This article is part of our Training Camp Notes series.
Here are some of the top fantasy football-related news developments from Monday.
-Jalen Hurd suffered what the 49ers fear is a season-ending torn ACL on Sunday, which makes permanently thinner a San Francisco wide receiver rotation that already might be deprived of WR1 Deebo Samuel (foot) for some of the early season. The announcement on Hurd renewed the fervor for first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk, but the two play different roles and so Hurd's absence shouldn't change much or anything for Aiyuk's fortunes. For now, we can expect Aiyuk to replace the role previously held by Emmanuel Sanders, while Trent Taylor leads the way in the slot and Kendrick Bourne functions something like the top backup at all three San Francisco wide receiver positions. Rookie seventh-round pick Jauan Jennings might be the remaining 49ers receiver most capable of handling the tasks that Samuel and Hurd were initially supposed to. The addition of receivers Tavon Austin and J.J. Nelson along with tight end Jordan Reed gives the 49ers other options to lean on in the passing game, playing functions that didn't exist in the 2019 49ers offense.
-A.J. Green suffered what was described as a hamstring tweak Monday, which sent him to the sideline for the ensuing practice time. There's no indication of substantial concern out of Cincinnati, but any injury for Green will understandably send panicked shockwaves through the fantasy community given his durability background. It's not a great development for the 32-year-old, but it's presumably a preferable injury for him to deal with than something involving the ankle that ended his 2019 season. However many reps Green misses should probably go directly to second-round pick Tee Higgins.
-T.J. Hockenson said his surgically-repaired ankle isn't quite at 100 percent, which casts some concern over how fast he can get going out of the gates in 2020. It was always known that Hockenson would face a lengthy recovery from his season-ending ankle injury at the end of November, so he isn't necessarily off-schedule in his recovery process, but it would have been nice all the same if he could have gotten a bit ahead of the schedule. If Hockenson is hobbled to begin the year then it could pose a real obstacle to his breakout prospects.
-Jets WR Vyncint Smith suffered a core muscle injury that will require surgery, from which point he might be out up to two months. Smith is a fringe prospect but one whose roster spot with the Jets was believed to be safe, to the point that he was a real candidate to start opposite free agent pickup Breshad Perriman in three-wide sets. Smith's injury follows the week-to-week hamstring tweak suffered by rookie second-round pick Denzel Mims. Both Smith and Mims are lanky, speedy field-stretching threats, so recent free agent signing Chris Hogan can't imitate their specific functions, but he might be the team's best option in the meantime all the same.
-Nick Chubb was hit high on a play Monday and left practice under his own power, but the Browns evaluated him for a concussion afterward. It's also possible that Chubb picked up a bit of a neck injury in the process, but hopefully either matter is something he can move past quickly.
-The Dallas defense was a hot topic among fantasy defenses upon signing Everson Griffen, but some of that enthusiasm might have trailed off upon the news of fellow free-agent signing Gerald McCoy suffering a season-ending injury at defensive tackle. It's an opportunity to remember that the Dallas defense has name value at certain spots, but on the defensive line especially they were uniquely dependent on aging mercenary types. With McCoy down, it's that much more important that Dallas coaxes strong seasons out of Griffen, Aldon Smith and Dontari Poe.
