As the injury updates start rolling in from around the NFL for Week 2, our WR injury report will bring you the latest news and the fantasy football impact. After a busy couple of weeks in terms of injuries at the WR position, who is trending towards playing this weekend, and who is less certain?
WR injury report heading into Week 2
Mike Evans, TB | Calf
Video from ESPN’s Jenna Laine showed Mike Evans with his lower left leg taped as he stood on the sideline watching special teams work at the beginning of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Wednesday practice. Evans briefly left the Sunday Night Football game late in the first half but returned to the field in the second half.
There does not seem to be a huge amount of concern for Evans right now, so hopefully, he can be a full go for Sunday. The Buccaneers listed five wide receivers on the injury report, so they will desperately want Evans on the field. Without Godwin, Evans remains a must-start for fantasy if he is active.
Chris Godwin, TB | Hamstring
The reports coming out from the NFL early in the week indicated that Chris Godwin could miss “a few weeks” with the hamstring strain he suffered on Sunday. Godwin was making his return from a serious knee injury suffered in 2021, so it is a relief that this is not directly related to that injury.
However, that is likely little consolation for fantasy managers who will be without Godwin for the foreseeable future. In Godwin’s absence, there are a handful of options that could emerge. Julio Jones appeared to be the third WR option early in the game, including a long reception. However, he only had one target in the second half, following Godwin’s departure. Instead, it was Russell Gage and Breshad Perriman who appeared to benefit in Godwin’s absence.
Jones is still likely the main target for fantasy, but we could see the ball spread around between the receiving options. Additionally, Jones, Gage, and Perriman all appeared on the injury report this week, further complicating the picture.
With Mike Evans also dealing with an injury, there should be value to find in this receiving group, but it might take another week for it to become fully clear who will provide it.
Tee Higgins, CIN | Concussion
There was some positive news for Tee Higgins on Wednesday regarding his progress through the NFL concussion protocol. When he spoke to the media, Zac Taylor stated that Higgins had “cleared all his hurdles so far this week.” Taylor also confirmed that Higgins would practice in a limited capacity.
However, it is worth clarifying that Higgins is not out of the concussion protocol and has further steps to clear before he can suit up Sunday. The early signs are good, but concussions can be tough to predict. If Higgins were to miss the game, then Tyler Boyd and Mike Thomas would both see a jump in value. Boyd would be a player to consider as a fringe flex starter in 12-team leagues, while Thomas comes into consideration as a potential flex starter in deeper formats.
Keenan Allen, LAC | Hamstring
Official game status: Out
Unsurprisingly on the short week, the Chargers ruled out Keenan Allen after he left last week’s game with a hamstring injury. The short turnaround to play on Thursday Night Football was always going to be hard to overcome. The hope is that Allen will have the time to rest and recuperate ahead of the Chargers’ Week 3 matchup.
Josh Palmer should see additional playing time with Allen out. However, his average depth of target in Week 1 was just 2.5 yards. If he continues to be used near the line of scrimmage, his ceiling is capped. If you are looking for a high upside player for the Chargers in Week 2, then DeAndre Carter could be the better bet.
Michael Pittman, IND | Quad
It was somewhat of a surprise to see Michael Pittman pop up on the Indianapolis Colts’ injury report with a quad injury. Prior to the release of the report, there had been little mention of Pittman, with more focus being on his fellow WR, Alec Pierce, who is in the concussion protocol.
The lack of apparent concern from the Colts beat writers would indicate that Pittman should be fine for the weekend. However, it is something worth watching as the week progresses. If Pittman were to miss time, Parris Campbell would likely be the WR1 for the Colts, with Ashton Dulin and Mike Strachan also seeing increased work.
After he saw six targets in Week 1, Dulin might well be the most fantasy relevant of that trio if Pittman were to miss time. In that instance, he would creep into flex consideration in 14-team leagues.
Julio Jones (Knee), Russell Gage (Hamstring), Breshad Perriman (Knee), TB
It makes sense to group these three together because we do not really know what all of it means. Jones did not practice on Wednesday last week, but that was tagged as a rest day. Equally, Gage was limited last week with his hamstring injury. Therefore, this could also be a rest day. We will need to see how the two progress this week. One of them has a chance to be a starting option for fantasy managers.
Perriman is worth a mention simply because he would be a fringe fantasy option if there were a handful of Buccaneers receivers missing time. He was at least limited this Wednesday with his knee injury.
Allen Lazard, GB | Ankle
Allen Lazard returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since he was stepped on. This is naturally a good sign after Lazard did not practice at all last week, was listed as doubtful entering the weekend, and then ruled out Sunday morning.
If Lazard can play, he has a great shot to be the WR1 for Green Bay. However, fantasy managers should exercise caution. Unless we see him logging full practices, we should be prepared that Lazard could be on a limited snap count in Week 2. If someone in your league dropped him after Week 1, now is the time to go and grab him on waivers.
Michael Gallup, DAL | Knee
Gallup remains limited in practice to open Week 2. He was limited all last week but was ruled out in the final injury report on Friday. He is a name to monitor because there was optimism he could be ready in the first couple of weeks of the season if things went to plan.
Unfortunately, even if he does return, the injury to Dak Prescott somewhat blunts his potential effectiveness. Gallup is a player you are really going to want to observe in terms of playtime and usage before throwing him into your fantasy lineup.
Rondale Moore, ARI | Hamstring
The positive news with Moore’s hamstring injury is that the Cardinals have not yet put him on the IR. That would indicate they believe he can return before Week 6. However, it seems unlikely we will see him in Week 2, and if we did he would likely be limited.
Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG | Knee
After Wan’Dale Robinson left the game with a knee injury in the New York Giants Week 1 matchup, it is no surprise to see him absent as practice beings for Week 2. The rookie was ruled out quickly Sunday, which is often not a good sign. As it stands, the Giants appear unlikely to have him for Sunday unless he can work his way back onto the field Thursday.
We have not had any indication yet as to whether Robinson will need to go onto the IR for a few weeks. While that might be a good sign, the Giants could also be waiting a couple of days to see how the injury plays out before making a decision. This injury likely cements Richie James, Kenny Golladay, and Sterling Shepard as the starting trio at WR for the Giants.
KJ Hamler, DEN | Knee
All of last week, KJ Hamler was listed on the Denver Broncos injury report with a knee and a hip injury. He was questionable heading into Monday but did ultimately suit up and play as the WR3 in the offense. However, he saw just one target as the ball was spread around between the other playmakers on the Broncos’ offense. While he deals with injuries and has no clear role, he cannot be considered a starting option outside of the very deepest leagues.
Braxton Berrios, NYJ | Heel
Coming off a five reception performance in Week 1, Braxton Berrios was a somewhat surprising addition to the New York Jets Week 2 injury report. He managed to practice in a limited capacity, and there does not seem to be a huge amount of alarm coming from the Jets’ beat writers.
Berrios was one of only two receivers to have three targets in the first half last Sunday. He was one of the lesser targeted options in the second half as he played just 46 percent of the snaps during the game. If he was managing this heel injury, then that could help explain why he did not see the same boost in targets during the second half that some of the other receivers saw.
