With all fantasy football drafts completed, and some managersโ weeks already in the gutter, Sunday canโt seem to come any sooner.ย
Any manager will tell you the worst part of fantasy is when your players get injured, so itโs important to both monitor their progression and their outlook coming into the week.
That brings us to New York Jets running back Breece Hall.
Breece Hall
After sustaining a strained groin in practice on Aug. 17, Hall is fully cleared for Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans.
Hall should be receiving the bulk of the rushing and receiving work at the position; the only question is his volume at the goal line.
Last season, when both Hall and Braelon Allen played, Allen led the goal-line work, 3-2.ย
The Tennessee Titans were a middle-of-the-road team in terms of rushing yards allowed, and did a solid job of holding some of the best running backs to mediocre fantasy performances.
However, the Titans allowed 5+ receptions to RBs who arenโt particularly known for their receiving upside in multiple games, because they committed to defending the deep pass so heavily.
One of Frank Reich’s former workhorses, Jonathan Taylor, finished fourth in RB routes and ninth in targets (under Shane Steichen). Considering some of the similarities between both offenses, particularly with how Reich and Steichen have crossed paths, it’s worthwhile information to store.
With Hall having more of a receiving upside history, Hall still looks to be a high-end RB2 or low-end RB1 play.
Rome Odunze
Both Odunze and D’Andre Swift left practice on Sept. 3 โ Odunze with a calf injury and Swift with a core injury.ย
Although Swift has been off the injury report all week, Odunze’s status has been lingering.
Since the day of the injury, Odunze has reassured everyone that heโs fine and plans to play Week 1 against the Panthers.
Even if you donโt take his limited practices into account, Iโm not the biggest fan of him this week.
Odunze was the outside receiver much more than in the slot, and with Jaycee Horn on the other side, heโs more likely than not to be shadowed.
On top of this, Odunzeโs ADoT (Average Depth of Target) was much higher than his teammates Coleston Loveland and Luther Burden III.
To me, Odunze is a flex-level play in higher-team leagues, but be extremely cautious when starting this week in standard 10-man formats.
Brock Bowers / Michael Mayer
Hours after new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said he expects everyone to be ready for Week 1, it was reported that Brock Bowers will miss at least a couple of weeks after undergoing meniscus surgery.
Bowers was in line to replicate his dominant rookie year, seemingly fully recovered from his knee problems last season.
But with him down, this is a prime opportunity for backup tight end Michael Mayer to show out.
Mayer was drafted 35th overall just one year before Bowers and had a disappointing rookie year, stats-wise, finishing with just over 300 yards.
In his defense, the Raiders as a team passed for just 3,300 yards over three different quarterbacks, and Mayer dealt with injuries himself.
Minutes after Tucker Kraft became the third-highest-paid tight end in football, the Raiders inked Mayerโs contract, which made him the fourth-highest.
Mayer is a high-level TE start this week, as well as a possible Flex option if you already have another premium option at TE.
Malik Nabers
Coming off a torn ACL and Meniscus that ended his season after just four games, Malik Nabers hasnโt been as straightforward about his status.
This could be a way to throw the Cowboys off in the game planning.
Either way, if Nabers is active, heโs in for a big performance.
The Cowboys’ secondary saw improvements with reigning champion Cobie Durant and 11th-overall pick Caleb Downs on the way, but the unit as a whole still has its flaws.
Their front seven has turned into their strong suit, with returners Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, as well as new faces Rashan Gary and Otito Ogbonnia.
If they canโt get consistent pressure, Jaxson Dart and the Giants will be able to pass all over the secondary that ranked 32nd in passing yards allowed and 31st in passing touchdowns allowed.ย
Consider Nabers as a high-level WR2 or low-level WR1 play in Week 1.

