Week 4 is upon us and unfortunately, the injury reports continue to be lengthly. After seeing some star names being ruled out for the season going into week 3. We have seen more players added to the teams injured reserve list. As I do each week, I will report on new injuries that have occurred, giving details on player status’ going into week 4. Alongside some players added to the list or some who we hope may be soon ready for a return.
Remember, injuries can hit players quickly- so check out our rankings page to get you sorted for the week.
Week 4 Injury Reports: Ruled Out
Chris Godwin (WR, TB) & Scotty Miller (WR, TB)
Hamstring (Out) & Hip/Groin (Questionable)
Chris Godwin will miss his second game of the season and may also miss week 5 with a hamstring injury. Going into a matchup against the LA Chargers, I would have suggested picking up Scotty Miller if he was available. Especially if you needed a plug and play in your flex position. However, he too has landed on the injury list this week and is now questionable.
Therefore Justin Watson may see a bump in snaps behind the main target Mike Evans. Equally, both Rob Gronkowski and OJ Howard may see an increase in targets here based on this injury news.
Dallas Goedert (TE, PHI) & DeSean Jackson (WR, PHI)
Ankle (Out) & Hamstring (Out)
Injured during their week 3 match up against the Cincinnati Bengals, Goedert has been put on short term IR. League rules therefore mean he will miss at least 3 games. The Eagles skill position players are a mess right now. Jalen Reagor was ruled out last week, Alshon Jeffrey still not fit to return along with DeSean Jackson who has not practiced this week due to a hamstring injury.
The main beneficiary here is tight end Zach Ertz. He will now become, once again, quarterback Carson Wentz’s main target. Greg Ward is also worth rostering after he stepped up in week 3 where he tallied 8 receptions for 72 yards and 1 touchdown.
Jordan Reed (TE, SF) & George Kittle (TE, SF)
Knee (Out) & Knee (Returning Week 4)
Reed who was featuring more on the 49ers offense over the last few weeks has landed on IR and may miss up to 8 weeks. A real shame as he had been performing well and was a dangerous red-zone target.
The main reason for Reed’s involvement was due to George Kittle getting injured in week 1. The good news here is that he will return this week for the 49ers matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 49ers gave Kittle all the time he needed to recover so I would expect him to be heavily involved this week. Especially as the Eagles being quite generous to opposing tight ends.
**Update – While on the subject of 49ers, Deebo Samuel will also return this Sunday to make his season Debut**
Bryan Edwards (WR, LV) & Henry Ruggs III (WR, LV)
Ankle (Out) & Hamstring (Questionable)
Rookie receiver Edwards has been ruled out and deemed week to week with an ankle sprain. Along with this, fellow rookie receiver Henry Ruggs is questionable. Currently, Ruggs is trending towards missing a second straight week with a hamstring issue.
Expect wide receiver Hunter Renfrow to continue to benefit here. Especially off the back of this Week 3 performance against the Patriots.
Michael Pittman (WR, IND)
Leg
Pittman will be out for the foreseeable future after he suffered from compartment leg syndrome and underwent surgery. With fellow receiver Parris Campbell also on IR, Zach Pascal may start alongside TY Hilton for the Colts this weekend. Pascal should be a decent pickup in deeper leagues this weekend.
Tarik Cohen (RB, CHI)
Knee (ACL)
Tarik Cohen has been placed on season-ending IR after suffering from a torn ACL. While David Montgomery leads this backfield, there is very little value elsewhere at running back for the Bears.
Allen Lazard (WR, GB) & Davante Adams (WR, GB)
Core (Out) & Hamstring (Questionable)
Allen Lazard was a surprise add to the injury report and is ruled out indefinitely with a core muscle injury. After a huge game week 3 (146 yards, 1 touchdown) filling in for the absent Devante Adams, Lazard owners were hoping for a repeat performance in week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons.
With doubt over Davante Adams status for week 4. Step up Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Valdes-Scantling has been targeted 17 times through the first 3 weeks of the season and in this friendly match up, if both Lazard and Adams are out, MVS will eat!
Leonard Fournette (RB, TB)
Ankle
Fournette has picked up an ankle injury and will miss this weeks match up against the LA Chargers. Ronald Jones II will now have the majority of carries to himself this week boosting his chances of a nice scoring game.
Michael Thomas (WR, NO) & Jared Cook (TE, NO)
Ankle & Groin
Both Thomas and Cook were ruled out on Friday. Thomas missing his third straight game, while Cook picked up a groin injury this week. There was some hope Thomas would return this week, however in both players absence expect Sanders, Smith, and rookie tight end Adam Trautman to see an increase in snaps and targets.
Raheem Mostert (RB, SF)
MCL
Mostert is set to miss a second week running with an MCL injury. In his absence Jerrick McKinnon and Jeff Wilson will continue to handle the backfield duties for the 49ers.
Week 4 Injury Reports: Doubtful
Cam Akers (RB, LAR)
Ribs
Akers is also set to miss a second straight week with a rib injury. Darrell Henderson will continue his great form regardless of who he shares the backfield with at present.
Week 4 Injury Reports: Questionable;
Calvin Ridley (WR, ATL) & Julio Jones (WR, ATL)
Ankle & Hamstring
Ridley missed practice on Thursday with an ankle injury, while it is not time to panic yet it is a situation worth monitoring. The Falcons do not play until Monday Night against the Green Bay Packers so this will give Ridley more time to recover from any issue he has. Julio Jones did not play week 3 due to a hamstring issue he has been dealing with. However, he is trending towards playing on Monday as per Head Coach Dan Quinn. Both Ridley and Jones have turned in at practice on Friday which can only be a good sign.
If one or either fail to play, promote both Russel Gage and Hayden Hurst in your rankings.
DeAndre Hopkins (WR, ARI)
Ankle
Hopkins has not logged a practice session this week setting some doubt on his status for this weekend’s game against the Carolina Panthers. If Hopkins does not play, we may see an increase in targets for Fitzgerald and Kirk along with deep threat Andy Isabella.
D.J Chark (WR, JAC)
Chest/ Back
After missing week 3 against the Miami Dolphins, Chark has returned to limited practice this week and is hoping to return this weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals. If he suffered any setbacks, Keelan Cole and Laviska Shenault will hope to see an increase in snaps and targets.
Kareem Hunt (RB, CLE)
Groin
Hunt has not practiced this week with a groin strain and is day to day heading into Sundays game against the Dallas Cowboys. As the teams primary pass catching running back, if Hunt is ruled out, Nick Chubb may see a slight increase in targets.
Chris Carson (RB, SEA)
Knee
Carson had initially feared to be out this week with a knee injury however he has managed to practice this week and now has a chance to play. If Carson does miss this weeks match up against the Miami Dolphins, Carlos Hyde will see an increase in his workload as the lead back for the Seahawks.
John Brown (WR, BUF) & Zack Moss (RB, BUF)
Calf & Toe
Both Brown and Moss have practiced this week and are trending towards playing on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Devon Singletary will see a decline in usage if Moss is good to go.
Mike Williams (WR, LAC)
Hamstring
Williams has not practiced to date this week and as the weekend approaches is looking less likely to play against Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. If Williams is ruled out, Jaylen Guyton may get an opportunity to start, however, in this match up I would not be considering starting him.
I hope over the coming weeks we will see these injuries decline however I will report back next week with the latest injury report. But that wraps up the injury report for Week 4. If of course there are any other players you are unsure about and have concerns for your fantasy roster, reach out on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Image Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports
