Week 3 brought us a lot less injury news than Week 2.  Still there were some injuries to get into and the good news was there are no sure fire “guaranteed to miss time” injuries at the moment. We are going to file all the notable ones under situations to monitor as well as discuss updates on some of the Week 2 injuries and where that leaves fantasy managers.

Lions Tight End Sam LaPorta – Low ankle sprain

LaPorta left yesterday’s game against the Cardinals on a cart and normally that is the ultimate bad sign. However, it was revealed today that LaPorta suffered a low grade ankle sprain, and that is the best possible news outside of no injury for LaPorta managers. Low grade sprains are mild and don’t involve any ligament damage so even in a normal week, the likelihood of him being available for the Lions’ next game would be high. Better news, this is not a normal week for the Lions in a good way. They don’t play again until Monday night when they host the Seahawks and the extra day should only help LaPorta’s availability.

Chargers Quarterback Justin Herbert – High Ankle Sprain

First of all, big probs to Justin Herbert for showing incredible toughness in trying to play through that injury. Unlike LaPorta’s injury, high ankle sprains are a lot more difficult to deal with because they do involve ligament damage, so him just being active for that game is really something. However, Herbert did aggravate the injury in the 3^rd quarter after he was sacked and had to leave the game. The X-Rays on his ankle came back negative and there’s no clarity about another MRI or not so his status at this point should be day to day. If Herbert is unable to go, Taylor Heinicke would get the starting nod this week against the Chiefs and that’s a matchup to stay away from. Herbert was likely drafted as a backup this year so chances are, you have another quarterback in place as a starter. In case you don’t though, Caleb Williams is only rostered in 54% of Yahoo, 65% ESPN leagues respectively, and 67% of sleeper leagues. Kirk Cousins is only rostered in 52.5% of ESPN leagues, 54% of Yahoo leagues, and 44% of sleeper leagues.

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Vikings Quarterback Sam Darnold – Knee bruise

An MRI on the 2024 season’s way too early breakout star revealed a bruise on his knee and he is not expected to miss any time. Go ahead and hang onto him if you got him or pick him up if you want him, but that train if it still has a stop at your fantasy league’s station…is moving quick and you may want to hop on before it’s too late.

Dolphins Quarterback Skylar Thompson – Chest

The Dolphins backup quarterback took three massive hits to the chest knocking him out of the game and forcing third stringer Tim Boyle to enter the game. An already dire quarterback situation in Miami with Tua Tagovailoa on short term IR just got worse. While nobody was likely starting Thompson this week unless you had to break the “in case of emergency” glass, it does impact the skill players and there are high value skill players on the Miami roster. While you will still have to start Tyreek Hill every week, DeVon Achane and Jaylen Waddle’s value will decline a bit here due to teams not having to fear the Dolphins’ passing attack as much. However, the saving grace is they did just sign Tyler Huntley and he is a capable quarterback to keep this thing glued together for him. If they do end up starting Huntley, he could bring some QB2 value to the table while helping keep the fantasy values of Achane and Waddle afloat.

Eagles Wide Receiver Devonta Smith – Concussion

Smith was knocked out of yesterday’s game with the Saints after a nasty headshot. He is currently in concussion protocol and will have to go through the usual litany of tests to get cleared. His status is very much in doubt for this week’s game against Tampa Bay. With the Eagles really suffering at the receiver position right now with A.J. Brown missing the last two games and now Smith at least leaning towards being out, it could be Britain Covey and Jahan Dotson time and while they aren’t must adds and must starts, either could be a desperation Flex plays against a Buccaneers defense that was a bit leaky this past week against a Broncos team they should have dominated.  However, Dallas Goedert owners should expect a flurry of volume his way, as he went for 10 catches and 170 yards in the win as well, so having him will likely supersede either of the two wideouts.

Cardinals Tight End Trey McBride – Concussion

The Cardinals star tight end also is in concussion protocol. We do not know the severity of his yet as head coach Jonathan Gannon has not yet met the media for his weekly opening media availability. If he is unable to go in Week 4 against the Commanders, Elijah Higgins would take over as the top tight end in that game. The Commanders defense has shown so far that it’s not able to stop much and with the tight end position in arguably its most brutal state ever from a fantasy perspective, any tight end at this point is just hoping for found money, so you don’t really have much to lose by adding and starting Higgins if you don’t have other options. Cole Kmet had a breakout game yesterday though and is only owned in 41% of yahoo leagues, 26.1% of ESPN leagues, and 46% of sleeper leagues.

49ers Quarterback Brock Purdy – Back – Day to day

Purdy underwent an MRI on his back that came back clean and is just sore. This is good news and the 49ers are hoping that the soreness will subside in the coming days. By all indications at the moment it sounds like he should be good to play on Sunday at home against the Patriots, who have given up 20+ points in each of the last two games. If Purdy somehow can’t go, Williams and Cousins are there on a lot of waiver wires.

Old Injuries to Monitor 

Packers Quarterback Jordan Love – Sprained MCL

Love practiced all of last week in limited fashion but ultimately the Packers decided to give him another week and they let Malik Willis cook against the Titans. However, it’s Week 4 now and the division rival 3-0 Vikings are rolling into town, it would be shocking to not see Love suited up for that game. However, if you have him, starting whoever else you may have been starting prior is not a bad idea here. The Vikings defense has been on an absolute tear to start the season as they’re averaging over 15 fantasy points per game right now, and the last two weeks have defeated Brock Purdy and CJ Stroud respectively.

Texans Running Back Joe Mixon – Sprained Ankle

Mixon did not even travel with the team this weekend to Minnesota. It looked like a nasty injury initially even though he was seen on the sidelines running and cutting and briefly returned to the game. With the Texans sitting at 2-1 and nobody in the south really challenging them yet, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him sit another week. With Dameon Pierce’s status still unknown, it could be Cam Akers’ backfield again as they host the Jaguars and that could be a nice time to deploy him. The Jaguars currently allow 103 yards per game on the ground and 348.5 yards per game through the air, and Akers did record a receiving touchdown this past weekend.

Eagles Wide Receiver A.J. Brown – Hamstring

Brown missed his second straight contest on Sunday against the Saints but that was expected as he told ESPN’s Lisa Salters last week that he was likely going to miss at least a couple of weeks. Now that the short week is over for the Eagles, make sure to monitor whether Brown practices and in what fashion throughout the week. If he’s unable to go again, one guy to look at is Darnell Mooney. His target share has gone up in each of the first three games, from 3 to 7 to 8 respectively. He has 12 catches for 169 yards and a touchdown on the young season so far and Kirk Cousins has gotten him the ball in a variety of ways so far. Mooney is owned in only 26% of yahoo leagues, 62.9% of ESPN leagues, and 43% of sleeper leagues. Another option would be Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas. He’s off to a slow start but had a better game on Thursday against the Jets with the Patriots playing from behind, which should be expected more going forward. He is owned in 7% of yahoo leagues, 28.5% of ESPN leagues, and 14% of sleeper leagues.

Rams Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp – Sprained Ankle

Kupp suffered the injury during the Week 2 loss in Arizona and missed yesterday’s game with the 49ers. He will miss Week 4 in Chicago as well so it’s time to look at other options. The Rams went by committee this week, leaning heavily on the run game, using tight ends out of 11 personnel. DeMarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington, and Colby Parkinson will remain options but at this point, hold no more than WR2/Flex value as the Rams seem very keen on feeding Kyren Williams heavily and going by committee in the rest of the passing game.

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