Recapping the Injuries week 1 2018

By Armando Marsal

The season kicked off on Sunday and with that, unfortunately, comes injuries. This week we saw multiple players go down with injuries, some that could sideline them for the season, so who may miss some time, and others who could be back as early as Week 2.

Fantasy owners who lost players that are expected to miss significant time, adjustments need to be made and the waiver wire will be your best friend.

With that said, let’s take a look at some of this week’s injuries and the impact of the injury.

Leonard Fournette – Jaguars:

Fournette suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday’s game against the Giants that forced him to miss the entire second half of the game. T.J. Yeldon took over in the backfield with Fournette out and rushed for 51 yard on 14 carries, while also catching three passes for 18 yards and a touchdown. Hamstring injuries can be tricky, so Fournette will likely be considered day-to-day and questionable for the next game. Yeldon was one of the top handcuffs this offseason and should have been drafted by Fournette owners. However, if he is still on the waiver wire, he should be a priority this week.

Jeremy Hill – Patriots:

Hill to a helmet to the knee against the Texans that forced him to leave the game and not return. There is no timetable for him at this time, but we should know more regarding his status at some point this week. Hill was involved in the offense, as well as special teams. His absence would open the door for Sony Michel to be more involved once he is healthy to play. For now, James White and Rex Burkhead will work as the backs in New England.

Doug Baldwin –Seahawks:

Baldwin left Sunday’s game against the Broncos and was diagnosed with a sprained MCL. He was already playing at less than 100 percent with a knee injury and claimed he would not be completely healthy at all this season, so this is another setback, as both knees are now injured. Baldwin should be considered as week-to-week for the time being. For now, Tyler Lockett, Brandon Marshall, and Will Dissly appear to be the wide outs that will carry this offense during Baldwin’s absence.

DeSean Jackson – Buccaneers:

Jackson was having himself a game, catching five passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, before suffering a concussion and sitting out the remainder of the afternoon. You know the drill by now, he will have to clear the league’s concussion protocol before being able to step on the field again. Should Jackson miss any time, Chris Godwin will see a boost in opportunities.

Marquise Goodwin – 49ers:

Goodwin suffered a quad injury early in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Vikings. He eventually came back in for another series, but was pulled out immediately after that, ending his day. This is a situation to monitor, but the fact the he attempted to come back in is a positive sign for his Week 2 status.

Marcus Mariota – Titans:

Mariota injured his elbow in Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins, forcing him to miss the rest of the game. He had a rough start to the season, throwing for 103 yards and two interceptions on 16 pass attempts. Blaine Gabbert stepped in for Mariota to finish the game and would fill in for him should Mariota miss any time. There is no word on the severity of the injury right now, but we should know more once he undergoes further testing. Stay tuned!

Greg Olsen – Panthers:

Olsen left Sunday’s game with a foot injury and it looks like this could put him on the shelf for some time. The injury occurred to his surgically repaired right foot and he was seen on crutches after the game. We should know more about the severity of the injury after he undergoes further testing, but fantasy owners should already be searching for a replacement for Olsen. Ian Thomas will likely work as the Panthers top tight end during Olsen’s absence.

Delanie Walker – Titans:

Walker was carted off of the field on Sunday after dislocating his ankle. His ankle got rolled up under another defender and it was immediately noticeable that his ankle bent the wrong way. It was put in an air cast, which was a clear sign that this was a serious injury. This injury could force him to miss a significant amount of time, potentially the season. Jonnu Smith will take over the tight end duties for the Titans with Walker on the sidelines, but Dion Lewis and Corey Davis figure to be the main beneficiaries. Wishing Walker a healthy and speedy recovery!

Additional Notes

Aaron Rodgers left Sunday’s game with an apparent knee injury, but was able to return and lead the Packers to a comeback victory over the Bears. That said, his knee was noticeably not 100 percent and he was dragging his leg when moving around in the pocket. It is something to keep an eye on throughout the week. DeShone Kizer is the next man up should Rodgers need time off.