Mike Evans, Alshon Jeffery headline NFL injury report for Week 2

Throughout the season, SB Nation Medical Expert Dr. Ali Mohamadi will provide his insights on the most notable injuries in the fantasy landscape and how they might affect your roster decisions on game day. Here are some key injuries and their impact for Week 2.

As was the case last week, Bills running back LeSean McCoy was listed as questionable with a left hamstring injury he has been dealing with since mid-August. McCoy did get the start last week against Indianapolis and will again in Week 2 against the Patriots, even after he was held out of practice on Thursday due to discomfort before returning on a limited basis on Friday.

It’s worth repeating that hamstring injuries are prone to aggravation, especially if not 100 percent healed when re-tested. Backup Karlos Williams, who stood out in Week 1, would likely see a heavy dose of carries if McCoy suffers a setback.

Receivers

Also dealing with a hamstring injury this week is Chicago wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who was a late addition to the injury report after dealing with tightness in practice on Thursday. Jeffery missed practice the remainder of the week and will not suit up for today’s matchup with Arizona. The loss of Jeffery would be a blow to Chicago’s passing attack, which has been hampered by Eddie Royal’s hip injury and the loss of rookie Kevin White to leg surgery.

Indianapolis receiver T.Y. Hilton has an extra day to recover from a bone bruise of his knee, as the Colts will take on the New York Jets on Monday night. The fact that he’s even listed as questionable for this week’s game is a positive sign for fantasy owners who were fearing a protracted absence. Following bone bruises, which are typically slow to heal, players must deal with residual swelling and pain, and with the particular location of this one being at a key joint, it can often take several weeks to recover. Hilton has not practiced this week, but head coach Chuck Pagano stated that his status will be a true game-time decision. If Hilton is unable to play, Donte Moncrief will see more action.

Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans was also be a late decision due to a hamstring strain he suffered in the preseason that kept him out of last week’s loss to Tennessee, but he will rejoin the team in Week 2. Evans has been practicing this week, but it is unclear to what degree he has tested the hamstring so if he’s not 100 percent, Evans’ counterpart, Vincent Jackson, would likely be the beneficiary of more targets from Jameis Winston when the Bucs take on New Orleans.

Running backs

The St. Louis Rams, fresh off a Week 1 win over division rival Seattle, will welcome the return of one the team’s two injured young running backs. Tre Mason and Todd Gurley were both listed as questionable for a game against Washington, but only Mason is ready to return. Mason missed last week’s victory due to a hamstring injury but returned to practice this week. He is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report, but he will see his first action of the season this week.

Gurley has also been practicing, but the team has wisely been careful not rushing him back from the ACL tear he suffered last November as a member of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Also possibly returning from a knee injury, although far less severe than Gurley’s, is Saints running back C.J. Spiller, who underwent arthroscopic surgery in August and missed the team’s opening week loss to Arizona. Spiller was officially listed as questionable on the injury report and practiced on a limited basis all week. With Spiller able to return, he creates a three-headed attack in the Saints’ backfield along with Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson.

New York Jets running back Chris Ivory has been limited in practice this week due to a groin injury, but from reports, it does not appear his status for Monday night’s game with Indianapolis is in jeopardy. As with hamstrings, however, groin strains are at high risk for re-injury, meaning that backup Bilal Powell will need to be ready if needed.

Tight ends

Two talents at the position were questionable for Sunday’s games: Tennessee’s Delanie Walker with a wrist injury, and Washington’s Jordan Reed, who has been dealing with a quadriceps strain this week.

Walker will not play in this week’s game at Cleveland after he left Week 1 in a cast. He returned to practice on Friday, but will not return on Sunday, although Washington will have Reed back in action.