Top 10 Fantasy football injuries with impact in Week 3

4. Jonathan Stewart-RB-Carolina Panthers

The Panthers were the most run-heavy team in the NFL last season and Jonathan Stewart held up to the beating surprisingly well. He ended up taking a career-high 242 carries in his 13 games and falling just short of 1,000 yards. This year, his health didn’t hold out as long, though, after he left the team’s Week 2 win over the 49ers.

Stewart has long been known to have glass ankles, and he was limited after the team’s Week 1 win in Denver. He added a hamstring injury in Week 2 and now will miss at least a week or two.

The Panthers offense is unique in that while they are run heavy, most of the rushing touchdowns go to Cam Newton. Stewart was a fantasy starter, but not a high-tier option despite a solid workload.

Fantasy Fallout

After Stewart left Week 2’s game, Fozzy Whittaker gashed the 49ers for 100 yards on his 16 carries and added 31 more hards on three catches. He did lose a fumble, but will definitely get more work while Stewart is out.

The other option that will get increased opportunity this week is second-year running back Cameron Artis-Payne. CAP should get double-digit carries this week according to coach Ron Rivera, and he’ll actually be the “lead” back although splitting carries with Whittaker at times. Artis-Payne is a high risk play this week against the Vikings, but he has upside going forward if he can lay claim to the job.

Whoever ends up getting Stewart’s work will struggle with the same issue, though. Most of the goal line work is already spoken for, so don’t expect CAP or Whittaker to produce many rushing touchdowns in the coming weeks.