Week 3 Injury Questions
Welcome to Week 3 of the National Football League (fantasy division). We saw more running backs injured last week than we’d like and our teams are suffering. There are a few game-time decisions and with all of these injuries you never know when something wacky will pop up, so stay tuned to the Rotoworld News Page and also check out our live blog which I’ll be live blogging while alive (knock on wood) starting Sunday, thirty minutes before kickoff.
We also have rankings from Mr. Pat Daugherty, Nick Mensio’s sleeper picks, my AFC and NFC Targets and Touches and Evan Silva's detailed look at every game in his Matchup Column. So click on all of those and read them word for word and I'll quiz you when you get back.
1PM GAMES
Texans at Ravens
* Ray Rice (hip) is listed as doubtful and Bernard Pierce will take over the lead back duties.
* Andre Johnson has been cleared after going through the concussion protocol and practiced Thursday and Friday. He’ll play.
Giants at Panthers
* Corey Webster (hip) is listed as doubtful.
* Quintin Mikell (ankle), D.J. Moore, (knee) and Josh Thomas (concussion) are out for the Panthers’ defensive backfield while cornerback Dockery (thumb, shoulder) is questionable. Eli Manning should have some open receivers.
Lions at Redskins
* Reggie Bush (knee) is questionable, but could play after a good practice Friday. But now Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio is reporting that they may hold him out to keep him healthy for the long haul. He will be a game time decision so stay alert!
* Patrick Edwards has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Ryan Broyles should play this week.
* Leonard Hankerson is listed as questionable after injuring his groin in practice Friday, so his status is up in the air
Chargers at Titans
* Malcom Floyd (neck) is out. Keenan Allen should see more snaps.
Cardinals at Saints
* Rashard Mendenhall had not practiced until Friday with an injured toe, but he did put in a limited practice on Friday and the Cardinals’ website expects him to play.
* Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring) practiced on Friday after wanting to practice earlier in the week, but not being allowed to. He seems to be in a better place this week and in a better matchup.
* Rob Housler (ankle) is listed as probable and will make his season debut.
* Mark Ingram (toe) is listed as questionable, but did not practice on Friday and is expected to miss the game. Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles will see a few more looks.
Buccaneers at Patriots
* Carl Nicks (toe) is expected to play and since Gabe Carimi is sick he’ll most likely do everything he can to be in there. That’s good news for Doug Martin.
* Rob Gronkowski (back) is listed as questionable. He most likely won’t play, but stay tuned just in case.
Packers at Bengals
* Eddie Lacy hasn’t been cleared after last week’s brain injury.
* Giovani Bernard (hamstring) is listed as probable and will play.
Rams at Cowboys
* Dez Bryant (back) will play. Get him in your lineups.
Browns at Vikings
* Brandon Weeden (thumb) is out, but could be back by next week.
Don't forget, for the latest on everything NFL, check out Rotoworld's Player News, or follow @Rotoworld_FB or @Chet_G on Twitter.
4PM GAMES
Falcons at Dolphins
* Steven Jackson (hamstring) is out this week and looks to be around three weeks total. Jacquizz Rodgers will be the direct backup with Jason Snelling getting some work.
* Roddy White (ankle) is listed as questionable after a limited practice on Friday. He’s not a recommended start until he proves he is healthy.
* Julio Jones (knee) was limited in practice all week, but was also limited last week before going off. He’s in your starting lineup.
* Mike Wallace (groin) is listed as questionable, but observers said he seemed to be moving in practice without any hindrance. Play him as you would normally.
Bills at Jets
Jeremy Kerley (concussion) is listed as probable and will play this week.
Colts at 49ers
* Vernon Davis (hamstring) is listed as questionable and appears to be a game-time decision in a late game, which of course is the worst. He has a nice matchup, so if you have another late game option you could wait to see if he goes.
* T.Y. Hilton (groin) is listed as probable after being limited in practice, so is “virtually certain” to play.
* Darrius Heyward-Bey (shoulder) is also listed as probable, but has been outplayed by Hilton and could see a decrease in looks.
Jaguars at Seahawks
* Blaine Gabbert (hand) is out again so Chad Henne gets the pleasure of playing in Seattle.
* Maurice Jones-Drew (ankle) will most likely be a game-time decision, but you should have decided to sit him already against the Seahawks.
* Brandon Browner (hamstring) and Chris Clemons (knee) should return to the lineup this week to make things even more difficult for the Jaguars.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Bears at Steelers
* Brandon Marshall (back) practiced on Friday and is listed as probable. Start him at will.
* Le’Veon Bell (foot) is listed as questionable after practicing on Friday. Even if he were to play owners should take a wait and see approach.
* Heath Miller (knee) practiced all week and should play, but how much has yet to be determined.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Raiders at Broncos
* There are no significant offensive injuries to report.
MY TOUGHEST DECISIONS OF THE WEEK
My back and forth quest to pick the right player between Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III is no longer much of a question with RGIII outplaying him in fantasy, so until further notice it’s RGIII’s job to lose. So for this week I’ll switch it up.
Kenbrell Thompkins vs. Ryan Broyles
In our Rotoworld Dynasty league, which I am getting romped in after facing Peyton Manning and Demaryius Thomas Week 1 and then having Eddie Lacy, Steven Jackson and Ray Rice ALL get injured in Week 2, I am down to these two fellas.
Oh, and I owned Aaron Hernandez in this league as well, so yeah, this team is cursed.
Anyway, I was pretty happy to have Thompkins to start the season because my wide receivers were my worst group, but we’ve seen how that turned out. So now Thompkins looks like he’ll be covered mostly by Darrelle Revis, which is frightening to say the least. But my only other option is Ryan Broyles who has yet to play this season. But this does look like the week he will get on the field since Patrick Edwards is out with an ankle sprain. Oh and they face Washington who have given up six passing touchdowns and 683 yards.
So the matchup difference leans far into Broyles corner, but the fact that Thompkins actually has played is a nice thing. I’m going to go with Broyles because I probably need the upside on my team and the unknown guy always feels more exciting to start. Not the best reason of course, but it’s what I got.
SURVIVOR PICK OF THE WEEK
So the Eagles didn’t win. Sad trombone. My two other teams did, but close only wins in stuff that close wins in. So I’m going to go with the Seahawks at home against the Jaguars because I don’t want to go 1-2 in these survivor picks.
If the Seahawks lose that game there is something wrong with the Earth’s alignment and we are all going to die anyway. If I had already played the Seahawks this season I would look hard at Denver over Oakland and Minnesota over Cleveland.
