NFL Week 1 Fantasy Injury Report
EARLY GAMES
Indianapolis at Chicago
CHI LB Brian Urlacher and IND LB Pat Angerer are both listed as questionable.
Philadelphia at Cleveland
RB Trent Richardson (knee) is questionable but likely to play against the Eagles. He had a knee surgery just four weeks ago. You’ll know for sure how well he’s recovered by halftime of this game. Try him as a FLEX this week.
St. Louis at Detroit
StL DL Michael Brockers was one of three DL that didn’t practice this week. The Rams run defense is already poor but the potential of missing three DLs makes the prospects of DET RB Kevin Smith that much more enticing.
Miami at Houston
MIA OT Jake Long (knee) is day-to-day for the opener. Keep an eye on his status closer to game time. If he doesn’t go,Ryan Tannehill could be susceptible to sacks on the blindside and the Dolphins’ run game would suffer. It makes Houston’s DST look like an even better week one play.
HOU RB Arian Foster was limited in practice during the latter part of the week. It’s not said to be serious but wise Foster owners should have Ben Tate on their roster, just in case. Tate participated in full.
Atlanta at Kansas City
KC CB Brandon Flowers (heel) is questionable for the Chiefs’ secondary. If he doesn’t play, this opens a big door for Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White to start their 2012 campaign off with a bang.
Jacksonville at Minnesota
RB Adrian Peterson (knee) is going to be sparingly used if he is active against the Jaguars. Missing a week of time now would be worth it to ensure he has plenty of healthy weeks later this season. Leave AP on the B-E-N-C-H this
week.
Washington at New Orleans
WSH RB Roy Helu (Achilles’) will be stuck behind Alfred Morris on the depth chart. Then again it is part of the set of running backs under Mike Shanahan so that is a disease in and of itself.
NO RB Darren Sproles was hobbled in the preseason with a knee injury but is listed as probable for week one. Use the versatile back with confidence.
NO WR Marques Colston is questionable with a knee injury. If Colston can’t go, TE Jimmy Graham gets a big boost.
Buffalo at NY Jets
NYJ TE Dustin Keller (hamstring) should be ready to go for the opener against Buffalo. The downside is that he plays for the Jets and they have shown no signs of life offensively in the preseason. Keller would be best served left on the waiver wire until the Jets can, you know, score.
WR Santonio Holmes is also banged up a bit but participated in practice. He should play, but, again…
New England at Tennessee
RB Shane Vereen (foot) is questionable against the Titans. Vereen has been having issues with it throughout the preseason. If he doesn’t go, look for Stevan Ridley to get the lion’s share of the carries in week one.
LATE GAMES
Seattle at Arizona
SEA WR Golden Tate (knee) may not play against Arizona but has little fantasy relevance.
SEA RB Marshawn Lynch has been complaining of back spasms and is questionable for the game at Arizona. Robert Turbin and Leon Washington would be in line to pick up the snaps if Lynch can’t go.
This is one to follow closesly Sunday morning if you own Lynch.
San Francisco at Green Bay
GB RB James Starks is out with a toe injury. Cedric Benson and Alex Saine will be shoulder the ground game for Green Bay.
Carolina at Tampa Bay
CAR RB Jonathan Stewart has been limited in practice for the last couple days. Look for DeAngelo Williams to get big boost against the poor Tampa run defense if J-Stew is a no-go.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Pittsburgh at Denver
PIT RB Isaac Redman (ankle) is day-to-day against Denver. With the Steelers’ offensive line already looking like Swiss cheese, Redman is better left on the bench.
PIT S Ryan Clark (sickle-cell trait) will not play due to the high altitude. With Clark being out, Peyton Manning and the Bronco offense will have an easier time.
MONDAY NIGHT
Cincinnati at Baltimore
CB Dre Kirkpatrick (knee) is out for two more weeks for the Bengals. This opens up the chances for Joe Flacco, Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin to have bigger games in the new-look hurry-up offense.
RB Bernard Scott (hand) is listed as probable for the opener. Scott will be part of an RBBC set with BenJarvus Green-Ellis against a stingy Raven run defense.
San Diego at Oakland
OAK WRs Denarius Moore (hamstring) and Jacoby Ford (foot-week to week) are questionable at best for week one. If either one of them were to miss the game, it would push QB Carson Palmer’s value down. If both are out, Palmer should be sent to the wire and be left there.
RB Darren McFadden, however, will see more carries and should get a boost for the game.
SD RB Ryan Mathews (collarbone) is out for this one. Mathews wasn’t cleared for contact as of Monday and isn’t expected to be back until week two. RB Ronnie Brown will pick up most of the slack as RB Curtis Brinkley is day-to
-day with a thigh injury.
BYES:None
Should i trade Turbin to Lynch owner for Britt in 14 man league?
My RBs: McCoy and Martin
WRs: Green, Maclin, and Blackmon
Nothing that strong on bench, Ryan Williams and Sidney Rice are only decent ones.
@obvious, I’d wait and see what happens Sunday. If Lynch doesn’t play, or is limited, maybe you can ask for even more in return? Plus it’s not like you can play Britt this week anyway.
@obvious,
Hold Turbin for more value, Lynch’s back problems will continue throughout the season so hold out until you can get someone you really want.
Trade inquiry, 12 team non-ppr.
Should I swap Steve Smith for Mike Vick straight up? My other receivers are Miles Austin and Julio Jones. (bench: Greg Little & Laurent Robinson)
My current QB is Jay Cutler.
@Iceman,
No player has the ability to produce numbers like Vick and it is good that you would still have cutler in case of a multi week injury to Vick. Steve Smith is limited to Cam Newton’s production so if you are high on Newton (im not) keep smith but I dont see him being as consistent as Julio or Austin. Trading Smith for Vick is a huge risk that could come with a huge reward. My advice would be to do it because it would strengthen your weekly line up even if you take a small hit at WR depth.
Better flex play this week V. Jax or B. Tate?
@KeeblerMN,
It all depends on Arian Foster’s status. Monitor him up until game time (1pm Eastern) and if he is inactive move tate into the flex if he is active you have time to make a move to V Jackson who is not playing until (415pm eastern)
Tate is an underrated running back and would be in the top 10 overall if he was on another teams as a RB1. Its always better to play a starting RB over a receiver in the flex.
who should I start in 2 qb league (already started romo), russel wilson for upside or play it safe with matt schaub?
@Abie T,
Have you seen Miami’s defense this preseason?!?! on top of that they traded their best DB Davis to the Colts. Schaub could have big numbers even with an uncertain Foster, look at him to make a statement this weekend. You need to give Wilson a few games before he hits any kind of line up even 2QB keep in mind Marshawn Lynch will most likely sit and will be unable to keep the underrated Cards defense honest.
I took the chance on Vick in the 5th planning to draft a solid back up in a later round but ended up with Big Ben in the 12th. I have a lot of concerns about Ben and the steelers this year as far as consistency and if vick goes down early my season could end early. I have tried everything to trade for schabb romo rivers or ryan but no one is having it. Do I keep Ben as my #2 or are one of these waiver picks worth dropping him?
J Locker
A Dalton
M Cassel
C Palmer
T Tebow
@Vickless, hold for now but my personal watch list from that would be Locker and Cassel.
Took a chance and drafted vick in the 5th and am stuck with Big Ben as QB2 both QB’s have health issues and I have tried trading for schaubb ryan romo or rivers but no one is having it. Do I keep Ben or do I drop him for one of the few waiver qb’s available?
J Locker
M Cassel
J Flacco
A Dalton
T Tebow
@Vickless, So here I’m going to tell you the exact opposite of what I said above just to mess with you..nah, just kidding! I hate when I double post. Good luck this Sunday!
Pierre Garcon or Steve Smith? (Flex) Non PPR
Jared Cook or Owen Daniels?(TE) Non PPR
@Chuck, Garcon if Smith isn’t ready to go…obviously Smith if he is. I’d go Cook on the other one.
Waiver Question; I have #2 waiver spot and an open roster space. How should I use it? Should I spend it on Ogeltree or save it. If I save it should I fill the roster spot with RB Hunter or Morris?
My team looks like this: QB> P. Manning & Big Ben; RB> C. Johnson, McFadden, Sproles, Taiwan Jones, Ronnie Brown; WR> B. Lloyd, Bowe, M. Floyd (SD), Moss, Collie
@Jason, I don’t see a good reason to spend my high waiver position on the first week. Just hold.
Guy in my league wants to trade me his Colston and Mcgahee for my Antonio Brown and Ridley.What do you think? I’m high on Ridley and low on Mcgahee and think Brown has a big year so I’m thinking about holding.
@DP, I’d take the Colston side.
@DP,
Completely agree with sky RB1 and WR1 for a WR2 and a RB on a pass happy pats team better make that trade
Here’s what Iam thinking, what do you think?
Need a wr 3 and flex wr/rb spot PPR
My choices are
Cj spiller
Mark Ingram
Stevie Johnson
Titus Young
Kendall Wright
Thinking Wright for wr 3 and titus young for flex…..thoughts?
I’d go Ingram and Young there
At this point, even if Lynch is declared a go for Sunday, can he be trusted to have a good game? I have both Lynch and Turbin on my bench at the moment. I’m thinking if Lynch is out, Turbin should be a good flex. If Lynch is in I might leave both on the bench and go with someone else for my flex, but I’m a little thin on viable options. It would probably be Greg Olsen. Thoughts?
Yeah, he hasn’t practiced in a long while. If he’s good to go I don’t know how much you’re going to get out of it. Double-benching might make sense in that case but I would personally probably start Turbin there.
I’m in love with my team and I feel I’m pretty solid all around but always looking to improve.its a two player keeper 10 player league, who should I trade and who shall I hold onto?
Qb-Vick
Rb-Murrary
Rb-Ap
Wr-Aj Green
Wr-Lloyd
Te-Witten
Flex-Sporles
BB
@DANgerous,
Damn iPhone well my bench is jamaal Charles, Gehart, Tamme, Romo,Maclin and M Bush?? Thanks
Week 1 isn’t even over. Let’s see how your team does for a little bit before we start making moves. Your team is definitely solid, just let it play out.
Non PPR
R Wayne or Steve Johnson?
Wayne’s age and new QB concern me as well as Johnson’s groin injury and Revis Matchup
Wayne
(Re-posted from another topic…)
I’m in a league that scores pretty big pts for D/ST (25-35 for strong performances), which includes return TDs. I have the SF def, but am not thrilled about playing them week 1 against GB.
Which of the following would be your top substitute on the week?
MIN vs JAC
NO vs WAS
ARI vs SEA
MIN is projected (conservatively) for 16 on the week by ESPN, and NO/ARI are 11.
@Adam, I would consider Arizona. Their KR, Patrick Peterson, can break one at anytime. Seattle is not exactly lighting the world on fire with its passing game. Lynch looks like their only real established weapon.
Also, look at New England if available. Yes, the Pats. They have a history of harassing young QBs (Locker) and everyone will want them next week when they host Arizona. They spent their first few picks on D in the draft and are available in about 85% of ESPN leagues.
PPR
for my flex spot should i go Cedric Benson or Ryan Williams?
Benson