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Dynasty $125 - FFL: Week 3 | NFL: Week 3

Injury Status: Championship Games

Thu Jan 25 9:02am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

The good news is the injury reports aren’t too long this week. Now there are a few key players hurting, though, which could impact the game. The Chiefs have some injuries along the offensive line and the 49ers could be without one of their best offensive players. So it isn’t all great when it comes to injuries. There are a few to watch.

Here is the latest. . . .

Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens. It is looking more and more like Andrews will make his return this week. He is practicing in full and seems closer to full strength than last week. He has yet to be activated from Injured Reserve but look for that to happen before the week is out. Andrews still might not play his usual role in the game but look for him to be out there and helping the team.

Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs. Pacheco has a toe injury and is out of practice to start the week. He is resting more than anything, though, and it seems the toe injury isn’t too serious. It would be a shock if Pacheco is not active for the big game this week. He should be ready to go.

Marlon Humphrey, CB, Ravens. Humphrey has not played since Week 17 because of a calf strain. He is back at practice this week, though, and trending towards being ready for the game. It would be a big boost to the secondary to have Humphrey back in the lineup for the Ravens.

Skyy Moore, WR, Chiefs. Moore seemed finally close to returning last week, returning to some practice. But he seemed to have a setback late last week with the knee injury. He missed Friday’s practice and has not practiced since. This is not a good sign for a return for Moore. He should miss another week of action.

Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers. Samuel has the big injury to watch this week. He was knocked from last week’s game because of a shoulder injury. He is out of practice to start this week. He is apparently not dealing with a significant injury but it is serious enough that it could sideline him this week. He is truly up in the air to play. It might come down to a game-time decision for Samuel.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Player Notes
Jalen Nailor Sep 20 3:50pm ET
Jalen Nailor

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor has been a pleasant surprise for the undefeated Vikings offense so far. The third-year wide receiver is one of only five wide receivers to have scored a touchdown in both games for their team to start the year, joining his teammate Justin Jefferson (quadriceps) in that stat category. Nailor will be starting alongside Jefferson again in Week 3 against the Houston Texans, with Jordan Addison (ankle) missing at least one more game. Given that the team will likely be in an unfavorable game script against Houston, expect the team to pass more later in the game, possibly allowing Nailor to make big plays in the receiving game and potentially reward fantasy managers with another score.

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C.J. Stroud Sep 20 3:50pm ET
C.J. Stroud

Minnesota Vikings D/ST is the biggest real-life reason the Vikings are 2-0, and they are maybe the biggest positional surprise in fantasy. The first two games saw the Vikings' defense rank in the top-four D/ST units for fantasy each game, the only team that can say that. However, their hands are full in Week 3 as they face a potent offense in the Houston Texans. The Texans offense, led by second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, has been among the stingiest for opposing defenses, as they have had only one turnover through the first two games. Given that the Vikings' strengths on defense is through sacks and turnovers, the Stroud-led offense may be challenging to get explosive defensive performances against. RotoBaller is aligned with this assessment and has Minnesota ranked 22nd among all DSTs for Week 3.

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Nico Collins Sep 20 3:50pm ET
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hip, foot) put in a full practice on Friday and was removed from the final injury report for Week 3. Collins' status was up in the air earlier this week after he did not participate in Wednesday's practice before being upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday. The 25-year-old is a must-start in all fantasy lineups heading into a Week 3 showdown against the 2-0 Minnesota Vikings. After two weeks of the 2024 season, Collins leads all NFL wideouts with 252 receiving yards on 14 catches (18 targets) while also finding the end zone once. Minnesota's defense has been in the middle of the pack so far in terms of defending the receiver position early this year. The Texans could rely on their passing game more this weekend with running back Joe Mixon (ankle) doubtful and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) ruled out for the second straight week.

From RotoBaller

Ty Chandler Sep 20 3:40pm ET
Ty Chandler

Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler showed some explosive playmaking ability in Week 2, as he turned 10 rushing attempts into 82 yards on the ground, with seven of those carries going for at least five yards. The third-year running back has had at least 10 touches each game for the Vikings so far this season and may be needed to maintain steady offensive production in Week 3 against a stout Houston Texans defense. His timeshare with Aaron Jones (hip) could pose some unpredictability for Chandler, though head coach Kevin O'Connell trusts his backup running back; the 26-year-old touches the ball on 55% of his offensive snaps, leading all Vikings rushers. If you're experiencing significant injuries on your team, you could do worse than Chandler as a flex this week.

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Aaron Jones Sep 20 3:40pm ET
Aaron Jones

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (hip) had a disappointing Week 2, ending the game as the overall RB32 in 0.5 PPR. That finish was a little misleading, however, as he had a goal-line fumble that was ultimately an eight-point swing if he had scored instead of coughing up the ball. Still, the former Green Bay Packer running back was out-carried by backup Ty Chandler, who had 50 more yards on the ground on only one more attempt. Jones was limited in practice this week with a hip issue but practiced in full on Thursday and doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. Jones still gets the bulk of the passing work and played a robust 61% of the snaps on offense, leaving him as a viable RB2 with low-end RB1 upside.

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Dameon Pierce Sep 20 3:40pm ET
Dameon Pierce

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is officially doubtful to play in Week 3 on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, while Dameon Pierce (hamstring) has been ruled out for the second straight week after not practicing at all. Mixon also missed practice all week after injuring his ankle in the Sunday night win over the Chicago Bears in Week 2. Fantasy managers can now shift the 28-year-old to their benches this weekend and hope he's able to return next week to face the Jacksonville Jaguars. For those hurting at the RB position in fantasy, Cam Akers is an immediate add and will now have flex appeal as Houston's lead back on Sunday against the 2-0 Vikings. Akers took first-team reps this week during practice and would likely be spelled by Dare Ogunbowale with the Texans' backfield beat up at the moment.

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Sam Darnold Sep 20 3:30pm ET
Sam Darnold

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold impressed in back-to-back weeks to open the NFL season. He will look to continue his success against the Houston Texans in Week 3. Despite the former first-round pick's reputation as an inconsistent turnover machine, he's led the Vikings to a surprising upset over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 en route to finishing as the overall QB4. Darnold will be without second-year wideout Jordan Addison (ankle) for the second game in a row, leaving the quarterback without the full wide receiving room at his disposal. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old quarterback will represent Houston's biggest passing challenge thus far and could be in line for another top-15 QB finish.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Sep 20 3:30pm ET
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) is practicing for the second straight day this week on Friday. Higgins injured his hamstring on Sept. 5 during preparation for the Week 1 season-opener and has been unavailable for the first two games of the season as a result. However, he returned to a limited practice on Thursday and appears to be moving closer to making his 2024 debut. Still, it's unclear if the 25-year-old's season debut will come on Monday night against the visiting Washington Commanders, and Cincy won't release their final injury report of the week until Saturday. When fully healthy, Higgins is Cincy's WR2 behind Ja'Marr Chase and is a big part of the passing attack. Because he's yet to play in 2024 and because the Bengals could ease him back into the fold if he's active on Monday night, Higgins is a pretty risky flex plan for fantasy managers in Week 3.

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Kayvon Thibodeaux Sep 20 3:30pm ET
Kayvon Thibodeaux

The New York Giants added outside linebacker Brian Burns (groin) to the injury report on Friday with a groin issue, and he's officially questionable to play this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Late-week additions to the injury report are usually never a good thing, so the G-Men could be without Burns this weekend. The Giants acquired the 26-year-old this offseason in a trade with the Carolina Panthers. Burns has gotten off to a slow start in the Big Apple, totaling seven tackles (six solo) and one pass breakup in his first two games. If the Giants end up ruling Burns out on Sunday, Benton Whitley figures to see more defensive snaps on the edge as a pass-rusher to help out Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari in a good matchup against the Browns. Fantasy managers in IDP leagues need to have a backup option for Burns just in case.

From RotoBaller

Justin Herbert Sep 20 3:20pm ET
Justin Herbert

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) has been officially listed as questionable to play this Sunday in Week 3 on the road against the 2-0 Pittsburgh Steelers. Herbert said on Friday that he suffered a high right-ankle sprain in the Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers, although he did return to practice on Thursday after sitting out on Wednesday. High-ankle sprains can keep players out for multiple weeks, so although Herbert has a high tolerance for pain, he could seriously be in danger of sitting out this weekend, which would be really bad news for the Bolts offense as they look to go 3-0. If Herbert doesn't gain clearance to play, Easton Stick would likely be under center, and the Chargers would most likely lean even more on running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. A banged-up Herbert would be more of a low-end QB2 in fantasy if he's active on Sunday.

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Cooper Kupp Sep 20 3:20pm ET
Cooper Kupp

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) was officially ruled out for the Week 3 divisional contest this weekend against the visiting San Francisco 49ers. Kupp injured his ankle in Week 2 loss to the division-rival Arizona Cardinals and is a candidate to land on Injured Reserve, which would require him to miss at least four games. It's extremely bad news for the Rams offense, which is already missing wideout Puka Nacua (knee), who is on the IR. For the foreseeable future, fantasy managers need to keep Kupp in an IR spot and hope he can return sooner than later. With both Kupp and Nacua sidelined, Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson will continue to serve in elevated starting roles, while Tutu Atwell and rookie Jordan Whittington will also be battling for more targets in the passing game. Tight end Colby Parkinson disappointed last week, but he, too, should see more work moving forward.

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Joshua Karty Sep 20 3:20pm ET
Joshua Karty

Los Angeles Rams rookie kicker Joshua Karty (groin) will be listed as questionable for the team's Week 3 contest this Sunday against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers. Head coach Sean McVay said he won't know whether Karty will be able to go this weekend until after Friday's practice. If Karty isn't cleared by the team to kick against the Niners, Tanner Brown would be the next man up for the Rams' kicking game. No matter what happens with LA's kicking situation on Sunday, fantasy managers should be looking to avoid it against a strong 49ers defense. On top of the bad matchup, the Rams are missing their top two pass-catchers in Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee). The 22-year-old Karty has made all three of his field-goal attempts and all three of his extra-point opportunities this year in the first two games of his NFL career.

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Jordan Love Sep 20 3:10pm ET
Jordan Love

The Green Bay Packers are listing quarterback Jordan Love (knee) as questionable to play in Week 3 on Sunday on the road at the Tennessee Titans. When asked if Love has been medically cleared, head coach Matt LaFleur said, "We're working through that." Love suffered an MCL sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil and missed the Week 2 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The 25-year-old did return to practice this week, albeit in a limited fashion, and it sounds like Green Bay will take the decision right up until kickoff on Sunday in the early slate of games. If Love does make his return, his mobility could be limited, giving him a lower ceiling and floor as a QB1 for fantasy managers. If Love doesn't get the green light this weekend, expect another run-heavy offensive approach with backup QB Malik Willis under center against his old team.

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Maxx Crosby Sep 20 3:10pm ET
Maxx Crosby

Las Vegas Raiders pass-rusher Maxx Crosby (ankle) is reportedly going to suit up for the Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The superstar defensive end was limited through the first few practices of the week. The Raiders haven't released their Friday practice designation, but head coach Antonio Pierce said that Crosby will play. This is great news for the Raiders defense as Crosby has 11 tackles and three sacks through two games.

From RotoBaller

Taysom Hill Sep 20 3:00pm ET
Taysom Hill

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (chest) is currently considered as questionable ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The veteran tight end sat out of Wednesday's practice, but was able to get through a session on Thursday. He was limited on Friday and as a result will be tagged as questionable for this weekend. If healthy, Hill is a boom-or-bust TE2 otherwise Juwan Johnson figures to see more chances. Johnson is a desperation option in deep leagues if Hill is unable to play.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Addison Sep 20 2:50pm ET
Jordan Addison

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Houston Texans. The Vikings are calling him as day-to-day, but this is now the second week in a row that Addison has missed. It's uncertain when Addison will get back on the field after not practicing all week. In his absence, Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor will be the primary passing options for this offense. Jefferson is a must-start while Nailor is worth a look in deep leagues after a 54-yard performance in Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Justin Jefferson Sep 20 2:50pm ET
Justin Jefferson

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (quadriceps) is cleared to play ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Houston Texans. The superstar wideout was limited in practice on Wednesday with a quad injury, but he guaranteed on Thursday that he'd suit up this weekend. It looks like Jefferson was right, as he doesn't carry an injury designation into this game. He'll continue to be the focal point on offense with Jordan Addison (ankle) ruled out for this game. Jefferson finished with 133 yards and a touchdown last week, so fantasy managers can continue counting on him as an elite fantasy option.

From RotoBaller

Rome Odunze Sep 20 2:40pm ET
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze (knee) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts. The rookie wideout played through a knee issue last week, but Odunze appears to be fine now. He's set for an increased workload with fellow wideout Keenan Allen (heel) ruled out for this game. Odunze has three receptions for 44 yards through two games. The Bears can't seem to move the ball right now, which makes Odunze a tough fantasy play. He should be considered a shaky flex option for Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Jake Elliott Sep 20 2:30pm ET
Jake Elliott

Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott will go on the road to take on the New Orleans Saints in Week 3. The 29-year-old did not have much involvement last week, kicking just one short field goal and converting two extra points. Better days are ahead for the Eagles kicker and it could start this week against New Orleans. The Saints have held opponents out of the end zone well through two weeks, but have allowed five field goals, tied for 11th-most in the league through two weeks. Fantasy managers can continue to roll out Elliott with confidence in Week 3.

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Keenan Allen Sep 20 2:30pm ET
Keenan Allen

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. The veteran wideout will now miss his second game in a row due to a lingering heel issue. This is obviously frustrating for fantasy managers as the 32-year-old had plenty of hype surrounding him to begin the season. His absence should mean an increased workload for both Rome Odunze and DeAndre Carter. Both players are sneaking their way onto the fantasy radar with the Bears shorthanded on offense.

From RotoBaller