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The 2024 NFL season kicks off tonight as the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs host Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately, injuries are already a factor before the opening slate of the fantasy football season. Our injury updates and reports for Week 1 as of Friday, September 4, 2024, will give you the latest updates on key guys.
As always, some players have more "real" risk of missing Week 1 than others, but things change quickly, so it's important to stay up to date. Puka Nacua, Jaylen Waddle, Keenan Allen, Kyle Pitts, Davante Adams, and more are banged up heading into Week 1. Fantasy managers should be ready to pivot should things go south.
To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NFL, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy football player news page, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy football mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. Let's look at the updates for some top fantasy assets at all positions and see whether they may play in Week 1.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Puka Nacua Injury Update
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) was listed as a full participant in the team's first official practice of the regular season on Wednesday and should be ready to roll for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday night against the Detroit Lions. Nacua returned to full practice last week after initially injuring the bursa sac in his knee way back on Aug. 4.
Here's the Rams' first injury report of the season:
RT Rob Havenstein, CB Darious Williams and CB Cobie Durant were all limited participants in practice.
WR Puka Nacua was a full partipant. pic.twitter.com/BeKqrOJ8ON
— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) September 4, 2024
It's something worth watching, but fantasy managers shouldn't have any reservations about starting the star second-year wideout in lineups this weekend.
The 23-year-old former fifth-rounder last year out of BYU took the league by storm right away, finishing with a 105-1,486-6 line in 17 regular-season games. Even with veteran wideout Cooper Kupp back to full health in 2024, Nacua showed last year that he has WR1 upside for fantasy managers on a weekly basis.
Jaylen Waddle Injury Update
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (undisclosed) was not listed on the first official injury report on Wednesday, signaling he practiced in full and is ready to roll for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday versus the Jacksonville Jaguars at Hard Rock Stadium.
🚨First Dolphins-Jaguars injury report is out 🚨 pic.twitter.com/lF4MOSaz4B
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) September 4, 2024
The Dolphins kept details sparse on Waddle's injury throughout training camp and the preseason, but the 25-year-old appears to be just fine and needs to be in all starting fantasy lineups as a strong WR2. In addition to Waddle being ready, WR1 Tyreek Hill (thumb) will also be good to go this weekend after dealing with a minor thumb injury toward the end of camp.
Waddle has excellent chemistry with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and there isn't any reason the former sixth-overall pick can't put up a fourth straight 1,000-yard campaign to begin his career in 2024 if he stays healthy.
Kyle Pitts Injury Update
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) said he expects to be 100 percent healthy for Week 1 of the regular season this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers despite being listed as limited in the team's first official practice of the regular season on Wednesday.
Pitts said he missed just a few plays during Wednesday's practice and will be on the field this weekend as the Falcons look to get off to a quick start with a new coaching staff and quarterback in Kirk Cousins.
Kyle Pitts expects to be 100 percent Sunday despite a hamstring injury that will limit him in practice today.
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) September 4, 2024
If Pitts isn't blowing smoke, he should return to full practice by Friday and be cleared from the final injury report altogether. Unless something changes with his status, fantasy managers are going to want to have the 23-year-old locked into their starting lineups as a top-10 TE in Week 1, with Cousins expected to raise his ceiling considerably.
Keenan Allen Injury Update
Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) was listed as a limited practice participant on the team's first official injury report of the 2024 regular season on Wednesday due to a heel injury. Allen missed practice late last week with the same issue.
While it's something to watch heading into the regular season this weekend in a Week 1 matchup for Chicago against the Tennessee Titans, the 32-year-old veteran should be able to make his Bears debut on Sunday at Soldier Field.
Bears Wednesday injury report...
Limited: WR Keenan Allen, OL Krian Amegadjie, OL Ryan Bates, RB Roschon Johnson, DT Zacch Pickens, DE Montez Sweat— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) September 4, 2024
If Allen cannot play or is limited, it would open up targets for both DJ Moore and first-round rookie Rome Odunze.
Allen's fantasy stock was down in the offseason after he ended his Chargers tenure on the bench due to injuries in 2023, and his fantasy ceiling is certainly lowered in Chicago, where targets will be harder to come by. But when healthy, Allen is still worthy of at least a WR3/flex play.
Davante Adams Injury Update
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (undisclosed) appears to be in line to suit up for the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers after he was not included on the first official injury report of the season.
Adams was a full participant in the first official practice of the 2024 campaign after dealing with a minor undisclosed injury toward the end of training camp in August.
As a top-15 wide receiver off the board in drafts, Adams should be a must-start in fantasy lineups against the Bolts this weekend in his first game working with new quarterback Gardner Minshew II.
The 31-year-old pass-catcher secured his fourth straight 1,000-yard season with an ineffective Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie Aidan O'Connell in 2023, although his eight touchdowns were his fewest in that category since 2019. Start him with confidence in Week 1 as Vegas' WR1. (Raiders.com)
Christian Kirk Injury Update
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (calf) avoided landing on the first official injury report of the 2024 regular season on Wednesday by putting in a full practice. It doesn't come as much of a surprise despite Kirk missing some time in training camp due to a mild calf injury.
The Jags lost Calvin Ridley in the offseason but added Gabe Davis and first-round rookie Brian Thomas Jr. to the receiving corps. The 27-year-old Kirk was quarterback Trevor Lawrence's No. 1 target last year before his season ended prematurely due to a core injury.
Wednesday Injury Report pic.twitter.com/d0axLMH4LP
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) September 4, 2024
Don't forget that Kirk had his first 1,000-yard season with a career-high eight scores in his first year in Duvall in 2022, so a bounce-back could easily be in the cards in 2024. He's at least a WR3/flex for fantasy managers in a Week 1 matchup against the Miami Dolphins that could turn into a track meet.
Jordan Addison Injury Update
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) is trending toward suiting up in Week 1, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. The second-year wideout has been dealing with an ankle issue since being carted off the practice field in mid-August. O'Connell says they "feel good" about Addison playing against the New York Giants.
Jordan Addison (ankle) is progressing well and Kevin O’Connell hopes he’ll be able to play in the season opener.
Jalen Nailor (ankle) is also progressing and we’ll get a better idea of his availability later this week.
— Dane Mizutani (@DaneMizutani) September 4, 2024
The 22-year-old is a clear second fiddle to All-Pro Justin Jefferson in the Minnesota passing offense. Despite a strong rookie season, Addison's value took a tumble when the Vikings switched from Kirk Cousins to Sam Darnold at quarterback. Addison will be a WR4/5 on Sunday if he is active. UPDATE: Addison was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday.
Mike Williams Injury Update
New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams (knee) is expected to be on a limited workload when the season begins, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Williams is recovering from a torn ACL. He signed with the Jets this offseason, offering a veteran presence in a receiver room that will look to thrive alongside quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The 29-year-old receiver peaked at WR12 in 2021 but hasn't otherwise finished inside the top 30. He'll likely fall outside the top 36 (FLEX range) this year, given his ongoing recovery and the expectation that he'll have less volume in New York than he previously did with the Chargers. (TheAthletic)
Brock Bowers Injury Update
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (foot) will play against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, according to head coach Antonio Pierce. The rookie first-round pick missed a significant chunk of preseason and training camp while working through his foot issue.
That may delay a potential breakout, as he was unable to play any preseason snaps with starting quarterback Gardner Minshew II. Bowers is one of the best tight end prospects to enter the NFL in the last decade.
#Raiders coach Antonio Pierce says rookie TE Brock Bowers will be at practice, "Ready to go." LB Tommy Eichenberg? "Ready to go."
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) September 4, 2024
However, due to the pessimistic outlook of the Las Vegas offense, Bowers is at the bottom of the TE1 rankings in Week 1 and for the 2024 season as a whole. Fantasy managers will need to practice patience with the back-to-back John Mackey Award winners. UPDATE: Bowers was listed as limited in the team's first official practice on Wednesday.
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