Fantasy football aside, you just have to feel bad for Keenan Allen. This is a big blow for fantasy owners who may have drafted him in the second or third round. This will open up more targets for Travis Benjamin, Dontrelle Inman, and my favorite of the three Tyrell Williams. Also going to give a bump to Antonio Gates and Woodhead. Hoping for a speedy recovery for Allen and looking forward to seeing him back out next year.
Two things we can count on: the sun coming up in the morning and RG3 suffering injuries. Joking aside, it's tough to see even as a Steelers fan. RG3 just can’t stay healthy and I am hopeful you were not starting or planning on starting RG3. Good news is McCown is back and Gary Barnidge owners can breath easier.
News broke this morning that Watkins may be shut down for the year and thankfully that is not the case. It seems there aren't any structural issues with his cyborg foot, but he is sore and feeling a lot of discomfort. If you own Watkins, buckle up for a bumpy ride. We can expect to see a Q next to his name for the remainder of the season.
Good news is Ertz did not break or crack a rib. Bad news, coach Pederson said this is not the kind of injury Ertz can play through. Something to monitor, but owners should be looking for a replacement for the next few weeks.
Russell avoided the dreaded high ankle sprain and is expected to start Sunday. He will be limited at practice this week but should see the field vs the Rams. If you drafted Wilson, chances are you are going to play him. However, I would temper expectations and see how he is moving on that ankle come Sunday.
Thomas suffered a hip injury during the Panthers game Thursday and had an MRI done on Friday. Thankfully it's all good news and he was even on the practice field Monday morning. No real concerns here.
Julius suffered an ankle sprain Sunday vs the Jaguars. This is worth watching because Thomas has a history of ankle issues. We should know more in the next few days but all signs are pointing to Thomas playing on Sunday against the Chargers.
Sure, you just completed your draft recently but nobody's team is perfect from the start, and since then there have already been injuries, depth chart changes, and trouble with the law, right? Always room for improvement out there and so we'll scour the waiver wire to find a few guys that may get your team just a little bit closer to that finish line. Remember that missing out on just that one guy, just that one week, could make all of the difference at the end of the year!
Note: %owned is based on Yahoo! leagues at the time of publication.
Quarterback
Carson Palmer (ARI) - 63% owned - Palmer may not last all season with his advanced age and 'dead arm', but he projects to do well in the short-term at least. He plays against the Lions at Ford Field in Detroit this Sunday and can be locked in as a high upside QB2 for the time being.
Running Back
Jacquizz Rodgers (TB) - 62% owned - People do realize that Doug Martin is suspended for the first few games of the season, right? Rodgers is not built to last a full season of rough and tumble running back work, but he'll get you RB2 production on a weekly basis for the first 3 games of the season.
Alvin Kamara (NO) - 12% owned - With Mark Ingram and Adrian Peterson in front of Kamara this season, his best bet is to solidify a role as a passing-down back in the offense (a job formerly held by Travaris Cadet). We should see his usage rise throughout the season, and if either Ingram or Peterson were to miss time he could become a big weekly contributor.
Honorable mentions: Marlon Mack (IND) - 9% owned, De'Angelo Henderson (DEN) - 1% owned - Mack and Henderson are both outstanding athletes from this year's rookie draft that have a chance to carve out solid roles on their respective teams by midseason. In Mack's case, Frank Gore would need to step out of the way and in Henderson's case, Jamaal Charles and C.J. Anderson would have to disappoint.
Wide Receiver
Corey Davis (TEN) - 47% owned - A lot of fantasy owners were scared away by a hamstring injury that had Davis sidelined for the entire preseason, but it looks like he'll make his way onto the field starting in Week 1. Expect Davis to perform at a high level from early to midseason on, after he shakes a little rust off.
Tyler Lockett (SEA) - 44% owned - Lockett has proved himself as a talented receiver but took a step down in 2016 from his excellent rookie performance the previous year, only scoring 1 receiving touchdown as compared to his 6 in 2015. Now a 3rd year WR, he is a possible breakout candidate still available in more than half of Yahoo leagues.
Honorable mentions: Kevin White (CHI) - 49% owned, Kendall Wright (CHI) - 12% owned - One of these guys (and honestly I expect it to be Wright) will lead the Bears in receptions this year. If the cards fall just right, that could lead to a serviceable WR3 for the rest of the season.
Tight End
Julius Thomas (MIA) - 53% owned
Coby Fleener (NO) - 49% owned
C.J. Fiedorowicz (HOU) - 41% owned
Defense/Special Teams
Go with the Buffalo Bills (37% owned) this week, as they are playing the Jets.. and the Jets are going to be all-time bad this year.
Week 1 is finally here! We've had enough time off, right? I, for one, have been looking forward to the opening game of the 2018 season (Falcons at Eagles) for months now, and in the meantime have tweaked my rankings algorithms to continue to provide you with some of the most accurate fantasy football advice available on the web on a weekly basis. This particular week, remove Le'Veon Bell from your lineups and do anything you can to pick up James Conner and play him. He has a lot to prove and may be auditioning on Sunday for a starring role in the Steelers' high-flying offense. Other notable suggested starts include James White, Kenny Stills, Tyler Eifert, and the Tennessee Titans. Good luck and feel free to reach out on Twitter at @drinkfive with your lineup questions. Cheers!