I have to budget more and more time with each successive week for the Friday injury updates. Through the first two or three weeks, the fantasy-relevant injuries are usually pretty limited. But as the weeks go on, more and more top players start getting dinged up.
So sit back, relax, and strap it down as I go through every single injury that will affect your fantasy football week 4 lineup decisions.
One of the biggest injury stories of the week has been Andre Johnson.
The consensus #1 receiver coming into the season has gotten off to a slow start and now has a gimpy wheel. Johnson is dealing with an ankle injury that limited him last week and is causing him to miss practice this week too. Unfortunately, Johnson has been quoted as saying that the ankle is even more sore this week than it was last week.
You’re just going to have to check out the Friday practice reports and then watch this one up until kickoff on Sunday. It’s a late game so you may have to make a start/sit decision without knowing whether he’ll be active or inactive…but such is the frustration of fantasy football.
If he does play, Johnson will be matched up against Nnamdi Asomouga, which means he’ll have a tough go of it even if the ankle is feeling better. You don’t sit him because of that, but it does mean you should temper expectations.
In other Texans’ injury news, Owen Daniels is on the injury report with a hamstring problem that has kept him out of practice. He did practice Wednesday, so see what happens today before making an judgments here.
One of the other biggest injury stories of the week has been Ray Rice.
The Ravens’ running back has been limited in practice this week while dealing with a knee injury. He has a bruised right knee and the latest injury update on Rice is that he claims he will be ready to play against the Steelers on Sunday. He did have an MRI, which revealed no ligament or cartilage damage, both good signs.
Keep in mind though that the Rice and the Ravens are facing the Steelers’ outstanding run defense. Rice played well against the Steelers last year, but that was with no Troy Polamalu running around in the secondary. Rice should play, but temper your expectations.
In other Baltimore-Pittsburgh injury news, Todd Heap is on the injury report with some type of shoulder malady, but he practiced fully Thursday.
Another important running back injury to keep an eye on is Pierre Thomas in New Orleans. He did not practice on Thursday as he deals with an injured ankle. Thomas is expected to play on Sunday IF the ankle is feeling better, despite missing practice, but he will most likely be a game-time decision. Chris Ivory is the name to know if you’re a Thomas owner.
Steven Jackson did not practice on Thursday as he tries to recover from a groin injury. The latest injury update on SJax is that he is expected to test out the groin today in practice, at which time we should know more about his expected availability for Sunday. We’ve seen Jackson have nagging injuries and still play, and play well, so perhaps that will happen here. Keep your eye on today’s reports and grab Kenneth Darby if you haven’t already.
Cedric Benson has a knee issue, but practiced fully on Thursday and should be fine for Sunday’s matchup against Cleveland. I like him to have a solid day. Teammate Jordan Shipley was limited in practice Thursday with a shoulder injury. He should play Sunday, though probably not at full strength.
For the Browns, Joshua Cribbs was limited in practice Thursday, as were Jerome Harrison and Jake Delhomme. Cribbs should play, though he has never really done much against Baltimore. Whether Harrison or Delhomme play isn’t really all that relevant. Delhomme sucks and Harrison lost his chance to be the #1 back, at least for the foreseeable future, to Peyton Hillis.
Knowshon Moreno still isn’t practicing because of the hamstring injury he suffered late last week. He is not expected to play in Week 4.
The Lions are full of injured players, most notably Matthew Stafford, who remains unable to practice because of the shoulder injury he suffered in Week 1. He should start throwing and practicing again in the coming weeks though.
Lions rookie RB Jahvid Best has also been out of practice this week while dealing with a turf toe injury. The latest injury update on Best is that he is, however, expected to practice today and thinks he’ll be able to play Sunday. Watch the reports from practice today, but temper expectations if he does play. The Lions face Green Bay, a team very adept at stopping the run.
In Indianapolis, Donald Brown has an injured hamstring and did not practice Thursday. Likewise, Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez did not practice either. None of these three guys is an especially strong play even they suit up on Sunday. Joseph Addai is a bit dinged up too (no surprise there) but practiced fully on Thursday and should be a solid start against Jacksonville.
Continuing with the Colts, WR revelation Austin Collie has a heel injury that has limited him in practice. He should be fine and is expected to play, but double-check today’s practice reports and make sure. You can never be to sure with these things and NFL teams aren’t exactly forthright all the time when it comes to injuries.
Louis Murphy is a popular sleeper for Sunday, with Oakland facing the terrible Texans’ pass D. Murphy has an injured collarbone that his limited his practice time this week, but he is expected to play. Watch this one though. RB Michael Bush is back healthy, but he’s a risky start until he starts stealing carries away from Darren McFadden.
Clinton Portis has been practicing fully despite the wrist injury. He’ll be a risky play all year though because his coach is the notoriously fickle Mike Shanahan and Portis just isn’t nearly as good as he once was.
In Philadelphia, Jeremy Maclin is on the injury report with a back issue, but he practiced fully and is good to go for Sunday.
Steve Breaston is out for a while in Arizona after undergoing surgery this week. Fellow WR Early Doucet is also out. The good news for the Cardinals is that Beanie Wells is back and practicing fully after looking good in last week’s game.
Mario Manningham practiced yesterday despite being on the injury report with a concussion.
Fred Taylor has missed practice this week as he deals with a foot injury. There is a long time between now and Monday night, but the expectation is that he won’t play, making BenJarvus Green-Ellis the running back to own in New England…for now.
Darrelle Revis will not play for the Jets against Buffalo. His hamstring still hurts and is another reminder of why going to training camp is important. Otherwise, the Bills-Jets game is pretty clean.