Fantasy Football Injury News and Player Notes 12-19-12


Quarterbacks

*-Robert Griffin III practiced in full today and baring any setbacks, he is expected to start this week for Washington.

*-Tom Brady was held out of practice today. The Patriots list him as having a shoulder issue, but it's really just a well earned day off for the fantasy stud. Brady should return to practice tomorrow and be just fine for week 16.

*-Kansas City says Brady Quinn will be okay to start week 16 despite a ribs injury. The question just begs to be asked though: just how BAD is Ricky Stanzi?

*Arizona announced Ryan Lindley will start week 16. That's not a surprise after the Cardinals broke their 9 game losing streak in week 15. But really, Lindley wasn't anywhere near the reason the Cards won that game. No matter what happens this week, I doubt we'll see Brian Hoyer start in week 17. Larry Fitzgerald deserves so much better than this.


Running Backs

*-LeSean McCoy is expected to start for the Eagles this week. He's finally over his concussion. Bryce Brown will still get some playing time, but McCoy will be the primary RB this week.

*-No word yet on whether Maurice Jones-Drew will be able to play week 16 or not. He is very Questionable to play this week. Fellow Jaguars RB Rashad Jennings failed his concussion test and with only two games left, he likely won't play again this season. Expect Montell Owens to be the Jags featured RB again week 16.

*-Jonathan Stewart was unable to practice today because of his ankle injuries. He seems very unlikely to play week 16. Expect DeAngelo Williams to start again for Carolina and make for a decent fantasy football sleeper this week against the Raiders.

*-Alex Green was unable to practice today because of a reported concussion. It's the first I've heard of Green being concussed and it calls into question whether he'll be able to play week 16 or not. The Packers are optimistic he'll be okay, but if he isn't, DuJuan Harris would likely be the primary RB splitting time with Ryan Grant and John Kuhn. It's a favorable home matchup against the Titans this week and the truly desperate could take a flier on Harris as an acquisition in case Green doesn't play. Hopefully we know more about Green's status tomorrow.

*-Ronnie Brown was able to put in a limited practice today despite having a hamstring injury. His status for week 16 is uncertain. If he can play, he figures to split the RB duties with Jackie Battle. If he can't play, it would be Battle and Curtis Brinkley. If Brown practices again tomorrow, I'd say he will play.

*-Miami placed Daniel Thomas on injured reserve with what is believed to be a minor knee injury. His season is done. Lamar Miler will finish out the season as Reggie Bush's top backup.

*-Delone Carter has been ruled OUT for week 16 because of his ankle injury. Vick Ballard will again be the workhorse RB for the Colts this week.

*-Amongst RB's who were either held out of practice, or limited in some fashion but are fully expected to be fine for week 16, the list includes Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, Dallas's DeMarco Murray, Denver's Knowshon Moreno, the Rams Steven Jackson, Detroit's Mikel Leshoure,


Wide Receivers

*-Jordy Nelson missed practice today with his hamstring injury. Nelson is sounding very unlikely to play week 16.

*-Torrey Smith was unable to practice today because of his concussion. If he isn't cleared by tomorrow, I'd recommend having another WR option available for week 16 as it will be doubtful he plays. Jacoby Jones would likely start in his place and makes an intriguing name to look for on free agent wires if you're WR desperate.

*-Kendall Wright didn't practice today because of a cracked rib and he is not expected to play week 16. Why the Titans wouldn't just put him on injured reserve with only one game left after this week is beyond me.

*-Miami may be without Davone Bess again this week. Bess missed week 15 with a back injury and he was unable to practice today. On the good news front for the Dolphins, Brian Hartline's ankle injury is a non-issue, but he was limited some today because of a minor back issue himself.

*-Mario Manningham was able to put in a limited practice today. Manningham has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury. Right now consider him questionable for week 16.

*-The Jets placed rookie Stephen Hill on injured reserve today. Hill has been bothered by a knee ligament strain the past few weeks and rather than risk him making it worse, they wisely have decided to shut him down for the last 2 games of the 2012 season.

*-Amongst WR's who were either held out of practice, or limited in some fashion but are fully expected to be fine for week 16, the list includes Detroit's Calvin Johnson, the Giants Hakeem Nicks, Atlanta's Roddy White, Green Bay's Randall Cobb, the Patriots duo of Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd, Denver's Eric Decker, Philadelphia's Jeremy Maclin, Tennessee's Kenny Britt, Carolina's Brandon LaFell, and Kansas City's Jonathan Baldwin.  


Tight Ends

*-As expected, Rob Gronkowski practiced in limited fashion today and while there's going to be a lot of speculation about him possibly playing this week, I doubt he does. However, I fully expect Aaron Hernandez to play despite his having been limited in practice.

*-Jimmy Graham has a minor wrist injury but he is in no danger of not playing this week. Graham hasn't scored a TD in the last 4 games and is overdue for a big game.

*-Brandon Pettigrew missed practice today because of his ankle injury and it won't be a surprise if the Lions place him on injured reserve if he doesn't practice by the end of the week. Tony Scheffler is expected to start this week.

*-Dustin Keller didn't practice today because of his ankle injury. Like with Pettigrew, I doubt Keller plays this week and will be surprised if he isn't placed on injured reserve by the Jets.

*-Scott Chandler missed practice today with a groin injury. It's not believed to be serious though and Chandler should be okay for week 16.

*-Rumors are the Kansas City's Tony Moeaki may have a concussion. Just makes it easy to recommend staying away from him in week 16.