Fantasy Football Injury Reports For Week 1 (Sunday Morning Updates): Ja'Marr Chase, Christian McCaffrey, Russell Wilson, Keenan Allen, Tee Higgins, and more

September 8, 2024

Fantasy football injury updates and injury reports for RB, WR, TE for Week 1 (2024), as of 9/8, including Ja'Marr Chase, Christian McCaffrey, Russell Wilson, Keenan Allen, Tyler Lockett, and more.

Heading into Week 1 of the NFL season, injuries continue to impact the upcoming schedule. These play a huge factor in start/sit decisions for fantasy managers. Our injury updates and reports for Week 1 as of Sunday, September 8, 2024, will give you the latest updates on key fantasy football assets.

The injury news for Week 1 of the NFL season has featured many notable fantasy football players, such as Ja'Marr Chase, Christian McCaffrey, Russell Wilson, Keenan Allen, Tyler Lockett, and more.

To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NFL, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy football player news page, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy football mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. Let's look at the updates for some key fantasy options and see whether they may play in Week 1.

Ja'Marr Chase Injury Update

Chase (illness) woke up ill on Saturday but felt better by the end of the day, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. These are encouraging signs that the star receiver, currently listed as questionable, could be well enough to play. However, without a contract extension signed, he could still choose to keep himself off the field for some or all of the Bengals' offensive snaps against New England.

UPDATE: Chase is officially active for Week 1 but could be on a snap count.

Ja’Marr Chase (questionable, illness) woke up ill Saturday but felt better later in the day, and the #Bengals have had him in the game plan this week, per source. That can be adjusted if he sits, but those are a few encouraging signs.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 8, 2024

Christian McCaffrey Injury Update

UPDATE: Christian McCaffrey has been ruled out for Week 1 and will not play. Jordan Mason is an RB2 and must stash if still available before lineups lock.

McCaffrey (calf, Achilles) is questionable to play on Monday night but should be able to suit up while handling a full workload, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. McCaffrey also said on Friday that there was no doubt he'd be able to play against the Jets despite being limited in practice all week. McCaffrey is a locked and loaded RB1.

"McCaffrey was a limited participant in practice all week but said Friday he had no doubt that he would play against the Jets and was hopeful that he could take on his usual workload as the team's primary back." https://t.co/Q1qXW2JyZo

— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) September 8, 2024

Russell Wilson Injury Update

Wilson (calf) will be evaluated on Sunday morning and will be involved in the decision-making process as the Steelers establish whether he's able to suit up against the Falcons. However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport notes that the Steelers are typically cautious with calf injuries, and as it stands, Justin Fields is "more likely" to draw the start. If confirmed, Fields would rank as a fantasy QB2.

UPDATE: Wilson is officially inactive for Week 1. Fields will start in his place. 

The #Steelers are expected to examine QB Russell Wilson this morning to check out his calf, but as it stands now, it’s more likely Justin Fields starts vs the #Falcons than Wilson, per me and @MikeGarafolo.

The team is cautious with calf injuries. Wilson is questionable. pic.twitter.com/IrLE33syF6

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 8, 2024

DeAndre Hopkins Injury Update

Hopkins (knee) is expected to be active for Sunday's season opener against the Bears. However, he's still dealing with lingering effects from his injury and could play reduced snaps.

UPDATE: Hopkins is officially active for Week 1.

#Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins (questionable, knee) is set to play Sunday at Chicago, per source, though how much he plays is uncertain and could come down to pain management.

Hopkins revealed to reporters this week that he’s fighting through an MCL tear.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 7, 2024

Keenan Allen Injury Update

Allen (heel) was listed as questionable but is expected to play Sunday against the Titans, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Allen will operate as the Bears' No. 2 receiver while ranking as a WR3/FLEX option in fantasy football.

UPDATE: Allen is officially active for Week 1. 

#Bears WR Keenan Allen (heel) and standout pass-rusher Montez Sweat (toe), both of whom are listed as questionable, are both expected to play Sunday, sources say.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 8, 2024

Tyler Lockett Injury Update

UPDATE: Lockett is officially active for Week 1. 

Lockett (thigh) is expected to play on Sunday despite being listed as questionable, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The veteran is a fringe top-36 fantasy receiver heading into Week 1.

#Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett, listed as questionable with a thigh injury, is expected to play today, source said.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 8, 2024

Antonio Gibson Injury Update

Gibson (hip) is expected to play against the Bengals in Week 1 despite being listed as questionable, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. However, he's tough to trust in fantasy football, given his backup role behind Rhamondre Stevenson. He can be avoided in most 12-team leagues.

UPDATE: Gibson is officially active for Week 1. 

Patriots RB Antonio Gibson, listed as questionable for Sunday’s opener against the Bengals due to a hip injury, plans to play, per @MikeReiss.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 8, 2024

Tee Higgins Injury Update

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) is officially listed as doubtful for the team's season opener on Sunday. Higgins tweaked his hamstring during Thursday's practice and missed practice on Friday, despite saying he felt "amazing" on Thursday. Higgins has a lengthy history of hamstring issues and it now appears that he'll miss his first game of 2024.

UPDATE: Higgins is officially inactive for Week 1. 

Bengals are listing Tee Higgins as doubtful for Sunday’s game vs. the Patriots due to his hamstring injury, and Ja’Marr Chase as questionable.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 6, 2024

Fellow wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is listed as questionable due to ongoing contract disputes. Andrei Iosivas is in line for more playing time and could be the team's de-facto top wide receiver against the Patriots if Higgins and Chase don't suit up.

More Fantasy Football Analysis