David Njoku: carted off with knee injury vs. Raiders
THE FACT. Njoku went down on a second-down play early in the second quarter of Sunday's game against Las Vegas and was carted off the field. Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons reported at 4:52 p.m. ET that the Chargers had him questionable to return, and he had not come back as of that report. Njoku caught five passes for 58 yards in last week's loss to Arizona.
THE VERDICT. Treat him as done for the day and assume he is gone next week as well, because knee injuries that end with a cart ride rarely clear in six days. Redraft: if Njoku was your starter, stream a replacement now instead of waiting on Monday's update. Oronde Gadsden and Charlie Kolar are the tight ends behind him in Los Angeles, and Gadsden is the speculative add at 5% FAAB while the diagnosis is pending. Dynasty: hold, but a 29-year-old tight end with a knee problem becomes a sell-high candidate the moment he looks healthy again. DFS: fade the Chargers tight end spot until the depth chart settles.
Respectfully going the other way on the Gadsden call here. Five percent FAAB is what you spend on a name you have never seen produce. This is a guy who put up 49 catches for 664 yards as a rookie and broke a Chargers rookie tight end yardage record that had stood since 1997. Kolar has been out-snapping him early this year without turning those snaps into targets, and snaps that do not draw looks do not score fantasy points. If Njoku misses time I am bidding real money, and I would rather take Gadsden at low ownership in DFS than fade the spot entirely.