NFL DFS Injury Report: Week 10
Week 9 is over and every NFL team has completed at least half of their season. As we move into the official second half of the season, some teams are getting healthier while others adjust to replacement personnel. Team depth is a hugely important factor that is often overlooked when evaluating the quality of a roster. The effect of 12 teams having byes in the past two weeks is seen below as this is the shortest injury report I have written this year (including Week 1).
The biggest injury news of Week 9 centered on the return of Ben Roethlisberger and the absence of Chiefs starting running back Spencer Ware. Big Ben was very pedestrian in his return as the Steelers fell to the Ravens. Ware’s replacement, Charcandrick West was heavy DFS chalk but failed to return value with only 74 total yards and no touchdowns.
As I write this Wednesday night, I do not project that there will be many updates to give this week, but as always, I will post updates here on Friday night. I will also keep pertinent update post on twitter @slakdogg. Good luck in Week 10!
Last Updated: Wednesday PM
Color Coding
GREEN: Nearly certain to play. Unlikely to have an on-field limitations.
YELLOW: Likely to play. May have some snap count or mild on-field limitations.
ORANGE: Questionable to play. If able to play, likely to be significantly limited in snap count and/or on-field performance.
RED: Unlikely to play or already ruled out.
PURPLE: In concussion protocol. Play status unknown but if active, should play without restriction.
Arizona Cardinals
1. John Brown (WR) — GREEN / YELLOW – Brown was limited in practice Wednesday as the Cardinals continue to be cautious with his practice reps. There should be no problems with him playing this weekend.
2.Larry Fitzgerald (WR) — GREEN – Fitzgerald did very little in Wednesday’s practice, but head coach Bruce Ariens squashed any concerns as he told the media that his plan is to rest Fitzgerald on Wednesdays to some extent for the remainder of the season.
Atlanta Falcons
1. Tevin Coleman (RB) — RED – Coleman has missed the last two weeks and has yet to return to practice. Coleman’s prospects for returning in time for Week 10 are poor which would leave Devontae Freeman to carry the load for the Falcons.
2.Jacob Tamme (TE) — RED / ORANGE – Tamme has yet to practice this week after missing the Week 9 Thursday night game. He has not been ruled out, but I would be surprised if he played. I would need to see advancement during the practice week. Austin Hooper filled in well for Tamme last week and take the reins again if Tamme is ruled out.
UPDATE: Tamme has been ruled OUT for Week 10.
Baltimore Ravens
1. Kenneth Dixon (RB) — GREEN – Dixon is listed on the game injury report as questionable with a chest injury. He practiced this week and should play Thursday against the Browns.
2.Shareece Wright (CB) — RED – Wright has been ruled out for Week 10 with a thigh injury.
Chicago Bears
1. Eddie Royal (WR) — YELLOW – Royal has not played since Week 6 with a toe sprain but appears in line to return for Week 10. He returned to practice limited on Wednesday, which is a good sign that he has recovered sufficiently as long as there is no setback during the practice week.
2.Kadeem Carey (RB) — GREEN – Carey missed Wednesday practice with an undisclosed illness. This should not be a big issue assuming he returns to practice through the week.
Cleveland Browns
1. Jamar Taylor (CB) — RED – Starting cornerback Jamar Taylor is OUT for Thursday Night Football.
Dallas Cowboys
1. Barry Church (SS) — RED – Church will have surgery to repair his broken forearm and will be out for the next 4-6 weeks.
Denver Broncos
1.Aqib Talib (CB) — RED – Talib continues to struggle with back trouble and is unlikely to play in Week 10.
2.Kayvon Webster (CB) — GREEN / YELLOW – Webster, Talib’s back up, returned to practice Wednesday after missing Week 9. He appears in line to return for Week 10.
3.Derek Wolfe (DE) — RED – Wolfe, one of the Bronco’s top pass rushers, will be sidelined for about four weeks with an elbow fracture.
Green Bay Packers
1.James Starks (RB) — YELLOW / ORANGE – Starks returned to limited practice on Wednesday after being sidelined for the past four weeks following knee surgery. Head coach Mike McCarthy indicated that his plan is to progress Starks through practice during the week with a plan to play Sunday at Tennessee.
UPDATE: Starks is expected to be active for Week 10, but his work load has yet to be determined. I expect to have a limited role this week.
2.Randall Cobb (WR) — YELLOW / ORANGE – I was a bit perplexed by the way the Packers handled Cobb in Week 9. After being a game time decision, they kept Cobb active. He did not play a snap in the first half but then played 23 plays in the second half. He was limited Wednesday, but the fact he practiced makes it likely he will be ready Sunday.
3.Damarious Randall (CB) — RED – The Packers starting corner is expected to miss the next few weeks have sports hernia surgery.
Houston Texans
1. Lamar Miller (RB) — GREEN – Miller was limited Wednesday as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury. As the Texans just had their bye, it appears they are being cautious with reps for some of their players. Miller should be ready for Sunday’s matchup at Jacksonville.
2.Alfred Blue (RB) — GREEN – Blue injured his ribs in Week 8 but similarly to Miller, it appears that his limited practice is just the Texans limiting reps moving to the second half of the season.
3.Will Fuller (WR) — GREEN – Fuller was also limited but is expected to play Sunday.
4.Jaelen Strong (WR) — RED – Strong is expected to miss a month with an ankle sprain. There was no indicator of when Strong was injured but he has already been ruled out for Week 10.
Jacksonville Jaguars
1.Allen Hurns (WR) — PURPLE – Hurns remains in the league’s concussion protocol. He did not practice formally on Wednesday but was seen doing some sideline work. There is still a decent chance he clears protocol by Sunday, but the situation will need to be monitored through the week.
UPDATE: Hurns will be game time decision. He has not fully cleared protocol yet, but the Jaguars remain hopeful that he can finish the physical exertion aspect of the protocol Sunday.
Kansas City Chiefs
1. Jeremy Maclin (WR) — RED – Maclin left Week 9 early with a groin injury. He did not practice on Wednesday and there is significant pessimism regarding his status for Sunday.
UPDATE: As expected, Maclin is OUT for Week 10.
2.Chris Conley (WR) — GREEN – Conley was limited Wednesday with a quadriceps injury. Beat writers indicated that this is precautionary and likely protective with the likelihood that Jeremy Maclin will not play. Expect Conley to play and possibly seen increased targets is Maclin is out.
3.Spencer Ware (RB) — GREEN – After missing Week 9, Ware has cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play Sunday.
Los Angeles Rams
1. Todd Gurley (RB) — GREEN – Gurley was held out of Wednesday’s practice as a precaution with a thigh injury. There have not been any previous indications of Gurley being injured. He is expected to play without restriction Sunday at the Jets.
UPDATE: Gurley did not practice Thursday but did some limited work on Friday. He indicated to the media that he felt pretty good, but he is still listed as questionable on the game injury report. Due to his continued limitations, I would downgrade him to YELLOW. Soft tissue injuries and running backs do not mix very well.
Minnesota Vikings
1. Captain Munnerlyn (CB) — YELLOW / ORANGE — Munnerlyn, the Vikings top corner, injured his ankle on Sunday. He had a negative MRI but did not practice on Wednesday. He is considered day-to-day and is worth monitoring through the week. His absence would be a big boost to the Washington passing game.
New England Patriots
1. Martellus Bennett (TE) — GREEN – Bennett was limited Wednesday. This has become his norm and he will play full Sunday.
2.Julian Edelman (WR) — GREEN – Edelman also has a habit of limited or no practice Wednesday. This continued but he is expected to play Sunday as well.
New York Giants
1. Victor Cruz (WR) — RED – Cruz has already been ruled OUT for Week 10 with an ankle sprain.
New York Jets
1.Matt Forte (RB) — GREEN – Forte continued his weekly ritual of resting Wednesday. He will play Sunday.
2.Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB) — GREEN – Fitzpatrick joined Forte as a limited participant Wednesday but is expected to play Sunday.
UPDATE: Fitzpatrick’s injury was revealed as an MCL sprain this week. Earlier in the week there was some concern that Fitzpatrick may miss and Bryce Petty may be called upon to take the helm, but Fitzpatrick progressed though the week and is expected to start.
Philadelphia Eagles
1. Brent Celek (TE) — YELLOW / ORANGE – Celek broke a rib on Sunday. He did not practice Wednesday. Preliminarily, he is expected to play, but rib fractures are very painful and he is likely to have at least some limitation..
Pittsburgh Steelers
1. Darius Heyward-Bey (WR) — RED – Heyward-Bey sprained his foot Sunday and did not practice Wednesday. He has not been formally ruled out for Week 10 but is expected to miss one week at minimum.
2.Ladarius Green (TE) — YELLOW / ORANGE – Green was activated from the PUP list prior to Week 9 but did not play. Head coach Mike Tomlin has been non-committal about Green’s status all season and that has not changed. Even if Green plays, he will split time with Jesse James.
San Diego Chargers
1.Travis Benjamin (WR) — RED – The Chargers likely made a mistake trying to rush Benjamin back from a PCL sprain. He played only seven snaps Sunday before aggravating his knee injury. He did not practice Wednesday and all indications are that the Chargers intend to give him a week off to try to recover.
2.Tyrell Williams (WR) — GREEN / YELLOW – Williams continued a trend that has been present for a few weeks missing practice Wednesday. This appears rest related and he is expected to play Sunday.
3.Hunter Henry (TE) — YELLOW – After missing last week with a knee injury, Henry returned to practice on Wednesday. He is on track to play Sunday but will split snaps with Antonio Gates.
San Francisco 49ers
1. Carlos Hyde (RB) — ORANGE – Hyde continued to practice limited Wednesday but still has yet to participate in any contact drills. Until that happens, it is hard to how they can clear him for game play. This feels very much like the situation with Hyde last year where he was hampered with a foot injury. It felt like he was ruled out weekly for a long time before eventually being ruled out for the season. Until I see reports that he has participated in contact drills, I will not be considering him. Head coach Chip Kelly has said that a final decision will be made on Saturday which bodes well for main slate decisions.
2.Torrey Smith (WR) — YELLOW – Smith was limited with back pain Wednesday. Smith battled back pain Week 9 but was able to play on 75% of the offensive snaps. He is expected to play Sunday.
Seattle Seahawks
1. Michael Bennett (DE) — RED – Bennett has already been ruled out for Week 10 as he continues to recover from a knee injury.
2.Kam Chancellor (SS) — YELLOW – Chancellor is expected to return from a groin injury this week at the Patriots.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1.Doug Martin (RB) — ORANGE / YELLOW – After missing seven games, Martin returned to practice Wednesday. Martin appeared nearly ready to return a couple of weeks ago but suffered a setback and remained on the shelf. All indications are that he is on pace to return for Week 10. This will need close monitoring through the week.
UPDATE: Martin went through full practice Friday and is expected to be active for Week 10. Upgrade to YELLOW, but I expect they will caution returning Martin to play.
2.Russell Shepard (WR) — RED – Shepard did not return to practice despite the long recovery week from the Week 9 Thursday night game. This
leads me to think that he will miss again on Sunday.
3.Jacquizz Rodgers (RB) — RED – Rodgers has emerged out of the walking boot but did not practice Wednesday. It is early in the week, but at this point, I don’t expect him to return this week.
Tennessee Titans
1. Demarco Murray (RB) — YELLOW / GREEN – Murray nursed a toe injury last week but returned to play 95% of the offensive snaps. He rested Wednesday but this appears to be precautionary.
2.Derrick Henry (RB) — RED – Henry injured his calf in the first half Sunday and was unable to return. He had a negative MRI but did not practice Wednesday. I do not expect him to recover adequately enough to play Sunday.
UPDATE: Henry missed practice Thursday but returned Friday. Much to my surprise, he is not listed on the game injury report. His offensive role has been limited in the past few weeks, but he should play Sunday.
Washington Redskins
1.DeSean Jackson (WR) — ORANGE / YELLOW – Jackson left the Week 8 game in London with an undisclosed injury. Coming off the bye week, Jackson missed practice Wednesday. It is common for Jackson to get veteran treatment, but I would proceed with caution with Wednesday’s missed practice.
*UPDATE: Jackson has not recovered well from his shoulder injury and is listed as doubtful on the game injury report. Jackson is one of the few players that has a chance to play after not practicing during the week, but is very unlikely.