News and Notes 10-17-12

Bye Weeks: Atlanta, Denver, Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia, San Diego  


Quarterbacks

*-Aaron Rodgers was limited in practice today because of a minor calf injury. It's not believed to be serious at all and nothing that will prevent Rodgers from starting this week against the Rams.

*-Jake Locker took part in a limited practice for the Titans but the team has already announced that Matt Hasselbeck will start for them this week. But this is a good sign Locker is nearing a return. Like I said yesterday: the Titans won't hurry Locker back while Hasselbeck is playing well.

*-Alex Smith is listed as Probable for tomorrow night's game against Seattle. Smith suffered a finger injury on his throwing hand back in week 5 but no one has blamed that for his terrible performance in week 6. He'll start without issue.


Running Backs

*-Ahmad Bradshaw skipped practice today because of a foot injury. It's unknown how serious it is and whether this was just a day of rest after Bradshaw has shouldered big workloads the last two games or not. Bradshaw has an extensive history of foot issues the last few years and this has to be a red flag for owners. David Wilson is a highly recommended handcuff and could see an increased role this week if the foot turns out to be a real concern. If Bradshaw doesn't practice by Friday, I'd be hesitant to rely on him.

*-Staying with the Giants, Andre Brown practiced in full today and appears on track to return week 7 after missing last week with a concussion. If Bradshaw's foot injury prevents him from playing, Brown and Wilson could end up splitting the rushing duties this week.

*-Trent Richardson practiced in limited fashion today and appears to be on track to start week 7 despite his ribs injury. He may be limited some though and that will lead to an increased role for Montario Hardesty.

*-Neither Rashard Mendenhall nor Isaac Redman practiced today. Mendenhall has a sore Achilles tendon while Redman has an ankle injury. Both players are likely to be listed as Questionable for Sunday night's game against Cincinnati. Unless we get good news about either player Friday on the injury report, it's likely both will be listed as Questionable and considered game time decisions. I'd avoid the situation with Pittsburgh playing the night game and we probably won't know until an hour before that game kicks off.

*-Brandon Bolden didn't practice today because of his knee injury. He has to be considered very questionable for week 7 and unless he gets into a practice by Friday, I would expect him to sit out week 7.

*-Adrian Peterson was held out of practice today to rest up a bothersome ankle injury. It's minor though and nothing that will jeopardize AP's status for week 7.

*-Arian Foster was limited in practice because of a minor knee ailment. Foster has been regularly putting in limited practices on Wednesday's and this is not a real concern. Foster will be fine for week 7.

*-Alex Green was also limited for the Packers because of a shoulder issue. It's not believed to be serious though and he should be fine to start this week and be the primary RB for Green Bay.

*-Buffalo has said they will continue to have an even split between Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller going forward each week. While this limits the huge upside of either, even in a time share both can be viable fantasy starters depending on the matchup. The matchup against Tennessee's 25th ranked fantasy run defense is a good one for both.

*-It's rumored that the Rams are going to divvy up the RB snaps between Steven Jackson and Daryl Richardson more evenly going forward. Jackson becomes a free agent at the end of this season and the Rams would like to see whether the explosive Richardson can handle an increased load.


Wide Receivers

*-Brandon Lloyd's shoulder injury appears to be a non-issue as the Patriots didn't even list him on the practice report injury list today. This makes me suspicious as the Patriots always play games with their injury report and list Wes Welker as having been limited with an ankle issue and Julian Edelman as limited with his still, not as of yet disclosed exactly what the issue is hand injury. Welker will be fine; Lloyd should be fine barring any late week setbacks; and Edelman probably will be inactive week 7.

*-Pierre Garcon didn't practice today and it appears he is unlikely to play week 7. Be ready to keep Garcon on fantasy benches again week 7 because of his lingering foot injury.

*-Greg Jennings sat out practice today for the Packers with his groin injury. It's looking like Jennings likely will miss week 7 as he tries to get over the groin injury that's bothered him since week 1. Expect James Jones to continue starting in his place.

*-Jerome Simpson swears he'll play week 7 but I'm not buying it. Not until he practices in full and is listed as Probable. His talent is worth keeping him, but whatever this back issue is needs to be fixed so it's not an every week worry. For what it's worth, he did practice in full today, but needs to get thru the next two days without any setbacks.

*-Put the brakes on the Josh Gordon hype machine! Both Mohamed Massaquoi and Travis Benjamin were able to practice in limited fashion today and there's a chance they may be able to play. While I am still firm in believing the Browns just can't believe either of them are better or offer more big play potential than Gordon, I've been wrong before. If Massaquoi can play, he could push his way past Gordon back into the starting lineup. Even if that's an insanely wrong decision to make.

*-New Orleans should have Lance Moore back this week. He's practicing in full and barring any setbacks in the hamstring injury that caused him to miss week 5 (the Saints had the bye week 6), he should be ready to go.

*-Andre Johnson was limited with his groin injury, but likely the Texans are just taking it easy on their star WR. I'm not worried about Johnson's status for this week.

*-Stephen Hill was limited because of his lingering hamstring issue. Hill played thru it week 6 though and should do so for the Jets again in week 7 as they face off with the Patriots 30th ranked pass defense.

*-Mario Manningham is expected to play Thursday night despite being listed as Questionable with a shoulder injury. But I would hope you have better fantasy options than Manningham against the Seahawks.

*-Jacksonville will likely be without Laurent Robinson week 7. Robinson has suffered 3 concussions since the start of training camp and he is unlikely to play this week. Cecil Shorts will start in his place opposite Justin Blackmon.


Tight Ends

*-As expected, both Rob Gronkowski (hip) and Aaron Hernandez (ankle) were limited in practice today. Neither player is in any danger of not playing week 7 though.

*-Jimmy Graham was held out of practice today because of the ankle injury he suffered back in week 5. He finished that game despite it though and while I would expect he'll practice at least in limited fashion by Friday, it could be worse than we're being told and he might have a high ankle sprain. Be sure to check my blog for the latest on Graham and all the players I talk about here in my Saturday team by team news and notes.

*-Martellus Bennett appears to be okay for week 7. He isn't listed on the injury report at all despite having been limited the last couple of games with a knee injury. A healthy Bennett is a strong play against the Redskins last ranked fantasy pass defense.

*-Jermichael Finley was limited in practice today and while he should play week 7, he's still dealing with a shoulder injury and has been extremely disappointing as a fantasy starter.

*-Dustin Keller was limited in practice and while he's not completely over the hamstring injury that has cost him most of the 2012 season, he was able to make it thru week 6 without aggravating it and should be fine for week 7.

*-Fred Davis was limited in Washington's practice today with a minor knee issue. He's fully expected to be fine for this week though.


Kickers

*-San Francisco's David Akers is listed as Probable for tomorrow night's game because of an undisclosed illness. Often times players get sick and end up listed on the injury report as Probable but make it thru games without issue. We'll know for sure about an hour before kickoff tomorrow night but I fully expect Akers will be fine.