We made it through the first two weeks of the season relatively unscathed, but Week 3 had other plans. Injuries piled up across the league, shaking up depth charts and forcing fantasy managers to rethink their lineups. Whether you’re looking for the next waiver wire gem or a replacement starter, these injury updates and opportunities will help you navigate the chaos.
For general waiver recommendations, see Week 4 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds by Colton Peters, and if you would like waiver streamer recommendations for deep roster leagues, see Streamers For The Desperate - Week 4
Below are this week’s injuries and opportunities.
Running Backs
Injury – James Conner, Arizona Cardinals (O – Ankle)
Opportunity – Trey Benson, Emari Demercado
James Conner suffered a season-ending ankle injury and will undergo surgery. Benson will immediately step in as the bell cow for this offense. I expect weekly RB2 numbers with RB1 upside on any given week. Demercado should provide relief and take on some passing-down work. He’s more of a flyer in deep PPR leagues.
Injury – Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers (O – Achilles)
Opportunity – Omarion Hampton
Harris has gone most of his young career without a major injury. Unfortunately, like his former Steeler counterpart above, he will miss the rest of the season with an Achilles injury. This immediately places Hampton in the weekly fringe-RB1 category. You can set and forget this rookie in your lineup.
Injury – Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants (O – Shoulder)
Opportunity – Cam Skattebo
Tracy Jr. left Sunday night’s game against the Chiefs with a dislocated shoulder. The typical recovery timetable is 2–4 weeks. I wouldn’t expect him back until at least Week 6, though it could be longer. That gives Skattebo the bulk of the work in this Giants backfield. I see him as an RB3 or low-end RB2 every week, simply due to volume. This Giants offense hasn’t offered much to be desired, but workload is king—and Skattebo figures to see most of it. Devin Singletary should also get touches, but likely not enough to warrant fantasy consideration.
Wide Receivers
Injury – CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys (O – Ankle)
Opportunity – George Pickens, Jake Ferguson
Lamb left Sunday’s game early with an ankle injury, and it didn’t look pretty. Owner Jerry Jones later said he’s a candidate for IR, which would sideline him for a minimum of four weeks. The expectation is at least three weeks for a high ankle sprain, so Lamb owners should prepare to be without their star wide receiver for a while. This gives Pickens the chance to be a weekly starter as QB Dak Prescott's top target. He profiles as a high-end WR2. Jake Ferguson should also continue to see plenty of targets. Already among the most targeted tight ends in the league, Ferguson now has a strong opportunity to finish as a top-five option at the position each week.
Injury – Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q – Hamstring)
Opportunity – Emeka Egbuka
Evans is dealing with a low-grade hamstring injury. I’d still expect the future Hall of Fame wide receiver to miss at least one week, with the possibility of two or more. As we saw on Sunday, Egbuka appears to be the primary beneficiary when Evans is sidelined. The talented rookie wideout should be started weekly.
Injury – Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders (Q – Quad)
Opportunity – Deebo Samuel
McLaurin injured his quad during Washington’s win over the Raiders. It’s speculative, but his being ruled out for the rest of the game may have had more to do with the Commanders’ big lead than the severity of the injury. We’ll need to monitor his practice participation this week. If McLaurin misses time, Samuel becomes an immediate start, with near double-digit targets likely.
Tight End
Injury – Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears (Q – Hip)
Opportunity – Cole Kmet
Loveland suffered a hip injury, but it’s reported not to be serious. He has a good chance to play next week. If he can’t, Kmet becomes a viable streaming option for tight–end–needy fantasy managers.
Injury – Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders (Q – Concussion)
Opportunity – Brock Bowers
Mayer left last week’s loss with a concussion, which typically means at least one game missed. If that’s the case, Bowers remains one of the top tight end options. Maybe he’ll finally see more of the field? (Sorry—bitter Bowers owner here.)
Week 3 proved just how quickly the NFL injury report can shake up fantasy football lineups. Key injuries to players like James Conner, Najee Harris, and CeeDee Lamb create immediate opportunities for breakout running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. Staying active on the waiver wire and making informed lineup adjustments is crucial for maximizing RB2, WR2, and TE streaming potential. Follow ASL’s weekly fantasy football injury updates and expert advice to stay ahead of your league, identify emerging fantasy starters, and turn unexpected opportunities into playoff success.
