Week 14 Recap

Well, Week 14 didn’t go the way I planned. Not sure about you, but I had 4 teams in these playoffs and I’m on the brink of losing all 4 (2 upsets, 2 I probably should lose). The biggest culprits for me were Miles Austin, Vernon Davis, and my trio of Saints (Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Jimmy Graham). All three guys underperformed considerably and may end up costing me dearly.

From an injury standpoint, Week 14 wasn’t terrible, but we did get news that Fred Jackson is out for the year after suffering a grade 2 MCL sprain of his right knee. Shutting him down makes total sense, with the Bills’ season being over already and his extensive history of knee pathology. CJ Spiller becomes the man in Buffalo and should see a huge increase in his value moving forward.

Additionally, we saw a couple of Giants who are gritting out injuries, but really having a hard time with them. Hakeem Nicks had to have X-rays done on his sore knee and seems to have a bout of swelling and soreness each and every week now. To add insult to injury, he came down directly on the knee, causing pain and some missed time during the game. In addition, Ahmad Bradshaw suffered a knee sprain to go along with his already sore foot and neck, so he’s dealing with a trio of painful injuries at the same time. High pain thresholds are one thing, but three injuries (and two involving his legs) at once is tough to deal with and may lead to his workload being decreased, especially with David Wilson’s breakthrough game. I’d expect Nicks to be limited all week and be close to a game time decision while Bradshaw’s news will come out as the week goes on, giving us insight about his Week 15 status. Stay tuned.

And how can we forget Robert Griffin III and his right knee injury. Word is (as I expected) he suffered a sprained lateral collateral ligament (LCL), but the severity seems to be in the grade 1/2 range, which is definitely something that can be played through. What RGIII loses with this injury is some stability in the knee when he cuts or twists, as the LCL is the ligament that connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone) on the outside of the knee. So anytime a player has LCL involvement and tries to play through it, a brace of varying strength is involved. My expectation is that he will play this week, especially since the severity of the sprain is a grade 1 or 2, which is mild to moderate in nature. However, we’ll wait til Friday to see what his practice participation was like this week.

Quick Hits:

Jay Cutler suffered a “whiplash” type injury on Sunday, which is normally categorized as a muscular injury to the neck muscles. He should receive a ton of treatment this week to help decrease inflammation and soreness and should play this week…Jared Cook seems to have suffered a re-aggravation of his shoulder injury from early in the season. Watch out for him to be limited this week and his availability for Week 15 is up in the air…Ray Rice suffered a hip pointer that’s being classified as “minor”. Wait until later in the week to see if he practices or not this week, but with the Ravens in the thick of the home field advantage race, expect him to play. Click this link (http://tinyurl.com/benbhhw) and scroll down to the Hip Pointer paragraph to gain a better understanding of what this injury entails…Victor Cruz had a monster day on Sunday, but he also hurt his shoulder during the game, requiring sideline evaluation to determine the extent of the injury. He basically played the whole game otherwise, so expect him to be just fine. We’ll monitor it just in case…Dwayne Bowe has two fractured ribs, which means he’ll either be able to play through it and tolerate the pain or his season may be over. More information should come out this week…Marshawn Lynch flared up his low back a little bit during his standout game against the Cardinals. Remember, he’s dealt with back spasms all season and has basically been a “rest” scratch from every Wednesday practice this season. He’ll do the same deal this week and should be fine for Week 15, but back spasms are a tricky, fickle injury, so keep an eye on him…Darren McFadden practiced today, which is a great sign for his availability for Week 15 after re-aggravating his high ankle sprain this past Thursday. If he continues to increase his availability, he should be fine, but monitor his situation closely.

That should cover the biggies. If your leagues are anything like mine, tonight is a VERY important night. Not only are my Pats playing on MNF, but I also need Steven Ridley and Matt Schaub to have huge days and Wes Welker and the Houston Defense to do not so well. So here’s hoping the Pats win 52-45 (wishful thinking, I know).

Week 13 Injury Report

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!

Setting Your Week 6 Lineup: Friday Injury Updates

First off, I wanted to make a quick comment about Kenny Britt. I thought he looked ok yesterday from an injury perspective, as he didn’t show any signs of limping on/off the field and came out of his breaks pretty well. He looked pretty close to the dynamic receiver he was two years ago. My only concern with him is that Jake Locker should be coming back next week, which will mark another transition for Britt. I’m willing to say that Britt supplied us with that one game we were looking for, so that’s definitely a positive. But who knows what will happen with the Titans offense going forward, especially since consistency is not their forte.

Now let’s get to the hurt folk:

Hakeem Nicks (Q), Ramses Barden (P), Domenik Hixon: I lumped these three guys together because they all have a direct effect on each other. When Nicks went down, the first thought was that the Giants were going to be crazy thin at WR. With the emergence of Barden, Hixon, and Rueben Randle, things have changed. We actually have a bit of a crowded receiving core now. Nicks looks like he’s moving in the right direction to play this week, as he participated in practice today, although not fully. He has a history of playing a little banged up, and actually performed very well against the Bucs on a bum foot. Although he’s dealing with both a slightly sore foot and a sprained/irritated knee, he seems like he’s going to give it a go. I’d highly recommend finding someone else who is also playing in the late group of games just in case because it does seem like Nicks will be a game time type decision.

Miles Austin (P): He looks like he’s ready to go. Tough match-up against the Ravens, but he’s healthy and he’s usually very good when he’s healthy.

LaRod Stephens-Howling (P), William Powell (P): Both appear ready to go, with LSH’s bum hip looking good in practice, according to reports, and Powell’s head injury not being a huge concern. Who is going to get the bulk of the carries remains to be seen. I still think Powell is getting first crack at it because he’s the more complete back and LSH will be the 3rd down/passing down/end of half guy because of his Darren Sproles-like attributes. I like Powell slightly better, but we won’t know for sure until they throw them out there.

Rob Gronkowski (Q), Wes Welker (Q), Aaron Hernandez (Q): All listed as questionable, Welker and Gronk will play, Hernandez isn’t quite a sure thing. Welker’s ankle issue appears to be overblown, as he wasn’t limited at all during Sunday’s game and there were no reports of physical limitation at practices. Gronk will probably be questionable for the rest of the season, especially with no consensus about whether Hernandez will play or not. Hernandez seemed like he was right on track up until Friday’s practice when he was limited and not available for the media portion of practice. It looks like Hernandez will travel, but Coach Belichick stated that he would be re-evaluated on Saturday. I think he’s a game time decision guy, but they may not have liked how he responded to three consecutive days of practice, maybe having a little swelling or discomfort in the ankle. Or it could be some misdirection and not wanting to play their hand so that the Seahawks can’t prepare. Who knows. Either way, have a late game backup plan just in case.

Titus Young (P): He looks like he’s ready to go for Sunday, as he fully participated today. Seemed to have a bit of a knee sprain, which is common at this point in the season after playing so many games. However, he’s coming of a bye, so he’s had time to rest and hopefully time to get on the same page with Matt Stafford. I actually think he’s going to have a big game this week. Consider him my SLEEPER O’ THE WEEK.

Stephen Hill (P): Listed as probable even though he was a limited participant, this is a perfect opportunity for the rook to seize the #1 WR spot on the team with Santonio Holmes out for the season. I think he has some upside, as he did have a huge Week 1 to start the season and looks like he has a ton of talent. But this team is definitely different now, with much more volatility and less stability at QB. I like him semi-long term, but for now, wait him out. He’s definitely stash-worthy if you have a roster spot. In terms of his hamstring issue, it seems to be resolved, and if he comes out of this first game back without a setback, look for the issue to be behind him.

Adrian Peterson (P): I don’t like ankle issues developing on the same side that an ACL repair was done, so right off the bat that scares me a bit. I’ve talked about this with others in the past, but compensation is huge with these types of injuries, and maybe placing increased stress on the joints above and below have begun to catch up with AP. It seems like a minor issue, as he’s been practicing, but it’s something to watch out for, as instability at the ankle is never a good thing for someone coming back from knee instability. Monitor it week by week.

Percy Harvin (P): Looks like it was nothing more than some tightness and soreness in the hamstring. He looks good to go. Roll him out there.

AJ Green (P): He’s had a bit of a sore knee, which can mean a mild sprain to the knee (ligamentous) or just some swelling/irritation of the joint itself or the surrounding soft tissue. Either way, he appears to be over it and was able to practice today. He’s got a fantastic match up against the Browns, so look for a huge game from Green.

Pierre Garcon (Q): After playing last week and looking ok, reports are he had a setback during the week, which is never a good sign. I think he just became a bit too risky to put in your lineup. If you have the luxury of waiting until game day to make a decision, see whether he falls on the inactive list and then act accordingly. Either way, he’s probably still a Flex at best.

Jermichael Finley (Q): He falls into that game-time decision category. The problem with that: he plays Sunday night. So what do you do at that point? I’ve talked about AC joint injuries with Jake Locker and CJ Spiller in the past and they’re hard to predict without knowing how severe the sprain is. My gut feeling tells me because he has such a large roll with blocking in the run game and taking hits across the middle, I think he either won’t play or will play, but not be productive. Either way, I’d stay away. This also means that guys like James Jones, Jordy Nelson, and Randall Cobb go up a notch.

Robert Griffin III (Q): The Good News: He practiced full today and took all the first team snaps. The Bad News: He still hasn’t been cleared by an independent Neurologist for contact. So looks like it’ll come down to his evaluation with the Neurologist and how he feels after practice this week. He seems like he’s been asymptomatic and hasn’t had any negative effects from practicing. But again, contact is where he would feel issues, and he hasn’t had contact yet. I’d say he’s got a good chance to play this week, I’d take the chance on him this week.

Lastly, I wanted to touch on Rashard Mendenhall and his unfortunate luck. So it appears he has developed an Achilles injury on the surgically repaired limb that required him to miss the 2nd half of last night’s game. As I stated above with AP and his ankle issue, compensation’s and pathology to other joints are common, so I can’t say it’s unexpected, but it truly is unfortunate. He busted his tail to get back as soon as he did, and maybe he came back to soon, but I think it’s less that a more a product of playing his first game Sunday (with 13 carries) and then playing another game 4 days later. It’s very difficult to be ok with that quick turnaround when you’re healthy, so imagine how difficult it is when you’re slowly coming back from injury. Hopefully it’s nothing more than a strained tendon, which will keep him out a couple weeks. If it’s anything more, like a significant tear or rupture, his season is definitely over. Take a wait and see approach with him, but I’m not thinking it’s a rupture only because you almost know it when you see it and his didn’t look like one. Baron Batch apparently is the next in line if Issac Redman is also out long with an ankle injury while Jonathan Dwyer looks to be the other back fighting for carries.

Week 6 Injury Round Up

Let’s take a look at some key injuries for the upcoming week and some possible solutions for your lineup issues:

Jermichael Finley: He suffered a slightly separated AC joint on Sunday (based on the term slightly, I’d imagine it’s a grade 1) that he feels he can play through. He won’t attempt to practice until tomorrow, so we won’t know for sure whether he can even take the contact until then. I’m thinking there’s a chance he plays on Sunday, but my only issue is that when someone doesn’t even try to practice all week, it normally means there’s something they’re concerned about. I see him becoming a game time decision, which is no bueno considering they play the Texans on Sunday night. Make sure you have a backup plan, but I’d just as well roll with another guy because of the risk.

Greg Jennings: Another guy who won’t practice until tomorrow, who knows how this guy’s groin is feeling. It’s been a frustrating start for Jennings’ owners and this lingering groin strain is a real issue. He’s had a lot of time to rest, so that bodes well. If he can participate tomorrow pretty fully and not have any setbacks, I like his chances to play. Just know these muscular injuries can rear their ugly heads at any time, so be prepared. He basically needs to come through one full game without a “tweak” to feel better about things.

Alex Smith: The middle finger on his throwing hand seems like it’s not a factor, so he should be good to go. The only concern would be if he took another shot to the hand during the game, but that can happen at any time. There haven’t been any reports of swelling or range of motion issues, so if you normally play him, he should be good.

Hakeem Nicks: Today’s a big day for Nicks, as he’s supposed to give practice a go. He did some running and rehab type things on Wednesday, which is a great sign. Look for him to be limited today, with the possibility of ramping up to full participation on Friday. If he comes through today’s practice without issue in the foot or knee, I like his chances. More will be known tomorrow.

Brandon Jacobs: He practiced fully on Wednesday, but he also practiced every freakin day last week and was still inactive. I don’t know if it’s more a numbers issue in terms of his spot on the depth chart than anything else, but you probably shouldn’t be relying on him this week anyways. I still think he can be a valuable stash for later in the year, but if you’re like me and have injury/bye week issues, you may not have the luxury of a stash.

William Powell: He suffered a head injury, which could means tons of things, but he has practiced fully all week so far and hasn’t been reported as being limited at all. I actually think Powell is a better overall back than LaRod Stephens-Howling, only because Stephens-Howling is built more like a change of pace back. I can envision Powell playing on 1st and 2nd downs while Stephens-Howling is the 3rd down guy. But who knows. Either way, they both have a fantastic matchup this week against Buffalo, so they are both solid bye week fill-ins.

Marshawn Lynch: The sore back is back! Lunch was limited in practice on Wednesday and continues to be plagued by his balky back. It’s beginning to get a little sticky for Lynch, as he rested all last week and still came out of it with sore back this week. We’ll take a look at his participation this week and see where it takes him. He has a decent matchup, as the Pats are more of a bend-but-don’t-break type of defense, which lends itself to gaudy yardage totals. We’ll keep posted on his situation.

Wes Welker/Rob Gronkowski: Both were limited participants, Welker with an ankle issue and Gronk with a hip issue, but 1/2 the Pats roster was limited, so I wouldn’t worry. Both should be good to go Sunday.

Miles Austin: Coming off the bye week, Austin appears to be pretty healthy overall. He practiced fully yesterday and hasn’t had any setbacks yet after being plagued with hamstring issues. He seems like he’s finally rounding into form, and if you know anything from reading my posts, muscular injuries respond very well to rest and rehab, which Austin was able to do all week during the bye. I expect him to come out the gates strong and have a big game this Sunday.

Darrius Heyward-Bey: He practiced fully yesterday and seems to be on track to play this weekend. His concussion did look bad when it happened, but coming off a bye week and having a few weeks to recuperate, it looks like he should be fine. I’m sure they’ll monitor him well this week, but barring a setback, he should be out there.

Robert Griffin III: Although he did practice on Wednesday, taking part in team drills, he still has not been cleared for contact. Once cleared, he will probably need at least 1 day of full practice to be ready to go. I expect that day to be Friday. Look for him to take it slow, but barring any new issues popping up, he seems on track to play this Sunday.

LaRod Stephens-Howling: I talked about the Cards RB situation above with William Powell, but I think LSH (I got tired of typing his whole name, sorry) should be  good to go this week coming off a hip injury. I was not able to find out exactly what the injury was, but it appeared that he was moving around well at practice yesterday and didn’t look limited. In terms of the backfield timeshare, I think both will get chances, but LSH is much better catching the ball out of the backfield as a change of pace, so I like Powell to be the lead guy and LSH to be the 3rd down/end of half guy. I think both have value and we’ll know more after Sunday’s game, but I project Powell’s value slightly higher than LSH.

Ben Tate: Still limited in practice by turf toe, he is looking like another game time decision, which doesn’t bode well because he is involved in the Sunday night game. Same thing happened this past week with the Texans playing on Monday night, but there appears to be more optimism that he plays this week. Risky if you don’t have a backup plan playing for the Packers or on Monday night, so it may not be worth the risk. Foster is still the guy anyways, so another option may be better.

Andre Johnson: While he hasn’t been quite the same this season, I can’t say it looks like it’s because of his groin issue. He seems to be drawing a ton of attention from opposing defenses due to a lack of WR threat on the opposite side. He was limited yesterday in practice, but that’s very normal with guys who have nagging injuries, as Wednesday seems to be rest day. Friday will tell us more, as I expect him to progress his way to full participation by end of week if he’s good to go on Sunday.

AJ Green: He seems to be dealing with a bit of a knee issue, which is interesting considering he had his ankle re-taped on Sunday in the 2nd half of the game against the Dolphins. Although the ankle was the issue, he seems to have developed a bit of a knee problem, which is not uncommon considering he did continue to play through the ankle issue on Sunday. When we play through pain and injury, we tend to place more stress and strain on other regions of our body to make up for the injured region, in this case Green’s ankle. I can’t see this being any more than some knee soreness, so I don’t think he’s in any danger of missing this week. But just in case, check out his status on Friday.

Ryan Mathews: He didn’t practice Wednesday, but took “mental reps” instead. Ya, not sure what that means either. But with the Chargers playing on Monday night this week, Thursday-Saturday will be the important days. Look for him to ramp up participation this week and be fully active by Saturday.

Aaron Hernandez: He practiced again on Wednesday and has been out there for 3 straight days now (2 last week, 1 this week). He’s looking good for this Sunday against Seattle and should blend back in seamlessly to his hybrid role in the Pats offense. With high ankle sprains, rest is a big factor early on, and I think the Pats did a fantastic job of not trying to rush him back (Having another TE like Gronk helps). He has been reported as looking quick and sharp with all cutting and mobility, so there’s not reason to believe he won’t suit up this week. Barring a set back, I’d put him in your lineup this week.

Injury Reactions From Sunday’s Week 3

Sunday was an interesting day for fantasy owners, as we saw some big names go down to injury, from new fantasy darling CJ Spiller to oft-injured and oft-frustrating Reggie Bush. Here’s a quick look at some important developments and what it mean to your fantasy team.

CJ Spiller: We’ll start with a key one. Looks like Spiller avoided disaster and did not fracture his collarbone, which is great news for his owners (think Ryan Mathews when considering how bad this could have been for Spiller). My guess is he probably severely sprained his Acromioclavicular joint (AC joint), which is where the collar bone and a prominance on your scapula (shoulder blade) meet. This joint is very important for shoulder stability and is what is being referenced when someone “separates” their shoulder. The inital thought is that Spiller will be out 1-2 weeks, but more will be known once his MRI results come back. My guess is that 2-3 weeks seems reasonable as long as it’s not a complete separation. Hold onto him as this is something he will be able to bounce back from, but the timing couldn’t be worse for him. Fred Jackson is said to be progressing very quickly, as he could be back in 2 weeks or so, which means Spiller loses his stranglehold on the starting job if Jackson is good to go. In the short-term, Tashard Choice looks to be the guy.

Reggie Bush: Another worse-case scenario avoided, as reports are he avoided any season-ending type injury. Initial reports say he’ll miss ” a few weeks”, but as with Spiller, more will be known after his MRI delivers more specifics. Probably looking at a ligament sprain, but the time he misses will be determined once they know which structures are involved and how severe the sprains are. We’ll reserve judgment until more info comes out, but it looks like he’s be out at least 2 weeks, my guess being closer to 4 because he’s traditionally been a slow healer and very fragile. Daniel Thomas is the guy in his place, with Lamar Miller being a very deep sleeper.

Ryan Mathews: I’m not including him because he got hurt again, but more because he played a pretty good amount on Sunday and came through just fine. He had 10 carries for 44 yards, which is not impressive by any means, but the Chargers fell behind right off the bat, which doesn’t lend itself to running 20+ times per game. He’s the guy there and there really is no one there challenging him for time, so I think he will have a big week next week now that his workload can continue to be increased. Play him confidently.

Miles Austin: Bruised his ribs after catching a long pass from Tony Romo, left the game to go get X-rays, and came back to finish the game. So the fact that he came back into the game is a good sign. I’m not sure if I’ve just never noticed before, but there seems to be a rash of rib injuries the first 3 weeks of the season. As I’ve stated, it’s a pain tolerance and protection issue if it’s just a bruise, so he should be fine. Monitor the practice reports this week, but I can’t imagine it stops him from playing.

Willis McGahee: See above for my rant on rib injuries, but McGahee also suffered bruised ribs. He actually left the game and didn’t return, which isn’t as promising as with Austin. Ronnie Hillman and Lance Ball would probably be the biggest beneficiary if McGahee can’t go, but remember Knowshon Moreno is also there as well. It’s a murky situation overall though, with so many possible mouths to feed. I’d probably favor Hillman, but it’s anyone’s guess at that point.

Jared Cook: He had a solid game on Sunday, but did suffer an injury to his AC joint (see CJ Spiller above for explanation). Coach Munchak seems confident he will play in Week 4, but wait for the MRI results before deciding. More info should come also from his participation in practice this week.

Beanie Wells: He left Sunday’s game with turf toe, which is a sprain of the big toe of the foot. Knowing his past injury history, he’ll probably be out for about 161 weeks (just an estimate). But in all seriousness, a runner loses his ability to plant and push off when the big toes is sprained, so depending on the severity of the sprain, I can see him missing 2-3 weeks. Ryan Williams ran well in his place and looked healthy, so he’s the pick up in Wells’ place.

Matthew Stafford: Looks like Staff suffered a “right leg muscle” injury, which seemed to look a bit like the hamstring was involved. He’ll have an MRI this week, so we’ll know more then. He actually was reported saying he initially hurt the leg during practice this week and the injury he suffered yesterday was an aggravation. Look for him to play, since he’s not a speed guy and doesn’t rely on his legs, I think he’ll be fine for this week. But we’ll monitor and make sure after more information comes out.

Darrelle Revis: Word is he suffered a pretty severe knee injury, with some saying he possibly tore his ACL, which would be horrendous news for the Jets top defender. MRI is coming this week, but hold your breath and once the severity of the injury comes out, we’ll make a guess at a timetable. Obviously, if he tore the ACL, his season is over. If it’s a sprain of a ligament, the severity of the sprain could cause him to miss anywhere from 2-8 weeks.

Marques Colston: Apparently, this mysterious “foot soreness” he was limited by was plantar fasciitis. What that is is inflammation to the plantar fascia, which runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the balls of the toes. Fascia is not elastic and has a tendency to really pull on the surrounding structures when stretched, which makes it very difficulty to push off. If that’s the case, this tends to be an injury that lingers, as resting and letting the fascia revert back to it’s normal length is one major component of the treatment. If he continues to play, expect it to linger for weeks as it SLOWLY gets better.  Doesn’t bode well for Colston owners, so I’d consider seeing if you can unload a depth position on your roster for another WR2/3 just in case.

Jamaal Charles: If you saw his amazing performance on Sunday, you’ll know he wasn’t hurt, so why on earth am I mentioning him here? Well, he’s officially moved well past 1 year post-ACL tear and he looks as close to normal as you could expect. Only thing I wanted to mention was don’t be alarmed if he is limited at all in practice this week because of the significant increase in his workload. This sudden rise can cause some knee soreness, which is completely normal post-ACL. Play him as you normally would because he looks as dynamic as ever.

 

Lightning Round: Setting Your Week 3 Lineup

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

Cowboys/Giants: In Game Thoughts

Miles Austin looks solid overall, much more spectacular in the 2nd half. Not sure if the 1st half was rust or what, but he was not involved in the slightest. The 2nd half, including his TD catch, has been much different, as he looks like his dynamic self again. And he’s changing directions and speeds without hesitation, which can be an issue with hamstring pulls. I like his value a lot based on what we’re seeing tonight from an injury standpoint.

Jason Witten, do I have to say anything I haven’t already said about him playing tonight?? Just wait it out and he should be fine long term. He was at least blocking well without an issue

Hakeem Nicks looks a bit off. I personally didn’t see anything related to his foot injury that appears to be limiting him. He just doesn’t see in the flow of the game. I’d lean more towards rust than anything else, considering he didn’t really practice at all this preseason. It’s looking like it could take a week or two for him to get back to his old self, but part of his issue tonight could be Brandon Carr/Morris Claiborne as well, as they looked every bit as advertised against Nicks and Cruz.

Dez Bryant hasn’t had too much involvement tonight, but at the very least he doesn’t look limited. He just seems like he’s getting a lot of attention from the Giants D and can’t seem to get anything going. Maybe it’s because Kevin Ogiltree has 1,210 targets tonight (sorry, I’m a little bitter). Bottom line: His knee injury looks like it’s behind him. I think he’ll be just fine.

Victor Cruz, there’s no injury here, just interesting how many balls he’s dropping tonight. Not a clean start tonight for the G-Men receivers.

Cowboys/Giants Injury Updates

Hakeem Nicks, Giants: Sat out of practice today, which makes it two days in a row following his sitting out yesterday. It’s a little discouraging seeing him sit out two days in a row, especially since he looked good in the last preseason game of the season against the Pats. One report, courtesy of the New York Daily News, has him saying “…it’s nothing that is going to stop me from playing.” Soreness is very normal for anyone post surgery, especially with as much as he’s been ramping up to get ready for week 1. I’m still confident he’ll play, but sitting out two days in a row makes me think it’s a little more than precautionary. His official status tomorrow will give us some much needed clarity, but I still think you roll with him.

Jason Witten, Cowboys: Limited participation in practice today, still did not take part in contact drills. I don’t expect him to play, especially with how much contact he can potentially take the midsection being both a blocker and a pass-catcher. Sit him for week 1.

UPDATE: Jason Witten has officially been listed as Doubtful for tomorrow’s game. Adjust accordingly, but plan on him being out.

Miles Austin (hamstring)/Dez Bryant (knee): Both were full participants in practice today and both look ready to roll. I like Austin a lot here, especially with starting corner Prince Amukamara being likely to miss the game on Wednesday and with Witten (Romo’s safety valve) also not at 100%. Austin is much more likely than Bryant to have increased targets due to their skill sets, as Austin is more of a possession-type receiver than the speedy, athletic Bryant.

Cowboys Defense: Jay Ratliff is likely to sit out Wednesday’s game with an ankle sprain, meaning the middle of the Cowboys front 4 will be significantly hurt. Also, linebacker Dan Conner (hip) and cornerback Mike Jenkins (shoulder) were both limited in practice today, meaning all 3 levels of the Cowboys defense is hurting a bit. Looks like this could be a run-and-shoot type of game if the Giants put up a couple early scores, which negatively affects the Cowboy defense, but significantly favors both offenses’ passing games. Look for a high scoring one on Wednesday. Jenkins’ injury is a bit more concerning, coming off a rotator cuff and labrum repair, which essentially provide the majority of the stability to the shoulder joint itself. He probably sits out Week 1, which means Nicks/Cruz will have one less DB to worry about.