Week 8 Fantasy Football Injury Report: A.J. Brown, Lamar Jackson, Terry McLaurin Updates

Have you heard that it's Bye-Mageddon Week? We've heard a little mention that six teams are on bye this week. So your fantasy teams might be short of active players, which means additional injuries could further complicate things.

Jayden Daniels has already been ruled out, so Marcus Mariota will step in and have to go toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes on Monday Night Football. Bryce Young is trending toward sitting, so we'll be watching very closely how Tetairoa McMillan does catching passes from the Red Rifle, Andy Dalton. Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin have already been ruled out, and we'll talk about what it means for one of their teammates below.

We've had some big names ruled out on Friday and Saturday, and those could have a major impact on fantasy lineups.

It's Week 8 people. The sample sizes are no longer small. We're back this week with the usual analysis on players battling injuries heading into the weekend. As always, this article will be updated through Saturday, based on news that comes out. Make sure to check out our weekly rankings, as they'll be updated as the active/inactive news becomes official. Same thing with our Xfinity Best Projections. Here are the players we're following:

Week 8 Fantasy Football Injury Report

Quarterback

Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)

Jackson was limited in practice for the second straight day with a hamstring injury after missing two games. The Ravens are favored by 6.5 points over the Bears and have a team total of 28.5 points. That’s an indication Jackson will play. UPDATE: Jackson practiced in full on Friday, though reports came out that he did so with scout team, not the first team. That should've been the first indication that Jackson was not ready. Saturday the two-time MVP was ruled OUT. Tyler Huntley will start, and has a matchup with a Bears defense that is allowing 20 fantasy points per game to QBs, tied for sixth most in the league. The over/under on the game has come down to 45, so while the sportsbooks aren't expecting a big day offensively, there will still be points scored. Though this is a downgrade for all pass catchers on the Ravens, but not for Derrick Henry. The King should see a big workload in this game.

Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

After being limited in practice on Wednesday with a knee injury, Mayfield put in a full practice and will start against the Saints.

Michael Penix (Atlanta Falcons)

Penix was limited in practice Thursday with a knee injury for the second straight day. There’s no indication Penix will be out, but if you’re counting on him to start have a backup plan. UPDATE: After a week of limited practices, Penix is questionable. If you're considering starting him it might be worth it to wait him out, as he's at home against the Dolphins, who have allowed the fifth most fantasy points to QBs. He's also thrown 4 of his 5 TD passes at home. However, early reports Saturday say that the Falcons are preparing for Kirk Cousins to start. Cousins should be picked up in superflex leagues in the meantime.

Tyrod Taylor (New York Jets)

What a week for the Jets, between the owner throwing Justin Fields under the bus, to backup Tyrod Taylor practicing through an injury designation, which left the starting QB decision up in the air into the weekend. On Sautrday, it was announced that Taylor would be ruled OUT for Week 8. So we're back to Fields. After two straight games where he didn't surpass 46 passing yards, it's hard to look at Fields as anything more than a QB2 in superflex leagues. The matchup against the Bengals is enticing, as they are tied for sixth in the league for most fantasy points allowed to QBs and are fresh off giving up 4 TD passed to Aaron Rodgers. But with his top weapon in Garrett Wilson already sitting (see more below), it's hard to want to start Fields anywhere but in DFS.

Running Back

Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers)

Jacobs was limited in practice on Thursday with a calf injury. The bulldozing RB was a game-time decision last week and played, but wasn’t completely healthy. While Jacobs scored 2 TDs, he had a season-low 14 touches. UPDATE: Jacobs is healthy, so start him with confidence.

Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs)

Hunt didn’t practice on Thursday due to a knee injury. Hunt hurt the knee last week, but did return to the game. He had 4 carries for 18 yards and no catches. If Hunt is out, Isiah Pacheco will benefit and Brashard Smith moves up the rankings. UPDATE: Hunt upgraded from DNP to LP on Friday, so he looks like he's on the way to playing. Still, this looks like it's becoming more of a three-headed monster, if Smith keeps seeing increased snaps.

D’Andre Swift (Chicago Bears)

Swift has been on the injury report the last few weeks and has played each time. He was limited on Thursday with a groin injury and is expected to play. He has two consecutive 100-yard games and will face a Ravens defense that has allowed the second most fantasy points per game to running backs. UPDATE: After another limited practice, Swift looks like he's going to play. After the past two weeks, he's at least an RB2 on your roster. The Ravens have been getting steamrolled by RBs—29.1 FPG and 109.7 rushing yards allowed to RBs—so this is an inviting matchup for Swift.

Wide Receiver

Nico Collins (Houston Texans)

Collins didn’t practice for the second straight day on Thursday with a concussion. Collins suffered the concussion on Monday night making it challenging to pass the required steps in the protocol to play Sunday. Dalton Schultz, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins get a boost if he sits. UPDATE: Collins was ruled OUT, as was Christian Kirk. This is a big blow to the Texans offense. Even in a home matchup where C.J. Stroud has had his best games, playing the 49ers might be a tall task this week after how they beat up the Falcons last week. Texans may be only emergency starts. We have more on Noel as a flier for this week and stash for the future here.

A.J. Brown (Philadelphia Eagles)

Brown didn’t practice for the second straight day with a hamstring injury. Friday will be key for Brown to determine how severe the injury is. The Eagles have a good matchup against the Giants. Philadelphia has a bye in Week 9 and it could play a factor in the decision. UPDATE: AJB has been ruled OUT after sitting out practice for a third straight day. With the bye week upcoming, the team is practicing caution with the franchise WR. This is going to push targets toward DeVonta Smith, who caught 9-of-11 targets for 183 yards and a score last week. That was WITH Brown in the lineup. Going against the Giants defense allowing the third-most fantasy points to WRs has to be enticing for anyone rostering Smith. The Slim Reaper has a UR Score above 90 in three of seven games thus far. In a game environment that's in Philly, against the Giants who Jalen Hurts torched for 283 yards and a score just two weeks go, it's looking like it could be a big game for Smith.

Calvin Ridley (Tennessee Titans)

Ridley has yet to practice after missing last week. This is not looking good for him to play in a game where the Titans will need all the offensive weapons they can spare against the high-flying Colts. We’ll follow this one. UPDATE: And Ridley has been declared OUT. Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike are getting some heat as far as possible flex plays. Yes, it is Bye-Mageddon, but it's hard to start any Titans with confidence this week. Cam Ward will be looking to pass in a game where the Titans will look to catch up to the Colts, so the pass catchers could be dart throws. In Ward's favor is that in three of the past four games the Colts have allowed a 300-yard passer—420 yards for Justin Herbert last week. Again, with byes such an issue this week, Ayomanor and Dike could be startable flex plays.

DJ Moore (Chicago Bears)

Moore was limited in practice on Thursday with a hip injury. He was on the injury report last week with a different injury and played. Moore has been a disappointment this season with 46 receiving yards or fewer in five straight games. Moore is higher in the rankings than usual with six teams on bye. UPDATE: Moore was declared healthy after practicing in full on Friday. Now the question will be if he can earn more than 6 targets in a game, which is a season high for him. This should be a passing environment, as the Ravens are giving up 39 FPG to WRs (fourth in the league). It won't likely be a points fest with Lamar Jackson sitting, but there could be some open looks for Moore, Rome Odunze and other pass catchers.

Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints)

After missing practice Wednesday with an ankle injury, Olave returned to practice. New Orleans Football’s Nick Underhill reported Olave is expected to play Sunday. He’s second in the NFL with 71 targets thus far. UPDATE: Olave practiced in full Friday, so he's going. Look for him to add to his target total. Tampa Bay just allowed 6-86-1 to Amon-Ra St. Brown last week.

Garrett Wilson (New York Jets)

After missing last week with a knee injury, the week isn’t off to a good start for Wilson missing the first two practices. Unless Wilson does something Friday, he’s likely out this week and the Jets have a bye in Week 9. No Jets wide receiver is worth starting. UPDATE: Wilson was ruled out on Frday. Big blow to the Jets offense, but sitting him this week and next will hopefully clear up his condition. Waiting after the bye are games against the Patriots and Browns, so it's not going to be easy with Wilson, though the hope is that the Jets become more pass happy. UPDATE: He's OUT, so it's hard to expect much from this passing game with Fields back under center instead of Taylor.

Emeka Egbuka (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Egbuka played last week after he’d been a big question mark all week. This earns him “dawg” status, which may be weird for an Ohio State alum (Ian did not write this). Egbuka was DNP on Wednesday before LP on Thursday, so that first practice may have been a maintenance day after the Monday night game. Egbuka is the top receiving option for Baker Mayfield, so the matchup against the Saints could be a great one. UPDATE: He upgraded to healthy after logging a full practice on Friday. He's the WR1 for the Bucs, so you're starting him at every possibility. Kayshon Boutte stuck the Saints for 5-93-2 two weeks ago.

Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders)

McLaurin put in a full practice on Thursday, and hasn’t played since Sept. 21 due to a quad injury. He put in one limited practice last week and didn’t play. McLaurin is on track to play, but the Commanders play Monday night in Kansas City. Make sure he’s good to go before putting him in the lineup. UPDATE: See next one.

Deebo Samuel (Washington Commanders)

Samuel put in a full practice on Thursday. The expectation is Samuel will play Monday night against the Chiefs. Samuel hasn’t practiced much the last few weeks with a heel injury and he played through it for several weeks before sitting out last week. Samuel said the heel is no longer an issue. UPDATE: McLaurin and Deebo are healthy and have practiced in full. Marcus Mariota will be under center for the injured Jayden Daniels. The top two receivers are excellent, but anyone will be hard-pressed to find anyone choosing to start Commanders with a backup QB who checks down to running the football. The Chiefs are tied for fifth in both FPG and receiving yards allowed to WRs. So with a backup QB, going up against a tough D and both coming off injury layoffs, it could be hard to smash start both players.

Darius Slayton (New York Giants)

Slayton has missed the last two weeks due to a hamstring injury. He was limited in practice for the second straight day Thursday. If Slayton plays, he’s likely to get a difficult matchup with Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. UPDATE: He practiced on a limited basis all week after missing the past two games. If he can go, he could see some targets as the only other viable WR on the Giants right now is Wan'Dale Robinson, who went for 6-84-1 against the Eagles two weeks ago.

Christian Watson (Green Bay Packers)

The speedy wideout is at the tail end of the 21-day practice window. Watson told the media earlier this week that he planned to play on Sunday. Even if he’s cleared to play, it’s hard to expect that Watson will be running anything close to a full route participation. It is Bye-Mageddon, so if you’re starting Watson it may be with the hope that he’ll score a touchdown on a long play to pay off.

Josh Downs (Indianapolis Colts)

Downs missed last week due to a concussion and was able to practice in full on Thursday. He was limited on Wednesday and is on track to play. UPDATE: Downs has 15 targets in the past two games he's started and played full games. He's healthy, so keep in mind he could be in for some passes in a game the Colts could run out to a big lead early.

Ricky Pearsall (San Francisco 49ers)

The second-year WR hasn’t played since Week 4, after he had over 100 yards in two of three games. And he has yet to practice this week. It’s not looking good for him to suit up anytime soon. UPDATE: He was ruled out for his fourth consecutive game. It might not happen for Pearsall this season. Let's just face that.

Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins)

Waddle is one to keep an eye on. He didn’t practice Thursday and was listed with a hamstring injury and rest. The Dolphins are thin in offensive skill players to use for fantasy and if Waddle were to be out, the offense is in trouble. UPDATE: Waddle practiced in full and needs to be started in all formats.

Dontayvion Wicks (Green Bay Packers)

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Wicks is unlikely to play this week due to a calf injury. There’s a chance Christian Watson makes his season debut coming off a torn ACL. Romeo Doubs and Matthew Golden are the Packers receivers to rely on. UPDATE: He's OUT for Week 8. This means good things for Golden, Kraft, Watson and Doubs, and any Packers pass catchers who are healthy and active.

Tight End

Dalton Kincaid (Buffalo Bills)

Kincaid has been limited both days in practice after sitting out Week 6—the Bills were on bye last week. He did go 6-108-0 in in his last game action, so he’ll need to be monitored going into the weekend. The Panthers are allowing the sixth most fantasy points to TEs. UPDATE: Three limited practices lends some optimism that Kincaid can go. Kincaid is in a good spot at Carolina, who are No. 6 in most fantasy points allowed to TEs.

Cole Kmet (Chicago Bears)

Kmet didn’t practice for the second straight day with a back injury. It’s unlikely Kmet plays this week, putting Colston Loveland in line as a streaming tight end with six teams on bye. UPDATE: Kmet is OUT, so some of Caleb Williams' attention should be directed toward Loveland in a game where the Ravens are No. 8 in most fantasy points allowed to TEs. Still, it's hard to start Loveland when he hasn't really done anything this year. The Ravens are giving up 67 receiving YPG to TEs, so at the very least this is a good matchup if you're in a bind and need to start Loveland.

David Njoku (Cleveland Browns)

Njoku was limited in practice Thursday with a knee injury after missing last week. Njoku had a brace on his left leg. If he plays, Harold Fannin Jr. would take a hit. UPDATE: Njoku is questionable this week after being limited in practice all week. Even in a tough week because of byes, it's going to be hard to start Njoku.

Mason Taylor (New York Jets)

After missing both of the first two days of practice reports came out that Taylor still could play. This is one where we’ll follow it and update after the Friday practice report. UPDATE: Taylor is questionable after practicing on a limited basis on Friday. He's got a great matchup against the Bengals, so that's a dart to throw if he's active. Fields is going to be behind center, and he did feed Taylor 12 targets as recently as three weeks ago against Dallas. The Bengals are the worst defense against TE in both FPG allowed and receiving yards to the position. There are worse dart throws because Taylor could conceivably be the top target earner for the Jets and has an Xfinity Best projection ceiling of 14.2.

Players Mentioned in this Article

A.J.Brown
WRPHI
PPG
9.29
Proj
10.67
LamarJackson
QBBAL
PPG
22.76
Proj
21.37
EmekaEgbuka
WRTB
PPG
14.07
Proj
13.45
JoshJacobs
RBGB
PPG
18.06
Proj
15.53