The injuries keep on coming during this fantasy football season. Luckily, we haven’t had many season-ending injuries, but there have been plenty of smaller ones that are forcing players out of action.
More players were bitten by the injury bug in Week 5. Time to get ahead of things and start making plans for Week 6 just in case you lost some of the players who went out Sunday due to an injury.
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 5.
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Rashee Rice - WR, Kansas City Chiefs
This update was added from our news desk on Monday afternoon.
There remains hopes that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) could return this season and be sidelined six to eight weeks, according to league sources, but nothing will be determined until early this week once he has a procedure on his injured knee. Once the Chiefs have more clarity on Rice, they can move into action in terms of looking for a trade to help improve their receiving depth in the meantime. A trade makes even more sense with Marquise Brown (shoulder) lost for the year.
KC explored signing DeAndre Hopkins in the 2023 offseason before he signed with the Tennessee Titans. Now that he's in the last year of his contract, the Titans could entertain offers for him. The Chiefs aren't expected to trade for Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams for a number of reasons, but they could reach out to the Jets if they land him to see if they'd be interested in moving one of their other wideouts.
Rhamondre Stevenson - RB, New England Patriots
Stevenson was informed earlier in the week that he would be benched as the team’s starting running back in favor of Antonio Gibson. Maybe the benching motivated Stevenson because he went on to run for 89 yards and scored a touchdown on the ground in a loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Rhamondre Stevenson goes 33 yards for the TD!
📺: #MIAvsNE on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/6KyiDrKa3I— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
Unfortunately, Stevenson would pick up a leg injury late in the game.
#Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson was down on the field and grabbing his leg after this play.pic.twitter.com/ZA2CtG0TdD
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 6, 2024
The fourth-year running back said after the game that he’s okay, but gamers will want to keep an eye on his practice reports throughout the week. If Stevenson misses time, then Gibson would be a volume-based RB2 for Week 6.
Zack Moss - RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Moss injured his ankle late in the fourth quarter of yesterday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Zack Moss - high ankle mechanism
Angle is inverted. Right ankle gets landed on. Would be surprised if he comes back and is effective.
Closest comp is Joe Mixon
#BALvsCIN #RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/uyGsDmSN2f
— Edwin Porras, DPT (@FBInjuryDoc) October 6, 2024
Moss attempted to play through the injury but ultimately couldn't go. It looks like he sustained some type of ankle injury. We could be looking at an extended absence here. Gamers should monitor the RotoBaller newsfeed for any further updates on his status. Chase Brown would be the main beneficiary as he would be the Bengals’ clear RB1 should Moss miss time.
Aaron Jones - RB, Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota’s RB1 was off to a good start in Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. He had accumulated 53 scrimmage yards on eight touches before being forced to leave the game due to a hip injury.
Vikings RB Aaron Jones has a hip injury and is questionable to return.
He suffered a hip injury in week two, could be related to this. Was seen limping on the sideline. pic.twitter.com/pjlgzFxk0S
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) October 6, 2024
Luckily, the Vikings do not believe the injury is serious and do not expect Jones to miss any games. Minnesota has their bye in Week 6, and this gives Jones an extra week of rest to recover.
Hopefully, that ensures he’ll be back on the field for Week 7, but we won’t know for sure until next week. Ty Chandler would be Minnesota’s RB1 should Jones miss any action. If you’ve got a bench spot to play with, Chandler is worth stashing if he’s still on waivers in your league.
Josh Allen - QB, Buffalo Bills
Allen took a hard hit late in Buffalo’s loss to the Houston Texans.
Here’s a look at that Josh Allen injury. pic.twitter.com/PxtmoQbxZ3
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) October 6, 2024
Buffalo’s QB1 left the field to be evaluated for a concussion, but he was able to quickly re-enter the game. He didn't show any ill effects after returning, and it looks as though Allen avoided a head injury.
Gamers should still monitor his status. He may have passed the initial concussion tests, but we should be prepared in case he experiences any delayed symptoms. Monitor Buffalo’s practice reports and have a potential streamer in mind just on the off chance more comes of this during the week.
De’Von Achane - RB, Miami Dolphins
Achane left yesterday’s win over the New England Patriots to be evaluated for a concussion.
De’Von Achane heads to the injury tent after taking a hard hit pic.twitter.com/PBH9cMqIZb
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 6, 2024
He was ultimately diagnosed with a concussion and did not return to the game. Fortunately, the Miami Dolphins have a bye in Week 6. That means Achane will have nearly two weeks to pass the concussion protocol and play in Week 7. He should be able to do that, but we’ll know more next week.
In the interim, Raheem Mostert will be Miami’s RB1 should Achane miss time. He would be an RB3/flex play as Miami’s offense has really struggled in the absence of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Rookie Jaylen Wright could also have a role and would be worth an addition off waivers.
Nico Collins - WR, Houston Texans
Collins looked like he was on his way to another huge game yesterday against the Buffalo Bills.
UNREAL 🤯
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/JPc7jmOmWk
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 6, 2024
However, he tweaked his hamstring on that touchdown play and did not return to the game. Houston has said they are optimistic that Collins’ injury is not serious and thinks he has a chance to play in Week 6.
We won’t know his status until later in the week so we will have to closely watch Houston’s practice reports. Stefon Diggs would be in the WR1 conversation if Collins is sidelined in Week 6. Tank Dell would also see a boost in usage as would tight end Dalton Schultz who could be a viable tight end streaming candidate in the event Collins misses time.
Jordan Whittington - WR, Los Angeles Rams
Whittington was the Rams’ leading receiver in a Week 5 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Sadly, he was forced to leave the game with a shoulder injury.
#Ramshouse WR Jordan Whittington had a shoulder injury, left locker room in a sling - more details tomorrow.
— Nick Hamilton (@NickHamilton213) October 7, 2024
The exact details and severity of the injury are unknown at this time. The Rams have their bye in Week 6. The expectation is that star receiver Cooper Kupp will return following in Week 7 following their bye week. His return would be a huge boost to the passing game.
Whittington was a popular streaming candidate this week with Kupp and fellow receiver Puka Nacua sidelined. The rookie receiver could still hold fantasy value in Kupp’s return, but he would carry little value when both Kupp and Nacua are healthy.
We’ll know more about Whittington’s injury later this week/next week. If you can afford to, you should try to hold on to Whittington through the bye week. The Rams clearly like him, and he could have a nice role even with Kupp healthy.
However, if you’re in a pinch and desperate for a win, do what you need to do as Whittington is a very short-term play until the Rams are fully healthy.
Aaron Rodgers - QB, New York Jets
Rodgers came into yesterday’s game with the Minnesota Vikings nursing a knee injury and was forced to leave the game after taking a nasty hit.
Aaron Rodgers #jets
Grabbing at his left knee after this hit but walked off on his own and is back into the game.
Appears to be mild shearing at the knee and inward torque so possible mild MCL sprain but he’s playing so can’t be too severe.
Will probably hurt tomorrow pic.twitter.com/jrukF9avZ2
— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) October 6, 2024
The 20-year vet ultimately toughed it out, returned to the game, and nearly pulled off an improbable comeback victory. He said afterward that his foot got caught in the tackle, and he sustained a low-ankle sprain.
We would expect Rodgers to miss some practice time this week. The fact he returned to the game is a good sign, but we’ll need to monitor this situation. New York gets an extra day of rest this week as they play the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football in Week 6. Maybe that extra rest will help him suit up for a key division game.
Rodgers was beaten up a lot yesterday. New York would be wise to find better ways to protect their 40-year-old quarterback. Any Rodgers absence would greatly hurt the offense as well as the fantasy value of all of New York’s skill players.
Justin Fields - QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Fields took a huge hit in last night's game against the Dallas Cowboys and was forced to leave the game to be evaluated for a concussion.
Justin Fields just got DESTROYED. Roughing the passer was called and fields is being looked at. pic.twitter.com/zmKhzW3JTg
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) October 7, 2024
Fortunately, Fields passed concussion protocol and only missed a few plays. It looks like he is fine moving forward, but just keep an eye on this throughout the week just in case he experiences delayed symptoms.
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