Training camps have picked up steam, the Jets and the Browns have played a preseason game, and many teams have participated in joint practices to evaluate the talent on their rosters and start refining the details of their starting units. Thankfully this week there were no major injuries from a fantasy perspective, but there were certainly a few players who some may have been targeting in deeper leagues that you missed going down. But before we get to that, let’s start with a couple positives.
Joe Burrow was seen walking around at Bengals practice, giving fantasy owners hope that his status for week 1 is still trending in a positive direction. The injury continues to be listed as a calf strain, and while Ja’Marr Chase wants his friend and teammate to take his time and heal property before stepping back onto the field, it seems like no news is good news regarding Burrow. He should be back on the field early in the season, if not by opening week.
The Kansas City Chiefs announced that both Isiah Pacheco (RB) and Kadarius Toney (WR) are both on track to be ready for week 1. Pacheco, the team’s assumed leading RB, is currently recovering from offseason hand and shoulder injuries. Toney is once again missing reps, this time with a torn meniscus in his knee suffered at the end of July, as the dynamic playmaker has yet to prove he can stay on the field thus far in his career. Toney missed 7 games as a rookie, and another 8 last year in his sophomore campaign. Prior to training camps, he was a favourite fantasy sleeper amongst experts. While you can still draft him for upside, the injury risk is very real.
The New York Jets are expecting to get star receiver Garrett Wilson back, as he is likely returning to practice after missing a handful of sessions as he recovers from a low ankle sprain. It may be a slow start to the season if he continues to miss time to build chemistry with Rodgers, but he’s such an elite talent that this shouldn’t be any reason to drop him down in your rankings.
When you hear a player is out indefinitely, 99% of us immediately expect a long term injury without any real timeline for recovery. But Pete Carroll apparently like to use the term more liberally, as in he’s just not defining a precise length of time. Rookie running back Zach Charbonnet left practice last week with a shoulder injury with Carroll describing his absence as indefinite. He was technically correct, but ultimately it amounted to Charbonnet only missing a couple sessions before returning to practice. With Kenneth Walker III still sidelined, Charbonnet’s availability is giving him valuable reps with the 1st team offense. He was already predicted to be a player to steal opportunities from Walker, particularly in the pass game, so getting himself more familiar with Geno Smith and the offensive line will be huge for his development in his rookie season.
Rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker of the Dallas Cowboys has officially been taken off of PUP list and can begin to get acclimated with the team’s offense. 2nd year tight end Jake Ferguson is still expected to be starter even with the return of Schoonmaker while they ease their 2023 2nd round pick into the NFL, but it’s worth noting that he can now begin getting much needed reps in.
And last but not least, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has been taken off of the PUP list and joined the team in camp. Bateman has had struggles with injuries throughout much of his career, but when he’s on the field, is an explosive offensive weapon that new coordinator Todd Monken would love to utilize. I like what the Ravens have done to revamp their offense this season, but Zay Flowers is still just a rookie, and Odell Beckham Jr is coming back from a serious injury without having played a snap since February of 2022. Without Bateman in the offense, the wide receiver room starts to look pretty thin.
Let’s get to this week’s injuries.
Jonathan Taylor (RB) – Indianapolis Colts – Rehabbing his ankle
I will be extremely happy when this entire saga is over. The latest news came from new head coach Shane Steichen, who said over the weekend that Taylor is on an “excused absence” from the team to continue to rehab the ankle that caused him to finish the season on IR last season. The writing is on the wall – Taylor wants out, and removing himself from even attending team practices and meetings is him trying to use what little leverage he has left.
The Colts already signed Kenyan Drake after Zach Moss broke his arm, and despite reports that Kareem Hunt will sign with the Saints after he passes his physical, the Colts are reportedly making a late push to try and lure the back to Indianapolis. Taylor’s ADP is plummeting due to the uncertainty of the situation, but getting a read on his fantasy season is impossible to predict. If he stays in Indy, his production will likely be in decline as most backs tend to have down years with rookie quarterbacks – particularly one who is expected to take such a large percentage of the run offense himself in Anthony Richardson.
If he gets moved, expect a slow start to the season before he gets himself acclimated to a new offense. Then there’s the risk that he follows in Le’Veon Bell’s footsteps and holds out for the entirety of the season. Everyone was certain Bell would be back in 3-4 weeks, and drafted him accordingly, only for him to miss the entire season. There’s too much risk tied to Taylor right now, and he’s dropping in my rankings significantly – at least until the situation gets settled.
Eno Benjamin (RB) – New Orleans Saints – Torn Achilles (Out For Season)
One of the reasons the Saints are also pushing to sign Kareem Hunt is due to the loss of Eno Benjamin at running back. Benjamin was already behind Alvin Kamara (suspended 3 games to start the season), rookie Kendre Miller and offseason acquisition Jamaal Williams, so the path for the 24 year old back to really carve out much of a role was an uphill battle. But there was an opportunity for him if Miller’s previous injuries from his college days hampered his training camp performances, and if the team decided they didn’t like what Williams brought in a 3 down role. Losing Benjamin gives Hunt one less hurdle to clear if he’s eventually signed by the Saints. He’s a very intelligent player on the field and is a high level pass catching back, so he could potentially learn enough of the offense to carve out an early role while Kamara serves his suspension.
Rasheed Shaheed (WR) and Tre’Quan Smith (WR) – New Orleans Saints – Groin injuries
The Saints lost 2 depth receivers in the same practice, as both Shaheed and Smith left with what appears to be groin injuries. Shaheed was being drafted outside the top 130 picks, but he was in line to be the Saints WR3. And with Michael Thomas’s inability to stay on the field (10 games over the past 3 years) it wouldn’t have been far fetched to see Shaheed take over the WR2 position for the majority of the season. Both injuries aren’t deemed to be serious and they should be back for week 1. But as always, missing reps in camp with a brand new quarterback will really hurt their opportunity to start the season off strong. Shaheed is one of those guys you should highlight on the waiver wire and try to grab him as his role inevitably increases.
Jerome Ford (RB) – Cleveland Browns – Right Hamstring
Jerome Ford left Monday’s practice early with a hamstring injury. Ford was seemingly in line to take over the RB2 role vacated by Kareem Hunt – although there were no expectations that he would handle as much of a load as Hunt did during his time in Cleveland. Ford is expected to miss some time with the injury, and with the Browns in a tight financial situation, they might have to make due with the running backs they currently have on the roster. If the injury lingers into the season, Chubb will be tasked with handling even more of a workload as he takes on more pass catching responsibilities.
#Browns Jerome Ford doing some work on the side. Has that right hamstring wrapped up. pic.twitter.com/cvDzbckO9H
— Coop (@JJCoop25) August 9, 2023
Kenny McIntosh (RB) – Seattle Seahawks – Knee
Kenny McIntosh has the potential to be a valuable tool for Pete Carrol’s offense. And when Walker and Charbonnet went down, he was the next man up. Unfortunately he suffered a knee injury on an awkward tackle during a mock game. The news after the game was mostly positive, as McIntosh seems to have avoided major injury. Carroll said afterwards “He’s got a sprain. It might be a couple weeks,” which in Carroll speak could literally mean anything.
McIntosh doesn’t have the skillset to be a 3 down back in the NFL, but he was a great value pick in the 7th round of the NFL entry draft and can be used as a flanking back where the Seahawks can take advantage of his athleticism and pass catching ability. With Walker hurt and Charbonnet possibly having a lingering shoulder injury, the path to snaps for McIntosh all of a sudden doesn’t look so cluttered. He’s someone to watch in your dynasty leagues.
Tytus Howard (OT) – Houston Texans – Broken Hand (4-6 Weeks)
AND
Scott Quessenberry (C) – Houston Texans – Torn ACL/MCL Out for season
The Houston Texans made it clear that improving their offensive line was a priority this past offseason. But the unit is already facing some attrition. Starting center Quessenberry suffered a torn ACL and MCL during training camp last Thursday and will undoubtedly miss the entire season. Quessenberry started 15 games for the Texans last season. Starting right tackle Tytus Howard, fresh off a major contract extension, suffered a broken hand that required surgery and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. There’s still a possibility he makes it for week 1 of the season, but that scenario would likely have him playing in at least a partial cast.
Losing these two pieces in camp is going to hurt the Texans. Offensive lines need reps together more than any unit in football to figure out their tendencies and see how they can best work together. Add in a rookie quarterback, and the importance of the unit being together is magnified. The Texans likely won’t win many games this season. But fantasy players who are banking on a return to form from Dameon Pierce from his breakout 2022 season, or who are expecting big things from C.J. Stroud in his rookie campaign have to be at least mildly concerned about the shape of the o-line so far.
Marlon Mack (RB) – Arizona Cardinals – Torn Achilles (Out For Season)
Well, that didn’t last long. As everyone was excitedly writing their return of the Mack headlines after he signed with the Cardinals on Friday, Mack was unfortunately carted off of the field Tuesday after suffering what was confirmed as a torn achilles. Mack was believed to be in line to carve out an RB2 spot behind James Conner. And considering Conner has yet to get through an entire season in his career without missing time, there was a possibility for some spot starts for Mack this year. Arizona won’t be relying on their run game too much this year as they’ll likely be playing catchup in most games early on, but it appears that it’s back to the drawing board to help insulate their running back rotation.
-Devon Gallant
Twitter: @DevGallant
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