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It's peak fantasy football draft season, and plenty of fantasy-relevant running backs are dealing with bumps and bruises as late-August arrives. Some of these players don't have an immediate path to fantasy upside, but all are at least notable assets in deep leagues. Our fantasy football injury reports for running backs as of Monday, August 21 will give you the latest scoop on the statuses of De'Von Achane, Javonte Williams, Elijah Mitchell, Chuba Hubbard, and more.
Being up-to-date on NFL injury news can give you an edge over your league mates in fantasy football. Even though the season is still a few weeks away, keeping up with key running back injuries as we move closer to fantasy draft season is important.
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De'Von Achane Injury Update
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (shoulder) exited Saturday's meeting with the Houston Texans on a cart. The rookie underwent an MRI on Sunday to determine the severity of the injury to his shoulder, and the results of the scan should come out soon.
Achane, a third-round pick in the 2023 Draft, is fighting for a higher spot on the depth chart heading into the regular season. Before his departure, he amassed 27 yards off six carries.
Javonte Williams Injury Update
Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams (knee) made his return to the NFL gridiron on Saturday in preseason action against the San Francisco 49ers for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 of last year. Williams made the start and finished with three carries for 12 yards on the ground.
He dropped a screen pass on his first snap but finished with four catches on five targets for 18 yards through the air on his two drives. The 23-year-old has had an impressive recovery from a torn ACL and will be good to go for the Week 1 regular season opener against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Backup Samaje Perine will be leaned on a bit more early on as the Broncos look to ease Williams back to a full workload, but Williams' fantasy appeal as an RB2/3 continues to rise this summer.
Elijah Mitchell Injury Update
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (groin) is expected to practice at some point this week, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Mitchell has been sidelined since August 3 due to an adductor strain.
The 25-year-old was limited to five games last season due to injuries. Mitchell has plenty of potential, but injuries continue to hinder him early in his career. The expectation is that Mitchell is going to play a significant role behind Christian McCaffrey this upcoming season. He'll be in the flex conversation heading into the regular season.
Israel Abanikanda Injury Update
New York Jets running back Israel Abanikanda (thigh) turned four carries into 30 yards and one reception into one yard before sustaining a leg injury in the team's preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Abanikanda went down in the fourth quarter and was subsequently carted to the locker room.
The severity of the injury is currently unknown, but the rookie appeared to be unable to put weight on his right leg. The 20-year-old had looked impressive to this point in the preseason, but his status is very much in question for next week's showdown with the New York Giants.
Chuba Hubbard Injury Update
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (ankle) suffered an ankle injury in the preseason loss to the New York Giants on Friday night, according to head coach Frank Reich. Before leaving the game, Hubbard had eight carries for 30 yards. Starter Miles Sanders (groin) sat out again with an injury, so Carolina's top two backs are now hurt, which will give more opportunities to Raheem Blackshear, Spencer Brown and Camerun Peoples moving forward.
We'll have to see how quickly Hubbard is able to get back on the practice field at training camp, but he could be forced to miss the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions on Aug. 25. When healthy, Hubbard is mostly just a late handcuff selection in fantasy drafts for Sanders.
Cordarrelle Patterson Injury Update
Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson will be out for a couple of weeks, according to head coach Arthur Smith. There weren't many more details given outside of the fact it's a soft-tissue injury. Patterson will miss the rest of the preseason before being re-evaluated ahead of Week 1 of the regular season.
There's a chance that Patterson isn't ready for the beginning of the season. That means Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier could have increased roles in the passing game without Patterson available.
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