News and Notes 9-15-11
 

Quarterbacks

*-Andy Dalton returned to practice for Cincinnati. It now appears he will be able to start week 2. Bruce Gradkowski goes back to the bench. But like I've said before, I really hope you have better options to consider for your starting fantasy QB than either on the Bengals.


Running Backs

*- Arian Foster practiced again today, albeit in a limited fashion. But he appears to be on track to start week 2. This pushes Ben Tate into a backup/complimentary role. Barring any setbacks between now and Sunday, Foster should be able to be started as you normally would. Tate drops to being a risky option and probably is best left on the bench. Derrick Ward hasn't practiced at all yet this week with the ankle injury he suffered in week 1 and with Tate apparently passing him up to be Foster's top backup, if you have Ward, you can consider dropping him if you need the roster spot. But it's early in the season and he may still have value down the road so weigh that when considering dropping him.

*- Knowshon Moreno has been held out of practices this week after sustaining a hamstring injury Monday night. While there has been no official word regarding his status for week 2, I wouldn't be surprised if he appears as Questionable on the injury report, and maybe even considered a game time decision. Even if Moreno plays, I would expect him to be limited some, and that could mean more opportunities for Willis McGahee. If Moreno can't play, McGahee would be expected to have a full workload, making him a more attractive fantasy consideration. But for now, I encourage Moreno owners to be ready to go with another option and McGahee owners to be vigilant as McGahee could be worth considering as a fantasy RB3 this week if Moreno doesn't play.

*-Steven Jackson's quad injury is recovering, and while recent reports say he may still be able to play Monday night, I seriously doubt he will. Jackson's played thru injuries that should have sidelined him before though so you can't totally count him out. But it would be a major surprise if he was active, let alone effective with the injury. I still expect Cadillac Williams to be the Rams workhorse RB Monday night against the Giants.


Wide Receivers

*-Calvin Johnson has been held out of practices so far this week with a minor ankle sprain suffered week 1. The injury is not believed to be serious and it's likely the Lions are just being very cautious with their star WR. This is no different than in past years when Megatron has skipped practices during the week so he can be fully ready to play in games. I don't believe you should have any concerns about starting Johnson against a Chiefs pass defense that got lit up by Buffalo last week.

*-Buffalo's Steve Johnson missed practice Thursday with a minor groin injury. This doesn't appear to be of a major concern though and he is still expected to be fine to start week 2. You'll want t check my team by team injury news and notes on Saturday in my blog for an update but I think you can consider him as you normally would for your starting lineup week 2.

*-Santonio Holmes of the Jets has been limited in practices because of minor knee and quad injuries, but they are not considered to be serious at all and he is fully expected to be fine for week 2. Consider starting him as you normally would without worry.

*-Dez Bryant has been sitting out practices for Dallas so far this week because of his quad injury. However, it is believed to be precautionary so it can heal up as much as it can before week 2's game and Bryant is not considered in any danger of missing week 2. Again, be looking for the team by team updates Saturday in my blog.

*-Denver's Brandon Lloyd hasn't practiced yet this week because of a groin injury suffered Monday night. There have been few updates on regarding his status for week 2 and at this point I would encourage you to be planning on considering other options for your starting lineup this week. If Lloyd can't play Eric Decker would start opposite Eddie Royal. While I like Decker's upside as a potential fantasy sleeper and think him worthy of being stashed on rosters in many leagues, he is far from a proven commodity as a WR and would be hard to recommend for starting consideration.

*-Hakeem Nicks has been held out of practices so far this week because of the knee injury he sustained week 1. While Nicks has said he will play Monday night, it's likely he's going to be Questionable on the injury report and considered a game time decision. Since the Giants play St. Louis Monday night, I encourage you to consider other quality options for your starting lineup this week if you have any. Even if Nicks does play, it's likely he'll be limited some by the injury. Nicks is a very high risk/high reward type of play week 2.

*-In New Orleans, Lance Moore has been limited in practices this week because of the groin injury that caused him to miss week 1. While it's good that he's been able to practice some, he clearly isn't 100% healthy and his official status for week 2 is likely to be Questionable. Barring a miraculous recovery between now and Sunday, I wouldn't be counting on having Moore in my starting lineups this week.

*- While Seattle's Sidney Rice did return to limited practices this week, his status for week 2 is very uncertain because of the shoulder injury he suffered in preseason. He's likely to be considered a game time decision and I encourage you to just keep Rice planted firmly on the bench until he plays in a game and shows he can be productive in Seattle's highly suspect passing attack.

*-Baltimore's Lee Evans returned to practice today and appears on track to start and be okay for week 2. Evans had missed practice yesterday after he aggravated a preseason ankle injury in week 1. While he is expected to start week 2, I would recommend keeping him on the bench until he shows he can be productive in Baltimore's offense. He played week 1, but was only targeted 4 times the entire game.

*-Chicago's Roy Williams still hasn't practiced yet this week because of a groin injury. Even if he somehow manages to play this week I would have to be desperate to be willing to start him in a fantasy lineup.

*-Oakland Jacoby Ford and Darrius Heyward-Bey are both question marks for week 2. Ford has a hamstring injury that has prevented him practicing yet this week while Heyward-Bey suffered a knee injury in practice today. There's been no update on how badly he injured it, but it does put his week 2 status in question. Just consider this week to be like any other week even when the Raiders WR's are all healthy: it's a week you're not starting any Raiders WR's.

*-Jacksonville's Jason Hill hasn't practiced yet this week because of a hip injury. Even if he was totally healthy I would be hard pressed to even consider him worth being on a fantasy bench.

*-St. Louis is expected to move rookie WR Greg Salas into the 3rd WR role and play the slot on passing downs until Danny Amendola returns. Some are thinking Salas is worth stashing, but I would only consider that in the deepest of leagues.


Tight Ends

*-Jacksonville's Marcedes Lewis has been held out of practices so far this week because of a calf injury suffered week 1. While he is currently expected to practice tomorrow and then be alright to play week 2, I would hesitate starting him against the Jets this week.

*-Oakland's Kevin Boss was limited in practice again today. Even if he plays this week I wouldn't want to be counting on him in my starting lineups.