News and Notes 11-08-12

Bye weeks: Arizona, Cleveland, Green Bay, Washington


Quarterbacks

*-Jake Locker made it thru a contact practice today without any problems. Barring any setbacks by Sunday he is expected to start over Matt Hasselbeck.


Running Backs

*-Although LeSean McCoy missed practice again today because of an illness that also prevented him from practicing yesterday, reports out of Philadelphia say McCoy is not in any danger of missing week 10. Hopefully he can get over whatever it is enough to be able to practice tomorrow so fantasy owners can have their minds put at ease. I fully expect McCoy will play.

*-Ahmad Bradshaw was able to practice in limited fashion today. This is an upgrade over yesterday and while he may sit out tomorrow because of his foot injury, Bradshaw should be expected to start week 10 without issues.

*-Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson didn't practice again today and both are considered very doubtful to play because of their respective high ankle sprains. Neither should be considered likely to play week 11 either. Latest word says that it will likely be Taiwan Jones "starting" but both he and Marcel Reece are expected to split up the RB duties this week. Both can be considered as flex options against a Ravens run defense that ranks 28th in fantasy points allowed. Don't worry if you see an injury designation for Reece on your league management site. Reece has a minor hamstring issue but practiced in full both yesterday and today.

*-While DeMarco Murray was able to take part in some individual drills today in practice he is not expected to play week 10 as he recovers from a foot injury. Felix Jones will start again in his place this week, but Murray may be able to return in week 11.

*-Adrian Peterson missed practice today with an illness. He practiced yesterday so the minor ankle issue he's been dealing with isn't anything to be concerned with. Everyone gets sick. It's cold and flu season in some parts of the country. AP will be fine for week 10 barring anything unforeseen.

*-As expected, BenJarvus Green-Ellis returned to practice today after missing yesterday with an illness. He'll be fine to consider as a RB3 this week.

*-Brandon Bolden was unable to practice again today. The Patriots are very secretive when it comes to player injuries and it's now looking like the knee injury Bolden suffered a few weeks ago was more severe than was being let on. Shane Vereen will be the top backup to Stevan Ridley this week again.

*-Despite the optimism some media outlets had regarding Darren Sproles possibly returning as early as this week, he hasn't been able to practice and is considered extremely doubtful to play week 10. Look for the nigh unpredictable three-headed RB attack of Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram, and Chris Ivory again this week from the Saints.

*-In a bit of a surprise, Mike Tolbert returned to a full practice today. Tolbert was held out yesterday because of a head injury that was believed to be a concussion. But if he practiced, he must have passed concussion tests. Tolbert is now expected to be able to play week 10 for the Panthers.


Wide Receivers

*-The Percy Harvin yo-yo reporting continues. Tuesday he was extremely doubtful, Wednesday he was looking a lot better and considered questionable; today he's back to being extremely doubtful. While Harvin has played thru a myriad of injuries in the past, I would steer clear of him this week. Likely he's going to be listed as Doubtful on Friday's injury, but still considered a game time decision. Even if active, with the way the reports sound right now about Harvin, I'd have to imagine he'd be very limited and not the usual Percy Harvin fantasy owners have come to automatically insert in their starting lineups each week.

*-After missing yesterday with some swelling on his knee, Hakeem Nicks returned to a limited practice today. Nicks says he's going to play this week but I'll feel a lot better about considering him for a fantasy starting lineup if he can practice again tomorrow. Be sure to check out the Team by Team news and notes I post in my blog on Saturday for the latest on Nicks and whether you can consider him.

*-Both Calvin Johnson and Titus Young were held out of practice again today with their respective knee issues. Johnson is fully expected to be okay to start this week even if he doesn't practice at all this week as he did that last week. Young probably will put in a limited practice tomorrow and be questionable on the injury report, but should play. If Young doesn't practice tomorrow in at least limited fashion, I'd be concerned and would expect him to be a game time decision. If he were to miss this week, it could mean rookie Ryan Broyles gets the start. But I'm not jumping out to grab Broyles off free agent wires quite yet myself.

*-As expected, Eric Decker returned to a full practice today after being limited yesterday with a thigh injury. Don't worry about Peyton Manning's favorite target, Decker will be fine for week 10.

*-As expected, Steve Johnson returned to practice today. The quad bruise he has is not expected to prevent him from being ready to start in a great matchup against a very shaky Patriots pass defense.

*-Both Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal practiced in full again today and both are expected to be fine for their normal roles week 10. But it will be interesting to see whether the Chargers stay true to their word when they said after last Thursday night's game that Danario Alexander will become a bigger part of their offense going forward. For right now, I wouldn't trust any Chargers WR other than Malcom Floyd.

*-Kevin Walter was able to practice today for the Texans despite a minor groin injury. He should play this week but is hard to trust in a fantasy lineup when fully healthy and having a great matchup. He's not fully healthy and his matchup this week stinks against the Bears.


Tight Ends

*-Owen Daniels was unable to practice again today because of what is believed to be a hip pointer injury. His week 10 status is now in serious question and between the hip, and the matchup against the Bears, I'm not trusting Daniels in any of my fantasy lineups this week.

*-I will trust Aaron Hernandez though. Hernandez was able to practice again today and while likely with everyone on the Patriots roster, be listed as Questionable on tomorrow's official injury report, he is expected to play week 10.

*-Brandon Myers has been limited in practice the last two days with a minor shoulder injury. It's probably because he isn't used to catching TD passes. After all, those were the first two of his 4 year career. Myers should be fine for week 10, just don't expect another 2 TD performance by him. But thru 8 games, he's on pace to finish the season with 78 receptions, 884 yards, and 4 TD's. That's a lot better than anyone thought he'd have.