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Injury analysis for week 4 of NFL DFS on FanDuel and DraftKings
Welcome to our weekly injury analysis article! There are a ton of relevant injuries this week, so let's cut right to the chase.
You can also check out our Week 4 cash game plays.
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Running Back
Chris Carson FD 7900 DK 6300
Opponent MIA
Proj Points FD - 8.3 DK - 9.75
Carson was limited in practice again on Thursday with a first degree knee sprain - an injury that usually requires a 1-2 week timetable for recovery. If he were to sit, it would open up a lot of opportunity for a team that's never been shy about running the ball. The problem is that the presumed heir to the RB1 carries, Carlos Hyde, has also been limited in practice this week. If both Hyde and Carson were to sit you'd be look at a very chalky Travis Homer as a likely three down back in Seattle. He'd be a cash game lock in a fantastic match-up with Miami.
Leonard Fournette FD 5500 DK 5600
Opponent LAC
Proj Points FD - 2.99 DK - 3.73
Our system is now very bearish on Fournette's chances of playing on Sunday after Bruce Arians called it a "stretch" to think about him playing. If he winds up being out, it becomes a huge boon to Ronald Jones Jr.'s fantasy stock. The Bucs are already likely to be without Chris Godwin and Scotty Miller this week, and they are running low on ways to reliably approach short yardage situation. Jones had 17 opportunities (carries plus targets) last week, and given that the Bucs are 7.5 point favorites against the Chargers you'd figure that he'll be heavily involved here. I'd be comfortable with him in cash games if Fournette were ruled out.
Kareem Hunt FD 5900 DK 6200
Opponent DAL
Proj Points FD - 12.04 DK - 13.53
This is a sneakier one to keep an eye on. Hunt has missed two straight practices with a groin injury, and his absence could turn Nick Chubb into a three down back. I'm not sure this is where you want to spend up for cash game purposes even if Hunt is out of the picture, but taking carries away from a very talented back-up can only help Chubb's big tournament prospects.
Sony Michel FD 5600 DK 4600
Opponent KC
Proj Points FD - 9.23 DK - 10.34
Michel is cruising toward a questionable tag for Sunday's contest with the Chiefs, but I'm not sure how much his absence would really affect our DFS projections. James White will be returning this week (from personal issues, not an injury), and it's unclear how he and Burkhead will split the RB targets in the passing game. All in all this situation is a stay away for me.
Cam Akers FD 5400 DK 4100
Opponent NYG
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
The Rams don't expect Akers to suit up for Sunday's tilt with the Giants, leaving the rest of the carries to Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown. It's a terrific spot for Rams running backs, but I'm not sure redistributing Akers' 3 carries will really amount to much for DFS purposes.
Tarik Cohen FD 5000 DK 4000
Opponent IND
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Cohen's season is over after he was placed on the IR with an ACL tear, and I think this injury has broader implications for DFS than it might seem. While Cohen wasn't heavily featured in the running game, redistributing his targets out of the backfield could be meaningful. Right now speculation is that Cordarrelle Patterson will inherit them, but if the Bears consolidate the running back touches into David Montgomery he could turn into a great punt options into a hurry.
Zack Moss FD 5100 DK 4300
Opponent LV
Proj Points FD - 6.75 DK - 7.57
Moss missed week 3 with the toe injury that's limiting him in practice right now, and Devin Singletary turned in a respectable 18 touches for 121 total yards. The only other back to even sniff the ball was TJ Yeldon, who had 3 carries for 18 yards. Right now Moss is trending toward playing, but if he sits, this could be a great spot to grab Singletary, whose price is still too low after he didn't get in the endzone last week.
Wide Receivers
Michael Thomas FD 8800 DK 7600
Opponent DET
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Michael Thomas has been officially ruled out of the Saints' game against the Lions this weekend, meaning we should see another week of huge targets for Alvin Kamara. Thomas' absence didn't really mean an uptick in usage for any of the conventional receivers on the team, however, so we'll likely leave the rest of the passing game alone.
Deandre Hopkins FD 8700 DK 8500
Opponent CAR
Proj Points FD - 16.42 DK - 20.12
Christian Kirk FD 5400 DK 4400
Opponent CAR
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Hopkins failed to practice at all this week in preparation for the Cardinals' game against the Panthers, and is currently listed as a game time decision. Christian Kirk is listed as a game time decision as well, though in reality he's probably closer to doubtful. If Hopkins were to miss this one it would leave double digit targets on the table to be redistributed, and our model likes Andy Isabella as the primary beneficiary. It's worth keeping an eye on KeeSean Johnson as well, who received 7 targets last week. He only converted them into 2 catches, so the targets could disappear, but he makes for an interesting big tournament option.
Hopkins' absence would certainly tick Kyler Murray down in our system as well.
Chris Godwin FD 7700 DK 6500
Opponent LAC
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Chris Godwin has been officially ruled out of the Bucs-Chargers game, leaving a gaping hole in the Bucs' passing game. It's a little strange to know what to do with it, however. It looks like Scotty Miller is going to play on Sunday, and he could possibly inherit some of Godwin's looks. Mike Evans will be a popular play almost assuredly, but how confident can we be in a guy who caught 2 passes for 2 yards last week? Sure, they were both touchdowns, but Evans simply hasn't been very involved in the offense outside of week two (which, granted, Godwin missed). I think he's a solid play, but probably not a must for cash games.
DJ Chark Jr. FD 6800 DK 6000
Opponent CIN
Proj Points FD - 8.24 DK - 9.84
Chark has lost his injury designation heading into this week, and should return as the presumptive #1 wide receiver for Jacksonville this week. I wouldn't be confident in running him in cash games, but the upside is clearly there, and you should be able to get him with relatively low ownership given the other excellent wide receiver options in the mid-range of pricing.
Terry McLaurin FD 6600 DK 5800
Opponent BAL
Proj Points FD - 12.14 DK - 14.66
Terry McLaurin missed Friday's practice, and is currently listed as a game time decision against Baltimore. While Dontrelle Inman would be the next man up for significant targets, this sure looks like a case of not all targets being equal. First of all, these targets are going to be from Dwayne Haskins. Second of all, they will come against the Baltimore Ravens, who held Will Fuller to 0 targets in week 2. This looks like a hard pass regardless of McLaurin's status.
Julian Edelman FD 6400 DK 5700
Opponent KC
Proj Points FD - 11.14 DK - 13.69
Edelman has the questionable tag after being limited in practice this week, but he's been a limited participant in practice all season long. I don't think there's anything to see here, and believe Edelamn is a fine option against KC in what should be a shootout. The cautious among you might want to avoid him in cash games, though, since this is a 4:25 kickoff and we may not know his status with any degree of certainty by 1:00 lineup lock.
Will Fuller V FD 6100 DK 5900
Opponent MIN
Proj Points FD - 9.65 DK - 11.65
Fuller was taken off the injury report after being a full participant in Friday's practice, though reports are that he is still dealing with a nagging hamstring injury. Still, in a great match-up with the Vikings, he's in consideration for us in all formats.
John Brown FD 6100 DK 5100
Opponent LV
Proj Points FD - 10.21 DK - 12.19
Like Fuller, John Brown was also taken off the injury report for week 4. The only real fantasy implications here are a slight downgrade to Stefon Diggs' projection, and Brown remains a reasonable high upside play in big tournaments.
Tight End
Jared Cook FD 6300 DK 5400
Opponent DET
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Jared Cook went down before the fourth quarter of last week's game, and Adam Trautman played all 12 offensive snaps for the Saints afterward. He had 2 catches on 2 targets for 17 yards. Trautman is probably just a speculative upside play.
