DFS: NFL Week 4 Injury Report
Here's a look at the injury situation around the NFL heading into Week 4 (bye teams, Thursday night and Sunday morning games not included)
Quarterbacks
Andrew Luck, Colts (vs. Jaguars) - Out
Limited all week in practice with a shoulder injury, Luck was declared Out early Sunday morning. Make sure to remove him from all your DFS lineups immeditaely. Matt Hasselbeck will be the Colts starting Quarterback against Jacksonville and does not pose much appeal.
Drew Brees, Saints (vs. Cowboys) - Probable
After sitting out the Saints' loss to Carolina with a shoulder injury, it seems as if Brees will return to face Dallas on Sunday night (depriving the viewing public of a Brandon Weeden - Luke McCown prime-time duel.) Despite a tough start to his season by his standards, Brees is still among the priciest QB options in most DFS games, making him a rather undesirable selection, even at home.
Jay Cutler, Bears (vs. Raiders) - Probable
Cutler has been able to practice on a limited basis this week, but early morning reports out of Chicago indicate Cutler will start though not 100% healthy. Cutler is an obvious upgrade over backup Jimmy Clausen and gives a boost to the value of Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett. Oakland has been absolutely ravaged by opposing tight ends this year, with Tyler Eifert, Crockett Gillmore and Gary Barnidge combining for an astounding 20 catches, 297 yards and 5 TDs.
With that information in mind, Martellus Bennett seems like a no-brainer selection this week.
Running Backs
LeSean McCoy, Bills (vs. Giants) - Out
McCoy hasn't yet missed any action despite a persistent hamstring injury, but acknowledged that he may need a game off to fully recover. McCoy has only managed a 3.4 YPC in three games; rookie backup Karlos Williams has stolen the veteran's thunder by averaging a eye-popping 7.8 YPC with three TDs on only 24 carries.
Given Williams' strong showing, Buffalo has taken the long view and will give its big offseason acquisition a rest, officially declaring him out on Thursday. Williams represents a nice DFS option at his low price given his production so far and guaranteed starting role.
Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks (vs. Lions) - Questionable
Considered questionable all week, Lynch started against the Bears but left early with a hamstring concern. Curiously, undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls received 16 touches to Fred Jackson's four in Lynch's absence. Lynch will be a game-time decision against Detroit on Monday night, so he's risky to have in your lineup considering his price.
DeMarco Murray, Eagles (at Redskins) - Probable
It can't be comforting to prospective Murray owners that the Eagles' running game took off in the wake of the ex-Cowboy's absence against the Jets. Ryan Mathews ran for 108 yards on 25 carries, and also added two catches for 20 yards and a TD. Darren Sproles also chipped in rushing and punt return touchdowns, though he only managed 17 yards on 11 carries.
Murray was a full participant in practice Thursday, indicating he is healthy enough to return Sunday. Assuming Hurricane Joaquin's presence brings wind and rain to the D.C. area, a run-heavy game plan could be in the cards for both teams. However, Murray will likely be on a short leash if he continues to struggle in his first year with the Eagles, and of course if he doesn't play, Mathews and Sproles both will have increased value in DFS games.
Arian Foster, Texans (at Falcons) - Questionable
If Foster can return this week, he'll enter into a very nice matchup with the Falcons; Dallas ran all over them for 127 yards and four touchdowns before ultimately succumbing to an Atlanta comeback. The Texans running game had struggled for the first two weeks without Foster, but broke out against Tampa Bay, with Alfred Blue racking up 139 yards and a TD on 31 carries.
Foster will be a game-time decision, and at his high price, represents a risky choice, especially if he's eased back into the lineup.
Tevin Coleman, Falcons (vs. Texans) - Out
Devonta Freeman had a monster game against Dallas in Coleman's absence, putting up 141 rushing yards and three touchdowns and adding five receptions for 52 yards for good measure. When both backs are healthy, they're likely to split the workload, reducing each other's fantasy value, but with Coleman out this week as well, Freeman gets another game to shoulder the load by himself.
Andre Ellington, Cardinals (vs. Rams) - Questionable
Ellington may return after missing two games, but considering how the duo of Chris Johnson and David Johnson performed in his absence, his starting place may be under threat. If nothing else, Ellington's presence will likely negate the cheap fantasy value held by Chris Johnson, who registered 150 total yards and two TDs in Arizona's demolition of San Francisco.
Joique Bell, Lions (at Seahawks) - Out
Bell has been declared out for Monday night, so the door is open for Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick to receive more touches, with Abdullah primarily handling rushing work and Riddick catching passes out of the backfield. Riddick in particular has accumulated 15 receptions for 144 yards and a TD with the Lions having to throw to catch up late in all three games this season.
Wide Receivers
Sammy Watkins, Bills (vs. Giants) - Out
Watkins left Buffalo's matchup with the Dolphins with a calf injury and did not return, though with the Bills leading big, it made sense not to risk the second-year receiver. Head coach Rex Ryan officially ruled out Watkins for this week on Thursday.
QB Tyrod Taylor continues to thrive with his arm instead of just his legs, so Watkins' prospects as a viable DFS option will only get stronger when he returns to health, but in the short term, Percy Harvin and, in tournament play, Robert Woods become interesting options with Watkins unable to play this week. Tight end Charles Clay should get a boost in production as well.
Davante Adams, Packers (at 49ers) - Out
Adams picked up a high-ankle sprain very early on in Green Bay's win over Kansas City and will sit this week. Considering Aaron Rodgers just threw five touchdown passes against the Chiefs, and the 49ers have been blown out in consecutive games by the Steelers and Cardinals, it's a good time to have at least one Packer in your Week 4 DFS lineup.
Adams was expected to help fill the void left by Jordy Nelson's injury, but James Jones has stepped into that role, leaving Adams and rookie Ty Montgomery to fight for the third receiver spot.
Victor Cruz, Giants (at Bills) - Out
Cruz said earlier in the week that he'd be playing, but after a setback in practice on Wednesday, he was declared out for this Sunday. Given that slot receivers Donte Moncrief, Julian Edelman and Jarvis Landry have all achieved PPR-success against Buffalo's defense, Cruz would have represented a cheap WR3 option had he been healthy enough to play. Rueben Randle will continue to fill in for him.
Alshon Jeffery, Bears (vs. Raiders) - Out
Jeffery has been ruled inactive for the third straight week. Chicago is set to have Jay Cutler start but he will not have his top receiver once again. In the last few weeks, Jefferey has been dealing with a hamstring and calf issue, but has expressed that his hamstring is the bigger issue.
Without Jeffery and Cutler, Chicago's offense was utterly punchless in its shutout loss to Seattle, with receivers in particular accounting for a mere three catches and 17 yards, all from Eddie Royal.
DeSean Jackson, Redskins (vs. Eagles) - Out
Despite some talk that Jackson may be able to return from his hamstring injury this week against his former team, it appears that he hasn't made enough progress to do so. Jackson would have made an intriguing play given the fact that the Eagles have struggled against the pass, as well as for the revenge factor in facing Chip Kelly, the coach who engineered Jackson's exit Philadelphia in 2014.
Tight Ends
Vernon Davis, 49ers (vs. Packers) - Doubtful
Davis left the 49ers' blowout loss to the Cardinals with a knee injury. Even if healthy, he plays in a very inconsistent passing attack and is a risky selection despite a matchup where San Francisco will likely be down and throwing against Green Bay. Garrett Celek is a minimum-priced tight end perhaps worth taking a gamble on in tournament play if Davis is out, as San Francisco could see extended garbage time if Aaron Rodgers continues his form from Monday night.
Dwayne Allen, Colts (vs. Jaguars) - Out
Allen missed the Colts' win over the Titans, but prospective owners can be heartened by the fact that the tight end position was utilized more than it had been during the first two games of the season, with Coby Fleener and Jack Doyle combining for seven catches and 83 yards. Unfortunately this week, Allen was declared inactive on Sunday morning. Owners will have to wait and see if Allen returns for Week 5.
Ladarius Green, Chargers (vs. Browns) - Questionable
Green missed San Diego's loss to the Vikings with a concussion, and if he can return against the Browns, it'll mark the last game he'll have the tight end role to himself before Antonio Gates returns from suspension in Week 5. While considered questionable on the NFL injury report, he did participate fully in practice, so if cleared, he should be able to play on Sunday.
Jacob Tamme, Falcons (vs. Texans) - Out
Tamme left with a concussion during Sunday's win over Dallas, and won't play this week against Houston. He's not a big part of the offense, but has some value as a cheap speculative play when Atlanta is likely to throw the ball a lot.