Fantasy Football Injury Report: Preparing for Week 1
The 2025 NFL season is upon us, and the first injury reports have dropped. My one reminder is that we do not always care about Wednesday practice reports. Keep that in mind as the season goes on, because we have seen the majority of teams give players a veteran's rest day on Wednesdays with an appearance on the injury report only for that player to be fully cleared by Friday. Please do not panic, though that is why I am here to provide injury insight. With that, let's dive into the first reports of this season.
Matthew Stafford, QB -Los Angeles Rams
Injury: Back, Disc Herniation(s)
Projected Timetable: Off injury report, cleared for week 1
Initial Thoughts:
It is a great sign that Stafford has been a full go in practices recently and has already been fully removed from the injury report for week 1, but the real concern comes when he starts taking hits from defenders, especially ones from his blind side that he cannot brace for. It will be key to watch how his back responds to impact as well as quick movement patterns in-game that cannot be simulated in practice. The disc situation is truly a week-to-week concern that will require monitoring throughout the entire season. He could be perfectly fine until one sudden moment when he isn't. For now, though, I am still not fading Puka Nacua or Davante Adams.
Jordan Love, QB - Green Bay Packers
Injury: Left Thumb UCL Repair
Projected Timetable: Week 1
Initial Thoughts:
Practiced in full on the first day of the practice week, I have minimal concern regarding throwing ability, accuracy, velocity, and mechanics. Main concern will be any snap issues, jamming his left thumb, and fumbling. I am not overly concerned for fantasy purposes.
De'Von Achane, RB - Miami Dolphins
Injury: Calf
Projected Timetable: Week 1
Initial Thoughts:
The plan all along for Miami was for Achane to be active in Week 1, so it was great to see him practicing in some capacity on Wednesday. As long as he gets full participation in on Thursday or Friday, I feel good about his low reinjury risk of 5% and minimal production dip of 10% for Week 1, especially with projections of his receiving upside. I do think the team may give Ollie Gordon some extra run to preserve Achane if the game gets out of hand and to ease some of the rushing workload off of him given his past injury history.
Najee Harris, RB - Los Angeles Chargers
Injury: Eye
Projected Timetable: Week 1
Initial Thoughts:
In a surprising plot twist, Harris has been fully cleared and a full participant leading up to Friday's game against the Chiefs. There was even a report that he may start the game ahead of Omarion Hampton, but I doubt that would lead to starter workload, considering how much practice time he missed. Conditioning has been a key factor in his return. I would anticipate Harris handling close to 8-10 touches in key situations, with Hampton receiving the vast majority of the rest of the running back touches. My recommendation would be to sit Harris and start Hampton with the hope that Hampton can score a touchdown against the Chiefs front line.
Rachaad White, RB - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Injury: Groin Strain
Projected Timetable: Week 1
Initial Thoughts:
Able to participate in full on Wednesday, White appears to be on track to suit up for week 1 and likely retain his role behind Bucky Irving and ahead of Sean Tucker. I still lean towards avoiding for fantasy purposes with a 15-20% reinjury risk and likely production and usage dip.
Kenneth Walker, RB - Seattle Seahawks
Injury: Ankle
Projected Timetable: Week 1
Initial Thoughts:
Walker also participated in full in practice on Wednesday and appears to be ready to play despite the foot soreness that lingered for two months during camp. I will still be monitoring this one, given Walker's overall injury history, but his upside is immense in the new Klint Kubiak Seahawks offense.
AJ Brown, WR - Philadelphia Eagles
Injury: Hamstring
Projected Timetable: Week 1
Initial Thoughts:
Brown begins the week fully removed from the injury report as a full participant as he has healed from his hamstring strain. I anticipate high upside against this porous Cowboys defense. Hopefully, the Cowboys can put up enough points to warrant the Eagles passing enough for Brown to score WR1 points in Week 1. From an injury perspective, feel safe to start him.
Jayden Reed, WR - Green Bay Packers
Injury: Left Foot, Jones Fracture
Projected Timetable: TBD
Initial Thoughts:
Out of all of the injuries to be tracked this week, Reed's injury would be the one that we would have loved to see a full participant on Wednesday. I have high concern about Reed in the early portion of the season, especially if he attempts to play through a Jones fracture. If the injury occurred around August 7th, which is when he was first spotted in a CAM boot, it has not been long enough for the fracture to hard callus to the point of lowering reinjury risk. There remains a high risk that this turns into a full-blown Jones fracture that requires screw fixation via surgery, and he misses 10 or more weeks. Highly volatile situation that I would prefer to avoid early on in the season, even when active.
Tyreek Hill, WR - Miami Dolphins
Injury: Oblique
Projected Timetable: Week 1
Initial Thoughts:
Low concern despite the obliques having a key role in changing direction, twisting, receiving ability, and overall speed. By all accounts, he is dealing with a mild strain that has had several weeks to heal. He was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, and I anticipate him being fully removed from the injury report by Friday. I believe he is safe to start in fantasy for week 1.
Jauan Jennings, WR - San Francisco 49ers
Injury: Calf Strain
Projected Timetable: Week 1
Initial Thoughts:
Considering he has suffered two strains to the same calf, once in May and another in late July, Jennings enters Week 1 with a higher reinjury risk due to missing extensive practice and ramp-up period due to the contract hold-in. While I believe his presence on the field will be a good thing for the 49ers offense as a whole, I am anticipating a 20-25% reinjury risk with risk of 20% production dip and ceding workload to Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Ricky Pearsall. I lean towards playing a stronger pivot for week 1.
Khalil Shakir, WR - Buffalo Bills
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Projected Timetable: Week 1
Initial Thoughts:
Despite being a full participant on Wednesday and likely being active for week 1, I lean towards pivoting away from him in fantasy due to a 15-20% reinjury risk and a 25-30% production dip risk in his return from a high ankle sprain. While a full participant, he was not moving at full speed or capability in practice, showing a noticeable limp with cutting and higher speed routes. I would prefer to monitor his production for the first few weeks before inserting him into your starting lineups.
Keon Coleman, WR Buffalo Bills
Injury: Groin Strain
Projected Timetable: Week 1-2
Initial Thoughts:
Popped up on the injury report with a groin strain and limited participation. I have not seen any information on whether he suffered the strain in practice, which would not be good for his Week 1 availability, or if this was a prior strain in the last few weeks and winds up increasing to a full participation by Friday. I will have higher concern for Coleman if he winds up being a Did Not Participate tomorrow.
Christian Kirk, WR - Houston Texans
Injury: Hamstring
Projected Timetable: Week 1-2
Initial Thoughts:
There were no prior reports about a hamstring injury leading into Wednesday's practice, so the DNP today was surprising. This will be a key injury to watch as the week goes on, even if this winds up being a veteran rest day with full participation by Friday. If Kirk misses time, I would anticipate higher target shares to Jayden Higgins and increased snap counts for Jaylin Noel in the slot role.
Darnell Mooney, WR - Atlanta Falcons
Injury: Shoulder
Projected Timetable: Week 1
Initial Thoughts:
All indications point to Mooney being able to suit up for Week 1, though it will not come without risk. Coming off the shoulder sprain, he will likely have close to 15-20% reinjury risk, especially if he lands hard on the same side or with his arm outstretched. The missed time in practice could also lead to timing issues and production dip early on. I lean towards avoiding him in fantasy for the first few games until we see his utilization and production.
Josh Downs, WR - Indianapolis Colts
Injury: Hamstring
Projected Timetable: Week 1
Initial Thoughts:
Beginning with a full participation in practice on Wednesday is a great sign for Downs coming off the hamstring strain. Reports indicated that it was mild, so production should be fairly close to 100% of what is projected, with relatively low reinjury risk close to 5-10%. If you have Downs, I would feel comfortable starting him as a flex option, especially considering Daniel Jones' tendency to target low ADOT slot options that fit his exact role.
Justin Jefferson, WR - Minnesota Vikings
Injury: Hamstring
Projected Timetable: Week 1
Initial Thoughts:
The first Vikings practice report will not be released until Thursday, but I do anticipate Jefferson to be a full participant and very close to 100% with full production. I would feel comfortable starting him as a high target share, high ceiling option.
Chris Godwin, WR - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Injury: Ankle Dislocation, Deltoid Ligament, Fibula Fracture, Surgery x2
Projected Timetable: Week 6-10
Initial Thoughts:
There has been chatter about Godwin being able to play soon since the team removed him from PUP, but the team has already announced that the move was strictly in order to allow him to begin practicing with the team in Week 2 with a goal of assessing his ability to play sometime in October. His return will largely depend on his tolerance to cutting, sprinting, and football movements. Even when he returns, I do not anticipate Godwin being close to 100% until the 2026 season.
Darren Waller, TE - Miami Dolphins
Injury: Hip
Projected Timetable: TBD
Initial Thoughts:
The Dolphins have been very vague with Waller's status, often indicating that he is receiving designed rest despite coming into the locker room off the couch. He was designated with a hip injury and a DNP in today's practice. I would fully avoid this situation until we see him produce.
| Player | Position | Team | Injury | Concern | Projected Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MarShawn Lloyd | RB | GB | Groin Strain | Moderate | Week 5-6 |
| Joe Mixon | RB | HOU | Foot Reinjury | High | NFI - TBD |
| Jordan James | RB | SF | Knee Sprain | Moderate | Week to Week |
| Jauan Jennings | WR | SF | Calf Reinjury | Moderate | Week 1 |
| Matthew Stafford | QB | LAR | Back | Moderate to High | Week 1 |
| Darnell Mooney | WR | ATL | Shoulder Sprain | Moderate | Week 1 |
| Khalil Shakir | WR | BUF | High Ankle Sprain | Moderate | Week 1 |
| Tyjae Spears | RB | TEN | High Ankle Sprain | Moderate | Week 5-6 |
| Chris Godwin | WR | TB | Ankle Surgery | High | Week 6-10 |
| Brandon Aiyuk | WR | SF | ACLR, MCL | Moderate | Week 5-6 |
| Jayden Reed | WR | GB | Foot Sprain | Moderate | Week to Week |
| De'Von Achane | RB | MIA | Calf | Mild | Week 1 |
| Justin Jefferson | WR | MIN | Hamstring | Mild | Week 1 |
| A.J. Brown | WR | PHI | Hamstring | Mild | Week 1 |
| Josh Downs | WR | IND | Hamstring | Moderate | Week 1 |
| Jaylen Wright | RB | MIA | Knee Surgery | Moderate | Week 2-4 |
| Najee Harris | RB | LAC | Eye | Mild | Week 1 |
