This is a tough week for fantasy owners. With six teams on bye and injuries piling up around the league, replacements are sometimes hard to come by. Consequently it's important to gauge who you really have to worry about replacing versus who is going to show up and deliver. In some cases, like Dallas, all running backs are available, making it hard to choose who will be featured. Meanwhile, in New England (or London, England), the Patriots are down two running backs, and for once it seems we can actually predict who (Laurence Maroney) will get the bulk of the work.
As a reminder, each Friday teams are required to report injury designations for all players appearing on the injury report in anticipation of player status for the upcoming weekend. It's always easier when you know in advance that a player is not going to play. To help you out with that, key fantasy players listed Friday as "Out" for this week's games appear as a group at the end of the post. But as is often the case, some of the most notable fantasy players' availability remains undecided heading into game time. That said, we take a look here at what we know about injuries heading into Week 7.
Players for Denver, Detroit, Tennessee, Seattle, Jacksonville and Baltimore all have byes this week and are omitted from this report.
Good luck in Week 7, everyone! May your players stay healthy and win for you.
QUARTERBACKS:
Eli Manning, New York Giants (P): Manning continues to report that his foot is feeling better. After limited work Wednesday he practiced fully the rest of the week and is expected to start Sunday night.
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, (P): Rodgers surprised a few people when he showed up on the injury report this week, but the fact that he was able to practice fully all week tells fantasy owners they should not be worried.
RUNNING BACKS:
Marion Barber and Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys, (P): On Thursday I outlined the issues facing Barber and Jones as they recover from their various ailments. They are both listed as probable after practicing all week but how they'll be utilized, especially with Tashard Choice being the only truly healthy back, remains a bit of a mystery. It would not surprise me to see the Cowboys be most cautious with Jones to see how his knee responds to game conditions (read: hits).
Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers, (P): The 49ers are excited that Gore's rehab has been on track and he is returning from his ankle injury this week, just as the team projected. Apparently he has been running well in practice and is ready to go.
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings, (P): Although Peterson rolled his ankle last Sunday and looked uncomfortable when it happened, he later insisted it was not a big deal. He was back in full practice by Friday and is expected to play. Of course there's always the chance that he could roll it again and aggravate it during the game, but it's equally possible he could play right through it. Let's face it: Peterson fantasy owners are playing him as they always do.
Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers, (P): Mendenhall suffered a bruised knee in Week 6 but it wasn't enough to keep him down. He was a full participant in Thursday and Friday practice and now that he has moved up to No. 1 on the depth chart, fantasy owners should be starting him.
Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants, (P): Same story, different week. Bradshaw has rested his foot and ankle during the week and is expected to play Sunday night against the Arizona Cardinals.
LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers, (P): Tomlinson looked like his old self last week, running hard and making cuts. So why is he on the injury report this week? Seems like the flu caught up with the Chargers and caused Tomlinson to miss practice Thursday. Not to worry, fantasy owners. LT was back in full practice Friday and appears ready to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers, (Q): Stewart has developed a routine of resting early in the week to avoid overloading his Achilles. He did not practice Wednesday, as has become his norm, but practiced fully Thursday and Friday. It is interesting to note that his designation is questionable (when lately it has been probable heading into the weekend) but there is no obvious reason to think he won't be available Sunday.
Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons, (P): Turner was limited all week in practice because of a chest injury. His probable designation indicates that the team expects him to play. That's a good thing because Jerious Norwood is expected to miss this week (and perhaps longer) with a hip injury.
Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals, (Q): A hip ailment has limited Wells throughout the week in practice. While there's no indication this is a serious injury, the designation for a Sunday night game should tell fantasy owners to look elsewhere.
Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins, (no designation yet): Portis did not practice Thursday or Friday, but the Redskins have not indicated they are concerned about his availability for Monday night. After all, his ankle and calf problems have been ongoing throughout the season but have not kept him off the field yet.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys, (P): Williams seemed like a sure bet earlier in the week, but Friday morning coach Wade Phillips expressed concern about the fact that Williams was still having pain. This is not altogether surprising given the slow recovery of rib injuries. What was surprising was Phillips saying Williams could be a game-time decision. Phillips must have liked how Williams looked in Friday's practice because he designated him as probable, suggesting he will play. But bear in mind that even if Williams feels good at the outset, he may struggle if he takes a big hit to the already injured area, and it may impact his ability to play.
Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals, (Q): Boldin sprained an ankle last week and only returned to limited practice Friday. He will be a game-time decision, and even if he does play, his ankle will not be 100 percent recovered. Expect teammate Steve Breaston to get more work, and given that the Cardinals play Sunday night, fantasy owners should seek other options.
Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinals, (P): Breaston has been consistently performing well after limited practice during the week. This week should be no different, and he may see even more work with Boldin ailing.
Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers, (P): Lots of tight hips in the NFL this week, including that of Jennings. He sat out Thursday's practice but was able to do some work Friday and is expected to play. Now let's hope he sees some more action in the game.
Braylon Edwards, New York Jets, (P): Edwards put in a full practice Friday and is expected to play, despite straining his quad last week. That's good news for the Jets who will be without the services of Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith again this week.
Donnie Avery, St. Louis Rams, (P): Avery did not practice Wednesday after suffering a bruised hip in last week's contest but was back up to a full workload by Friday. He's been a bit banged up this season, but he will be out there Sunday to face the Indianapolis Colts.
Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals, (P): Ochocinco was a late addition to the injury report after not practicing Friday with a sore hip, but the team expects him to play.
Mario Manningham, New York Giants, (P): Despite an injury to his back that took him out of last week's game early, Manningham practiced fully all week and is expected to play Sunday night.
Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings, (Q): Harvin was forced out of last week's game early when he aggravated his shoulder injury. He has only done limited work this week and after last week's incident, even if he does manage to play, it seems as if the Vikings may limit his use. Tough-to-predict situation for fantasy owners.
Chaz Schilens, Oakland Raiders, (Q): At the start of the week it looked as if Schilens might make his season debut in Week 7. Unfortunately Schilens suffered from increased soreness in his foot that forced him to shut it down early in Friday practice. It is not likely we'll see him this week.
TIGHT ENDS:
Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints, (P): Shockey apparently hurt his shoulder last week and as a result was kept to limited practice reps this week. The probable designation tells fantasy owners he will be available as a Drew Brees target this week.
Out: This space is intended for a list of key fantasy players, not including those who have been moved to injured reserve status, who are officially listed as "out" for the upcoming game.
Fred Taylor, RB, New England Patriots: Taylor is still recovering from ankle surgery and will be for a while longer.
Sammy Morris, RB, New England Patriots: No specifics on the knee injury Morris suffered during last week's contest but we know it's enough of a limitation that he did not make the trip to London. We'll see if he is back in practice next week.
Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots: Edelman has a fractured forearm and will likely miss more than just Week 7. Good thing Wes Welker is healthy again.
Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders: McFadden is still on the mend from knee surgery and the team has not yet indicated when he might return to practice.
Jerricho Cotchery, WR, New York Jets: Cotchery's ailing hamstring was not well enough to allow him to practice this week, so missing the game does not come as much of a surprise. The Jets are hopeful he will return next week.
Brad Smith, WR, New York Jets: Ditto Cotchery's note above (except Smith is dealing with a strained quadriceps).
Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indianapolis Colts: Originally projected to return from his sprained knee this week, Gonzalez is not quite up to pace. In fact, he has yet to practice with the team. The Colts have issued no update on Gonzalez's timetable, so this will be a week-to-week assessment.
Trent Edwards, QB, Buffalo Bills: His second concussion in just over a year is going to keep Edwards sidelined this week.
See you at the injury chats (Tuesday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Sunday pregame, 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.). Be sure to check out Fantasy Football Now on Sundays at ESPN.com and on ESPN2 from 11:30 a.m. EST to kickoff for last-minute inactives, rankings and more!
Stephania Bell
