Tunnel Vision - Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars (2025)

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

RB Travis Etienne – Hamstring
RB Jerome Ford – Hamstring
RB Jamesd Conner – Ankle
WR Chris Olave – Concussion
WR Marvin Harrison Jr. – Concussion
WR Dontayvion Wicks – Shoulder
WR Quentin Johnston – Ankle
WR Elijah Moore – Rib
TE Dallas Goedert – Hamstring

Chasing Ambulances

RB Travis Etienne – The Jags’ primary back was already in decline this year and entered the game having just healed a shoulder injury. He strained his hamstring and was unable to return. Etienne had disappointed and appears to have health issues that may be related to being overused last year. Tank Bigsby has already emerged as a solid option and would handle the backfield with D’Earnest Johnson if Etienne misses the Patriots matchup this week.

RB Jerome Ford – Left the game with a hamstring strain and did not return. D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong stepped up to replace Ford. The severity of Ford’s hamstring will be determined with an MRI on Monday. Nick Chubb should be back this week, so the backfield will already be different.

WR Chris Olave – Suffered a concussion on his first catch of the day and was held out. While it did not appear to be severe, his availability for the matchup with the Broncos this week is in question. Spencer Rattler wasn’t bad, throwing for 243 yards and scoring in his debut, but none of the wideouts did anything to step up and replace Olave.

WR Marvin Harrison Jr. – Left in the first half after taking a hard hit to his head and was ruled out with a concussion. He was helped off the field and ruled out for the game. He’ll be evaluated during the week but may miss the matchup with the visiting Chargers this week. None of the other wideouts stepped up in his absence.

TE Dallas Goedert – Injured his hamstring in the first quarter and immediately went to the locker room. An MRI will determine the severity of the injury, but he may miss the trip to the Giants this week, judging solely by the apparent seriousness.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

TE Evan Engram – Had been out since Week 1 and was questionable entering the game, but he easily led the Jags in their loss to the Bears when he caught ten passes for 102 yards. That was double the receptions of any other Jaguars receiver.

TE Mark Andrews – Like Kyle Pitts in Week 5, the Ravens’ tight end was safely tucked onto fantasy benches after two games without a catch and only 120 yards on the season. Versus the Commanders, Andrews caught three passes for 66 yards and the lone passing score by Baltimore. Isaiah Likely only caught two passes for 27 yards. That will probably reverse if you dare to start Andrews this week in Tampa Bay.

RB Trey Benson – James Conner seemed to be hampered by his ankle, though it was not reported. Conner also lost a fumble in the second half. He was limited to only 24 yards on seven rushes. Benson led the offense with 26 yards on five rushes, while Emari Demercado gained 25 yards on four carries and added five catches for 39 yards. Conner has often been injured in the past, so watch practices this week to see if Conner is at all limited. Demercado is the third-down back, while Benson is the rookie who was a sleeper this summer and who could be the primary back in 2025.

WR Christian Watson – He is the NFL’s version of that flower that blooms just one day a year. Week 6 was when he led the Packers with three catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. He was questionable coming into the game because of an ankle injury suffered two weeks ago. There’s no arguing about his potential, but also no arguing that his durability remains his biggest opponent.

QB Drake Maye – The Patriots rookie debuted and while they lost badly to the Texans, Maye’s first career game impressed. He passed for 243 yards and three touchdowns against two interceptions. He also added five runs for 38 yards. That easily outpaced anything that Jacoby Brissett had done this year, when he never had more than one score or 168 passing yards in any game. Let the Drake Maye era begin.

WR Demario Douglas – Further impressing, Drake Maye not only turned in solid passing stats in his first start, but his top two receivers were the two starting wideouts, not a nearby tight end or a dumpoff-catching running back. Demario Demarcus led the team with six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. Kayshon Boutte was next with three receptions for 59 yards and a score.

RB Bucky Irving – He was already gaining on Rachaad White and took the start this week with White out. He gained 81 yards on 14 carries and scored once in the win at the Saints. Irving also added two catches for 24 yards and this was against the defense that had ranked No. 4 versus running backs.

RB Sean Tucker – The undrafted running back from Syracuse signed with the Buccaneers in 2023, and his two seasons totaled just 17 carries for 30 yards before Week 6 when he ran for a team-high 136 yards on 14 carries with one score, and caught three passes for 56 yards in the 51-27 beatdown of the Saints. Tucker only carried once to seven for Bucky Irving by halftime and just once in the third quarter. The majority of his rushes came in the fourth quarter after the Buccaneers were already up 37-27 and they were controlling the clock. Tucker’s rushing score happened with only two minutes to play when the Bucs had already led 44-27.. He made the most of the opportunity, but this wasn’t a case of him leapfrogging Bucky Irving on the depth chart.

QB Spencer Rattler – The Saints rookie took his first NFL start and threw for 243 yards and one score. He was at an immediate disadvantage from losing Chris Olave to start the game. Derek Carr’s job is still very safe.

TE Grant Calcaterra – Stepped in when Dallas Goedert was injured and ended second on the team with four catches for 67 yards in the win over the Browns. He could be a cheap Daily Fantasy option next week at the Giants if Goedert remains out.

RB Kimani Vidal – The Chargers rookie was on injured reserve but came off the list this week and debuted in the in over the Broncos. His first touch was a 38-yard touchdown catch. He only gained 11 yards on four carries, while J.K. Dobbins handled 25 rushes for 96 yards. But his first active game was encouraging and Gus Edwards was placed onto injured reserve, so the rookie gets a lock on the No. 2 job.

TE Ja’Tavion Sanders – The Panthers’ rookie was one of the offseason upgrade of offensive weapons, and he had a quiet start to his career. The ex-Longhorn had never topped 16 yards in any game over the first five weeks but then was the No. 2 receiver for the Panthers in their loss to the Falcons when he caught five passes for 49 yards. That falls short of fantasy relevancy, but at least he’s finally getting more looks and totaled seven targets in the game.

Huddle player of the week

Chris Godwin (TB) – The eighth-year Buccaneer has long been the No. 2 wideout that usually ends up just cresting 1,000 yards per year with three or four touchdowns. Not this year. He’s enjoying a big year and ended Week 6 as the highest scoring fantasy player when he caught 11 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns. The Bucs hope that every opponent doubles Mike Evans and thinks all they need to do.

Salute!

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