FANTASY FOOTBALL NEWS

No Timetable For Tua Tagovailoa's Return

By Jared Smola | Updated on Fri, Sep 13 2024 1:19 PM UTC

Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel didn't even want to talk about a potential timetable for return for QB Tua Tagovailoa after his latest concussion. "The furthest thing from my mind is what is the timeline," McDaniel said after the loss to the Bills. "We just need to evaluate and just worry about my teammate, like the rest of the guys are. We will get more information tomorrow and take it day by day from there." Tagovailoa was able to walk off the field under his own power, has movement in all extremities, and was "in good spirits" afterward, McDaniel said.

2024 Fantasy Football Impact

Tagovailoa missed five games, including a postseason contest, with two concussions in 2022. He openly discussed retirement after that campaign -- before working on better ways to protect himself that offseason and then avoiding a head injury in 2023.

We'll see where Tua's mindset is at after his latest concussion -- and then see when he might be cleared to return. But fantasy owners should be preparing for a multi-game absence.

Other Winners & Losers

Tagovailoa's absence is a big blow to Miami's offense. Backup Skylar Thompson did not look like a viable NFL QB on 150 pass attempts in 2022 and didn't look any better in Thursday night's game vs. the Bills.

In Thompson's three full games in 2022, WR Tyreek Hill averaged:

9.0 targets
5.3 catches
46.3 yards
0 TDs

And WR Jaylen Waddle:

5.3 targets
3.7 catches
37.0 yards
0 TDs

It's worth noting that two of those games came against a really tough Jets pass defense. Still, Hill and Waddle will take big tumbles in the rankings for however long Tagovailoa is out.

RB De'Von Achane will also be a rankings faller. He should continue to see plenty of volume sans Tua, but the efficiency will likely take a hit.

Jared Smola, Lead Analyst

Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and My Team tools. He currently ranks 1st among 133 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.