Week 4 Fantasy Injuries: How Worried To Be About DeAndre Hopkins, Darrell Henderson, George Kittle & More
Adam Glanzman/Getty Images. Pictured: Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins
Below is a rundown of injuries around the NFL to fantasy-relevant players that will help you set your lineups and dominate your leagues.
I also included my very non-scientific “worry-o-meter,” which indicates on a scale of zero to five just how concerned I am about that player’s injury status when it comes to their Week 4 outlook.
Note: Players are listed by how concerning their injuries are, from most to least.
A.J. Brown, WR, Titans (hamstring)
Brown exited the Titans' Week 3 matchup against the Colts early and was quickly ruled out with a hamstring injury. He was a non-participant in Thursday's practice and is listed as week-to-week, which jeopardizes his availability for Sunday's game against the Jets.
This is Brown's second missed practice in a row, making it highly suspect if he can play come Sunday. With Julio Jones also ailing, the team could be forced to lean on Josh Reynolds, Chester Rodgers, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Cameron Batson at receiver.
Worry-o-meter: 5 out of 5
Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants (hamstring)
Shepard exited the Giants' Week 3 loss to the Falcons early with a hamstring injury and missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. He began the season strong with a whopping 19 targets and 207 receiving yards, but feels unlikely to play against the Saints this week.
In theory, this should upgrade the fantasy values for Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney, though neither have been attractive starts this season — even with Shepard and Darius Slayton ailing.
Worry-o-meter: 5 out of 5
Darius Slayton, WR, Giants (hamstring)
Slayton also left the team's Week 3 matchup with a hamstring injury and isn't practicing either. He was a DNP on Wednesday and Thursday and isn't trending in the right direction to play. Same note applies above regarding Golladay and Toney, though Golladay is dealing with his own health-related issues.
Worry-o-meter: 5 out of 5
Elijah Moore, WR, Jets (concussion)
Moore sustained a concussion against the Broncos in the team's shutout loss in Week 3. He was held out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday, making it less likely that he'll play come Sunday against Tennessee. Even if he's active, however, there's little appeal in starting him in this anemic Jets offense.
Worry-o-meter: 5 out of 5
Russell Gage, WR, Falcons (ankle)
Gage missed Week 3 with an ankle injury and has now missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. It feels unlikely he'll start this week, and given the way this Falcons offense has looked, it probably doesn't matter for your fantasy teams.
Worry-o-meter: 5 out of 5
Dalvin Cook, RB, Vikings (ankle)
Cook missed Week 3 with an ankle injury he sustained in the week prior. He was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice and again on Thursday, but appeared "optimistic" about his status for Sunday's game against the Browns, according to ESPN.
Cook was listed as questionable heading into last week's game and was a day-of scratch. Backup Alexander Mattison took over and saw a whopping 32 touches for 171 scrimmage yards. He would be a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside if Cook misses the game.
Even if Cook plays, there's a chance the pair would split the workload.
Worry-o-meter: 4 out of 5
Julio Jones, WR, Titans (hamstring)
Jones was sidelined for much of the second half of last Sunday's game against the Colts due to a hamstring injury. He, too, was a non-participant on Wednesday and Thursday, which is quite concerning for his Week 4 status.
With Brown highly questionable for this game, too, the Titans could be extremely lean at receiver. Westbrook-Ikhine would be an interesting play should both sit out. He reeled in all four of his targets for 53 yards and a touchdown in Week 3 with Brown and Jones hurt.
Worry-o-meter: 4 out of 5
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Cardinals (ribs)
Hopkins has been dealing with a rib injury that kept him sidelined during practice all of last week. He still played, however, and reeled in three passes for 21 yards. Hopkins didn't practice on Wednesday but did participate in a limited practice on Thursday, which is a good sign.
It's a tough Week 4 matchup against the Rams, but if he starts, you're definitely plugging him into your lineups. If Hopkins misses the game, though, Rondale Moore, Christian Kirk, A.J. Green and even Maxx Williams would see more targets.
Worry-o-meter: 3 out of 5
Darrell Henderson Jr., RB, Rams (ribs)
Henderson missed the Rams' Week 3 matchup against the Buccaneers. He was limited on Wednesday (participated in walk through) and Thursday and head coach Sean McVay said he expects Henderson to be active against the Cardinals but "isn't 100%" sure at this time, according to Sports Illustrated's Nick Cothrel on Wednesday.
Henderson is a low-end RB2 if he starts. If he's inactive for the game, backup Sony Michel would see a significant uptick in work. Michel had 20 attempts for 67 yards and caught three of four targets for 12 yards in Week 3.
Worry-o-meter: 3 out of 5
Chase Claypool, WR, Steelers (hamstring)
Claypool was a concerning late addition to the Steelers' injury report with a hamstring injury. He was listed as limited in practice on Thursday and there is a chance he sits out of Sunday's game against the Packers.
If he plays, he's a WR3. And if he sits out, it would elevate the status of whichever of the Steelers wideouts is playing.
Worry-o-meter: 3 out of 5
Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders (ankle)
Jacobs missed Weeks 2 and 3 dealing with an ankle injury, but he finally returned to practice on Thursday, which is a good sign for his availability come Monday.
Last week, Peyton Barber saw 23 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown and caught three of five passes for 31 yards. Kenyan Drake saw eight carries for 24 yards and caught three of six passes for 33 yards. Both would be in flex consideration if Jacobs misses the game
Worry-o-meter: 3 out of 5
Elijah Mitchell, RB, 49ers (shoulder)
Mitchell suffered a shoulder injury in Week 2 and was held out of the team's Week 3 matchup against the Packers. Rookie Trey Sermon got the start while Mitchell and JaMycal Hasty (ankle) were both sidelined and had a decent — not stellar — performance. Sermon saw 12 touches for 34 all-purpose yards and a touchdown, but was mixed in with fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who saw nine touches for 51 scrimmage yards and a touchdown.
Mitchell was a limited participant in Wednesday's and Thursday's practices, but is trending toward playing. I would assume he would take back his role as the starter since Sermon failed to make a convincing case, though it'll likely be some kind of committee.
Worry-o-meter: 2 out of 5
Diontae Johnson, WR, Steelers (knee)
Johnson missed Week 3 with a knee injury he suffered in the week prior and was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. He was upgraded to a full participant on Thursday, however, and appears to be trending in a positive direction for Sunday's game against the Packers.
Johnson would be a WR2 if he starts — especially with JuJu Smith-Schuster also questionable with a rib injury.
If Johnson sits, Chase Claypool would likely see more targets, though Claypool was a late addition to the Steelers' injury report on Thursday with a hamstring issue and would also get cornerback Jaire Alexander's full attention, which makes him a riskier start.
Worry-o-meter: 2 out of 5
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Steelers (ribs)
Smith-Schuster suffered a rib injury in the first half of the Steelers' Week 3 game against the Bengals and is listed as day-to-day. He missed practice on Wednesday, but was upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday, which appears he is trending in the right direction to start in Week 4 against the Packers. He is a WR3 assuming he starts.
Worry-o-meter: 2 out of 5
Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens (back)
Jackson is dealing with a back "flare up," according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec, which has held him out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday.
"I don't think it's anything serious," Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman said, via ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "But we're just going to have to kind of wait and see. I think he's going to be in good shape. We'll wait and see."
The absence from practice sounds precautionary, though it's worth monitoring heading into the weekend. Tyler Huntley is Jackson's backup on the Ravens' depth chart. Huntley would be a significant downgrade for all members of the Baltimore offense including Mark Andrews, Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, Ty'Son Williams, Latavius Murray and Rashod Bateman.
Worry-o-meter: 2 out of 5
George Kittle, TE, 49ers (calf)
Kittle was a non-participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday while dealing with a calf injury, though head coach Kyle Shanahan seemed unfazed by the issue.
“I mean, he should be all right this week,” Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday via Pro Football Talk. "Just sorer today than we expected, and we’ll take it day by day now."
The list of tight ends you can trust on a week-to-week basis grows shorter and shorter, but Kittle remains an elite, top three player at the position if he starts, especially in a softer matchup against the Seahawks.
Worry-o-meter: 2 out of 5
Jamison Crowder, WR, Jets (groin)
Crowder missed Week 1 on the COVID-19/reserve list and was sidelined in the following two weeks with a groin injury. He was limited in practice on Thursday and could suit up against the Titans this week. The Jets may be playing short-handed without Moore if he cannot clear the concussion protocol in time for the game, which would boost Crowder's appeal in the deepest of leagues.
Worry-o-meter: 2 out of 5
Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks (hip)
Lockett exited the Seahawks' Week 3 matchup against the Vikings and was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice with a hip injury. There's a good chance this is simply a precautionary measure and Lockett will be good to go come Sunday. If he were to miss the game, D.K. Metcalf would see an even larger target share and Will Dissly could be an interesting deep league start with Gerald Everett on the COVID-19/reserve list.
Worry-o-meter: 2 out of 5
Will Fuller V, WR, Dolphins (chest, elbow)
Fuller missed practice on Wednesday with chest and elbow injuries and appeared banged up in his debut for the Dolphins on Sunday. He returned to practice on Thursday in a limited fashion, which is a good sign for his Week 4 availability. He is a boom-or-bust flex play in deep leagues against the Colts.
Worry-o-meter: 2 out of 5
Kenny Golladay, WR, Giants (hip)
Golladay was a limited participant in Thursday's practice dealing with a lingering hip issue, though he's no stranger to the injury report so it is difficult to interpret how serious this could be. The former Lions star has been quite a letdown this season and has looked like an expensive decoy behind Sterling Shepard.
Golladay will have to step up this week, assuming he plays, with Shepard and Darius Slayton likely sidelined this week against the Saints.
Worry-o-meter: 2 out of 5
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts (knee)
Taylor was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, listed with a knee issue. It's unlikely this will impact his availability this week against the Dolphins, but keep an eye on him on Sunday morning.
Worry-o-meter: 1 out of 5
D'Andre Swift, RB, Lions (groin)
Swift appears on the injury report for the fourth week in a row with a groin injury. He has yet to miss a game this season and is currently RB3 in half PPR, so it's unlikely his limited practice will have an impact on his availability or production in the Lions' Week 4 game vs. the Bears.
Worry-o-meter: 1 out of 5
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Buccaneers (ribs)
Gronkowski took a huge hit in Week 3 against the Rams but ended up returning to the game. He was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice and sat out on Thursday, both of which are likely precautionary. He is still expected to make the start against his former team, the Patriots.
Worry-o-meter: 1 out of 5
Carson Wentz, QB, Colts (ankles)
Wentz played through pain in Week 3 after suffering two ankle sprains in Week 2. He was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, but should be okay to start come Sunday against the Dolphins barring a setback.
Worry-o-meter: 1 out of 5
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