running back has had to jump over a number of injury hurdles throughout his young career. His rookie season started off slow when he missed most of camp due to a hip injury and then missed another three games due to a mysterious head injury.
This year, Swift missed most of training camp due to a lingering groin injury.
After displaying concern about Swift’s early workload and fitness level a few weeks ago, Dan Campbell said the young back was progressing last week. Then on Tuesday morning, Campbell told 97.1 The Ticket, Swift “should be ready to go.”
QB DAK PRESCOTT, DALLAS COWBOYS (SHOULDER)
Dak Prescott will be under center for the first time since 2020 Week 5 when he suffered a compound fracture and ankle dislocation. While he’s been fully recovered from that catastrophic injury for a while, he dealt with a strained throwing shoulder throughout training camp.
The strained shoulder put Prescott on ice since July 28. However, Dak was a full participant at practice on Monday and Mike McCarthy said the franchise quarterback is a “full go” for their tough Week 1 matchup against one of the league’s top defenses.
Dak Prescott: “I’m definitely ready. … From the shoulder to the leg to my mind, I’m ready to go.” pic.twitter.com/98mLO9p7vK
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 3, 2021
Check The Wolf’s Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings to see where Dak is slotted for Thursday Night.
RB, AUSTIN EKELER, LA CHARGERS (HAMSTRING)
9/12 update: Austin Ekeler is expected to play
Look away, Austin Ekeler owners. Your RB1 was listed as a DNP at Wednesday’s practice due to a hamstring injury. On the bright side, Ekeler was spotted off to the side working in individual drills, but it would still be sensible to grab Justin Jackson off waivers to be safe.
Chargers RB Austin Ekeler (hamstring) worked with trainers off to the side at practice yesterday, but the team is optimistic he can play Week 1 barring any setbacks, per a source.
Ekeler missed six games with a hamstring injury last season, so it’s a situation worth monitoring.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) September 9, 2021
This will be something to keep tabs on, as the Chargers are flying cross country to Washington.
WR, CURTIS SAMUEL, WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (GROIN)
9/10 update: The Washington Football Team has placed Curtis Samuel on short-term IR
After sitting out the majority of camp with a groin injury, Curtis Samuel’s return to practice on Wednesday did not last very long. Samuel was taped walking off the practice field in major discomfort. Samuel followed up by sitting out of individual drills on Thursday.
Groin injuries are always tricky and we’re just three days away from the team’s season opener, so it should not shock anyone if Samuel were to sit out this week.
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Here is the video of Curtis Samuel from practice today.
Timeline of events below.
Limping, head shaking, trying to stretch it out, called trainer over, trainer came over, went off to side field.
It appears he's not right with that groin injury. https://t.co/hEVmMCF80e pic.twitter.com/28kvuFNoj0
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) September 8, 2021
Deep ball extraordinaire, Dyami Brown, would get a significant fantasy bump as the team’s second wideout if Samuel is sidelined. Brown, who had a silly 20.3 yards per target at North Carolina, would be an enticing DraftKings option at the minimum.
RULED OUT
- RB, Darrynton Evans, Tennessee Titans (knee)
- WR, TY Hilton, Indianapolis Colts (neck)
- G, Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys (COVID-19)
PLAYERS TO MONITOR
- QB, Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers (finger)
- RB, Austin Ekeler, LA Chargers (hamstring) — “Full-go” assuming all is well during warmups
- RB, Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (knee) — Should be used “sparingly” this week
- RB, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs (ankle)
- RB, Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ankle)
- RB, Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (finger)
- WR, Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills (knee)
- WR, Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings (thigh)
- WR, Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (shoulder)
- WR, Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers (hamstring)
- WR, Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks (groin)
- WR, DJ Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars (finger)
- WR, Marvin Jones Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (shoulder)
- WR, Kenny Golladay, New York Giants (hamstring)
- WR, Curtis Samuel, Washington Football Team (groin)
- WR, Denzel Mims, New York Jets (hip)
- TE, TJ Hockenson, Detroit Lions (shoulder)
- TE, Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (shoulder)
- TE, Adam Trautman, New Orleans Saints (ankle)
LIKELY OUT
- WR, Anthony Miller, Houston Texans (shoulder)
- TE, Evan Engram, New York Giants (calf)
