I know it can feel like the injuries are piling up, but compared to previous seasons (2022 + 2023), the number of injuries that fantasy football players have sustained is about the same. 2024 has yielded more injuries to high-profile players (players selected in rounds 1-3), but sometimes that is just the way it goes.
The important thing is that you are here, trying to improve and adjust to the hand you've been dealt. Week 5 is right around the corner - the start of bye weeks. The combination of bye weeks and injuries could make the fantasy landscape tricky. Hopefully, this article will help you navigate the weeks to come.
Key: Position Player, Team | Injury | Projected Return to Play
TE Sam LaPorta, Detroit | Ankle | Projecting Week 6 Return
Sophomore tight end Sam LaPorta was carted to the locker room at halftime of Sunday's game with an ankle injury. LaPorta returned briefly, but he appeared limited by the injury.
By video, it looked like LaPorta suffered a low (inversion) ankle sprain. Although low ankle sprains are generally considered less serious than high ankle sprains, for TEs, they typically result in time missed.
On average, NFL TEs miss 2.1 weeks with low ankle sprains, with >65% of the sample missing at least one week. Detroit should exercise caution with their starting TE since low ankle sprains carry the third-highest re-injury rate amongst their position (10.5%). We will likely learn more about the severity of LaPorta's injury this week, but as of right now, I expect him to miss some time.
Update: ESPN's Jeremy Fowler confirmed that LaPorta does have a low ankle sprain. My projection remains the same unless we get any new information.
QB Sam Darnold, Minnesota | Knee | Projecting Week 4 Return
Few quarterbacks have had a better first three weeks to start the 2024 season than Sam Darnold. The NFL vet has seemingly revived his career in Minnesota, throwing for 4 TDs in the Vikings Week 3 victory.
However, Darnold did injure his left knee in the win. When asked about his injury, Darnold had this to say:
"It's good...and that's as much as I'm gonna say about that."
Darnold is set to get an MRI of his knee on Monday, so his breakdown of the injury might not be completely accurate.
This is purely conjecture on my part, but I believe there is a concern of a possible MCL sprain or meniscus injury, thus the imaging. If either of those injuries were confirmed, they would most likely result in time missed. An MCL sprain could have a timeline similar to Jordan Love's (2-4 weeks), while a meniscus tear would be closer to 4+, assuming it is accompanied by surgery. For now, we wait until Minnesota provides more information.
Update: NFL Network insider, Tom Pelissero has reported Monday that Sam Darnold's MRI revealed a "knee bruise and no structural damage." Expect Darnold to play in Week 4.
QB Justin Herbert, LA Chargers | Ankle (Re-injury) | Projecting Week 6 Return
Justin Herbert has always been a QB who plays/attempts to play through injury. Heading into Week 3, Herbert was "Questionable" with a high ankle sprain - an injury that typically nets 3-4 weeks missed.
Herbert re-injured his ankle Sunday, forcing him to leave the game. After the game, he had X-rays of his ankle and was seen leaving the stadium in a walking boot.
None of this information is unusual or alarming, but it does suggest that Herbert suffered a setback. As a result, I would expect LA to shut down their franchise quarterback for a few weeks so he can fully recover from this high ankle sprain.
Update: X-rays of Herbert's ankle were negative, confirming that he does not have fracture. While this is good news it still points to a setback regarding his high ankle sprain. It would probably be wise for LA to allow Herbert's ankle by resting a few weeks, and I still am projecting this to be the case.
WR DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia | Concussion | Projecting Week 6 Return
DeVonta Smith was on the receiving end of a brutal tackle, which caused him to leave the game with a concussion.
On average, NFL wide receivers miss 1.4 weeks with a concussion. Although by video, the hit looked bad, concussions are highly variable and person-to-person specific. The severity can not be determined by watching the injury. Smith has no concussion history so for now I am projecting him to miss one week and return in Week 6 following the Eagles' bye.