Well, I hope you enjoyed Week 1 because Week 2 was... not fun.
Unfortunately, we have a lot of injuries to sort through this week. Several fantasy-relevant players went down, with injuries ranging from potentially minor setbacks to situations that could keep players sidelined for multiple weeks.
So instead of dragging out the introduction, let's buckle up and get right into it. There's a lot of ground to cover and plenty of work to be done.
Key: Position Player, Team | Injury | Projected Return to Play
QB Caleb Williams, Chicago | Hamstring | Projection: Week 5
Caleb Williams was tripped up late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to Minnesota. Williams immediately appeared to be in significant pain, was unable to put weight on his right leg, and ultimately needed assistance getting off the field before being carted to the locker room. Despite the concerning initial appearance, the news since the injury has been relatively promising.
Mike Florio gives an update on the status of Bears QB Caleb Williams.
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 20, 2026
📺 Sunday Night Football: Colts at Chiefs on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/VoedFkoYzv
Monday morning, Tom Pelissero of The Ringer and Netflix reported that Williams "avoided any major injury," suggesting that his MRI results were positive.
Even with Williams getting an extra day of recovery with Chicago hosting Philadelphia on Monday night, I think there's a good chance he misses at least one game.
Looking at NFL quarterbacks with hamstring strains from 2017-2025:
- Most quarterbacks with a Grade I strain missed 0-1 games.
- The average time missed for all hamstring strains is about two weeks.
- 70% of QBs missed at least one game (data 2017-2025).
- A Grade II hamstring strain would be closer to 4 weeks (similar to Lamar Jackson last season).
One important distinction here is that what should happen from a tissue-healing standpoint and what actually happens with NFL return-to-play timelines are often two different things.
With most soft-tissue injuries, including hamstring strains, damage within the muscle belly needs time to heal and develop enough scar tissue to tolerate high-level activity again. That process generally takes multiple weeks. But the NFL is often about putting out fires and getting players back on the field as quickly as possible.
That's part of what the historical data reflects. A quarterback may return relatively quickly, but that doesn't necessarily mean the hamstring is completely healed. I'd prepare for at least a one-game absence while recognizing it could be closer to the average since this is his right hamstring and Williams will need to load and push off his right leg with throwing. My projection is a two-week absence, but I would not rule out a Grade II strain yet, which could mean Williams would be placed on IR.
QB Jayden Daniels, Washington | Elbow (Left) | Projection: Week 6
Let's stay with the 2024 rookie class and discuss the 2nd overall pick - Jayden Daniels was off to a strong start this season and was putting together another big fantasy performance Sunday before injury struck. Daniels dislocated his left elbow and was forced from the game. If this sounds familiar, it should. This is the same elbow Daniels dislocated last season, an injury that effectively ended his 2025 campaign.
Daniels did not undergo surgery last offseason, which may have contributed to this recurrence. His initial dislocation in 2025 appeared to require significantly more force, while Sunday's injury seemingly occurred much more easily. That difference raises concerns about residual instability in the elbow following the first dislocation.
The initial reporting indicates Daniels avoided a fracture, which is certainly good news, but it likely doesn't dramatically change the recovery timeline. If Daniels and the Commanders again elect for a non-operative approach, I would expect him to miss roughly one month, similar to last year, with an external brace likely being part of his return-to-play plan.
The bigger question is whether they continue down that path. After a second dislocation of the same elbow in less than a year, surgery has to be a consideration at some point and is likely a discussion of not if but when.
If Daniels and the team elect to address the instability surgically now, his season could potentially be over. At the very least, I would anticipate an absence in the neighborhood of 10 weeks.
For now, I've provided my projection assuming Daniels does not undergo surgery, but this could change as we gain more information.
RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia | Stinger | Projection: Week 3
Saquon Barkley missed most of Sunday's game with a stinger. He returned later with a neck collar and played sparingly. Acute symptoms with stingers can be limiting, so it's encouraging that Barkley returned at all Sunday. However, it sounds like Barkley will get additional testing and imaging, including a Monday MRI.
Research shows that most collegiate and NFL players don't miss practice or even games since, with stingers, most symptoms resolve within 48 hours. The presence of an MRI suggests the team is worried about a neck issue or at least to rule out neck involvement. If we hear that Barkley has a neck injury or disc pathology, this will change his return-to-play projection, but for now I am treating it like a stinger.
The Eagles play on Monday, so adding Tank Bigsby is a must this week if you roster Barkley.
WR DJ Moore, Buffalo | AC Joint Sprain | Projection: Week 5
DJ Moore exited Thursday night's game early with a left shoulder injury. While the mechanism looked concerning and Moore was ruled out shortly afterward, initial reports have been positive.
#Bills WR DJ Moore, who was off to a fast start in Buffalo, is believed to have suffered an AC joint sprain, sources say. While it's not a serious injury, @AdamSchefter reports his status is up in the air for next week. pic.twitter.com/TdE4jzWgG2
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 18, 2026
The main takeaway is that while this does not appear to be a long-term injury for Moore, I would still expect him to miss some time, likely 1-2 weeks.
Since 2017, 79% of NFL wide receivers with an AC joint sprain have missed at least one game. These injuries also carry a relatively high risk of re-injury at wide receiver. Receivers often expose the shoulder when extending or laying out for passes, similar to how Moore initially suffered the injury.
For fantasy purposes, I would prepare for Moore to miss at least one game. The early reporting is encouraging enough that I'm not expecting an extended absence, and I anticipate him returning no later than Week 6, assuming no setbacks.
WR Nico Collins, Houston | Hamstring | Projection: Week 5
Nico Collins popped up on the injury report midweek with a hamstring injury. Based on reports out of Houston, this appears to be a new injury rather than a pre-existing issue or the precautionary "tightness" teams sometimes manage during the week. As a result, Collins missed Week 2.
Collins also has a history of soft-tissue injuries, including a hamstring strain that cost him five weeks in 2024, although it is unclear whether this injury involves the same hamstring. Given his history and the recurrence risk associated with hamstring strains, his practice participation next week will be important to monitor. But managers should prepare that Collins could be out until Week 5 or even beyond.