Fantasy Football Injuries: Adam Thielen & Davante Adams Rankings, Backup Plans, More

It was a busy week on the injury front. We've got some marquee fantasy football injuries to monitor leading up to kickoff, but don't worry — our rankers have you covered in the event any of the players listed below are ruled out.

With this article, we'll give a brief rundown of some of the players who are entering Sunday with a questionable tag, along with where our fantasy experts — Sean Koerner, Chris Raybon and Matthew Freedman — will have each player ranked if they're active. We'll also run through which players would benefit the most if the questionable players are ruled out, and who you could pick up on waivers if you're in a pinch.

Here's a quick list of the seven players we'll cover:

• Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings
• Marquise Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens
• Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers
• Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
• James White, RB, New England Patriots
• Cameron Brate, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Keep a close eye on our experts' real-time fantasy rankings, too, which will be continuously updated until kickoff.

Note: Beneficiaries, recommended waiver wire pickups and rankings as of 7 a.m. ET. Ownership data is via Yahoo Fantasy.

Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings

After missing last week's game with a hamstring injury, Thielen practiced in a limited fashion all week, putting him on the path to playing.

Late Saturday, ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed that Thielen is expected to play.

Fantasy Rankings If Thielen Is Active:

• Koerner: WR12
• Raybon: WR14
• Freedman: WR14

Biggest Beneficiary + Ranking If Thielen Is Inactive: Olabisi Johnson (Koerner WR40, Freedman WR52)

Potential Waiver Wire Pickup If You're In A Bind: Olabisi Johnson

Marquise Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Brown had a weird week, practicing in a limited fashion on Wednesday and Thursday, but then he got downgraded to no practice on Friday.

Normally, that's not a good sign, but head coach John Harbaugh did say he expects Brown to be active for Sunday night's game against the Patriots.  

Fantasy Ranking If Brown Is Active:

• Koerner: WR45
• Freedman: WR40
• Raybon: WR39

Biggest Beneficiary + Ranking With Brown Inactive: Willie Snead (Koerner WR52, Freedman WR58), Miles Boykin (Raybon WR55)

Potential Waiver Wire Pickup If You're In A Bind: Willie Snead, Miles Boykin

>> Get our experts' up-to-the-minute fantasy football rankings before lineups lock.

Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported the Packers are optimistic that Adams can play on Sunday, but they want him to test his toe in pre-game warmups before a decision is made.

Fantasy Ranking If Adams Is Active:

• Koerner: WR18
• Freedman: WR12
• Raybon: WR10

Biggest Beneficiary + Ranking With Adams Inactive: Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Koerner WR36), Allen Lazard (Freedman WR45, Raybon WR41)

Potential Waiver Wire Pickup If You're In A Bind: Allen Lazard

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

Schefter reported early Sunday morning that Mahomes is expected to be out for Sunday's game against the Vikings.

Fantasy Ranking If Mahomes Is Active:

• Koerner: QB3
• Freedman: QB5
• Raybon: QB3

Biggest Beneficiary + Ranking With Mahomes Inactive: Matt Moore (Freedman QB22, Raybon QB17, Koerner QB18)

Potential Waiver Wire Pickup If You're In A Bind: Matt Moore

James White, RB, New England Patriots

White was a surprise addition to the Patriots' injury report on Friday with a toe injury. However, Rapoport reported that the injury is considered minor, so he should be on track to play.

Fantasy Ranking If White Is Active:

• Koerner: RB25
• Freedman: RB25
• Raybon: RB30

Biggest Beneficiary + Ranking With White Inactive: Rex Burkhead (Koerner RB36, Freedman RB32, Raybon RB30)

Potential Waiver Wire Pickup If You're In A Bind: Rex Burkhead

Cameron Brate, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brate popped up on the injury report on Wednesday after missing practice with a rib injury, but then he proceeded to get in a limited practice on Thursday and a full practice on Friday.

The Bucs still decided to list him as questionable, but the full practice suggests he's trending towards playing.

Fantasy Ranking If Brate Is Active:

• Koerner: TE14
• Freedman: TE12
• Raybon: TE14

Biggest Beneficiary + Ranking With Brate Inactive: Tanner Hudson (Koerner TE25, Freedman TE20, Raybon TE18)

Potential Waiver Wire Pickup If You're In A Bind: Tanner Hudson

DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Jackson got in limited practices all week, and Schefter reported late Saturday night that Jackson is expected to play against the Bears on Sunday.

Fantasy Ranking If Jackson Is Active:

• Koerner: WR54
• Freedman: WR41
• Raybon: WR52

Biggest Beneficiary + Ranking With Jackson Inactive: Nelson Agholor (Koerner WR53, Freedman WR55)

Potential Waiver Wire Pickup If You're In A Bind: Nelson Agholor

Quick Hits

• James Conner (shoulder, doubtful) isn't expected to play.
• Rex Burkhead (foot) and Julian Edelman (chest) are both expected to play.
• The Lions placed RB Tra Carson (hamstring) on injured reserve on Saturday.
• Dede Westbrook (neck/shoulder) was ruled out for the London game.
• Curtis Samuel (shoulder) was held out of practice on Friday for precautionary reasons but is fully expected to play.