Fantasy Injury Updates: Davante Adams, DeSean Jackson, A.J. Green, more impacting Week 8 WR rankings

Billy Heyen

Fantasy Injury Updates: Davante Adams, DeSean Jackson, A.J. Green, more impacting Week 8 WR rankings image

You're probably tired of hearing the non-positive injury news about Davante Adams, DeSean Jackson and A.J. Green. So are we. But it continues to be fantasy relevant as we approach Week 8, so we continue to provide injury updates. In addition, Dede Westbrook, Sterling Shepard, Tyrell Williams, and Corey Davis all have varying degrees of injuries, while Emmanuel Sanders looks ready to play after his trade to the 49ers. The statuses of all will affect start-or-sit decisions, so let's get to it.

Follow us on Twitter @SN_Fantasy for more news and updates, or check out our individual injury updates articles on QBs Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, and Patrick Mahomes (click here); RBs Alvin Kamara, David Johnson, James Conner, and Josh Jacobs (click here); and TEs Jared Cook, O.J. Howard, and Delanie Walker (click here). 

WEEK 8 NON-PPR RANKINGS
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

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Is Davante Adams playing Week 8?

Matt LaFleur told reporters Wednesday that Adams' Week 8 status "could go right up to game time." The Packers play on Sunday Night Football in Kansas City, so that decision could come after the majority of fantasy lineups have locked. 

The start time of this one makes it hard to trust Adams (toe) unless you have another receiver in Chiefs-Packers or one in Steelers-Dolphins on Monday night. The Chiefs are a good matchup, though, if Adams can make it back. If he's out, all of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Geronimo Allison, and Allen Lazard would be in play as potential WR3s.

Week 8 DFS Lineups: 
Y! Cash | Y! GPP | FD Cash | FD GPP | DK Cash | DK GPP

DeSean Jackson injury update

Jackson still isn't practicing as he deals with his abdominal injury from Week 2. Doug Pederson continues to say he's getting closer, but apparently he was super far off to begin with because closer hasn't meant much visible progress here.

The Eagles offense needs Jackson back to add a vertical dimension they're sorely lacking. It just appears it'll be at least another week until they have that.

WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end

When will A.J. Green be back?

Green is unlikely to play in Week 8, according to ESPN. The trade deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. ET, and Green is in the final year of his contract. We'll see if Green plays for the Bengals at all this year.

(Update: Green will not make the trip to London for Sunday's game, so he's OUT.)

It's hard to imagine a team being thrilled about trading for an injured Green, but it could happen. At best, it seems we'll have to wait another week to make his 2019 debut. Tyler Boyd, Auden Tate, and Alex Erickson will continue to hold down the receiver spots for Cincinnati.

MORE WEEK 8 DFS: Stacks | Values | Lineup Builder

Dede Westbrook injury news

Westbrook missed practice Wednesday and is expected to miss practice again Thursday, according to the Jaguars' Twitter account. He's dealing with a shoulder injury that he played through in Week 7 to the tune of six catches and 103 yards.

Westbrook missing multiple practices isn't a great sign, but the fact that he already played through what we believe is the same injury makes him likely to play in Week 8 against the Jets. He just may be working at less than 100 percent.

Is Tyrell Williams playing Week 8?

Williams practiced for the first time since Week 5 on Wednesday. That suggests his return from plantar fasciitis is forthcoming. The Raiders play in Houston in Week 8.

Williams is a WR3 for the matchup with the Texans, with his production most dependent on him catching a deep ball and/or touchdown.

Sterling Shepard concussion update

Giants coach Pat Shurmur told reporters there's a "strong possibility" Shepard won't play in Week 8 against the Lions. Shepard has been out multiple weeks after sustaining his second concussion of the season.

(Update: Shepard has been ruled OUT for Sunday.)

Shepard's on thin ice with the multiple concussions, and he wasn't a fantasy sure thing when healthy, anyway. If you need to pick up a bye-week fill-in at some point and the Shepard news doesn't improve, he's droppable in standard leagues. 

Corey Davis injury news

Davis missed Wednesday's Tennessee practice due to an "illness." That seems like something that will clear up by Sunday's matchup with the Buccaneers, but we'll have to see what Davis' status is the rest of the week.

(Update: Corey Davis returned to a full practice Thursday.)

With Ryan Tannehill at the helm, Davis is a WR3 against the vulnerable Tampa Bay pass defense. He saw seven targets last week and could see around that number again in Week 8. If Davis was out, A.J. Brown would get an upgrade, although he's already a FLEX option with Davis healthy.

Will Emmanuel Sanders play for the 49ers in Week 8?

Kyle Shanahan told reporters that Sanders should play in Week 8. You can read more about the Sanders acquisition by the 49ers here.

Billy Heyen