Fantasy Football Latest Injury Update-August 31
If you’re drafting this last weekend before the Regular Season kicks off, make sure you know who’s injured and who’s good to go. Nothing’s worse than overvaluing a player, picking them, and then everyone else in the room informing you he’s out for weeks.
Many of these players still have value but make sure to factor their injuries into your decision on when to make them your pick. For ease of finding specific players, injuries are sorted by team.
Here’s the latest headed into the weekend:
Arizona Cardinals
No significant fantasy injuries
Atlanta Falcons
No significant fantasy injuries
Baltimore Ravens
Tommy Streeter-WR: Streeter is a deep sleeper who will probably miss week one with a sprained foot. I’d go a different direction with my last pick if I were you.
Buffalo Bills
No significant fantasy injuries
Carolina Panthers
Jonathan Stewart-RB: Stewart’s X-rays on his right ankle were negative and the reports are that it’s not a high ankle sprain. Stewart is officially day-to-day and will turn in limited practices heading into week 1. He may be limited or miss week one, but it’s not a long-term injury for J-Stew
Steve Smith-WR: Smith has a foot infection but is expected to return to practice soon and should be ready week one. He’s a lower-end WR1 and his status is unaffected by his injury.
Chicago Bears
Johnny Knox-WR: Don’t draft Knox since he’s most likely out for the season after last year’s grisly injury.
Cincinnati Bengals
Andy Dalton-QB: Dalton left the Preseason finale with a bruised arm, but Coach Marvin Lewis said he’ll be good to go for the opener against the Ravens.
Jermaine Gresham-TE: Gresham has missed chunks of practice after spraining his knee in the second Preseason game. He’s an ok option as a second TE, but missing all that time could hurt him early in the season. There’s better options at the end of the starting TE’s this season.
Cleveland Browns
Trent Richardson-RB: Richardson is expected to be ready for week 1. He missed the entire preseason, but should be in the rotation for the Browns at RB with Montario Hardesty and Brandon Jackson for the Browns.
Dallas Cowboys
Dez Bryant-WR: Bryant’s dealt with a minor case of patella tendinitis but should have no problem being ready to play week one.
Miles Austin-WR: Austin should be good to go for week one after dealing with a hamstring injury during camp. He’s a solid value since he’s expected to be fully healthy and is going in the last sixth round.
Jason Witten-TE: Witten is supposedly 50-50 for the Cowboys opener. Dallas opens Wednesday night against the Giants, so he has less time than most to recover. He may play week one, and he may not. Here’s the key thing though: don’t let him fall too far since it’s not expected to be a long-term situation that will affect him the rest of the season. He’s definitely a TE1 and could be a great value if people are scared away.
Denver Broncos
Ronnie Hillman-RB: Hillman got his first Preseason action and is considered day-to-day with a hamstring injury. He is buried on the depth chart, but if you’re in a deep RB league don’t let the injury scare you away.
Detroit Lions
Jahvid Best-RB: The Lions running back situation is a mess. Best is on the reserve/PUP list meaning he won’t be back until at least week 8.
Kevin Smith-RB: Smith twisted his ankle (again) but apparently avoided major injury. He’s expected to be ready to start and carry the workload week one against the Rams. Smith is still an injury-risk, but looks to be the man at least at the beginning of the year for the Lions.
Mikel Leshoure-RB: Leshoure is a popular sleeper pick with Kevin Smith already dealing with an injury and possibly not ready to carry a full load all season. Just don’t forget he won’t play the first two weeks after being suspended for violating the NFL substance abuse policy.
Green Bay Packers
James Starks-RB: The knock on Starks has been his lack of durability and his preseason turf toe struggles haven’t helped change that perception. Starks is undraftable due to the injury and Cedric Benson emerging as the starter. Some are even saying he may be cut.
Houston Texans
No significant fantasy injuries
Indianapolis Colts
Austin Collie-WR: Amazingly, Collie is expected to start week 1. He’s been cleared for exercise already and is a solid WR3 for as long as he can avoid another concussion. He’s a risk but could represent nice value as well.
Griff Whalen-WR: Whalen was gaining momentum as a sleeper but suffered a season-ending foot injury.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Zach Miller-TE: Miller is injured but probably not a fantasy option even in the very deepest of leagues.
Kansas City Chiefs
No significant fantasy injuries
Miami Dolphins
No significant fantasy injuries
Minnesota Vikings
Adrian Peterson-RB: Peterson will practice early this week and then Minnesota will make a final call on his week one status. Even if he misses week one, Peterson is a solid pick. My personal opinion is that he’ll have a limited role week one and be full strength week two. Draft accordingly…
Jerome Simpson-WR: Simpson us suspended the first three weeks but should be a nice option when he returns. At the end of your draft, he’s a decent flier or a good pickup if you need WR depth once the season starts.
New England Patriots
Shane Vereen-RB: Vereen has some sort of left foot injury. The Patriots are being typically cryptic so it’s hard to know what the extent of his injury or role will be moving forward. He’s a late-round flier in deep leagues but nothing more at this point.
New Orleans Saints
Darren Sproles-RB: Sproles is expected to be ready week one after missing the fourth Preseason game due to a knee injury. He hasn’t missed a game in four years so draft him as you normally would.
New York Giants
Ahmad Bradshaw-RB: Bradshaw had a hand contusion but is expected to be ready week one against Dallas.
New York Jets
Dustin Keller-TE: Keller tweaked a hammy but should be good to go for week one. The Jets offense may not be good enough though to make him a viable fantasy option.
Oakland Raiders
Denarius Moore-WR: Moore didn’t play at all in the Preseason but should be ready to go for week 1. If he tumbles to a WR4 in your league, don’t hesitate to pick him up since he has the talent to be a WR2 easily.
Jacoby Ford-WR: Ford is also very close to return for the Raiders. He’s out of the walking boot, but the emergence of Rod Streater has probably cut into his playing time so wait to see how he’s used before adding him to your roster.
Philadelphia Eagles
Riley Cooper-WR: Remember when Cooper was the best receiver healthy on the Eagles? Well, now he’s not. Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, and Damaris Johnson are all ahead of him on the depth chart and Cooper’s broken collarbone make him unownable in all formats until something changes.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Isaac Redman-RB: Redman’s ankle and hip injuries and the emergence of Jonathan Dwyer could relegate him to third down and goalline duties. He’s going in the seventh round which is way too high when Dwyer and Mendenhall (see below) will cut into his time.
Rashard Mendenhall-RB: Mendenhall could be back as early as week four or five for Pittsburgh who activated him from the PUP list. He’s a great late-round pick in most leagues while everyone else assumes he’s out for far longer.
San Diego Chargers
Ryan Mathews-RB: Mathews looks likely to miss week one but be back shortly after. His broken clavicle is an injury that won’t nag or affect his running so don’t undervalue the feature back in San Diego.
Vincent Brown-WR: Brown is expected to miss the first couple months but was going to be a big part of the Chargers passing game. If your league allows for IR or you have a roster big enough to carry him, drafting Brown late could pay off at the end of the season.
Seattle Seahawks
Marshawn Lynch-RB: Lynch’s back acted up on him again. Coach Pete Carroll assured everyone that he’ll be fine, but Lynch drafters would be wise to handcuff Robert Turbin in the late rounds.
San Francisco 49ers
Ted Ginn-WR: Ginn sprained his ankle and won’t have much of a role in the Niners revamped receiving corps.
Brandon Jacobs-RB: Jacobs is expected to be the 49ers goalline and short-yardage back but he looks like he’s going to miss week one with a knee injury.
St. Louis Rams
No significant fantasy injuries
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
No significant fantasy injuries
Tennessee Titans
Kenny Britt-WR: If you’ve already drafted and grabbed Britt late, your gamble could be about to pay off big time. Britt is active off PUP and only was suspended one game by the NFL for off-field issues. Britt is electric when he’s on the field and Jake Locker could make him a WR1.
Washington Redskins
No significant fantasy injuries