The NFL season is finally here and with it comes injuries that will shake up how you structure your  first starting lineup of the 2023 season. 

   Week 1 is already testing out your skills as a fantasy manager with some crucial – and surprising – injuries. The tight end position in particular has more question marks than usual entering Week 1, and that’s not even including the Injury to Travis Kelce that kept him out of his Thursday night matchup.

   Week 1 also seems to be the week of the Hamstring, as the majority of the injuries listed involve that finicky muscle in some way. Over 50% of players who are listed on the injury report after Wednesday practices with a hamstring injury don’t ultimately play in their Sunday matchup – something to keep an eye on as the season progresses in the fantasy community.

   Let’s take a run through the latest injury designations and give the occasional replacement pick up where we can.

Joe Burrow (QB) – Cincinnati Bengals – Active (Calf)

   Burrow was back to full practice this week and has been deemed the starter for week 1 of the season. With a 5 year $275 million contract under his belt, he looks to lead a potent Bengals offense to a big Week 1 win over their division rival, the Cleveland Browns. He might not get the scramble yards we’ve grown accustomed to over his career so don’t expect a top 3 performance this week, but having him make it out of the game without more injury concerns will be huge.

Christian Watson (WR) – Green Bay Packers – OUT (Hamstring)

Romeo Doubs (WR) – Green Bay Packers – Questionable (Hamstring)

   Seemingly out of nowhere, Watson popped up on the injury report after Wednesday’s practice and was quickly ruled out for Week 1. Doubs has logged back to back practice days as he tries to rehab his own hamstring injury that occurred on August 26th, but reports indicate that if he does suit up he’ll be on a snap count. Without the Packers top 2 receivers, quarterback Jordan Love is in for a tough game in his first season as the team’s official starter. He targeted rookie wide receiver Jayden Reed and tight end Luke Musgrave often in preseason, and the Chicago secondary isn’t one that particularly inspires fear, so they may be sneaky good flex plays if Doubs is also ruled out.

Cooper Kupp (WR) – Las Angeles Rams – IR (Hamstring)

   To the surprise of no one, Cooper Kupp has been placed on the injured reserve and will miss at least the next 4 weeks. This is probably the best news for his overall production – there’s no point in forcing him onto the field for a team with no real playoff aspirations until he’s at full health. Tyler Higbee is the team’s only receiving option who’s had over 90 catches in a season, so he’ll be the most targeted pick up, and has become a must start given the state of the tight end position. Van Jefferson takes over as the WR1 and if he manages to stay healthy could actually have a strong season. 

Terry McLaurin (WR) – Washington Commanders – Turf Toe

   McLaurin has no injury designation coming into this Sunday’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, but if you have the option to leave him on your bench that may be the right call. Players play through turf toe all the time, but it definitely impacts their ability to burst off the line of scrimmage and messes with their lateral movement. He may be a full go this week, but the Commanders are playing one of the worst rosters in the league and they have no one in their defensive backfield who can cover Jahan Dotson. McLaurin might suit up but just be used as a decoy this week.

D.J. Chark (WR) – Carolina Panthers – OUT (Hamstring)

Adam Thielen (WR) – Carolina Panthers – Active (Ankle)

   Chark was once looked as someone who could take over as the leading receiver in Carolina, but has been hampered by a hamstring injury leaving rookie quarterback Bryce Young with a shaky receiving corps to start his career. Adam Thielein is also dealing with an ankle injury, but Frank Reich said on Saturday that the veteran will in fact suit up on Sunday. Theilen’s best days are behind him but he is still a reliable receiver for Young to target. He might fall into the end zone a few times this season, but having him as an impactful fantasy asset isn’t going to win many leagues. Keep an eye on rookie Jonathan Mingo – he looked like he would be buried on the depth chart, but all of a sudden is in line to make an impact in week 1.

Jerry Jeudy (WR) – Denver Broncos – Hamstring (Questionable)

   Since leaving the field on August 24th with a right hamstring injury, Jeudy has strung together 3 consecutive practices this week in anticipation of a Week 1 matchup against the Raiders. Initial reports this morning have Jeudy on the wrong side of questionable meaning he’s likely to sit. But even if he was in line to start, he’d likely still be a bench candidate despite the easy matchup. Look for Courtland Sutton to soak up some extra touches while Jeudy gets back to full health.

Marquise Brown (WR) – Arizona Cardinals – Questionable (Hamstring)

   Brown is a game-time decision for Joshua Dobbs and the Arizona Cardinals, but if you were planning on starting him to begin with, your team needs help at wide receiver. Michael Wilson will probably command the most targets with Brown out, but this offense should be avoided entirely. Brown will regain fantasy value when the team ships him to a contender later in the season. 

Breece Hall (RB) – New York Jets – Questionable (Knee)

Mekhi Becton (T) – New York Jets – Questionable (Knee, Illness)

Duane Brown (T) – New York Jets – Questionable (Shoulder)

   Breece Hall will be an explosive weapon for the Jets this season, but week 1 might be a dud regardless if he plays or not. He’s coming back from a major injury and the team has a solid veteran in Dalvin Cook to take the lion’s share of the snaps while Hall eases himself back into game shape. The Lions were a great example of what to expect from the running back duo this week – Cook will play the role of Montgomery, plodding along but getting the majority of the touches and falling into the endzone, while Hall will be like Gibbs – uber efficient, but underutilized. Add in the injury concerns along an already thin offensive line, and this might be the week you take a flier on someone to fill in for Hall.

Rhamondre Stevenson (RB) – New England Patriots – Questionable (Illness)

   Rhamondre missed practice on Friday with an undisclosed illness, and as is par for the course with the Patriots, no reports have cleared up his status for week 1. Ezekiel Elliott would step up and take over the majority of touches, but against a tough Eagles defensive front the aging back might not be worth a play this week either. If Stevenson is a full go he’s a must start as his pass catching will give the Pats more space to run their offense. But the game isn’t until the late afternoon so you may have to make a decision earlier than you’d like.

Kendre Miller (RB) – New Orleans Saints – Questionable (Hamstring)

   I had really hoped that Miller would be able to take over the backfield duties in New Orleans while Kamara served his suspension, but after another week of missing practice, it would be a long shot for Miller to suit up on Sunday. He’s already dealt with multiple injuries in camp and will need to take the time to come back at full strength. His absence leaves Jamaal Williams as the clear lead back in a matchup against a notoriously poor run defense in Tennessee. 

Zach Moss (RB) – Indianapolis Colts – Doubtful (Arm)

   Moss was never expected to be back for week 1 after breaking his arm in the preseason, but with Jonathan Taylor on the PUP he looks primed to immediately step into the RB1 role when he’s ready to go. Being downgraded to doubtful shouldn’t be viewed as a setback – Moss is still looking to return right around his original target date.

Darren Waller (TE) – New York Giants – Questionable (Hamstring)

   A late Friday addition to the injury report with a hamstring is never great news for a player’s availability. Waller looks like he can be a top 3 TE in fantasy this season if he stays healthy, but this late addition to the injury report isn’t promising for week 1. The Giants are also playing in the Sunday nighter, so we likely won’t get confirmation for Waller until all the afternoon games are finished. There’s a lot of risk in the wait and see approach, but Daniel Bellinger had some flashes last season and could be a decent play in a pinch. Ian Rapoport is reporting that Waller intends to play, but he’s a risky proposition for Week 1.

#Giants TE Darren Waller, who popped up on the injury report late this week with a hamstring, is expected to play today, per me and @MikeGarafolo.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 10, 2023

George Kittle (TE) – San Francisco 49ers – Questionable (Groin)

   As expected Kittle enters the week with an injury designation beside his name. Get used to that. I’d expect Kittle to suit up this week but be used in a limited role. The 49ers don’t have a viable fantasy option at tight end behind Kittle, but expect more looks to go to their other skill players. Deebo Samuel thrives running the underneath routes, and without Kittle there to clog up that space, he’s in line for a massive game.

Mark Andrews (TE) – Baltimore Ravens – Questionable (Quad)

   Andrews has returned to practice, but is still listed as questionable for this weekend’s slate of games. If he doesn’t go, the Ravens are the rare team who has a tight end handcuff in Isaiah Likely to step in and take over so he’s already a must grab if you have the roster space. Andrews looks like he’s leaning towards sitting, meaning you should take a gander at the waiver wire to see if Likely is still available in your leagues at this point.

Devon Achane (RB) – Miami Dolphins – Out (Shoulder)

The rookie running back will have to wait until Week 2 to get his first taste of NFL action. With Jeff Wilson already sidelined, Raheem Mostert will be the unquestioned bell-cow back for the Dolphins in Week 1 vs. the Los Angeles Chargers.

-Devon Gallant

Twitter: @DevGallant

Photo: All-Pro Reels. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

The post Week 1 NFL Injury Report appeared first on Dynes Pressbox.