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Don’t look now, but we’ve just about reached the halfway mark of the regular season for most fantasy leagues. It’s certainly been a frustrating year from an injury standpoint. For some of you, your season might already be over due to injuries while others are still hanging on to some hope.
Unfortunately, we had another slew of injuries in Week 7 including what appears to be several season-ending blows. The hits just keep on coming. They’re always unfortunate, but injuries are part of the game. We’ll continue to do our best to update you on which players went down as well as potential replacement options for the rest of the season.
Make sure you follow RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your fantasy football needs. Let’s dive into all the major injuries from Week 7.
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David Montgomery - RB, Detroit Lions
Montgomery suffered a knee injury during yesterday’s victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
David Montgomery is helped off the field with a leg injury. pic.twitter.com/MAJNQqTO3R
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 20, 2024
The good news is that Montgomery did return to the game, and it looks like the veteran back avoided a major injury. We would expect Montgomery to be fine moving forward, but gamers should monitor his status throughout the week just to be safe.
Calvin Ridley - WR, Tennessee Titans
Ridley suffered what looked like an ankle injury early in yesterday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. Originally it looked as though he suffered some type of ankle sprain, but he did return to the game. It appears Ridley also avoided a major injury which is good news. He should be fine moving forward, but keep an eye on Tennessee’s injury report.
Tony Pollard - RB, Tennessee Titans
Pollard briefly left yesterday's game to be evaluated for a concussion. Luckily he quickly cleared the concussion and did not miss time. Pollard should be fine moving forward and is locked into a bell cow role as Tennessee's RB1. Gamers should keep an eye on his status moving forward just in case he has any delayed symptoms later in the week.
Jayden Daniels - QB, Washington Commanders
Washington’s rookie signal-caller was forced to leave the team’s Week 7 game after he suffered a rib injury.
Jayden Daniels heads to the locker room with an apparent injury. 😕
(🎥: @NFLonCBS)pic.twitter.com/HT2LsIyPCc
— theScore (@theScore) October 20, 2024
Daniels was quickly taken back to the locker room for X-rays. He was later seen returning to the sideline without pads but seemed to be in good spirits.
A smiling Jayden Daniels returns to the sideline pic.twitter.com/bYuuJc9oOT
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 20, 2024
Daniels didn’t return to the game, however, this may be because the Commanders were winning by multiple scores and didn’t want to risk further injury. The rookie quarterback has been an x-factor at the position for gamers. His loss would be felt, and it won’t be easy to replace his production.
Daniels is currently scheduled to undergo testing later today to determine the full extent of the injury. Let’s hope it’s nothing too serious as fantasy football is better when Daniels is healthy and making plays. We should know more about his injury later today and have a better gauge of his status for Week 8.
JuJu Smith-Schuster - WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Smith-Schuster popped up on the Chiefs injury report late in the week with a hamstring injury. Chiefs coach Andy Reid assured people the receiver was fine. He informed the media that Smith-Schuster’s absence was precautionary as his hamstring had “tightened up” but would be good to go for Sunday’s game.
Well, this injury must have been more serious than originally thought as Smith-Schuster left yesterday’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers after re-aggravating his hamstring injury.
#Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster will not return because of a hamstring injury.
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) October 20, 2024
The veteran receiver never returned to the field and was eventually ruled out for the game. Hamstring injuries are never good, and we should expect Smith-Schuster to miss a few games while he recovers. Rookie Xavier Worthy led the team with eight targets. Kansas City has been taking things slow with the rookie, but they may no longer have a choice and could be forced to give him more playing time.
Worthy should operate as the team’s WR1 moving forward. Mecole Hardman and Justin Watson could also see increased roles and might be worth adding in deeper leagues depending on the severity of Smith-Schuster’s injury.
Deebo Samuel Sr. - WR, San Francisco 49ers
Samuel came into Sunday’s game fighting some kind of illness.
The #49ers say WR Deebo Samuel has an illness but is expected to play in today’s game vs the #Chiefs.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 20, 2024
He tried to fight through it but only played three snaps and was ultimately forced to leave the game. This shouldn’t be a long-term concern and is just a matter of bad luck/timing. Still, it’s a frustrating one for managers who were counting on Samuel as he put up a goose egg. This certainly hurt many owners' chances of winning their Week 7 matchups.
We would expect Samuel to be fine for a Week 8 showdown with the Dallas Cowboys. He could be in line for a big game given what happened to San Francisco’s other top pass catcher on Sunday.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR San Francisco 49ers
Man, it was a tough day to be a 49ers wide receiver. Aiyuk suffered what is feared to be a serious knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brandon Aiyuk #49ers
Significant valgus (knee caving inward) here. This puts the ACL and MCL (amongst others) at risk. Hoping for the best pic.twitter.com/1HyyUboFs0
— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) October 20, 2024
We will hold out hope, but this didn’t look good in real-time. The mechanism of injury is concerning and Aiyuk had to be carted off the field. We will know more later today, but gamers should plan to be without him for the rest of the year.
Aiyuk’s injury would vault Deebo Samuel Sr. into WR1 status and also further insulate George Kittle as one of the top tight ends. Jauan Jennings could also have a larger role with Aiyuk out of the picture. Ricky Pearsall made his debut yesterday and could also factor in as well. Both are worth adding off waivers if they’re available in your league.
Demario Douglas - WR, New England Patriots
Douglas caught a few passes early in Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He looked like he was poised for a big day, but he was not seen on the field again until late in the game. As it turns out, Douglas was battling an illness and that was the reason behind his lack of playing time.
Status alert: Demario Douglas (illness) questionable to return Sunday.
— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) October 20, 2024
This was frustrating as Douglas was poised for a big game against Jacksonville's porous secondary. He will be fine moving forward, but gamers who started him will be left shaking their heads wondering what could have been if he hadn't fallen ill.
DK Metcalf - WR, Seattle Seahawks
Metcalf was having a nice day against the Falcons secondary on Sunday as he put up a 4-99-1 line on seven targets. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury and had to be carted to the locker room.
DK Metcalf was carted off the field with an injury. pic.twitter.com/kvVAfQZsTD
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 20, 2024
Metcalf was seen wincing on the sidelines when being examined by trainers. He tried to do some running but shook his head in disgust before heading to the locker room. The good news is that Seattle sounds optimistic that Metcalf avoided a major injury.
Mike Macdonald said DK Metcalf “banged his knee a little bit.” Said they’re optimistic, “it doesn’t look too bad.” pic.twitter.com/pMrUNUhGrG
— John Boyle (@johnpboyle) October 20, 2024
We will know about the severity of the injury once Metcalf undergoes further tests/imaging. It would probably be wise for gamers to expect him to miss a game or two. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett will see a bump in production if Metcalf is sidelined. Noah Fant could also be a viable streaming option at the tight end position.
Deshaun Watson - QB, Cleveland Browns
Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in yesterday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
#DeshaunWatson
By video, clear right Achilles tendon rupture
Telltale calf reverberation
Surgery and season over pic.twitter.com/wfmE7eFKsR— David J. Chao - ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) October 20, 2024
All indications are that Watson tore his Achilles tendon and any testing/imaging is a mere formality. His season is over. With his subpar play, Watson hasn’t been on the streaming radar in single quarterback leagues and has only been playable in superflex leagues.
Jameis Winston had been the backup before Week 7 but was a surprise inactive yesterday. However, Cleveland also believes that backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson suffered an injury to this throwing hand. The Browns think he may have avoided a serious injury, but he could still miss extended action.
If Thompson-Robinson also misses time, that would make Winston a priority add in superflex and two quarterback leagues. He has the ability to elevate the Cleveland pass catchers and could be a serviceable QB2. Winston will also have some streaming appeal in single-quarterback leagues but would be very matchup-dependent.
Aidan O'Connell - QB, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders believe O'Connell suffered a broken thumb on his throwing hand in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
#AidanOConnell @Raiders
Breaks thumb here (per @rapsheet)
IR and possible surgery pic.twitter.com/NpnUqj4ou0— David J. Chao - ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) October 20, 2024
His injury will cause him to miss multiple weeks and likely means Gardner Minshew II will be re-inserted as the team's starting quarterback. O'Connell wasn't on the fantasy radar outside of two quarterback and superflex leagues so this injury doesn't affect too many owners.
Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers will remain the Raiders' top pass catchers. Both players performed well with Minshew as the starter and should be fine moving forward.
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