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As we head into Week 3, there are many impactful injuries that fantasy managers need to be aware of. Here are some of the biggest ones to watch.
WR Mike Evans (rib), San Francisco 49ers
Evans returned to practice on Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday, but was off to the side with trainers. After back-to-back DNPs, it's good to see Evans back on the practice field. He's no stranger to playing through injuries. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said, "It shouldn't be long-term." General manager John Lynch added, "He is old-school in his mindset, and he doesn't want to miss... Mike's going to make every attempt to try to play, and we'll see where that goes." Evans has played without practice before, making it hard to get a clear read here. Adding to the frustration is the 49ers' late kickoff. If Evans is a last-minute scratch, fantasy managers have only six games to pivot. Tre Tucker, Pat Bryant, and Tyquan Thornton are likely the best waiver options. Without clarity before the early slate, any top-30 receiver is probably a safer option than waiting it out. We'll hope for a clear answer on Evans' availability before the 1 pm E.T. slate kicks off.
WR Puka Nacua (hip), Los Angeles Rams
Sean McVay said after Friday’s practice that Puka Nacua is “good to go” this week. Sarah Barshop added that "the Rams are still working through how they will navigate his snap count," leaving some uneasiness about his Week 4 outlook. Nacua missed last week's game with a hip injury, and rumors began to swirl. "Soft suspensions," "contract disputes," and "pre-hernia" speculation have circulated on social media, but the Rams have been pretty tight-lipped about the details of his absence. If he's active, it's hard to imagine anyone benching Nacua. He's one of the league's most dominant players and has played through injuries successfully many times in his young career. In this situation, it's probably best to ignore the noise and listen to what the team is telling us. If he's "good to go," per Sean McVay, start him.
WR Terry McLaurin (hamstring), Washington Commanders
McLaurin popped up on Friday’s injury report with a hamstring issue and is questionable for Sunday’s game in London. McLaurin wasn't on the Wednesday or Thursday injury report, and a late-week addition is never good. With an early kickoff, it's imperative that fantasy managers plan as if McLaurin won't play. The flexibility of an island game before the rest means there will be no shortage of pivot options if McLaurin can't go. If we don't get clarity on McLaurin's status before bedtime on Saturday, don't forget to set your alarms for Sunday morning at 8:00 am E.T. when inactives are announced.
WR Jalen Coker (quad), Carolina Panthers
Coker didn't practice at the start of the week but returned on Thursday and logged back-to-back days, albeit in limited fashion. Dave Canales tipped his hand a bit, saying the team would activate Ja'seem Reed if Coker isn't available, so fantasy managers can keep an eye out for that. In the few clips circulating from today's practice, Coker doesn't look completely healthy, showing some hesitancy in fully opening up his stride. If he's active, he'll be a risky WR4. If he can't play this week but logs a full practice heading into Week 5, managers can start him with much more confidence. The Panthers play Sunday night, so watching Reed's activation will help us decide what to do with Coker before the early slate of games.
RB D'Andre Swift (knee), Chicago Bears
After a mid-week DNP scare, Swift will play this week. Swift unexpectedly popped up on Thursday's injury report with a knee injury, but it sounds more like a veteran rest day than a true DNP. Especially after Swift fully participated in Wednesday's walkthrough, Thursday's absence was a surprise. Grady Jarrett and Joe Thuney had veteran rest days on Thursday, and Swift likely joined them, perhaps with some treatment for a sore knee. It's not uncommon for the Bears to manage Swift's workload during the week, so there’s no cause for panic. He is off to a blistering start and is currently the RB7 in PPR leagues. Get him in your lineup as a back-end RB1.
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