The 2020 injury report has been upgraded to include some new features. In addition to covering all of the fantasy-relevant injuries, I will update you on the previous weeks’ injuries. Also, I’ll explain the nature of the injury (if known), provide information on the expected length of each player’s absence, and offer an assessment of the impact on the injured player’s teammates.

With that, I welcome you to the revamped injury report. Football is a violent game, and, unfortunately, players are going to miss time due to injuries. I promise you I don’t want to be here just as much as you don’t, but this is a necessary evil in this game that we love. As always, I hope this list is as short as possible.

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New Injuries

DeSean Jackson (WR – PHI)
After missing more than a month, DeSean Jackson returned Thursday night in what we knew would be an abbreviated return. What we didn’t know is that the inevitable second injury would come immediately. Jackson did not make it through the game due to an ankle injury. Jackson is going to be out 6-8 weeks and likely won’t return this season. Travis Fulgham has completely taken over as the Eagles’ WR1. You can drop Jackson.

Fantasy Value Impact: N/A

Devonta Freeman (RB – NYG)
An ankle injury also befell Devonta Freeman, who was nowhere to be seen in the second half of a Thursday night loss to the Eagles. Wayne Gallman was the primary back following Freeman’s exit with Dion Lewis mixing in on passing downs. Gallman is worth a pickup because any running back seeing 10+ touches is worth rostering, but there’s very little upside on such a bad team.

Fantasy Value Impact: Wayne Gallman ⬆️⬆️, Dion Lewis ⬆️

Odell Beckham (WR – CLE)
After an awful Baker Mayfield interception, Odell Beckham hurt his knee trying to make the tackle. Early reports indicate he has a serious knee injury, which usually means a torn ACL or MCL. Beckham is almost certainly done for the season. Rashard Higgins, who made the game-winning touchdown grab, is elevated to the number two role opposite Jarvis Landry. Higgins has fringe fantasy value.

Fantasy Value Impact: Rashard Higgins ⬆️, Jarvis Landry ⬆️

Andy Dalton (QB – DAL)
In one of the dirtiest hits you will ever see, Andy Dalton was nearly decapitated by Washington linebacker Jon Bostic. He pretty clearly has a concussion and will have to clear the protocol to play next week. Although the hit looked terrible, the severity of the hit is not indicative of the seriousness of a concussion. If Dalton can’t go, rookie Ben DiNucci will start, which is not a sentence I thought I’d ever say. Suffice it to say the Cowboys offense is a disaster. I would downgrade everyone, but it really can’t get much worse than it was with Dalton. Their season is over.

Fantasy Value Impact: All Cowboys ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT)
Eventually, we’d like to see Diontae Johnson make it through a game without getting hurt. Diontae Johnson was immediately reinstalled as the undisputed WR1 in Pittsburgh after essentially missing three straight games. Johnson was on the ground for a while before slowly walking off the field. He did return to the game a few plays later, but that does not automatically mean he will be ready to go next week. He said after the game he has a bruised ankle, which seems like something that wouldn’t keep him out of next week’s game, but you never know.

Fantasy Value Impact: Chase Claypool ⬆️⬆️⬆️, Ben Roethlisberger ⬇️

Breshad Perriman (WR – NYJ)
At the conclusion of the Jets loss to the Bills, Breshad Perriman took a vicious hit on the sidelines that was an obvious concussion. Perriman will go through the protocol and hope to get cleared in time to lose to the Chiefs next week. Regardless, a returning Jamison Crowder would be the only wide receiver worth playing in this offense.

Fantasy Value Impact: N/A

N’Keal Harry (WR – NE)
N’Keal Harry also suffered a head injury, further depleting Cam Newton‘s receiving corps. The Patriots are an absolute disaster. No pass catcher is fantasy relevant with or without Harry. Hopefully, Harry is okay, but this injury has no impact on fantasy leagues.

Fantasy Value Impact: N/A

Jeff Wilson (RB – SF)
The clear lead back for the 49ers was Jeff Wilson. He had a monster game against the Patriots, but hurt his ankle on a nice touchdown run in the third quarter. With Raheem Mostert out at least two more weeks, the primary back for the 49ers is unquestionably JaMycal Hasty…unless, of course, Tevin Coleman returns next week. Wilson’s injury looks like a multi-week absence. The hierarchy will be Coleman, then Hasty, with Jerick McKinnon a distant third. McKinnon can be dropped in all formats. He’s been benched by the 49ers.

Fantasy Value Impact: Jamycal Hasty ⬆️⬆️, Tevin Coleman ⬆️⬆️

Deebo Samuel (WR – SF)
Finally looking like the dynamic player we saw last season, Deebo Samuel’s day was cut short due to a hamstring strain. We do not yet know the severity, but it seems unlikely he will play next week. Brandon Aiyuk returns to fantasy WR3 status as the second option in this passing game behind George Kittle, but, although you wouldn’t know it by looking at the box score, when the 49ers face an actual NFL team, losing Samuel will definitely be a blow to this offense overall. Kendrick Bourne ticks up a bit as well for however long Samuel is out.

Fantasy Value Impact: Brandon Aiyuk ⬆️⬆️, Kendrick Bourne ⬆️, Jimmy Garoppolo ⬇️

Phillip Lindsay (RB – DEN)
The most talented running back on the Broncos sustained a concussion in their blowout loss against the Chiefs. With Phillip Lindsay out, Melvin Gordon took on a bigger role, and Royce Freeman was elevated to second on the depth chart. Lindsay will go through the protocol and hope to be cleared to play next week. Freeman hasn’t been fantasy viable all season, but Gordon ticks up a bit if Lindsay is out.

Fantasy Value Impact: Melvin Gordon ⬆️

Chris Carson (RB – SEA)
The Seahawks’ starting running back departed in the first half with a foot injury. Chris Carson was on the sidelines with his helmet on, ready to go back in the game, but never got the call. It’s possible that given his injury history that the Seahawks were just being cautious with him. It certainly doesn’t look like anything long term, but monitor practice reports throughout the week. Carlos Hyde is a flex play whenever Carson misses.

Fantasy Value Impact: Carlos Hyde ⬆️⬆️

Kenyan Drake (RB – ARI)
It might officially be Chase Edmonds szn. Kenyan Drake converted a critical fourth down and was shown crying on the sidelines, usually indicative of a player knowing he has a serious injury. It was later reported Drake’s injury was to his ankle. If Drake is out for an extended period of time, it’s possible Edmonds becomes an RB1. He has a three down skillset and has been outplaying Drake all season. The good news for Drake is the Cardinals are off next week so he’ll have at least two full weeks to recover. Hopefully, he avoided a high ankle sprain, which would undoubtedly sideline him well beyond the bye. If it is a low ankle sprain, he could return in Week 9, but based on his reaction, I wouldn’t count on it.

Fantasy Value Impact: Chase Edmonds ⬆️⬆️

Injury Updates

Sammy Watkins (WR – KC)
The Chiefs’ WR2 did not play in Week 7 and it didn’t matter at all. Don’t expect the Chiefs to rush Sammy Watkins back for Week 8 as they could use an entire squad of backups and still beat the Jets.  The Chiefs didn’t have to do much against the Broncos offensively as they scored two touchdowns on defense and special teams. It could be more of the same against the Jets. Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson are not fantasy viable.

Estimated Return Time: 1-2 weeks
Course of Action: Hold, or drop if you need the roster spot

Dalvin Cook (RB – MIN)
After sitting out Week 7 with a groin strain, the Vikings’ running back had an extra week to rest with the team on its bye. Dalvin Cook is fully expected to return this week and will resume his role as the everydown back.

Estimated Return Time: This week
Course of Action: Return to lineups

Austin Ekeler (RB – LAC)
It does not appear as though Austin Ekeler is anywhere near returning. Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley have fared alright in his stead. The team would obviously prefer Ekeler, but that’s simply not going to happen. Justin Herbert will do all he can to carry this offense.

Estimated Return Time: 3-5 weeks
Course of Action: Hold, or trade for healthy players if you need to win now

Nick Chubb (RB – CLE)
Similar to Ekeler, Nick Chubb also does not appear close to returning. He’s eligible to come off I.R. any week now, but it’s not going to happen just yet. Kareem Hunt remains an every week RB1 and there’s no guarantee that changes upon Chubb’s eventual return.

Estimated Return Time: 2-3 weeks
Course of Action: Hold

Dallas Goedert (TE – PHI)
It was reported that Dallas Goedert will be out until at least Week 10, which is really unfortunate as the Eagles would definitely lean on him now without Zach Ertz for the time being. Richard Rodgers is an every week TE1 streamer for the next couple weeks.

Estimated Return Time: 3-5 weeks
Course of Action: Hold/Stash if he’s been dropped

Christian McCaffrey (RB – CAR)
As is typical with high ankle sprains, they are notoriously difficult to return from. Christian McCaffrey is not going to play in Week 8, but there’s a chance he makes it back for Week 9. If the Panthers fall out of contention quickly, though, they may be extra cautious with their franchise player. There’s also the question of how effective CMC will be upon his return as we know players are not fully recovered from high ankle sprains for 4-6 months. Even 70-80% of CMC is an RB1, but don’t expect him to return to 2019 levels right away.

Estimated Return Time: 1-3 weeks
Course of Action: Hold

Joe Mixon (RB – CIN)
After watching Giovani Bernard and Samaje Perine for an entire game, it’s abundantly clear how much more talented Joe Mixon is than either of them. That bodes well for his prospects of returning to his pre-injury role once he is healthy, but I don’t see any world where Mixon plays in Week 8. With the Bengals off Week 9 and going nowhere this season, it only makes sense to be extra cautious with Mixon and hold him out until Week 10. With that being said, I do expect Mixon back and 100% in Week 10.

Estimated Return Time: Week 10
Course of Action: Hold

Miles Sanders (RB – PHI)
Initially, Miles Sanders’ knee injury looked pretty severe, but we found out afterward he was only expected to miss two weeks. For now, we have no reason to doubt that timeline. Sanders is probably not going to play this week, leaving Boston Scott as a plug n play RB2 once again, but he should be back to his usual duties following the Eagles’ Week 9 bye.

Estimated Return Time: Week 10
Course of Action: Hold

Zach Ertz (TE – PHI)
Unfortunately, Zach Ertz has a dreaded high ankle sprain and was given a lengthy timeframe to return. Ertz was droppable even before he got hurt, but with him not expected to return until the fantasy playoffs at the earliest, you can let him go.

Estimated Return Time: 5-7 weeks
Course of Action: Drop

Mark Ingram (RB – BAL)
With the Ravens on bye last week, we don’t have any new information on Mark Ingram’s ankle sprain. It didn’t seem like something that would keep him out another week, but regardless, Ingram is far off the fantasy radar. His return would put a damper on any prospects of starting Gus Edwards or J.K. Dobbins, though.

Estimated Return Time: 1-2 Weeks
Course of Action: Drop

Raheem Mostert (RB – SF)
Raheem Mostert is out at least another two weeks after being placed on IR. His high ankle sprain will likely sideline him longer. See the above report on Jeff Wilson’s injury for a breakdown of what this means.

Estimated Return Time: 3-5 Weeks
Course of Action: Hold

DeVante Parker (WR – MIA)
With the Dolphins on bye last week, we don’t have any new information on DeVante Parker. Given no report of any serious injury, I would expect Parker to be a full go in Week 8.

Estimated Return Time: This Week
Course of Action: Hold

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Jason Katz is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jason, check out his archive or follow him @jasonkatz13.