Everything that happens in the NFL has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.
Our fantasy football buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the NFL.
Key links: Draft Guide | Cheat Sheet Central | Fantasy depth charts
Aug. 14: J.J. McCarthy out for season, Sam Darnold to start
Eric Moody: Sources have told ESPN's Adam Schefter that J.J. McCarthy will miss the entire 2024 season following surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Sam Darnold will be the starter at quarterback for the Vikings, who will face the New York Giants in Week 1. Minnesota's offensive scheme under offensive coordinator Wes Phillips wasn't expected to change, regardless of the quarterback. They had the fourth-highest pass rate in the league last season and Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones' fantasy value remains the same, while Darnold moves up slightly but is still outside of the top 25 at quarterback.
Aug. 14: Is there reason to worry about Joe Burrow?
Joe Burrow is the No. 7 QB in our 2024 consensus fantasy rankings, as he returns from a wrist injury that ended his 2023 campaign. Our Stephania Bell explains why she is a "little bit concerned" about Burrow this season.
Stephania Bell details Joe Burrow's return from a wrist injury and shares why she's worried.
Aug. 14: Jahmyr Gibbs will be "fine", according to head coach
Eric Moody: Jahmyr Gibbs is being drafted as a top-10 running back, so alarms went off when he left practice Monday with a hamstring injury. On Wednesday morning, though, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Gibbs will be "fine", according to NFL Nation Lions reporter Eric Woodyard. The Lions were fifth in the NFL with 2,311 rush yards and tied for first with 27 touchdowns on the ground behind an elite offensive line in 2023. Hamstring injuries can linger and if Gibbs were to miss the start of the season, David Montgomery who averaged 0.47 fantasy points per snap last season (fourth best of any player) would benefit.
Aug. 11: Malik Nabers suffers ankle injury in practice
Eric Moody: New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers injured his left ankle at practice and didn't return. The good news is that the injury is believed to be a minor strain and not serious. However, it's wise to keep an eye on updates. Nabers led the FBS with 120.7 receiving yards per game at LSU in 2023 and is projected to lead the Giants in targets and receiving yards in 2024.
The Giants haven't had a 1,000-yard receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2018 and struggled in the passing game last season with Daniel Jones. Nabers should be drafted as a WR3 with significant upside if he can quickly establish chemistry with Jones.
Aug. 11: Marquise Brown suffers shoulder injury
Stephania Bell: Marquise Brown will "miss some time" after dislocating his sternoclavicular (SC) joint on the first play of the Kansas City Chiefs' preseason game on Saturday. The SC joint is where the sternum (chest) meets the clavicle (collarbone). The SC joint is considered part of the shoulder complex because the joint moves, albeit very little, with the shoulder as it goes up/down and backward/forwards. The SC joint is reinforced with strong ligaments that can become disrupted by a high-impact collision or a hard fall forcing energy through the shoulder toward the chest.
Dislocation can be either anterior (forward) or posterior (backward) and a posterior dislocation in particular can threaten critical blood vessels in the area. Consequently, reduction (proper realignment) typically happens in the hospital to ensure proper visualization. Brown will likely be immobilized in a sling initially and time will be required for the pain and discomfort to settle and to allow the ligaments to heal properly and render the joint stable. Not only does Brown need to eventually restore proper shoulder range of motion and strength, but the Chiefs' medical staff has to be comfortable that the SC joint will tolerate contact without high risk of redislocation. It is not a common injury but there have been several within the NFL, some requiring a medical procedure to reposition the joint. The timetable to return to play is dependent on the severity but often requires four to six weeks.
Eric Moody: Brown's injury is significant for a few reasons. The Chiefs led the league with 44 drops last season with the weakest group of receivers Patrick Mahomes has ever had as starter. Despite having the top-ranked offensive line in pass block win rate, Mahomes recorded a career-low 7.0 yards per attempt and finished 14th in fantasy points per game. Kansas City drafted Xavier Worthy and signed Brown in free agency to address these issues. However, coach Andy Reid noted that Brown's injury is similar to the one Tyreek Hill suffered in 2019, which caused Hill to miss four games.
This casts doubt on Brown's availability for Week 1. Mahomes had developed strong chemistry with Brown during training camp, and his ability to stretch the field vertically would have opened up opportunities for Worthy, Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice underneath. From a fantasy perspective, Worthy and Rice would both benefit from Brown's absence but I prefer Worthy since he's being drafted later than Rice in ESPN leagues. He averaged 7.7 yards after the catch per target in his final collegiate season at Texas and set a combine record with a 4.21 40-yard dash. The Chiefs averaged 6.4 yards after the catch last season, the second-highest in the league. If Rice faces a potential suspension, it would boost Worthy's role significantly. Skyy Moore could see an increased role in the offense.