It took one week to go from a normal list to enough injuries to make a MASH ward busy. Let’s take a look at the key ones and how they will impact fantasy football this week.
Last night’s Bears/Packers game was fraught with injuries. GB WR Greg Jennings was out with a groin injury but expect him to be back for the next game. CHI RB Matt Forte went down with an ankle injury and didn’t return. It’s time to scour the wire for Michael Bush. Bush was on fire from Week 10 on last season and he might do the same here if Forte is down for any amount of time. We don’t yet have a diagnosis but keep an eye on this over the next 10 days.
Another key injury was the loss of ATL CB Brent Grimes for the season with an Achilles’. Without Grimes in the defensive backfield, Atlanta becomes much more vulnerable to the pass. Look and see how Peyton Manning and the Denver offense takes advantage this week. If the Falcons’ defense made Matt Cassel look okay…
Arizona will be without QB John Skelton for an unspecified amount of time with an ankle injury; Kevin Kolb will get the start against New England. You’re not playing Kolb but definitely use that Patriots D/ST and watch them rack up the points.
Pat Angerer and Dwight Freeney will not play this week for Indianapolis as they host the Vikings. With those two run stoppers out of the lineup, this should be a boost to Adrian Peterson. Look for AP to run wild on Indy.
BUF RB Fred Jackson might be out for up to a month with an LCL injury in his knee. The lateral collateral ligament is not that major but it impacts things like cutting and twisting as it supports the knee.
I’ve seen some owners making the mistake of cutting bait on him. If you see him, go grab him and stash him on your bench if you have the space. CJ Spiller will get the attention in the interim but have patience on F-Jax.
DAL TE Jason Witten isn’t showing any ill effects after his spleen issue in preseason. He should be full strength when the Cowboys go to Seattle this week. Plug him in your lineup as you normally would.
JAX RB Rashad Jennings left the game against Minnesota with a knee injury and didn’t return. He also doesn’t need to return to your fantasy roster, either. MJD is likely to get his full workload back and Jennings will drop back into fantasy obscurity.
WSH WR Pierre Garcon was limited in practice this week. Garcon was only able to catch passes when standing totally still in practice. Aldrick Robinson would get the start if Garcon is a no-go. Without Garcon, Santana Moss will also get a bump if you own him. Keep an eye on this one closer to game time.
TEN WR Kenny Britt will play this week on a limited basis, getting in for around 20 snaps. We don’t know if those snaps will be in Z-formation or not, but, homie, I still won’t play that until I actually see how Britt does in a game. With QB Jake Locker coming off a shoulder injury this could also be a very interesting game at San Diego. Britt is a late-game guy so keep a backup plan ready if you decide to try Britt.
SD RB Ryan Mathews (clavicle) has been cleared for contact but looks to still be a week away from getting back into the game. With him not likely to play, QB Philip Rivers gets a boost. Pull Mathews out and hold him for week three.
The Jets’ D/ST might be without a couple key players this week against Pittsburgh. CB Darrelle Revis is still a question mark and we won’t know until tomorrow if he is going to make the trip to the Steel City. Fellow CB Antonio Cromartie (shoulder) is more likely to be on the field in week two. If Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown don’t have to spend time on Revis Island, then those Steelers wideouts look like excellent plays.
Pittsburgh isn’t healthy either. DL James Harrison is still experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired knee while S Troy Polamalu is nursing a calf injury. Both of these defensive anchors could miss the game against the Jets. Don’t be surprised if at least one of them is deactivated. If they are, NYJ QB Mark Sanchez might be in line for another big game.
PHI WR DeSean Jackson (hamstring), Jeremy Maclin (hip) and Riley Cooper (shoulder) have missed practice time as they are nursing injuries. All three are expected to play but monitor this closer to game time. If Jackson or Maclin can’t go, Michael Vick’s value takes a hit. He threw it 56 times last week against Cleveland and will have fewer options if either of those wideouts are out against Baltimore.
And one final injury this week…is the ego of a guy named Sky. His ego got put on IR for the season after I beat him in the first week of our Razzball Writers League.
