Fantasy football buzz: No IR for Cooper Kupp, but no timeline for return, either

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. 

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Sept. 19: No IR for Cooper Kupp, but no timeline for return, either

Stephania Bell: Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters Cooper Kupp would miss extended time with his ankle injury but would not be placed on injured reserve, at least not yet. Typically this hints at optimism for a player's return sooner than what would be a minimum four-game absence (as the Packers have suggested with their decision not to place Jordan Love on IR). But that may not entirely be the case here.

Between the mechanism of Kupp's injury (his left foot caught underneath a defender in an outwardly rotated position as he went to the ground) and McVay's note that Kupp would be placed in a cast initially, the immediate implication was a high ankle sprain (often immobilized in an effort to let the ligaments begin to scar down to heal and to limit swelling). Depending on severity, recovery can range from a few weeks to six weeks or more. McVay's comment that Kupp would not need surgery indicates the injury is not a complete ligament disruption (Grade 3) and bodes well for his chances of returning this season. The key to a successful return, however, is not pushing to return too soon.

As for the non-IR designation, as Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic notes, the Rams, with their plethora of injuries, are approaching the maximum number of players on injured reserve who can be designated for return (eight players max in the regular season). Roster management is a part of the equation here, out of necessity.

For now, Kupp, once his cast is removed, will undergo a rehab program for his ankle that is familiar (he had a more severe high ankle sprain in 2022 that ended his season and required surgery). As of now, the plan for Kupp is to return to play when ready, at a higher level of function, without the pressure of a formal timeline.

Sept. 17: How the Dolphins offense looks without Tagovailoa

Eric Moody: The Miami Dolphins placed QB Tua Tagovailoa on IR on Tuesday, a decision that gives Tagovailoa plenty of time to progress through the league's concussion protocol and meet with outside neurologists. He'll miss at least the next four games before he's eligible to return. With the Dolphins' bye in Week 6, the earliest we could see him back is Week 8 against the Cardinals.

Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley, both with starting experience, will step in while Tagovailoa is out. The big question for fantasy managers: How does Tagovailoa's absence impact the Dolphins' offense? Let's break it down.

It might be surprising, but the Dolphins' offense shouldn't take a huge hit without Tagovailoa. With him, they've averaged 24.9 points and 360.5 yards per game, compared to 21.6 points and 331.6 yards per game with other quarterbacks.

De'Von Achane's fantasy value remains steady, especially after his epic 29.5-point performance against the Bills in Week 2. Raheem Mostert is more of an RB4 with some upside.

Things aren't as bright for Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Hill has averaged 10.5 targets and 22.4 fantasy points per game with Tagovailoa, but only 8.8 targets and 15.7 points per game with other quarterbacks. He's best viewed as a low-end WR1. Waddle's numbers are also down, averaging 7.7 targets and 15.8 points with Tagovailoa, compared to 7.1 targets and 10.7 points with anyone else under center. He's more of a high-end flex option.

Sept. 17: Eagles' Brown expected to miss 'a couple of weeks'

Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown doesn't consider his hamstring injury to be serious, but he is expected to miss "a couple of weeks."

Brown popped up on the injury report Friday after the hamstring "got a little tight" in practice, according to coach Nick Sirianni, and was later ruled out for Monday night's 22-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

With Brown sidelined, wide receiver Parris Campbell was elevated off the practice squad on Monday. Jahan Dotson (one catch, six yards) and Britain Covey (6-23-0) received snaps alongside DeVonta Smith (7-76-1) against the Falcons.

Smith likely will see more attention from Jalen Hurts and is the only Eagles wide receiver ranked in this week's fantasy top 50 at the position, landing at No. 12. Tight end Dallas Goedert, who had three catches for 38 yards on Monday night, comes in at No. 10 among tight ends in ESPN's Week 3 rankings.

Sept. 16: Kupp out for extended time, Samuel to miss several weeks

Liz Loza on Kupp: First Puka Nacua. Now Cooper Kupp. The Rams are down bad. Honestly, there isn't much to parse here. Demarcus Robinson figures to lead the WR corps. The 29-year-old played 92% of the offensive snaps in back-to-back weeks. He also leads the team in routes run (75) and is second in team targets (11) behind only Kupp. Robinson is a trusted vet who was useful down the stretch of 2023, logging five straight games of 13+ fantasy points from Weeks 13 through 17. He's currently available in 67% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

A single player can't fill the voids left by Nacua and Kupp. As such, Tyler Johnson, who converted two of three balls for 20 yards last Sunday, figures to see a larger role. Johnson is currently rostered in 13% of ESPN leagues. Tight end Colby Parkinson, who ranks third on the team in routes run (65) behind Kupp and ahead of the aforementioned Johnson (59), could also draw more looks. Parkinson is still available in 56% of leagues. Tutu Atwell (0.2% rostered) has hauled in three of four targets this season and is another player who could emerge.

The Rams will host the division rival 49ers in Week 3. Vegas is expecting an uphill battle with L.A. opening as 8-point underdogs, per ESPN BET. However, Kyren Williams investors shouldn't panic. Williams has cleared 14 PPR fantasy points in back-to-back weeks. He's far and away the team's lead back (85.7% snap share) and adds value as a pass catcher with a total of seven grabs over two games. San Francisco has allowed the eighth-most receptions (11 on 13 targets) to opposing RBs. Find the silver linings where you can.

Tristan H. Cockcroft on Samuel: San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Deebo Samuel Sr., one of the young season's most productive receivers thus far, will miss "a couple of weeks" with a calf injury. Samuel scored 18-plus PPR fantasy points in each of the first two weeks and had a 29.2% target share as well as 10 of the team's 63 rushing attempts while Christian McCaffrey has been sidelined. It's another significant loss for the team, as Samuel's dual-threat skill set, as well as his ability to rack up massive yardage after the catch, is impossible to replace from within the team's current roster. Having both him and McCaffrey sidelined for presumably at least Weeks 3-4 puts the 49ers offense in a tough spot.

Fortunately, the 49ers have an extremely soft portion of their schedule upcoming, with the Los Angeles Rams (road game), New England Patriots (home game) and Arizona Cardinals (also at home) on tap the next three weeks, alleviating any need for panic. Expect continued hefty Jordan Mason usage, further supporting his top-10 positional status. In the receiving game, Brandon Aiyuk should re-emerge as Brock Purdy's go-to receiver, with Jauan Jennings most likely stepping into the other starting role. Aiyuk and George Kittle should experience the biggest boost in targets, though the team could also lean more heavily on backups like Ronnie Bell, Chris Conley or Jacob Cowing.

Sept. 16: Panthers bench Bryce Young for Andy Dalton

Eric Karabell: Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young scored a combined 11.6 PPR points over the first two games this season, each an ugly blowout loss, and change is coming. The Panthers will start veteran Andy Dalton, and while he isn't exactly on his way to the Hall of Fame, Dalton gives the offense -- and the individual fantasy football options in it -- a better shot at competency. The Panthers are desperate for competence. Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, was not delivering much of it for Carolina.

Dalton, 36, is not someone fantasy managers in standard formats should target or even consider at this time, despite the fact he threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns in his lone start for Carolina last season. However, in superflex/2 QB formats, every starting QB warrants a look. Dalton completed 66.7% of his passes for the New Orleans Saints in 2022, winning six of 14 starts for a 7-10 squad, and certainly he did not get in the way of fantasy relevance for RB Alvin Kamara and then-rookie WR Chris Olave. Consider Dalton roughly on par, for fantasy value, with Raiders starting QB Gardner Minshew.

The quarterback switch helps everyone, notably WRs Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen, but it hardly makes them so attractive that a fantasy manager must start these fellows against the Raiders this week. Johnson caught five of 12 targets through two games, scoring 8.4 PPR points. Dalton is more accurate and pocket-savvy than Young, capable of moving the offense. Consider Johnson the WR4 option he was expected to be when you drafted him, and if you were going to drop him, reconsider.

Sept. 16: Pacheco headed to IR with fibula injury

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is expected to land on injured reserve after suffering a fibula injury against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Pacheco is undergoing testing Monday to assess the damage of the injury and will miss at least four weeks.

Samaje Perine (rostered in 3.6% of ESPN leagues) and Carson Steele (rostered in 1.6% of ESPN leagues) are expected to pick up the workload in the Chiefs' backfield.

Steele was used primarily as a runner in the Week 2 victory, getting 7 carries for 24 yards (0.4 fantasy points). Perine has yet to have a carry this season and had 1 reception for 3 yards (1.3 fantasy points) on Sunday.