Several starting running backs have already been ruled out, creating chaos on fantasy rosters but also opportunity on the waiver wire. Some other spots to follow the Baltimore defense, the Dallas and Minnesota offensive lines and Brock Bowers.
Below you'll find four categories, with our lists including key offensive linemen and defensive players whose absences might impact fantasy decisions. The bottom section, for potential game-day decisions, is sorted by kickoff times. It can be used as a checklist/cheatsheet for Sunday morning and afternoon when inactives come out and we need to adjust lineups. Before we get to the 'questionable' players, let's see who's definitely in and who's definitely out ...
Good to Go 💯
QB Jayden Daniels (knee)- WR Deebo Samuel (heel)
WR Nico Collins (knee)
WR Michael Pittman (hamstring)
WR Marvin Mims (hip/ankle)
TE Dallas Goedert (knee)
TE Darren Waller - TE Daavid Njoku
TE Noah Fant
Ruled Out/Doubtful 🚑
Out/Doubtful/IR
QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring)
QB J.J. McCarthy (ankle)
RB Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder)
RB Chuba Hubbard (calf)
RB Tyrone Tracy (shoulder)
RB Braelon Allen (IR - knee)
RB Trey Benson (IR-knee)- WR Mike Evans (hamstring)
- WR Alec Pierce (concussion)
WR KaVontae Turpin (foot)- WR CeeDee Lamb (ankle)
- WR Tyreek Hill (IR-knee)
WR Cedric Tillman (IR- hamstring)- WR Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) & Noah Brown (groin)
- TE Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle)
Potential Workload Beneficiaries (From Injuries Above)
- QB Cooper Rush
- Carson Wentz
- RB Rachaad White & Sean Tucker
- RB Rico Dowdle
- RB Cam Skattebo
- RB Breece Hall & Isaiah Davis
- RB Michael Carter & Emari Demercado
- WR Emeka Egbuka & Chris Godwin
- WR Adonai Mitchell
- WR George Pickens & Jalen Tolbert
- TE Jake Ferguson
- WR Jaylen Waddle & Malik Washington
- TE Darren Waller
- WR Isaiah Bond
- WR Deebo Samuel
- TE Tommy Tremble
Key Defensive Players + Offensive Linemen
- LB Roquan Smith (hamstring) & CB Marlon Humphrey (calf) & Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring)
LB Dorian Williams (knee)- CB Chau Smith-Wade (chest)
- T Tyler Guyton (concussion) & G Tyler Booker (ankle) & S Malik Hooker (toe)
- CB Kenny Moore (Achilles)
T Joe Alt (ankle)- CB Storm Duck (ankle)
- C Ryan Kelly (concussion) & T Brian O'Neill (knee) & G Donovan Jackson (wrist) & LB Andrew Van Ginkel (neck)
G Cesar Ruiz (ankle)
T JC Latham (hip)
CB Devon Witherspoon (knee)
Minnesota skill-position players should be downgraded. They have a tough matchup against Cleveland and will be without three starting offensive lineman. Justin Jefferson is must-start, but Jordan Addison, Jordan Mason and T.J. Hockenson should have their projections downgraded.
Javonte Williams is in danger of having his strong start to the season come to an end for the same reason, but the Jets are a much softer matchup.
Listed as Questionable - Should Play 👍
TE Brock Bowers
Bowers didn't practice all week but is expected to play. He's clearly not all full strength and admitted that Friday. It's very difficult to sit him given the position and his theoretical upside, but fantasy managers would likely be better off if the Raiders eventually just let him get the rest he needed to return to 100 percent health.
#Raiders TE Brock Bowers said he's not allowed to share the specifics of his knee injury, but added it's been frustrating to deal with.
"I want to be back to going full speed, being able to separate from guys. I feel like I can't really do that to the best of my abilities right…
— Ryan McFadden (@ryanmcfadden_) October 3, 2025
Truly Questionable / Game-Time Decisions 🤔
Early Games
- RB Miles Sanders (knee/ankle)
- TE Michael Mayer
- TE Juwan Johnson (ankle)
Late-Afternoon Games
- WR Calvin Ridley (knee/elbow)
- TE Will Dissly (knee)
- RB Tyjae Spears (ankle)
Spears could be placed in the above category as "should play," but he still needs to be activated from IR on Sunday. Assuming he does suit up, he'd cut into Tony Pollard's workload. Given the state of the Tennessee offense, that's not something Pollard can afford.
.@Titans RB Tyjae Spears @tyjae22 looking forward to returning to action. pic.twitter.com/HO0YYDsPNf
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) October 3, 2025
Primetime Games
RB Bhayshul Tuten (shoulder)- WR Dyami Brown (shoulder)
Key Defensive Players + O-Linemen
- CB Will Johnson (groin)
- S Kyle Hamilton (groin)
- T Ronnie Stanley (ankle)
- T Spencer Brown (calf)
- DT Ed Oliver (ankle)
- LB Matt Milano (pectoral)
- LB D.J. Wonnum (hip)
- T Jack Conklin (elbow)
- CB Greg Newsome (hamstring)
- T Tyler Smith (knee)
- LB Kenneth Murray (knee)
T Taylor Decker (shoulder)- S Kerby Joseph (knee)
- T Anton Harrison (elbow)
- G Ezra Cleveland (concussion) & Patrick Mekari (knee)
- CB Eric Stokes (knee)
- T/G Mekhi Becton (concussion)
DT Milton Williams (ankle)- EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson (knee)
- CB Carlton Davis (illness)
- G Trevor Penning (ankle)
- DT Dexter Lawrence (illness)
- S Tyler Nubin (groin)
- CB Michael Carter (concussion)
- S Julian Love (hamstring)
- CB Benjamin Morrison (hamstring)
Houston's offensive skill-position players should get a bump up. Nico Collins is an obvious start, but C.J. Stroud is a reasonable stream, Woody Marks should be started in most starts and Dalton Schultz could even be an option for tight-end needy teams.
The Bucs-Seahawks game features two tough defenses, but both are without key members of their secondary. I still wouldn't expect excellent fantasy showings, but I'd have a little bit more confidence in Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka.
