Fantasy Football Implications of Injuries to Brock Purdy, Dallas Goedert and More

It might only be week 2 of the NFL season, but the injuries are starting to really pile up.

Let's discuss some injury news, and other notable news, for some fantasy players as week 2 is about to kick off.

Keep tabs on all injured NFL players during the season on the FantasySP Injury News page.

Purdy Joins Long List of Injured Niners

Earlier this week, Daniel Hepner wrote about the injuries to George Kittle and Jauan Jennings here, and now the team's quarterback is trending toward not playing.

Brock Purdy has toe and shoulder injuries that he's dealing with. He's a longshot to play this week, and could miss multiple weeks with the injuries.

Mac Jones is the team's backup, and would start in Purdy's place if he cannot go.

Luckily, the Niners have some winnable games coming up, even if Purdy is out. They have the lowly Saints this week, then the Cardinals in week 3 before a week 4 battle with the Jaguars. The Niners could play things safe with Purdy, and others, if they keep winning without them.

The absence of Purdy would definitely hurt the Niners' offense, and the outlooks for several players though. The biggest, and maybe lone beneficiary, of Purdy being out would be Christian McCaffrey.

He was already projected for a monster week against New Orleans, and now he could really star if Purdy is out. It also wouldn't surprise me if Brian Robinson Jr. got some extra work in an effort to not put too much on Jones' plate.

In terms of how my outlook for each Niner changes, we'll look into my weekly rankings.

Starting at quarterback, I had Purdy ranked 13th for week 2. If he indeed doesn't play, Jones would slot in lower than where Purdy was. I'd start considering Jones around No. 18, but really, he could fall anywhere between that spot and No. 25, since all those guys are close already. 

I'd try to avoid starting Jones outside deeper fantasy leagues, even if this matchup is pretty solid.

McCaffrey was already my No. 1 back for week 2. That would just justify that ranking even more, and I'd tab him as the top fantasy player for the week if Purdy misses the game.

Robinson wouldn't jump into my top 30, but without Purdy, he at least becomes a flex-level option in standard leagues, while being a bit better starting option in deeper leagues.

Ricky Pearsall was my No. 27 receiver for week 2. I'd drop him, but only to No. 30, as I still think he'd have a good outlook with Jones throwing to him. He's just a bit more risky to start if Purdy isn't throwing to him.

If Jennings suited up, he'd be a standard league flex option, but a better deep-league starter. The injury concern is just too much to trust him, especially if a backup QB is throwing to him.

I'd avoid all other Niner receivers, even if Jennings were to miss the game. The matchup might be solid, but nobody is worth the gamble outside Pearsall and Jennings.

No San Fran tight ends are in my top 30 for week 2. Jake Tonges caught a TD last week, and played 30 snaps overall. Luke Farrell was on the field for 44 snaps.

Neither guy would be a high upside starting option, especially with Purdy out. In really deep leagues, they are definitely options, but it's a coin flip on who to start, so I'd just look elsewhere for fantasy help.

Judkins' Outlook Still Bleak

Quinshon Judkins finally signed his rookie contract on September 6, but he met with league officials on Wednesday, which caused him to miss another practice.

He seems like a longshot to play in week 2. Cleveland will take on Baltimore this week.

That would leave fellow rookie Dylan Sampson and Jerome Ford to lead the backfield again, while Raheim Sanders is the No. 3 back.

Last week, Sampson got 20 touches across 33 snaps. Ford played 41 snaps, but only had seven touches. Sanders got touches on all three of his snaps.

It's tough to say if that same distribution will happen again in week 2. Sampson seems like the best fantasy back in Cleveland. He's a better deep-league starting option, but is at least on the flex radar for this week. 

I don't have any Cleveland backs ranked in my top 30. It's just too risky to play them outside deeper leagues.

London Expected to Play

Drake London was targeted a bunch in week 1, but picked up a shoulder injury in the process.

He was limited in practice on Wednesday, but is expected to play in week 2 against the Vikings. London is my No. 9 fantasy wideout for the coming week.

Meanwhile, Darnell Mooney was limited with his shoulder injury. He missed week 1, but would be a huge addition for the coming week.

His presence wouldn't affect London's outlook very much, and it actually might make life a touch easier for the top receiver. Mooney would be a risky starting option if he suits up, and I'd feel better just starting him in deeper leagues.

KC Wideout Update

Rashee Rice is suspended several more weeks still, and Xavier Worthy is also expected to be out, so KC's wideout room is in need of help. 

Jalen Royals is still not practicing with his knee injury, so Marquise Brown (who practiced, but has a knee ailment) should be the go-to wideout in KC.

Brown was a big-time waiver wire pickup this week as a result of all the team's issues at wideout. Travis Kelce should also be heavily involved in week 2 against the Eagles.

I'd expect Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt to be pretty involved offensively as well, but if Philly loads up the box, expect Brown and Kelce to be the most-targeted pass catchers.

Engram Dealing with Calf Injury

Evan Engram struggled in his time on the field in week 1, and also picked up a calf injury. It's not how he wanted to start his tenure with the Broncos.

He was limited in practice on Wednesday, and will be a shaky starting option, even if he's cleared to play in week 2 against the Colts.

If he misses the game, expect top wideout Courtland Sutton to be even more involved than he usually is. Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims could be a couple more wideouts who are decent deep-league starting options if Engram is out.

Adam Trautman is the tight end who would likely fill in for Engram. He's not on the fantasy radar, even in the deepest of leagues.

Waller Debuting Soon?

Miami could definitely use a jolt after a week 1 letdown against the Colts. Getting tight end Darren Waller back could help, but he's still not practicing because of a hip injury.

He's been trying to ramp things up after un-retiring this offseason, but he still looks to be a ways off from playing yet.

Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will lead the team's pass game, even if Waller was out there, but the wideout duo will be even more involved if he's out again. 

Tanner Conner and Julian Hill split the TE snaps in Waller's absence last week, but neither were big fantasy assets. Conner would be the better fantasy option, but he's only a thought in really deep leagues.

Waddle is also working through a shoulder injury, so that's something to monitor as well.

Expect De'Von Achane to be heavily involved, especially if Waller and Waddle are both out. Ollie Gordon would likely get more touches as well, because Jaylen Wright is still not practicing with his knee injury.

Taylor, Goedert Not Practicing Either

Jets' TE Mason Taylor and Eagles' TE Dallas Goedert both missed practice on Wednesday. Taylor has an ankle injury, while Goedert has a knee ailment.

Goedert is the bigger fantasy asset. If he's out, then A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith will be featured in the passing game even more for the Eagles. 

You can expect a heavy dose of Saquon Barkley too, and maybe some Tank Bigsby sightings after he was acquired via trade.

That would put more on Jalen Hurts' plate, and make him a better starting option as well.

Grant Calcaterra is the team's backup TE, but is a better deep-league option if Goedert is ruled out.

Taylor played 56 snaps in week 1, but only got one target. I thought that made him an underrated option moving forward, and a guy to keep an eye on, but an ankle injury could slow his progress now.

Jeremy Ruckert would be the top New York TE if Taylor is out, but he's just an option in the deepest of fantasy leagues. 

It'd be Garrett Wilson who benefits most from Taylor being out. Breece Hall would also get a slight bump, as could Justin Fields.

Braelon Allen might be another sneaky good option, but just in deeper setups.