Quarterbacks

Jayden Daniels

Injury: Knee injury

Analysis: Daniels will miss another game with his left knee injury. Another week of rehab will reduce re-injury risk and injury-based decline in rushing production. With this being his left knee, throwing will be relatively unaffected when he returns.

Brock Purdy

Injury: Toe injury

Analysis: Purdy will return to action on Sunday, playing through a toe injury. Described as a "turf toe variant," which is a ridiculous description, this injury will functionally be similar to a traditional turf toe. We don't have official word on which toe is injured, and this makes a big difference. Video review shows a right toe getting smashed into the ground; however, this is not officially confirmed. Either toe would limit pocket mobility, but the right big toe could also limit throw power and accuracy. Purdy has had nearly three weeks to rehab, so any limitations will be minimal at this point. He himself may not be an elite fantasy start, but he elevates the San Francisco offensive assets even with some potential limitations.

Baker Mayfield

Injury: Arm injury

Analysis: Mayfield has been limited all week in what is described as a biceps injury. We saw Mayfield get whacked in the right arm during Sunday's game and was visibly clenching and opening his fingers afterwards, which is typically due to the ulnar nerve (funny bone) getting whacked. There are no reports of lingering nerve issues (often this is transient and not long-term), and Mayfield likely took a shot to the biceps in the same hit, causing some bruising.

Assuming Mayfield can get pain under control, a mild biceps injury should not be enough to keep him out of the game or cause any major decline in throw power and accuracy.

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Justin Fields

Injury: Concussion

Analysis: Fields has passed the NFL concussion protocol and will play. This should not affect his fantasy production.

Cam Ward

Injury: Ankle / Calf injury

Analysis: Ward had been limited with an ankle and calf injury but has resumed full practice. Typically, an ankle or calf injury could impact a quarterback's mobility, and if it's his pushoff leg, his throw power, but such a mild injury will not affect Ward in week 4.

Mac Jones

Injury: Left PCL injury

Analysis: Jones was limited all week after aggravating a left PCL injury. He is not in line to start with Brock Purdy returning, but Jones appears ready to play despite his injury if needed. This would impact his mobility but not his throwing.

Running Backs

D’Andre Swift

Injury: Hip injury

Analysis: Swift was limited in practice all week but is tracking to play through a hip injury. Hip injuries can impact a runner's agility and ability to change directions, a skill that is essential to Swift's game. Running backs historically average a 25% hit on fantasy points in the first game after a hip injury. Expect Swift to be mildly hampered by this injury if he plays.

Chuba Hubbard

Injury: Calf injury

Analysis: Hubbard was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday with a calf injury. The calf muscle is one of the most critical muscle groups for acceleration and sprinting, and when injured, it can impact an athlete's burst. Fortunately, running backs historically can overcome these deficits and show only a 7% dip in fantasy points on average. With Hubbard at least participating in practice Thursday and Friday, I suspect his is mild and is less likely to be hampered as long as he can play. Calf injuries do have a 15-20% recurrence rate, which is a risk.

Jaylen Warren

Injury: Knee Injury

Analysis: Warren was limited all week in practice and after warming up on Sunday has been ruled out. We will check back in on Warren's status next week.

Will Shipley

Injury: Oblique injury

Analysis: Shipley is off the injury report and will return to his backup role this week. The obliques are highly involved in rotating the torso to make a catch as well as bracing the torso when blocking or taking on a hit, but typically running backs' stat lines are unaffected when returning from an oblique injury. Shipley is clearly in a backup role and a worthwhile start in fantasy.

Bhayshul Tuten

Injury: Shoulder injury

Analysis: Tuten is off the injury report and will play through a mild shoulder injury, as he did last week. A mild injury is unlikely to cause a major decline in fantasy points for a running back.

Bill Croskey-Merritt

Injury: Knee injury

Analysis: Bill logged a full practice on Friday and is questionable for Sunday with a knee injury. Washington has not revealed which tissues are involved, as minor knee injuries usually are kept vague. His lack of participation in any capacity on Wednesday and Thursday is concerning, but a full practice on Friday makes it unlikely this is a serious injury. He may be hampered somewhat, but not significantly.

Wide Receivers

Malik Nabers

Injury: Back/Shoulder injury

Analysis: Nabers will likely be on the injury report almost every week, but to date, none of his injuries have been major. He is off the injury report and will play. He should continue to play at a high level.

Nico Collins

Injury: Knee injury

Analysis: Initially limited in practice on Wednesday, Collins resumed full practice and will play. Mild knee injuries do not profile to impact an elite receiver like Collins, and he remains a must-start.

Davante Adams

Injury: Hamstring injury

Analysis: Adams is questionable after only logging a limited practice on Friday with a hamstring injury. The hamstring is critical for sprinting, especially for receivers getting down the field. When injured, top-flight speed can be impacted, and the risk for re-injury is 20-30%. With Adams' age (32), healing is less efficient, and his risk will be on the higher end.

Receivers historically average a 15% dip in fantasy points after a hamstring injury. A number that is not enough to stop fantasy managers from starting Adams, but could curb his upside this week.

Terry McLaurin

Injury: Quad / Core injury

Analysis: McLauring is out this week. Most reports state he is dealing with a quad injury, but he did meet with a "core specialist," which may create some confusion. One of the quad muscles, the rectus femoris, attaches to the pelvis and has direct fascial connections with the core muscles. It is possible his injury is to the rectus femoris or its tendon.

There is also speculation that he is dealing with a sports hernia, which is a core muscle and/or groin injury. Mild sports hernias are often treated conservatively, though outcomes are not always great.

For now, McLaurin is out for week 4; expect more details to emerge through the week.

Chris Godwin

Injury: Ankle dislocation

Analysis: Godwin practiced on Wednesday and Friday (Thursday rest day) and is questionable for week 4. If Godwin can play, it will be interesting to see how he looks coming off a major surgery to repair a dislocated ankle.

Oftentimes, following a major ankle surgery, athletes never regain a full range of motion, speed, power, etc. To date, we have not seen any videos of Godwin going full speed in practice, making it difficult to predict how he will look. Risk for injury will be heightened, as major ankle surgeries often leave residual mechanical impairments that put excessive stress elsewhere on the body.

All that said, I am looking forward to seeing how Godwin looks. It would be a major risk to start him in his first game back, but Tampa's receiving corps is depleted, which could force targets his way.

Xavier Worthy

Injury: Shoulder dislocation

Analysis: Worthy is on track to make his return in week 4. Three weeks is the average time missed for a shoulder dislocation, and Worthy will line up well with this timeline. At this point, his range of motion should be adequate to make all the catches, but stability is a major concern. Three weeks is not enough time to fully restore lost strength and stability, but it is enough time to get him functional enough to play in some capacity. I suspect Kansas City will utilize Worthy predominantly to stretch the field, which will reduce his overall snap count and volume of targets.

Playing football after a shoulder dislocation significantly increases the risk for another dislocation (55% will re-dislocate). Another dislocation will knock Worthy out for at least that game (likely many more games). This means starting Worthy is a major risk not only for reduced workload but also for him being knocked out at any point in the game.

Worthy absolutely has value for Kansas City this week, even if just in a field-stretching capacity, but for fantasy, he is extremely risky to start this week.

Ricky Pearsall

Injury: Knee injury

Analysis: Pearsall is questionable with a knee injury. Teams will often list it as "knee injury" when it is not severe enough to actually tell us the tissue that is injured. In any case, a knee injury can impact a receiver's ability to get in and out of his routes efficiently. Pearsall did log limited practices on Thursday and Friday, so his injury is not overly concerning. Expect minimal impact at worst.

Tet McMillan

Injury: Calf injury

Analysis: Tet is dealing with a calf injury, which historically is a receiver's nemesis. Calf injuries are critical for acceleration, sprinting, and jumping, all of which are skills receivers must do regularly. Receivers average a whopping 36% dip in fantasy points in the first game after a calf injury, making it likely Tet has a down performance if he is able to play.

Tet did log limited practices on Thursday and Friday, which is encouraging, and does look the part of a bona fide WR1, however, his current injury should create caution for fantasy managers this week. Calf injuries also carry a 15-20% recurrence rate.

Jauan Jennings

Injury: Ankle / Shoulder injury

Analysis: After missing practice on Thursday and Friday, Jennings was able to practice in a limited fashion on Friday. His game status remains to be seen, but it is reasonable to assume he is not at 100% if he plays. Ankle injuries can impact a receiver's ability to change direction and run crisp routes, and have a recurrence rate >20%. Receivers average a 14% dip in fantasy points in the first game after injury, making Jennings a risky fantasy option even if he does play.

Xavier Legette

Injury: Hamstring injury

Analysis: Legette will miss another game due to his hamstring injury. Receivers average missing 1.9 games; Legette will look to return next week.

Alec Pierce

Injury: Concussion

Analysis: Pierce has not cleared the concussion protocol and will miss week 4.

Cedric Tillman

Injury: Hand / Hip injury

Analysis: Tillman was initially limited in practice but logged a full day on Friday with hand and hip injuries. A full practice indicates the hand injury won't limit his ability to catch the ball. Hip injuries can impact top speed and agility, but receivers historically average no drop off in fantasy production.

Tight Ends

Kyle Pitts

Injury: Toe injury

Analysis: Pitts was limited in practice as a precautionary measure this week (similar to last week). He is off the injury report and will play. Toe injuries can impact acceleration and speed, but Pitts has already played through this, and his fantasy output was not impacted compared to his baseline (still not great).

David Njoku

Injury: Knee injury

Analysis: Initially limited in practice with a knee injury, Njoku will play on Sunday with no restrictions. A mild knee injury may subtly impact agility but for a big tight end, it is unlikely to harm his fantasy output.

Isaiah Likely

Injury: Foot fracture

Analysis: Likely appears on track to make his debut this week as he returns from a foot fracture. Expect Likely to be a little slower than usual for a week or two as he reacclimates, particularly with changing direction more so than straight sprinting. Fortunately, Likely's size is a big part of his effectiveness, and this has not changed. Likely can be a risky TE stream this week, with more reliable weeks to come in the near future.

Colston Loveland

Injury: Hip injury

Analysis: Loveland missed two practices but put in a limited practice on Friday with a hip injury however has been ruled out for week 4. Hip injuries will impact a player's ability to change direction, but tight ends tend to be unaffected from a fantasy standpoint. Loveland is not yet a reliable starter in fantasy.