NFL WEEK 1 • DFS & FANTASY

NFL Week 1 DFS Injury Watch 2026: Chase, Kittle, Jeanty & More

Our NFL Week 1 DFS injury watch 2026 covers the key player situations fantasy users should monitor before opening-week contests lock, including Ja’Marr Chase, George Kittle, Ashton Jeanty, Breece Hall, Alvin Kamara and Zach Charbonnet.

Published September 3, 2026 • American Casino Sweeps

NFL Week 1 DFS injury watch graphic featuring football players with Chase, Kittle, Jeanty and other fantasy names to monitor.

Week 1 injury watch at a glance Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are being managed ahead of Cincinnati’s opener, George Kittle has travelled with San Francisco to Australia while continuing his Achilles recovery, Ashton Jeanty’s status remains worth monitoring, Breece Hall is expected to be ready, Alvin Kamara’s Week 1 availability remains uncertain and Zach Charbonnet will miss the start of the season on Reserve/PUP.

These situations reflect pre-Week 1 availability and recovery information. Official practice participation and game-status designations will become increasingly important as each team’s opener approaches.

For broader lineup ideas, see our NFL Week 1 DFS picks for 2026.

Key NFL Week 1 DFS injuries to monitor

Player	Team	Issue	Current outlook	DFS impact
Ja’Marr Chase	Bengals	Knee	Expected to progress	Monitor practice participation before locking in a premium WR spot.
Tee Higgins	Bengals	Heel	Being limited	Confirm his workload as Cincinnati moves into regular Week 1 preparation.
George Kittle	49ers	Achilles recovery	Week 1 not confirmed	High-upside TE if active, but availability and workload need confirmation.
Ashton Jeanty	Raiders	Reported ankle sprain	Recovery ongoing	His availability could directly affect Mike Washington Jr.’s Week 1 role.
Breece Hall	Jets	Groin	Expected for Week 1	A positive outlook, although practice participation and workload still matter.
Alvin Kamara	Saints	MCL sprain	Week 1 uncertain	Travis Etienne becomes more relevant if Kamara cannot face Detroit.
Zach Charbonnet	Seahawks	ACL recovery	Reserve/PUP	George Holani and Jadarian Price are positioned for early-season opportunities.

Ja’Marr Chase – knee

Cincinnati Bengals vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cincinnati said on September 1 that Ja’Marr Chase would be limited during the week because of his knee. Head coach Zac Taylor indicated that the Bengals expect Chase to be ready for their normal preparation ahead of the September 13 opener against Tampa Bay.

Chase remains one of the highest-ceiling wide receivers in fantasy football when healthy. His participation level will be worth monitoring as Cincinnati moves toward its regular Week 1 practice schedule.

DFS watch: Chase remains a premium option if he enters Week 1 without a meaningful workload restriction. Any setback would also affect the outlook for Cincinnati’s wider passing attack.

Tee Higgins – heel

Another Bengals receiver to monitor

Tee Higgins is also being managed ahead of the opener because of a heel issue. Taylor said Higgins would be limited during the week while indicating that Cincinnati expects both starting receivers to be ready for Week 1 preparation.

With Chase and Higgins both appearing on the early injury radar, DFS players should monitor Cincinnati’s practice information before making firm assumptions about Week 1 workloads.

DFS watch: The health of Chase and Higgins matters not only for the two receivers, but also for Joe Burrow and Cincinnati’s other receiving options.

George Kittle – Achilles recovery

San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne

George Kittle’s recovery from the Achilles tear he suffered in January remains one of the biggest Week 1 fantasy situations.

San Francisco activated Kittle from the physically unable to perform list in August, allowing him to resume practice. The 49ers also confirmed he was expected to take part in practice ahead of the team’s trip to Australia.

Kittle travelled with San Francisco to Australia on September 2. That is an encouraging development for his chances of facing the Rams, but it does not guarantee that he will play. The team still needs to assess how his body responds as preparations continue.

DFS watch: Kittle offers significant tight-end upside if active, but his game status and likely workload should be confirmed before using him in Week 1 contests.

Ashton Jeanty – reported ankle sprain

Las Vegas Raiders vs Miami Dolphins

Ashton Jeanty suffered what was reported as a sprained ankle after landing awkwardly during practice in August. The Raiders kept him on the active 53-man roster rather than placing him on injured reserve.

On September 1, Raiders general manager John Spytek said Jeanty was in a good spot and working hard on his recovery, although the team did not provide a firm return date.

Jeanty’s status has additional DFS importance because rookie Mike Washington Jr. impressed during the preseason and could see additional work if Jeanty is unavailable or limited.

DFS watch: If Jeanty is cleared, his expected workload will be the next question. If he cannot play or is significantly limited, Washington could become a more interesting Week 1 value option.

Breece Hall – groin

New York Jets at Tennessee Titans

Breece Hall suffered a groin injury during August practice, but Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said Hall was expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.

The reported recovery timetable placed Hall within range of returning for New York’s September 13 opener against Tennessee. His participation as the game approaches will provide another indication of his expected workload.

DFS watch: Hall currently carries an encouraging Week 1 outlook. Full participation closer to the opener would provide additional confidence for DFS and fantasy users.

Alvin Kamara – MCL sprain

New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions

Alvin Kamara suffered a sprained MCL during an August practice. NFL.com reported that he was expected to miss at least a month, putting his availability for the September 13 opener against Detroit in doubt.

Ahead of Week 1 preparations, New Orleans said Kamara would not participate in on-field work this week and that the team expects to have a clearer idea of his availability next week.

The Saints added Travis Etienne, giving the backfield an experienced option if Kamara is not available for the opener.

DFS watch: Kamara remains a player to monitor rather than being treated as definitively ruled out. Etienne’s Week 1 DFS appeal would increase if Kamara is unable to play.

Zach Charbonnet – ACL recovery

Seattle Seahawks vs New England Patriots

Zach Charbonnet will open the regular season on Seattle’s Reserve/PUP list while continuing his recovery from the ACL injury he suffered late last season.

Players who remain on Reserve/PUP at the roster deadline must miss at least their team’s first four games, meaning Charbonnet will not be available for Seattle’s Week 1 matchup with New England.

Seattle’s initial roster includes George Holani and first-round rookie Jadarian Price, with the Seahawks indicating that the pair are expected to split the workload early in the season.

DFS watch: Seattle’s backfield is one of the clearest early-season situations created by an injury absence. Holani and Price both deserve attention, although an expected workload split means neither should automatically be treated as a full three-down replacement.

What DFS players should monitor before Week 1

Early injury information is useful, but the most important developments generally arrive as teams enter their normal game-week practice schedules.

Pay particular attention to whether a player practices fully, whether coaches discuss workload restrictions, whether a backup receives additional first-team work and whether a player receives a final game-status designation.

DFS pricing also matters. A backup whose expected role increases after salaries are released can become more attractive than a replacement whose expanded workload is already reflected in his price or projection.

Compare DFS options before Week 1

Contest formats, player selections and availability vary between fantasy platforms. See our best DFS sites guide for current platform comparisons, or check our DFS state availability guide before entering.

NFL Week 1 DFS injury watch FAQ

Is this the official NFL Week 1 injury report?

No. The situations covered here reflect fantasy-relevant injury information available ahead of the full game-week practice and status reports. Official team participation reports and final game designations should be checked as Week 1 approaches.

Is Ja’Marr Chase expected to play in Week 1?

Cincinnati indicated on September 1 that it expects Chase to be ready for preparation ahead of the Week 1 game against Tampa Bay. His knee and practice participation should still be monitored as the opener approaches.

Will George Kittle play against the Rams in Week 1?

Kittle’s status has not been confirmed. He has been activated from PUP and travelled with the 49ers to Australia, which keeps open the possibility of playing, but his final game status still needs to be determined.

Is Ashton Jeanty expected to play in Week 1?

Jeanty remains in recovery from a reported ankle sprain. The Raiders kept him on the active roster and said he is progressing, but they have not provided a firm return date.

Is Breece Hall expected to play in Week 1?

The Jets have said Hall is expected to be ready following his groin injury. His practice participation closer to the Tennessee game should provide more information about his likely workload.

Will Alvin Kamara play in Week 1?

Kamara’s status remains uncertain. He is recovering from an MCL sprain and is not participating in on-field work this week. The Saints expect to have a clearer idea of his Week 1 availability next week.

Is Zach Charbonnet available for Week 1?

No. Seattle kept Charbonnet on Reserve/PUP when establishing its initial roster, which means he must miss at least the Seahawks’ first four games.

Bottom line

Week 1 injuries can create significant changes in DFS projections and player value. Chase and Hall currently have encouraging outlooks, Kittle and Jeanty remain important situations to monitor, Kamara’s availability is still uncertain and Charbonnet is confirmed unavailable to begin the season.

Continue monitoring practice participation and official team information before contests lock. Player availability, projected workloads and DFS pricing can all change before Week 1 begins.

Written and reviewed by Edvina Kaminskaite

Owner and Editor, American Casino Sweeps

Edvina oversees American Casino Sweeps’ casino, sports and fantasy coverage, including guides explaining DFS formats, Pick’Em contests, state availability, account requirements and operator rules for US readers.

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Published September 3, 2026. Injury status, practice participation, DFS pricing, projections, player availability and contest eligibility can change. Always review final NFL team information and platform rules before entering a contest.