My injury report will cover both offensive and defensive players. I will focus only on those players relevant to fantasy football. If you have a player on your fantasy roster that you know to be hurt, but they do not show up on this list, then you should probably consider making a move. I will go team-by-team and do my best to make sure you have the most accurate injury information each week so you know who to start and who to bench. For injury information right up to kick-off, follow me on Twitter at @thefantasydick.
Probable: 75% chance of playing
Questionable: 50% chance of playing
Doubtful: 25% chance of playing
Out: 0% chance of playing
San Francisco 49ers
Ted Ginn Jr. (WR) – Doubtful (knee) – Ginn likely will not play in Week 4.
Takeo Spikes (LB) – Questionable (knee) – Spikes is expected to play this week, but his role may be limited and it looks like rookie NaVorro Bowman could be named the starter as early as Week 5.
Chicago Bears
Major Wright (DB) – Out (hamstring) – Wright is expected to miss at least another 2 weeks. Daniel Manning and Chris Harris will start, giving them both a boost in IDP value.
Cincinnati Bengals
Cedric Benson (RB) – Probable (knee) – Benson practiced fully on Friday and will be good to go this weekend against the Browns. With the Browns front seven pretty banged up, Benson looks like a great start this week.
Jordan Shipley (WR) – Questionable (shoulder) – Shipley will be a game-time decision in Week 4. He is only on the fantasy radar in deeper leagues, but if he sits out, look for Jermaine Gresham to get additional targets.
Adam “Pacman” Jones (DB) – Questionable (shoulder) – Jones is not expected to play in Week 4.
Antwan Odom (DE) – Questionable (wrist) – Odom was limited in practice on Friday, but should play this weekend.
Buffalo Bills
Paul Posluszny (LB) – Probable (knee) – Posluszny looks set to return in Week 4. Get him back into your IDP starting lineup.
Denver Broncos
Knowshon Moreno (RB) – Doubtful (hamstring) – It does not look like Moreno will be returning this week. Denver will go with a rotation of Maroney and Buckhalter again this week against Tennessee. Neither player is a good fantasy starter.
Andre’ Goodman (DB) – Questionable (thigh) – Goodman is expected to return this week.
Cleveland Browns
Jake Delhomme (QB) – Questionable (ankle) – Delhomme was limited in practice on Friday and is getting closer to a return. The feeling is that Seneca Wallace will start in Week 4.
Jerome Harrison (RB) – Probable (thigh) – Harrison returned to full practice on Friday and will be ready for Week 4. His role, however, is unclear at the moment as Peyton Hillis has taken his starting job. Harrison is probably worth hanging on to, but if you need a running back and there is a better option on waivers, go ahead and cut him loose.
James Davis (RB) – Questionable (thigh) – With Harrison back and Hillis taking over as the starter, Davis can be dropped in all leagues. Those in dynasty leagues may want to hold on to him.
D’Qwell Jackson (LB) – Injured Reserve (pectoral) – Jackson is done for the season. Eric Barton and Chris Gocong will replace him, with Barton looking like a decent pick-up in IDP leagues with 9 tackles in Week 3.
Shaun Rogers (DL) – Questionable (leg) – Rogers will be a game-time decision.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay has a bye in Week 4.
Arizona Cardinals
Beanie Wells (RB) – Probable (knee) – Beanie went through a full practice on Friday and is ready for Week 5. He is a top 25 fantasy running back option this week against the Chargers.
Steve Breaston (WR) – Out (knee) – Breaston is likely out until Week 7. Coach Whisenhunt would not rule him out for Week 5, but it is not looking likely that he will play. Rookie Stephen Williams will get a lot of run again.
Early Doucet (WR) – Out (groin) – Doucet is out 3-6 weeks after sports hernia surgery. With Stephen Williams looking unimpressive so far, Doucet should get his slot receiver job back when he returns.
Paris Lennon (LB) – Questionable (pelvis) – Lennon is expected to play in Week 4 and looked like an IDP sleeper in Week 3. Keep an eye on him.
San Diego Chargers
Ryan Matthews (RB) – Probable (ankle) – Matthews practiced in full again on Friday and will be ready for Week 4. He’ll make a low end RB1 this week as he is not a lock to get goal-line carries.
Larry English (LB) – Out (foot) – English will be out 4-6 weeks after surgery on his foot. He can be dropped in IDP leagues and his replacements are not recommended since it will be a rotation.
Vincent Jackson (WR) – Suspended (contract) – All signs point to Jackson not playing this season. It may be time to look for other options.
Kansas City Chiefs
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Indianapolis Colts
Joseph Addai (RB) – Questionable (knee) – Addai did not practice on Friday, but with Donald Brown out this week, my money is on Addai playing. If he does not play, Mike Hart should be the starter. This will be a game-time decision situation.
Donald Brown (RB) – Questionable (hamstring) – Brown did not practice all week and most likely will not play in Week 4.
Austin Collie (WR) – Questionable (heel) – Collie returned to full practice on Friday and despite being listed as “Questionable” he should play in Week 4 and makes a great start against the Jaguars.
Pierre Garcon (WR) – Questionable (hamstring) – Garcon is expected to miss his second straight game in Week 4. Blair White will be the 3rd receiver.
Anthony Gonzalez (WR) – Out (ankle) – Gonzalez is out 4-6 weeks. Collie cemented his value with a huge game week 1 and Gonzalez is only worth hanging on to in very deep leagues.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas has a bye in Week 4.
Miami Dolphins
Channing Crowder (LB) – Out (groin) – Crowder has had a set-back and is now out indefinitely.
Philadelphia Eagles
Mike Bell (RB) – Questionable (flu) – Bell should be fine to play Week 4 and will be McCoy’s backup.
Atlanta Falcons
Michael Jenkins (WR) – Questionable (shoulder) – Jenkins was limited in practice all week. He is a game-time decision, and is not fantasy relevant yet.
New York Giants
Mathias Kiwanuka (DL) – Out (Neck) – Kiwanuka is out with a bulging disk in his neck and may may be out 2-3 months. You can cut him loose. With Bullock, and possibly Umenyiora out as well, Cutler should have a much easier day.
Osi Umenyiora (DL) – Questionable (knee) – Osi’s knee flared up this week in practice and he is a game-time decision in Week 4. The Giants could be without 2 of their best pass rushers, making the Giants Defense a risky play and making Jay Cutler a safer play.
Jacksonville Jaguars
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
New York Jets
Darrelle Revis (DB) – Out (hamstring) – Revis will not play in Week 4. Despite being a top “real-life” player, Revis is not a great IDP option, even when healthy. He does not get a lot of tackles and opposing teams throw away from him, limiting his interceptions and pass deflections. If there is a better option on the waiver wire or an owner that will trade based on name-value, consider making the move.
Calvin Pace (LB) – Out (foot) – Pace will not play Week 4.
Santonio Holmes (WR) – Suspended – Holmes will return from suspension week 5. He will immediately be the Jets’ top wide receiver.
Detroit Lions
Jahvid Best (RB) – Questionable (toe) – Best was limited in practice on Friday, but appears extremely likely to play in Week 4. He is a risky fantasy play since his injury could flare up and limit his touches, but he is too talented to leave on the bench unless you are deep at the running back position.
Matthew Stafford (QB) – Out (shoulder) – It seems possible that Stafford could be back in Week 5.
Nate Burleson (WR) – Out (ankle) – Burleson will be out Week 4.
Green Bay Packers
Atari Bigby (DB) – PUP (ankle) – Bigby is starting the season on the PUP list, but is already running and cutting and should be ready to go when eligible in mid-October. Bigby is another to guy look for on the waiver wire when he is closer to returning.
Carolina Panthers
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
New England Patriots
Fred Taylor (RB) – Questionable (toe) – Taylor missed his 3rd straight day of practice on Friday and appears unlikely to play. BenJarvus Green-Ellis should get the majority of carries in Week 4 and makes an interesting Flex play.
Oakland Raiders
Lous Murphy (WR) – Questionable (shoulder) – It appears Murphy will play this week, but with a late start on Sunday he will be hard to wait for if you have better options. Personally, I think he will play.
Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR) – Questionable (groin) – Heyward-Bey strained his groin in practice but seems likely to play. It looks like both Bey and Murphy will be game-time decisions.
St. Louis Rams
Steven Jackson (RB) – Questionable (groin) – Jackson was hardly able to practice this week and will be game-time decision this weekend. Owners are just going to have to wait and see, but it does not look like he will be ready. Kenneth Darby is his back-up.
Laurent Robinson (WR) – Doubtful (ankle) – Robinson most likely will not play in Week 4.
Baltimore Ravens
Ray Rice (RB) – Questionable (knee) – Rice has been limited in practice, but the Ravens fully expect him to play against the Steelers this weekend. Yes, Rice has an injury, and yes, it is against the Steelers, but he has too much talent to bench if he is going to play.
Ed Reed (DB) – PUP (hip) – Reed will also be starting the season on the PUP list, but should be ready to return when eligible. Reed could make a great waiver wire grab around week 4 or 5.
Washington Indigenous People of North America
Clinton Portis (RB) – Questionable (wrist) – Portis practiced in full all week and is in no danger of being inactive. However, Shanahan has made it clear that Ryan Torain is the favorite for early down carries and should be owned in all leagues.
New Orleans Saints
Pierre Thomas (RB) – Questionable (knee) – Thomas returned to practice on a limited basis on Friday. He will be a game-time decision this weekend, but it looks like he has a good chance to play. PT owners will just have to stay tuned for more information. Coach Payton has said that Ladell Betts would get the start if Thomas can’t go.
Reggie Bush (RB) – Out (leg) – Bush will be out 4-6 weeks with a fractured fibula. He is predicting he will be back sooner than people think, but unless being with Kim Kardashian gives you miraculous healing powers, the soonest he’ll be back is a month.
Seattle Seahawks
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Dennis Dixon (QB) – Out (knee) – Dixon is expected to miss 6 weeks with knee surgery. Charlie Batch will start this weekend for the Steelers. The Steelers cannot wait to get Big Ben back in Week 5.
Troy Polamalu (DB) – Only a matter of time. If you can get good value in IDP leagues based on name value, you may want to explore your options. Polamalu is a much better real-life player than fantasy player.
Houston Texans
Andre Johnson (WR) – Questionable (ankle) – Johnson did not practice all week and players that do practice rarely play in games. With a late start, Johnson owners should probably only wait on him if they have Kevin Walter or Jacoby Jones ready to plug in.
Owen Daniels (TE) – Questionable (knee) – Daniels’ had a lot of trouble in practice this week and will still be on a limited snap count this weekend. It may be time to cut him loose if you need a better option.
Brian Cushing (LB) – Suspended – Cushing will sit the first 4 games of the season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Xavier Adibi will be his replacement for the first 4 games and is a huge downgrade. Cushing should be worth waiting on, or a great waiver wire target if an owner gets impatient.
Tennessee Titans
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota has a bye in Week 4.
The Fantasy Dick is the fantasy baseball writer for www.thebaseballchick.com and can be followed on Twitter at @thefantasydick or emailed at thefantasydick at yahoo.com. Feel free to ask any fantasy sports related questions or just questions about life in general, The Fantasy Dick is an expert at both.
