Washington tight end Niles Paul has a diagnosed concussion for the first time in his football career, according to Liz Clarke of the Washington Post. Paul sustained the concussion against the New York Giants in Week 4 and it's unclear when he's going to be back, but the first concussion is a big deal. That said, multiple concussions are what really keep a player out for a significant amount of time, so Paul should be making his way through the league's concussion protocol.
Niles Paul, Jordan Reed both hope to play Monday; fantasy value unclear
Both Niles Paul and Jordan Reed could be strong fantasy plays this week, though injuries remain a significant factor. We break down the fantasy implications.
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Paul has played very well as the backup to Jordan Reed, who has been out with a hamstring injury the past three games. Paul leads the team with 21 receptions for 313 yards and a touchdown. Reed came into this season with a lot of hype and talk of breaking out, and he can still do that whenever he returns. He's been practicing this week for the first time in a long time.
Fantasy Impact: Paul says he wants to play on Monday when Washington takes on the Seattle Seahawks. We won't know for a couple more days if that's likely to happen, but it's worth noting that Reed seems close to returning. If Reed comes back, then Paul becomes the backup and his fantasy value is essentially spent for the time being. For now, fantasy owners should watch the practice reports.
