Fantasy Football Injury Updates: Saquon Barkley, James Conner, more affect Week 5 RB rankings

Billy Heyen

Fantasy Football Injury Updates: Saquon Barkley, James Conner, more affect Week 5 RB rankings image

Saquon Barkley is a superhero apparently, as he's raced back from his ankle injury and could take the field again as soon as Week 5 -- much to the dismay of Wayne Gallman owners. That's not the only thing shaking up Week 5 RB rankings, though. James Conner has missed practice again, which seems like it's becoming a weekly routine but still gives hope to those who just picked up Jaylen Samuels. Tevin Coleman's return was being speculated, but there haven't been many updates on his progress. The only thing we know there is the 49ers backfield is a fantasy nightmare. In Buffalo, Devin Singletary is ahead of prior weeks' timelines and could be a Week 5 fantasy sleeper (sorry, Frank Gore owners).

MORE WEEK 5 INJURY UPDATES: 
Quarterbacks | Wide receiversSunday Night Football

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WEEK 5 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

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Is Saquon Barkley playing Week 5? 

UPDATE: Barkely missed practice on Thursday.

Giants' head coach Pat Shurmur has refused, both Wednesday and Thursday, to rule Barkley (ankle) out for Sunday's matchup with the Vikings. New York has a quick turnaround after this week, playing on Thursday night in New England in Week 6. Shurmur added Thursday that the Giants want to bring Barkley back "as quickly and as smartly as possible."

We knew Barkley was superhuman, but beating the general timeline for a high-ankle sprain by at least three weeks would be impressive and disappoint everyone who used a waiver claim for potentially just one week of Wayne Gallman. In the case Barkley returns, he becomes a RB1 while Gallman goes back to just a handcuff.

James Conner injury update

UPDATE: Conner missed practice again on Thursday.

Conner missed Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury, which came after he said on a local radio interview that he would likely practice Wednesday. The absence could just be precautionary, and his Thursday practice status will be telling. 

Jaylen Samuels had a breakout performance on Monday night and could be looking at fantasy RB2 status if Conner misses Sunday's game against the Ravens, who just gashed on the ground by Nick Chubb. If Conner is active, though, we consider Samuels a potential Week 5 bust in standard leagues.

Will Tevin Coleman play Monday night?

UPDATE: Coleman practiced on a limited basis on Thursday.

Ahead of the 49ers' Week 4 bye, speculation was that Coleman could make his return to the San Francisco backfield for Week 5. That would be at the front end of the four-to-six week timeline that was reported when Coleman initially suffered his high-ankle sprain. There hasn't been any update out of 49ers' land this week about Coleman's availability, and San Francisco doesn't play until Monday night.

All of Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. have had substantial roles with Coleman out. Wilson would probably be the first to go when Coleman returns, though he has been the "goal-line" back and could possibly retain that role if the 49ers think it's wise to keep four RBs active. The other two could still play a part in the rushing/receiving attack because of their varied skill sets. Because San Francisco plays on Monday night this week, you likely can't count on any of them in fantasy leagues unless we learn that for sure Coleman is out.

WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS: Running backWide receiver | Tight end

Is Devin Singletary playing in Week 5?

UPDATE: Singletary got in another limited practice on Thursday.

Singletary has missed two straight games due to a hamstring injury he sustained in Week 2. The rookie from FAU participated in a limited fashion in practices last Thursday and Friday, and Bills coach Sean McDermott said Singletary was "close" to playing last Sunday. Singletary was limited in Wednesday's practice, a step up from missing Week 4's Wednesday practice.

WEEK 5 DFS LINEUPS:
Y! cash | Y! GPP | FD cash | FD GPP | DK cash | DK GPP

With Singletary out, Frank Gore has been the Buffalo workhorse. It's not as clear at this point how it will break down upon Singletary's return, but if the early season is any indication, more carries will go to Gore while Singletary will be more of the big-play threat. Both will be possible FLEX plays upon Singletary's return until we see how it shakes out. It's worth noting Buffalo has a Week 6 bye, so there's reason to think it will give Singletary two more weeks off before bringing him back.

Billy Heyen