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Preseason Fantasy Football Injury Updates PDF Print E-mail
Fantasy Football Blog
Thursday, 03 September 2009 09:45
One last go-round on the injury front before the season begins. Many players have recovered and are ready to go - but a few have new injuries or bumps and bruises that just won't go away. Here are some of the most important ones for Fantasy Owners.

Quarterbacks

Kyle Orton - Broncos - In the throwdown between the Jay Cutler-led Bears and the Kyle Orton led Broncos last Saturday night, more than Denver Coach Josh McDaniels' ego was hurt. QB Kyle Orton suffered what is termed an 'open dislocation' which is basically a severe laceration, with a finger that also needed to be popped back into the socket. (Sorry if you were eating.)

While he will not be playing in the preseason finale, Orton is expected to be the starter in the Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. It's not a bad match-up for him but hopefully in Week 1 you have a better option than Orton, who has struggled with inconsistency this preseason.

Matt Schaub - Texans -It must be September because we're talking Matt Schaub injuries. Schaub has Top Five talent and weapons around him, but just cannot stay healthy. Schaub is in a walking boot, but considered day-to-day. He'll try his best to be ready for Week 1 so he can face a depleted Jets defense which will be without Shaun Ellis and Calvin Pace. If you have Schaub, you need to make sure you have a rock solid back-up and if he is your backup - well you may want to back-up your back-up.
 
Matt Cassel - Chiefs - According to the Kansas City Star, the Chiefs are not planning on having QB Matt Cassel for the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. This is a good thing, as it means he won't die horribly when the right side of the Offensive Line collapses in disarray. On the other hand, if you bought the hype and picked him as your starter, you are already having to dip your toe into the emergency back-up waters. Hopefully you chose well - with the line as shaky as it is, Cassel's knee could get hit again. And again. And again.

Daunte Culpepper - Lions - At some point - by means unknown - QB Daunte Culpepper hurt his toe and will now in all likelihood sit out Thursday night's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. Culpepper was thought to be leading the Quarterback competition over rookie QB Matthew Stafford, but this injury may have put the kibosh on that. Stafford will start the game and barring an enormously bad showing, should lock the job up. At that point, Culpepper will be worth very little in Fantasy leagues.

Ben Roethlisberger - Steelers - As Roethlisberger completed 15-of-19 passes for 168 yards during his time in Saturday's Steelers game, it's safe to say the Achilles tendon isn't bothering him. Use him as you might normally - as a competent back-up or QB2.
 
Carson Palmer - Bengals - QB Carson Palmer will once again sit out a preseason game, but has been looking good in practice, both moving well and showing good mobility. The offensive line is still a concern but with his weapons and blocking TE Daniel Coats, he should be able to put up some good points this season.

Marc Bulger - Rams - Bulger and his currently broken pinkie will be ready to go Week 1 - or so says Bulger himself. In fact, Bulger said that if they were gearing up for a regular season game this week, he'd play. His pinkie will not be healed by the Seattle match, but Bulger will take pain-killers if need be in order to play.

Despite the presence of RB Steven Jackson and the return of WR Donnie Avery, Bulger has too much going against him - most notably a penchant for injury and a pretty bad Offensive Line. You can take a flier on him as a QB3 or bench depth, but more than likely he'll just eat up space. Pass on him, healthy or not.
 
Shaun Hill - 49ers - Hill's back isn't an issue anymore, but the 60-40 run ratio and his just marginal play against the Cowboys may be. As was stated last week, Hill is no more than a back-up and depending on your league, may not even be that.

Running Backs

Reggie Bush - Saints - RB Reggie Bush was a last minute scratch on Saturday and while Saints Coach Sean Payton says he should see some time against the Dolphins Thursday night, we'll believe it when we see it. The Saints are being very careful with their star tailback and Fantasy owners have to wonder how risky a pick the Running Back is now. Not only has he been hurt, but he's missed valuable prep time.

It's a big year for Bush, especially from a Fantasy standpoint. Owners need to be very cautious with a guy who was once considered a fringe top ten Fantasy RB, but is now an oft-injured 3rd round risk. Bush is expected to play Week 1 and, according to Saints Beat Writer Jeff Duncan, the team feels he is about to have a breakout year. The reward seems great - but one might argue the risk is becoming great as well. Protect yourself with a handcuff to RB Pierre Thomas or RB Mike Bell.
 
Pierre Thomas - Saints - RB Pierre Thomas may not play Thursday night, but the team feels he will be ready to go against the Detroit Lions on opening day. As is the case with Reggie Bush, a smart handcuff for Thomas might be RB Mike Bell or if you want to wait a while, it's likely rookie RB Lynell Hamilton will make the squad, though he may have more value as a return specialist.
 
Carnell Williams - Buccaneers - Last Thursday Williams looked solid in his eight carries for 54 yards, though it was clear he lacked some of the quickness and explosiveness he had prior to his multiple injuries. It was a huge step forward for Williams and with middling performances by fellow Buccaneer RBs Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham it's clear that Williams will be a factor in what the team says will be a run-focused offense. The only thing we are unsure of is who gets which series? If Caddy keeps it up, he may get more than owners of Graham and Ward bargain for.
 
LaMont Jordan - Broncos - Jordan is finally back in in practice after battling a leg injury for a huge chunk of the preseason. With Rookie RB Knowshon Moreno also healthy and playing well, FB/RB Peyton Hillis having an out-of-his-mind preseason and RB Correll Buckhalter playing the 'Kevin Faulk' role so well and listed as starting Running Back. It's hard to say what Jordan's role will be - so even healthy it may be best to make this back odd-man out on your team.
 
Wide Receivers

Anquan Boldin - Cardinals - Boldin will not be playing in the preseason but is expected to be ready to go Week 1. While he has not fully practiced this week, he still rehabbed on the side in what was termed a 'rigorous workout'.  Continue to draft Boldin as you normally would.

Donnie Avery - Rams - Avery didn't play last Thursday and he may not play in the Rams' final preseason game, but that's likely just the team playing it safe. Avery has seemed fully recovered from his stress fracture and currently has fallen far enough in ADP (to the beginning of the 8th Round according to FantasyFootballCalculator.com) to have a chance to well outplay it even if the Rams remain a dysfunctional offensive squad. 
 
Terrell Owens - Bills -  Owens has begun fully practicing finally, but it is unlikely he'll see much if any preseason work in the Thursday finale. According to this article, he gained the injury due to an issue with his cleats.

Last season, it was RB Willie Parker being taken out by a hole on the practice field. Now Owens is downed by shoddy footwear. That's it, it is official - the support staff is rising up against the players. In all seriousness, Owens should be fine for opening day and can be started as you normally might.

Antonio Bryant - Buccaneers - Bryant returned to practice on Wednesday, according to PewterReport.com. While Bryant is expected to miss the preseason finale, he should be ready to go for Week 1. How effective he will be after missing the whole of preseason and given his overall history of inconsistent play, it's hard to get excited about him, despite his phenomenal play of last season. With an ADP of late 6th, early 7th round, he's going right about where he should be as a marginal WR2 or solid WR3 with upside.
 
Bernard Berrian - Vikings - Berrian was involved in pre-game warm-ups on Monday but did not play. Still, it was a good sign and he is expected to be ready for Week 1. The question is, how far behind is he in developing a rapport with QB Brett Favre (though they had been throwing together on the side of practice at one point) and if that may affect his early production. Berrian's value sure took a bump up when Favre arrived but we've yet to see for sure if it will play out that way. At present he is still a decent WR2 or WR3 with a little risk if the hamstring acts up again.
 

Mark Clayton - Ravens - Clayton will not play in the final preseason game for the Ravens but swears he will be ready to go in Week 1. "They want to be sure that everything is as good as we can get it," Clayton said in an interview with the Baltimore Sun. "We want to get an extra day of work to strengthen it and get the endurance up as opposed to taking chances." Clayton has practiced for two weeks so he is probably ready to go. Still, his value has always been shaky and it's no less so this year. He may have a big week against the Chiefs to start the season off, but he'll go stretches where his production is thin as well.

Nate Washington - Titans - According to the Nashville Tennessean, WR Nate Washington's hamstring rehab is going pretty slow - Washington isn't even jogging yet. He won't play in the preseason finish against the Green Bay Packers and it's unknown whether he will be remotely ready for the Steelers in Week1. Add to that the rumors that WRs Matt Jones and Jerry Porter are visiting and you have to think that the Titans aren't too confident he's going to be back soon despite Coach Jeff Fisher saying otherwise. Washington was looking good in preseason but this injury is a significant set-back. Rookie WR Kenny Britt has played well and if either Jones or Porter signs, that could be all she wrote for Washington's Fantasy value.

Steve Smith - Panthers - WR Steve Smith made his debut in last Saturday's preseason match-up and caught a pair of balls for 37 yards. Smith appears to be 100% ready to go and is well worth a WR1 slot on your team.
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