Week 7 wasn't particularly special as far as injuries go. A big name went down, another name emerges as a big fantasy producer because of an injury above him. The NFL season carries on - at this point, everyone's a little injured. Here are the guys who were banged up this past week and are expected to not only miss time, but create a void on your fantasy team.
Arian Foster tore his Achilles and is, once again, out for the season. Alfred Blue and Chris Polk are going to split the duties, but neither of them are likely to emerge as a dominant fantasy player that is even close to Foster’s production.
Louis Murphy tore his ACL is and out for the season. In the same game, Vincent Jackson left with a knee injury, paving the way for Mike Evans to finally have a good game this season. Murphy was just a WR3 anyways, but it can’t hurt Evans and Jackson’s production going forward.
Josh McCown left the game on Sunday with a shoulder injury and it sounds like he’s currently day-to-day. He has a real tough matchup against Arizona this week, so maybe find a different starter for him for this week while he gets healthy.
Phillip Dorsett fractured his fibula in Sunday’s game and will be out 4-6 weeks. Donte Moncrief is already solidly in the #2 role behind T.Y. Hilton, so there isn’t much shuffling to be done on that team. Coby Fleener could see a few more targets, but isn’t really a TE1 option right now.
Joseph Randle left the game on Sunday with an oblique injury and is expected to miss at least one game. In his absence, Darren McFadden carried the ball 29 times for 152 yards and a TD. McFadden has already been confirmed as the starter this week, and if he continues to play well, could remain in that position for the rest of the year.
Well, it just doesn't feel like a proper NFL season until Arian Foster goes on the IR, am I right? Now that balance has returned to the universe (I was kicking myself for not drafting him when he was available late), we can look forward to the Week 8 rankings. This week, we have to deal with Buffalo, Philadelphia, Washington and Jacksonville taking a bye week. That's plenty of good fantasy players on bye, however there's plenty more to choose from - check out our waiver wire picks if you need any more help.
Derek Carr has a tough draw this week, facing the Jets, but at least he gets to do it at home. Last week, Tom Brady showed that the Jets are vulnerable to the pass, throwing it a whopping 54 times. Carr can have similar success as long as he doesn't turn the ball over, and despite the matchup, needs to be starting in all 2-QB formats. Matthew Stafford should remain on your bench, people. His ECR this week is still way up at 8, but he had an injury to his non-throwing hand and has to deal with the circus of going to London. The Chiefs have had a chance to gain some confidence, beating up on Landry Jones and Teddy Bridgewater this week. Stafford won't be an insurmountable challenge for them.
Dion Lewis practiced on Tuesday and should return to the Patriots lineup on Thursday night, healed up from his abdomen injury. He can be fired up as a solid RB2 as the Patriots look to re-establish their run game. The Pats ran the ball 9 times in Week 7, a number that is not at all sustainable. Just make sure the Pats aren't messing with the injury reports and verify he's playing when Thursday night rolls around. It's not certain who will emerge in Houston as the main back, but one thing IS certain - don't start Chris Polk, even though he might look like a tempting flex play.
Nate Washington had a great time collecting lots of garbage points in Miami on Sunday, and look for him to be in a similar high-volume role this week if Cecil Shorts is still out. The Texans throw the ball more than any other team (including the Chargers!) and they need guys there to soak up targets. Washington is the only decent receiver other than DeAndre Hopkins on that team, so there's plenty of balls to go around. Stay away from Brandin Cooks this week. Marques Colston is back, Willie Snead has been involved a lot in the offense, and Ben Watson has become a decent facsimile of Jimmy Graham. There isn't enough consistent work for Cooks to be an every week start. Try to sell high on him if you can.
Having tight end problems? Well, if they're fantasy football related, try a nice relaxing Crockett Gillmore for your pains. Gillmore is the second best target on his team and is going up against a Chargers team that got beat badly through the air last week. He's a good replacement if you're tired of trotting out Kyle Rudolph or Jordan Cameron.
Well, it's time we all moved on from super injury Sunday and get down to the business of setting up your week 9 lineups. This week, Arizona, Baltimore, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City and Seattle are all on bye. This is the only week of the year with 6 teams on bye, so this is as bad as it gets.
Tyrod Taylor should return to the lineup this week, and he deserves to return to yours as well, with a decent matchup against Miami, whom they beat up on earlier this season. This time they're playing at home and the Bills should rebound nicely after a bye week. Andrew Luck who is also at home this week, ought to take a seat for this week. After seeing what the Broncos did last week to Aaron Rodgers, you don't want to start Luck.
If you're in need of a flex play, Ryan Mathews should find some running room against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night (if he’s healthy). He's looked like a better fit for the Philly offense (and has the most rushing yards on the team), it's only a matter of time before Chip Kelly admits it. Melvin Gordon, despite lots of touches, continues to do nothing with them. Leave him on your bench this week in favor of Mathews or Matt Jones.
Don't worry about last week's disappearing act by James Jones - that Denver defense is just special. Even against the Panthers, I expect the Pack to return to form, including Jones. Brandon LaFell is starting to return to form, but he needs another week to work the kinks out, so keep him out of your lineup until next week.
Julius Thomas is a guy who has worked out most of his kinks, and after a bye week, should be a fine TE1 option. This is despite their matchup with the Jets. Start him over this week's hot pickup, Heath Miller. Even though Ben is back, I expect him to spread the ball out to his receivers more than having to dump it off to Miller.
Last week broke a 3 week cashless streak in the Sunday Million so let's keep that momentum going into week 9! This week we are going with a couple of mid-priced RBs that will see plenty of touches, two high end WRs facing off against each other in what should be a high scoring affair and a QB/WR stack in another game with potential for a lot of points. Good luck this week!
QB - Philip Rivers, SD - $8,600 vs. CHI: Rivers may be down his top receiver after losing Keenan Allen for the year but he will still come through in what could be a high scoring affair on Monday Night against the Bears.
RB - DeAngelo Williams, PIT - $6,500 vs. OAK: With Le'Veon Bell out for the season, Williams will be in for a high volume of touches the remainder of the season. Great price for the production in a decent matchup against the Raiders.
RB - Jeremy Langford, CHI - $6,400 at SD: Another running back due for a high volume week and Langford gets a dream matchup against a Chargers run defense allowing a league worst 5.0 yards per carry.
WR - Odell Beckham Jr., NYG - $9,000 at TB: Look for ODB to stay hot from his 130 yard, three touchdown performance last week. I don't expect much defense in this game so there should be plenty of fantasy points to go to the best players on the field.
WR - Mike Evans, TB - $7,500 vs. NYG: The New York Giants defense gives up a league worst 323 yards per game to opposing receivers which means there will be plenty of opportunity for Evans to have a big game.
WR - Malcom Floyd, SD - $6,100 vs. CHI: The receiving options are thin in San Diego this week with Keenan Allen out, Ladarius Green doubtful and Antonio Gates questionable. Looking for Rivers to lean heavy towards Floyd.
TE - Jordan Reed, WAS - $5,700 at NE: Great value play at TE this week as Washington will need to try to keep up in points facing off against New England.
K - Stephen Gostkowski, NE - $5,200 vs. WAS: Gostkowski has scored double digit fantasy points the past 6 weeks in a row and nothing should derail that this week.
DEF - Falcons, ATL - $4,900 at SF: Playing defenses against San Fran has been a great strategy all year and it gets even better this week with Blaine Gabbert under center.