Fantasy Football News and Notes 10-29-13
News and Notes from Tuesday Night's "Red Zone" Radio Program
Fantasy News and Notes 10-29-13:
BYE WEEKS: Arizona, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, NY Giants, San Francisco
Quarterbacks
Michael Vick aggravated his hamstring injury early in week 8 and he's out for week 9. Thankfully, Nick Foles has been cleared to return to practices after sitting out week 8 with a concussion so we won't have to see any more of Matt Barkley barring a Foles setback.
Robert Griffin III is expected to be okay for this week. RG3 suffered a minor knee injury and while he came out of the game, the Redskins say it was because the game was out of hand and there was no reason to risk him to further injury. He may be limited some in practices this week, but barring unexpected bad news, RG3 will start week 9.
Cleveland will start Jason Campbell again week 9 after he was better than expected week 8. It's likely a permanent move as the team has given every indication that they don't want Brandon Weeden as their starting QB
Houston is going to start Case Keenum this week despite Matt Schaub being recovered enough from a foot injury to play. Keenum did well in his one game so far and the team wants to see if he can do it again. Schaub, while recovered enough from his foot injury to play, would be limited in his mobility because of it if he were to get back into game action.
Minnesota is mulling their options for a week 9 starter at QB. Christian Ponder blew a golden opportunity to reclaim the job with a horrible week 8 performance. Josh Freeman is uncertain to be cleared from his concussion and even if he is he may not be any better than he was in week 7 when he stank. Matt Cassel supposedly isn't in the conversation. My guess would be Ponder, but it's really uncertain who they will pick.
Remember, Josh McCown starts for Chicago this week, and probably the two games after that as well. Jay Cutler is hopeful to return sooner than week 12 from his groin tear, but players are always more hopeful than realistic.
Running Backs
The ankle injury suffered by the Rams Zac Stacy is reportedly not a high ankle sprain. That's the good news. The bad news is that we have no idea if Stacy will be able to play week 9 or not. Hopefully we get an update tomorrow as Stacy was tearing through Seattle's defense last night and looking very much the part of a featured RB before the injury. If he isn't able to play, Daryl Richardson would start in his place.
Jamaal Charles is expected to be fine despite having suffered a minor knee injury week 8. Charles was able to finish out the game and should be fine for week 9.
It's uncertain whether Houston will have either of Arian Foster or Ben Tate this week. Foster is nursing a hamstring injury while Tate has cracked ribs. Both players have said they want to play, but neither is a sure thing. Houston called up practice squad RB Ray Graham, and also added Deji Karim and Dennis Johnson to add depth in case neither Foster nor Tate is able to play. Graham most likely would be the primary but that's just a guess.
Also uncertain for week 9 is Buffalo's C.J. Spiller. Spiller was held out of week 8 to rest a lingering ankle injury and I wouldn't be surprised if the Bills decided to do it again this week. Fred Jackson should be the lead RB again.
Baltimore signed Bernard Scott Monday. The Ravens only had Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce on their roster at the position and Pierce has a hamstring injury that has his status for week 9 uncertain.
No official word yet on whether DeMarco Murray will be able to play week 9 or not. Murray sat out week 8 with his knee sprain despite getting in limited practices all last week. If Murray can return, he'll push Joseph Randle back to just being a backup.
Wide Receivers
Sidney Rice suffered a torn ACL in last night's game and his season is done. Percy Harvin is tentatively expected to return from the PUP list this week and probably would step right into the starting lineup opposite Golden Tate. If Harvin isn't quite ready to return yet, Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse would see increased playing time. We should know more later in the week.
Tampa Bay placed Mike Williams on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury. Tiquan Underwood takes over as the starter opposite Vincent Jackson. Underwood is an underwhelming talent, but he is a name to keep an eye on in case he surprises.
Miami placed Brandon Gibson on injured reserve today. Gibson tore the patellar tendon in his left knee Sunday. Rishard Matthews takes over as Miami's #3 WR but I doubt if you'll get as good production out of him as you were surprisingly getting from Gibson.
Completing the IR trifecta is Detroit's Ryan Broyles. Broyles tore his Achilles tendon Sunday and he is done for the year. Broyles has a long list of serious injuries dating back to college and I wouldn't be surprised if he never plays a down again in the NFL. The Lions are tentatively expecting to get Nate Burleson back when they return from their bye and if so, he probably steps right back in as a starter with Kris Durham moving to the #3 WR role.
It's uncertain again this week if James Jones will be able to play week 9 or not. Jones has missed the last 2 games with his knee injury. It was originally speculated to be a 2-3 week injury so there is a chance he comes back. But there's also the chance he doesn't.
There's been no word on whether Atlanta's Roddy White is close to returning or not. White's missed the last 2 games because of ankle and hamstring injuries. Unless he practices I don't expect him to play.
Cleveland WR/KR Travis Benjamin tore his ACL this past Sunday and he is done for the year. I mention him for those of you who pay in leagues where special teams yardage gets counted as I doubt anyone else would have him on a roster.
Tight Ends
Jimmy Graham was able to play week 8 despite his partially torn plantar fascia injury. While Graham was used sparingly, his usage was very strategic and he remains a prime TD scorer even if his yardage numbers take a hit. Expect that to be the way the Saints use him going forward. His limited usage though drops him from the "must start" category to the "strong starting consideration" list.
Denver's Julius Thomas will use the bye this week to rest an ankle injury suffered week 8. Reports are that it isn't a high ankle sprain and it's hoped he'll be fine for week 10 when Denver returns.
Jeff Cumberland suffered a concussion week 8. The Jets say it's a mild concussion and tentatively, he is expected to be okay for week 9.
Washington made Fred Davis a healthy inactive for a second game in a row week 8. With the trade deadline having come and gone and Davis not having been traded, it's time to give up on him. It would take a Jordan Reed injury for Davis to get back into game action.