Dynasty Injury Report: Week Eight

Tee Higgins | Credit: Charles LeClaire

Kyle Trimble Posted On October 30, 2024

While there were less injuries than last week, the players currently in the training room still have a major impact on everyone’s fantasy rosters heading into Week 9. We are at the halfway point in the season and your team is either riding high, struggling to stay relevant, or you’re totally out of it and reading my work because you’re a degenerate fantasy footballer.

I am Kyle Trimble, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and injury analyst at Dynasty League Football. I am here every week to break down the latest injuries and provide perspective on how to navigate the pitfalls that are injuries.

I would also encourage you to tune in to the DLF YouTube channel (make sure to subscribe!) to tune in to helpful content throughout the week.

Let’s look at the various injuries heading into Week 9 and any concerns moving forward for your fantasy championships.

Jordan Love, QB GB

Injury: Groin strain

Timeline to Return: Week 9-11

Love suffered a groin strain during the opening drive of the eventual win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. He managed to finish the first half of the game but when he returned to start the second half, he could not get going, later replaced by Malik Willis.

Tests later showed that Love has a regular groin strain which leaves his status up in the air for Sunday. Given that this is against the Detroit Lions, the Packers need every opportunity to take the division. But knowing they have the bye on the other side in Week 10 may have the Packers sending Willis out to get Love fully healthy.

Watch the injury reports on this one and if Love does play, I am concerned about his ability to evade pressure in the pocket. He will have limited to no mobility outside of the pocket should he need to scramble. Common sense says he does not play, but with a divisional game on the line, anything is possible. Grab Malik Willis in case Love trends downward.

Stefon Diggs, WR HOU

Injury: Right knee ACL tear

Timeline to Return: 2025

Diggs left Sunday’s game late in the third quarter with a right knee injury that has been shrouded in mystery since he exited. The broadcast view shows him trying to juke his defender and push off his right leg before he grabbed the leg and sat down. The primary concern based on the angle that was provided was that he tore his ACL given the non-contact nature and how he pushes off the knee.

There aren’t any other available angles to see how the knee shifts. Unfortunately, news dropped Tuesday that Diggs did indeed tear his ACL, ending his season. There is a small chance he could be ready for Week 1 but given his age and when he tore, the team may take this rehab slowly. For what it’s worth, he has his brother Trevon to lean on for support as he tore his ACL last year. Fortunately, the Texans have several options including Xavier Hutchinson, John Metchie, or Steven Sims. I like Hutchinson to soak up Diggs’ targets while he is out.

Tee Higgins, WR CIN

Injury: Quad injury

Timeline to Return: Week 9-10

Higgins missed last week’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles after suffering a quadriceps injury in practice the Friday prior. The team made him a game-time decision, ultimately ruling him out. While the injury isn’t all that concerning long-term, the timing of when the injury occurred is.

He will only be a week removed from the original injury as the Bengals prepare for their Week 9 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Higgins’ practice participation will be a key one to watch to see if he can be effective on Sunday. I expect him to have limited practices on at least Wednesday and possibly Thursday. If he’s still limited on Friday, I would not feel good about his chances to play. Even if he does play, he would be a boom or bust play with more bust written all over it. He may struggle to decelerate and cut effectively, limiting his route tree. He will also be at a higher risk of re-injuring the quad, leading to an early day.

Bengals receivers outside of Ja’Marr Chase have been unimpressive as of late but if Higgins isn’t looking good on Friday, go grab Trenton Irwin or Andrei Iosivas.

Drake Maye, QB NE

Injury: Concussion

Timeline to Return: Week 9-10

Maye suffered a concussion in the second quarter shortly after scoring his first career rushing touchdown. His concussion was the result of a helmet-to-helmet hit from behind. Reports indicated that he was throwing on the sideline and felt good, but he was officially placed in the concussion protocol due to the doctor’s findings.

He will have to pass through the league’s NFL concussion protocol consisting of five stages in order to be cleared. This appears to be his first known concussion so this is a wait-and-see approach to determine how quickly he returns. If Maye is your guy, Jacoby Brissett will once again get the start should Maye miss Sunday, but I would personally stream whoever you can find/have as a replacement until then.

Brian Thomas, WR JAC

Injury: Left chest contusion

Timeline to Return: Week 9-10

Thomas appeared to injure his chest hauling in a touchdown late in the third quarter to put the Jaguars up 17-13. He appeared to land on the ball and came up in discomfort.

Initial reports indicated that he would be out 2-4 weeks but head coach Doug Pederson noted that he suffered only a chest contusion on his left side. Like any injury, there may be more to what we are being told but this injury is not something that should keep him out if we take the information at face value.

Watching the practice reports will be key with what I expect is for Thomas to be limited Wednesday and Thursday with the hopes that he gets a full practice in on Friday. This is something that he should play though but may affect his production. Rotating, overhead catches, may be limited as pain could prevent the full motion. Catching balls in open space and worrying about another hit to the area may lead him to avoid fighting for 50/50 balls. If he trends down, pickup Parker Washington or find the best matchup on the waiver wire.

Christian Kirk, WR JAC

Injury: Left collarbone fracture

Timeline to Return: 2025

Kirk suffered a left collarbone fracture while trying to haul in a fourth quarter pass in the eventual 30-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. He was seen after the game in a sling when reports came out that he fractured the bone.

Given that it is Week 8 and collarbones take at least eight weeks plus to heal, Kirk’s season is effectively over. It hasn’t been reported that he will undergo surgery, but the only way he would return is if the Jaguars make the playoffs. As for fantasy, he would not be relevant for fantasy playoffs. Fortunately, this will not linger into 2025 and he will be fully healthy. Parker Washington and Tim Jones are the only receivers on the Jags roster which means they will get volume. My pick would be Washington or go scour the waiver wire.

Jordan Mason, RB SF

Injury: Left AC joint sprain

Timeline to Return: Week 10

Mason once again suffered a left AC joint sprain early in the first quarter requiring medical attention. While he did return to play, he was rather ineffective for the night rushing for 18 yards on six carries. Reports indicated that he could have returned to the game if needed but backup Issac Guerendo carried the load the rest of the night.

Considering the 49ers have the bye this week at which time Christian McCaffrey is expected to return in Week 10, Mason’s time as a fantasy relevant back is nearing expiration. He is still valuable should McCaffrey be out again, but the 49ers may want to sit Mason to let him get extra time to heal. Watch the practice reports but you may want to go grab Guerendo or stream another back for Week 10.

Tyrone Tracy Jr, RB NYG

Injury: Concussion

Timeline to Return: Week 10

Tracy exited Monday’s game with a head injury in the fourth quarter, eventually going to the locker room for further evaluation. Typically when that happens, the player is diagnosed with a concussion and enters the protocol.

This appears to be Tracy’s first concussion and suffering the injury on a short week doesn’t bode well for a quick return. I would hope that we see a limited practice by Thursday in order to have a shot at playing Sunday. If Tracy begins to miss practices, Devin Singletary may regain his starting role but grabbing Eric Gray could be a shot in the dark if Singletary has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff.

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Kyle Trimble

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

Kyle is a Doctor of Physical Therapy out of Buffalo, NY. He has three kids, many chickens, and cheers on the Buffalo Bills. He almost burnt down Wendy’s when he was an employee in high school.