Everything that happens in the NFL has additional context when analyzed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.
Our fantasy football news archive, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to give fantasy managers the information they need as news breaks around the NFL.
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August 7: Josh Downs and Rondale Moore suffer leg injuries
Tristan H. Cockcroft: Josh Downs left Wednesday's practice with an ankle injury, with some fearing it was a sprained ankle, a type of injury that typically results in a multi-week absence. That diminishes the second-year receiver's chances of being ready to take over the No. 2 slot receiver/target role for the Indianapolis Colts at the start of the season after a productive rookie campaign (157.1 PPR fantasy points).
Interestingly, Downs was being selected later in drafts on average than rookie Adonai Mitchell, one of two top options likely to receive a bump in targets if Downs misses the regular season (Alec Pierce being the other). Mitchell’s preseason reports and performance now bear careful monitoring, and he’ll be a more interesting prospect in the later rounds if he takes advantage of the expanded opportunity. Downs, whose potential was limited in a slot role anyway, is no longer a consideration at all in standard (10-team) leagues.
A fantasy disappointment in his three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, Rondale Moore suffered a leg injury in Atlanta Falcons training camp on Wednesday, with the possibility that it could result in an extended absence. He wasn’t likely to be much more than a rotational or slot receiver with his new team, which pushes Ray-Ray McCloud III to step into that role more firmly. Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Darnell Mooney and Bijan Robinson should be the team’s top four receiving options, and less competition for those players only further solidifies their target shares.
August 6: Christian McCaffrey will miss the preseason with a calf injury
Tristan H. Cockcroft: Any news surrounding the No. 1 player in fantasy football, Christian McCaffrey, sends ripples through our game, so Tuesday’s admission from San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan that his star running back will miss a couple weeks of practice and is unlikely to appear in any preseason games has the potential to send us into a state of panic. For all of McCaffrey’s successes — including scoring the second-most PPR fantasy points in a season in history (2019) while easily leading his position in the category in 2023 — he has an extensive injury history, having missed a total of 24 games in 2020-21. However, this injury timeline gives him plenty of time to be ready for Week 1 practices in full preparation for said season opener, and it's important to note that McCaffrey has appeared in just one preseason game over the past three seasons combined (and then fairly sparingly), as he's one of the few players who doesn't need action in a preseason game to prepare for the games that count. This makes Elijah Mitchell a more important insurance policy in the later rounds if he's lucky enough to land the top pick in the draft, but this isn't a setback that should knock McCaffrey out of that coveted top spot.
August 5: Puka Nacua “week by week” due to right knee injury
Stephanie Bell: Nacua left practice early on Aug. 4 but returned to the bench to watch the game with ice on his knee (per The Athletic’s Jordan Rodrigue). ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that Nacua is considered week-to-week, but the injury isn’t considered serious. At this point in the preseason, week-to-week likely reflects the concept of a player slowly coming back from even something minor. Nacua played in all 17 games of his rookie season, at different times playing through a sprained ACL and a hip ailment, and the team would no doubt like him to match that availability this fall.
August 2: DeAndre Hopkins moves closer to WR5 range
Eric Karabell: Hopkins injured his left knee during a recent practice and the Titans believe he will miss 4-6 weeks, which will certainly jeopardize his participation in the opening weeks of the regular season. Hopkins, a WR2 producer in PPR leagues during his first season with the Titans, went on to be viewed as a relative sleeper player by many as his current ADP has him in the late-game WR4 position, primarily due to the team’s addition of younger wide receiver Calvin Ridley. However, this injury news erases any optimism as Hopkins will likely miss September while he recovers, and fantasy managers are reminded that he missed 15 games during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, albeit some due to suspension. Regardless, Hopkins, a five-time Pro Bowler, will likely fall into the WR5 range now.
Eric Karabell: Herbert will be wearing a boot on his right foot for at least two weeks, and while the Chargers claim they’re optimistic he’ll be ready for Week 1 of the regular season (about five weeks from now), fantasy managers should be wary of this timeline. Herbert, one of the top fantasy quarterbacks in 2021 but not since, already comes at a draft-day discount (QB16 ADP), due to new coach Jim Harbaugh planning a run-based offense and a dearth of proven receiving talent. The fear that this injury will impact Herbert’s ability (as my colleague Stephania Bell details below) and participation in September is real, as is the risk of lingering issues. A case for the talented Herbert as a borderline QB1 option for deeper leagues was reasonable before this news, but certainly not now that he’s sliding into the late-round QB ranks.
Stephanie Bell: Plantar fascia injuries are extremely painful. This is an injury to the fibrous band that supports the arch of the foot, and with every step, that band is put under tension… so imagine pulling on something that is inflamed or torn when you bear weight, and the more you do this, the worse it gets.
A boot elevates the heel, which reduces the stress on the plantar fascia and hopefully that will allow the tissue to begin to heal. But these injuries can take months to fully recover from, especially if intense activity is resumed before healing is complete. So the question is: how will it affect him? It's his supporting leg, which helps him propel the ball when he throws and could make any of his moves more challenging. That said, Herbert has proven to be incredibly stoic, playing through painful conditions and performing well in the past.
August 2: Geno Smith recovers from multiple injuries
Eric Karabell: Smith received good news after undergoing tests for hip and knee issues, with a source telling ESPN's Adam Schefter that Smith “shouldn't miss any time.” The surprising No. 5 scoring fantasy quarterback for the 2022 season took a predictable step back statistically last season, ranking among the biggest fantasy quarterback disappointments, and there appears to be little momentum for him on ESPN ADP since he typically goes undrafted. In fact, some fantasy managers — and surely Seahawks fans — may prefer offseason acquisition Sam Howell, who played well in spurts for Washington last season. Howell, who has a stronger arm and is 10 years younger than Smith, is hoping for another chance.
