Dose: Bolts Banged Up
The Chargers have been one of the harder hit teams by injuries in 2014. The hits keep coming, too. They’ve already lost Danny Woodhead, RG Jeromey Clary, C Nick Hardwick, C Rich Ohrnberger, and first-round CB Jason Verrett for the season. Ryan Mathews missed eight weeks earlier in the year with a knee injury, and Donald Brown missed three weeks with a concussion. Mathews is now back on the shelf with an ankle injury. He missed Week 15 and was unable to practice Tuesday, ahead of Saturday’s West-Coast clash with the 49ers. Philip Rivers has a chest injury, though he’s expected to play Week 16. Rivers is as tough as they come in the NFL. This is the same guy who played through a torn ACL in the AFC Championship Game in January 2008. But the biggest Bolts injury at the moment is to Keenan Allen. In addition to hurting his ankle last Sunday, he also broke his collarbone.
A broken collarbone is typically a two-month injury, yet Allen and the Chargers are taking things “week by week.” He’s yet to be ruled out for Saturday, though we strongly suspect Allen has played his final snap of the season. If so, it was a bit of a disappointing one. After busting onto the scene and posting a 71-1,046-8 receiving line with a 14.6 YPR average as a rookie, Allen was being talked about as a strong WR1 candidate heading into his sophomore campaign. But Allen started slow and didn’t score his first touchdown until Week 8 and has just three 100-yard receiving games under his belt. Allen hasn’t been able to bust loose for big gains and is averaging just 10.2 YPR on 77 grabs. The return of Malcom Floyd (neck) this season certainly hurt Allen’s numbers. The 8-6 Chargers are one game behind both the Steelers (9-5) and Ravens (9-5) for the final Wild Card spot in the AFC. They’ll have to soldier on with Seyi Ajirotutu behind Floyd and Eddie Royal. Allen is just 22 years old. He remains a top-20 — maybe even top-15 — Dynasty receiver.
In Other News…
Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde both went down in Week 15. Gore suffered a concussion, while Hyde hurt his ankle and back in the third quarter. Both players missed practice on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Chargers. Alfonso Smith is the only other running back on the 53-man roster. Kendall Gaskins is on the practice squad.
There’s a growing sense from the Cowboys that DeMarco Murray (broken hand) will be able to play Week 16 against the Colts. There isn’t much doubt that Murray can play, but it’s more if the team will want him to and risk further injury. Owner/GM Jerry Jones said Murray will likely be a game-time decision. Keep an eye on Murray through the weekend. Owners need to be adding Joseph Randle at all costs.
After missing Week 15 with a concussion, Andre Johnson appears to be progressing toward a Week 16 return. With Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tom Savage both out for Week 16, either Case Keenum or Thad Lewis will be called on to start against the Ravens. Johnson and Keenum had solid chemistry last season, but that was before the emergence of DeAndre Hopkins in 2014. We’re not all that high on any member of the Texans’ passing game for fantasy title week, even against a broken-down Ravens secondary.
Don’t forget, for everything NFL, check out Rotoworld’s Player News, and follow @Rotoworld_FB and @NickMensio on Twitter.
Quarterback & Running Back Slants
Colt McCoy (neck) was sent to I.R. on Tuesday, leaving Robert Griffin III locked in as the Week 16 starter against the Eagles. … The Texans placed Ryan Fitzpatrick (leg) on I.R. … The Bills waived FB Frank Summers, clearing a roster spot to activate C.J. Spiller (collarbone) from I.R./recall. … Dexter McCluster (knee) remained sidelined at Tuesday’s practice. … The Ravens sent RB Lorenzo Taliaferro (foot) to I.R. He averaged 4.3 YPC on 68 rookie-year totes. … Nick Foles’ broken collarbone is reportedly only 70 percent healed. … Blake Bortles (mid-foot sprain) is “progressing more quickly than expected.” He seems to have a chance to start Thursday night. … Coach Ken Whisenhunt says Bishop Sankey is not in the doghouse despite seeing just four touches to Shonn Greene’s 17 in Week 15. … Justin Forsett blamed a stacked box for his 16-48-0 rushing line against the Jaguars.
Wide Receiver & Tight End Slants
Falcons OC Dirk Koetter left the door open for Julio Jones (hip) to miss Week 16, unlike coach Mike Smith who has seemed confident Jones will play. Smith has been wholly untrustworthy with injury reports all season. … Coach Jay Gruden criticized DeSean Jackson on Tuesday, expressing a desire to see more from his receiver. … Delanie Walker (knee) and Kendall Wright (hand) were both limited on Tuesday. … Coach Chip Kelly blames defenses keying in on Jeremy Maclin, not Mark Sanchez, for Maclin’s dip in production.
