Welcome to the Week 2 edition of, "what is up with these injured running backs?"
The usual suspects lived up to the hype in their first games of the season, but will they still crack your lineup in Week 2? Austin Ekeler, Aaron Jones, and Zack Moss are all RBs to monitor in advance of the weekend and are certain to change the fantasy landscape with an active or inactive designation. Whether you drafted Ekeler with your first pick, Jones with a few rounds later, or even Moss as a late-round flier, all three levels of fantasy running backs are sure to give owners plenty of grief before kickoff.
Below, we'll give you the latest news on these RBs and break down how their injuries could potentially affect your lineup in Week 2.
WEEK 2 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Austin Ekeler injury update, Week 2 fantasy outlook
UPDATE 9/14: Ekeler didn't practice on Thursday either, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, putting his Week 2 status in doubt.
Ekeler (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday in what has been a tough week for the star running back. Not only was he dealing with an ankle injury but also the death of his agent, Cameron Weiss. Ekeler missed practice to go attend the services for Weiss, though NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said he likely would've been sidelined on Wednesday with the ankle ailment regardless. The Chargers' running back suffered the injury in the fourth quarter on Sunday but came back for the team's final drive.
Fantasy owners will want to keep an eye on his status through Thursday and Friday as the team prepares to battle the Titans in Tennessee. Since this is a road contest, we should know relatively early about whether Ekeler will play considering he'd have to travel with the team on their trip to Nashville. If he can't go, Joshua Kelley would feature as the lead back and would be a borderline must-start for anyone who added him. If Ekeler plays, he must be in your lineup and Kelley is downgraded to a somewhat-risky flex play.
Since the Chargers play in the early window on Sunday, fantasy owners won't have to wait long to hear Ekeler's status if he ends up being a game-time decision. If you're looking to the waiver wire, Justice Hill projects as a top touchdown-dependent option that's available in over 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. Another option includes Kyren Williams, who is rostered in 53 percent of leagues.
WEEK 2 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Aaron Jones injury update, Week 2 fantasy outlook
Jones (hamstring) did not participate in practice on Wednesday, according to the Packers' official injury report. Based on reports from the Packers' beat, it seems as though that status will remain the same on Thursday. ESPN's Rob Demovsky said Jones had a helmet but stayed inside to rehab when the team went outside for practice. The two missed practices are concerning and seemingly put him on the wrong side of "questionable" for what would be a great matchup against the Falcons.
The outlook for Jones is interesting, however, considering he said he could've returned to Sunday's game if necessary. With the Packers having a big lead, there was no reason to risk it. That likely means either the injury was worse than expected or the Packers are holding him out for precautionary reasons. If Jones suits up on Sunday, he should remain in your lineup as a top option for Jordan Love in the Green Bay offense. The dual-threat running back would be hard to replace unless your team has a deep bench. If he doesn't play, AJ Dillon takes over the RB1 role and earns himself a running back spot in your lineup. Like Ekeler, Jones has a game that will take place in the early window, leaving similar options on the waiver wire if turning to the bench isn't an option.
WEEK 2 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Zack Moss injury update, Week 2 fantasy outlook
Moss (arm) logged a full day of practice on Wednesday, according to the Colts' official injury report, an indication that he should be good to go for the Colts when they take on the Houston Texans this week. This would be Moss' season debut, but the fantasy outlook is anything but clear. In fact, it's about as overcast as it gets since Moss is stepping into what would almost certainly be a committee situation. He'll split time with Deon Jackson, especially after Evan Hull (knee) was placed on injured reserve following Week 1.
WEEK 2 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best stacks | Best values
When it comes to Moss, he is tough to trust no matter your situation. He has a matchup with a Texans' defense that proved to be quite stingy despite allowing three rushing TDs in Week 1, shutting down a solid Ravens running game for most of the afternoon. Just because he isn't in your lineup doesn't mean we don't have a reason to pay attention to him. If Moss assumes a lead role with goal-line work in this offense, he could be a useful player moving forward for fantasy purposes. Regardless, Moss projects as a flex play, at best, depending on your roster.
