The QB and TE injury report for Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season is a mixed bag in terms of news. As fantasy football managers digest the latest NFL injury updates, which players should we be concerned about, and who could benefit in their absence?
TE injury report heading into Week 3
George Kittle, SF | Groin (Cleared)
It’s taken until Week 3, but finally, George Kittle is off the injury report in San Francisco. It was somewhat expected that with two limited practices to open the week that he would be questionable heading into the weekend. However, he was described as “good to go” by head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Even though there are risks to throwing him straight back into your fantasy lineups, Kittle is so talented that it’s hard not to. Now that we know he will be active, fantasy managers will essentially have the choice of a streamer or a seemingly healthy Kittle. It doesn’t seem like a difficult choice really.
T.J. Hockenson, DET | Hip (Questionable)
For the third straight day this week, T.J. Hockenson was limited in practice. He carries a questionable tag into the weekend, but the speculation out of Detroit is that he should be good to suit up.
This is an added headache for Hockenson’s fantasy managers after inconclusive performances from him so far. Despite seeing 14 targets through the first two weeks, Hockenson has just seven receptions for 64 yards. Him and Goff have not quite looked on the same page, and his mediocre performances will already have fantasy managers questioning whether to start him. If he’s potentially limited, that doesn’t make the decision any easier.
Dalton Schultz, DAL | Knee (Questionable)
Despite being listed as questionable on Saturday, the expectation is that Dalton Schultz is trending towards not playing on Monday. The Dallas Cowboys tight end left last week’s game with a knee injury and has not participated in practice on Thursday or Friday.
Even if Schultz is questionable on Saturday, it’s too risky to leave it until Monday night to make a decision. If Schultz is inactive, there are no clear fantasy-relevant tight ends in that game you could turn to. The biggest beneficiary, in that case, may well be Michael Gallup, who looks set to return from his own knee injury. He could easily assume the targets that would go to Schultz.
Dawson Knox, BUF | Foot (Questionable)
The news has slowly gotten better this week in regards to Dawson Knox. He was a projected non-participant in Wednesday’s walkthrough practice. However, when the team got out on the field Thursday and Friday, he was at least able to get in a limited practice. He enters the weekend with the questionable tag.
If Knox is active, he’s a fringe 12-team league starter. The Ravens’ TEs had solid performances last week, and Knox could be in line for a similar output. However, his inconsistent usage within the offense limits him to just below a must-start this week. Knox is the TE12 in Tommy Garrett’s PPR fantasy rankings for Week 3.
If Knox is out, there’s no startable option for fantasy that can step in and replace him. However, it could have a knock-on effect on the targets for Isaiah McKenzie, Jamison Crowder, or one of the backs.
Taysom Hill, NO | Hip (Questionable)
Taysom Hill was limited all week in practice and carries the questionable tag into the weekend. This makes it pretty easy that even if you were considering starting him this week, you should not. The injury could very well limit his already limited usage. That is not a good recipe for fantasy value. His role is so unique that his absence would not have a huge impact on one specific player.
Hayden Hurst, CIN | Groin (Questionable)
The pattern of Hayden Hurst’s practices this week has been somewhat strange. He was limited on Wednesday with a groin injury before returning as a full participant Thursday. Hurst was then back as limited on Friday and carries a questionable tag into the weekend.
Hurst is a fringe starting option in 14-team leagues. He currently ranks as the TE15 in Garrett’s Week 3 half-PPR fantasy rankings. Hurst has seen 15 targets in the first two weeks, which has been really nice usage for the Cincinnati Bengals’ TE, even if the fantasy points have not always followed. If he misses the game, either Devin Asiasi or Mitchell Wilcox could step up and start, but neither would be a fantasy option this week.
Isaiah Likely, BAL | Groin (Questionable)
Isaiah Likely has been limited all week with his groin injury. Any thoughts of starting him after he had a good performance in Week 2 should be squashed by this news. He has a bright future, but let’s wait a little longer for it. If Likely is inactive, Nick Boyle could be an intriguing option, assuming he’s even active.
QB injury report heading into Week 3
Justin Herbert, LAC | Ribs (Questionable)
The biggest surprise with Justin Herbert this week came when he was listed as a non-participant on Friday. It appeared as though he was trending towards playing, so that was somewhat of a shock to see. After practice, Herbert said he would work out Sunday morning, and a final decision would be made. That was re-emphasized by both ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Adam Schefter on Sunday morning.
This is tough for fantasy managers because that game is a late afternoon one. Therefore, the pool of QBs you could turn to if Herbert is inactive is limited. If you can stash the likes of Cooper Rush, Daniel Jones, Jimmy Garoppolo, Trevor Lawrence, or Marcus Mariota on your bench, then you may yet need one of them for Week 3. Of course, you could always turn to Chase Daniel, but that’s not ideal.
Jameis Winston, NO | Back (Questionable)
It is absolutely amazing that Jameis Winston can play through his vertebrae fractures, but here we are heading into Week 3. Winston was limited all week and is now questionable entering the weekend. This is the same as what we saw last week, and he ultimately played.
However, things did not look right for Winson last week. The uncertainty is whether that is the ferocity of the Buccaneers’ defense or him being limited by the injury. This week will give a clearer indication. If you have someone you can start in his place in Superflex leagues, that might be a prudent move, given the uncertainty surrounding him.
Lamar Jackson, BAL | Elbow (Cleared)
As both John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson said on Wednesday, there’s nothing to see here. Jackson’s arm being in a brace and not throwing Wednesday was seemingly a false alarm. Start him as you usually would.
Zach Wilson, NYJ | Knee (Out)
Robert Saleh told us back in Week 1 that Zach Wilson would not return until Week 4, and so far, he’s been right. Despite being limited in practice for all of the past two weeks, Wilson remains out for Week 3. Joe Flacco remains the starter and is an intriguing Superflex option in what could be his final start of the season.
