Below is a recap of injuries around the NFL to fantasy-relevant players that will help you set your lineups and dominate your leagues. I also included my very non-scientific “worry-o-meter,” which indicates on a scale of zero to five just how concerned I am about that player’s injury status when it comes to their Week 7 outlook.
Trey Lance, QB, 49ers (knee)
Lance has not practiced this week after suffering a knee sprain in Week 5. I thought it was possible he could heal up over the bye week in time for the 49ers' Week 7 matchup against the Colts, but that is looking less and less likely now. Jimmy Garoppolo will likely get the start.
Worry-o-meter: 5 out of 5.
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Buccaneers (ribs)
Gronkowski has yet to practice again this week while dealing with an ongoing rib injury he suffered in Week 3, which means it's unlikely we'll see him play against the Bears.
If Gronkowski is a no-go come Sunday, expect Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard, who was upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday, to step up. Howard caught six of seven targets for 49 yards and a touchdown in Week 6 and could be an attractive streamer this week.
Worry-o-meter: 5 out of 5.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants (ankle)
Barkley did not practice this week while dealing with a sprained ankle he suffered in Week 5 and is expected to miss his second game in a row. Devontae Booker would be next in line to handle his carries with Elijaa Penny backing him up. Consider Booker a top-24 play this week in a tough matchup against the Panthers.
Worry-o-meter: 5 out of 5.
Latavius Murray, RB, Ravens (ankle)
Murray has not practiced in back-to-back days while dealing with an ankle injury. The issue wasn't initially considered serious, but it appears he is now trending in the wrong direction. Murray has been leading this backfield after the Ravens seemingly tossed aside Ty'Son Williams.
If Murray cannot play, Devonta Freeman and Le'Veon Bell could both be low-end RB3s against the Bengals.
Worry-o-meter: 5 out of 5.
Kenny Golladay, WR, Giants (knee)
Golladay missed Week 6 while dealing with a knee injury and has not practiced all week. He is not expected to play this week, though he hasn't officially been ruled out as of writing this on Thursday.
Whichever receivers are healthy for the Giants will likely get a boost this week, especially with Kadarius Toney also injured.
Worry-o-meter: 5 out of 5.
Kadarius Toney, WR, Giants (ankle)
Toney missed practice again on Thursday and is not expected to play in Week 7 against the Panthers, though he has not been officially ruled out yet. This should give Sterling Shepard a bump this week as one of the lone healthy receivers for the G-Men, assuming he plays since he's also dealing with a nagging hamstring injury.
Worry-o-meter: 5 out of 5.
Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington (groin)
Samuel didn't play in Week 6 dealing with a groin injury and hasn't practiced in back-to-back days. It feels unlikely that he'll play in Sunday's matchup against the Packers and he is droppable in most formats.
Worry-o-meter: 5 out of 5.
Sammy Watkins, WR, Ravens (thigh)
Watkins did not practice for the second day in a row while dealing with a thigh injury. He missed Week 6 and it's likely he misses his second game in a row. This should elevate the statuses of Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews in the Ravens' Week 7 matchup agains the Bengals.
Worry-o-meter: 5 out of 5.
Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington (shin)
Gibson has been dealing with a stress fracture for multiple weeks that didn't appear to be problematic in terms of workload in Week 5. He saw 20 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns, but was clearly hampered by it in Week 6 and saw half the workload, tallying just three fantasy points in half PPR.
He did not practice on Wednesday and practiced in a limited fashion on Thursday, which is a major concern heading into Week 7 against the Packers. If he cannot start, J.D. McKissic would stand to see the biggest uptick in workload and would be a high-end RB2. Jaret Patterson could also be an interesting deep-league dart throw if Gibson sits. Even if he starts, he could be on a snap count which makes me very nervous for fantasy purposes.
Worry-o-meter: 4.5 out of 5.
Antonio Brown, WR, Buccaneers (ankle)
Brown has been sidelined for two consecutive practices while dealing with an ankle injury. It's quite concerning given he has been on fire of late, scoring three touchdowns and tallying 217 yards in the last two weeks. He's a high-end WR2 if he starts.
If Brown is ruled out on Sunday, expect Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to see a significant uptick in targets. Both Evans and Godwin would be high-end WR2s with WR1 upside.
Worry-o-meter: 4.5 out of 5.
T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts (quad)
Hilton has yet to practice this week after suffering a quad injury in his return to action in Week 6. You have to feel for him, given it was his season debut after missing five weeks with a neck issue. His status for Week 7 is very much up in the air at this point. He appeared effect in Week 6 and caught all four passes for 80 yards. He could be a deep-league flex if he plays against the 49ers this week. If he misses the game, Michael Pittman Jr. would remain the unrivaled WR1 in this offense. Zach Pascal would stand to see more targets, as would Mo Alie-Cox.
Worry-o-meter: 4 out of 5.
Darius Slayton, WR, Giants (hamstring)
Slayton missed practice on Wednesday but was upgraded to limited on Thursday. He has not played since Week 3, however, and is yet another injured receiver for the Giants. If he miraculously starts, I would consider him a deep league dart throw in a tougher matchup who could see some targets considering how many receivers are out this week.
Worry-o-meter: 4 out of 5.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington (hamstring)
McLaurin was upgraded to limited participation on Thursday after not practicing on Wednesday while dealing with a hamstring injury. It's a good news he is moving in the right direction, but it's unclear how serious this injury is and his recent production has been unimpressive. If he starts, he should be a WR1 with Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander out. If he sits out, Adam Humphries, Dyami Brown, Ricky Seals-Jones and J.D. McKissic could all see additional targets.
Worry-o-meter: 3 out of 5.
Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants (hamstring)
Shepard is dealing with an ongoing hamstring injury, but practiced in a limited fashion on Thursday, making him one of the healthiest receivers on the Giants right now. Assuming he plays, he will be a WR2 with upside, even in a tough matchup against the Panthers with Toney and Golladay presumably out.
Worry-o-meter: 3 out of 5.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs (quad)
Hill was a noteworthy absence on both Wednesday and Thursday as the Chiefs prepare to take on the Titans. The star wideout is dealing with a quad contusion that also kept him sidelined during practice last week. He started the game and caught nine of 12 targets for 76 yards and a touchdown. His recent absences are more likely a product of veteran rest and the team exercising caution, though it's worth monitoring Friday's injury report.
In the unlikely event he does not dress come Sunday, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle would likely see an uptick in targets against Tennessee.
Worry-o-meter: 2.5 out of 5.
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Lions (knee)
Hockenson did not practice on Wednesday, but was upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday as the Lions prepare to take on the Rams. Their star tight end has been dealing with a knee injury for multiple weeks, but has yet to miss a game this year. It appears this is a precautionary situation with Hockenson, who should be good to suit up in Week 7, though I would temper expectations given the limitations of Detroit's offense and his waning health.
Worry-o-meter: 2 out of 5.
Ricky Seals-Jones, TE, Washington (quad)
Seals-Jones was upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday after not practicing on Wednesday. He has been dealing with a quad injury but appears to be trending in the right direction. With Logan Thomas out and so much of the Washington depth chart injured, Seals-Jones is a solid streamer this week if he plays.
Worry-o-meter: 2 out of 5.
Travis Kelce, WR, Chiefs (neck)
Kelce was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday with a stinger he suffered last week. He still finished top five at the position in half PPR with eight catches on 11 targets for 99 yards and should be good to go come Sunday.
Worry-o-meter: 1.5 out of 5.
A.J. Brown, WR, Titans (illness)
Brown has not practiced in back-to-back days with an illness, likely the same illness that gave him the questionable designation heading into Monday night that he described as food poisoning from Chipotle. He still played in Week 6 and caught seven of nine targets for 91 yards.
Since this does not seem like the type of illness that would escalate over time, I feel fairly confident he will play this Sunday in a plush Week 7 matchup against the Chiefs.
Worry-o-meter: 1.5 out of 5.
Allen Robinson II, WR, Bears (ankle)
Robinson missed practice on Wednesday but returned in a limited capacity on Thursday while dealing with an ankle injury. It appears he should be on track to play this weekend against the Buccaneers, which should be a good matchup for him and Justin Fields given how leaky the Tampa secondary has been.
Worry-o-meter: 1.5 out of 5.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers (calf)
Garoppolo missed Week 5 while dealing with a calf injury but is on track to return for the 49ers' Week 7 matchup against the Colts. Rookie Trey Lance is still recovering from a sprained knee and will likely sit this one. Garoppolo is a low-end QB2 for fantasy purposes.
Worry-o-meter: 1 out of 5.
D'Andre Swift, RB, Lions (groin)
Swift was a limited participant in back-to-back practices this week while dealing with a groin injury that has plagued him all year. This has become a weekly ritual and Swift has yet to miss a game. He is a locked-in RB1 this week against the Rams.
Worry-o-meter: 1 out of 5.
Chase Edmonds, RB, Cardinals (shoulder)
Edmonds was limited in back-to-back practices while dealing with a shoulder injury this week. He was limited all last week, too, and has not missed a game this year. I am concerned about his workload, which has dropped of late, but the matchup against the Texans is too juicy to pass up. He's an RB2 this week assuming he plays.
Worry-o-meter: 1 out of 5.
Damien Harris, RB, Patriots (ribs)
Harris' status has been up in the air all week as he has been dealing with a rib injury that has plagued him for multiple weeks. It hasn't kept him sidelined from action yet, however, and he was absent from the Patriots' injury report on Thursday. It appears he will play against the Jets barring a setback and should be a high-end RB2, downgrading Rhamondre Stevenson to a dart throw RB4.
Worry-o-meter: 1 out of 5.
Khalil Herbert, RB, Bears (shoulder)
Herbert was a full participant in Thursday's practice while dealing with a shoulder injury as the Bears prepare to take on the Buccaneers this week. He will likely start, and could see a big workload if his counterpart, Damien Williams, cannot play. The matchup against the Buccaneers is brutal, however. Tampa is allowing the fewest rushing yards per game and there's a good chance the Bears abandon the run quite early.
Worry-o-meter: 1 out of 5.
Malcolm Brown, RB, Dolphins (ribs)
Brown was limited in back-to-back practices with a rib injury. He will probably play in this week's matchup against Atlanta (to the dismay of Myles Gaskin managers), though he isn't an attractive start, even in this positive matchup.
Worry-o-meter: 1 out of 5.
Chris Evans, RB, Bengals (hamstring)
Evans was a limited practice in back-to-back days and will likely play in the Bengals' Week 7 contest in Baltimore. He had a fantastic Week 6 and reeled in a touchdown against the Lions, but will likely take a backseat to Samaje Perine once again with Perine returning from the COVID-19/reserve list.
Worry-o-meter: 1 out of 5.
Darren Waller, TE, Raiders (knee)
Waller did not participate in Wednesday's practice, but was upgraded to a full participant on Thursday. He is listed as dealing with a knee injury, but the absence seems more like a rest day than anything else. He should be fine to play the Eagles on Sunday.
Worry-o-meter: 0 out of 5.
Bryan Edwards, WR, Raiders (hamstring)
Edwards was limited on Wednesday, but was upgraded to a full participant on Thursday. He is dealing with a hamstring issue and should start come Sunday against the Eagles.
Worry-o-meter: 0 out of 5.
Henry Ruggs III, WR, Raiders (knee)
Ruggs was upgraded to full participation on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday. He is dealing with a knee injury but should be fine to start on Sunday.
Worry-o-meter: 0 out of 5.
