Week 5 Fantasy Football Injuries, Coachspeak and News to Help You Win: Ashton Jeanty Injury Watch Is On

Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison

Jefferson says he plans to play through the ankle injury, but he and Addison are both officially questionable. Jefferson is still a WR1 if he's active. Addison is WR22 in my current ranks, with room to move up if Jefferson sits.

Hockenson is TE12 in my current ranks and moves up if either WR sits.

Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller and Aaron Jones

Kamara is questionable with a back injury. New Orleans was already managing him before Travis Etienne went on injured reserve, and Kendre Miller is expected to get more snaps even if Kamara plays.

I have Kamara at RB23 if active, though I will almost certainly be moving him further down before kickoff and Miller at RB41. Miller becomes a gross flex if Kamara sits. It’s just a really tough matchup and a timeshare backfield no matter who misses time or not.

Christian Darrisaw is out with a concussion, and Brian O'Neill is questionable with a knee injury. Minnesota could be missing both starting tackles, but Aaron Jones is still an RB1 against one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. He's handled at least 17 carries in three straight games and is my RB11 against a Saints defense missing Kaden Elliss and several other contributors.

Chris Olave has no injury designation and is good to go. He's my WR5 after New Orleans continued to make him the first option in the passing game.

Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins

Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Mike Gesicki and Dohnte Meyers

Chase and Higgins are both questionable after full practices Friday. Chase still needs independent clearance from the concussion protocol. Higgins missed Wednesday and Thursday with groin and neck injuries, so Friday's full practice is encouraging, but we still need to confirm he's active Sunday.

Gesicki is my TE9 and a streamer if either Chase or Higgins sits. He does not need both WRs out to pick up enough routes and targets to matter.

Dohnte Meyers is WR28 in my current ranks, but I would only use him if one of Chase or Higgins misses. He earned 8 targets after Chase left last week.

Ollie Gordon II and the Miami Receivers

Jaylen Wright is questionable. Gordon is my RB31 if Wright plays and moves into the RB2 range if Wright sits, since he would likely consolidate more of the work.

Caleb Douglas is out, and Chris Bell is cleared to play. Malik Washington is my WR30 and remains the safest Miami receiver for PPR volume, with Bell being more of a deep threat flier.

Cleveland Browns at New York Jets

Braelon Allen and the Jets Offense

Breece Hall and Adonai Mitchell are out again. Allen played 94% of the snaps last week and handled 16 touches, while no other Jets RB received a carry.

The Jets are also without starting guard Dylan Parham, but Cleveland is missing Mason Graham, Mike Hall, and Kalia Davis along the defensive line. Allen is my RB13 and remains the clear lead back regardless of Aaron Glenn continuing to mention Isaiah Davis.

Mason Taylor practiced fully all week and has no injury designation, so he's cleared to return. That could push Kenyon Sadiq back into a rotational role. Sadiq has been gaining snaps and produced in one of the two weeks while Taylor was out. He's a TE2 this week, and I'll be watching how the Jets divide the routes between them for the future.

New York Giants at Washington Commanders

Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin and the Washington Receivers

Daniels is back as the confirmed starter and will wear a brace on the elbow. He said the brace will not change how he plays. He's my QB10 against the Giants.

Stefon Diggs is out, while McLaurin returned to practice Friday and looked good. McLaurin is still questionable. If he plays, he's a WR3 in his first game back from the hamstring injury. Antonio Williams becomes a high-end WR3 if McLaurin sits again and is a Flex with Diggs missing.

Rachaad White and Jacory Croskey-Merritt both have no injury designations, so all three backs should be available, with Austin Ekeler also in the mix. I would rather avoid this backfield until we see how Washington divides the carries.

Malik Nabers and the Giants Offense

Nabers and Andrew Thomas both practiced fully on Friday and don't have injury designations, so they'll play Sunday - Nabers is my WR13. Thomas' return improves the protection and gives Winston a better chance to hit Nabers downfield against this blitz-heavy defense. Washington is also without Nick Cross, Percy Butler, and Tyler Owens at safety, which makes this an even better spot for Nabers. Heavy rain and gusty winds are in the forecast for Sunday, so I'll keep an eye on whether the Giants have to lean more on the run game.

Isaiah Likely also practiced fully on Friday and has no injury designation. He's my TE5.

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

Tyson Bagent, D'Andre Swift and the Bears Offense

Tyson Bagent will start again with Caleb Williams still officially questionable (and not expected to play).

Kyle Monangai is out, and Swift has no injury designation after a full Friday practice. With Monangai sidelined, Swift is an RB1 and a smash in this spot where I expect him to consolidate most of the RB touches.

I have Burden at WR27, Odunze at WR42, and Loveland at TE18. Maybe one day we get Burden running 80% or more of the routes - then he will be a WR2 again.

The Packers Backfield and Offensive Line

Josh Jacobs remains unavailable on the commissioner's exempt list, and Chris Brooks is out. Green Bay elevated Pierre Strong, with MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson already expected to split the backfield.

I don't want to start any of them. The Packers are still dealing with injuries at guard and tackle, and this has been one of the worst run-blocking units in the league, even though the matchup is great against this Bears run defense. If I have to play one, I choose MarShawn Lloyd. Also, maybe Kevin Zeitler starting at guard helps this offensive line a little more.

Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers

Keenan Allen, Josh Downs and Tyler Warren

Allen is questionable with the groin injury, while Alec Pierce and Ashton Dulin are out. Downs and Warren are the two Colts pass catchers I want regardless of Allen's status.

Downs is my WR20 and Warren my TE6. Slayton is also questionable with a knee injury. 

Jamel Dean and DeShon Elliott have both been ruled out, and Jalen Ramsey is questionable with a wrist injury. Pittsburgh could be starting a rookie and a newly signed corner, which is another reason I like the Colts' passing game this week.

Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle

Michael Pittman Jr. is out for multiple weeks, and Dowdle is questionable. Germie Bernard will likely get most of the outside WR reps similar to Week 2, but Roman Wilson is the short-term starter that I want for this week given the slot-funnel nature of the Colts' secondary.

Warren is my RB7 right now. If Dowdle is cleared, that ranking comes down and Warren becomes more of an RB2 given that I expect a more meaningful timeshare.

Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers Offensive Line and Receivers

The Chargers have injury problems everywhere. Joe Alt, Kayode Awosika, and Trevor Penning are out along the offensive line, and Rashawn Slater also missed practice time. Quentin Johnston has been ruled out with the chest injury. Ladd McConkey remains questionable, but he didn't practice all week with his foot injury. Harbaugh previously described it as week-to-week, so I wouldn't count on him playing.

Denver has ruled out both Patrick Surtain and Riley Moss, which is a nice boost to the Chargers' passing game. I still have Justin Herbert at QB21 given all the injuries to his offensive line and weapons.

I haven't ranked McConkey yet, while Harris is my WR31 and Gadsden is TE14. If McConkey sits or is limited, Harris should run a lot of routes against a Denver defense missing both starting outside corners. He’s still just a WR3 in this shaky offense.

Courtland Sutton and the Denver Offense

Pat Bryant was placed on short-term injured reserve with his ankle injury and will miss at least four games, opening up routes for the remaining receivers. Derwin James and Donte Jackson are both out for the Chargers, which helps the Denver passing matchup. 

Sean Payton confirmed he's taking back play-calling duties from Davis Webb this week. I want to see if that changes the pace or the passing game, but Sutton stays WR40 and Waddle WR16 in my ranks. Maybe he can get Bo Nix to attack further down the field.

Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals

Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier

Love practiced fully on Friday and has no injury designation. Given some of his recent comments, I am a bit worried about his playing time, but the game environment could be electric, so I would still opt to start him as an RB2.

The Detroit Backfield

Ben Bartch and Cade Mays have both been ruled out, leaving Detroit short-handed along the offensive line. Gibbs is still my RB1, but the interior injuries could lower the rushing efficiency of the entire offense. 

Brian Branch and Rock Ya-Sin are also out on defense, which helps Arizona's passing matchup.

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks

Mike Evans, George Kittle and the Missing Fullback

Mike Evans has no injury designation after managing his rib injury during the week. I have him as WR21, Deebo as WR33, and Kittle as TE3.

Emanuel Wilson and the Seahawks Backfield

Zach Charbonnet is still on PUP and won't play Sunday, while Jadarian Price is on IR with a chest injury. Emanuel Wilson handled 21 carries for 81 yards and caught 3 passes for 39 yards and another TD last week. George Holani is questionable with rib and knee injuries, and San Francisco will be without Nick Bosa again. I have Wilson as my RB14 with another chance to handle the majority of the backfield.

Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons

Tyler Huntley, Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews

Lamar Jackson is out, and Huntley will start. Huntley completed 8 of 9 passes in relief last week, but Baltimore did not score in the second half. This obviously brings tremendous downside to the offense overall, which reduces the ceiling for Zay Flowers and Derrick Henry (who I’m still starting anyway).

Flowers is officially questionable with the foot injury, but ESPN's Jamison Hensley reports he's expected to play Sunday night. He's my WR17 if active. Do not start Mark Andrews if you can avoid it.

The Falcons Passing Game

Baltimore could be without Marlon Humphrey and will not have Trey Hendrickson. Michael Penix and Drake London have another path to a strong game if the Ravens' secondary is depleted.

Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams (Monday Night)

DJ Moore, Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid

Moore missed both Thursday and Friday with the shoulder injury, while Coleman practiced fully on Friday. Joshua Palmer was also limited Friday with a shoulder injury, so he's not a completely clean fallback if Moore sits. We still need Buffalo's Saturday report before making a call on Monday's receivers.

Coleman is WR38 in my current ranks and moves into the WR3 range if Moore sits. Khalil Shakir also played on the outside last week after Moore left the game, so he’s also in the WR3 range without Moore (though playing time is riskier). Kincaid is TE8 and moves up if Moore is out.