Game-by-Game Basis?

That doesn't sound great...

September 6, 2024

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Last night had it all. A toe for the ages, five days to obsess over FAAB bids for a tight end who might go 3-36 next game, a weather delay, Bills jokes! Taylor Swift!! My NFL+ subscription surprise-auto-renewed and I don’t even care. And we have more tonight?! This is why we love it, people. More on the game in water cooler. Right now, we look ahead…

Adam Ronis

If you drafted Rachaad White based on his volume, hearing Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles talk about the backfield usage provided an ulcer. White had 336 touches last season, and only Christian McCaffrey had more with 339.

The offensive coordinator who committed to White last season, Dave Canales, left to coach Carolina, and Liam Coen took over as offensive coordinator. White had no competition for touches last season and Tampa Bay selected Bucky Irving in the fourth round of the draft this year.

Assuming White will get the same workload might be premature based on Bowles’ comments. He said “It will be on a game-by-game basis. You normally go with the hot hand.”

White was one of the least efficient backs in the NFL last season, averaging 3.6 yards per carry, and was boosted in PPR formats with 64 receptions.

While these comments don’t mean it’s over for White, it’s not the words one wants to hear for a running back dependent on volume. Before you panic, Coen stated White is the guy.

Either way, the comments from Arizona offensive coordinator Drew Petzing are what you want to hear on James Conner, or the confidence Giants coach Brian Daboll has in Devin Singletary.

Those with White on a roster will be watching closely in Week 1. Those with Irving as a bench stash are beginning to grin.

What is in today’s newsletter?

Injury Roundup: Key updates on key fantasy players
Watercooler: Noteworthy TE usage out of Baltimore on TNF…

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INJURY REPORT

Fantasy Football Injuries to Watch in Week 1

by Jorge Martin

It’s time for some injury talk. Whether you follow the NFL and fantasy football year-round or just jumped in when training camp kicked off in late July, there have been some injuries that must be followed from last season like Jonathon Brooks returning from a torn ACL in November.

Others, like Christian McCaffrey’s calf injury, cropped up during the preseason, when information is not plentiful.

Some need monitoring even with the season starting, which brings us here. Prior to joining Fantasy Life, I co-hosted the Injury [PRO]ne Podcast with Dr. Edwin Porras. I learned from Porras to remember that players are not injury-prone, they just play a violent game that results in a lot of, well, injuries.

It’s also important to keep in mind a player's injury history, because one injury could make a player susceptible to future injuries of the same kind.

So, every week this space will be filled with fantasy-specific injury information—there might be a quote or two from Porras from time to time—heading toward the weekend games, with Start/Sit recommendations for fantasy managers who might be teetering. Or they just need reassurance that a player is going to be fine to start and perform on their fantasy teams. The information will remain the same. That said, let’s start with a player who flew off at the top of so many draft boards before this season.

Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

CMC sat out two weeks during training camp with what the team was calling a calf/Achilles injury. The 2023 RB1 was as clear a bet to go 1.01 in nearly all fantasy drafts before this news came out. He did sit out a meaningless Week 18 game last year with what was called a calf injury, then put up 460 scrimmage yards and 5 TDs in three postseason games.

The two-week designation to miss time during the preseason was consistent with what Porras has seen in his past research. Fantasy managers were largely undeterred, McCaffrey returned to practice this week, and wasn’t expected to play in the preseason anyway.

Start/Sit Recommendation: CMC was the consensus 1.01 for a reason, and as long as he’s active he should be in every fantasy lineup.

Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears

The Bears’ talented trio of receivers of Allen, DJ Moore, and Rome Odunze could be special if rookie Caleb Williams lives up to the hype. Allen landed on the injury report with a heel injury, which needs extra attention because he missed four games last season with the same injury.

Allen’s injury history and age (32) are red flags, but check the Friday practice report to see if he’s a full participant.

Start/Sit Recommendation: Allen was drafted as WR32, so he was selected by fantasy managers to be a starter. At the very least a flex play. The Titans come to Soldier Field with a revamped secondary that allowed 245 passing yards/game last year. If he’s active, get him in your fantasy lineup, at least as a flex play.