Malik Nabers, Anthony Richardson, NFL Injury Statuses and Fantasy Impact for Week 7

Joe TanseyOctober 18, 2024

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

One of the most electric rookie playmakers in the NFL will be back on the field in Week 7.

Malik Nabers has been cleared to play in the New York Giants’ NFC East clash with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Nabers quickly turned into one of the top fantasy wide receivers with a few standout performances in September. He missed the last two weeks with a concussion.

Anthony Richardson’ fantasy stock has not taken off as rapidly as Nabers’ has, but he will have an opportunity to prove his worth to the Indianapolis Colts and fantasy players in his return to the field against the Miami Dolphins.

Richardson’s delivered mixed results when healthy this season and it may be hard for some fantasy players to trust him inside an offense that will not have Jonathan Taylor available.

Below is a look at all of the significant injuries that will have an impact on Week 7.

Malik Nabers, WR, NYG: Off injury report (concussion/groin), per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.Jonathan Taylor, RB, IND: Out (ankle), per Schefter. Anthony Richardson, QB, IND: Cleared to start (oblique), per Schefter.Nick Chubb, RB, CLE: Questionable, but expected to play (knee), per Schefter.De’Von Achane, RB, MIA: Cleared concussion protocol, hopes to play, per Miami Herald’s C. Isaiah Smalls II.Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, NE: Game-time decision (foot), per Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons.Brian Robinson, RB, WSH: “Trending up” (foot), per Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper.Drake Maye, QB, NE: “Feels ready to go” (knee), per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.Amari Cooper, WR, BUF: Will play Sunday, per Alper. James Cook,. RB, BUF: Expected to play (toe), per Alper.Aaron Jones, RB, MIN: Questionable (hamstring), per Rapoport.JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, KC: Questionable (hamstring), per Rapoport.Travis Etienne, RB, JAX: Questionable (hamstring), per ESPN’s Field Yates.Ray Davis, RB, BUF: Questionable (calf), per team injury report. Dalton Kincaid, TE, BUF: Off injury report (collarbone), per team injury report. Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI: Out (Hamstring), per team injury report.Jordan Mailata, OT, PHI: Out (Hamstring), per team injury report. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Eagles also placed him on injured reserve.Malik Nabers Cleared to Play

Fantasy football players with Nabers on their rosters should be thrilled that the rookie’s injury absence only lasted two weeks.

Nabers rapidly pushed himself into WR1 status with his September performances for the New York Giants.

Nabers was targeted 45 times by Daniel Jones in his last three games. Before he left the Week 4 clash with the Dallas Cowboys, Nabers amassed 12 catches on 15 targets for 115 yards.

The first-round pick out of LSU is already a star in points-per-reception leagues since he had three straight games with eight or more catches.

He will be Jones’ No. 1 target against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, and in every game he plays moving forward this season.

Nabers is an automatic start in every fantasy format, but his high target rate does make him even more valuable in PPR leagues.

Anthony Richardson Will Start On Sunday

Anthony Richardson will also be back on the field for the first time since Week 4 on Sunday.

Richardson showed some promising signs with back-to-back 200-yard passing games to open the season, but he also had three interceptions in Week 2 and threw two more picks in Week 3.

The second-year quarterback may not be in the top half of some Week 7 fantasy rankings because of the matchup on paper against the Miami Dolphins.

Miami limited four of its five opponents to fewer than 150 passing yards. The Dolphins have been more susceptible to high concessions on the ground, which suits Richardson’s legs and backup running back Trey Sermon, who will start in place of the injured Jonathan Taylor.

Michael Pittman Jr. should be the biggest beneficiary of Richardson’s return. He had 15 targets across Weeks 1 and 2. Josh Downs was a favorite target of Joe Flacco over the last two weeks, and while he can still make an impact on the game, he hasn’t had much on-field time with Richardson so far this season.