Fantasy Football Whiplash! | Week 4 Injuries, Notes, & Waivers

by Samwise · Featured
fantasy football injuries waivers

We’re so back. Welcome to “Fantasy Whiplash!” Let’s blow through all the lights as we do every Tuesday, with the fantasy football news, injuries, and waivers that affect your team and league. Week 4 of 2025 is on the horizon.

Let’s get into a little bit of everything: Waiver advice, news & notes on upcoming (and past) games, maybe even some notable starts/sits. The information turns over like an engine, and comes in a long-winded stream of consciousness rivaled only by the YouTube show of the same name (9 p.m. EDT Tuesday nights on YouTube)

Above all, the aim is to keep you informed about all the latest noteworthy developments in the NFL and how they impact you, the manager. This may include trending thoughts from industry analysts on Twitter and my own takes on certain subjects. It’s all for the benefit of everyone, from casual fans to accomplished veterans.

Get it? Then get in my low-rider and buckle up. Let’s keep the stream of consciousness flowing and become your go-to stop as we embark on another week!

Week 4 is in our sights. Grab some shades.

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Fantasy Football News

Beware the Turf Monster

Holy injuries, Batman! After a tumultuous Week 3, we might see players don protective gear like braces, flak jackets, or entire suits of medieval body armor. Players were dropping like flies, the blue tent had a revolving flap, and fantasy managers everywhere were lamenting a lost week.

That’s not even close to a complete list. Running backs were hit the hardest on Sunday. Arizona’s James Conner and LA’s Najee Harris are both lost for the season. Conner had help from the turf and the opposition after a misguided plant foot, while Harris went down in the backfield with a non-contact Achilles injury. New Jersey Giants of New York (Central Park adjacent) running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. has a dislocated shoulder. He will miss “multiple weeks,” opening the door for fifth-round pick Cam Skattebo.

There were assorted other maladies, as well. The turf was an equal-opportunity foe, taking CeeDee Lamb down in the windy city with the dreaded high-ankle sprain. Dallas is still deciding whether to utilize the injured reserve on the superstar. The ankle sprain has been the bane of many an NFL team thus far in 2025. The Cowboys hope to have Lamb back in three weeks, though this injury often requires a four to six-week respite.

Washington’s Terry McLaurin (quad), Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans (hamstring), and tight ends Colston Loveland (hip) and Michael Mayer (concussion) also had early Week 3 exits. So, too, did receivers Dyami Brown (JAX,  shoulder) and Alec Pierce (IND, concussion).

There were an infinite number of other various bumps and bruises in a week that already featured a slew of injury replacements, including five backup quarterbacks thrust into the spotlight. Fantasy managers were ripping at their roots by the time Week 3 mercifully came to a close.

Turf Monsters Strike Back

It was not all doom and gloom for fantasy managers on Sunday. There were some standout performances, handcuffs in the limelight, and rookies capitalizing on opportunities.

The Tracy injury for the Giants meant even more work for Skattebo, who was already forcing a timeshare. He popped off for 121 total yards (60 rush, 61 rec) and a touchdown in a losing effort. Speaking of timeshares, although Harris’ contributions were minimal for the Chargers, his touches were trending up. With the injury, college juggernaut Omarion Hampton owned the LA backfield, handling 25 touches and totaling 129 yards with six receptions and a rushing touchdown.

In San Francisco, the devastating jury to Conner meant “all systems go” for second-year menace Trey Benson. All Benson did after Conner went down was play 87% of snaps and run 50% of the routes. He will be the top waiver add this week and is currently available in over 40% (how!?) of leagues. Any league utilizing FAAB budgets will require a max spend to gain his services.

Now Serving Nos. 27 & 32

Meanwhile, two backs that fantasy football managers have been begging to be featured finally got their chances. For the Minnesota Vikings, a trip to IR for running back Aaron Jones allowed Jordan Mason to shine bright like a diamond. He did not disappoint, demonstrating why Mason was routinely taken in redrafts’ middle rounds as more than just a handcuff. Mason lowered the boom on the hapless Cincinnati Bengals, with 116 yards rushing (at 7.3 yards a clip) and a pair of trips to the promised land. 16 carries were all it took for the Georgia Tech alum to have a hand in the 48-10 shellacking.

Meanwhile, after two weeks of frustration with his role, fans and managers alike finally got a reasonable dose of former OSU Buckeye TreVeyon Henderson. All it took was for starter Rhamondre Stevenson to Amber Heard all over the field in the form of two ugly fumbles. You’ll recall that Stevenson was already on thin ice for committing that heinous act a ridiculous seven times in 2024. The Turf Monster not only will attack, but it will also intimidate and take what it wants.

From there, Henderson was involved, if modestly, the rest of the way. He finished with 14 touches (including three receptions) for 47 yards. The former college standout is unlikely to ever be a bellcow back, but his explosiveness cannot be ignored. A juicy matchup (even in a timeshare) awaits him in Week 4 against Carolina.

Fantasy Football Injury Watch

Quarterbacks

Although there were no notable new injuries to quarterbacks on Sunday, five backup quarterbacks appeared in lineups. The following are updates to QBs who were on the shelf in Week 3, as we look ahead to this weekend’s games:

  • Patrick Mahomes (KCC) was playing through a minor right wrist injury suffered in Week 2, but it was never a concern that he would miss any time. If the injury affected his mechanics, the Chiefs made no statements on it.
  • Brock Purdy (SFO) missed the Week 3 tilt with the Arizona Cardinals (a 16-15 victory) with turf toe, his second-straight game. As far as Week 4 goes, he will participate in practice this week in the hopes of playing. In his absence, Mac Jones is 2-0 with a 98.1 rating on 563 yards and four touchdowns, but he also has a minor knee injury. Monitor Purdy’s progress, but managers could do worse than starting Jones again in a pinch.

  • Jayden Daniels (WAS) remains day-to-day with a knee sprain, but all signs point to him returning this week. The Commanders will not rush their star back, though, especially considering Marcus Mariota‘s line on Sunday: 15-21, 207 yards, TD, and six rushes for 40 yards, TD.
  • No changes in Cincinnati (Joe Burrow out for the foreseeable future) or Minnesota (J.J. McCarthy not expected back until post-bye). Jake Browning (CIN) and Carson Wentz (MIN), respectively, will lead their teams.
  • Justin Fields (NYJ) left the Week 2 affair after sustaining a concussion. He did not start Week 3. By all accounts, he has not cleared league protocol, and his status for Sunday is up in the air. Tyrod Taylor would make a second start under center if Fields is unable, after passing for 197 yards and two touchdowns while kicking in another 48 with his legs. There have been no reports of whether the hit Fields took knocked any sense into him.

Running Backs

  • James Conner (ARI) suffered a severe ankle injury and is done for the season.
  • Najee Harris (LAC) suffered a torn Achilles and is done for the season.
  • Tyrone Tracy Jr. (NYG) dislocated his shoulder and will be out anywhere from two to four weeks.
  • Sione Vaki (DET) left “Monday Night Football” after an apparent groin injury. His status is TBD.
  • Samaje Perine (CIN) left Sunday’s blowout loss with a right thumb injury but could return in time for Week 4 on Monday night.

Wide Receivers

  • Mike Evans (TBB) left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. HC Todd Bowles classified it as a “tweak,” but Evans has a history of hamstring issues. News broke today that he is likely out 3-4 weeks.
  • CeeDee Lamb (DAL) might have been the highest-profile player to go down last week. Hit with the diabolical high-ankle sprain, he is expected to miss three to four weeks, though the team has not yet decided to use the four-game IR designation. That decision will likely be made on Friday.

  • Terry McLaurin (quad) left the game on Sunday and did not return. He is seeking a second opinion on the injury.
  • Alec Pierce (IND) suffered a concussion on Sunday. The Colts will likely be without him Sunday as he shakes off the fuzzies and attempts to return in Week 5.
  • Dyami Brown (JAX) was forced out of action by a shoulder injury. Brown was already banged up coming in, and his status for this week is uncertain.
  • After being listed as “questionable” for Week 3, 49ers’ Jauan Jennings (shoulder, ankle) did not take the field. His status is uncertain for this weekend, but he is trending in the right direction.

Tight Ends

  • Brock Bowers (LVR) is still playing through his “minor” knee injury and should suit up in Week 4.
  • Bowers’ teammate Michael Mayer exited early on Sunday with a concussion. Unless it is minor, it is unlikely for him to pass through the protocol by Sunday.
  • “The Joker” Evan Engram (DEN) missed Week 3 with a back injury. The team has made no announcement of his status for Week 4.
  • Colston Loveland (CHI) left after the second quarter due to a hip injury. His timetable is uncertain.

Waivers & Quick Hits

All roster percentages according to Sleeper PPR league settings

      • Jake Ferguson (DAL, 76% rostered), Juwan Johnson (NOS, 80%), and Hunter Henry (NEP, 41%), are the TEs 1-3 through three weeks. Feguson is likely the main beneficiary of Lamb missing time (he had 13 catches for 82 yards Sunday), but we can also expect a heavy uptick for wideout George Pickens (nine targets). Keep an eye on WRs Jalen Tolbert and Kavontae Turpin, as well, though neither is a must-add at the moment.
      • Jaxson Dart (NYG, 12%) will be the Giants’ starter over Russell Wilson on Sunday. He’s an add in deep leagues and worth the risk in the case of injury-streaming.
      • Trey Benson (ARI, 59%) and Cam Skattebo (NYG, 80%) are must-adds if available.
      • Don’t look now, but Las Vegas receiver Tre Tucker (6%!) is the WR4 in fantasy football, trailing only Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Rome Odunze. Tucker scored over 40 fantasy points versus Washington.
      • Rookie Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE, 68%) is the TE12 and still available in 32% of leagues.
      • Jacory Croskey-Merritt has 26 points through three games, gang.
      • Woody Marks (HOU) and Kendre Miller (NOS) have both seen increased usage in change-of-pace roles. Managers in deep-bench leagues who have a roster spot could stash them.
      • Jordan Addison (MIN) returns to the Vikings this week. Check the wire just in case.
      • Tyjae Spears (TEN) returns after this week. Tony Pollard already needs a breather, anyway.
      • Quinshon Judkins wasted no time. In his second game, he totaled 94 yards toting the rock and got into the painted area.
      • If you have room for a bench stash, why not Ollie Gordon II (MIA)? Achane has an injury history, Gordon is the clear No. 2 and handcuff and has increased his yardage each week. He was up to nine carries on Thursday and had a touchdown. Remember: Gordon was Ashton Jeanty before Ashton Jeanty was Ashton Jeanty.
      • Elic Ayomanor (TEN) is not the No. 1  receiver for the Titans. Be patient with Calvin Ridley … right now, that offense cannot support two fantasy-relevant pass-catchers, and Chigoziem Okonkwo is there, too.

More “Whiplash!” to Come

Next Tuesday, we’ll go again with more football junk food to satisfy those cravings before you settle in for waiver claims! More Quick Hits and Injury Updates than you can shake a stick at. Keep in mind, on “Fantasy Whiplash! LIVE” at 9 p.m. EDT on Tuesdays (that’s tonight!), we dig deeper into waiver wire gems, fades, and sleepers! I’ll see you back next Tuesday for all your fantasy football news needs.

Start your studs, smash the waivers, talk some smack, and get your popcorn ready. Strap in for Week 4 of the fantasy football season.

Be sure to check us out on “Fantasy Whiplash!” wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube at 9 p.m. EST every Tuesday night! It’s a completely different show from the hum-drum same-old you’re used to!

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