Free Fantasy Football Injury Report & Draft Information

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Injury News--Week 8

Calvin Johnson was a limited participant in practice again on Friday and it is very possible that he will play on Sunday, although he has been ruled a game-time decision. The good news is that his coach has said that Calvin could play without being a full participant in practice, and that is the part that is giving me hope that he will play. If he is active, Calvin is a guy that you have to have in your lineup, especially against St. Louis' horrible pass defense.

Matthew Stafford could play this weekend as he has returned to practice after his knee injury had cost him a few games. Stafford has made great progress this week,and coach Jim Schwartz hasn't tipped his hand at who will play. If it is Stafford he could be a good play this week against the Rams, so if your QB is on bye stay tuned to the Sunday morning Fantasy Football Tonight podcast to find out if he is active.

Brian Westbrook will be, what else,but a game time decision for this week's game against the Giants, but he is all but out for the game. Westbrook suffered a concussion last week, and the NFL doesn't play games with head injuries any more, so don't expect to see him out there. LeSean McCoy will get the majority of the carries this week, but he hasn't been as impressive as we had hoped. He gets another tough matchup against New York on Sunday.

Ahmad Bradshaw revealed the fact that he has been playing with a partial fracture in his foot the entire season. Now, he's going to continue to play with this, but there is a chance that this could be a full blown fracture and he would miss a lot of time. For now this is not a concern, but just so you know that a further injury is possible.

Donald Brown has a left shoulder contusion and it really seems like he will not be playing this weekend against the 49ers. Brown still insists that he might play, but it would be an incredible long shot. Hopefully this will be a one week thing and Brown will be able to return next week. Look for Mike Hart to join Joseph Addai for this weekend's game.

Anthony Gonzalez has still not returned to practice and it is almost a certainty that he will not be playing against San Francisco on Sunday. It is an outside chance that he could play next week, but even that doesn't seem all that likely.

Andre Johnson missed practice on Wednesday, but was able to return on Thursday and said that his breathing feels normal and he expects to play. Even coach Gary Kubiak said he practiced very close to normal and it seems like a good bet that Andre will play this week against Buffalo.

Jerricho Cotchery, who has missed two straight games with a hamstring injury has been able to return to practice and it seems as though he will be able to play this week against the Dolphins. Cotchery has still been limited in practice but the fact that he is out there makes it optimistic that he will be able to get out there.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Injury News--Week 7

Anquan Boldin actually practiced on a limited basis, and now it appears that there is a slim chance that he might play this week for the Cardinals against the Giants. Boldin's high ankle sprain was originally thought to be a couple week injury, but now he is a game-time decision for Sunday's game. I still think that even if he is active it will be on a limited basis and you likely have a better option for a wide receiver this week. Start him with extreme caution.

Percy Harvin has all been ruled out with the shoulder injury that he sustained, or least aggravated last Sunday. There is an outside chance that he will play, but he has been severly limited in practice all week, and it seems that it would make sense to sit him for a week or two and let it heal rather than watching him reaggravate it in the first quarter every week and have to miss the remainder of the game. I would sit Harvin this week unless your roster dictates that he is the only healthy player who isn't on bye week and you have no other choice.

Trent Edwards has been ruled out this week with symptoms from his concussion and Ryan Fitzpatrick will get the start against the Panthers. It would have to be a fairly desperate situation in a two quarterback league, or maybe if your bye week replacement is Derek Anderson before I would start Fitzpatrick.

Marion Barber and his fractured thumb practiced all week for Dallas and will be in there Sunday against the Falcons. Barber seemed to show no ill effects from the break and you can start him if you had any questions about his availability.

Felix Jones looks to be ready to return to action after missing two games with a PCL sprain of his knee. He will wear a brace for the first time in his career, but both he and the team feel confident about his return. He doesn't get an easy matchup coming back against the Falcons, and it will be a crowded backfield with Jones, Barber, and Choice back there, but at least Jones will be back on the field, where he generally makes things happen.

Roy Williams has been back to practice all week long for the Cowboys, but apparently according to head coach Wade Phillips it is not quite a sure thing that he will play this week against the Falcons. Williams suffered a rib injury in Week 4 and even after missing a game and the bye week, he still seems to have a little bit of pain. I doubt it, but there is still a chance that Dallas holds their number one receiver (kinda) out of one more game to be sure that he is ready to go for the rest of the season.

Jerricho Cotchery will miss his second consecutive game, as he has been ruled out for this week's game against the Oakland Raiders. At one point it seemed that Cotchery might play, but coach Rex Ryan confirmed on Friday that he would not even travel with the team. Perhaps if they weren't traveling all the way to California he might have had a chance to play. David Clowney will get the start, but he is only to be used if you are in a rough situation and are desperate for a wideout to play.

Donnie Avery was out of practice on Wednesday, limited on Thursday, but was able to participate fully on Friday and now appears to be ready to play on Sunday. I'm not sure how good of a play that he is for Week 7 against the Colts, but he is their best option by a mile in the passing game, so there is always a hope that he will be able to put up a decent game. The Colts will be getting Bob Sanders back which improves their whole defense, but Avery is a decent option for your WR3.

Chad Ochocinco was out of practice on Friday with a sore hip, but all indications are that he will be fine to play on Sunday and you should put him in your starting lineup if you were planning to play him anyway.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Injury News--Week 6

Jerricho Cotchery was able to play last week, but he was clearly hobbled and hasn't practiced all week long. Cotchery has said that he probably suffered a setback by playing, and it really looks like he will not be playing this week against the Bills. He will likely be a game-time decision, but get him out of your lineups, the guy isn't going to play.

Correll Buckhalter was back at practice this week, as he declared himself 90% back from his ankle injury. It is all but a sure thing that he will play on Sunday, which means that he will cut into the carries of Knowshon Moreno. Moreno is still the better play this week against the Chargers.

Rashard Mendenhall missed practice the other day with flu-like symptoms, but it doesn't appear that it will effect his ability to play on Sunday. On a related note, his backfield teammate Willie Parker was back practicing in full, and now the question comes how the carries will be split. Parker might get the start, but I still see Mendenhall being the man. Parker has been ineffective, on top of the fact that he can't stop getting hurt. Start Mendenhall with confidence this week against the Browns.

Matthew Stafford was able to practice on a limited basis, which gave his owners some hope he might play this week, but now he didn't practice on Thursday, so he must have had some sort of soreness or setback in his dislocated knee cap. Detroit has a tough matchup against the Packers, so even if he goes it would have to be a desperate roster situation to think about playing Stafford this week.

Calvin Johnson didn't even play a full quarter last Sunday and after the game his knee injury was considered not serious. However, I don't know too many "not serious" injuries that cause players to miss an entire week of practice. He didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday, and at this point it doesn't look good at all that Calvin will play. Keep an eye on this situation, but as of now you have to plan as if he isn't going to play.

Dante Rosario twisted his ankle in practice on Wednesday, and was not in there in practice on Thursday and will be questionable for this Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. Rosario isn't a very good tight end, but in this time period with bye weeks, he could be someone you plug in for your guy. This injury makes him a very risky play now considering his usual role and now the fact that he likely won't be 100% for the contest.

Johnathan Stewart was limited in Wednesday's practice, but was back as a full participant on Thursday, and now appears to be a lock to play on Sunday. He is a very risky pick given the fact that he hasn't played much this season and has a history of injury in his short NFL career. Carolina does face the Bucs which is a great team to go against, and if you are in trouble with bye weeks, then I might consider playing him.

Mike Bell appears to be ready to get back on the field after missing two weeks with an MCL sprain in his knee, as he was a full participant in practice this week. His backfield mate, Pierre Thomas has still been limited in practice and he will be questionable for the game. Right now it seems that he will play, but he might share more carries than usual with Bell if he is not 100%. I still believe he will play and be successful, even against a tough Giants defense.

Percy Harvin will be a game time decision this week with a shoulder injury he suffered in last week's game the Rams. Harvin was not at practice on Wednesday, but was able to practice on a limited basis on Thursday and Friday. There is not enough information out there right now to make an educated guess on his status yet this week, so you are just going to have to wait and see, but I would make alternate plans now, just in case.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Injury News October 10th

Eli Manning practiced on Saturday as part of the team's walk-through, and if you had to guess right now it looks as if he will play. Manning is dealing with plantar fasciatis, but it appears his pain tolerance will allow him to be in there for Week 5. He has a great matchup against the Raiers, but I would be careful about playing him given his injury situation. If the Giants get comfortably ahead, they could pull him.

Jerricho Cotchery missed another practice with his hamstring injury, and it now appears that he will be a game time decision. At the end of the day I would still think he plays against Miami on Monday night, but it is still very risky since you won't have anyone to exchange for him since it is the last game of the week.

Matthew Stafford will likely miss this week's game with his dislocated knee cap, although the team refuses to tip their cap as to when or how much their up and coming rookie will play. He missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, but was able to return on a limited basis on Friday. Exactly what he did, I'm not sure, but you have to count on him not being in there if he is your bye week replacement.

Roy Williams will miss this week's game with damaged rib cartilage, as he has been unable to practice for the entire week. Don't be surprised if he were to miss more than just this one week.

Matt Hasselbeck will play this week, a very short time after suffering a cracked rib. Hasselbeck has been able to practice for three straight days, and is a lock to start on Sunday. From what I read, Hasselbeck took some "high powered aspirin" to help him be able to return from injury faster.

Donovan McNabb has practiced all week, and he will be in there on Sunday for the Eagles. McNabb suffered a broken rib in the first game of the season and has missed the past two games. He will wear a flak jacket to try to ease the pain from any hit he might take.

Joseph Addai suffered a hand injury in practice this week, and is listed as questionable for this week's game. He was able to practice in full on Friday and it appears he will play. You have to hope that he doesn't reaggravate the injury during the game as they have Donald Brown who is able to fill in more than admirably.

Derrick Ward will return this week from his knee injury, but he doesn't look like a good start from a fantasy perspective as it appears that Cadillac Williams will again get the majority of the carries. Ward is still worth having on the roster, but he will have a secondary role this week.

Donnie Avery was a limited participant in practice on Friday, and it appears that he will be a game-time decision. His coach says that he will be able to be in there, but he is a risky play with the hamstring injury which is his second injury already in this young season.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Injury News October 2nd

LaDainian Tomlinson has practiced for three straight days, is listed as probable, and is expected to see the lion's share of the carries for the Bolts this week against the Steelers. So, the good news is that he will play and you should start him, the bad news is his game is against Pittsburgh who has a great defense. Unfortunately, with LT you never know when he might reaggravate the injury.

Wes Welker has been at practice this week, but he has been very limited, and is questionable on the Patriots injury report for Week 4. At this point, I think you have to assume that he isn't going to play after missing two of the first three games of the year. Keep watching for new on him, but right now I am not very hopeful for him

Randy Moss, on the other hand, is expected to play after experiencing some back troubles after last week's game. Put him in your lineup without reservation for Week 4.

Clinton Portis is now been deemed 50/50 to play on Sunday with ankle injuries and missing three days of practice. If I had to make a prediction I would say that he might not play, but there's no way he will be the featured back, or else he won't make it through the whole game healthy. The more I hear about this situation, the less I like Portis' chances of playing effectively in what should be a strong matchup against the Bucs.

Willie Parker is doubtful for this week, and it is almost a certainty that he won't play. Parker hasn't practiced all week with his toe injury, and the Steelers will lean on Rashad Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore. If I was picking one, I would go with the guy who filled in last year and also the better receiver out of the backfield, which is Moore.

Jamal Lewis appears that he will miss another week with his hamstring injury as he hasn't practiced all week long and is listed as doubtful on the injury report. Even the ever sneaky Eric Mangini appears to have failed at hiding this one. Look for Jerome Harrison and James Davis to split time again.

Dwayne Bowe has been back to practice and right now it appears that he will be able to play this week. He apparently has looked pretty good and practice and was playing with the first team offense. The Chiefs are calling him 50/50, but by what he has been able to accomplish, I would say he will play. Unfortunately, it is against the Giants.

Marion Barber will play this week as he has practiced all week long and is listed as probable on the team's injury report. He will likely not go full strength and might only get 15-18 carries. Regardless, I would likely start him against the Broncos. He will start, but I still see Tashard Choice having an impact on the game. Felix Jones is officially out with his PCL strain and will likely miss last week as well. Keep him on your bench.

Kevin Smith says he will play this week for the Lions after suffering what appeared to be a semi-serious shoulder injury last week. Smith has been practicing, however, and says he will be in there. Coach Jim Schwartz says that Smith is a game-time decision, but Smith says you can make the decision now. I would wait until Sunday to get the official word before I put him in this week against the Bears. It is a tough matchup, but it appears Smith could play.

Derrick Ward missed practice again on Friday and now appears that he will miss this week's game against the 'Skins. Ward is dealing with a knee injury and it appears that Cadillac Williams and Earnest Graham will carry the load for Tampa. I don't know if any of them are especially good plays this week.