I’ll refer you to my post at FFLockerRoom again for my Week 17 injury post.
http://fflockerroom.com/2012/12/29/fantasy-football-week-17-injury-update-t-richgronkmjd/
And just FYI, I’ll update the blog soon with a post about the recent rash of ACL injuries both during Week 16 and over the last few seasons. Hopefully it’ll give some insight into why the ACL is so important and why it’s so difficult to come back from.
Ok boys and girls, the most important week of the regular season is upon us. Many playoff spots hinge on the results of this week’s games, so make sure you have you monitor Inactive lists tomorrow AM and prior to the afternoon games, as many guys who are iffy are playing either at 1pm PST or Sunday night.
Felix Jones looks like he’s going to be a game-time decision for this Sunday night’s game. This knee injury appears to be troublesome and he hasn’t looked great healthy either. With DeMarco Murray slated to come back this week, Jones becomes a definite sit this week…Speaking of the Cowboys, watch out for reports prior to the game concerning Miles Austin and his hip flexor strain. First he dealt with a hamstring strain, now a hip flexor. Looks like he’s definitely prone to muscular issues, which have a tendency to linger and really limit function. I think he’ll play, but he may not be quite 100% at this point…Sidney Rice is an interesting one to watch tomorrow, as he was a full participant on Wednesday and Thursday, but apparently suffered a calf strain during Friday’s practice. It’s never a good sign when someone is added to the injury report on Friday and we’re talking a strained calf, which is a very difficult injury to play through. The calf provides the force behind pushing off to change directions and accelerate, so he will be significantly limited whether he plays or not…Percy Harvin is officially doubtful to play and word is he didn’t travel with the team to Green Bay. Jarius Wright gets a bump in value with Harvin out…Danny Amendola is another guy who is listed as doubtful, but basically a lock to miss Sunday’s game against the Niners with a foot injury…Two Bengals are dealing with injuries, but both are expected to play. BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Andrew Hawkins should both be ready to go despite minor injuries. Green-Ellis sprained his ankle during Friday’s practice. I’m not concerned because he was still listed as probable despite the injury. Hawkins is coming back from a sore knee and looks like he’s ready to regain his starting job this week. Remember, he’s the possession guy who stands to benefit a ton from the attention AJ Green gets, so I’m expecting (hoping) he has a huge day tomorrow…Julian Edelman and Brandon Weeden both look good to return from concussions this week, as both returned to practice and were participants on Friday, which is always a good sign for return to action. No word on clearance from an independent neurologist per the NFL concussion guidelines though, so check reports before each guy’s game…Antonio Brown will be back in the starting lineup for the Steelers, but he’s still a must SIT this week with Charlie Batch getting the start at QB again. With Ben Roethlisberger expected to be back in action next week, that would be the time to get Brown back in your lineup. Brown has had time to recover and seems to have shaken off his lingering high ankle sprain.
THE REST:
Expected to Play: Ahmad Bradshaw, Aaron Hernandez, Carson Palmer, Jeremy Kerley, Torrey Smith, Owen Daniels, Andre Johnson, Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Beanie Wells
Should Play, but Could Be Limited: Darren McFadden (I’m not a believer that he’s ready to roll, maybe one week away), Matt Forte
Long Shot to Play: Andre Roberts, Kevin Kolb
There we have it, should be an interesting Week 13 with so many implications. On a personal note, I have two teams that are in the playoffs with a victory, so I know I’ll be glued to the TV tomorrow morning and afternoon. This would actually be the first season I’ve had all my teams make the playoffs if things work out the way I hope they do (4 total teams). Let’s see how this puppy plays out. Good luck folks!
We had a very, very busy NFL week 6, with some key guys suffering injuries ranging from minor to potentially career ending. Let’s talk about how these key injuries affect your Week 7 lineup and some short term ramifications. Also, some of these injuries will definitely play a role on your teams moving forward, so we’ll also talk a bit about what you can do to counteract these big injuries, possibly wheeling and dealing via trade.
Ray Lewis: Let’s start with the biggest one. Word is that he suffered a complete rupture of one of tendons of his triceps muscle group. Why is this muscle group important? Well, any time we push off and extend our elbows, we’re using the triceps. Any time we try to shed blockers and drive through offensive linemen, we’re using quite a bit of triceps. The main functions of the triceps are to extend (straighten) the elbows and extend (move arm back behind you parallel to your body) the shoulder. These types of injuries usually take a significant amount of time to heal, especially since it’s such a big muscle group and it’s a tendon injury, which takes time to heal. In terms of returning to the field for football-related activities, we’re probably talking 6-8 months before he’s near 100%. However, with his age and the amount of wear and tear on his body, it’s tough to predict how quickly he’ll bounce back from an injury of this nature. The good news is that it’s not a leg issue, which would be very brutal for a guy his age, especially considering how hard he worked to shed weight and regain some of his speed. I can’t imagine Lewis will allow his career to end of this note, so I’d expect him back next season, maybe on a more limited basis. But what about the value of the Baltimore D?? Losing Lewis and Ladarius Webb for the season are huge, especially with Suggs already out for the year. They were already giving up a ton of points by their standards, and it’s only going to get worse moving forward. They’re too good to just fall off the face of the earth, but when you add Haloti Ngata to the list, it doesn’t look pretty. Look for them to drop a few notches, but they should still be a top 10-12 D/ST by the end of the year.
DeMarco Murray: He was just rounding into form and then, BAM, injured foot. Word is he sprained the foot, which if we know from past history (Pierre Garcon, Ben Tate, etc), which is a very fickle injury. It’s so hard to predict how a player will respond coming back from this type of injury because there are so many factors (what part of the foot, which joints if the midfoot is involved, is it a big weight bearing joint, etc). It looked and sounded worse than what they’re saying the prognosis is, but I can see this being a couple week type of injury because he’s a running back, and when you take away a runner’s ability to be dynamic, they just don’t function the same. Now, on the flip side, if Felix Jones (who you should be adding ASAP this week) struggles and doesn’t get the job done, this could turn into a “rushing back too soon” type of thing. I think his prognosis will all depend on how fast he responds to conservative treatment (PRICE- protection, rest, ice, compression, elevation; stretching, soft tissue mobilization, joint work, etc) early on so that he can get back to the aggressive stuff as soon as possible. He’ll definitely be week to week, so be ready to play that game.
Rashard Mendenhall/Issac Redman: Both are very up in the air for this week’s game against the Bengals with an achilles injuryand ankle sprain, respectively. I don’t like Mendenhall’s chances due to the location of his injury (same side as his torn ACL), which I think is a big compensatory pattern issue that needs to be corrected because it’s clear to me that he’s putting too much reliance on his ankle due to not fully trusting that knee yet (at least that’s what I suspect). Redman is coming off an ankle sprain and has a shot to play, but I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want to rely on Redman anyways. I have a feeling both will play, with Mendenhall obviously getting the bulk of the carries if he’s right, but it’s a bit sketchy this week, although they did have the luxury of an extra 3 days off after playing the Thursday night game. Take it day by day.
Jake Locker: I understand if fantasy owners are frustrated with his absence from the Titans’ lineup, but I love the approach the training staff is taking with Locker. He tried coming back, but it was clearly too soon, so they’ve now taken things slowly and allowed him to heal fully before sending him back in. People will ask me, “If it’s his non-throwing shoulder, why has he been out so long?”. Well, it only takes one shot to the shoulder or a defending driving him into the turf after a throw for him to go back to square one. Also, things such as handing the ball off, hiking the ball, holding the ball with two hands on a roll out, etc all involve the left arm as well. And add to the fact that running is one of Locker’s main strengths and you can see why a subluxed shoulder (quick subluxation) and separated AC joint would be difficult to come back from. He’s out this week, with the possibility of returning next week. Play it by ear, but he’s going to need some time to round back into form. Locker should be considered no more than a QB2 at this point moving forward.
Pierre Garcon: MRI results showed an “inflamed capsule under the 2nd toe”. What this means is that the joint capsule surrounding the 2nd “knuckle” on the bottom of the foot is inflamed. This is essentially like having a tender area and banging it against a surface over and over again. Every time he tries to run/sprint/plant/push off, he’s putting extra weight and force through that region, causing more discomfort. These sort of capsule injuries are a type of “itis”, which means an area is inflamed and has swelling in the region. What makes this better? Stop running/sprinting/planting/pushing off: REST. Inflamed regions don’t get better when you continue to pound on it, so look for Garcon to be in “pain management” mode this week in hopes of playing against the Giants. At some point, they’re either going to have to shut him down to let him rest or he’ll just be less than 100% all season. I don’t like the sound of either as a Garcon owner, so you should have a contingency for week 7 just in case.
Jermichael Finley: Another sprained shoulder that’s been slow to heal, he is at the mercy of the position he plays, as it requires a ton of blocking/contact, which doesn’t allow for a quick healing process. The good news was that he was able to play a little over 20 snaps. The bad news is he continues to be limited by the shoulder and has been a non-factor. He actually has had really only 1 good game all season and hasn’t done much otherwise, shoulder injury or not. If he can get healthy, this is his time to shine, with Greg Jennings still hobbled. Look for him to get more involved this week, as there was no reported setback during the game on Sunday. Watch his practice participation and if he’s more involved, he should be good to go for Week 7.
Kevin Kolb: He has officially joined the bruised rib QB fraternity headed by Michael Vick and Tony Romo. Again, this is more of a pain-tolerance type issue more than anything else, but there is a significant amount of rotation that offcurs in the trunk during the throwing motion, which can be affected by limitations in rib mobility. He’s definitely going to be limited to some extent, but they’ll get a flak jacket on him and see what he can tolerate. History (Kolb’s and other rib injuries) says he probably won’t play, but that’s more based on the fact that he hasn’t been the most resilient guy in the world when it comes to injuries. While Kolb is not nearly at the level of those guys, his injury does have a significant effect on the Cards, particularly the WRs. Larry Fitzgerald seems to have a better rapport with John Skelton while Andre Roberts seems to have a better rapport with Kolb. Fitz should be in your lineup regardless, but Roberts is just not the same when Skelton is in the lineup. I’d downgrade Roberts greatly if Skelton gets the start. UPDATE: Why am I updating before I even submitted the post? Because I’m lazy, that’s why. Looks like MRI results came back and showed rib cartilage damage, but no fractures. While the no fracture news is good, the rest of it is not, as rib cartilage has such poor blood supply that it creates a slow healing environment. In addition, the rib cartilage is stressed with the most basic of tasks (taking in a deep breath, twisting the trunk, standing up tall) that it can make it very uncomfortable to perform rigorous tasks such as playing QB in the NFL. He’s said to be out at least a couple weeks, so Skelton looks like the guy.
Trent Richardson: Another guy with a rib cartilage injury, his seems to be minor based on reports I’ve heard. Again, they’ll rest him this week (expect him to be limited basically all week, which is normal) and see how much pain he can tolerate on Sunday. I’d expect him to play unless he suffers a setback.
Aaron Hernandez: He played 38 snaps on Sunday, about 40% of the total offensive snaps for the Pats on Sunday. I can speak to Hernandez from seeing him in person at the game, he looked fantastic. Watching him cut and run prior the game, I felt better about his overall health. Then seeing him plant and run that fade route in the end zone for his touchdown put all concerns at ease. I think he looks as close to 100% as you can coming off a high ankle sprain, and if he came through with no extra swelling/soreness after the week, he will probably see an uptick in his snaps played this week against the Jets. I’d be confident playing him Week 7.
Hakeem Nicks: Only 5 targets, didn’t look 100% , but looked better than he did the last time he attempted to play. I think he’ll get his treatment this week and look better against a bad Redskins secondary. Manning will continue to look his way once he gets back on track.
So now, I wanted to spend some time talking about some guys who either are injured or are coming off injury who are great sell high/buy low candidates that you should be targeting now that we’re nearly halfway through the season.
QBs:
Sell High
Josh Freeman: Finally had a breakout game. If he strings one more good game on top of it, look to unload him to someone who needs bye week help or had Philip Rivers on their roster. You could probably snag a decent WR2/RB2 or flex type of guy to help you get through the bye weeks
Buy Low
Matt Stafford: He’s been very up and down, looking terrible in the first 3 quarters yesterday before putting together some good drives in the 4th. I’d feel good about picking him up if you can get value on him, especially if you need some QB help. I’d be willing to part with two guys to pick him up so long as you’re not giving up more than a WR2/RB2 in either case. I think Stafford is poised for a big second half.
RBs:
Sell High
Shonn Greene: He’s not doing that again, if you can find a sucker in your league to take him off your hands, I’d do it. He may have another good week (or at least dominate carries) with Bilal Powell on the shelf, so wif you can turn Greene into another RB2 or a solid, reliable TE/WR2-3, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
Darren McFadden: He’s coming off a solid Week 6 and looked pretty good overall, but with the state of the Raiders offense and how bad they’ve looked all the way around, I’d sell high on McFadden, especially if he has another good week this coming week. With the numerous bye weeks coming up (with 6 teams out of action this week), other peeps in your league my be looking long and hard on the waiver wire for RB help, but nothing on the wire will come close to an offer for McFadden. This would be a great time to parlay depth at RB for more help at WR or QB while selling a name brand instead of actual production.
Buy Low
Reggie Bush: He didn’t have the greatest week 6, but coming out of a bye, people tend to forget about how good of a start he got off to. He’s also looked remarkably durable and resilient this year, evidenced by not missing any time after injuring his knee. If you can get him cheap, I think he’s definitely worth it as he looks 100% after his knee and hip issues.
Matt Forte: Not that people are crazy down on him, but you haven’t heard his name a lot since he suffered that sprained ankle earlier in the season. He’s been solid, but unspectacular since then. I just love the idea of another owner suffering through the bye week for you, so he’s potentially someone you can steal if you can find a Forte owner in a bind due to the bye weeks (think a 2 for 1 to give the other owner more depth, but you’re always better off getting the best player in the deal)
WRs:
Sell High
Percy Harvin: Not here because he’s dealing with an injury, but he has a definite history of injury problems, especially of the nagging variety. He’s off to a fantastic start, leading the NFL in receptions, but when I think about his offense and how he’s essentially the only legit WR for Christian Ponder to throw to, I would not be averse to trading Harvin for a more established guy who has a history of consistent production (Roddy White, Larry Fitzgerald, Wes Welker) as I see Harvin’s stock dropping in the coming weeks.
Buy Low
Greg Jennings: I know I’ve talked a lot about his nagging groin injury and you could potentially wait one more week and get him dirt cheap, but if you can find a fed up Jennings owner and get him for 50 cents on the dollar, you do it. The groin injury is big, but he’s on a fantastic offense and can really do you a lot of good once fantasy playoff time rolls around as he should be 100% and ready to get back to his old ways by then.
Let’s do a quick rundown of injuries around the league and make some projections about availability for Week 6 and beyond:
Robert Griffin III: Suffered a concussion during the Week 5 contest, so his Week 6 availability will be predicated on him passing the battery of tests that have been put together for concussion sufferers. It’s murky at this point, and depending on the extent of the concussion, it’s kind of hard to predict. I’m sure he’ll go through the concussion tests around Wednesday of this week, so stay tuned. Have a backup plan this week, possibly a guy like Brandon Weeden, who had a solid start this past week.
Jermichael Finley: He drove his right shoulder into the turf after making a catch, and didn’t return to the game after. He said he would be playing for sure against the Texans in Week 6 and that he didn’t come back into the game as a precaution. I think he’s probably right, but the biggest thing is practice participation. From looking at the mechanism of injury, he seemed to have suffered an AC joint (point of the shoulder, the region referred to in separated shoulders) sprain, which can be played through, but is tough with a high contact position like TE.
Cedric Benson: Based on how the injury looked, everyone immediately thought Lisfranc injury. He stated after the game that X-Rays came back negative and that he feels better than it looked. He was seen leaving the stadium in a walking boot, which is absolutely precautionary for this type of injury, so I wouldn’t read a ton into that. Even if it’s just a midfoot sprain (small tears in the ligaments that hold the small bones of the foot together), it can be very limiting for a running back who relies on that stability of the arch and toes when pushing off and performing quick burst of speed motions. Granted Benson is not a burner or anything, but it’s still key to the effectiveness of running backs. He’s been ruled out of week 6 already, so backup plans are in order. Possible back up plan? Alex Green, who filled in admirably for Benson. Possibly David Wilson from the Giants, who got more touches this week and seems out of the doghouse.
Jimmy Graham: He suffered a nasty-looking ankle sprain in the Sunday night game against the Chargers. While he did return to the game, which is promising, he clearly didn’t look the same. He didn’t look to suffer a high ankle sprain, which is great news, and having a bye week this coming week, he should be fine for Week 7. Don’t be alarmed if he really doesn’t practice much at all this week, as it’ll be precautionary to give that ankle time to rest. I would expect him out there for Week 7 with minimal restrictions.
Troy Polamalu: He returned yesterday for the first time this season, played 19 snaps, and re-injured his problematic calf. Strains to the calf muscle are very similar in nature to hamstring strains, as they’re lingering types of injuries that don’t go away with rest. And the calf muscle is a very powerful muscle with sprinting, changing of speeds, and accelerating/decelerating. I don’t have a good feeling about Polamalu’s chances of playing this week and potentially next, unless he decides to play hurt and clearly less than 100%.
Rashard Mendenhall: I was a proponent of sitting him Sunday, and he definitely proved me wrong. He looked great, very explosive and elusive. He also seemed very comfortable with outside and inside runs, which is fantastic for a post-ACL player. So long as he doesn’t have any soreness or setbacks, he’s looking good moving forward.
Adrian Peterson: Mendenhall’s post-ACL brethren seemed to tweak his ankle on his first carry of the game Sunday, but did not miss any time. No word on whether it’s his post-ACL side or not, which could make a bit of a difference. But the fact that he still played the rest of the game bodes well. I can’t imagine he’ll miss any games, but he may be limited in practice this week, so don’t be alarmed.
Jared Cook: He seems 100% from his AC joint sprain, as he caught 5 passes for 37 yards and a TD on Sunday. Granted he didn’t have gaudy yards totals, but with Matt Hasselback at QB, he’s bound to be a bigger part of the plan as Hasselback doesn’t throw downfield a ton, leading to more check downs and short passes. Look for Cook to continue to be a big part of the offense.
Kenny Britt: Only caught 2 passes on Sunday, and he looked like he was clearly having a hard time moving around. I’ve warned many times about Britt and his multiple-joint involvement on his surgically-repaired side, which seems to really be bothering him. I’d continue to sit him until he gives you that one good, solid game where he doesn’t look like he’s hobbling around.
Matt Forte: He looked fantastic Sunday, and he has a bye week now to get back to 100%. He had 24 touches on Sunday, which should tell you that he’s pretty damn close to being back to full strength. He’ll be ready to go at full speed once Week 7 rolls around.
Alex Smith: Lost in his incredible 300+ yard performance was that fact that he sprained a finger on his throwing hand. He left the game after the result was determined, but who knows if he would have stayed in had the game been closer. I can’t imagine this will keep him from missing time, but he could potentially be limited in practice this week. Monitor the situation, as gripping the ball and releasing the ball when throwing could be uncomfortable and may cause some discomfort. But at this point, it doesn’t seem like enough to keep him from missing time.
Julio Jones: 10 catches, 94 yards, 1 TD. Do I even have to tell you his hand is fine?
Pierre Garcon: He led the team with 7 targets, which is a good sign. Bad news is only 3 went for catches. And now that RGIII is banged up, who knows what the passing game will look like with Kirk Cousins at the helm. Garcon didn’t seem restricted by his injury, so he should be fine in terms of his injury now that the soreness has subsided and he’s in less pain. Look for him to be ok health wise in the coming weeks, but RGIII being out concerns me more.
Daniel Thomas: He had a decent week 6, with 29 yards rushing and 1 TD on the ground. However, he suffered a concussion during the contest, which means he’ll have to go through and pass his battery of tests prior to being able to participate next week. Like all of our other concussion folks, monitor his test results and move forward accordingly. Reggie Bush is still the lead back, so upside for him may be limited.
Matt Cassel: He also suffered a head injury during Sunday’s contest, as he took a violent blow that reportedly knocked him unconscious for a little bit. I can’t speculate as to the severity of the head injury, but it sure did look bad. And they are so strict these days with coming back to play from concussions, any residual symptoms automatically make a player ineligible from returning to contact. Consider Cassel out with Brady Quinn the next in line.
Hakeem Nicks: The knee issue is starting to seem more serious by the day. He had an MRI done today, but results were not released by the team. Coach Coughlin says “he’s iffy” for this week against the Niners, so who knows what’s actually going to happen. We’ll take it day by day like last week, but at this point, the knee injury (whatever it is) seems to be worrisome. Plan on a Domenik Hixon/Reuben Randle duo again across from Victor Cruz.
Ryan Williams: He was placed on IR today after suffering a shoulder injury that will cause him to miss at least 3 months.The exact injury has not been disclosed, but they did say surgery will be required. My guess considering the timetable? Partial labral tear, maybe an AC joint separation, ligamentous damage around the glenohumeral joint (ball and socket shoulder joint). I would say rotator cuff as well, but if they have to repair it via surgery, the timetable is typically much more than 3 months. Same with a biceps tendon tear. Fact of the matter is, he’s out for the season, so who is the guy in the Cards’ backfield now? Well, Beanie Wells is still out, so is Larod Stephens-Howling, who could be back next week. That leaves William Powell and Alphonso Smith, which aren’t great options themselves. I’d probably say Powell is the guy, but it’s most definitely going to be a RB-by-committee situation, which is never good from a fantasy perspective. I think Stephens-Howling and Powell are good speculative pickups, but I’d just as well steer clear of this murky situation.
Saturday is upon us, so let’s do a quick rundown of who to play and who to sit to help you better maximize your week 5 lineup.
Absolute must starts:
Torrey Smith: The ankle is good to go, and so is he.
Rob Gronkowski: He played last week despite some hip soreness, he’ll do the same this week despite being questionable.
Marshawn Lynch: Back is good, and he’s well rested
Reggie Bush: No lingering knee or hip issues, he’s in for a big week against the Bengals.
Lesean McCoy: No worries here, he’s good
Trent Richardson: Only missed practice to see his daughter born, he’s healthy and ready to go.
Julio Jones: The hand is healed and healthy. Get him in your lineup.
Matt Forte: He’s looked dynamic all week, the ankle looks solid, Jags run D is not very good.
Chicago Bears D: Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers are both a little dinged up, but both are reportedly playing tomorrow. Keep the top ranked D in your lineup.
Healthy Starts:
Jared Cook: He’s fully recovered from his AC joint sprain, he shouldn’t be limited at all.
Brandon Bolden: I’m only putting him here because he’s healthy enough to play, so that won’t be the issue. Who knows what the RB rotation will be like because it changes every week with the Pats, but if you’re in a deep league and were thinking about him as a Flex, don’t let health stop you. He should be good to go. Double check the inactive list prior to the late games to be sure.
Too Risky, Sit This Week:
Aaron Hernandez: I love him for next week, as he has really made strides (and I’m making a trip from LA to Seattle to watch my Pats take over the northwest, so I’m a bit hyped right now) coming off this high ankle sprain. There’s too much uncertainty surrounding Hernandez, with the Belichick-veil-of-secrecy, late game start time, and trickiness with high ankle sprains. Not worth the risk this week, unless you have the luxury of another TE who plays in the late games or Sunday night/Monday night that you can rush into your lineup once you find out Hernandez’s status. Otherwise, leave him on the bench.
Brandon Jacobs: He looks on track to play this week and is technically still the 3rd backfield option. I like him more as a stash than an actual start this week, only because I think he’ll play a big role in Jim Harbaugh’s offense. Monitor his effectiveness and carries this week and we’ll revisit next week.
Out:
Lance Moore: Has a good chance of coming back next week, hard to tell for sure with hammy injuries, but I think he comes back next week
New York Giants D: I think their entire team is Questionable. I know they’re playing the Browns, but with so many guys either out or clearly hobbled, I would look for a replacement if you have the luxury. A team like the New England D has been dropped by many after a couple bad games, but they’re forcing turnovers this year and have generated a much better pass rush with rookies Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower on board. I like them at home against Denver, Peyton Manning or not.
Hakeem Nicks: Monitor his availability this week, I said yesterday I don’t like how limited he’s been and their having him avoid weight bearing, so I don’t feel as good about him being back next week. Always a chance, but hard to say.
Ramses Barden: Never thought I’d have to include him in any of my posts, but stranger things have happened I guess. He didn’t practice at all this week and apparently did not pass his post-concussion battery of tests to return to play, so he’s out this week. Because Nicks and Barden are both out, look for Domenik Hixon to be very productive against a terrible Browns secondary still missing Joe Haden. I like Hixon as my SLEEPER O’ THE WEEK (I know, I’ve sucked at these so far, but Week 5 is the turn-around week, I swear)
Kenny Britt: He’s listed as questionable, not out, but I just wouldn’t touch him until he produces one productive game this season. Too many injuries, too much of a head case. Stay away.
Rashard Mendenhall: Another guy listed as probable, not out, I just have a rule not to play post-ACL guys in their first game back because of the inherent risk. I know AP came back and was great in his first game, but most of the time, you don’t know how a guy will respond to the other team hitting you and the return to game speed until they’re out there. He may be fine, but I’m just not taking the risk until his second week back.
Did I confuse you? Good : )
I’m taking Wednesday’s post and making updates based on Thursday practice participations, just to give you a little taste of how quickly things can change in one day’s time. Here ya go:
Here’s a quick round up of today’s practice participations and their effect on each player’s ability to play and contribute in Week 5:
Marshawn Lynch: Limited in practice on Wednesday. The given reason was rest, but make sure you listen up on Friday to make sure it’s not a back spasm recurrence. I talked at the beginning of the season that back spasms are tricky and have a habit of rearing their ugly head at random times. Monitor his status leading up to the end of the week. THURSDAY UPDATE:
Matt Forte: The Bears didn’t practice, but word is he would have been a limited participant had there been a practice. Weird thing is he came out of the Monday night game with a supposed re-aggravation of his ankle sprain, but had his tape re-done and was fine thereafter. The only report after the game was “normal post game soreness”, which is very normal. So long as no setbacks are reported, he probably won’t be a full participant until Friday. Jacksonville’s run D, for lack of a better word, sucks. So throw him out there on Sunday with confidence, as it seems like his ankle is doing just fine.
Kenny Britt: Another guy who I just hate writing about, because he seems to always be hurt, like non-stop. So his recent ankle injury led to him being a non-participant in today’s practice. Word is he did some on-the-side drills, but no actual practice. With all the bad luck he’s had with his legs this past year, he just scares me. This ankle sprain seems to be lingering, which combined with the ACL reconstruction he had, can lead to quite a bit of weakness in his legs. A lack of stability around the knee with pain and discomfort in ankle take all of the drive and quickness out of a WR’s legs. I’m sticking with my thought on him: He needs to show you one solid week before he’s in your lineup, regardless of what you hear/see/read. THURSDAY UPDATE: He did not practice at all today, meaning he’s pretty much relegated to your fantasy bench again for week 5. Plan on moving forward without him. Again, wait until he shows you he can get back out there and produce before he’s back in your lineup.
Julio Jones: Apparently his hand issue was a problem during the last game, as reports said he was more decoy than anything else. He was a full participant today, and as long as that continues, this hand injury shouldn’t be an issue. Play him. THURSDAY UPDATE: More reason to play him, Jones himself said his lacerated hand feels great and ready to go. Matt Ryan is absolutely on fire right now the Redskins’ secondary is not very good. Big day coming for Jones and company.
Peyton Hillis: He’s been dealing with this ankle sprain for a couple weeks now, and although he seems to be better, it appears that he continues to be iffy for this week. The Chiefs have Jamaal Charles and Shaun Draughn playing pretty well right now, so there’s no reason to rush Hillis back. He’s not a speedster, but an issue with the ankle (which provides the push off and drive and helps maintain stability with cuts) can really make it difficult to hit holes in a timely manner. Plan on not having him this week. THURSDAY UPDATE: No practice for Hillis on Thursday and he remains on track to sit out this week’s game. Bench city for Hillis
Jake Locker: Separated shoulder, subluxation of said shoulder, already ruled out of Sunday’s game and having a short week for week 6, plan on him being out at least 2 more weeks at minimum. After his recent aggravation in week 5, they’ll take it easy with him and make sure not to rush him back. With all the instability surrounding that left shoulder of his, non-throwing arm or not, it’s going to restrict his function, especially with handing the ball off, receiving the hiked ball, and being sacked/going down head first. THURSDAY UPDATE: Not a ton more info available about Locker, but he’s as close to a lock as possible to sit out.
Jared Cook: His AC joint (tip of the shoulder) seems to be healing well, as he played the whole game on Sunday without issue (he was taken out early due to the Titans being blown out) or setbacks. He was limited today, but it seems to be more rest than anything else. AC joint sprains are very dependent on the severity of the shoulder separation (this is the joint people refer to when a shoulder is separated), and Cook’s seems to be more on the mild side based on how quickly he’s responded. Play him this week as their matchup is much more favorable than last week’s.
Torrey Smith: He had a minor ankle sprain during the game this past week, but it’s not considered anything major at all. He was a full participant this week, which always bodes well when a player participates fully on a Wednesday. He will be just fine.
Pierre Garcon: His sprained foot finally allowed him to play in week 4, but he was basically nonexistent, catching only 1 pass. He practiced fully today, which bodes well. I continue to hear that he’s not 100%, but the fact that he fully practiced on a traditional “take it easy day” is a good sign. We seem to be talking a lot about ankles/feet these days, but a sprained foot is a very general term (it could refer to any of the ligaments that hold together the joints in his mid foot, forefoot, rear foot) and depending on the exact region that’s sprained, could really affect a player’s ability to push off and accept weight onto the foot. The accepting weight part is important for a receiver, mainly when stopping on a dime and breaking off a route. If Friday rolls around and he’s still fully practicing, roll him out there on Sunday. THURSDAY UPDATE: He continues to proactice even though he’s not fully healthy, and he himself said that he’s not 100%. However, he states he can play at 100%, but how long remains to be seen. I think he plays this week, but just expect some ups and downs throughout the course of the season.
Lesean McCoy: Full participant, following a “tweaked”, aka sprained, knee. Looks to be a minor issue, he’ll be fine.
Reggie Bush: <sigh> The knee feels great, but miraculously, he has developed a hip issue! Yay! Normally, when a hip issue develops on the same side as a knee or ankle issue, it’s without a doubt a compensatory issue, where the joint above or below the injured region (in this case, above) compensates for the lack of stability/strength/function at the impaired joint. It could be a muscular strain, it could be irritation of the labrum in the hip, it could be tendonitis/bursitis, etc…Basically, it could be a crap ton of things. Until more is known about the severity of the hip issue, expect him to play. We’ll probably know more by Friday. THURSDAY UPDATE: Practiced fully, reports state he looked good overall, no signs of limitation. Barring setback, plan on him begin ready to go on Sunday.
Danny Amendola: He had a mild ankle sprain, and is officially listed as Probable for the Thursday night game against the Cards. He looks to be ready to go tomorrow, so feel free to put him in your lineup. And always remember who told you he would be the sleeper candidate of the year (http://tinyurl.com/c3pzkg7). Did that sound like bragging too much? Who cares, I was right. THURSDAY UPDATE: Not much in terms of his status, but the prevailing thought is that he’s ready to go tonight, as his ankle sprain was considered mild in the first place.
Steven Jackson: So this is clearly becoming a frustrating issue for SJax owners. This groin strain will not go away. Here’s what I said last week: “My thought is that he’s doing ok during the week, getting treatment and working to calm down inflammation/stretch/strengthening the adductors (groin muscles), I just think the second he really tries to play free of thought, he begins to feel the restriction. One week of limitation was ok, as that’s expected. But with two weeks of limitation in a row, I’d be a bit concerned.” Just change two weeks to three and the problem gets worse. Top it off with a short week against a very solid run defense, and I’d really consider benching him this week. THURSDAY UPDATE: Still listed as questionable, but he’s still planning on playing. He was better last week than the week before, so hopefully he can continue to build on that.
Rashard Mendenhall: Word is he is confident he will play against Philly. I stand by my comment with my post-ACL guys (I was wrong on AP, but right on the rest): Sit them until they give you a good week. Mendenhall is no exception. He needs to show good burst and dynamic running/cutting/planting without limitations at game speeds before he goes near my lineup. I’d sit him this week. THURSDAY UPDATE: He practiced fully, which means he’s got a very good chance of getting back out there on Sunday. Again, wait one week if you can, unless you’re desperate.
Greg Jennings: See Steven Jackson, but multiply it by 10 because he actually left the game. I don’t care what I hear by the end of the week, I’m sitting him and upgrading Jordy Nelson and James Jones significantly. Too much risk. THURSDAY UPDATE: He’s officially out for week 5. I actually like James Jones quite a bit against a pretty bad Colts D.
Lance Moore: He’s the latest in the hamstring strain club. He was limited, but his appears to be more mild than other guys. I’ve talked about the importance of the hamstrings in terms of explosiveness, but this seems to be very manageable. If he has no setback and is not limited by Friday, he should play and play well on Sunday. THURSDAY UPDATE: He didn’t practice at all today, which is never good after having a limited practice the day before. I’m officially in the “worried” boat now, so montior his status on Friday. He looks like he’s going to be a game time decision guy. Have a plan B just in case.
Aaron Hernandez: One big name I wanted to add, he actually participated and ran some routes in practice, but not at full speed. There’s a thought that he has a remote chance of playing against the Broncos this week, but I’m not buying it. I actually love that there’s a great chance he will play in week 6, which is fantastic news.
Here’s a quick round up of today’s practice participations and their effect on each player’s ability to play and contribute in Week 5:
Marshawn Lynch: Limited in practice on Wednesday. The given reason was rest, but make sure you listen up on Friday to make sure it’s not a back spasm recurrence. I talked at the beginning of the season that back spasms are tricky and have a habit of rearing their ugly head at random times. Monitor his status leading up to the end of the week.
Matt Forte: The Bears didn’t practice, but word is he would have been a limited participant had there been a practice. Weird thing is he came out of the Monday night game with a supposed re-aggravation of his ankle sprain, but had his tape re-done and was fine thereafter. The only report after the game was “normal post game soreness”, which is very normal. So long as no setbacks are reported, he probably won’t be a full participant until Friday. Jacksonville’s run D, for lack of a better word, sucks. So throw him out there on Sunday with confidence, as it seems like his ankle is doing just fine.
Kenny Britt: Another guy who I just hate writing about, because he seems to always be hurt, like non-stop. So his recent ankle injury led to him being a non-participant in today’s practice. Word is he did some on-the-side drills, but no actual practice. With all the bad luck he’s had with his legs this past year, he just scares me. This ankle sprain seems to be lingering, which combined with the ACL reconstruction he had, can lead to quite a bit of weakness in his legs. A lack of stability around the knee with pain and discomfort in ankle take all of the drive and quickness out of a WR’s legs. I’m sticking with my thought on him: He needs to show you one solid week before he’s in your lineup, regardless of what you hear/see/read.
Julio Jones: Apparently his hand issue was a problem during the last game, as reports said he was more decoy than anything else. He was a full participant today, and as long as that continues, this hand injury shouldn’t be an issue. Play him
Peyton Hillis: He’s been dealing with this ankle sprain for a couple weeks now, and although he seems to be better, it appears that he continues to be iffy for this week. The Chiefs have Jamaal Charles and Shaun Draughn playing pretty well right now, so there’s no reason to rush Hillis back. He’s not a speedster, but an issue with the ankle (which provides the push off and drive and helps maintain stability with cuts) can really make it difficult to hit holes in a timely manner. Plan on not having him this week.
Jake Locker: Separated shoulder, subluxation of said shoulder, already ruled out of Sunday’s game and having a short week for week 6, plan on him being out at least 2 more weeks at minimum. After his recent aggravation in week 5, they’ll take it easy with him and make sure not to rush him back. With all the instability surrounding that left shoulder of his, non-throwing arm or not, it’s going to restrict his function, especially with handing the ball off, receiving the hiked ball, and being sacked/going down head first.
Jared Cook: His AC joint (tip of the shoulder) seems to be healing well, as he played the whole game on Sunday without issue (he was taken out early due to the Titans being blown out) or setbacks. He was limited today, but it seems to be more rest than anything else. AC joint sprains are very dependent on the severity of the shoulder separation (this is the joint people refer to when a shoulder is separated), and Cook’s seems to be more on the mild side based on how quickly he’s responded. Play him this week as their matchup is much more favorable than last week’s.
Torrey Smith: He had a minor ankle sprain during the game this past week, but it’s not considered anything major at all. He was a full participant this week, which always bodes well when a player participates fully on a Wednesday. He will be just fine.
Pierre Garcon: His sprained foot finally allowed him to play in week 4, but he was basically nonexistent, catching only 1 pass. He practiced fully today, which bodes well. I continue to hear that he’s not 100%, but the fact that he fully practiced on a traditional “take it easy day” is a good sign. We seem to be talking a lot about ankles/feet these days, but a sprained foot is a very general term (it could refer to any of the ligaments that hold together the joints in his mid foot, forefoot, rear foot) and depending on the exact region that’s sprained, could really affect a player’s ability to push off and accept weight onto the foot. The accepting weight part is important for a receiver, mainly when stopping on a dime and breaking off a route. If Friday rolls around and he’s still fully practicing, roll him out there on Sunday.
Lesean McCoy: Full participant, following a “tweaked”, aka sprained, knee. Looks to be a minor issue, he’ll be fine.
Reggie Bush: <sigh> The knee feels great, but miraculously, he has developed a hip issue! Yay! Normally, when a hip issue develops on the same side as a knee or ankle issue, it’s without a doubt a compensatory issue, where the joint above or below the injured region (in this case, above) compensates for the lack of stability/strength/function at the impaired joint. It could be a muscular strain, it could be irritation of the labrum in the hip, it could be tendonitis/bursitis, etc…Basically, it could be a crap ton of things. Until more is known about the severity of the hip issue, expect him to play. We’ll probably know more by Friday.
Danny Amendola: He had a mild ankle sprain, and is officially listed as Probable for the Thursday night game against the Cards. He looks to be ready to go tomorrow, so feel free to put him in your lineup. And always remember who told you he would be the sleeper candidate of the year (http://tinyurl.com/c3pzkg7). Did that sound like bragging too much? Who cares, I was right.
Steven Jackson: So this is clearly becoming a frustrating issue for SJax owners. This groin strain will not go away. Here’s what I said last week: “My thought is that he’s doing ok during the week, getting treatment and working to calm down inflammation/stretch/strengthening the adductors (groin muscles), I just think the second he really tries to play free of thought, he begins to feel the restriction. One week of limitation was ok, as that’s expected. But with two weeks of limitation in a row, I’d be a bit concerned.” Just change two weeks to three and the problem gets worse. Top it off with a short week against a very solid run defense, and I’d really consider benching him this week.
Rashard Mendenhall: Word is he is confident he will play against Philly. I stand by my comment with my post-ACL guys (I was wrong on AP, but right on the rest): Sit them until they give you a good week. Mendenhall is no exception. He needs to show good burst and dynamic running/cutting/planting without limitations at game speeds before he goes near my lineup. I’d sit him this week.
Greg Jennings: See Steven Jackson, but multiply it by 10 because he actually left the game. I don’t care what I hear by the end of the week, I’m sitting him and upgrading Jordy Nelson and James Jones significantly. Too much risk.
Lance Moore: He’s the latest in the hamstring strain club. He was limited, but his appears to be more mild than other guys. I’ve talked about the importance of the hamstrings in terms of explosiveness, but this seems to be very manageable. If he has no setback and is not limited by Friday, he should play and play well on Sunday.
First off, quick update for tomorrow’s game between the Ravens and Browns. Not a ton going on fantasy wise, but let’s do a quick run through:
Ravens:
Basically, not a damn thing. Ladarius Webb had a minor little thing, but he’s probable and will play. Roll out everyone you normally would. And for what it’s worth, I think Joe Flacco throws 3 TDs, all to RBs/WRs (I think Dennis Pitta gets shut out since the Browns are very solid against TEs this year).
Browns:
Trent Richardson is officially forever probable, but his knee is good to go. He has a tough match up this week, so I could see why any Richardson-owner would be hesitant, but I think he sneaks in a late TD, possibly on a screen pass, which Brandon Weeden will be checking down to all night. I’d still play him.
Joshua Cribbs is also probable with a sprained knee, but I don’t like him at all this week. Weeden really is not very good, and the Ravens pass rush is going to throw different looks at the rookie QB. Cribbs really didn’t look 100% this past week anyways. I’d sit him.
Mohamed Massaquoi is officially out. I’m so, so sorry if you were relying on him (your chances to win this season aren’t good if you’re relying on guys like him), but he’s not going to suit up tomorrow.
I honestly don’t like anyone on the Browns tomorrow except for Richardson. Baltimore is dominant at home and is coming off an emotional win against the Pats, which I think will cause a bit of a let down early on, but come on, it’s the freakin Browns.
Other News:
Ahmad Bradshaw: Full participant in practice Wednesday, he looks like a go. I think he’ll be ok, even though he’s in more of a time share now than he probably thought he would be. But if you’ve been waiting on him, play him. He seems ready to go
Arian Foster/Andre Johnson: Get used to these guys being limited on Wednesdays. Reports are they’re going to be “limited” participants because the Texans are going to use Wednesdays as rest days. Play both.
Roy Helu/Beanie Wells: I combined these two because they were both placed on IR today with turf toes, effectively keeping them out until November. Both were pretty big disappointments thus far, so thank your lucky stars. However, Ryan Williams’s stock shot through the roof.
Jeremy Maclin: He practiced today, which is good. I still think he’s toughing this hip pointer out, because he doesn’t seem right at all. I just think he’s gutting through this injury and being a good solider, but if he was on my team, I’d sit him until he demonstrates he can play a whole game.
Matthew Stafford: Reports say he didn’t practice, but did do some things on the side and was moving around well. It seems like the Lions are just being cautious, but this is one of those cases where the end of the week will tell the story. Wait until Friday, but make sure you have a serviceable backup just in case (Ryan Fitzpatrick is available in a ton of leagues, and the Pats aren’t exactly world beaters against throwing teams).
Titus Young: He didn’t practice today with an undisclosed knee injury. I don’t remember hearing anything about this over the weekend, so just monitor and adjust accordingly.
Hakeem Nicks: He had his scheduled “non-practice” on Wednesday, as the Giants’ plan was to have Nicks practice on Thursday for the first time. Post-surgical soreness is pretty normal, so here’s hoping that 10 days of rest and rehab went a long way for him. I think he’s dress and play, and I’m expecting him to look a lot more fresh this week.
Reggie Bush/Matt Forte/Fred Jackson: They were no practice/practice/practice today, respectively. I’m lumping them together because all three scream “TOO SOON” to me.
CJ Spiller: Reports are he’s going to make a strong push to play this week, and it seems like he’s progressing well. From an injury standpoint, I don’t necessarily think he will damage the shoulder any more than it already is, but there will be pain associated with it when he gets hit. My one concern is if he gets tackled and goes down shoulder first, because that’s a very common mechanism for AC joint separations. I’d probably err on the side of sitting him this week regardless of what news comes out.
Ok boys and girls, as more news comes out, I’ll post more information. Friday’s practices will tell us a lot about these guys. Keep checking the waiver wire for more gems.
Here are some quick thoughts relating to injuries that could affect your week 4 lineup now that the dust has settled:
Reggie Bush: This is the biggest surprise from Sunday’s big injuries, as reports say he will play this week. The prevailing thought is that he bruised the knee, as MRI results came back negative for any structural damage. A knee bruise is a relatively broad diagnosis, but he basically had trauma to some bony region of the knee joint, which is great news considering they thought something was structurally wrong. He won’t do any more damage by playing on it, but will have to tolerate some pain. Wait for his participation in practice this week and act accordingly. Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas are still in play at this point.
Matt Forte: Per Jason LaCanfora (seriously follow thus guy in twitter, he’s pretty awesome @JasonLaCanfora), he’s not going to play Monday night. If this is true, I think it’s a great idea. Rushing back from an ankle sprain can be disastrous for a RB, with all the planting, cutting, and dynamic motion required at the ankle joint. Any instability in the joint can not only sap him of his quickness and speed, but also compromise other regions of the ankle, knee, or hip due to compensation. Keep plugging in Michael Bush if you handcuffed Forte properly. If not, well, sorry.
Willis McGahee: According to coach John Fox, McGahee’s rib injury involves the cartilage, which is no bueno. The cartilage can be both very painful and slow to heal, as cartilage damage can be quite painful just from breathing in deeply. Poor blood supply is the culprit for the slow healing in addition to the lack of elasticity of the cartilage, which makes it averse to stretch. I don’t like the idea of him trying to play this week, but there still appears to be chance he plays this week. My gut feeling is that he plays, but is very limited. I’d sit him (I hope the guy I’m playing this week doesn’t read this).
Ahmad Bradshaw: He has “guaranteed” that he will play this week and has received clearance from docs to return to practice, so if all looks good this week, he should play, barring any setbacks. I think with as good as Andre Brown looked last week, there will be no rush to get Bradshaw back in the lineup. I think he plays, but I feel like he’ll play and have limited carries just so he’s not overworked right off the bat. The Eagles aren’t exactly world beaters, so there should be plenty of carries to go around.
Patrick Willis: He sprained his ankle against the Vikings this past Sunday as X-rays showed no fracture. He was even seen walking after the game without a noticeable limp. Looks like he’s considered day to day and could potentially limit him. The sprain, according to reports, is not considered serious, as some reports even called it “minor” in nature. I think he plays because he’s just a freakin stud, so throw out the Niners D this week with confidence.
Fred Jackson: He’s giving himself a 70-75% of playing this week. Coach Gailey says that Jackson may practice tomorrow. I’ve talked relatively in depth about Jackson’s knee injury (http://tinyurl.com/bnx86oh) and the severity of the injury is real. I can’t imagine they throw him out there this week against a pretty solid run defense less than 3 weeks after injuring the knee. I mean, Jackson HIMSELF doesn’t even think he’s 100%, so I don’t think the Bills would risk such a valuable commodity. CJ Spiller might even play this week (see below), so with Jackson, Spiller, and Tashard Choice, the backfield is a bit muddled. I’d sit Jackson whether he plays or not.
CJ Spiller: Spiller is the latest week 3 injury that looks much less serious than initially expected. I’ve already talked about his injury (http://tinyurl.com/8edyguj) so I won’t bore you with the details. Fact of the matter, he shouldn’t play one week after spraining his shoulder because, I’m not sure if anyone knows this little-known fact, but RBs get hit! And they get hit quite often by d-linemen, linebackers, and even the ground. Sit him this week. I think Tashard Choice is the…um…choice this week (sorry).
(Now this gets fast because I’m getting tired)
Julio Jones: Lacerated hand…as long as he didn’t puncture or significantly break skin (sounds like he didn’t, based on reports), I’d expect him to be just fine and dandy this week.
Kenny Britt: His hamstring seems better, workload keeps increasing, and there’s, quite frankly, not a ton of options in the Titans receiving core. If you need help this week at the WR3 or Flex spot, play him, but just beware because the Titans play the Texans this week.
Matthew Stafford: So they’ve narrowed it down to two muscle groups that Stafford strained, the hamstrings and the glutes. I think he plays either way, but he did have an MRI yesterday as a precaution and Coach Schwartz was about as vague as possible, saying he has no comment and more will be determined Friday. If I was a Stafford owner, I’d make a speculative Shaun Hill pickup just in case, but I think he plays.
More to come Thursday. Now go pick up some players!
Yes, I know, I’ve been lagging. Sorry folks, but I’ll make it up to you by actually giving GOOD advice this week. Here we go:
Matt Forte: He is definitely OUT, but I mention him here because there was speculation that he could possibly play, which is a great sign. Obviously, keep him out of your lineup this week, but considering this could have been a 6 week ordeal, it’s nice to know we could be revisiting this next week.
Marshawn Lynch: Full participation all week, including Friday. He’s all systems go, put him out there.
Steven Jackson: He was out of practice all week, which is never a good sign for his availability on Sunday. Groin injuries are tough, as Greg Jennings (more on him later) owners know all too well. They have a tendency to linger, especially with cutting and pushing off, as this muscle group helps stabilize the hip during dynamic movements. Had he been limited in practice and not out, I may feel better. But I don’t think he plays this week, so hopefully you snatched up Daryl Richardson as a handcuff this week. I’d sit Jackson.
Dexter McCluster: He’s been listed as questionable and was limited in practice all week with a shoulder injury. No word on an exact diagnosis, I’m assuming nothing more than a sprain (maybe landed on the shoulder wrong) or some rotator cuff/biceps tendonitis. Either way, neither shoulder be enough to keep him out of the game, so unless it’s something that’s more serious than they’re letting on, he should play. But monitor the inactive report Sunday morning, as we can benefit from the Chiefs playing the early game.
Marques Colston: He’s been limited all week with this lingering foot injury. I’m getting more concerned about it because he was absolutely nonexistent last week. It’s just regarded as a “sore” foot, so take that for what it’s worth. But this sounds like something that can linger all year if he continues to play through it. If you would normally play him, do so. But just know this type of injury doesn’t just disappear with continued play. He’s played through pain before, let’s see if he can do it again.
Jeremy Maclin: So I was wrong about him last week and he ended up playing and scoring a TD. But it looks like he’s suffering the consequences of playing too early because he looks like he is OUT this week due to sorriness and pain in the hip. Like I said last week, hip pointers are a pain-tolerance type of injury, meaning these bone bruises are slow to heal and don’t do so on their own. He’s better off taking this week off and giving himself more time to rest because that’s the only way it’ll improve. We’ll revisit him next week and see how he practices leading up to the Week 4 contest. Damaris Johnson will start in his place if you’re looking for a deep sleeper (I can’t really tell you anything about him because I have no clue who he is)
Desean Jackson: He, on the other hand, came through last week’s game fine with no aggravation of his hamstring issue, although he didn’t contribute fantasy-wise like Maclin did. With Maclin out, he’s the guy this week, with only Damaris Johnson and Jason Avant behind him. They have a tough matchup against the Cardinals potent defense, so that tempers my excitement a bit. I like him because he’s the 1st option this week, but I don’t think he’s anything more than a WR3 at this point until he shows me something.
Jonathan Dwyer/Rashard Mendenhall: I lump them together because they have a direct effect on each other. Mendenhall has already been ruled out as he tries to bounce back from ACL surgery, so we know that much is true. Dwyer has been plagued by a sprained toe, but he is listed as probable and should be good to go this week. I just don’t like this whole RB situation in Pittsburgh at all. When Mendenhall comes back, that’s 3 mouths to feed and Mendenhall won’t just become a 20+ carry guy right away. They’ll limit his carries/plays for a few weeks and go from there, which makes this the timeshare from hell. I’m still in the “avoid Mendenhall’s ACL” camp, so I’d just as well stay away for this week and beyond.
Heath Miller: Listed as probable with sore ribs, it appears he’ll tough it out and play against the Raiders. Considering his matchup, I like him this week to catch a TD (yup, I’m tying predictions into these posts now)
Antonio Gates: He practiced fully Thursday and Friday, which is a change from last week’s limited participation. I’ll be the first to admit I was shocked and wrong about him last week. He looks ready to go this week and I think with the return of Ryan Mathews (more on him in a second), the Chargers offense should be it’s dynamic self again. Remember, Gates spent the offseason dropping weight to take pressure off his chronically hurt feet, so he’s poised to go back to his dynamic self. He looks ready to start that this week. Play him
Ryan Mathews: Cleared for contact, 7 weeks post surgery, listed as probable. The stars are finally aligning for Mathews. I predicted a Week 3 return, so him being ready doesn’t surprise me. I’m going to hold my breath the first time he takes a pop, but as long as he bounces back up, he should be good to go. I”d play him this week with confidence.
Brandon Lloyd: He’s been officially listed as questionable with a thigh injury, as he was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday. Not a great sign, but with no information on Patriots injuries ever being public knowledge, I’d have to speculate it’s a femoral (thigh bone) contusion or some quad tightness/strain. I wouldn’t worry about him sitting this week, as it seems like it’s more precautionary than anything else. If you would normally roll him out, do so this week, even against a good Ravens D.
Greg Jennings: He was limited in practice and there’s a momentum push that he’ll be available on Monday. But that’s tricky if you don’t have someone playing on Monday who you could sub in just in case he can’t go. The risk is putting him in your lineup at the expense of a solid WR and having to sit Jennings last minute for someone like Doug Baldwin. Gut feeling: He plays, he’s not 100%, the Seahawks D is underrated and very solid in the defensive backfield, so I’d sit him. Again, that’s my gut feeling, he could easily play at less than 100% and contribute (a la Jeremy Maclin), but I’m not the risk taking type with Monday nighters.
Probable Guys Who Are Locks to Play, Therefore Require No Explanation: Miles Austin, Calvin Johnson, Drew Brees, Mark Sanchez, Roddy White, Julio Jones
Ziad Dahdul 