We’re halfway through the fantasy football season and the bodies are continuing to pileup in the clinic. Here’s who’s getting treated this week and how it impacts your fantasy team.
Washington WR Pierre Garcon continues to be hampered by his foot issues and has been described as a long shot to play this week against the Giants. Even the Skins defensive secondary has five guys on the injury list, so this could easily spell passing bonanza for Eli Manning and the Giants.
Garcon has been frustrating to own to say the least and patience has worn thinner than you can imagine. With the pain coming from swelling on the bottom of a toe, it’s difficult to stay upright and injections aren’t helping. It’s really close to the time to cut him loose because of this foot issue.
Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw is dealing with a foot injury but it’s not the same one from last season. He got stepped on last week and is expected to play. What’s more concerning is the Giants are planning to use three backs (Bradshaw, David Wilson and Andre Brown) in this  game so each of them will have reduced value. WR Hakeem Nicks is still limited in practice with a knee injury but is actually practicing which is a positive sign; Domenik Hixon looks to be in line for additional targets.
Arizona will be without QB Kevin Kolb for multiple weeks. Kolb was ridden to the turf by a pair of Bills in the Cards’ loss to Buffalo. He will be out six to eight weeks with a chest injury so severe that his ribs separated from sternum. Ouch. John Skelton gets the nod while Ryan Lindley will be backing him up. Skelton is a less mobile quarterback so he is at additional risk of getting sacked behind the Swiss cheese known as the Arizona offensive line.
Baltimore got battered last week against Dallas and Dallas got beaten up against the Ravens. LB Ray Lewis is done for the year with a triceps injury and CB Lardarius Webb tore his ACL for the second time in four years. DL Haloti Ngata suffered a minor knee ligament sprain. S Ed Reed has played with a torn labrum and LB Terrell Suggs has missed the entire season so far with that Achilles’ injury he suffered in the offseason. The Ravens DST is not what it used to be. They are at best a DST-2 with all the injuries and are potentially droppable as well.
Dallas RB DeMarco Murray suffered ligament damage in his foot and is week to week at best. Felix Jones and Phillip Tanner will be getting the carries against Carolina.
Minnes0ta RB Adrian Peterson is dealing with a sore ankle but is expected to play against Arizona. It remains to be seen how he will do with a short week before a Thursday game next week.
New Orleans might be without TE Jimmy Graham for Sunday against Tampa Bay. Graham rolled his ankle two weeks ago against San Diego is questionable. Look for an update on him later today but be ready with a backup in case Graham is ruled out. WR Lance Moore is expected to play against Tampa after recovering from a hamstring issue.
Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers (calf) was sore but looks okay to go against the Rams. WR Greg Jennings is still out (groin) while TE Jermichael Finley and RB Alex Green are battling shoulder injuries.
Pittsburgh RBs Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman are both dinged up and are up in the air for the Sunday night game against Cincinnati. Johnathan Dwyer may get the call but watch this develop over the next 24 hours. Be ready with a Plan B because of the timing of the game.
Many of the players from injury reports of weeks past have returned to practices and most are at full participation. Thankfully it leaves the list significantly shorter this week than any of the previous weeks of the season. Of course, it also means that Doc is expecting a big rash of injuries to hit this weekend.
Good luck to all this week and leave your questions below.
-Doc
