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Unfortunately, fantasy managers had a lot of receiver injuries to deal with in Week 8. DK Metcalf and Amon-Ra St. Brown both left their contests early with injuries. Keenan Allen was on a big-time pitch count and fellow Chargers receiver Mike Williams also left early. The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Los Angeles Chargers who are dealing with injuries to all three of their top receivers.
We'll be looking at the Chargers receivers here despite them being on a bye, as well as many other receivers. Two big names to pay attention to are Mike Evans and Rashod Bateman, who are both on the injury report to start the week and have a short turnaround with a game this Thursday.
The injuries are starting to pile up now and with bye weeks in full swing, fantasy managers are likely feeling the pinch of their starting rosters. There are several NFL teams having to dig deeper and deeper with regard to their pass-catchers and there are several fantasy managers in each league feeling those same pressure constraints. Let's get to what the injury report looks like this week for the league's most fantasy-relevant receivers.
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Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Evans played the majority of Tampa Bay's loss to the Carolina Panthers. He was on the field for 59 of the team's 67 snaps, so whenever the injury happened, it did not affect his playing time. However, with a quick turnaround and a game on Thursday evening against the Baltimore Ravens, he was listed as a DNP on Monday's practice report. Of course, this was just an estimation because the team clearly did not practice.
Mike Evans Gets In Limited Practice Session https://t.co/uMLv421Ng0
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 25, 2022
His upgrade in practice participation on Tuesday bodes well for his availability for the team's Thursday game. There have been no reports that indicate his status is in question and being a limited participant on Tuesday with it being a short week pretty much confirms that. Fantasy managers should feel optimistic that he'll be available this Thursday.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Like Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel didn't have his snap count impacted by any injury this past weekend. He played 67 of the team's 77 snaps. However, he seems to have suffered a hamstring strain. Fantasy managers have seen just how tricky hamstring injuries can be. Keenan Allen, who we'll get to in a bit, has been hindered by his since Week 1. These soft tissue injuries have a tendency of lingering.
Deebo Samuel has hamstring strain and is day to day. Kyle Juszczyk broke a finger on a third-quarter stiff arm. He's having surgery and probably will be back after the bye.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) October 24, 2022
The day-to-day designation is a positive sign that it's not viewed as overly serious; however, it should be noted Allen received the same initial diagnosis. It should also be noted that the 49ers have their bye in Week 9, the following week, so the team could elect to be cautious with their No. 1 receiver. It's too early to tell if Samuel will be active this weekend. That will likely be determined by how he feels throughout the week, but with their bye the following week, fantasy managers would be wise to start making alternative plans. I wouldn't be surprised if the team is cautious with Samuel and gives him two full weeks before returning to action.
D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
DK Metcalf was injured fairly early in the Seahawks' contest this past weekend on an endzone target where he ended up going up for a jump ball and coming down awkwardly. He was carted off the field and was immediately ruled out, which is generally never a good sign. The initial reports were not optimistic, but once the team got additional information on the injury, Seattle fans and fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief.
From NFL Now: No surgery for #Seahawks WR DK Metcalf, who is week-to-week. That’s good news. pic.twitter.com/IcxsgTacDH
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 24, 2022
He was diagnosed with an injured patellar tendon and is described as being week-to-week. Head coach Pete Carroll, the ever-optimist, has not ruled him out yet for Week 8. In fact...
Asked Pete Carroll a follow-up if it's accurate that it's unlikely DK Metcalf (knee) plays for Seahawks Sunday vs Giants.
"I'm going to leave it wide open...I can't call it."
Says team will give him couple days to rest it then reassess.
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) October 24, 2022
However, history tells us we cannot take anything Carroll says seriously when it relates to injuries. As optimistic as Carroll is and regardless of how much Metcalf may want to play, it's highly unlikely he takes the field in Week 8. Fantasy managers should be planning to be without him this upcoming weekend.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
Amon-Ra St. Brown was ruled out very early in their loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He was ruled out as part of the new concussion protocol following the Tua Tagovailoa dilemma.
#Lions HC Dan Campbell says WR Amon-Ra St. Brown did not suffer a concussion — but was removed from the game because under the new protocols a player is taken out if he shows signs of poor muscle control (stumbling/instability).
The same happened to Teddy Bridgewater recently.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 24, 2022
Despite not being diagnosed with a concussion, he'll still need to pass through the concussion protocol in the same manner Teddy Bridgewater had to when he was removed from the game due to the new concussion protocol without being diagnosed with a concussion. This is the league's effort to ensure any player with a concussion does not return to the field.
Head coach Dan Campbell is optimistic that St. Brown will be available in Week 8. Considering his status is currently up in the air for a concussion he technically was not diagnosed with, fantasy managers should be confident he'll be available this weekend.
Los Angeles Chargers Wide Receivers
The Chargers are on bye this week and boy, does this team need it. Keenan Allen is still very clearly dealing with a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 1. He was a limited practice participant every day last week, leading up to their Week 8 contest. However, it was still reported Allen would be on a snap count. He ended up playing 23 of the team's 71 snaps. Hopefully, having another two weeks off will do the trick and when the team returns to action in Week 9, Allen will be 100%.
Mike Williams is the bigger question mark. He ended up leaving their game this past weekend in the second half due to an ankle injury. The video of the injury led to most bracing for, at best, a high ankle sprain, and at worst, a fractured ankle. Luckily for Williams, the Chargers, and fantasy managers, MRI results indicated Williams suffered a high ankle sprain. However, the sprain is believed to be a significant one and it's likely to keep him out for several weeks. While the bye week will give him two weeks to heal, fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting him to suit up when the Chargers return to action in Week 9.
#Chargers WR Mike Williams is out "weeks not days" with the ankle injury he suffered on Sunday, coach Brandon Staley said. Injuries are piling up.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 24, 2022
Joshua Palmer did not play in Week 7 due to a concussion. With the additional two weeks off, Palmer will have three total weeks to clear the concussion protocol. While each person recovers at a different speed, typically recovery times indicate fantasy managers should be very optimistic about Palmer's availability in Week 9.
UPDATE 2:30 pm ET: Los Angeles wide receiver Mike Williams (ankle) is expected to miss at least four weeks after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Week 7 loss against the Seattle Seahawks. The star receiver had his ankle rolled up after making a catch last week. Many feared his season was over, given how bad the injury looked. Thankfully, the former first-round pick only has a high-ankle sprain and will return at some point this season. Unfortunately, Williams could be placed on injured reserve if the Chargers expect him to miss at least four weeks. With the former Clemson star unable to play, Joshua Palmer, Gerald Everett, and DeAndre Carter will see an increase in targets.
Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
Who knows? He suffered a toe injury in Week 3 that was originally reported as minor. In fact, initial reports indicated he may not even miss any games. That was four weeks ago. He was ruled out for last week's Thursday night game on Tuesday. Not even a gametime decision.
At this time, it's anyone's best guess when, or rather if, Michael Thomas will play again this season. That may seem extreme and to be fair, there's been absolutely zero indication his season is over. However, given his history over the past two seasons, fantasy managers have to be panicking a bit.
Fantasy managers will need to pay attention to the Saints' practice report throughout the week to get a better idea of his potential availability.
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
Rashod Bateman missed the two games prior to Week 7 with a foot injury. He returned this past week and played 36 of the team's 64 snaps. With Baltimore playing on Thursday night, fantasy managers got early access to the Ravens' practice report and it isn't ideal for the second-year receiver.
Ravens WR Rashod Bateman was added to injury report Tuesday after not practicing because of a foot injury.
He had missed two games with a foot injury before returning for Sunday's 23-20 win over the Browns.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) October 25, 2022
Given the short turnaround this week, the fact that he missed two games prior to Week 7, and played just over 50% of the team's snaps in Week 7, his potential availability has to be considered on the wrong side of questionable.
Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are already short-handed at receiver. To be fair, they were short-handed at receiver before the season even started. However, now entering Week 8, they're likely without second-round rookie Christian Watson and slot receiver Randall Cobb.
Allen Lazard walked through the locker room just now with his left arm in a sling. He suffered a shoulder injury yesterday.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 24, 2022
Head coach Matt LaFleur had very little to say about Lazard's injury or his upcoming potential availability. Fantasy managers will need to check the practice report throughout the week to get a read on what Lazard's status might be this weekend.
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