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Here are the Week 12 fantasy injuries and my commentary. Starting this week I will start posting a Thursday's edition along with the regular Weekend edition. The Thursday Edition will list injuries for the Thursday's game only.
Thursday's Game
Bengals:
WR Andre Caldwell is probable with a foot injury.
WR Antonio Chapman was placed on the Injured Reserve with a cervical injury.
QB Carson Palmer has an elbow injury and is out.Palmer’s injury has many fantasy owners frustrated.
Steelers: TE Health Miller is questionable with a high ankle injury.There is speculation that Miller might be able to go on Thursday.I would check on his status at game time before starting him.
RB Rashard Mendenhal has been placed in Injured Reserve for his fractured right arm.
Look for the Weekend update for the rest of the games.
Who is Hot? QB Kurt Warner was red hot. He threw for 395 yards on 32 completions and 44 attempts. He threw 1 touchdowns and one interception. The old Kurt is back.
RB Steve Slaton was boiling hot. He rushed on fourteen times and had 156 yards and 1 touchdown.He has become a real threat on the ground for the Texans.
WR Anquan Boldin was volcano hot. He had 13 receptions for 186 yards. Boldin is one of the top wide receivers in the league.
Who is Lukewarm? RB Brian Westbrook was lukewarm. He had 14 carries for 60 yards. He had a terrible game.One rush was for 22 yards.
RB Matt Fortewas lukewarm. He ran 16 times for 64 yards.He has had a great rookie year but this game was not great.
QB Aaron Rogers was lukewarm. He went 23 for 30 attempts with two touchdowns and one interception.
Who is Cold? QB Kyle Orton was Frozen Tundra cold. He was 13 for 26 and 133 yards. It was his first game back so we will cut him a little slack. At the beginning of the season, not much was expected out of Orton.He has had a few really good weeks.This was not one of them.
RB Willis McGahee was freezer burnt cold. He went 9 carries for 18 yards. Two yards per carry is very cold.
QB Jake Delhomme was polar cold. He threw 10 completions for 19 attempts for 102 yards and a touchdown.He had fewer yards than two of his running back- ouch!
Things I Have Learned... from the Cowboys at the Redskins.
1) QB Tony Romo is back. He looked a bit rusty and started slow. By the second half, he had shaken the rust off. He was making plays with his arm, his feet, and his tenacity. Not many QBs would attempt the shuttle pass like he (and Brett Favre) did. The Cowboys needed his return and Romo answered the call. He did have 2 interceptions but one was not his fault.
2) QB Jason Campbell has become accustomed to the West Coast Offense. He has a big arm and this is the third offense in three years. He did not look comfortable in this season early in the season. Now he looks comfortable. He threw the screen pass very affectively against the Cowboys.
3) RB Marion (The Barbarian) Barber is a tough runner in the fourth quarter. He is always tough when he runs. He usually is making a defensive player pay for tackling. His level of intensity appears to infinitely grow in the fourth quarter.
4) RB Clinton Portis is a stud runningback. He was playing injured and ran over the Cowboys defense at times. You could tell he was not at his best but he still ran wild at times. The Redskins need a healthy Portis if they are going to make a run at the playoffs.
5) The Cowboys continue to have stupid penalties that are killing their drives. They continue to self destruct. They will need to get these under control if they hope to make the playoffs.
6) The rookie wide receiver Devin Thomas continues to develop for the Redskins. He has flashes of excellence. This is normal for Rookie wides.
7) The Cowboys are dropping too many easy passes or letting them bang off their hands. Both T.O. and Witten had key drops in this game. This team appears to be lacking focus where they are not watching the ball come in.
8) The Cowboys are not very good on kick off coverage. This has plagued them all year and they proved it again in this game.
9) Either one of these teams (or possibly both) could make the playoffs. It will depend on how well they execute and concentrate for the rest of the season.
Those are a few things I learned from the Cowboys at the Redskins.
Cardinals: TE Ben Patrick has a knee injury and is probable for this weekend. He practiced this week and should play. There is a rumor that the coaching staff is not pleased with Patrick.
TE Leonard Pope is probable with an ankle injury. He did practice fully this week.
TE Jerame Tuman has an ankle injury and is probable. He practiced this week. He should not have any fantasy value with the return of Pope and Patrick.
Falcons: RB Michael Turner is probable with a hand injury. He practiced all week. Turner is a must start every week.
K Jason Elam has a hip injury and is questionable. Elam is no longer a young man. A hip injury for a kicker is bad news. I would start your backup Kicker if Elam is your normal kicker.
Ravens: WR Derrick Mason has a dislocated shoulder and is questionable. He was limited in practice with a non-contact jersey. I would leave Mason on the bench this week.
TE Daniel Wilcox is questionable with a thigh injury. He continues to be questionable every week. Hopefully you have a better option at TE other than Wilcox.
Bills: WR Josh Reed is out with an Achilles/ankle injury.
WR James Hardy has a strained hip flexor and is questionable for Monday Night. Hardy has a lot of potential but has not shown himself to be a fantasy player worth owning unless you are in a keeper league.
TE Robert Royal is questionable with a sprained ankle. He injured it in practice this week.
RB Fred Jackson has a minor leg injury and is probable for Monday. He practiced all week and is expected to be available to be back up Lynch.
Panthers:
RB Jonathan Stewart has a heel injury and is probable. He fully practiced this week. He should play this weekend.
Bears: QB Kyle Orton has an ankle injury and is probable for this weekend. Allsigns point to Orton starting this weekend. He should be a safe start if you need him.
Bengals:
RB Cedric Benson is probable with a back injury. He practiced on Friday. Hopefully Benson is not in your starting lineup.
Browns: No significant fantasy injuries.
Cowboys:
TE Jason Witten is probable with a rib injury. He is expected to play. He should see a lot of action against the Redskins.
QB Tony Romo has a broken pinkie and is probable for Sunday. Romo is starting and the Cowboys are hoping he is the spark they badly need.
RB Felix Jones is out with a hamstring injury. The Cowboys were hoping he could play but not this week.
WR Isaiah Stanbeck has a shoulder injury and is questionable. He is not expected to play.
Broncos: No significant fantasy injuries.
Lions:
QB Dan Orlovsky is doubtful with two fractures and a torn ligament in his right thumb. He is considering season ending surgery. It is a tough break during a contract year. He was not worth starting on your fantasy team anyway.
WR Mike Furrey has a concussion and is questionable. He did not practice earlier in the week.
Packers: QB Aaron Rogers is probable with a shoulder injury. He fully practiced this week.
Texans: WR Andre Davis has a finger injury and is doubtful. He was limited in practice this week.
QB Matt Schaub is out with a knee injury. He is expected to be out for at least 3 more weeks.
Colts: WR Reggie Wayne is questionable with an ankle injury. He practiced on Friday but not on Wednesday or Thursday. I expect him to play this weekend but I would not start him until you can confirm he is active for this weekend.
WR Anthony Gonzalez has a hamstring injury and is questionable. He is in the same situation as Wayne.
Jaguars: RB Fred Taylor is probable with a neck injury. He did not practice this week. Is this the return of "Glass legs" Taylor?
WR Matt Jones has a thigh injury and is questionable. He was limited in practice earlier in the week missed practiced on Friday.
WR Troy Williamson is out with a groin injury.
RB Greg Jones has an ankle injury and is questionable. Jones is at best a backup riding your bench.
Chiefs:
RB Jamaal Charles is probable with an ankle injury. He is expected to play.
QB Brodie Croyle has been placed in the Injured Reserve which ends his season.
QB Damon Huard has been placed in the Injured Reserve which ends his season.
Dolphins: No significant fantasy injuries.
Vikings: No significant fantasy injuries.
Saints: RB Aaron Stecker is probable with a hamstring injury. He fully practiced this week. He is expected to play.
RB Reggie Bush has a knee injury and is out. Bush continues to be out with his knee injury.
K Garrett Hartley is probable with a back injury. He should play this weekend.
WR Marques Colston has a knee injury and is probable. He was limited in practice this week.
Patriots: (Thurs game)
RB LaMont Jordan is questionable with a right calf injury. He did not practice on Thursday.
RB Sammy Morris has a knee injury and is listed as questionable. There is some discussion of him playing on Thursday night.
RB Lawrence Maroney has a shoulder injury and was placed on the injured reserve list. He is done for the season.
Giants: No significant fantasy injuries.
Jets: (Thurs Game) WR Laveranues Cole has a thigh injury and is probable. He played on Sunday and will play on Thursday.
K Mike Nugent is listed as questionable for this week with a thigh injury. There is a chance he will play. I would not start Nugent at this time.
WR Jerricho Cotchery has a shoulder injury and is probable. He played on Sunday and should play on Thursday.
Raiders: RB Darren McFadden is questionable with a turf toe injury. He practiced on Friday. He is expected to play this weekend.
QB Andrew Walter has a calf injury and is questionable. He has missed practice all week.
QB JaMarcus Russell is questionable with endinitis in his right knee. He practiced on Friday and most of Thursday.
WR Javon Walker has an ankle injury and is out. He is expecting to be out for the rest of the year.
WR Chaz Schilens is questionable and has an ankle injury. He will be a game time decision.
Eagles: RB Michael Westbrook is probable with a knee injury. He will play this weekend. He is a good start.
WR DeSean Jackson has a groin injury and is probable. He practiced fully this week.
Steelers: RB "Fast" Willie Parker is probable for this weekend with a knee injury. He fully practiced on Friday. He is expected to play but he should only have limited carries this weekend.
QB Big BenRoethlisberger is probable with a shoulder injury. He fully practiced on Friday but missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. He will be a game time decision.
WR Hines Ward has a shoulder injury and is probable. He also did not practice early in the week but did not Friday.
TE Health Miller is out with a high ankle injury. This is a big loss for the Steelers offense.
RB Rashard Mendenhal has been placed in Injured Reserve for his fractured right arm.
Chargers: No significant fantasy injuries.
Seahawks: WR Deion Branch has a heel injury and is probable. He will be a game time decision. He should be back this weekend finally.
WR Koren Robinson is probable with a knee injury. He is expected to play.
QB Matt Hasselbeck has a back injury and is probable. He is likely to be back for this weekend. I would wait and see with Matt this weekend. If he has a good weekend, then you can start him next weekend.
QB Senca Wallace is questionable with a groin injury. He did not practice this week. It is good for Seattle that Hasselbeck is expected back.
RB Julius Jones is recovering from an illness earlier this week and is probable. He should play but is not a good fantasy starter.
49ers: WR Arnaz Battle is out with a foot injury.
RB Frank Gore has a neck strain and is probable. He practiced on Friday. He should play this weekend.
TE Delanie Walker is questionable with a shoulder injury. He did not practice on Thursday.
WR Josh Morgan has a groin injury and is out for this weekend.
Rams: QB Trent Green has an elbow injury and is probable.
RB Steven Jackson is out with a quad injury.
RB Antonio Pittman is probable with a hamstring. It appears he will play and get plenty of playing time this weekend with Jackson out.
Buccaneers:
WR Ike Hillard is questionable with a shoulder injury. He fully practiced this week. It looks good for him to play. Hillard would be a decent WR 3 for an injury.
RB Earnest Graham has a knee injury and is questionable. He is expected to play and split time this weekend.
RB Warrick Dunn is questionable with a back injury. He is expected to play and split time this weekend with Graham.
RB Carnell Williams has a knee injury and is questionable. He was activated from the PUP list. He may see very limited time. He should not be considered when setting a fantasy line up.
TE Alex Smith is questionable with an ankle injury. He did not practice this week.
Titans: WR Justin McCareins is questionable after a concussion. He missed practice this week.
Redskins: RB Clinton Portis is questionable with a knee injury. He did not practice on Friday. He is expected to see very limited action.
WR Santana Moss has a hamstring injury and is probable.
RB Ledell Betts is questionable with a knee injury. He sat out of practice on Friday as a precation. He is expected to play on Sunday against the Cowboys.
WR Devin Thomas had stomach ailmen and is probable for Sunday. He should play with no issues.
WR Malcolm Kelly is questionable with a knee injury. He practiced fully this week.
QB Jay Cutler of Denver.Cutler is starting to really find his groove.He is third on the passing yards for this season.He has good talent at Wide Receiver.He is starting to become start every week QB but is not quite there yet.This week they are playing Atlanta who is 22nd against the pass.I look for another big week for Cutler.
QB Tyler Thigpin of Kansas City.I would not bench a fantasy stud for Thigpin yet but if you have some injuries, he is a decent start this weekend.He has improved by leaps and bounds since he was thrown in his first game earlier this year.He has potential to be a good NFL QB and a good fantasy QB.KC is playing against the Saints in KC.The Chiefs are much tougher in KC than on the road.New Orleans is struggling against the pass by giving up 238.4 yards per game for 27th.
QB Tony Romo of Dallas (Bonus QB)Don’t forget that Tony will be back this weekend.Some people are afraid that he might be rusty.I would not worry about that.He needs to pick this team up and put them on his shoulders this weekend to get them back in the playoff hunt and they are playing against the archrival Redskins.Start him if you have him.
RB DeAnglo Williams of Carolina. Williams has performed well with job sharing with Stewart.Williams has displayed why he is there number 1 runningback.They are playing against the Detroit Lions who are 31st against the run.This should be a no brainer start.
RB Marshawn Lynch of Buffalo. Lynch has been fairly lackluster this season.He has a favorable match up against the Browns Run Defense.Cleveland is 26th against the run and gives up 145.2 yards per game.
WR Steve Smith of Carolina. Smith is finally getting back into the grove after being suspended earlier in the season.They are playing against the Lions.The Lions are pitiful.Look for Smith to have well over 120 yards and a TD.
WR Roddy White of Atlanta. Matt Ryan is playing very well and he loves White.It should be a shoot out in Atlanta this weekend because both team struggle to defend the pass.I look for White to have a big game.
Bench their Butts
QB David Garrad of Jacksonville. He is playing against the undefeated Titans.The Titans are a really good defensive team.They are number 1 defense against scoring.Let Garrad sit the bench.
QB Trent Edwards of Buffalo. It is not that the Browns are very good against the pass.It is the fact that they are much worse against the run.I don’t think Edwards will need to pass the ball very often.
RB Maurice Jones-Drew of Jacksonville. The Titans are tough against the run.They will not let either Jones-Drew or Taylor have much running room.Bench them both.
RB Larry Johnson of Kansas City. Johnson is not well liked in KC because of his bad behavior.He will share carries at best this weekend.I do not look for Johnson to be much of a fantasy contributor.
WR Bernard Berrian of Minnisota. Berrian will have trouble against a stingy Bucs defense.I do not see him have a good week this week.Let him sit and start him next week.
WR Chris Chambers of San Diego.I do not like his match up against the Steelers.The Steelers are not great against the pass like they used to be but I think they will cover the Charger receivers well.
