Title: Aaron Jones’ Return from Injury in Question for Week 7
Published: October 22, 2023
Author: AJ Mass, ESPN Staff Writer
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Is Aaron Jones ready to return from injury this week? This is the burning question for fantasy football owners as they prepare their lineups for Week 7. ESPN’s Stephania Bell provides insight into Jones’ road to recovery from a hamstring injury and the potential for his return.
As NFL teams release their official inactives lists, fans and fantasy football players eagerly await updates to make informed decisions on their lineups. To assist with decision-making, ESPN provides fantasy-relevant updates and analysis. Any rankings referred to are sourced from ESPN Fantasy staff ranks.
Official Sunday inactives are expected to be released approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff times, with early games announcements by 11:30 a.m. ET and late-afternoon games by 2:30 p.m. ET. It is advised to refresh frequently for the latest information.
In the 1 p.m. ET games, several key players are listed as out or questionable. Damien Harris, running back for the Buffalo Bills, is officially ruled out/IR due to his injury. James Cook and Latavius Murray will now split carries in the Buffalo backfield. The Bills’ tight end, Quintin Morris, is also ruled out, allowing Dalton Kincaid to return from his concussion and share targets with Dawson Knox.
For the Chicago Bears, running back Roschon Johnson is still dealing with post-concussion issues and will be out for the upcoming game. This means a timeshare between D’Onta Foreman, Travis Homer, and Darrynton Evans is expected. Additionally, quarterback Justin Fields is ruled out, and rookie Tyson Bagent will take his place.
The Cleveland Browns face uncertainties as both quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Kareem Hunt are listed as questionable. Signs point to Watson’s return after being out since Week 3. The decision regarding Hunt’s availability will likely be made after pregame warmups.
Marvin Jones Jr., wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, did not travel with the team for personal reasons and is marked as out. This opens up more targets for Jameson Williams. Meanwhile, David Montgomery, running back for the Lions, is also out, leading to an increased workload for Jahmyr Gibbs. Craig Reynolds is listed as questionable due to a rib injury but is expected to play.
The Indianapolis Colts have wide receiver Alec Pierce listed as questionable. While signs point to his availability after practicing in full late in the week, Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs are better fantasy options. Additionally, tight end Kylen Granson is ruled out, and Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree are expected to rotate in his place.
The Las Vegas Raiders’ quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, is out, and Brian Hoyer will start in his absence. Meanwhile, wide receiver Justin Watson is ruled out, but his absence may be temporary until at least Week 10. The Chiefs’ recent reacquisition of Mecole Hardman Jr. may impact Kadarius Toney and Rashee Rice’s opportunities.
In the late-afternoon games, wide receiver Zach Pascal from the Arizona Cardinals is questionable, with Michael Wilson surpassing him in the pecking order. Quarterback Kyler Murray remains out as he continues his recovery from injury, and Joshua Dobbs will continue as the starter.
The Denver Broncos’ tight end, Greg Dulcich, is out and returns to IR after reinjuring himself. Adam Trautman will replace him but is unlikely to make a notable fantasy impact. Aaron Jones, running back for the Green Bay Packers, is also questionable with lingering hamstring issues. A game-time decision is expected, and fantasy managers should be prepared to pivot to AJ Dillon if necessary.
Other notable players listed as out include Jalen Guyton, wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers, and Kyren Williams, running back for the Los Angeles Rams. Diontae Johnson, wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has been activated from IR, while DK Metcalf, wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, is questionable, and Zach Charbonnet, running back for the Seahawks, is also questionable.
Wrapping up the week is the Sunday night game, featuring running back Jeff Wilson Jr. of the Miami Dolphins, who has been activated from IR. His role alongside Raheem Mostert is yet to be determined. Newly acquired wide receiver Julio Jones for the Philadelphia Eagles is elevated from the practice squad, but a limited package of snaps can be expected due to his recent signing.
As game time approaches, fantasy football owners will closely monitor these updates. The status of Aaron Jones’ return from injury remains uncertain, adding an extra layer of suspense to Week 7 matchups.