It was a downright awful day for injuries across the NFL. Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams, Raheem Mostert and Jimmy Garoppolo were among those injured in Week 2 of the 2020 NFL season. Here’s a recap of the biggest injuries to players across the league and how it could impact fantasy football:
Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants (knee)
Barkley went down early and suffered what appeared to be a season-ending knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Bears. The Giants fear the 2019 No. 2 overall pick tore his ACL, which would leave the G-Men and many fantasy managers without their top playmaker. Dion Lewis is next on New York’s depth chart and will be a top waiver add this week. He previously played for the Patriots and Titans and is frequently involved in the passing game.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers (ankle)
McCaffrey suffered an ankle injury after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers and limped off the field. In spite of earlier optimism, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday morning that the fantasy stud will miss “multiple weeks.”
McCaffrey finished the day with 18 attempts for 59 yards and two touchdowns and four catches for 19 yards before he was replaced by Mike Davis, a sixth-year veteran claimed off waivers from the Bears. He should be an extremely popular waiver add this week.
Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers (hamstring)
Adams was banged up a couple times during Sunday’s win over the lifeless Lions. He was forced to leave the game with a hamstring injury and finished with three catches for 36 yards following his massive two-score game in Week 1. It’s not clear if Adams will miss any time because of this, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on. Any absence would help Marquez Valdes-Scantling (3-7-64-0), Allen Lazard (3-5-45-0) and possibly Jace Sternberger (0-0-0-1).
Raheem Mostert, RB, San Francisco 49ers (knee)
Mostert was one of many 49ers to go down in Sunday’s rout of the Jets on a sloppy MetLife field. A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter after the game that the running back suffered a “mild” MCL sprain. He is set to undergo further imaging, which will determine how much time he will miss.
In Mostert’s absence, Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon will see more work out of the San Francisco backfield, though Coleman (knee) also was banged up in the game.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Francisco 49ers (ankle)
The 49ers signal-caller suffered a high ankle sprain right before the end of the first half of Sunday’s victory over the Jets. Backup Nick Mullens replaced Garoppolo, who could miss two-to-four weeks. His absence would come at a detriment to any of the remaining 49ers’ pass catchers, many of whom were injured entering this game.
Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos (knee)
Sutton was questionable entering this game and left with knee/cramping issues, according to the team. He did not return in the Broncos’ loss to the Steelers and finished with three catches on six targets for 66 yards. Continue to monitor the situation closely, especially with his preexisting health issues and injuries to other key members of the Broncos offense.
Parris Campbell, WR, Indianapolis Colts (knee)
Campbell was carted off the field during the first quarter of Sunday’s contest against the Vikings. The injury occurred on a handoff from Philip Rivers when he was hit by defensive back Harrison Smith. Campbell was plagued by injuries last season, but was a highly touted second-year breakout candidate after a strong Week 1. The injury appeared serious (though it was not a torn ACL as initially thought) and could be season-ending, which would elevate the status of wide receivers T.Y. Hilton (3-5-28-0), Zach Pascal (3-4-19-1) and Michael Pittman Jr. (4-6-37-0), as well as tight end Mo Alie-Cox, who tallied a whopping 111 yards on five catches and six targets.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell is carted off the field after suffering a knee injury.Getty ImagesSterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants (toe)
Shepard suffered a toe injury in the first half of Sunday’s loss to the Bears and was ruled out to return. It’s yet another blow to this offense that had already lost Barkley to what looks like a season-ending ACL tear. Shepard limped to the locker room and tried playing the first play of the third quarter before limping back to the locker room. If he were to miss time, pass catchers Darius Slayton, Golden Tate and Evan Engram would likely see more targets from this decimated offense.
David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears (neck)
Montgomery suffered a neck injury during Sunday’s game and was evaluated in the injury tent before heading to the locker room. Montgomery later returned in the third quarter and finished the day with 16 carries for 82 yards and three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown. His performance and return suggests the injury is not serious.
Drew Lock, QB, Denver Broncos (shoulder)
Lock suffered a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder midway through the first quarter of Sunday’s loss in Pittsburgh. He is likely to miss two-to-six weeks pending the additional tests to be conducted on Monday. Backup quarterback Jeff Driskel entered the game in relief of Lock and finished 18-for-34 with 256 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, but was ultimately bested by Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers. Lock’s absence could devalue any of the healthy Denver pass catchers like Noah Fant.
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Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos (ribs)
It looked like Jeudy was going to be another casualty of this injury-riddled game after suffering a rib injury by way of a hard hit in the second quarter after making a catch. He returned in the second half and tallied four catches on seven targets for 62 yards. His return suggests the injury wasn’t serious, and he, along with K.J. Hamler and Fant, could see more targets if Sutton were to miss time.
Cam Akers, RB, Los Angeles Rams (ribs)
Akers also sustained a rib injury in the Rams’ first drive of the game against the Eagles and was ruled out for return. Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown split carries in Akers’ absence, though Henderson was much more efficient in the outing and saw 12 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown and caught two of three targets for 40 yards. Brown, a popular Week 2 waiver add, saw 11 rushes for 47 yards. It’s unclear how serious the 2020 second-rounder’s injury is at this time, but Henderson and Brown would be the obvious beneficiaries of any absence for Akers.
Tevin Coleman, RB, San Francisco 49ers (knee)
Coleman suffered a knee injury and exited the game at halftime. It’s unclear what the severity of the issue is at this time, but with Mostert also ailing, McKinnon should see a lot of touches moving forward.
Breshad Perriman, WR, New York Jets (ankle)
Perriman was injured during the second quarter of Sunday’s sloppy loss to the 49ers in the latest blow to the Jets’ waning offense. Gang Green was already down Jamison Crowder (hamstring), Denzel Mims (hamstring) and Le’Veon Bell (hamstring) entering the matchup, and also lost Chris Hogan (ribs) during the game.
This leaves Adam Gase’s squad very lean at receiver. Next up on the depth chart are Braxton Berrios (6-8-59-1) and Josh Malone (4-6-16-0), neither of whom would you feel comfortable rostering even in deeper leagues. Tight end Chris Herndon could see a slightly elevated status with all the injuries to the Jets’ pass catchers, though he was barely featured on Sunday and caught one of four targets for 5 yards.
Dawson Knox, TE, Buffalo Bills (concussion)
Knox has been placed into the concussion protocol after Sunday’s game against the Dolphins. If he were to miss time, Tyler Kroft would be the next man up on the Bills’ tight end depth chart.
Darrel Williams, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (ankle)
Williams suffered an ankle injury during Sunday’s overtime win against the Chargers. He was only utilized on one touch for 12 yards behind rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Darwin Thompson would be Edwards-Helaire’s handcuff if Williams misses any time.





