Fantasy Football Injuries to Watch for Week 8 Lineups - Jayden Daniels, Tua Tagovailoa, Cooper Kupp, JuJu Smith-Schuster, more

Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season is now behind us, and this was the week of the blowout. Many teams won by outscoring their opponents by more than double digits, which obviously means there were a plethora of fantasy surprises and disappointments.

Unfortunately, as is the case in every week of NFL action, there were some injuries. Seeing which players are dealing with injuries and which ones aren't quite at 100% yet will go a long way if you're looking to win your fantasy leagues.

Without further ado, let's look at some injuries to watch and consider heading into Week 8. Don't forget to bookmark our fantasy football player news page, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy football mobile app with push notification alerts to stay notified.

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Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders

Jayden Daniels is having an incredible rookie season. He entered his Week 7 matchup against the Panthers with 136.4 fantasy points, the third-most among all quarterbacks. He hoped to have a huge game against the weak Panthers but sadly got hurt early.

Breaking: Commanders HC Dan Quinn said QB Jayden Daniels will be considered “week-to-week” with his rib injury. pic.twitter.com/Fmjiwtl0Mg

— ESPN (@espn) October 21, 2024

He suffered a rib injury in the first quarter and didn't return. After the game, Daniels' mother took to Twitter to reassure fans that her son was fine. Daniels underwent several tests, and there were no initial signs of a rib fracture.

However, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said on Monday that Daniels was "week-to-week". Marcus Mariota played well against the Panthers, but it's harder to trust him against a top-5 defense like the Bears.

Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, San Francisco 49ers

Week 7's most anticipated matchup was a Super Bowl LVIII rematch between the Chiefs and the 49ers. The game wasn't as thrilling as their classic in February, and part of that was due to the injuries to three different star wide receivers.

Sources: #49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending knee injury on Sunday, tests confirmed. pic.twitter.com/QTedEGNPL7

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 21, 2024

The first two injured wideouts were superstar 49ers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Samuel was reportedly dealing with an illness before the game but decided to play anyway. He looked pretty out of shape and struggled to breathe before being shut down by Kyle Shanahan after just four snaps.

Meanwhile, Aiyuk tore his ACL, ending his 2024 season. A healthy Samuel will be the team's WR1, while Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings will likely get more opportunities.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

The other major WR injury was to the Chiefs' JuJu Smith-Schuster. Smith-Schuster was coming off a brilliant Week 5 performance against the Saints, recording 130 receiving yards in a game for the first time since 2018.

Unfortunately, he couldn't build upon that huge game and suffered a hamstring injury that will keep him out of action for at least a week. Xavier Worthy, Mecole Hardman, and Skyy Moore are the only healthy WRs left on the roster, and the Chiefs could explore a trade before the trade deadline.

Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, Cleveland Browns

One of the worst trades in NFL history got even worse in Week 7, as Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles tear against the Bengals. This is the second consecutive season-ending injury for the controversial QB.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson also suffered a finger injury in that game, but "feels good" according to Mary Kay Cabot. Former first-overall pick  Jameis Winston will use DTR's injury as a chance to establish himself as the starter.

DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

DK Metcalf scored a touchdown and caught four passes for 99 yards against the Falcons in Week 7. It was one of the best fantasy performances of the week, but it ended abruptly as Metcalf had to be carted back to the locker room in the fourth quarter.

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald says on @SeattleSports that DK Metcalf was "going to get some tests done'' today on his injured knee and the team might know more later today. Had no update now. But says that "coming out of yesterday it (the outlook) was positive.''

— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) October 21, 2024

Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald said Metcalf "banged his knee a little bit" immediately after the game, and Metcalf was scheduled for some tests. Later Monday it was confirmed that Metcalf suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain. Still, it seems like the team's outlook is positive and Metcalf will try his best to play in Week 8.

Tua Tagovailoa and Tyler Huntley, QB, Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins' QB crisis continued in Week 7, as Tyler Huntley suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder in the second quarter of their loss to the Colts. The severity of Huntley's injury is still unknown. Tim Boyle took his place and struggled, but luckily for Dolphins fans, Boyle won't be the starter for long.

Tua Tagovailoa was designated to return from Injured Reserve on Monday, which could see him make his long-awaited return to the field in Week 8 against the Cardinals. With a healthy Tagovailoa, Miami's star-studded offense can finally shine again.

Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Super Bowl LVI MVP Cooper Kupp was finally fully healthy at the start of the 2024 season and dominated in Week 1 after Puka Nacua's injury. Kupp was looking to have a massive year, but got hurt in Week 2 and hasn't returned since.

Cooper Kupp is expected to make his return on Thursday, according to Rams HC Sean McVay. pic.twitter.com/snXk7XJDlp

— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) October 20, 2024

But finally, after five weeks on the shelf, Kupp is set to return in Week 8 against the Vikings on Thursday, according to Rams HC Sean McVay. Kupp will be Matthew Stafford's main weapon moving forward, as Nacua's return date is still unclear.

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