A.J. Brown, Myles Garrett Hit IR: What Week 1 Injuries Mean for Your Roster
Brown's high ankle sprain and Garrett's knee surgery both mean at least four games out — and Sam Darnold's hip has no timeline yet.
IR stashes him a month, but he's a locked-in WR1 when healthy.
- Brown on IR, out at least 4 games (high ankle sprain)
- Garrett to IR after 0 tackles on 39 snaps in Week 1
- Brown: 78 rec, 1003 yds, 7 TD in 2025 (220 PPR)
- Darnold has no return timeline; Drew Lock filling in
- Doubs: 0 catches on 3 targets, drop led to a Maye INT
Week 1 delivered the bill for the NFL's biggest offseason splurges. A.J. Brown, New England's shiny new No. 1 target, lasted exactly one game before a high right ankle sprain landed him on injured reserve — meaning he's out at least four games. On the other side of the spend spree, Rams edge rusher Myles Garrett is headed for surgery and IR after producing zero tackles on 39 defensive snaps against San Francisco, just the fourth tackle-less game of his career.
For fantasy purposes, Brown is the headline. Coming off a 2025 line of 78 catches, 1,003 yards and 7 touchdowns (220 PPR points), he sits at our No. 47 overall rank and WR11 — a genuine every-week starter now shelved through at least Week 5. The Patriots' passing game looked completely lost without him in Seattle, which makes the timing brutal for anyone who drafted him as a cornerstone.
New England's Offense Just Got Small
The bigger problem is that the Pats don't have anyone else who stretches the field. Romeo Doubs — signed to a four-year, $68 million deal with $39 million guaranteed — put up a goose egg on three targets, including a drop that turned into one of Drake Maye's three interceptions the very next play. Trading away Kayshon Boutte before the season looks worse by the hour.
Maye still profiles fine on his own legs — he's our QB3 and No. 9 overall after a 2025 line of 4,394 pass yards, 31 TDs and 450 rushing yards (354 PPR points). But his ceiling shrinks without a downfield threat, and the next month is going to test how much of that production was scheme versus talent around him.
The Garrett and Darnold Fallout
Garrett doesn't move the needle in standard fantasy, but his absence tanks the Rams' pass rush, which quietly matters for streaming defenses against L.A. opponents. Meanwhile, Seahawks QB Sam Darnold's 'very unique' hip injury has no timeline, though Seattle expects a short absence. Drew Lock — who threw for 15 yards across five games in 2025 and remains unranked — takes over, and there's no fantasy case for him or any Seattle skill player you weren't already forced to use.
The move for Brown managers: don't panic, don't drop. Stash him on IR if your league offers the slot, plug in a streamer, and get ready to reinsert a WR11 the moment he's cleared. If you rostered Doubs or a Seattle pass-catcher hoping for a bump, temper it — the offenses feeding them just got materially worse.
