Will Mike Evans be hampered by a hamstring injury Week 1?
The start of the NFL season is finally upon us but significant fantasy contributors have been dealing with injuries throughout the preseason. Here is a list of players whose injuries could alter the outcome of your opening week matchup.
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- Randall Cobb (GB WR) should be the top target for Aaron Rodgers with Jordy Nelson lost for the season. However, Cobb sprained the acromioclavicular (AC) joint in his right shoulder. The AC joint is where the clavicle (collarbone) meets the shoulder blade and this injury can be easily aggravated during overhead activities. Cobb is expected to play in Week 1, so keep him in your lineup, but don’t be surprised if he is not targeted as frequently, especially since he indicated he has a limited catching radius. Cobb is also clearly aware of the injury. “I’m going to do my best to fall a certain way and fall the right way, but I can’t help it if a guy lands on top of me,” Cobb said. “I’m going to do everything I can to protect myself, but I have to play fearless. I’ve always been a fearless player.” Those statements are especially concerning to me, since Cobb is keenly aware of the risks and will be thinking about them during the game.
- Victor Cruz (NYG WR) has been out of action for three weeks because of a left calf strain. While he has not been ruled out yet for Week 1, I do expect him to miss the Giants’ season opener. “For whatever reason, these things are very hard to get over,” head coach Tom Coughlin explained.
- Mike Evans (TB WR) was injured during the second game of the preseason and did not play in the remaining preseason games. Evans had increased his activity during practices but missed practices on Monday and Wednesday of this week because of lingering side effects from a hamstring injury. Because of the injury and because of the risky nature of playing with a rookie quarterback in Jameis Winston, I would bench Evans this week even if Tampa Bay keeps him active.
- Michael Floyd (ARI WR) has been out for four weeks because three fractured fingers on his left hand. He was limited in practice on Wednesday and is considered day-to-day. Without having full-contact activities under his belt it is difficult to envision him playing or being a significant fantasy contributor in Week 1.
- Todd Gurley (STL RB) has been cleared for contact drills as he attempts to make his return from ACL surgery, which he suffered during his last season at the University of Georgia. Still, he will not make his debut until at least Week 4.
- Alshon Jeffery (CHI WR) injured his calf on August 12 but finally started limited practice this week, running routes and catching passes. Calf injuries limit a player’s explosiveness and, with no full-speed contact action as of yet, I expect Jeffery to be inactive during Week 1.
- Duke Johnson (CLE RB) was cleared through the NFL’s concussion protocol and, as such, should be in your starting lineup for Week 1. “If he’s cleared to go and puts a solid couple of days together here, there’s no reason to think he’s not going to play a significant role in the game,” head coach Mike Pettine said, in regards to Johnson’s workload during the season opener.
- LeSean McCoy (BUF RB) should be in the lineup for the Bills in Week 1, but I expect his carries to be limited as the team tries to protect his hamstring injury. There is a serious risk of reinjuring the hamstring, as I discussed often during my MLB Injury Updates, and perhaps more so in football because of the explosive, stop-start action needed to play running back. He is a high-risk, high-reward play this week. If Buffalo limits his carries I do think Karlos Williams makes an intriguing flex play in Week 1.
- C.J. Spiller (NO RB) will miss New Orleans’ season debut. “Saints RB CJ Spiller (knee) will not play in Week 1, I’m told, as he recovers from that minor knee surgery. Likely good to go after that,” Ian Rapoport of the NFL network tweeted. Keep him on your bench this week and monitor his progress heading into Week 2.
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Jeremy Tiermini is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Jeremy follow him @JeremyTiermini.
