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
Delanie Walker (TE) – Doubtful (ankle) – Walker is not fantasy relevant, but his absence could force the 49ers to use more 3 receiver sets which would put Crabtree in the slot leading to fewer double teams. Crabtree is in line for a potential breakout game this week.
Chicago Bears
Jay Cutler (QB) – Out (concussion) – Todd Collins will start Week 5 in place of Cutler. Cutler is expected to miss only 1 week.
Major Wright (DB) – Out (hamstring) – Wright is expected to miss at least another 1 week. Daniel Manning and Chris Harris will start, giving them both a boost in IDP value.
Cincinnati Bengals
Chad Ochocinco (WR) – Probable (groin) – Ocho missed practice on Friday with a groin injury, but will play this week.
Bernard Scott (RB) – Probable (hamstring) – Scott will continue to be Benson’s back-up this week.
Jordan Shipley (WR) – Doubtful (concussion) – Shipley will not play this week.
Jonathan Joseph (DB) – Questionable (arm) – Joseph will be a game-time decision for Week 5.
Roy Williams (DB) – Questionable (knee) – Williams will be out in Week 5. The Bengals secondary is very banged up, so keep that in mind when playing the match-ups.
Buffalo Bills
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Denver Broncos
Knowshon Moreno (RB) – Out (hamstring) – Moreno will miss another week with his hamstring issue. Avoid the Broncos’ backfield in fantasy.
Andre’ Goodman (DB) – Questionable (thigh) – Goodman is expected to return this week.
Cleveland Browns
Peyton Hillis (RB) – Questionable (thigh) – Hillis did not practice on Friday but is expected to play this weekend. Hillis owners may want to grab Harrison as insurance, but he probably won’t be needed this week.
Jake Delhomme (QB) – Questionable (ankle) – Delhomme should play this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kellen Winslow (TE) – Probably (knee) – Winslow will play in Week 5.
Arizona Cardinals
Beanie Wells (RB) – Probable (knee) – Beanie will play in Week 5.
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.
San Diego Chargers
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
Austin Collie (WR) – Questionable (foot) – Collie will be a game-time decision in Week 5. Unfortunately owners will just have to keep an eye on him right up until game-time.
Joseph Addai (RB) – Probable (foot) – Addai will play in Week 5.
Donald Brown (RB) – Doubtful (hamstring) – Brown is unlikely to play again this week.
Pierre Garcon (WR) – Probable (hamstring) – Garcon is expected to play in Week 5.
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
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Miami Dolphins
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Philadelphia Eagles
LeSean McCoy (RB) – Questionable (ribs) – Andy Reid expects to McCoy to play a “full game” in Week 5.
Michael Vick (QB) – Out (ribs) – Vick will not play in Week 5 and Kolb is nice a bye-week fill-in this week against the 49ers.
Asante Samuel (DB) – Out (concussion) – Samuel failed his concussion tests so the NFL requires that he sit out. He will be replaced by Dimitry Patterson. This is all good news for Michael Crabtree owners.
Atlanta Falcons
Seam Weatherspoon (LB) – Probable (ankle) – Weatherspoon should be able to go in Week 5.
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
Ahmad Bradshaw (RB) – Questionable (ankle) – Bradshaw was limited in practice on Friday, but all signs point to him being ready to go for Week 5.
Mathias Kiwanuka (DL) – Out (Neck) – Kiwanuka is out with a bulging disk in his neck. With Bullock, and possibly Umenyiora out as well, Cutler should have a much easier day.
Osi Umenyiora (DL) – Questionable (knee) – Osi’s should be good to go again in Week 5 and is following up a 3 sack performance.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Rashad Jennings (RB) – Doubtful (shoulder) – Jennings missed practice in Friday and will miss the game this week. Look for another huge workload for MJD.
Sean Considine (DB) – Questionable (hamstring) – It looks like Considine will miss his 2nd week in a row. He has been a nice IDP find this year and is worth hanging on to if you can.
New York Jets
Darrelle Revis (DB) – Questionable (hamstring) – Revis will be a game-time decision this week.
Detroit Lions
Jahvid Best (RB) – Probable (toe) – Best is playing through his turf toe and the coach’s think it is getting better. Best has a great matchup this week and is line for a huge day if he doesn’t aggravate his injury.
Tony Scheffler (TE) – Questionable (concussion) – Scheffler returned to practice on Friday and will play in Week 5. He makes a nice bye-week fill-in at tight end.
Matthew Stafford (QB) – Out (shoulder) – Stafford will be out Week 5. He may return Week 7 after the bye week.
Green Bay Packers
Nick Barnett (LB) – Out (wrist) – Barnett’s wrist injury will most likely keep him out the rest of the season. This is a big blow to the Packers’ run defense.
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
Steve Smith (WR) – Out (ankle) – Smith has a high-ankle sprain and is out for Week 5. He is targeting a Week 7 return after the bye week.
New England Patriots
Fred Taylor (RB) – Out (toe) – Taylor has been practicing and could return after the bye week.
Oakland Raiders
Darren McFadden (RB) – Out (hamstring) – McFadden has been ruled out for Week 5. With Michael Bennett also hurting, Michael Bush should be in line for a nice day.
St. Louis Rams
Steven Jackson (RB) – Probable (groin) – Jackson will play again this week and should get a lot of work against a bad Lions defense.
Baltimore Ravens
Ray Rice (RB) – Probable (knee) – Rice put in a full week of practice and will be the feature back in Week 5. Start with confidence.
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) – Out (Groin) – Portis will miss 4-6 weeks with a groin injury and there are rumblings that his time in Washington might be done. Ryan Torain will be the feature back and needs to be added in all leagues if he hasn’t been already.
New Orleans Saints
Pierre Thomas (RB) – Out (knee) – Thomas had been ruled out for Week 5. Chris Ivory and Ladell Betts will handle the running back duties, with Ivory having the most fantasy value (barely). Both deserve looks as flex plays.
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
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Houston Texans
Andre Johnson (WR) – Questionable (ankle) – Johnson will be a game-time decision, but seems in better condition than Week 4. Most people are expecting him to play, but keep an eye on the situation.
Owen Daniels (TE) – Probable (knee) – Daniels’ will play in Week 5.
Jacoby Jones (WR) – Doubtful (calf) – It does not look like Jones will play in Week 5. Texans will be motivated to get Andre Johnson active if he can go.
Mario Williams (DL) – Questionable (groin) – Williams should be fine for Week 5.
Tennessee Titans
Justin Gage (WR) – Out (hamstring) – Gage will be out for Week 5. His absence makes Kenny Britt an interesting waiver add and potential WR3 this week and beyond.
Minnesota Vikings
Visanthe Shiancoe (TE) – Questionable (hamstring) – Shiancoe is on track to return Monday night, but his value takes a big hit with the arrival of Randy Moss and his presence in the red zone.
Sidney Rice (WR) – Out (hip) – As of now, Rice does not look to be on track to return from the PUP list in Week 7 when eligible. The Vikings have 3 weeks after Week 7 for Rice to resume practicing and 3 more weeks after that to activate him. Otherwise they will have to put him on Injured Reserve which will end his season. The Vikings are obviously not optimistic about Rice’s recovery since they went out and traded for Randy Moss.
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.
