Fantasy Football Week 1 Injury Report: Christian McCaffrey, Tee Higgins, Keenan Allen and More

These are the latest injury updates on the most fantasy relevant options heading into Week 1.

Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (Calf)
Questionable

The calf injury that has been plaguing Wilson for most of the summer and cost him significant time in training camp has apparently flared up again, leaving him questionable for Week 1. The team says that he will test the ankle out this weekend before they make a final decision on his status for Sunday's game. However, it is beginning to sound more and more likely that Justin Fields gets the start for Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (Leg)
Undisclosed

With the Packers already playing on Friday this obviously won't impact you this week. Nevertheless, it's a huge enough deal that we had to mention it in our injury report. In the final seconds of Friday's game, Love went down with a leg injury and stayed down for a while before being helped off. The injury appears to be either to his ankle or knee. This is something we will be monitoring closely until we get a definitive word on his diagnosis and time table. 

Running Backs

Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers (Calf/Achilles)
Questionable

We have CMC listed as questionable, however, being that the Niners play on Monday Night Football this week his official designation will come after practice on Saturday afternoon. It appears that he should be okay to play this week, but calf and Achilles' injuries are always tricky ones to figure out. The last thing you want is to put him out there and he goes and strain his calf, or worse, blows out his Achilles. These injuries tend to linger.

We expect him to give it a go on Monday, but he is at risk of being limited or leaving the game early if he tweaks it. If he's active you have to start him, nonetheless, understand he now comes with some risk. If you have space on your roster handcuffing him with Jordan Mason before any news comes out may be a smart move. 

Antonio Gibson, New England Patriots (Hip)
Questionable

Unless you are in a deep PPR league, odds are you aren't considering starting Gibson in Week 1. However, if he were to miss time it would give a significant boost to Rhamondre Stevenson's upside. The assumption is that Gibson will serve in some sort of pass-catching role which could cap Stevenson's ceiling if it's a bigger role than fantasy owners are expecting. Gibson hopes to play this week but isn't a lock to be out there. If he is ruled out, Stevenson will rise in the rankings for this week. 

Wide Receivers

Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (Hamstring)
Doubtful

It's looking like Higgins is going to miss the opener with a hamstring injury that seemed to get worse as the week went on. He went from optimistic to doubtful in a hurry. Hamstring issues have plagued him throughout his entire career and is now once again costing him time. This is a tough break for Higgins and bad news for Joe Burrow, who could also be missing Ja'Marr Chase or have a limited version of him following his holdout and contract dispute.

The next man up for the Bengals' WR corps is expected to be Andrei Iosivas. You have more guts than me if you're willing to throw him right into your starting lineup regardless of how positive reports were this summer. 

Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears (Heel)
Questionable

Allen is still being bothered on some level by the heel injury that ended his 2023 season. We expect him to play, but the questionable designation does send up alarm bells about his potential usage on an offense loaded with other weapons around him.

The fear is they limit him or he exits the game early which he has a history of doing in the past. This is a situation you will have to monitor up until game time. If he were to be ruled out it would be a boost for rookie Rome Odunze, tight end Cole Kmet and possibly even running back D'Andre Swift. 

DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans (Knee)
Questionable

Hopkins suffered a knee injury on July 31 which would reportedly keep him out for 4-6 weeks. We are now in that window and it has been looking like he's been trending towards playing for about a week or so. However, he's still not a lock and is in danger or possibly having sit this one out. It sounds like we may have to wait until Sunday morning to find out whether he's active or inactive. If he does miss this game, it should give a boost to Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd as far as volume goes. 

Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks (Thigh)
Questionable

Despite being listed as questionable, Lockett is expected to be out there on Sunday. There is a chance he's limited and also a re-injury risk. This injury makes an already risky fantasy option a guy you shouldn't play unless you have to. Any limitations would likely benefit second-year wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba who many have already pegged as a potential breakout candidate. 

D.J. Chark, Los Angeles Chargers (Hip)
OUT

After running with the starters all summer, Chark had a legitimate shot to start the season as the team's WR1. Him and Joshua Palmer were expected to be the wideouts on the outside in two receiver sets. This Week 1 absence is a tough blow to his value as a sleeper stash. We will have to wait to see what his role is once he's ready to return to action. Quentin Johnston will likely slide into Chark's spot but is not an option this week as anything more than a desperation DFS dart throw. 

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