FOOTBALL IS BACK, BABY! Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season kicked off with the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs bested by the upstart Detroit Lions on Thursday night. After months of waiting, fans get to watch their favorite football teams once again. The start of the NFL season also means that fantasy football has returned, with team managers eagerly awaiting which players will be available.
Let's get right to it. Which fantasy football favorites are on the injury lists ahead of the first week of the 2023 NFL season? Let's take a look.
Cooper Kupp, LAR, WR – OUT (hamstring)
The Los Angeles Rams WR suffered a hamstring injury during their training camp. Kupp missed most of camp and their preseason as a result.
After suffering a setback in his rehab, Kupp has flown to Minnesota to reach out to a specialist. As a result, the Rams WR is listed as “OUT” for their Week 1 game. The ramifications for Week 1 are obvious. However, Sean McVay hinted at the star wide receiver potentially missing more than Week 1, or even a stint in the IR. That could be devastating news for fantasy owners that took the WR in the first round.
George Kittle, SF, TE – Questionable (adductor)
Getting a top-tier tight end is often tough in fantasy leagues. Because of the lack of depth at the position, teams often scramble to get the best tight ends before other teams. George Kittle is one of the better tight ends in fantasy football, with his route-running and sure hands helping him accumulate stats.
However, heading into Week 1, Kittle is listed as questionable due to an injury he suffered a few weeks ago. Kittle's adductor injury threatens his Week 1 availability for the 49ers. The TE isn't the most productive TE in fantasy (his elite blocking doesn't show up in the scoresheet), but he's almost always good for some solid stats in a pinch.
Mark Andrews, BAL, TE – Questionable
In stark contrast to Kittle, Mark Andrews is arguably the most productive tight end save for Travis Kelce in fantasy football. While Kittle plays more like a traditional tight end (serving as an extra pass blocker), Andrews is functionally a secondary or tertiary WR for the Baltimore Ravens. That makes him a great pick in fantasy, as well: more routes run means more catches (great for PPR!) and more stats.
However, fantasy owners had a bit of a scare when Mark Andrews missed three straight practices due to an undisclosed injury. The star TE returned to the practice field a couple of days, ago, thankfully. Andrews will likely have a smaller share of receptions for the Ravens, as they added weapons like Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr, who was dealing with an injury of his own but has been cleared, to amp up their passing attack. Still, if Flowers gets rattled in his first NFL game or if OBJ shows signs of rust, Andrews will most likely be Lamar Jackson's preferred target.
Rhamondre Stevenson, NE, RB – Questionable
Rhamondre Stevenson popped up on the injury report Friday after missing practice due to an illness. Doug Kyed of The Boston Herald reports that Stevenson is still expected to play in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, but his questionable designation for the contest suggests there's at least a chance he misses the game. Bill Belichick mind games or not, if Stevenson misses the game, backup Ezekiel Elliott would be a must-start RB2 against a familiar foe.
Kendre Miller, NO, RB – Questionable
Kendre Miller did not practice all week due to a hamstring injury after suffering a knee injury during the preseason. The fact that the Saints listed him as questionable suggest there's at least a chance he plays. However, the safe bet is that the team holds out the rookie and hands over the lead back duties to free agent-signee Jamaal Williams, making him an intriguing play in Week 1.
Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, GB, WRS – Out, Questionable
Jordan Love might be working with limited weapons in his second career start for the Packers. Christian Watson has been ruled out and Romeo Doubs is questionable. Should both miss the contest, rookie Jayden Reed would be a risky start for fantasy managers, while fellow first-year pro Luke Musgrave could be a sneaky sleeper.
Adam Thielen, DJ Chark, CAR, WRs – Questionable, Out
Panthers rookie Bryce Young could be in the same boat as Love. DJ Chark was ruled out with a hamstring injury while Adam Thielen is questionable with an ankle ailment. Thielen will be a fine start if he suits up, as Young will likely lean on the veteran in his debut. If Thielen sits, Terrace Marshall is a name to watch out for.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, DEN – Questionable
Jerry Jeudy seemed like a long shot to play in Week 1 but was able to return to practice on a limited basis all week. Battling a hamstring injury, Jeudy would be a risky start if active, as Denver is likely to ease him into the action. Marvin Mims Jr, the speedy rookie, could be the biggest fantasy beneficiary of Jeudy's absence.
Darren Waller, TE, NYG – Questionable
Darren Waller popped up on the injury report on Friday with a hamstring issue. Waller was still able to practice, which gives fantasy managers a glimmer of hope. If active, his red zone prowess should make him a solid start, albeit a risky one. Still, there's no doubt this injury puts managers in a tough spot, given that it's the last game on the Sunday slate.
Jamal Adams and Devon Witherspoon, SEA, S and CB – Out, Questionable
We're listing these two players together because both players are crucial to the Seahawks' defense. Witherspoon, the rookie CB, suffered a hamstring injury during training camp and had limited practice. Meanwhile, Adams' knee injury forced him to sit out their latest practice.
Whether it's an IDP league or just your standard D/ST, defense is an important part of a fantasy team's output. The Seahawks are thankfully benefitting from Kupp's aforementioned injury as well as other injuries on the Rams' offense. Still, with Adams out and Witherspoon up in the air, the Seahawks defense could be compromised come Sunday.
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