Sunday of NFL Week 7 was another downright brutal day for injuries, which has become the unfortunate NFL theme for 2020.
Odell Beckham, Chris Carson, Kenyan Drake and Andy Dalton were among those who suffered noteworthy injuries and could miss time pending further diagnostics.
Here’s a recap of the biggest injuries to players across the league and how it could impact fantasy football:
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland Browns (knee)
Beckham’s season is over after he suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s game. The injury occurred as Baker Mayfield was picked off by Darius Phillips and Beckham attempted to make a tackle. He limped off the field and into the locker room and did not return.
The loss of the former Giants star is a massive blow to the Browns, who were left with Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and Donovan Peoples-Jones at receiver for the remainder of Sunday’s game. Higgins had the best day of the trio and reeled in all six of his targets for 110 yards. Peoples-Jones caught three of three targets for 56 yards and a touchdown, and Landry caught five of six targets for 48 yards. Higgins will be a popular Week 8 waiver wire add with Beckham headed to season-ending IR.
Andy Dalton, QB, Dallas Cowboys (concussion)
Dalton sustained a brutal hit from Washington linebacker Jon Bostic during the third quarter of Sunday’s loss. Bostic was ejected from the game and Dalton, who is in the concussion protocol, was replaced by 2020 NFL Draft seventh-rounder Ben DiNucci. After the game, a spokesperson for the Cowboys told media that Dalton was in “good spirits” and will fly back to Dallas with the team.
Dalton was already replacing starter Dak Prescott, who suffered a compound ankle fracture and dislocation in Week 5. Before exiting, Dalton completed a mere 9 of 19 passes for 75 yards with the Cowboys’ lone score coming by way of a field goal. If Dalton does not clear the concussion protocol in time for the team’s Week 8 matchup in Philadelphia, DiNucci would be an even further downgrade for the Dallas pass-catchers (Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Dalton Schultz), whose fantasy values had already plummeted after Prescott went down.
Chris Carson, RB, Seattle Seahawks (foot)
Carson suffered a foot injury during the second quarter of Sunday night’s Seahawks-Cardinals game. He underwent further evaluation in the locker room and would not return to the game. He finished with five carries for 34 yards and a catch for 7 yards.
Carson has been having a very strong season. He had 429 total scrimmage yards on 61 carries and 21 catches and had recorded six total touchdowns through the first five games of the year.
It remains unclear what the severity of the injury was, but it isn’t a good sign he did not return in a tight game. Next up on the Seahawks’ depth chart are Carlos Hyde and Travis Homer. Hyde recorded 15 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown and caught three of four passes for 8 yards. At 10 percent rostered in Yahoo fantasy leagues, he will be a popular add heading into Week 8 pending more information.
Kenyan Drake, RB, Arizona Cardinals (ankle)
The Cardinals running back was also injured in the same matchup on a 2-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Drake required assistance and had to be carted off the field with an apparent ankle injury. He finished with 14 carries for 34 yards and caught one of two targets for 7 yards.
X-rays were negative but Drake is set for an MRI. If the injury is serious, the big beneficiary would be Chase Edmonds, who saw five carries for 58 yards and caught all seven targets for 87 yards Sunday night. The two have been in a confusing time share all year, so any absence for Drake would instantly vault Edmonds into low-end RB1 territory, especially in PPR.
Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (ankle)
Johnson limped off the field during the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ win over the Titans, before which he caught nine of 15 targets for 80 yards and two touchdowns. After the game, it was revealed he suffered an ankle bruise which doesn’t appear to be serious.
“It was just a little ankle bruise or whatnot, but nothing going to keep me out of the game,” Johnson told reporters after the game. “I’m doing fine. I’ll be ready next week.”
Tim Patrick, WR, Denver Broncos (hamstring)
Patrick exited during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s snowy game against the Chiefs with a hamstring injury. He caught three of four targets for 44 yards but was eclipsed by fourth-round rookie tight end Albert Okwuegbunam in yards and targets.
It’s unclear if Patrick — who was in the midst of a breakout season — will miss any time for the Broncos, whose receivers have already been limited due to injuries. His absence would elevate receivers Jerry Jeudy, Daesean Hamilton and KJ Hamler, who are next on the Denver depth chart.
Phillip Lindsay, RB, Denver Broncos (concussion)
Lindsay suffered a concussion during the first half of this matchup and was ruled out for return. He saw nine carries for 79 yards before the injury. Melvin Gordon — who saw 17 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown and caught two of four targets for 12 yards — will shoulder more of the workload as the lead back in Denver with third-stringer Royce Freeman also sprinkled in.
Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers (hamstring)
Samuel suffered a hamstring injury during the second half of the 49ers’ Week 7 win over the Patriots and finished with five catches for 65 yards. He had already missed the first three games this season with a foot injury.
San Francisco was lean at receiver entering this game and will have to turn to rookie wideout Brandon Aiyuk and Kendrick Bourne once again.
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, San Francisco 49ers (ankle)
The 49ers also lost Jeff Wilson during this game in yet another crushing blow to their backfield. He was carted off the field after scoring his third touchdown of the day during the third quarter and would not return. He tallied 17 carries for 112 yards and two catches for 8 yards in addition to the three touchdowns.
Further imaging showed “no significant damage” to Wilson’s ankle, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, though head coach Kyle Shanahan told the media after the game that he fears the RB suffered a high-ankle sprain. If so, he could join Raheem Mostert — who suffered an ankle injury in Week 6 — on injured reserve. Next up on the 49ers’ dwindling depth chart are Jerick McKinnon, who was on a snap count and saw three carries for -1 yard, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and 2020 undrafted free agent JaMycal Hasty.
Breshad Perriman, WR, New York Jets (concussion)
Perriman was hit hard late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game by Bills safety Micah Hyde. He was being evaluated for a concussion.
The Jets entered this matchup without Jamison Crowder and leaned on rookie Denzel Mims in his NFL debut. Mims caught four of seven targets for 42 yards and is worth an add in deep leagues at just four percent rostered independent of Perriman’s health status.
N’Keal Harry, WR, New England Patriots (concussion)
Harry went down during the first quarter of Sunday’s Patriots-49ers game with a concussion. He headed for the medical tent and into the locker room after catching one pass for 6 yards.
If Harry misses time, this could elevate Jakobi Meyers, Julian Edelman and Damiere Byrd’s statuses, none of whom are a particularly exciting add after Cam Newton was pulled for Jarrett Stidham as the game got out of hand following throwing three interceptions.