Fantasy Football Week 1 Wide Receiver Injuries: Chris Godwin, Jayden Reed, and More

Injuries wreak havoc in fantasy football. Just when everything is going right, one guy getting hurt can ruin everything, throwing your fantasy lineup into flux. Sure, the actual injured players feel the pain, but we as fantasy owners pick up a little pain of our own through osmosis, watching our best-laid plans go up in flames.

Let's go through some of the wide receiver injuries impacting fantasy Week 1. Some of these will be related to older injuries suffered in 2024, and other will be recent maladies that took place during training camp or the preseason. All of them are opening doors for other players to increase their fantasy production.

Keep an eye on the FantasySP injury roundup each week to see who is at risk of missing games.

Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers

Despite being an undrafted rookie last season and catching just 32 passes for 478 yards, Coker was generating real preseason buzz around being a breakout fantasy player. Top-10 pick Tetairoa McMillan will lead the way, but if Bryce Young's improvements from late last season continue, there's room for another player to find fantasy value.

That's a big if, however. Young was brutal through his first year and a half; the only acceptable excuse is the lack of talent around him, but entering his third season, there is no more time for excuses. We need to see him hold steady on that progress with highly drafted receivers and a high-priced offensive line.

With Coker out (he was placed on IR with a quad strain), McMillan remains the top guy and a potentially strong fantasy player. Xavier Legette, a first-round pick last year, fills the WR2 spot, and former 100-catch player Hunter Renfrow will man the slot. Those are the guys who could see the biggest benefit from expanded opportunity.

Legette caught 49 passes for 497 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. That's OK production, and entering his second season, he should be expected to improve. I'm not trusting him in fantasy until I see him perform, though.

Renfrow last had a real impact in 2021 and missed all last season. He's an intriguing PPR option because he caught 104 passes in that 2021 season, but Renfrow also has a low floor; he was cut after the preseason before getting re-signed when Coker went down.

Advice: I'm staying away from both Legette and Renfrow for now while believing that McMillan can find fantasy success.

Green Bay Packers' Wide Receivers

We have a group of Green Bay receivers showing up on the injury report, from guys hitting IR to minor ailments that shouldn't cause any time missed. It all goes to benefit those who are healthy, including first-round pick Matthew Golden.

Christian Watson

Watson tore his ACL on January 6, ending his 2024 season and putting the beginning of 2025 in jeopardy. Sure enough, he is starting the year on the PUP list and must sit out at least the first four games. He is likely to miss more time than that, with a mid-season return maybe more likely, according to reports.

Jayden Reed

Reed was Green Bay's de facto top receiver last season, though many saw the team as having no top man and instead surviving on their collective strength. The numbers bear that out, as three guys (including tight end Tucker Kraft) had between 45 and 55 catches for between 600 and 860 yards.

Reed is dealing with a Jones fracture in his foot and is questionable for Week 1. Reed is going to be a big part of the offense, so any game he misses opens plenty of snaps and targets for other receivers. Even if he plays but is limited, that leaves more opportunities for other guys.

Dontayvion Wicks

Wicks missed a lot of time in the preseason with a calf injury. He has practiced this week but is still listed as questionable for the game. Wicks might be another example of a player compromised even if he does suit up.

Advice: With these three players all out or dealing with something that may limit them, that gives a little boost to Romeo Doubs and, especially, Golden. People are expecting big things from the rookie right away, and he would be close to a must-start player if Reed missed this game.

Christian Kirk, Houston Texans

With Tank Dell likely to miss most of the season recovering from his own major injury in 2024, there is room for someone to step up behind Nico Collins. Kirk is one of the veteran options available who could see a role, though he has struggled with injuries and effectiveness the past few seasons. He will miss Week 1 with a hamstring injury.

Collins is a must-start guy no matter what, so Kirk's absence has a bigger impact on a pair of rookies from Iowa State: Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Higgins has the higher upside; he was a second-round pick while Noel went in the third (45 picks later). Higgins also has more prototypical size (6'4, 215 pounds) while Noel is a little undersized (5'11, 200 pounds).

Advice: Higgins has real intrigue. Houston surely wants to improve the passing game after C.J. Stroud took a big step back last season, and taking two receivers on Day 2 of the draft worked toward that end. Higgins isn't a sure thing, but he is owned in about every league with expectations that he can contribute right away. He's worth considering for your lineup in Week 1, while Noel should only be an option in very deep leagues.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Receivers

Chris Godwin

Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle in October and is still ramping up his return. The team did activate him from the PUP list, so he can practice and doesn't have to miss four games, but he is inactive for Week 1 and doesn't have a solid return date.

Jalen McMillan

McMillan was placed on IR and is dealing with a neck injury, something expected to keep him out up to a couple months. Neck injuries are tough to predict, so McMillan's status is majorly up in the air.

With both Godwin and McMillan out, there will be plenty of targets to be picked up. Mike Evans is going to be the top guy; his 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons prove that. There is room for someone to take targets behind him, though, and that guy is probably rookie Emeka Egbuka, a first-round pick.

Advice: With the amount of receiving talent on the roster, it was likely Egbuka was going to ease into the lineup. After multiple injuries, though, he is likely set to fill the WR2 spot and maybe have a big day in his debut. Egbuka is a very intriguing option for as long as Godwin is out, and maybe even when he returns.