Newest On Brandon Aiyuk, Najee Harris, Aaron Jones, and Others
Fantasy soccer managers know the drill: accidents can derail even probably the most rigorously crafted rosters. With a number of key gamers already sidelined on injured reserve or suspended, understanding who’s out and for the way lengthy turns into essential for navigating the early weeks of the 2024-25 season. Right here’s your full information to the fantasy-relevant gamers at present unavailable and what it means to your lineup choices.
James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
James Conner injured his ankle in Sunday’s sport severely sufficient that it’s going to require season-ending surgical procedure, sadly. Trey Benson will step up and be the lead again for Arizona going ahead, with Emari Demercado additionally seeing some touches right here and there.
Najee Harris, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers’ working again Najee Harris suffered a torn Achilles in Sunday’s win over the Broncos. He’ll, after all, miss the rest of the season, and Omarion Hampton’s inventory worth simply elevated exponentially if he’s someway nonetheless accessible in your league.
Should you play in deeper leagues, the Chargers’ new RB2, Kimani Vidal, could also be price a waiver declare additionally.
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
George Kittle strained his hamstring within the first half of the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 1 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Gamers who exit with hamstring points are usually listed as questionable to return. Kittle was dominated out instantly, which was an ominous signal.
Positive sufficient, information shortly emerged that Kittle could be out for a number of weeks. On Tuesday, Sept. 9, the 49ers elected to position their star tight finish on IR.
Traditionally, Kittle has been a fairly fast healer. He could miss a minimal of 4 video games. However for not less than the following three contests, fantasy managers might want to go with out Kittle.
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
As soon as once more, the Cincinnati Bengals followers are shaking their heads as their star quarterback, Joe Burrow, suffers one other long-term damage. He’ll miss a minimal of three months after Cincy lastly obtained off to begin, successful each of its first two video games.
In case your league has an IR spot and you’ve got a good backup quarterback, it’d make sense to carry out hope that Burrow will be capable to return in time for the fantasy playoffs in mid-December.
Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans (PUP)
Tank Dell was formally positioned on the Bodily Unable to Carry out listing, which means he may also miss the Texans’ first 4 contests of the 2024-25 marketing campaign. There’s vital doubt he returns in any respect this season, which might be comprehensible given the truth that he tore his ACL, broken his MCL, LCL, and meniscus, and dislocated his kneecap.
Houston introduced Christian Kirk, Justin Watson, and Braxton Berrios to handle his absence and Stefon Diggs’s departure. The group additionally drafted Iowa State receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel within the second and third rounds of the draft.
Nico Collins will stay quarterback CJ Stroud’s favourite goal, however he and Dalton Schultz had been the one two pass-catchers for Houston to file three receptions within the Texans’ loss to Tampa Bay.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans formally moved Tyjae Spears to the IR earlier than the beginning of the season, which means he can be eligible to return for his or her Week 5 sport towards the Arizona Cardinals as quickly as potential.
Tony Pollard will see most snaps at working again, whereas Julius Chestnut and Kalel Mullings can be backups in Spears’ absence. This damage solidifies Pollard’s position because the clear lead again for fantasy functions.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers (PUP)
Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 final season towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and begins the 2024-25 season on the PUP listing.
He received’t be eligible to play till not less than Week 5, however the San Francisco 49ers suppose a Week 6 return for his or her matchup towards Tampa Bay could also be extra possible.
Aaron Jones Sr., RB, Minnesota Vikings
Principally wholesome all through his whole profession, Aaron Jones Sr. began displaying indicators of breaking down final season. He didn’t miss a sport, however he was listed on the damage report as a result of some nagging points.
Now 30 years previous, his physique could also be starting to betray him. Jones strained his hamstring within the Vikings’ week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The damage was vital sufficient to land him on the IR final Tuesday, 9/16.
The Minnesota Vikings are perilously skinny at working again behind new starter Jordan Mason. With Ty Chandler on IR, 2023 UDFA Zavier Scott was the one different energetic working again on the roster. Consequently, the group signed Cam Akers, who fantasy managers ought to count on to function the RB2. In an surprising coincidence, Akers is definitely price a speculative add in deeper leagues because the presumptive handcuff to Mason.
Excellent news for individuals who drafted Mason because the handcuff for Jones: he went off this week with 116 yards on 16 carries and located the top zone twice.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Washington Commanders (IR)
Austin Ekeler, sadly, went down in Washington’s Week 2 sport with a torn Achilles and can now miss the rest of the 2025 season. The Washington Commanders’ rookie and standard sleeper decide, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, will now step as much as see the vast majority of carries. Should you’re on the lookout for a stash in deeper leagues, Jeremy McNichols could get some reps.
Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers positioned Jalen Coker on IR as a result of a quad damage suffered throughout apply final Thursday in August. They re-signed Hunter Renfrow, who was with the group via coaching camp and the preseason, and can fill in for Coker whereas he’s sidelined.
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Regardless of the Panthers placing up 30 factors on their division rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, just one participant caught three or extra passes. There simply isn’t anybody dependable on the group by way of pass-catchers at present.
Jayden Reed, WR, Inexperienced Bay Packers
Jayden Reed went down with a fractured collarbone within the Packers’ Week 2 win over Washington. In keeping with Ian Rapoport of NFL Community, Reed is anticipated to overlook 6-8 weeks.
Tucker Kraft stepped up massive time in that Week 2 sport, with six catches for 124 yards and a landing. Rookie Matthew Golden lastly began to seek out his footing this week with 4 catches for 52 yards, as effectively, in an in any other case underwhelming (to say the least) loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Christian Watson, WR, Inexperienced Bay Packers (PUP)
Christian Watson was formally positioned on the listing of bodily unable to carry out, which means the earliest he can return is within the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ Week 6 matchup towards the Cincinnati Bengals. The Packers have their bye week throughout Week 5.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Inexperienced Bay Packers
The Packers additionally positioned MarShawn Lloyd on the IR, the place he spent practically all of his younger profession. Josh Jacobs would be the workhorse right here, and his inventory worth will increase whereas Lloyd is sidelined. Nobody is getting constant carries in addition to Josh Jacobs whereas Marshawn has been out.
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Godwin has a robust likelihood of constructing his season debut this Sunday towards the Eagles, in accordance with ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Mike Evans and rookie Emeka Egbuka have carried the load whereas Jalen McMillan was additionally out to begin the 12 months. Getting Godwin again this week could be large, because it seems like Evans could now be questionable after sustaining a hamstring damage in Tampa Bay’s week 3 sport towards the New York Jets.
Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Talking of McMillan, he began the 2024-25 season on the IR, which means he received’t be enjoying till not less than Week 5 both. Nevertheless, reviews from the Bucs camp urged that the sophomore huge receiver could be sidelined for not less than half the season, if not longer. Keep watch over veteran Sterling Shepard to fill in whereas McMillan is out.
Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans (NFI)
Joe Mixon is out for not less than the primary 4 video games of the 2024-25 season. On Aug. 26, he was positioned on the Reserve/Non-Soccer Harm listing. The small print surrounding how the damage occurred nonetheless haven’t been shared publicly, and there may be some doubt as as to whether he’ll swimsuit up this season.
The damage was confirmed to be associated to his ankle, and when requested a couple of potential return timeline, Houston Texans GM Nick Caserio was noncommittal. “We’ll see, we’ll take it in the future at a time,” Caserio stated, in accordance with ESPN.
Nick Chubb was once more the go-to again for Houston of their Week 3 loss to Jacksonville, however he didn’t attain 10 carries in an unpleasant sport the place the Texans solely managed 10 factors. If in case you have a greater possibility at RB, you might wish to think about solely enjoying Chubb in matchup-friendly video games.
Suspended Gamers: Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Rashee Rice was dealt a six-game suspension for private misconduct, making him eligible to return for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Week 7 contest towards the divisional rival Las Vegas Raiders.
In his absence, sophomore wideout Xavier Worthy was set to be the WR1, whereas Hollywood Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster had been anticipated to see extra targets to begin the 2024-25 marketing campaign. Nevertheless, Worthy then went down within the first quarter of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ opener towards the Los Angeles Chargers with a dislocated shoulder, and Brown stepped up massive time to the tune of 10 catches for 99 yards.
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The Chiefs lastly received a sport in 2025, nevertheless it wasn’t precisely an offensive masterpiece. Tyquan Thornton was their main pass-catcher, hauling in 5 receptions for 71 yards on 9 targets and a landing.
Demarcus Robinson, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Demarcus Robinson is about to return this week from his three-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse coverage.
Ricky Pearsall had been stepping up massive time within the absence of Robinson, in addition to Brandon Aiyuk, and now Kittle. Should you had picked up Kendrick Bourne, you might wish to downgrade him a bit with Robinson’s return.
Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Addison will make his season debut for the Minnesota Vikings after lacking the primary three video games as a result of his suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse coverage. TJ Hockenson’s manufacturing could dip a bit (go determine proper after he lastly has a stable 5 catch, 49-yard, 1 TD sport), and naturally, Justin Jefferson will nonetheless be the house run hitter.
