With Week 1 of the 2022 NFL regular season set to kick off on Thursday night, we're finally getting official practice injury reports again. Fantasy football owners will be scouring through these daily offerings to see who is on track to play or might be a game-time decision. Jaylen Waddle, Michael Thomas, Allen Lazard, and Drake London are just some of the key "questionable" pass-catchers involved in fantasy start 'em, sit 'em decisions.
Below, we'll give you the latest news on these four wide receivers and break down how their injuries could potentially affect the Week 1 fantasy WR rankings. For more on banged-up players George Kittle, JK Dobbins, and Kenneth Walker, click here.
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Jaylen Waddle injury update, Week 1 fantasy outlook
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Wednesday that the second-year wide receiver will be limited in practice, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. Louis-Jacques added that Waddle was seen at practice without a leg sleeve, which he was wearing this summer.
It appears that Waddle will be on the field Sunday afternoon when the Dolphins take on the Patriots. Last season, the young wide receiver scored two touchdowns against New England. Waddle will be the perfect complement to star wideout Tyreek Hill, who will likely command double-coverage throughout the game. The former first-round pick should be in your lineup as a WR2/3 given his big-play potential and steady flow of targets. If he's out, look for TE Mike Gesicki to get more targets and raise his potential as a TE1. Cedrick Wilson will also likely see more snaps, but he's not someone you can trust just yet in most fantasy leagues.
WEEK 1 FANTASY PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kicker
Michael Thomas injury update, Week 1 fantasy outlook
Thomas (hamstring) was present at the Saints' closed walk-through on Monday, which is a good sign for him playing on Sunday, according to beat writer Jeff Duncan. However, coach Dennis Allen wouldn't commit to Thomas suiting up for Week 1 when asked on Wednesday.
Thomas has not played a meaningful snap of football since the 2020 season when he suffered an ankle injury that caused him to miss all of last year. Thomas enters Sunday's regular season as the Saints' No. 1 wide receiver but should be rostered as a WR2 in fantasy. We don't know how the veteran receiver will look after not playing for a long time, especially with a new QB and new coach, but the Saints have other weapons (Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Jarvis Landry, and Marquez Callaway) that will garner attention, so that could actually help Thomas. If he has a setback, both Olave and Landry become potential WR3/flexes.
WEEK 1 STANDARD FANTASY RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kicker
Allen Lazard injury update, Week 1 fantasy outlook
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on Wednesday that Lazard (undisclosed) did not practice, according to beat writer Wes Hodkiewicz. LaFleur added that Lazard got stepped on last week, which sheds a little bit more light on his injury.
With Lazard not practicing on Wednesday, his status for Sunday afternoon's opener against the Vikings is in jeopardy. If Lazard is out, the Packers will lean on Sammy Watkins, Randall Cobb, and rookie Romeo Doubs at the wide receiver spot. However, none of these wide receivers are reliable options for Week 1. Watkins and Doubs might be worth dart throws in deeper leagues, but until we see how playing time and targets are divvied up, don't go all-in on the Packers' pass-catchers. Even Lazard is no more than a flex if he's active.
WEEK 1 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo
Drake London injury update, Week 1 fantasy outlook
Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said on Wednesday that he won't know until the end of the week if London (knee) can play on Sunday, according to ESPN's Michael Rothstein. Smith added that London practiced on Monday, but they will still see how things progress.
London has been dealing with a knee injury he suffered in the team's first preseason game, but expectations were that he'd be ready for Week 1. If London is out, we should see an uptick in targets for second-year TE Kyle Pitts and hybrid RB Cordarrelle Patterson. Fantasy owners should also watch out for Olamide Zaccheaus, KhaDarel Hodge, and Bryan Edwards, who will see their fair share of snaps, but none can be trusted in season-long leagues. If London is out there, you can use him as a risky flex.
