Friday Injury Wrap: What can Donald Brown do for you?

Friday is the most important practice day of the week from a fantasy perspective; let's take a good look around.

• The Colts held Donald Brown(notes) (shoulder) out of Friday's practice after letting him work the previous two days. He's questionable and will probably be a game-time decision for Sunday's matchup with the Texans. At least we get a break with the game, it's an early start. All of the Yahoo! experts view Joseph Addai(notes) as a Top 14 back this week even with Brown expected to play; Addai's value obviously gets a mild push forward if Brown winds up being scratched.

• Anquan Boldin(notes) (ankle) did some work Friday and has a shot to go against the Bears; he's questionable on the report. The Cardinals took it easy with Steve Breaston(notes) (knee) Friday but that's standard operating procedure; he's been battling this issue all season. On Boldin, it comes down to a depth call; I wouldn't use him for fantasy this week unless I felt backed into a corner.

• Roddy White(notes) (ankle) had a limited day Friday after sitting out the two previous days and head coach Mike Smith is optimistic that White will be able to go in Atlanta's critical game against Washington. It's an early start, so fantasy owners don't have to sweat it out here.

• Kevin Smith(notes) (shoulder) and Calvin Johnson(notes) (knee) both practiced Friday and should play at Seattle, though Jim Schwartz would give out his ATM password before he did anything to help our fantasy pursuits.

• Devin Hester(notes) (ankle) finally practiced on Friday after sitting out the two previous sessions. Hester has insisted all week that he's going to play against Arizona and he called himself 100 percent on Friday; we'll go along with it and keep Hester slotted as a low-end No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver this week. No worries about running mate Greg Olsen(notes) (ankle); he's been a full participant in the last two practices.

• Matt Hasselbeck(notes) (rib) had a full day Friday and will start against the Lions. Detroit has allowed 18 TD passes on the season so here's one of the more intriguing matchup plays of the weekend (share your Hasselbeck Week 9 rank in the comments). Seattle is also thrilled to finally get OT Sean Locklear(notes) (ankle) back; Jim Mora surprisingly confirmed on Friday that Locklear is ready to go.

• Aaron Rodgers(notes) (foot) and Donald Driver(notes) (neck) were back at work Friday and should be in your lineup at Tampa this weekend. The Pack will have to wait on Jermichael Finley(notes), however; he's been ruled out for Week 9.

• No Lance Moore(notes) this week; he's dealing with a bad ankle and has been in a walking boot since the Monday night victory over the Falcons. If you want an excuse to roll the dice on Robert Meachem(notes) or Devery Henderson(notes), Moore's injury opens the window. This might also force the Saints to use Reggie Bush more in the passing game.

•Antonio Gates(notes) (foot) is listed as probable and will play against the Giants, a team that's struggled with its safety play all year. It would be nice to see Gates reacquaint himself with the end zone; he's gone without a spike in 12 of his last 14 starts.

• Benjamin Watson(notes) is dealing with a sore back and was limited all week; you can make a better fill-in choice at tight end, methinks (Fred Davis(notes), Kevin Boss(notes), etc). New England is also listing Tom Brady (shoulder) and Randy Moss(notes) (shoulder) as probable, just because they're the Patriots.

• Although the Eagles are listing Brian Westbrook(notes) (post-concussion) as questionable, Andy Reid has made it clear all along that Westbrook is fully expected to start and take a heavy workload Sunday night. If you normally start Westbrook, I'd do so in Week 9. The Eagles also had a good week with DeSean Jackson(notes) (foot) and Jeremy Maclin(notes) (foot); slot them where you normally would.

• Pierre Garcon(notes) (ankle) was held out Friday and is questionable for the Texans game. All the more reason to like Austin Collie(notes), we suppose.

• All of your nicked-up Giants on offense are probable this week: Eli Manning(notes) (foot), Ahmad Bradshaw(notes) (ankle/foot), Kevin Boss (ankle) and Mario Manningham(notes) (shoulder). The only Week 9 option I like from this group is Boss (hello, San Diego safeties), but opinions vary when it comes to Bradshaw.

• Antonio Bryant(notes) (knee) is listed as questionable and considered a game-time decision for Week 9. If you're strongly considering Bryant this week (tied to rookie QB Josh Freeman(notes)), you're questionable, too.

• Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis have been outstanding rushing the passer for the Colts this year, and Indy desperately needs that to continue because the secondary is a mess in Naptown right now. Safety Bob Sanders(notes) and corner Marlin Jackson(notes) are both out for the year (to be fair, Sanders hasn't played much this season), and corner Kelvin Hayden(notes) (knee) is expected to miss 3-4 weeks.

• Todd Heap(notes) (ankle) had a full day Friday and is probable for Baltimore's rematch at Cincinnati.

---

Photos via US Presswire