NFL injury report: The situations to monitor for Week 5

Every Tuesday this season, we will review the most recent injury news through the lens of fantasy football.

Injuries are an unfortunate part of football, but there’s always a “next man up” — and fantasy players need to know the situations to monitor to take early advantage of changing situations.

A lot can change between now and kickoff, but these are the biggest situations to monitor thought the week.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo , San Francisco 49ers (ankle)

Garoppolo’s status for Week 5 is still up in the air, and it’s best to consider him week-to-week at this point. He doesn’t need to be on your one-QB roster.

Sam Darnold , New York Jets (shoulder)

Darold sprained his shoulder in Week 4, but he played through the injury and seems likely to play in Week 5. Darnold shouldn’t be started in one-QB leagues, but in twp-QB formats he’s worth a look against the Cardinals.

Drew Lock , Denver Broncos (shoulder)

Lock is nearing his return and may come down to a game-time decision against the Patriots in Week 5. It’s a brutal matchup even if he does play. Look elsewhere.

Running back Nick Chubb , Cleveland Browns (knee)

Chubb landed on IR with an MCL injury after getting rolled on from behind in the first quarter. He’s reportedly set to miss “several weeks.” In Chubb’s absence, Kareem Hunt becomes a solid RB1 with top-five upside, with D'Ernest Johnson becoming the backup and having marginal flex appeal in a run-heavy offense as well.

Austin Ekeler , Los Angeles Chargers (hamstring, knee)

Ekeler hurt both his hamstring and his knee in Week 4, and he’s primed to miss 4-6 weeks as a result. That’s half of the rest of the fantasy regular season. Ekeler should remain on your roster, but rookie Joshua Kelley becomes an instant every-week fantasy starter in Ekeler’s absence. Kelley already had 10-plus touches in every game this year and may now push for 18-22 on a weekly basis.

Raheem Mostert , San Francisco 49ers (knee)

Mostert hasn’t practiced in two weeks and will need to get some mid-week practices in this week to be reasonably questionable for Week 5. Mostert’s score-from-anywhere ability isn’t replicated by anyone in San Francisco’s backfield right now, but they have been humming along with Jerick McKinnon and Jeffery Wilson . McKinnon was the true workhorse in Week 4, earning 21 touches to Wilson’s 4. McKinnon is the clear back to own while Mostert is out and will likely remain a key passing-down and red-zone threat even when Mostert is back. Wilson slides back to irrelevancy.

Leonard Fournette , Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ankle)

Fournette missed Week 4, and head coach Bruce Arians says there’s a chance he’ll play in Week 5, but the Buccaneers play Thursday night, so he’ll have to heal quickly. Fournette didn’t practice at all last week, so consider him on the wrong side of questionable for Week 5 for now. Ronald Jones is a smash play if Fournette misses.

LeSean McCoy , Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ankle)

McCoy hurt his ankle early in Week 4, and with the Bucs playing Thursday night in Week 5, it’s not enough turnaround time for McCoy to be ready. McCoy isn’t on the fantasy radar anyway. His absence — combined with Fournette’s (if he misses) — makes Ronald Jones a great play in Week 5.

Cam Akers , Los Angeles Rams (ribs)

While Akers has been sidelined, his stock has gone on quite the rollercoaster. Darrell Henderson looked fantastic in Week 2 and 3 — which wasn’t a great sign for Akers — but then plodder Malcolm Brown was the primary back (still in a committee) in Week 4. Akers is week-to-week, but at least for now, his spot atop the RBBC may still be there for the taking. He’s unlikely to be a 20-plus touch player at any point this season, though.

Zack Moss , Buffalo Bills (toe)

Moss has now missed two games, but he practiced in limited fashion prior to Week 4 and was a game-time decision, so it seems likely he’ll be back in Week 5 barring any setbacks. Devin Singletary , who saw 17 and 23 touches in the two games Moss missed, will take a step back, but is still a tail-end RB2 or flex play. Though we don’t have a ton of information on Moss’ role to go off of, based on his heavy red-zone usage in Week 1, you can consider him a TD-or-bust RB4 when he returns.

Phillip Lindsay , Denver Broncos (foot)

Lindsay practiced prior to Week 4’s game against the Jets — and even traveled with the team — but he didn’t suit up. He seems likely to make his return in Week 5 against the Patriots but will be tough to trust in a likely negative gamescript. Lindsay isn’t the worst play in the world if you really need the help, but there will be better days ahead — especially considered he’ll be fresh off of injury.

Carlos Hyde , Seattle Seahawks (shoulder)

Hyde should be back for Week 5 and will handle his usual 6-8 touches per game. He shouldn’t be started, but he remains a viable handcuff for Chris Carson .

Jalen Richard , Las Vegas Raiders (ankle)

Richard hurt his ankle in Week 4. With just 10 touches through four games, Richard really shouldn’t be owned in any fantasy format anyway.

Christian McCaffrey , Carolina Panthers (ankle)

McCaffrey could return as soon as Week 6. Mike Davis is a must-start in the meantime.

Le'Veon Bell , New York Jets (hamstring)

Bell can, and likely will, return in Week 5. You can play him, but the upside is very limited in a low-scoring Jets offense.

Wide receiver Michael Thomas , New Orleans Saints (ankle)

Thomas is getting closer to a return after getting in some practices last week. If he plays, you play him. Emmanuel Sanders and Tre'Quan Smith will take a hit when Thomas returns, though each will be prone to solid weeks here and there. Alvin Kamara ’s role should remain mostly unchanged.

Davante Adams , Green Bay Packers (hamstring)

Adams was questionable all week before announcing Monday morning that he was out for Week 4. It’s the second week in a row Adams has missed, and he missed half of Week 2 as well. The Packers seem to be playing it very safe with their star wideout. He got in a few practices last week, which is a good sign for his availability moving forward (the Packers are off in Week 5 anyway).

Chris Godwin , Tampa Bay Buccaneers (hamstring)

Godwin was a non-participant on Monday’s estimated practice report and heseems unlikely to play Thursday night; the expectation was always that he would miss multiple weeks.

Mike Evans , Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ankle)

Evans played through an ankle injury in Week 4, but he was listed as a non-participant on Monday’s estimated practice report. That’s not a great sign, but the fact he played through the injury in Week 4 might be more informative as to his Week 5 availability. Tampa’s elite receiving corps is completely hobbled right now and Evans is arguably their healthiest option. If he plays, he’s an elite fantasy WR1.

A.J. Brown , Tennessee Titans (knee)

The unexpected bye week seems to have been enough to get Brown ready to play. He’s expected to suit up in Week 5 and should be played in fantasy every week he’s on the field.

Diontae Johnson , Pittsburgh Steelers (concussion)

The impromptu Pittsburgh bye week gave Johnson extra time to heal up. He took part in drills last week and things are looking up for his Week 5 availability. If he plays, he needs to be in your fantasy lineup.

Mike Williams , Los Angeles Chargers (hamstring)

Williams missed Week 4 after tweaking his hamstring in Week 3. His backup, Jalen Guyton , caught a 72-yard TD bomb in Week 4 — a target that surely would have been Williams’. Williams didn’t practice leading into Week 4, which leaves his Week 5 questionable as well.

DeSean Jackson , Philadelphia Eagles (hamstring)

A no-practice week due to an early-season hamstring injury for a 33-year-old speedster isn’t promising, but it’s exactly where we are with Jackson. He’s nothing more than a boom-or-bust WR3/flex if he plays.

Alshon Jeffery Philadelphia Eagles (foot)

Jeffery had an on-again, off-again week of practice prior to Week 4, but his return seems imminent. The Eagles have a complete void at WR right now, so if Jeffery is healthy enough for a full load once he’s back on the field, he’d slot right in as a flex option. That “if he’s healthy enough for a full load” is the huge question mark though. I wouldn’t trust him until we see it first.

Henry Ruggs , Las Vegas Raiders (hamstring)

Ruggs remains out and his timeline for return remains murky. He should be a viable flex option when he returns. Hunter Renfrow and Nelson Agholor stay slightly elevated in the meantime.

Bryan Edwards , Las Vegas Raiders (ankle)

Edwards is week-to-week with an ankle sprain. Renfrow and Agholor stay slightly elevated in the meantime.

Justin Watson , Tampa Bay Buccaneers (chest)

Watson was listed as a non-participant on Monday’s estimated practice report. He missed Week 3 but played in Week 4, catching 4-of-6 targets for 40 yards. If he plays, he could be a viable flex fill-in once again.

Scott Miller , Tampa Bay Buccaneers (hip)

Miller was an estimated non-participant Monday. He caught 5-of-7 balls for 83 yards and a score in Week 4 and is a WR3/flex option in Week 4 assuming he’s healthy with Godwin still likely out.

Breshad Perriman , New York Jets (ankle)

Perriman is eyeing a Week 5 return, which would move Chris Hogan from “not a good play” to “definitely not a good play.”

K.J. Hamler , Denver Broncos (hamstring)

Didn’t play the second half of Week 4.

Steven Sims , Washington Football Team (toe)

Sims missed Week 4, but he’s deep down Washington’s depth chart at this point and shouldn’t be rostered in fantasy.

Tight end Noah Fant , Denver Broncos (ankle)

Fant avoided a major injury, but he’s still going to be sidelined for a bit, including Week 5 against the Patriots. Jerry Jeudy , Tim Patrick , DeSean Hamilton and the RBs are likely to absorb Fant’s work while he’s out.

Jared Cook , New Orleans Saints (groin)

Cook missed all practices last week and, as expected, didn’t play in Week 4. We can consider Cook week-to-week, and as we learned last week, we can’t trust Cook’s backup ( Adam Trautman ) in the meantime.

O.J. Howard , Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Achilles)

Howard suffered an Achilles injury and is likely done for the year. The injury will funnel even more targets to Tampa’s elite pass-catchers, but it also opens the door for Rob Gronkowski to be a little more consistent.

Rob Gronkowski , Tampa Bay Buccaneers (shoutder)

Gronkowski was a limited participant on Monday’s estimated practice report, and though the first four weeks of the year have been mostly disappointing for Gronk, not all hope is lost, as he was featured in Week 3 and has just missed on some big plays. With Howard out for the rest of the year, Gronkowski has a chance to be a viable weekly streamer, though he’s bound to be an up-and-down player — at best. He should be good to go for Week 5.

Jordan Akins , Houston Texans (concussion)

Akins is good to score a handful of fantasy points each week, but his floor isn’t high enough for fantasy consideration. We’ll have to see if the offense changes much with Bill O’Brien no longer around, but Akins will have to clear concussion protocol first.

Tyler Eifert , Jacksonville Jaguars (concussion)

Eifert was banged up in Week 4, but neither he nor his backup (James O’Shaughnessy) should be on your fantasy team.

Defenders of note This is not a comprehensive list of defensive injuries, but we will make note of notable injuries.

Cardinals DBs : S Chris Banjo and S Budda Baker both missed Week 4, and the Cardinals gave up 31 points to the Panthers. Up next are the Jets. If both miss again, give a boost to Jamison Crowder .

Colts defense : LB Darius Leonard , CB Rock Ya-Sin and LB Bobby Okereke were all injured in Week 4. Week 5 could be another plus week for the Browns offense.

Jaguars DBs : CBs C.J. Henderson and D.J. Hayden were both removed from Week 4 and didn’t return. Give Will Fuller a bump for Week 5 if this DB group stays beat up.

Saints DBs : CBs Marshon Lattimore and Janoris Jenkins missed Week 4. Given Keenan Allen a big bump if they miss Week 5.

Giants DBs : Safeties Jabrill Peppers (missed Week 4) and Adrian Colbert (exited Week 4) are nursing injuries. The Cowboys high-flying passing offense will destroy this Giants secondary regardless of health, but it gets even worse if these two miss.

49ers DBs : CBs Dontae Johnson and K'Waun Williams were both hurt in Week 4. Ryan Fitzpatrick and DeVante Parker would get boosted if the injuries linger.

NFL injury report: The situations to monitor for Week 5

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