A.J. Green is still hurt. That's not shocking, but people continue to draft him as a starting fantasy WR, so it's still notable. Green's not alone at the wide receiver position -- Tyrell Williams is done for the season, while both Breshad Perriman and Parris Campbell are dealing with injuries. There are also updates as it pertains to Kenyan Drake's Week 1 availability and the Chargers QB battle between Tyrod Taylor and Justin Herbert.
For the latest fantasy injury news and updates, check back here and on Twitter @SN_Fantasy.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2020 cheat sheet
How long will Tyrod Taylor start for the Chargers?
The Athletic's Daniel Popper has suggested that Tyrod Taylor will start most or all of the Chargers' games at quarterback in 2020. That means the veteran Taylor will hold off first-round pick Justin Herbert from Oregon.
This is how much of our analysis has been leaning in the preseason, and a big reason why Taylor headlined our Deep Sleeper Team. Herbert is talented but raw, and if the Chargers are winning games, Taylor should remain at the helm. Currently being drafted as the No. 30 QB off the board, according to FantasyPros, Taylor is being undervalued. His last two seasons as a starter in Buffalo saw him finish eighth and then 16th in QB fantasy points, and that was with less weapons than he has in L.A.
2020 STANDARD FANTASY RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker | Superflex | Top 200
Will A.J. Green play Week 1?
Green, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury, has yet to progress to team drills in practice. He's been stuck with individual drills for about a week now. At this point, Green has just more than a week to progress to working out with the team and being in game shape to suit up Week 1. Green hasn't played in an NFL game since 2018.
The closer the season gets, the more Green looks like a risky pick as yet another injury threatens to hamper him. At this point, we can't even be sure he hasn't lost some of the supreme ability that made him such a fantasy weapon earlier in his career. It's been so long since he's been on the field in a game. Green's absence would elevate Tyler Boyd to a WR2 in PPR leagues and WR3 in all formats for Week 1. Beyond Boyd, it's likely that one of John Ross, Auden Tate, Tee Higgins, or even Alex Erickson could have a productive Week 1, but without a preseason, that pecking order isn't very defined.
2020 PPR RANKINGS:
Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | Superflex | Top 200
Kenyan Drake injury update
Kliff Kingsbury said that Drake is "close" to returning to practice in full. The Cardinals have been taking it easy on their star running back, who was wearing a walking boot in late August to deal with what Kingsbury called "nicks and bruises." At this point, expect Drake to be ready for his full workload come Week 1.
Drake is locked and loaded as a strong RB2 for this season after the numbers he put up following his trade to the Cardinals in 2019. If Drake suffered a setback and was forced to miss time, Chase Edmonds remains the handcuff to have in Arizona.
2020 FANTASY SLEEPERS:
6 QBs | 16 RBs | 14 WRs | 10 TEs | 5 D/STs | One from each team
Tyrell Williams out for season
After it was previously reported that Williams would try to play through a torn labrum, the Raiders placed him on Injured Reserve yesterday, ending his season before it got started. That at least eliminates the question in fantasy owners' minds of what to do with a talented WR in a crowded receiver room who's also dealing with a serious injury.
Hunter Renfrow won't be affected much by this news, as he'll continue to operate out of the Las Vegas slot. But instead of one Raiders rookie wideout playing a major role early on, it could be two -- both Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards should start on the outside with Williams' season over. Ruggs is the more freakish athlete, but Edwards might fit a Derek Carr route tree better. Both are speculative selections as WR4/WR5s in drafts with upside. Las Vegas also has Nelson Agholor and Zay Jones on the roster, but even if they temporarily hold off one of the rookies, it shouldn't be for long.
FANTASY DRAFT STRATEGIES:
Snake draft | Auction | Best ball | IDP
Breshad Perriman injury news
Perriman has missed more than a week of practice due to swelling in his knee, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. It's unclear which knee, but we know that Perriman dealt with a torn MCL in 2015 and a sprained ACL a year later. Jets rookie WR Denzel Mims has also missed all of camp so far with a pulled hamstring.
Perriman's Week 1 availability looks very much in question. Jamison Crowder should remain Sam Darnold's top target by volume, regardless of Perriman's health. If Mims and Perriman are both out, the Jets could start Chris Hogan, Josh Malone, Donte Moncrief, Jehu Chesson or George Campbell on the outside.
Parris Campbell injury status
Campbell, who sustained a concussion in a minor car accident last week, returned to Colts practice Tuesday in a red, non-contact jersey. It's now a race for Campbell to clear the league's concussion protocol before Sept. 13, when the Colts open against the Jaguars.
After receiving a lot of sleeper hype as a rookie, Campbell has flown a bit more under the radar this offseason, despite having no real competition for snaps out of the slot. If Campbell's healthy, he should start in the slot come Week 1, assuming T.Y. Hilton spends most of his time outside. Campbell's speed makes him a high-upside flex play.