Week 10 Fantasy Injury Watch: Ladd McConkey Sits Thursday, George Pickens Is Uncertain and the Fallbacks to Line Up Now

The Thursday night game is underway, but for most fantasy managers the real work for Week 10 is still ahead. The injury reports this week have been long, and several of the names on them sit in the middle of a lot of starting lineups. Here is where things stand on the players you are most likely asking about, what the major fantasy outlets are saying, and the fallback plans worth lining up before Sunday.

The Chargers face the Ravens on Monday night, so their practice week started later than most, and it did not start well for Ladd McConkey. NBC Sports reported that the receiver sat out Thursday's session with a back problem. Yahoo Sports has him listed as day-to-day.

What it means: McConkey managers have the luxury of time, but not much clarity. NBC Sports projected him as a WR3 if he is active. Because the Chargers kick off on Monday, you will want a Sunday option on your bench as insurance, so that you are not stuck if he is ruled out late. Watch his Friday and Saturday practice reports closely.

There is better news in New York and Kansas City. CBS Sports, in its Thursday injury roundup, described both Garrett Wilson and Xavier Worthy as trending up.

Wilson has been working through a concussion, according to Yahoo Sports. NBC Sports reported that he was limited on Wednesday and that the Jets are hopeful he will play against Buffalo. If he clears every step of the league's protocol, he goes back into most lineups. If he does not, NBC Sports pointed to Adonai Mitchell as the next man up.

Worthy has been dealing with a hamstring injury, according to Yahoo Sports. The complication in Kansas City is not just health but crowding: the Chiefs acquired receiver Josh Downs from the Colts at Tuesday's trade deadline, Yahoo Sports noted. Patrick Mahomes was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, which is good news for everyone in that passing game as the Chiefs prepare for Atlanta. Until we see how Kansas City divides the targets, Worthy is a better flex play than a locked-in starter.

The most important name still up in the air is George Pickens. The Cowboys receiver was limited in Wednesday's practice with a hamstring injury, Yahoo Sports reported. Sports Illustrated said he practiced in some capacity and appeared to be trending the right way, while CBS Sports said in its Thursday update that his status remains uncertain.

Dallas plays San Francisco on Sunday. If Pickens plays, he stays in your lineup. If he cannot go, Yahoo Sports pointed to Ryan Flournoy as a flex option and noted that CeeDee Lamb would likely see even more volume. If you have the bench room, Flournoy is a sensible stash today.

The Cowboys are not the only team in that game with receiver worries. Sports Illustrated reported that the 49ers' Mike Evans had not been able to return to practice as he deals with an Achilles injury. Do not count on him this week until he is back on the practice field.

In Green Bay, the news is settled, and it is not good. Josh Jacobs suffered a fractured finger that required surgery, according to Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Sports Illustrated reported he will miss Week 10, and Yahoo Sports cited a report that he will be out for a maximum of three weeks.

Yahoo Sports called Kaleb Johnson a proactive pickup but warned he is a risky flex play against a Minnesota defense. Sports Illustrated listed Johnson along with MarShawn Lloyd and Pierre Strong as the backs who could share the work. If you need a running back this week, Johnson is the add, but keep expectations modest.

Injury weeks like this one reward the managers who plan ahead. Here is my checklist for the next 48 hours.

First, line up a Sunday replacement for McConkey now, before the waiver wire runs dry. Second, ride the good news in New York and Kansas City, but check Friday's reports before you lock in Wilson. Third, stash Flournoy if you roster Pickens. Fourth, Jacobs managers should grab Kaleb Johnson while they can, even if he is more of a bench piece than a starter this week.

Most of all, do not make a decision on Thursday that you can make on Saturday. The final injury designations come out on Friday for Sunday's games, and that is when the picture gets clear.

And if you want a fresh start, it is never too late to join a league. The free Liberty Bell Fantasy games are open at /fantasy, where you can build a lineup, test your instincts and compete with fellow readers all season long. Good luck this week.