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
