Injuries are the worst aspect of sports and perhaps the most arduous wrinkle to deal with daily in fantasy football. News continues to shift and lineup decisions are fluid, often until kickoffs of each game. Today, we start the Inactives series for the 2021 season for fantasy-relevant players who are either inactive or in danger of being inactive for gametime. For each game on Sunday and Monday, we’ll identify the biggest news to keep an eye on, with a few words on how the fantasy scheme could possibly shift if the availability of the said players comes into serious question.
This series will be live every Saturday morning, meaning that if brand new statuses appear on Saturday, they are not covered here. You can also follow me on Twitter (@AhaanRungta) for more regular fantasy football discussions, including comments on injury-riddled fantasy rosters. If a game does not appear on this list, that means there is currently no current injury threat in the realm of fantasy relevance.
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Week 2 NFL Inactives
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
OUT: RB Josh Jacobs, LV (toe)
The 23-year-old Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs was drafted as a top-40 pick in most leagues. In Week 1 against the Ravens, he played through some issues with his toe but despite only a 52% snap share, he used 2 touchdowns to produce an effective fantasy performance. That toe is too much of an issue to play Week 2 against the daunting Steelers defense, however. With starting left guard Richie Incognito also out for the game due to a calf injury, offense will be tough to produce for the Raiders.
Kenyan Drake moves up in the depth chart for Las Vegas and should see increased opportunity, especially as a pass-catcher. However, it is of note that head coach Jon Gruden emphasized the role of Peyton Barber and possibly using him in bulk, complicating the situation in the Las Vegas backfield.
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden was asked if this will be an opportunity for Kenyan Drake with Josh Jacobs out Week 2.
Gruden pivoted to talking about Peyton Barber while saying "Kenyan will continue to play a role in our system no matter who the other back is." pic.twitter.com/GIhsBOe1lg
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) September 17, 2021
The leading offensive weapon for Derek Carr’s Raiders will still be tight end Darren Waller. Although production from that offense is limited against the team that led the NFL in quarterback pressure rate as a defense last year, Waller is still a target hog. In Jacobs’ one-game absence in 2020, had the game of his life, logging 13 receptions on 17 targets for 200 receiving yards and his only two-touchdown game of the season. It is also of note that Marcus Mariota, who accounted for one rushing play of 31 yards in Week 1, is ruled out for Week 2 as well.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
OUT: RB Raheem Mostert, SF (knee; season-ending)
After just two carries in Week 1 for 20 rushing yards, Raheem Mostert’s season is over with a meniscus tear. The news comes as heartbreak for the best run-scheme team in the NFL and was the talk of fantasy football social media, as Elijah Mitchell emerged as the top waiver wire target of the week. Mitchell will now be splitting duties with JaMycal Hasty and Trey Sermon as the top three members of Kyle Shanahan’s backfield. How their workload will be split and what situations they will take part in is still an open-ended problem, but perhaps more information will become available against the Eagles in Week 2.
This will be the last time this inactives report will include Mostert as he can now be dropped in all 2021 redraft formats.
Houston Texans vs. Cleveland Browns
OUT: WR Odell Beckham Jr., CLE (knee)
Still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in 2020, the elite-talent wide receiver is still not a go for the Browns as they won’t rush him against the measly Texans. In the absence of Beckham in Week 1 against the Chiefs, Landry played in 86% of the snaps in a close game. He hauled in all five of his targets for 71 receiving yards and rushed twice for 13 yards and a touchdown.
In 9 games without Beckham on the field, Landry averaged 5.3 receptions on 7.6 targets for 57.9 receiving yards. He also rushed 4 times for 10 yards and scored four total touchdowns in that span.
It is also noteworthy that although the Browns possess one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, their rookie star offensive tackle Jedrick Wills is listed as questionable.
Denver Broncos vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
OUT: WR Jerry Jeudy, DEN (ankle)
During the Broncos’ Week 1 matchup against the Giants, second-year stud wide receiver Jerry Jeudy suffered a gruesome ankle injury that projects him to be out till approximately Week 6. Denver’s top wide receiver Courtland Sutton is now the clear #1 option on the offense while Tim Patrick and K.J. Hamler should both see increased opportunities, especially against a Jaguars defense that is very capable of giving up huge passing plays. Tight end Noah Fant, who caught six of his team-leading eight targets for 62 yards, also serves as a potential high-upside play but the uptick in his value is far from safe as he did not break out as a consistent fantasy performer last year when Sutton was ruled out for the season due to injury.
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New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers
OUT: WR Michael Thomas, NO (ankle) / WR Tre’Quan Smith, NO (hamstring)
After a recent COVID-19 outbreak, the New Orleans Saints placed veteran wide receiver Michael Thomas on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. He is first eligible to return in Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks. In addition, the Saints placed wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury that has been bothering him since training camp.
New Orleans will now present wide receivers Marquez Callaway, Deonte Harris, and Lil’Jordan Humphrey and tight ends Adam Trautman and Juwan Johnson as their primary pass-catching options. Of course, their best offensive weapon still stands as Alvin Kamara, who also possesses elite receiving talent at his position.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Indianapolis Colts
QUESTIONABLE: WR Michael Pittman, IND (ankle) / WR Parris Campbell, IND (abdomen)
OUT: WR T.Y. Hilton, IND (neck)
Facing a tough Rams defense, the Colts have a lot to be worried about in terms of support for their new quarterback Carson Wentz. In fact, multiple offensive line injuries also scar their chances in Week 2, including an out designation for starting offensive tackle Braden Smith and questionable designations for offensive tackle Eric Fisher and offensive guard Quenton Nelson.
Not only are pass-catchers on the Colts risky plays headed into an iffy situation in Week 2, but running back Jonathan Taylor, who I identified as a low-value play of the week, could find it difficult to produce efficiently against Aaron Donald and the Rams.
Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins
QUESTIONABLE: WR Preston Williams, MIA (foot)
OUT: WR Will Fuller V, MIA (personal)
The Dolphins found a way to win against the Patriots in a matchup of Alabama quarterbacks and they did it without either Williams or Fuller. In Week 1, Miami’s #1 wide receiver was unsurprisingly DeVante Parker, who hauled in 4 receptions on 7 targets for 81 receiving yards. Their only touchdowns came from a quarterback rush by Tua Tagovailoa and a reception from rookie Jaylen Waddle. Both Waddle and Parker are decent-floor plays against a Bills team that ranked just middle-of-the-pack in passing defense in 2020.
New England Patriots vs. New York Jets
QUESTIONABLE: TE Jonnu Smith, NE (hip)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Jamison Crowder, NYJ (groin)
OUT: WR N’Keal Harry, NE (shoulder)
The news of veteran wide receiver Jamison Crowder being questionable for the Jets is actually an upward trend as he looks to make his first start of the season in Week 2. In two games last season against New England, Crowder was a low-volume asset, catching a total of six passes on six targets for just 57 yards. He did score a touchdown in Week 9 of 2020 but is still a risky start even if he does suit up.
The Patriots pass-catching unit, on the other hand, is one that I’ve already previewed this season as one of the most interesting fantasy situations of 2021. If tight end Jonnu Smith, who was a Thursday addition to the injury report, cannot suit up, expect higher volume for tight end Hunter Henry and slight upticks in usage for wide receivers Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Chicago Bears
QUESTIONABLE: WR Darnell Mooney, CHI (back)
This is one of the rare games with no offensive players to be seriously worried about. While deep threat wideout Darnell Mooney is listed as questionable, he was a full participant in practice on Friday. Keep an eye on the Bears beat and in deep leagues where you’re looking for a high-ceiling play, Mooney could be the answer against the soft Bengals secondary if health is on his side.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Arizona Cardinals
OUT: TE Irv Smith Jr., MIN (knee; likely season-ending)
Over two weeks ago, pass-catching red zone threat Irv Smith Jr. underwent a meniscus procedure that will likely keep him out for the remainder of the season. Naturally, he missed Week 1 and the biggest beneficiary was the veteran perennial touchdown target, Adam Thielen. This will be the last update on Smith in the weekly inactive report, barring a comeback later in the season.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Tennessee Titans
DOUBTFUL: RB Rashaad Penny, SEA (calf)
QUESTIONABLE: TE Anthony Firkser, TEN (knee)
After suffering a calf injury during Seattle’s Week 1 matchup on the road, backup running back Rashaad Penny is trending towards a no-show for the Seahawks’ road opener against the Titans. This doesn’t necessarily mean much new information for Pete Carroll’s run game as his starter, Chris Carson, did not surrender a fantasy-relevant number of snaps to his backups. DeeJay Dallas, who scored 3 touchdowns in 2020 (all in a span of Weeks 8-9), is slated to be next in line as Seattle’s RB2.
Meanwhile, in the other locker room, Anthony Firkser, who produced only 3 catches (4 targets) for 19 receiving yards in Week 1, was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday and then out of practice on Friday. The next tight end on Tennessee’s roster is Geoff Swaim but he was also of little relevance (one target to no avail) in Week 1.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Chargers
OUT: WR Michael Gallup, DAL (calf)
The Cowboys are beaten up badly on defense and on the offensive line. Among fantasy players, this isn’t great news for the matchup-prone Ezekiel Elliott but he is still a start-worthy player as he no longer has to contend with the generational Buccaneers front seven.
The biggest fantasy name to appear on this week’s report for Dallas is their third option wideout Michael Gallup, who is expected to return around Week 5. Both elite talents, top two options Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb should have no issues producing again but those Gallup touches could also be shared in an uptick for wide receiver Cedrick Wilson and tight end Dalton Schultz, though not in a reliable fashion.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens
QUESTIONABLE: WR Devin Duvernay, BAL (groin) / WR Marquise Brown, BAL (ankle)
OUT: RB J.K. Dobbins, BAL (knee; season-ending) / RB Gus Edwards, BAL (knee; season-ending) / WR Rashod Bateman, BAL (groin)
I’ll keep this short for Baltimore fans who likely are still just trying to catch their breath and absorb all the bad news. Every fantasy-relevant injury designation from this game is from one locker room. The top name to keep an eye on via the beat is wide receiver Marquise Brown, who showed up big in Week 1 with 6 receptions on 6 targets for 69 receiving yards, 1 carry for 5 rushing yards, and a receiving touchdown. In deeper leagues, wide receiver Devin Duvernay will also need to be taken a look at ahead of the Sunday Night Football matchup. If the Ravens suffer even more blows to their team in Brown and/or Duvernay, expect the volume of a lifetime for tight end Mark Andrews, some FLEX-level activity for wide receiver Sammy Watkins, and perhaps some more improvisation with the run game involving Lamar Jackson, Ty’Son Williams, and Latavius Murray.
Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
QUESTIONABLE: RB D’Andre Swift, DET (groin) / RB Jamaal Williams, DET (chest) / WR Tyrell Williams, DET (concussion)
The Lions don’t really have a shot to win this game in what should be a statement game for Aaron Rodgers. If I just lied, I deserve screenshots of this to be spammed to me on Twitter. It only makes things worse if Detroit is without either of their stud running backs or one of their top wideouts. If any of these names fail to suit up for Monday Night Football, it could turn PPR stud T.J. Hockensen into a fantasy superstar, especially with the Lions likely playing from behind from the get-go.
For more help in getting ready for this week’s matchups, be sure to check out the rest of our Week 2 Rankings and Analysis!
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