Below we will look at the week 3 fantasy football injury report for the AFC. As the season continues, more and more players become injured or are returning from previous injuries. The data on our injuries becomes more helpful throughout the season as we consider how many games a player may miss and how previous players have performed upon return from injury.
Week 3 fantasy football injury report: QBs
Justin Herbert
Herbert took a brutal hit in the 4th quarter on Thursday night. It was later revealed that he suffered a fracture to the cartilage in his ribs. This may sound odd but is not necessarily uncommon in such a violent sport. Current reports show that Herbert “has a chance” to play in his next game against the Jaguars. For a further look at rib cartilage injuries, check out Tom’s post, where he discusses the anatomy and how it may impact Alvin Kamara’s performance going forward.
From a fantasy standpoint, you need to be prepared to be without Herbert for the next few weeks, just in case. My gut tells me Herbert will play, but he will likely be in a lot of pain with each throw which may impact his accuracy downfield. Due to this, if he does play, we may see an uptick in short-yard pass attempts to Ekeler and Allen if he can play as well.
Zach Wilson
Zach Wilson continues to sit out, and Joe Flacco has already been declared the starter for week 3 after an impressive comeback victory in week 2. I initially anticipated that Wilson would return to play by now, but the team is being overly cautious with his return to the field.
Week 3 fantasy football injury report: RBs
J. K. Dobbins
There are no significant changes in regards to Dobbins. Last week, he was able to practice in full but has still not seen the field in a game. When he does come back, I will avoid starting him for the first few games, as players do not typically perform well in their first few games back from ACL reconstruction.
Najee Harris
Considering Harris was limited in practice all week, he performed reasonably well from a fantasy standpoint. He ended up being RB 13 in a down week across the board for running backs. Although his rushing attempts did not amount to much, he did see 6 targets with 5 receptions to help cushion his stats.
I continue to have concerns for Najee’s foot/ankle going forward. He likely will continue aggravating his injury during game day and push through the pain to play each week. As long as he continues to see a high volume, he should be a fine high-floor play with upside depending on touchdowns.
Week 3 fantasy football injury report: WRs
Keenan Allen
Keenan Allen missed week 2, and the Chargers missed Keenan Allen. Our data shows WRs average missing 1.8 games, meaning there is a good chance he also sits out in week 3. This being said, the chargers did have an extra long rest as they played on Thursday night. Managers should have a plan in case Allen cannot play on Sunday.
If Allen can play, our data shows that wide receivers typically score -2.5 PPG in their first game back. This number improves to -1.1 in game 2 back from injury. Keep an eye on practice reports throughout the week. If Allen is listed as DNP for Thursday and Friday, I would be fading him for week 3.
Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy went down with an apparent rib/shoulder injury on Sunday. Initial reports have been promising, as x-rays have come back negative, and he is listed as being day-to-day. Rib and chest injuries can be challenging to come back from. If Jeudy can push through the pain, the Broncos need him in week 3. I anticipate Sutton will see even more targets, boosting his value even higher if Jeudy cannot play this week. If you are desperate at the tight end, Albert O. may be worth a flyer if Jeudy is out.
Michael Pittman
The Indianapolis Colts scored a whopping 0 points against the Jaguars without Michael Pittman in week 2. Matt Ryan performed horribly without the team’s WR1, and even Jonathan Taylor posted his worst performance since week 2 of last season.
Our data shows wide receivers miss an average of 1.4 games with a quadriceps injury. I initially did not expect Pittman to miss last week. Unfortunately, he aggravated his injury during practice and ultimately was unable to play. I currently expect him to be back for week 3 and would be playing him with full confidence. Our data shows minimal impact on players returning from a quadriceps injury with only -0.7 PPG in the first game back.
Gabe Davis
Davis was a surprise injury heading into week 2 after injuring his ankle in practice on Saturday. Unfortunately, we do not have a video of the injury. We don’t know whether this may be a lateral ankle sprain or a high ankle sprain.
Assuming he sustained a typical lateral ankle sprain, there is a good shot Davis is ready to go for week 3. Our data shows receivers typically miss 1.4 games with this type of injury and see minimal impact on fantasy performance in their first game back.
In the unfortunate event that Davis suffered a high ankle sprain, he will likely be out for week 3. High ankle sprains are often more involved and take substantially longer to rehab and get back on the field. Receivers with a high ankle sprain miss 3.4 games on average. They see a dip in performance of -2.7 PPG in the first game back from injury. Hopefully, we will get an update on the specific type of ankle injury throughout the week.
