DFS: NFL Week 8 Injury Report
Here's a look at the injury situation around the NFL entering Week 8, with teams on byes and the Thursday night and early Sunday London participants not included:
Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (vs. Bengals) - Probable
Big Ben looks ready to return after having been out of action since Week 3 with a knee injury. With Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant all healthy and in the lineup at once, Pittsburgh has a terrifying offense, despite having to face the undefeated Bengals this week.
Marcus Mariota, Titans (at Texans) - Out
Zach Mettenberger could only lead the team to seven points in a tight home loss to Atlanta, but will get another start with Mariota to miss a second straight game. A road start against a middle-of-the-pack pass defense isn't the best spot for Mettenberger to improve on last week's performance, however, with both teams much more suspectible against the run.
Josh McCown, Browns (vs. Cardinals) - Questionable
McCown left late in Cleveland's loss to St. Louis with a shoulder injury, but despite the questionable designation, is expected to start this Sunday. While the veteran's numbers have expectedly tailed off as a result of facing two of the league's better defenses in consecutive weeks, a potential Johnny Manziel return to the lineup would have downgraded TE Gary Barnidge and RB Duke Johnson, Jr.
Despite the tough matchups, Barnidge managed lines of 3-39-2 and 6-101 against Denver and St. Louis, respectively, while Johnson caught 10 passes and registered 146 total yards. Neither player had been much of a DFS-factor with Manziel at the helm this season.
Running Back
Chris Ivory, Jets (at Raiders) - Probable
Ivory has a hamstring injury that limited him against New England. With the exception of a disappointing Week 2, the former Saint has been a reliable fantasy contributor when healthy, and isn't priced among the top tier of RBs.
Joseph Randle, Cowboys (vs. Seahawks) - Out
On top of a personal issue that he's dealing with, a strained oblique will result in Randle missing time, but backup Darren McFadden looked great in carrying 29 times for 152 yards and a TD against the Giants. McFadden, of course, is notoriously injury-prone himself, so ex-Seahawk Christine Michael may see an expanded workload against his former club. For all the talk that Michael was going to play a bigger role against the Giants, he only registered 20 yards on six touches.
Regardless of who is carrying the ball, an encounter with the sixth-ranked Seattle rushing defense doesn't represent a favorable matchup.
Carlos Hyde, 49ers (at Rams) - Out
Hyde hasn't been able to practice this week due to a foot injury and has been declared out. A combination of Reggie Bush and rookie Mike Davis will carry the load, with Bush's pass-catching skills making him the more attractive option for slowing down the Rams' pass-rush.
Wide Receiver
Dez Bryant, Cowboys (vs. Seahawks) - Questionable
Bryant seems likely to return, but a matchup against Seattle's defense with Matt Cassel at the helm isn't likely the best recipe for DFS success, not with the star receiver still among the priciest players at his position.
Davante Adams, Packers (at Broncos) - Probable
Adams is likely to return after being out of action since leaving Week 3's game with an ankle injury. Denver boasts the league's best passing defense, though it may focus its attention on Randall Cobb and James Jones. In two full games this season, Adams has nine catches for 92 yards.
Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers (at Falcons) - Doubtful
Jackson left Sunday's loss to Washington with a knee injury. He's only had one huge game this season, registering a 10-147-1 line in Week 4 against Carolina. Aside from that performance, he's only managed 11 catches for 172 yards and a TD in his other five games combined.
Given that he hasn't been able to practice yet this week, his chances of playing Sunday don't look good.
John Brown, Cardinals (at Browns) - Questionable
Brown played through a hamstring injury Monday against the Ravens, and continued his strong season, catching four passes for 65 yards and a TD. The injury is still bothering him this week, and there's a chance he'll be held out as a precaution, with the Cardinals' bye week beginning after Sunday's game.
Michael Floyd has amassed 14 catches and two TDs over the last four games with Brown in the lineup, and would figure to be the beneficiary of a potential absence.
Anquan Boldin, 49ers (at Rams) - Questionable
Boldin's hamstring tightened on Thursday and he didn't practice Friday, so his status is uncertain for the weekend. Even if healthy, better mid-priced options than Boldin exist around the league, given San Francisco's inconsistent passing game.
Tight End
Antonio Gates, Chargers (at Ravens) - Questionable
Following two strong performances in his return from a season-opening four-game suspension, Gates missed Sunday's loss to the Raiders with a knee injury, and it's unknown how long the ailment will sideline him. Backup Ladarius Green took advantage of the opportunity with a 4-45-1 line, as well as a pair of two-point conversion catches.
Considering San Diego leads the NFL with almost 344 passing yards per game, Green could represent exceptional DFS value if he has the tight end role to himself.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Buccaneers (at Falcons) - Doubtful
The second-year tight end has practiced all week but may not be ready to return from the shoulder injury suffered in Week 2. With Vincent Jackson possibly out of action, Seferian-Jenkins could have built on the chemistry he showed with rookie QB Jameis Winston in the season's first two games, when he registered a 7-139-2 line.
WR Mike Evans should see the majority of the targets if both Jackson and Seferian-Jenkins are sidelined.