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 or visit www.thefantasydick.com.
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) – Questionable (ankle) – What I said the last 2 weeks: “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” Could be another big game for Crabtree.
Chicago Bears
Lance Briggs (LB) – Questionable (ankle) – Briggs is expected to return the lineup in Week 7. This will downgrade Ryan Torain slightly.
Major Wright (DB) – Doubtful (hamstring) – Wright has been back at practice, but it is unlikely that he will play in Week 7. He will probably return after the Week 8 bye.
Cincinnati Bengals
Jonathan Joseph (DB) – Questionable (ankle) – Joseph will be a game-time decision in Week 7. Even if he does play he will not be at 100% and this will help out Roddy White.
Antwan Odom (DL) – Suspended – Odom’s suspension for breaking the league’s substance abuse policy was upheld and he will miss the next 3 games.
Buffalo Bills
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Denver Broncos
Eddie Royal (WR) – Questionable (groin) – Royal had a light workout at Friday’s practice and will be a game-time decision in Week 7. Replace Royal in the rankings with Demaryius Thomas if he cannot play.
Cleveland Browns
Peyton Hillis (RB) – Probable (thigh) – Hillis is recovering nicely from his thigh injury and has a great match-up against the Saints in Week 7. Start him with confidence.
Josh Cribbs (WR) – Probable (concussion) – Cribbs is expected to play in Week 7 and will be the Browns’ number 1 receiver with Massaquoi out. This does not mean a lot and he will only be fantasy relevant in deep leagues.
Mohamed Massaquoi (WR) – Doubtful (concussion) – Massaquoi did not practice on Friday and will most likely not play in Week 7.
Jake Delhomme (QB) – Doubtful (ankle) – Delhomme will be out this week.
Seneca Wallace (QB) – Doubtful (ankle) – Wallace has a high ankle sprain and will need at least another couple weeks to heal. Colt McCoy should start this weekend for the Browns.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Earnest Graham (RB) – Questionable (hamstring) – Graham did not practice Friday and is a long-shot to play in Week 7. Look elsewhere for bye-week help.
Kellen Winslow (TE) – Probable (knee) – Winslow will play in Week 7.
Arizona Cardinals
Steve Breaston (WR) – Questionable (knee) – Breaston looks like a lock to play in Week 7 but makes a risky fantasy start with Max Hall at QB.
Early Doucet (WR) – Questionable (groin) – Doucet will be a game-time decision in Week 7, but he is likely to play and act as the Cardinals 3rd receiver.
Gerald Hayes (LB) – PUP (back) – Hayes is eligible to return this week and it looks like he might play Sunday on a limited basis. His return will start to hurt the IDP value of Paris Lenon and Daryl Washington. The Cardinals’ linebackers should be avoided if possible, but keep an eye on how Hayes plays.
San Diego Chargers
Malcolm Floyd (WR) – Doubtful (hamstring) – Floyd will not play in Week 7. He is being considered week-to-week at this point.
Legedu Naanee (WR) – Doubtful (hamstring) – Naanee is unlikely to play in Week 7. This is a boost for Patrick Crayton’s temporary fantasy value.
Craig “Buster” Davis (WR) – Questionable (ribs) – Davis looks likely to play in Week 7 and makes a decent bye-week fill-in. He replaces Naanee in the rankings and Crayton takes Floyd’s usual spot.
Antonio Gates (TE) – Questionable (toe) – Gates missed practice on Friday for the third straight day, but the consensus among the sportswriters is that he will play in Week 7. He will certainly be needed with the Chargers’ receivers being so banged up.
Nate Kaeding (K) – Out (groin) – Kaeding will not kick in Week 7 and could be out for another couple of weeks. Fantasy owners should cut Kaeding and grab another kicking option. He will be replaced by Kris Brown.
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) – Jackson will be back with the Chargers in Week 12 and should be picked up in all leagues.
Kansas City Chiefs
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Indianapolis Colts
Dallas Clark (TE) – Injured Reserve (wrist) – Clark will miss the remainder of the season and will be replaced by Jacob Tamme. Tamme has good receiving skills and if you have a spot to stash him, go for it. Anthony Gonzalez also makes a nice pick-up right now. Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon get a huge boost in fantasy value.
Austin Collie (WR) – Out (hand) – Collie is expected to miss at least a few weeks and the Colts are denying the rumors that his surgery is season-ending. Fantasy owners cannot cut him and will have to be patient. If you can grab Anthony Gonzalez, do it.
Joseph Addai (RB) – Out (shoulder) – Addai has nerve damage in his shoulder and says he might not regain the strength for “4-5 weeks”. There is no timetable on his return and fantasy owners will just have to wait for more news. Donald Brown makes a great pick-up right now and Mike Hart should be added in deeper leagues.
Donald Brown (RB) – Questionable (hamstring) – Brown should return in Week 8 and he will be the Colts’ primary ball-carrier.
Anthony Gonzalez (WR) – Out (ankle) – Gonzalez is expected to return in Week 8 and should see a greatly expanded role in the offense. He is definitely worth a pick-up in all fantasy leagues.
Dallas Cowboys
Dez Bryant (WR) – Probable (ankle) – Bryant will be ready play on Monday night. He is a WR3 with upside.
Miami Dolphins
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Philadelphia Eagles
LeSean McCoy (RB) – Probable (ribs) – McCoy will start in Week 7 and makes a nice RB1 play.
Michael Vick (QB) – Questionable (ribs) – Vick will not play in Week 7, but Coach Reid expects Vick to be at “full-go” for Week 9. He should get his starting job back, unless Kolb puts up another huge game.
DeSean Jackson (WR) – Out (concussion) – Jackson did not pass his concussion tests and will be out Week 7. He could be out even longer, so stay tuned.
Atlanta Falcons
Seam Weatherspoon (LB) – Out (ankle) – Weatherspoon will miss Week 7. With a bye in Week 8, IDP leaguers may want to look for better options.
Dunta Robinson (DB) – Out (concussion) – Robinson will be out Week 7 and is also appealing the fine he received for his hit on DeSean Jackson.
New York Giants
Hakeem Nicks (WR) – Questionable (hamstring) – Nicks missed Friday’s practice but it sounds like it was precautionary and does not mean as much since his game is on Monday night. Fantasy owners should feel good about starting Nicks in Week 7.
Lawrence Tynes (K) – Probable (ankle) – Tynes will kick in Week 7, but makes a risky fantasy play.
Mathias Kiwanuka (DL) – Out (Neck) – Kiwanuka is out with a bulging disk in his neck.
Jacksonville Jaguars
David Garrard (QB) – Out (concussion) – Garrard will be yet another player missing Week 7 with a concussion. With Edwards questionable as well, it looks like Todd Bouman will get the start at Quarterback. He should be avoided, duh.
Trent Edwards (QB) – Questionable (thumb) – Edwards had a limited practice on Friday and will probably be available to back-up Todd Bouman in Week 7. Are these guys really better than Jeff Garcia?
New York Jets
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Detroit Lions
Matthew Stafford (QB) – Out (shoulder) – Stafford has been throwing well in practice and looks set to start in Week 8 after the bye.
Green Bay Packers
Donald Driver (WR) – Probable (quadriceps) – Driver was limited in practice on Friday, but he should start in Week 7.
Clay Matthews (LB) – Questionable (hamstring) – Matthews is expected to return in Week 7 helping the value of the Packers’ team defense.
James Starks (RB) – Out (hamstring) – Starks is eligible to return, but won’t play in Week 7. The Packers have 3 weeks to decide if they want to activate him for the rest of the season.
Carolina Panthers
Steve Smith (WR) – Probable (ankle) – Smith has made an amazing recovery and is on track to start in Week 7. In five games with Matt Moore at Quarterback, Smith has averaged 88 yards and a touchdown. He is safe to start in all leagues.
New England Patriots
Fred Taylor (RB) – Out (toe) – Taylor has been ruled out for Week 7. BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead will carry the load again this week.
Julian Edelman (WR) – Questionable (concussion) – Edleman has a shot to play in Week 7, but is not fantasy relevant.
Oakland Raiders
Darren McFadden (RB) – Questionable (hamstring) – McFadden is likely to play in Week 7 and will hurt Michael Bush’s fantasy value. Bush will be the more valuable of the two since he will get the goal-line work.
Jason Campbell (QB) – Questionable (knee) – Campbell has been progressing and there is still a chance he could start in Week 7. Kyle Boller would start if Campbell is out. Stay away from this situation in all fantasy leagues.
Bruce Gradkowski (QB) – Questionable (shoulder) – Gradkowski is unlikely to play in Week 7, but has not been officially ruled out.
St. Louis Rams
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Baltimore Ravens
Todd Heap (TE) – Questionable (concussion) – Heap is expects to play in Week 7 and makes a solid fantasy starter.
Derrick Mason (WR) – Probable (ankle) – Mason will play in Week 7 and makes a risky fantasy starter despite his big game in Week 6.
Ed Reed (DB) – PUP (hip) – Reed is ready to make his debut in Week 7. He should bolster an already dominate Ravens defense. Keep an eye on him in IDP leagues.
Donte’ Stallworth (WR) – Out (foot) – Stallworth is on track to return the Ravens during their Week 8 bye. He will be the 4th receiver and will not have any fantasy value unless a receiver gets injured.
Washington Indigenous People of North America
Chris Cooley (TE) – Questionable (concussion) – I’ve lost count on how many times I’ve typed “concussion” at this point. Cooley appears likely to start in Week 7.
Rocky McIntosh (LB) – Questionable (concussion) – Rocky is expected to start in Week 7.
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
Jeremy Shockey (TE) – Probable (flu) – Shockey will play in Week 7.
Randall Gay (DB) – Injured Reserve (concussion) – Due to reoccurring concussion symptoms, the Saints have placed Gay on Injured Reserve, ending his season. With Porter also hurting, the Saints are now very thin at defensive back.
Pierre Thomas (RB) – Out (knee) – Thomas had been ruled out for Week 7 and revealed that his original timetable was actually 4-6 weeks (this will be his 3rd missed week). So PT owners should expect him to be out Week 7 as well. Chris Ivory is the only back-up with fantasy value and could be in line for another nice game in Week 7.
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 Week 7, but probably Week 8.
Seattle Seahawks
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Pittsburgh Steelers
No fantasy-relevant injuries.
Houston Texans
DeMeco Ryans (LB) – Injured Reserve (knee) – Ryans has a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season. Daryl Sharpton and Zach Diles are candidates to replace him at middle linebacker. IDP leaguers will want to see who emerges before picking either up.
Tennessee Titans
Bo Scaife (TE) – Questionable (groin) – Scaife did not return to practice on Friday as expected, so he is in danger of missing Week 7. His back-ups are Craig Stevens and Jared Cook, neither will have any fantasy value.
Justin Gage (WR) – Questionable (hamstring) – Gage will be ready to go in Week 7, but will probably be limited, unless Britt does not play, then Gage may be forced into more work. Nate Washington could be the number 1 receiver this week. Fantasy owners will want to see if they can get anything for Britt or start looking for replacement options.
Vince Young (QB) – Questionable (knee) – Young will not start in Week 7 and will most likely be inactive. Kerry Collins will get the start.
Kenny Britt (WR) – Questionable (brawl) – Britt is not injured, but was in a brawl this past week. He was held out of practice on Friday and it is looking unlikely that he will play in Week 7.
Minnesota Vikings
Brett Favre (QB) – Probable (elbow) – Favre looks to be a lock to start in Week 7.
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 brains behind www.thefantasydick.com and can be followed on Twitter at @thefantasydick. Feel free to ask any fantasy sports related questions or just questions about life in general, The Fantasy Dick is an expert at both.
