CFB Injury Breakdown: Week 13
Injuries news can be difficult to gather in DFS college football, and therefore RotoGrinders will have a weekly injury report highlighting the key injuries across the country and possible value plays that can pop up because of them.
Quarterbacks
Deshaun Watson (Knee) – Clemson – Clemson will play it safe this weekend and will rest their future star QB against Georgia State. Cole Stoudt will once again take the reigns and should be able to shred the Panthers secondary. Blowout potential is a huge concern here, however.
Reggie Bonnafon – Louisville – With Will Gardner lost for the season, Louisville will turn to Reggie Bonnafon behind center once again. The matchup against Notre Dame is not an easy one, but he’s proven to be effective when called upon throughout the season.
Cody Thomas – Oklahoma – Trevor Knight is once again expected to be out this weekend, landing Cody Thomas behind center for the second game in a row. He showed dual threat capabilities last weekend and has a very nice matchup on tap this weekend against the Jayhawks. He’s dirt cheap on several sites and would enable to you to load up on some stud RBs/WRs.
Austin Wilson – Syracuse – With A.J. Long doubtful for Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh, Austin Wilson will likely draw the start at QB for Syracuse. He struggled last weekend against Duke, and things won’t be much easier for him this weekend against a solid Pittsburgh defense.
Others: Sefo Liufau (Concussion) – Colorado, Sam Richardson (Shoulder) – Iowa State, Everett Golson (Shoulder) – Notre Dame, Brandon Bridge (Ankle) – South Alabama, Blake Decker (Shoulder) – UNLV
Running Backs
Todd Gurley (Knee) – Georgia – Gurley tore his ACL last weekend, putting an end to an uneventful season for the star RB. Nick Chubb will once again step in and becomes a terrific play where he’s available this weekend.
Marshawn Williams (ACL) – Virginia Tech – The Hokies’ leading rusher this season, Marshawn Williams, tore his ACL last weekend and is out for the season. Complicating matters in the V-Tech backfield is that fellow back Jerome Wright is also apparently out for the season with an undisclosed injury and Trey Edmunds status is uncertain for Saturday’s game against Wake Forest. J.C. Coleman will find himself atop the depth chart, assuming Edmunds is out once again, and could have success against a Wake Forest team ranked #93rd against the run this season.
Jhurell Pressley (Ankle) – New Mexico – Pressley was forced out of last week’s game after rushing for just one yard before injuring his ankle, and his status for Saturday’s game is uncertain. With Colorado State fairly soft against the run, paired with the fact that New Mexico relies heavily on the ground game, this is a situation to monitor. If Pressley is ruled out, then Teriyon Gipson could be set up for a monster game.
Terris Jones-Grigsby (Ankle) – Arizona – Another week and another sighting of Jones-Grigsby on the Arizona injury report. He’s once again considered questionable for Saturday’s game due to an ankle injury. At this point, it’s hard to target Jones-Grigsby at all, but his absence would certainly boost the fantasy outlook for fellow RB Nick Wilson. Wilson has rushed for over 100 yards in back-to-back games and would be set for another heavy workload this weekend if Jones-Grirsby is held out or limited.
Others: T.J. Yeldon (Ankle) – Alabama, Jamaal Williams (Knee) – BYU, Kenneth Dixon (Ribs) – Louisiana Tech, I’Tavius Mathers (Concussion) – Mississippi, Desmon Peoples (Undisclosed) – Rutgers, Jarvion Franklin (Ankle) – Western Michigan
Wide Receivers
Jaelen Strong (Concussion) – Arizona State – Strong suffered a concussion late during last weekend’s game and is questionable to play on Saturday against Washington State. He was able to practice (in a limited fashion) on Thursday but we’re unlikely to get a clear answer on his status until much closer to game-time. If he’s able to go, then it’s a dream matchup for him against a Washington State team that’s allowed the second-most passing yards per game in all of the FBS this season.
Stefon Diggs (Kidney) – Maryland – Diggs suffered a lacerated kidney and will once again be out of action on Saturday against Michigan. Without their leading receiver, the Terrapins will be looking for Deon Long to pick up the slack. However, despite the turmoil in Ann Arbor this season, this Wolverine defense still represents a tough matchup for Long.
Sterling Shepard (Groin) – Oklahoma – Shepard still isn’t practicing and just can’t seem to shake a nagging groin injury. His status is still uncertain and he’s officially been listed as questionable. Both Michiah Quick and Durron Neal would benefit from his absence and would be nice value options against a porous Kansas secondary.
Others: D’haquille Williams (Leg) – Auburn, Rashard Higgins (Shoulder) – Colorado State, James Quick (Suspension) – Louisville, Laquon Treadwell (Ankle) – Mississippi, Carlos Wiggins (Hamstring) – New Mexico, Hasaan Henderson (Neck) – Nevada, Jaxon Shipley (Leg) – Texas, Nate Phillips (Foot) – Arizona, River Cracraft – Washington State
Please comment with anything you see that I’ve missed (and/or hit me up on Twitter @JBritt2).