The Fantasy Football Trainer’s Room is here to update you on the NFL Week 2 injury news from a fantasy football perspective. Check out our Week 3 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 and news.
UPDATED 9/24 at 1 PM EST
RB, CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, CAROLINA PANTHERS (HAMSTRING)
I already outlined the Christian McCaffrey hamstring injury and subsequent fantasy fallout (Chuba Hubbard to the MOON) to full extent, but according to RapSheet, CMC will be sidelined for a “few weeks.”
#Panthers star RB Christian McCaffrey is expected to miss a few weeks, sources say, as the team continues to run tests on his hamstring injury suffered last night. IR is not the plan as of now. Rookie Chuba Hubbard is the next man up.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 24, 2021
49ERS RUNNING BACKS (ELIJAH MITCHELL, JAMYCAL HASTY, TREY SERMON)
9/24 UPDATE: As with anything regarding the 49ers, things have once again flipped. It appears that Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) will likely sit, while Trey Sermon (concussion) could actually get the starting nod. Meanwhile, beastly Jacques Patrick could handle goal-line duties. Either way, we’re in for another Shanahan shit show.
#49ers John Lynch on RBs
Elijah Mitchell: Very questionable
Trey Sermon: Looks like he’s going to have opportunities. (if cleared)
Trenton Cannon: may get some
Jacques Patrick: 'You’re going to think you’ve got John Riggins back there."
Kerryon Johnson: maybe p-squad flex
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) September 24, 2021
Just one week after Raheem Mostert broke into pieces, the 49ers lost JaMycal Hasty (ankle) for at least the next few weeks, while FAAB eater Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) and Kyle Shanahan castoff Trey Sermon (concussion) both got hurt within a matter of a few minutes.
“JaMycal is the only one that’s for sure out,” Shanahan said on Monday. “Elijah and Trey have a chance, so we’ll see how this week goes.”
I’d expect Mitchell to play through the pain and start, but expect the 49ers to activate both Trenton Cannon and Kerryon Johnson. Sermon will have to pass through concussion protocol to play after taking a brutal hit on his first career carry.
All-in-all, it’ll likely be another gross week of Shanahanigans for 49ers’ RB managers.
QB, ANDY DALTON, CHICAGO BEARS (KNEE, OUT)
IT’S HAPPENING! Although our #thoughtsandprayers are with Andy Dalton, who is battling a bone bruise, Justin Fields will get his first career start on Sunday against the Browns’ tough defensive line. Fields got his first true taste of action last week and completed just 6-of-13 passes for 60 yards and an interception. However, he’s added 34 yards and a touchdown on the ground on just 47 snaps through two weeks.
What’s even more important is the revival of Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney. Expect the two wideouts to command a respectable target share with Fields under center.
Right now, Fields is The Wolf’s QB12 on his Week 3 Fantasy Rankings and has legitimate week-winning potential as a Konami Code weapon.
Lost in all the Fields hype was Nagy’s closing comment that Dalton will remain the team’s starter when healthy. Nagy gonna Nagy, I guess.
Nagy gonna Nagy pic.twitter.com/NMRgsN0tZt
— Roto Street Journal (@RotoStJournal) September 22, 2021
QB, TUA TAGOVAILOA, MIAMI DOLPHINS (FRACTURED RIBS, OUT)
After further testing, Brian Flores declared Tua Tagovailoa out for Week 3 due to fractured ribs. Jacoby Brissett will start in his place and will get the Las Vegas Raiders, one of the league’s most ferocious defensive lines. We aren’t mistaking Tua for a world-beater, but this is a clear downgrade for the Miami pass-catchers, headlined by Will Fuller, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVante Parker. The Raiders DST is a solid streamer or DFS play.
RULED OUT
- QB, Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (fractured ribs)
- QB, Andy Dalton, Chicago Bears (knee)
- QB, Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans (hamstring, IR)
- RB, JaMycal Hasty, San Francisco 49ers (ankle)
- WR, Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns (knee, IR)
- WR, Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons (ankle)
- WR, Tyrell Williams, Detoit Lions (concussion, IR)
- WR, Nico Collins, Houston Texans (shoulder, IR)
- WR, Danny Amendola, Houston Texans (hamstring)
- TE, James O’Shaughnessy, Jacksonville Jaguars (ankle, IR)
- G, Pat Elflein, Carolina Panthers (hamstring, IR)
- CB, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Detroit Lions (quad, IR)
PLAYERS TO MONITOR
- QB, Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (pectoral)
- QB, Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts (both ankles, lol)
- RB, Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings (ankle)
- RB, Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers (shoulder)
- RB, Damien Harris, New England Patriots (finger)
- RB, D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions (groin)
- RB, Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles (chest)
- RB, Trey Sermon, San Francisco 49ers (concussion)
- WR, Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys (ribs)
- WR, DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals (ribs)
- WR, Antonio Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (COVID-19)
- WR, Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears (groin)
- WR, Jamison Crowder, New York Jets (groin)
LIKELY OUT
- RB, Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders (toe, ankle)
- WR, Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers (knee)
- WR, Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (shoulder)
