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Aidin Ebrahimi looks at key fantasy football injuries and injury updates to watch for Week 6 of the 2024 season, including Aaron Rodgers, Nick Chubb, David Njoku, and more.
Week 5 of the NFL season was entertaining, as we saw quarterbacks across the league finally have big games. Multiple games went to overtime and had exciting finishes, continuing the trend of entertaining chaos.
Unfortunately, as is the case in every week of NFL action, there were some injuries. Seeing which players are dealing with injuries and which ones aren't quite at 100% yet will go a long way if you're looking to win your fantasy leagues.
Without further ado, let's look at some injuries to watch and consider heading into Week 6. Don't forget to bookmark our fantasy football player news page, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy football mobile app with push notification alerts to stay notified.
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Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets
The legendary career of Aaron Rodgers might be drawing to a close. He has thrown two touchdowns to three interceptions in his last two games, both very close losses that the Jets should have won.
He also went down after a big hit during the Week 5 game against the Vikings. He was hit 25 times during the last two games and is banged up. Luckily, he got up and managed to finish the game, and his injury doesn't look as scary as initially thought.
Aaron Rodgers has a sprained ankle but “should be” good to play next Monday night vs. the Bills.
pic.twitter.com/baSTTIxUwM— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 7, 2024
After the game, Jets head coach Robert Saleh addressed the media and said Rodgers is dealing with a low-ankle sprain and "will be fine."
Sam LaPorta didn't miss any time after suffering a low-ankle sprain a few weeks ago, but fantasy managers should still monitor Rodgers' practice participation this week given his age.
Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
After suffering a scary injury during a collision with Patrick Mahomes in Week 4 against the Chargers, many feared that Rashee Rice had torn his ACL. However, it seems like the controversial wideout has avoided an ACL injury.
The Chiefs have placed Rice on injured reserve and discovered that he needs to repair his LCL. He's still expected to miss the rest of the season, but he'll be fully recovered when he returns.
Sources: While #Chiefs star WR Rashee Rice’s season is expected to be over, he did receive positive news today from Dr. Dan Cooper.
Rice needs his LCL repaired, but there is a chance that’s the only ligament to be repaired. He’s expected to make a full recovery. pic.twitter.com/x5m2ee1Xb6
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 7, 2024
The Chiefs are currently looking to acquire a WR to replace Rice. DeAndre Hopkins and Allen Lazard are among the most realistic options that could join the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Hopkins is playing through an MCL sprain and Lazard has never had a season with over 800 receiving yards, so unless Xavier Worthy steps up, this could be a difficult fantasy season for Mahomes.
Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Aaron Jones struggled with hamstring and MCL injuries in his last season with the Green Bay Packers but had a great debut game for the Vikings. He suffered a hip injury in Week 2 against the 49ers but managed to bounce back and have two great games.
Unfortunately, it looks like Jones has reaggravated his hip injury. He exited the Vikings' Week 5 game against the Jets early and didn't return. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Jones will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of his injury.
However, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell is optimistic. "Keeping my fingers crossed that [the injury] will hopefully be short term," O'Connell said when asked about the injury. Ty Chandler will be the RB1 if Jones misses any time.
Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
Nico Collins is currently proving that his awesome 2023 season wasn't a fluke. So far this year, he has arguably been the best wideout in the NFL. He scored an impressive touchdown in the first quarter of Week 5 against the Bills but got hurt on the play.
Collins was listed on the Texans' injury report before Week 4 with a hamstring injury but wasn't listed before Week 5. Initially, Adam Schefter reported that Collins was listed as "day to day," but then he claimed the Texans had changed his designation to "week to week."
Where we ranking Nico Collins in terms of WRs? https://t.co/YS1CnP5b36
— John Baione (@OJSIMPS0NBURNER) October 6, 2024
Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, and Robert Woods will be C.J. Stroud's main options if Collins misses time.
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns
Sometimes, it seems like nothing in life goes your way. David Njoku can certainly relate to that right now. He was ready to build upon his 2023 Pro Bowl season this year but suffered an ankle injury in Week 1.
That injury kept him out until Week 5, but he got hurt again as soon as he returned. This time it's a knee injury, and Njoku will undergo an MRI to determine his injury. So far, the Browns have used Jordan Akins in Njoku's place, but he hasn't impressed.
Zack Moss, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Zack Moss hasn't quite lived up to the hype so far in his first season with the Bengals. Moss ran for 466 yards in his first five games of 2023, more than double his current rushing total this year after five games (211 yards).
Moss also got hurt in Week 5, as he twisted his ankle. He tried to return to the game but had to leave shortly afterward. Luckily for Moss, it seems like the injury was nothing more than a scare and he will be ready to go in Week 6.
Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns
The Browns are going through a terrible time right now, but the long-awaited return of Nick Chubb could save their season. Chubb has been out ever since his horrific MCL and ACL injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season.
On Wednesday, Chubb returned to practice for the first time since the injury and impressed Browns HC Kevin Stefanski.
"[Chubb] looks like himself to me," said Stefanski.
when a new @NickChubb practice video hits the timeline 🥹 pic.twitter.com/xIqCL7JsA8
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 3, 2024
Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was slightly more realistic, saying it was "too early" to evaluate Chubb after one practice.
Chubb is practicing again, meaning his three-week activation window is now open. He wasn't activated in Week 5 but could be activated in Week 6 or Week 7.
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