News and Notes 11-06-12

Bye weeks: Arizona, Cleveland, Green Bay, Washington


Quarterbacks

*-The Eagles have stated they are sticking with struggling Michael Vick at QB. It's the right move for now as that offensive line is bad and Nick Foles is much more like a statue than a scrambler.

*-No word out of Tennessee on whether Matt Hasselbeck will remain the starter in week 10 after the Titans got trounced by the Bears this past week. Jake Locker has been practicing in limited fashion the last few weeks and his return has been pushed back because Hasselbeck had been helping the team stay competitive, but I've been saying it all along that when Hasselbeck stinks it up, you'll see Locker return. But the Titans may decide to go with Hasselbeck again week 10 as they have the bye in week 11 and it would give Locker more time to get his shoulder injury healed up. Stay tuned for an update on this during the week.

*-Also no word on whether the Chiefs will start Matt Cassel or Brady Quinn Monday night. Quinn still hasn't been cleared medically to return to practices. No matter who starts for Kansas City, the Steelers are a top 5 fantasy defensive play this week.


Running Backs

*-The Raiders are likely to be without their top two RB's week 10. Both Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson suffered what has been reported as high ankle sprains this past weekend. Neither was able to finish the game and this injury usually keeps a player out at least a couple of games. Neither has been officially ruled out for week 10 yet, but it's likely they will be by Friday. If that's the case, Marcel Reece and Taiwan Jones would split up the rushing duties. Reece played extensively after both RB's went down and is one of the better free agent pickups this week for the RB desperate as he will likely be the primary RB over Jones and the matchup is good against Baltimore's 28th ranked fantasy run defense. Reece also is a good pass catching RB.

*-No word yet on whether Donald Brown will be able to play Thursday night. Brown apparently aggravated his knee injury week 9 and his status is deemed Questionable for this week. Even if Brown is active, I'd expect we'll see a lot of Vick Ballard as the best fantasy bet of the Colts RB's. I also think we'll see a bit more of Delone Carter. Carter seems to have settled into a goal line and power RB role behind Ballard and Brown.

*-Maurice Jones-Drew has been ruled OUT for Thursday night for the Jaguars because of his foot injury. He's expected to miss at least a couple more games. Rashad Jennings will start again in his place.

*-Too early in the week to know for sure how the Steelers RB situation will look for Monday night. Jonathan Dwyer is expected to be able to play after missing this past weekend with a quad injury. Rashard Mendenhall may be able to play, but it's been speculated the Steelers will sit Mendenhall this week as a precaution to allow his Achilles strain more time to get healed. Isaac Redman is likely to start after a solid showing week 9. But Redman will also likely split carries with Dwyer.

*-Jamaal Charles is expected to be okay for Monday night. Charles suffered a neck or shoulder injury last Thursday night, but luckily, he didn't get a concussion. He should be fine.

*-DeMarco Murray is currently not expected to be able to play week 10 because of the foot injury that has kept him out the last games. Expect Felix Jones to start again. Also expect to see a bit more of Lance Dunbar in a split situation with Jones. It was thought Phillip Tanner would be the guy to rotate with Jones, but in week 9 it was Dunbar and he appears to have usurped Tanner as the top backup to Jones.  

*-While there's been a lot of speculation that Darren Sproles may be able to play week 10 for the Saints, I think after watching a solid showing by all Saints RB's last night, the team will be smart and hold him out to allow his hand injury to heal. How the carries get split up between Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram, and Chris Ivory though is likely to be one of the hardest situations to predict.

*-It's becoming apparent that Buffalo needs to use C.J. Spiller more than they have been. Spiller is more explosive than Fred Jackson and provides more big plays. Expect Spiller to start getting more playing time at Jackson's expense as soon as this week.

*-Andre Brown is tentatively expected to be okay for week 10 despite suffering a shoulder injury week 9. If the injury turns out to be more serious than currently believed, it could mean David Wilson gets a chance for playing time behind Ahmad Bradshaw.

*-While the Packers are on bye this week, if James Starks is available on free agent wires, he should be considered for acquisition. Starks ran with much more authority in week 9 than Alex Green. I think until Cedric Benson returns, Starks will be the primary RB with Green the change of pace and 3rd down RB as he is a better pass catcher than Starks.

*-Ben Tate is expected to miss week 10 with his lingering hamstring injury. Justin Forsett will again be the backup to Arian Foster.

*-While the Panthers continue to say Jonathan Stewart is their featured RB, it sure seems that DeAngelo Williams is getting more time than he was before Stewart was anointed. Not saying DW is the better fantasy play, just making a curious note here.

*-Brandon Bolden's status for week 10 is uncertain because of his lingering knee injury. Apparently the bye week wasn't enough time for it to get healed up. With Shane Vereen playing well behind Stevan Ridley, the Patriots are in no hurry to bring Bolden back before he's totally healed up.


Wide Receivers

*-Calvin Johnson played thru his nagging knee issue this past week and didn't look hindered much. Expect Megatron to be held out some in practices again this week but be fine for Sunday.

*-Antonio Brown is considered doubtful to be able to play Monday night after suffering a minor high ankle sprain. This means Emmanuel Sanders will start in his place for Pittsburgh. Sanders has always flashed great fantasy potential but has struggled with health and consistency in the past. His 2012 production as the Steelers #3 WR has been decent enough to think if he was playing a more prominent role he could be someone the WR desperate could consider since he'll have a matchup against a struggling Kansas City pass defense.

*-Buffalo expects to have Steve Johnson for week 10 despite Johnson having suffered a quad bruise injury. Johnson may be held out some in practices this week but he should be available for the game against the Patriots 29th ranked fantasy pass defense.

*-Percy Harvin is very questionable for week 10 because of an ankle injury suffered this past weekend. He hasn't been ruled out yet, but early week reports say he's unlikely to play. Harvin does have a history of playing thru injuries so I wouldn't write him off yet, but I encourage you to be ready to keep him benched. Michael Jenkins would likely start in Harvin's place opposite Jerome Simpson if Harvin can't play.

*-The Colts expect to have Donnie Avery available for Thursday night's game despite him suffering a hip injury this past weekend. Avery may be limited some though leading to some sleeper value for Colts #3 WR T.Y. Hilton.

*-Chicago is expected to hold Alshon Jeffery out of week 10. Jeffery is still recovering from hand surgery.

*-It's unknown if Robert Meachem or Eddie Royal will play week 10 for San Diego. Both missed week 9 because of hamstring injuries. The Chargers have already stated that after one game, they plan on using Danario Alexander a lot more going forward and Alexander could end up usurping Meachem's spot in the starting lineup if he can stay healthy. Alexander's never lacked talent, but after multiple knee surgeries throughout his high school, college, and pro career, he doesn't hold up for very long any more.

*-Kendall Wright suffered an elbow injury week 9 but it's not currently believed to be serious enough to make him miss week 10.

*-It's hoped that with the bye this week to rest up, Jordy Nelson will be able to return in week 11 from an ankle injury suffered this past weekend.

*-It's also hoped that the bye week will be enough time for Santana Moss to recover from a concussion suffered this weekend.

*-Seattle waived Charly Martin. This should impact no one's fantasy team.

*-Carolina activated David Gettis from the PUP list. He'll compete with Louis Murphy for the Panthers #3 WR spot. To make room for him, they placed WR Kealoha Pilares on injured reserve. Neither Gettis' promotion nor Pilares IR status should have any impact on any fantasy teams, anywhere.  


Tight Ends

*-Coby Fleener has been ruled OUT for Thursday night's game because of his shoulder injury. Dwayne Allen will dominate TE snaps again for the Colts.

*-No word yet on whether Aaron Hernandez will be okay for week 10 or not. Hernandez was rested thru the Patriots bye week because of his ankle injury and it's hoped he will be able to play this week. We'll know more after tomorrow's practice report comes out.