One week down, and the injuries are already piling up for key fantasy players. In this NFL Week 2 injury updates and fantasy outlook, we break down what to expect from Drake London and Jaylen Waddle as they play through shoulder issues, why Brock Purdy and George Kittle are set to miss time, and how their returns could affect your lineups. All of that, plus quick notes on the rest of this week’s biggest injury storylines, below.

Quarterbacks

Brock Purdy

Injury: Left shoulder / Toe

Purdy is expected to miss Week 2 and possibly Week 3 with a toe injury. Kyle Shanahan’s description suggests a collateral ligament injury of the big toe, which is slightly different from typical turf toe, but the function and return to play are similar. Shanahan won’t say which toe, but the video shows his right foot/toe getting trapped, making a right-side injury possible, although it is not confirmed. A right big-toe issue can impact push-off, reducing throw power and accuracy. With a 2–5 week timeline, this likely reflects a grade II injury with some tissue laxity. These can linger, but for a pure pocket passer like Purdy, once pain and range of motion are restored, he should play well.

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Mac Jones

Running Backs

James Cook

Injury: Hamstring Injury

Analysis: Cook was initially limited in practice with a mild hamstring injury but has been full-go since Thursday. His limitation on Wednesday was likely soreness or a veteran rest day, and the typical 20–30% recurrence rate with hamstring injuries is not going to apply to Cook. Running backs average no drop-off in fantasy production in their first game back, making Cook a safe, high-upside play for Week 2.

Jonathan Taylor

Injury: Neck Injury

Analysis: Taylor is completely fine after appearing to have a minor neck injury in week 1. This will not affect him.

Will Shipley

Injury: Rib Injury

Analysis: Shipley has a rib fracture as well as an oblique injury and will miss some time. Typical bone healing timelines are 4-6 weeks, but often players can return sooner with rib fractures. Running backs average missing just over one game with rib injuries, but expect Shipley to miss more. Shipley is not yet fantasy-relevant, and with the addition of Tank Bigsby, if you need roster space, you can drop Shipley.

Wide Receivers

Xavier Worthy

Injury: Shoulder Dislocation

Analysis: Worthy will rehab and brace his shoulder rather than rush into surgery. This can work, and he can play well, but the re-dislocation rate is ~55%. NFL players average about three weeks missed after a shoulder dislocation, so Andy Reid’s “day-to-day” is realistically week-to-week, and he is currently doubtful to play against Philadelphia. If Worthy re-dislocates, the clock resets, and the risk of additional labrum damage rises. He’ll likely need surgery at some point, ideally after the season.

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Marquise Brown, Juju Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton

Jaylen Waddle

Injury: Shoulder Injury

Analysis: Waddle is off the injury report and will play. Video review of the play shows Waddle's left elbow striking the ground in about 80 degrees of shoulder elevation, and we can see a mild posterior translation at the shoulder. Waddle may have experienced a mild subluxation and is dealing with soreness and irritation. This is far less serious than Worthy's shoulder dislocation. Receivers average a small 8% dip in fantasy points in the first game after a shoulder injury.

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Malik Washington, Dee Eskridge, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Drake London

Injury: AC Joint Injury

Analysis: London will play in week two after suffering a mild AC joint injury on Sunday. Re-injury rates are only 10%, which is not enough to scare fantasy managers. Receivers average a 28% dip in fantasy points in the first game after an AC joint injury; however, London's heavy usage and mild nature of his injury make it unlikely he sees such a significant hit on production. He still warrants a start.

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Ray-Ray McLoud, KhaDarel Hodge, Kyle Pitts

Malik Nabers

Injury: Back

Analysis: Nabers is off the injury report and ready to play on Sunday. Practice videos showed him moving extremely well, which is typically the case with back tightness. As long as he warms up properly on Sunday, which he will, this will not be a factor.

Jauan Jennings

Injury: Shoulder Injury

Analysis: Jennings practiced on Friday after missing both Wednesday and Thursday. The best news is that both MRI and CT scans did not show any sinister injury. Receivers average an 8% dip in fantasy points in the first game after a shoulder injury, but with San Francisco's pass-catching options extremely limited, Jennigns could see a high volume of Mac Jones targets if he can go. Be sure to check in before game time to ensure he is playing.

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Kendrick Bourne (recently signed), Russell Gage

Kayshon Boutte

Injury: Shoulder

Analysis: Boutte logged a full practice on Friday and will play through a mild shoulder injury. Boutte was heavily targeted in week one and appears to have a good rapport with Drake Maye. Receivers average only an 8% dip in fantasy points after a shoulder injury, making Boutte a solid WR3/flex in week two.

Michael Pittman Jr.

Injury: Glute Injury

Analysis: Pittman is full-go after a mild glute injury. The glutes are the biggest, strongest muscles in the body and are critical for speed, agility, and power. Most glute injuries are bruising; occasionally, there is tendon injury as well, but this needs to be significant to impact function. Pittman likely was bruised, and as the bruising clears up, function will return fully. Expect no ill effects from this injury.

Darnell Mooney

Injury: Shoulder

Analysis: Mooney has been cleared to play after missing all of camp and week one with a shoulder injury. Details of his injury have been scarce, but he has had adequate time to rehab and should be close to 100%. Since we do not know which tissue is injured, we cannot use research to estimate a re-injury rate.

Wan'Dale Robinson

Injury: Ankle Injury

Analysis: Robinson is questionable for Saturday with an ankle injury. A quick receiver like Robinson, who relies on his agility, can be affected by these types of injuries. Ankle injuries can impact cutting and change of direction more than straight-line speed, and carry a 29% recurrence rate. Receivers average a 14% decline in fantasy points in the first game after an ankle injury. Even if Robinson plays, best keep him on the bench (or waivers) this week.

Tight Ends

Brock Bowers

Injury: Knee Injury

Analysis: Bowers has not practiced so far this week and is donning a brace and sleeve on his left knee. Bowers landed hard on his left knee with the knee maximally flexed, a mechanism consistent with a PCL injury. If true, knee stability when pushing off may be impaired for a few weeks, impacting his ability to create separation and run after the catch. His status needs to be monitored up until game time (10 pm Monday night). With Bowers playing in the final game of week two, a pivot must be on your roster.

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Michael Mayer

George Kittle

Injury: Hamstring Injury

Analysis: Kittle is expected to miss 3–5 weeks, consistent with a grade II strain. Fantasy managers will need to find a replacement in the meantime. Hamstring injuries carry a 20–30% re-injury rate, and given Kittle’s age (31) and history of prior strains, his risk is even higher.

While hamstrings impact sprinting and explosive movements, tight ends historically only see about a 2% dip in fantasy points and a 14% drop in snap rate in their first game back, giving reassurance that Kittle should remain a strong fantasy option once he returns.

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Jake Tonges

Evan Engram

Injury: Calf Injury

Analysis: Engram's calf injury appears to have been more of a bruise than a true muscle injury. He is off the injury report and will play. Tight ends average a 13% dip in fantasy points in game one after a calf injury, but I would not expect this to be the case for Engram since his injury was so minor.

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Adam Trautman

Dalls Goedert

Injury: Knee injury

Analysis: Goedert has been ruled out with a knee injury. We will monitor the status of the oft-injured tight end next week.

Isaiah Likely

Injury: Foot fracture

Analysis: Likely is not yet ready to return; we will revisit his status next week.

Mason Taylor

Injury: Ankle injury

Analysis: Taylor practiced in full on Friday but is still questionable for Sunday's game with an ankle injury. While ankle injuries can impact a player's ability to change direction, they usually do not affect tight ends nearly as much as other positions. Tight ends average no drop-off in fantasy points after an ankle injury.

Darren Waller

Injury: Hip

Analysis: Waller remains out with a mysterious hip injury. We will revisit his status next week.