Injuries not only change how NFL teams prepare for the week, but with countless fantasy managers in the midst of draft season, injury updates are crucial when deciding which players to add and in what round. With some prominent names dealing with injuries in the preseason, what’s the latest RB Fantasy injury report, and when should we expect to see them on the field?
De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
De’Von Achane is sidelined with a mild calf strain. The team has downplayed the severity and expects him to be ready for Week 1, but he will miss the remainder of the preseason. Should Achane not recover by opening day, Jaylen Wright and rookie Ollie Gordon would likely split duties.
Achane is an explosive back who can be an elite producer in the passing game. While we saw a decline in rushing efficiency last season, that came with a huge role through the air, as highlighted by his 78 receptions for 592 yards and six touchdowns.
Throw De’Von Achane the football and good things happen pic.twitter.com/Q8jKLIH3eI
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) July 12, 2025
It’s clear that the Dolphins’ offense was a bit broken last year, with targets force-fed to Achane and Jonnu Smith in the short-to-intermediate passing game. If that continues, we don’t have to worry too much about Achane’s fantasy value because he’ll continue to get a high volume of targets.
On the other hand, if Miami can get back to its previous form — as a high-scoring offense with tons of explosive plays — Achane can return to 2023 efficiency levels. In other words, both outcomes should yield high-end production, making Achane have a nice combination of floor and ceiling.
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III is managing an ongoing foot issue that has plagued him for much of his career. The team has strategically held him out of practices to protect him, but there are no concerns that he won’t be ready for the opener. Walker returned to multiple full practices this past week.
If Walker is limited or out, Zach Charbonnet would be a workhorse. As things currently stand, he may have a bigger role than he has had while Walker has been healthy in previous years.
Walker is coming off a disappointing season on the ground, where he only averaged a career-low 3.7 yards per carry. Still, Walker is getting a huge upgrade in scheme this year, as former Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is now calling plays in Seattle.
Kubiak comes from the Shanahan coaching tree, which is known as the most running-back-friendly scheme in the NFL.
While there are concerns about Seattle’s offensive line, the team invested a first-rounder in a pro-ready guard in Grey Zabel, while Charles Cross is a former first-round pick. Given the upgrade in scheme, it wouldn’t be shocking to see significant improvement from this group.
As for the quarterback transition from Geno Smith to Sam Darnold, we could see the former Viking continue to perform well because of the scheme fit. Darnold has played for Kyle Shanahan and Kevin O’Connell in the last two years, each coming from the same coaching tree as Kubiak.
With that in mind, we don’t need to worry too much about offensive line and quarterback play. Prioritize the scheme fit here and confidently take Walker in the fourth round.
Cam Skattebo, New York Giants
Cam Skattebo strained his hamstring early in training camp and has not gotten many reps. However, he returned to practice last week and played in the Giants’ final preseason game.
Cam Skattebo’s first carry and listen to Elijah Chatman on his block from fullback! pic.twitter.com/EsZ6535Rsi
— Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) August 22, 2025
The rookie Day 3 pick was supposed to push Tyrone Tracy Jr. for the RB1 role. While that still may be the case, he is now quite a bit behind. Fantasy managers who draft Skattebo likely won’t be able to start him for a few weeks.
This has created a buying opportunity, where you can take Skattebo at a significantly reduced cost. You can stash him on your bench for some upside. Still, I prefer to pay up for Tracy at this point. The converted WR can make an impact in the receiving game, and has already demonstrated that he can produce in this league, putting up a spike week against the Steelers last year.
There’s a legit chance Skattebo will be merely a change-of-pace when he returns, making Tracy the better bet at cost.
Joe Mixon, Houston Texans
Joe Mixon has not practiced at all in camp due to a lingering non-football foot injury. His status for Week 1 is in serious jeopardy. Nick Chubb figures to be the early down replacement, but he has looked sluggish, and rookie Woody Marks could see more touches if Mixon’s absence extends into the regular season.
Mixon is coming off a terrific season in his first year with the Texans, rushing for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 309 receiving yards.
There’s a legit chance that the Texans are keeping this under wraps and that it’s more serious than they’re letting on.
The best bet to make in this backfield right now is to throw some darts on Chubb, Marks, or Dameon Pierce. My preferred target is Chubb because he has a proven track record. Perhaps a year further removed from his torn ACL will allow him to find his form.
Considering these circumstances, I recommend completely avoiding Mixon right now. Don’t buy the dip in this scenario.
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
Rhamondre Stevenson is currently out with an ankle sprain sustained early in August. It’s expected to cost him the rest of the preseason, but he should be available for Week 1 barring setbacks. If Stevenson sits, Antonio Gibson would fill his role while TreVeyon Henderson remains the satellite back.
Stevenson is the much less flashy option in the Patriots’ backfield than rookie Henderson, but that doesn’t mean there’s no value here.
Henderson is an explosive runner who can impact the passing game, but Stevenson’s interior running should keep him in line for touches, especially in the red zone, where he could get goal-line carries.
We all know how Mike Vrabel likes to run the football, so he’ll likely keep a power back like Stevenson involved in the offense.
I like targeting Stevenson in Best Ball to round out my RB room with some projectable volume. You can’t roster only lottery ticket handcuffs at the risk of taking too many zeroes in your lineup.
Stevenson is less appealing in redraft because of the limited upside. Despite the Patriots’ improvements on offense, this is still projected to be one of the lowest-scoring units in the NFL.
In these formats, I’m more willing to stash my bench with more upside but less standalone value backups because I don’t have to worry about them producing zeroes.
Jaydon Blue, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Jaydon Blue hurt his hamstring in joint practices and is working his way back into action. He is fully expected to be ready for Week 1. Blue needs the practice to gain a foothold in this backfield, but given the competition, or lack thereof, from Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, Blue has a ton of upside in one of the league’s best offenses.
We got a little bit of everything in Blue’s preseason debut. He was buried for a four-yard loss on his first carry, a drive that was later highlighted with a 13-yard burst and a one-yard score.
There seems to be something there with the rookie, and as a member of an ambiguous backfield, this is a profile to chase. However, an ankle injury cut his evening short, and now his short-term availability is in question.
The buying of Blue was always going to require patience, which is more true now than it was a week ago. The Cowboys ranked 27th in one-score pass rate in 2023 when Dak Prescott was a full-go for the season, a play-calling tendency that would give Blue (42 catches last year at Texas) even greater value should he move to the top of this depth chart.
Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns
Despite his legal case not moving forward, Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned as the Cleveland Browns may be waiting for the NFL to complete its investigation, suggesting the rookie may still face discipline.
Jerome Ford is the projected starter, with rookie Dylan Sampson ready to carve out an increasing role as the season progresses.
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rachaad White suffered a groin strain in the preseason opener and remains day-to-day. White is not expected to miss the start of the season, but he does not have a fantasy-relevant role regardless. Bucky Irving is the clear RB1, and if he were to miss time, Sean Tucker is the handcuff you want.
This is exactly the type of pick to avoid in all formats. White’s entire value is on a heavy role in the passing game, but Irving is a good receiver in his own right, so there’s a chance that Tucker is the better fit as the complementary back. You can wait a few rounds to take Tucker, making him the much more appealing option at a cost.
Don’t get caught up in White’s prior production; that role is long gone. That was when he got a lot of usage in Tampa, but it’s Irving’s backfield now. I’d look elsewhere from White if I needed a veteran back with standalone value. If I wanted a similar archetype, I’d go with Austin Ekeler, who looked explosive last season.
Isaac Guerendo and Jordan James, San Francisco 49ers
Ironically, Christian McCaffrey is the healthiest member of the San Francisco 49ers’ backfield. Isaac Guerendo has a shoulder injury, and Jordan James has a hand issue.
Guerendo returned to practice last week, but was wearing a shoulder brace. He is not a lock to be ready for Week 1, but shouldn’t be out much longer beyond that if he does miss the game.
McCaffrey is set for a heavy early-season workload. Ke’Shawn Vaughn was the healthiest back behind CMC for a few days until the team traded for Brian Robinson Jr. Kyle Shanahan doesn’t typically utilize a committee. If CMC were to miss time, Guerendo would still be viewed as the handcuff, but that grip is far more tenuous now, with Robinson in town. He is at least the RB3, if not the RB2.
However, this has created a buying opportunity to grab an elite handcuff at a reduced cost.
The San Francisco second-year showed off his upside in a small sample last season, including 128 total yards, two touchdowns against the Bears, and a 76-yard touchdown scamper against the Seahawks.
ISAAC GUERENDO BREAKS FREE FOR 76-YARD RUN
WHAT A PLAY.
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/hX5fBgJpyB
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 11, 2024
As the primary backup to McCaffrey, it makes sense to draft Guerendo as an upside stash on your bench. Don’t expect any standalone value, as McCaffrey will be the bellcow for the ‘Niners again.
It makes sense to take a shot on Guerendo. Just limit how many handcuffs with zero standalone value are on your bench, as you still want some usable options for any given week.
