It’s always a chore to track the injuries in the NFL. It’s even more difficult to figure out which ones are significant for fantasy football. We’ve got your back, though.
Fantasy football injury list for Week 4
Need some help tracking injuries for your fantasy team? Here’s a one-stop shop for the injuries to quarterbacks, receivers, running backs and tight ends.
Michael Adamucci
The following is a list of all the injuries relevant to most fantasy football leagues. The injuries from Week 3 are in bold and italics and they are arranged in order of significance. In other words, a key player out eight to 10 weeks will be at the top while day-to-day injuries or ailments to marginal players will be near the bottom.
Quarterbacks
Robert Griffin III, Washington (targeting Week 11 return) - Kirk Cousins lit it up in Week 3, passing for 427 yards, three touchdowns and one interception against the Philadelphia Eagles. He's looking like a low-end QB1 and should have success against the Giants on Thursday. However, Washington faces Seattle and Arizona in the following two weeks.
Matt Cassel, Minnesota Vikings (out indefinitely with a broken foot) - It's Teddy Time. Teddy Bridgewater will get his chance and is worth a look in two-quarterback leagues.
Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (questionable for Week 4 with a shoulder injury) - Believe it not, Drew Stanton won a road game against the New York Giants in Week 2 and just beat the San Francisco 49ers at home in Week 3. He's still not going to be a fantasy option in most cases, though.
Josh McCown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (could miss several weeks with sprained thumb) - Mike Glennon is nothing special and can be left on the wire in most cases. As an aside, the Bucs reportedly worked out Terrelle Pryor.
Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans (questionable in Week 4 with a sprained right wrist) - He should be fine and there's no corresponding fantasy move in almost any league. It's worth mentioning he's been horrible the past two weeks after a solid start.
Shaun Hill, St. Louis Rams (questionable for Week 4 with thigh injury) - He was active and it would appear he's lost his job.
Running back
Danny Woodhead (out for season with broken fibula) and Ryan Mathews (targeting Week 6 return with a knee injury), San Diego Chargers - Donald Brown is going to be busy, but he turned in a putrid performance against the Bills. He is still going to be an RB2 until Mathews gets back. Branden Oliver is worth a look in 12-team PPR leagues as well.
Knowshon Moreno, Miami Dolphins (hoping to return in Week 6 from a dislocated elbow) - The Dolphins suddenly know how to run the ball. Lamar Miller racked up 132 total yards against the Chiefs in Week 3. He'll be a very strong RB2 against the Raiders in Week 4.
Arian Foster, Houston Texans (questionable for Week 4 after missing Week 3 with a hamstring injury) - It's possible he misses Week 4 because the Texans don't want to play him at less than 100 percent. Alfred Blue picked up almost all of the carries in Week 3 and should be owned in all leagues.
Jonathan Stewart (status in doubt with knee sprain), DeAngelo Williams (missed Weeks 2 and 3 and should play Week 4) and Mike Tolbert (out indefinitely with hairline fracture of leg), Carolina Panthers - The Panthers are decimated by injuries and they are going to need DeAngelo Williams to come back healthy from soreness in his hamstring. If he is able to stay on the field, he can be viewed as an RB2. They'll also look to undrafted free agent Darrin Reaves, who becomes a deep-league stash.
Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (questionable for Week 4 with high ankle sprain) - It sounds like Charles will be back after he was very close to playing in Week 3. Knile Davis should remain owned in all leagues.
Ben Tate, Cleveland Browns (targeting a possible return in Week 5) - Terrance West is being outplayed by Isaiah Crowell. Both guys should be owned in 12-team leagues. They both could have nice games against the Titans in Week 5.
Bernard Pierce, Baltimore Ravens (missed Week 3 with a thigh injury, but should play in Week 4) - Lorenzo Taliaferro racked up 91 rushing yards and one score. There's a very good chance he takes Pierce's job. He's one of the best pickups you can make off the waiver wire.
Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (expected to return in Week 4 after missing Weeks 2 and 3) - He sounds like he's going to play, but we said that last week. Bobby Rainey has to be owned until proven otherwise.
Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints (expected to miss three more weeks with broken hand) - Khiry Robinson was a major letdown with only 69 rushing yards on 18 carries. He should get another chance in Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys. Robinson is a solid RB2 this week.
Maurice Jones-Drew, Oakland Raiders (could return in Week 4 from two-week hiatus due to a hand procedure) - Darren McFadden only had 59 rushing yards and 6 receiving yards in Week 3. The Raiders seem like a lost cause on offense.
Alfred Morris, Washington (returned from a knee injury in Week 3 against the Eagles) - He's fine, but just keep an eye on it. Morris will probably be slightly limited in practice.
Wide receiver
Rod Streater, Oakland Raiders (out indefinitely with fractured foot) - James Jones is locked into the WR1 role while Andre Holmes and Denarius Moore are on the watch list for 12-team leagues.
Roddy White (expected to return in Week 4) and Harry Douglas (questionable for Week 4), Atlanta Falcons - Julio Jones is not bad.
Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (expects to play through small fracture in wrist) - He should play, but we'll be tracking this one. If he's hurt, expect rookie Mike Evans to get more targets.
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts (expected to be ready for Week 4) - He sounds like he avoided an injury.
Marqise Lee (missed Week 3 and is questionable for Week 4) and Cecil Shorts (made season debut in Week 3), Jacksonville Jaguars - Allen Robinson is a semi-hot pickup and has played well in two consecutive games.
Eric Decker, New York Jets (played in Week 3 after Week 2 hamstring strain) - Nothing to see here.
Tavon Austin, St. Louis Rams (missed Week 3 with a knee injury and is expected to miss Week 4) - Apparently, it’s not easy for small receivers to succeed in the NFL.
Jerricho Cotchery, Carolina Panthers (missed Week 3 with a thigh issue) - There is little impact here.
Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants (week-to-week with hamstring injury) - The team is not expecting him to be a big factor. On the bright side, Eli Manning is starting to get it going.
Tight end
Dennis Pitta, Baltimore Ravens (out for season with hip injury) - This one hurts. For the second time in his career, Pitta has suffered a serious hip injury. It’ll be Owen Daniels taking over and he’s worth a look as a TE2.
Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings (out six weeks with groin injury) - The Vikes are running out of options on offense and rookie Teddy Bridgewater is going to miss Rudolph badly. There is no tight end worth picking up to replace him in fantasy.
Jordan Reed, Washington (unlikely to play in Week 4 due to a hamstring strain) - Niles Paul should be viewed as a TE1 until further notice.
Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers (likely will be questionable for Week 4 with ankle sprain) - The 49ers missed him badly and no tight end really stepped up.
Rob Housler, Arizona Cardinals (should be back in Week 4 after missing Week 3 with hip issue) - The Cardinals have three awesome receivers. John Brown is legit.
Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals (not expected to return until Week 10 with elbow injury) - Jermaine Gresham has been a disappointment.
Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars (not expected to return until Week 12) - The Jaguars' tight ends had a combined one target on Sunday. Congrats if you started Marcel Jensen in your 60-man fantasy league.
