2026 Week 9 Fantasy Football Injury Recap

Week 9 delivered some brutal news for fantasy managers trying to make a playoff push. Puka Nacua’s combination of knee and toe injuries threatens his value through the fantasy playoffs, Josh Jacobs needs finger surgery, and Jake Ferguson faces a multiweek absence. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes received encouraging news after an elbow scare, and Ladd McConkey’s pregame back spasms left managers with an unexpected zero.

This Week 9 fantasy football injury recap breaks down what happened, how these injuries affect football movements, and what to expect when each player returns. Using clinical analysis and our Injury Data Center, we look beyond availability to assess who can still produce, whose upside takes a hit, and which replacements deserve your attention.

Quarterbacks

Patrick Mahomes — Kansas City Chiefs

Injury: Right elbow strain

Expected time missed: Day-to-day

Re-injury risk: Moderate

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Justin Fields

Fantasy Impact: ​

Mahomes injured his right elbow late in the first half, creating an initial scare about a potential UCL injury. Fortunately, his MRI reportedly showed no structural ligament damage. My interpretation of the hit is that the defender’s elbow drove directly into Mahomes’ forearm, likely bruising the wrist flexor muscles near the elbow. That would help explain his discomfort gripping and throwing without requiring a ligament injury.

Mahomes acknowledged that throwing felt uncomfortable early in the second half but improved as the game progressed. With the reassuring imaging and his ability to continue making plays, I expect him to return to his elite level of play quickly as the soreness settles.

Justin Herbert — Los Angeles Chargers

Injury: Left middle finger injury

Expected time missed: Day-to-day

Re-injury risk: Low

Primary beneficiary if time missed: DJ Uiagalelei

Fantasy Impact: ​

Herbert injured his left middle finger, but imaging ruled out a fracture, and the issue appears minor. Because this is his non-throwing hand, I have little concern about a direct impact on his throwing mechanics or accuracy.

His recent play is the bigger concern. Herbert has been disappointing for fantasy, and even with a relatively minor injury, I would keep him out of starting lineups in single-QB leagues.

J.J. McCarthy — New York Giants

Injury: Hip pointer

Expected time missed: None expected; not yet cleared

Re-injury risk: Low

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Jameis Winston

Fantasy Impact: ​

McCarthy suffered a hip pointer on his right side and was visibly limping, but he continued to play fairly well. A hip pointer is a bruise over the bony rim of the pelvis. It can be painful initially, but I expect it to improve substantially over the next week.

Because this is his right hip, discomfort could affect how comfortably he drives off his back leg and transfers power into his throws. Still, his ability to continue playing is encouraging, and my overall concern is low. The short turnaround gives him less recovery time, although John Harbaugh expects him to play Thursday.

Drew Lock — Seattle Seahawks

Injury: Oblique injury

Expected time missed: None expected; monitoring

Re-injury risk: Moderate

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Jalen Milroe (with Sam Darnold out)

Fantasy Impact: ​

Lock suffered an oblique injury against Arizona but returned and said it did not affect his throwing. The obliques help rotate the torso and transfer power into a throw, so irritation can make throwing uncomfortable and limit velocity. His ability to finish is encouraging, although soreness can become more noticeable after the game.

Following a reassuring examination, Seattle expects Lock to start again with Sam Darnold ruled out. That is encouraging, but his practice participation will help establish how well he is tolerating the injury. I would view him as a superflex option rather than a starter in single-QB leagues.

Gardner Minshew — Arizona Cardinals

Injury: Right elbow UCL injury; tear suspected

Expected time missed: Potentially season-ending

Re-injury risk: High

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Carson Beck

Fantasy Impact: ​

Minshew injured his right elbow just before halftime and remarkably played the entire second half. Reporting now indicates a torn UCL that will likely require season-ending surgery. He is seeking additional medical opinions, so the surgical plan is not yet final.

The UCL stabilizes the inside of the elbow against the stress generated during throwing. An injury to this ligament in his throwing arm creates significant concern for both stability and his ability to throw effectively. I would prepare for an extended absence, with Carson Beck next in line to start. Beck warrants consideration in superflex leagues, but Arizona’s depleted receiving corps limits confidence in his immediate upside.

Carson Wentz — Minnesota Vikings

Injury: Foot injury

Expected time missed: Undetermined

Re-injury risk:

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Max Brosmer (if Kyler Murray remains out)

Fantasy Impact: ​

Wentz had his foot stepped on late in the third quarter against Buffalo. The available reporting does not establish the side or a specific structural injury, so there is not enough information to assign a recovery timeline.

Foot pain can interfere with planting, moving within the pocket, and transferring force into a throw. However, Wentz was already struggling before the injury, so it should not become the explanation for his poor performance. I would keep him out of single-QB lineups, and his uncertain health and hold on the starting role make him difficult to trust even in superflex.

Running Backs

Josh Jacobs — Green Bay Packers

Injury: Right ring finger fracture

Expected time missed: Undetermined; surgery planned

Re-injury risk: Moderate

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Kaleb Johnson / Chris Brooks (if activated)

Fantasy Impact: ​

Jacobs will undergo surgery to repair a fracture in his right ring finger, and I expect him to miss a few weeks. Recovery is typically straightforward, but the bone needs time protected from contact, and Jacobs must regain enough grip strength to securely carry the ball.

With Green Bay pushing for the playoffs, getting him healthy for the stretch run is the priority. Fantasy managers should prepare for a short-term absence, but I do not expect a lasting decline in production once the finger has healed sufficiently and he returns to his usual workload. The team has not announced a firm return timeline.

Rhamondre Stevenson — New England Patriots

Injury: Plantaris tendon injury

Expected time missed: Multiple weeks

Re-injury risk: Moderate

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Corey Kiner (with TreVeyon Henderson sidelined)

Fantasy Impact: ​

Stevenson is expected to miss a few weeks with a plantaris tendon injury, with rest and rehab rather than surgery planned. The plantaris is a small, largely vestigial muscle with very little contribution to knee bending or ankle push-off. Despite that limited role, an injury can still cause enough pain, inflammation, and stiffness to make running and cutting difficult.

The encouraging part is that an isolated plantaris injury generally does not create a lasting loss of strength or stability. Once the initial irritation settles and Stevenson can comfortably tolerate football movements, I expect him to return without a meaningful injury-related drop in performance. Getting to that point can still take a few weeks, but my long-term concern is low.

Wide Receivers

Puka Nacua — Los Angeles Rams

Injury: Right knee MCL/PCL sprains; turf toe

Expected time missed: At least a month; IR likely

Re-injury risk: High

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Konata Mumpfield / Tutu Atwell

Fantasy Impact: ​

Puka’s fantasy season is in serious jeopardy. His season may not be over, but this combination of MCL and PCL sprains plus turf toe delivers a major hit to his value.

The knee injuries alone are concerning. Both ligaments are critical for stability when planting and quickly changing direction. Injuring both can cause substantial swelling, stiffness, weakness, and difficulty controlling the knee during athletic movements. Returning to the field does not necessarily mean returning to his usual effectiveness.

Nacua is expected to miss at least a month, and our Injury Data Center shows at least a 31% decline in receiver fantasy production during the first three games after returning from PCL sprains. If he misses Weeks 10–13 and returns in Week 14, that potentially compromised stretch takes him through Week 16. My best-case projection for him approaching full effectiveness is around Week 17, and that assumes his recovery stays on schedule.

The turf toe adds another major concern. Pain at the big toe can limit push-off, acceleration, and cutting, creating another obstacle even as the knee improves. These injuries do not guarantee the same outcome as the historical averages, but together they leave very little margin for a productive fantasy playoff return. If you have Nacua, it is time to panic about his availability and upside down the stretch.

Ladd McConkey — Los Angeles Chargers

Injury: Back spasms

Expected time missed: Day-to-day

Re-injury risk: Moderate

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Quentin Johnston / Tre' Harris

Fantasy Impact: ​

What a frustrating season. McConkey developed back spasms during pregame warmups, remained active, and then never played a snap. That left plenty of fantasy managers, myself included, staring at a big old goose egg.

The injury does not appear major, and I expect him to have a good chance of playing next week. Back spasms can settle quickly, but lingering pain and stiffness can still interfere with rotating, accelerating, and cutting. His practice participation will matter more than an optimistic comment early in the week. Even if he is active again, it is fair to ask: how confidently can you put him back in your lineup?

Jaylen Waddle — Denver Broncos

Injury: Concussion

Expected time missed: Pending protocol clearance

Re-injury risk: Moderate

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Courtland Sutton

Fantasy Impact: 

Waddle will need to pass through the NFL concussion protocol before playing next week.

Michael Wilson — Arizona Cardinals

Injury: Neck fracture

Expected time missed: Remainder of season

Re-injury risk: TBD

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Trey McBride / Reggie Virgil

Fantasy Impact: 

Wilson fractured a cervical vertebra and somehow continued playing, but he is now out for the season. The treatment plan has not been disclosed, including whether the fracture can heal without surgery or requires surgical stabilization, potentially involving a fusion.

His long-term outlook remains unclear. The specific fracture, its stability, and any associated ligament or nerve injury will determine what recovery looks like. Until those details are available, it is too early to make a confident prediction about his football future.

Luther Burden III — Chicago Bears

Injury: Concussion

Expected time missed: Pending protocol clearance

Re-injury risk: Moderate

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Rome Odunze / Kalif Raymond

Fantasy Impact: 

Burden will have to pass through the NFL concussion protocol before playing next week. 

Xavier Worthy — Kansas City Chiefs

Injury: Hamstring injury

Expected time missed: Day-to-day

Re-injury risk: Moderate

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Rashee Rice / Jalen Royals

Fantasy Impact: ​

Worthy is considered day-to-day with a hamstring injury, which is concerning for a receiver whose game depends so heavily on speed. The hamstrings take on substantial load during sprinting, and pain or weakness can limit his acceleration and ability to separate from defenders.

Our Injury Data Center shows receivers experience approximately a 24% decline in fantasy production in their first game back from a hamstring injury. Production moves much closer to baseline in the second and third games, making the immediate return the biggest concern. Even if Worthy plays next week, being active does not guarantee his usual explosiveness. I would be cautious about immediately putting him back into lineups.

Tight Ends

Jake Ferguson — Dallas Cowboys

Injury: Left knee MCL/PCL sprains

Expected time missed: Multiple weeks

Re-injury risk: High

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Brevyn Spann-Ford / Luke Schoonmaker (if cleared)

Fantasy Impact: ​

Ferguson suffered MCL and PCL sprains in his left knee, and Dallas expects him to miss multiple weeks. Both ligaments contribute to knee stability, and this combination can create swelling, stiffness, and difficulty planting and changing direction. Blocking also requires him to absorb contact through a stable leg.

Our tight end MCL data shows approximately 45% and 49% declines in fantasy production in the first two games back, respectively. The sample is small and does not specifically represent Ferguson’s combined injury, but it reinforces concern about his effectiveness immediately after returning. I would prepare for a meaningful absence and avoid assuming he will immediately return to his usual production.

Dalton Kincaid — Buffalo Bills

Injury: Left ankle injury

Expected time missed: None reported; returned

Re-injury risk: Moderate

Primary beneficiary if time missed: Dawson Knox

Fantasy Impact: ​

Kincaid appeared to injure his left ankle late in Monday’s game, had it taped, and returned after several plays. That is encouraging, although a specific diagnosis and injury grade have not been disclosed. Swelling and stiffness can increase after the game, so his practice participation will tell us more about how well the ankle is responding.

Ankle discomfort can affect planting, cutting, and pushing off into routes, but my concern is relatively low given his ability to return. Without a confirmed injury type, applying a specific ankle-sprain statistic would be premature. If he progresses through practice without a setback, I would not automatically keep him out of lineups.