Fantasy Football Player News and Injury Notes 11-21-12


Quarterbacks

*-Jacksonville placed Blaine Gabbert on Injured Reserve today. This ends his season. It didn't sound like his injuries were that serious and I wonder if this was just a move to make sure Chad Henne isn't looking over his shoulder. Henne will finish out the season as the Jaguars starting QB. The signed free agent Jordan Palmer to be Henne's backup. Henne has proven inconsistent in the past, but he has had some big games and is worth rostering as a backup fantasy QB.

*-Michael Vick didn't practice today and he is sounding very unlikely to gain medical clearance to practice this week, let alone play on Monday night. Expect Nick Foles to start for the Eagles.

*-Alex Smith is expected to be cleared for game action before the week is over according to Jim Harbaugh. But that's not a guarantee and Harbaugh has declined to shed light on who he plans to start this week between Smith and Colin Kaepernick. My guess is that we'll see Kaepernick start, but that is just a guess.

*-Jay Cutler has been cleared to practice but still needs to be cleared for contact. At this point, I would say Cutler will play this week, but I would play it safe and just plan on keeping him benched unless you have no other even mediocre option. If he can't play, Jason Campbell would start for Chicago.

*-Ryan Lindley has officially been named the starting QB for the Cardinals week 12. John Skelton has been benched and probably holds no fantasy value in any type of league, dynasty or redraft. Lindley can be considered as a 1-2 week desperation filler for the QB needy.

*-Brady Quinn will start for the Chiefs week 12. Matt Cassel has been benched, again. Really, I'd rather have Lindley as my desperation fantasy QB than Quinn.


Running Backs

*-DeMarco Murray is officially Doubtful for tomorrow's game and he won't play. It's hoped that he will be able to return in week 13.

*-Felix Jones is Questionable because of lingering knee soreness. While he is considered a game time decision I expect he'll tough it out and play. However I also expect he will be limited and share a lot of playing time with both Lance Dunbar and Phillip Tanner. I'd avoid Dallas RB's this week.

*-Denver placed Willis McGahee on injured reserve and his season is done. Ronnie Hillman will be the primary RB and be backed up by Lance Ball and Knowshon Moreno.

*-Ahmad Bradshaw was held out of practice today. It's a bit concerning that coming out of the bye Bradshaw is stuck in his pattern of not practicing more than once or twice a week, but that's been his routine for a couple of years now with his annual foot injuries. Expect Bradshaw to start week 12, but also expect to see a bit more of Andre Brown and for the split to be closer than might be expected.

*-Maurice Jones-Drew isn't going to play this week but he has shed his crutches and could return in either week 13 or 14. Jalen Parmele will start and dominate carries for Jacksonville until MJD returns.

*-Darren Sproles is practicing in full this week and is expected to be active week 12. What this does to the RB rotation is unknown, but if I had to guess, I'd say Mark Ingram's strong performances will make the Saints go back to making Chris Ivory inactive on game days. Given the poor matchup against the 49ers this week and the unpredictable timeshare, I would avoid Saints RB's this week if you can.

*-Darren McFadden was unable to practice today and he appears doubtful for week 12. Expect Marcel Reece to dominate the RB duties again this week.


Wide Receivers

*-Pierre Garcon is Questionable and considered a game time decision for tomorrow's game. While I expect Garcon will play, I also expect his snaps will be limited and I wouldn't trust him in a starting fantasy lineup.

*-Both Brandon Lloyd and Wes Welker of New England are Questionable for tomorrow night's game, but like has been the case the last several weeks, both are fully expected to play. There's a lot of speculation going around about Julian Edelman eating into Lloyd's playing time in 2 WR sets, but I need more than just one good game by Edelman before I'm buying into that.

*-Jeremy Kerley is Questionable for tomorrow night's game because of lingering heel and hamstring issues, but he is expected to play. However it does need to be noted that he played only about 1/3 of the offensive snaps in week 11 and therefore the injuries are limiting him in games. He also hasn't caught for more than 57 yards in any of the last 3 games.

*-Julio Jones was unable to practice and while likely to play this week on his gimpy ankle, I expect he'd be limited. Remember last week: 3 catches for 33 yards before he couldn't play anymore.

*-Percy Harvin was unable to practice today because of his ankle injury and he is shaping up to be a game time decision for week 12. Between that, and a matchup on the road against the Bears, and I'm not recommending Harvin as a good fantasy play.

*-Antonio Brown was able to practice in limited fashion today but it's still believed he is going to miss week 12 with his ankle injury. Week 13 is a more realistic return date for Brown.

*-Danny Amendola was held out of practice today because of the foot injury he sustained week 11. It's likely he'll be listed as Questionable for week 12 but I do expect he will play. Just maybe he'll be limited though.

*-Updating something someone on the radio program inquired about last night, the Packers aren't ruling out Greg Jennings for this week. Not yet anyway. The team says Jennings is making good progress in his recovery from abdominal surgery. But after bringing him back before he was fully recovered earlier this season you'd think they would have learned their lesson and would err on the side of caution and sit him at least one more game. That's what I expect they'll do. However, if anyone dropped Jennings in your leagues, and you need a WR, he makes a smart grab now for the fantasy playoffs.

*-Dwayne Bowe was able to put in a limited practice today despite his neck injury. This bodes well for his chances for playing week 12. What doesn't bode well for him is Brady Quinn at quarterback.

*-Alshon Jeffery had arthroscopic surgery on his injured knee and will miss 2-4 weeks. Jeffery is someone you hold onto in dynasty leagues but in redraft leagues, he probably isn't going to be able to help you much when he can't stay healthy this season.

*-Jacksonville placed Laurent Robinson on injured reserve today after it was revealed he sustained his 4th concussion of the season in week 11. He's done for the year and probably even in dynasty leagues holds very little value. Robinson was great last year when defenses couldn't guard Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, AND him. But in Jacksonville, he was a bust.

*-Kevin Ogletree has been ruled OUT for tomorrow's game because of a concussion. If you haven't already dropped him from your roster, do so now. I won't be updating the 2012's First Week Wonder again unless he really deserves it.

*-Denarius Moore has a hamstring strain but was able to practice some today and should be okay for week 12. I only mention this at all because of Moore's previous issue with hamstring injuries.


Tight Ends

*-Despite being listed as Questionable by the Patriots, several media outlets have said Aaron Hernandez is expected to start tomorrow night. With Rob Gronkowski out the next several weeks, Hernandez has a chance to be huge for fantasy owners if he's able to avoid any setbacks in the ankle injury that's caused him to miss the last few games.

*-Dennis Pitta's concussion suffered week 11 appears to have been minor and he was able to practice today. He should be okay for week 12 but has been an inconsistent fantasy performer and is no more than a TE2.

*-While Coby Fleener was able to practice some today, he's still expected to miss week 12 with his shoulder injury. Expect Dwayne Allen to dominate the TE snaps this week again.