Injury Questions: Week 6
Welcome to Week 6 of the National Football League fantasy division. We have 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 starting an hour 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 and take screen shots and print them out for wallpaper.
Editor's Note: Rotoworld's partner FanDuel is hosting a one-week $50,000 Fantasy Football league for Week 6. It's $25 to join and first prize is $7,500. Starts Sunday at 1pm ET. Here's the link.
1PM GAMES
Packers at Ravens
* James Starks (knee) is out. Eddie Lacy should get the bulk of the carries once again after Johnathan Franklin's fumbling woes.
* Linebackers Clay Mathews (thumb) and Brad Jones (hamstring) will not play, upgrade Ray Rice.
* Both Jacoby Jones (knee) and Marlon Brown (thigh) were limited in practice this week, but both have shown encouraging signs and look like they will play. They would most likely hurt each other’s fantasy value.
* Bernard Pierce (thigh) is listed as questionable and was limited in practice this week. He’s not a desirable start even at 100% with Ray Rice getting the bulk of the touches.
Bengals at Bills
* Leon Hall was a full participant in Friday’s practice and is listed as questionable. If he does go, downgrade Stevie Johnson even further.
* E.J. Manuel (knee) is out for what appears to be 6-8 weeks. Thad Lewis will get the start against the Bengals.
* C.J. Spiller (ankle) has been practicing and is listed as questionable. He was seen walking with a limp earlier in the week, but it looks like he’ll be able to go.
* Stevie Johnson (back) didn’t practice this week and is a game-time decision. He is not looking like a good start either way.
* Cornerback Stephon Gilmore (wrist) is also a game-time decision and if he can’t go A.J. Green becomes an even better start.
* Dustin Hopkins (groin) is out again and Dan Carpenter will continue as the starter.
Lions at Browns
* Calvin Johnson (knee) is listed as questionable, but tentatively appears like he will play. He’s a must start if he goes, as usual.
* Nate Burleson (forearm) is out as expected, but there is no go-to player in his stead.
* Brian Hoyer (knee) is out for the season and Brandon Weeden will start.
* Chris Ogbonnaya (concussion) is probable and will play.
Rams at Texans
* Cortland Finnegan (thigh) will not play so there will be no Johnson/Finnegan part deux.
* Zac Stacy (ribs) is listed as questionable, but participated fully in practice and will start again.
* Andre Johnson (shin) is listed as questionable, but told reporters he will play. He was able to go last week and says he feels better this week. Start him.
* Arian Foster (thumb) was limited in practice, but is listed as probable and should be all systems go in a plus matchup.
* Keshawn Martin (shoulder) did not practice this week and is listed as questionable.
Panthers at Vikings
* Greg Olsen shed his walking boot and practiced fully on Friday. He is probable and should be full go with a good matchup.
* Blair Walsh (hamstring) was limited in practice, but the Vikings did not sign a backup, so play him as you would.
Raiders at Chiefs
* Darren McFadden (hamstring) is listed as questionable, but didn’t sound like he was that close to 100%. He’ll be a risky start if he goes.
* No Oakland running back practiced in full on Friday, Rashad Jennings and Marcel Reece both were limited with hamstring injuries. It looks like both will play though. This is a situation to monitor in case two backs are scratched before game time leaving one to get the bulk of the work.
* Jamaal Charles continues to have toe blisters and has been limited in practice, but will play through the pain and is probable in a good matchup.
* Donnie Avery (shoulder) was limited in practice, but is probable to play.
* Anthony Fasano (ankle) and Travis Kelce (knee) will not play against the Raiders and Sean McGrath will get the start once again, beard and all.
Steelers at Jets
* Antonio Cromartie (knee) is questionable and considered a game-time decision. Even he does play, he will probably be less than 100%, so upgrade Antonio Brown.
* Chris Ivory (hamstring) was limited in practice this week as the team manages his injury, but he is listed as probable and will play.
* Santonio Holmes (foot) did not practice and is out.
* Kellen Winslow was suspended and will not play for four weeks.
Eagles at Buccaneers
* Michael Vick (hamstring) is listed as questionable, but according to reports he will not play this week and Nick Foles will get the start.
* Mike Williams (hamstring) was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday, but didn’t practice on Friday. He is listed as questionable and looks like he will play, but the situation is a little scary at the moment.
* Vincent Jackson is no longer on the injury report and is a full go after dealing with a rib injury in Week 4.
* Tom Crabtree (ankle) practiced in full this week and should make his season debut against the Eagles.
4PM GAMES
Jaguars at Broncos
* Blaine Gabbert (hamstring) is out and Chad Henne will get the start.
* Marcedes Lewis (calf) is out and Clay Harbor will get the start.
* Cecil Shorts (groin) returned to practice on Friday and is probable to play in a game rich with garbage-time potential.
* Wesley Woodyard (neck) did not practice this week and is doubtful to play.
Titans at Seahawks
* Shonn Greene (knee) did not practice this week and is out. Jackie Battle will continue to see goal line work.
* Zach Miller (hamstring) will be a game-time decision and Luke Willson will get the start if he can’t go.
* Marshawn Lynch was held out of Friday's practice due to a hip issue. The Seahawks are officially listing him as questionable with a non-injury. ESPN's Adam Schefter says he will play. Christine Michael would be the player to own if Lynch were to get a late scratch.
Saints at Patriots
* Rob Gronkowski (neck, arm) was limited in practice and is listed as questionable, but he has yet to be cleared due to instability in his surgically repaired forearm. Unless news changes, find other options.
* Stevan Ridley (knee/thigh) was limited in practice and is listed as questionable, but appears likely to play.
* Mark Ingram (toe) is listed as questionable and will be a game-time decision. If he plays, he will limit Pierre Thomas’ upside.
* Lance Moore is listed as questionable, but did not practice this week. It would be surprising if he plays.
* Danny Amendola (groin) was limited in practice and is listed as questionable, but hasn’t had any setbacks and is set to play.
* Brandon Bolden (knee) is listed as questionable, but will play.
* Leon Washington (ankle) did not practice this week and is out against the Saints.
Cardinals at 49ers
* Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring) practiced fully on Friday, but is listed as questionable. His injury is in a different spot than his last hamstring injury earlier in the season, so this isn’t the tail end of the old injury. It looks like he will not be 100% if he can go.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Washington at Dallas
* Kai Forbath (groin) was a full participant in practice and is listed as probable. He will start.
* Alfred Morris (ribs) practiced in full this week and will get the start.
* Jordan Reed (thigh) is listed as probable after practicing in full on Friday. He should once again be RGIII’s most targeted tight end.
* Miles Austin (hamstring) is probable and should draw the start. There are no reports on if he will be on a snap count or not, but it seems like something that could happen with his old hamstring injuries in mind.
* Dwayne Harris (hip) was limited in practice, but is listed as probable.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Colts at Chargers
* Ryan Mathews (concussion) returned to practice on Friday, but we do not know how close he is to being cleared to play. We will have more information the closer we get to Monday night.
Matchups Of The Week
Andrew Luck: Peyton Manning has the matchup of the week, but since he doesn’t have Bill Belichick or Pete Carroll as a coach, he most likely will be napping after halftime. Luck gets a Monday night game against one of the worst pass defenses in the league. And yes, the Colts want to run the ball, but they are going to have a tough time stopping Philip Rivers and that means a shootout.
Arian Foster: I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not the Texans would make this a get well game for Matt Schaub and give him the go ahead to do his best (or worst), but I think they would much rather secure a win by playing tough defense and running the ball, than worry too much about his psyche. And they will be able to run the ball. Running backs are gashing the Rams this year.
Antonio Brown: Brown has an insane 21 receptions on 26 targets for 284 yards and two touchdowns over the last two games. And this week he faces a Jets team that has given up big games to #1 wide receivers all season and could be without their best cornerback Antonio Cromartie.
Vernon Davis: The Cardinals have given up 93 yards per game to opposing tight ends and with Patrick Peterson most likely on Anquan Boldin; Davis will be the only legitimate scoring threat through the air for the 49ers.
SURVIVOR PICK OF THE WEEK
Last week I led you and myself astray when I picked the Falcons. I lost 22 million dollars on that play, so you can’t really be mad at me can you? Well, I actually lost nothing, and won’t lose anything on this week’s pick, so, you know where I’m coming from here.
Denver will win their game, so there’s always that. Oh, and Seattle shouldn’t have any trouble with Tennessee in Seattle. But my play for this week is going to be the Texans over the Rams. Going into Reliant Stadium against JJ Watt and a frustrated defense with Arian Foster and Ben Tate running the ball 40 times and successfully, this game could be a powerful beat down.
