DFS: Week 7 NFL Injury Report

Here's a look at the injury situation around the NFL entering Week 7, with those teams on byes, playing Thursday night or playing early Sunday from London not included.

Quarterbacks

Marcus Mariota, Titans (vs. Falcons) - Out

The rookie avoided a serious injury on a low hit against the Dolphins on Sunday, but a sprained knee has ruled him out for this week. Second-year QB Zach Mettenberger will start in Mariota's absence.

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (at Chiefs) - Questionable

Roethlisberger is a game-time decision against the Chiefs after missing three games with his knee injury. The Steelers' offense as a whole has struggled with Michael Vick at the helm, though it received a boost upon the introduction of third-string QB Landry Jones, who threw two TDs to Martavis Bryant in the win over Arizona. Antonio Brown would certainly see his prospects improve with Roethlisberger back, having registered a line of 11-111-0 in the three games with mostly Vick at QB, but it's most likely that Jones will start this Sunday.

Running Backs

Duke Johnson Jr., Browns (at Rams)

Johnson suffered a shoulder injury against Denver, but it wasn`t serious. While he shares carries with Isaiah Crowell and Robert Turbin, Johnson has caught 24 passes over the last four weeks, and that receiving ability should prove useful against the Rams' pass rush. With Johnson not listed on Cleveland's official injury report, he's good to go for Sunday.

Melvin Gordon, Chargers (vs Raiders) - Doubtful

Gordon, who was expected to suit up against the Raiders, appears to be a late scratch, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports.

Matt Jones, Redskins (vs. Buccaneers) - Probable

Jones missed Washington's loss to the Jets with a toe injury. The ground game only registered 34 yards on 17 carries, with Chris Thompson providing most of his value on 6 catches for 24 yards. With Thompson considered doubtful this week, Jones may take over the passing-down role, in addition to sharing carries with Alfred Morris.

Dion Lewis, Patriots (at Jets) - Out

Lewis played through an abdominal injury against the Colts, and has remained limited in practice this week. He's coming off his first disappointing fantasy output of the season, as LeGarrette Blount outcarried him 16-4 and even registered a receiving TD. With Lewis officially listed as out for the game, Blount should receive the majority, if not all, the Pats' carries.

Ameer Abdullah, Lions (vs. Vikings)

Abdullah left Detroit's win over Chicago with an arm injury, and while he's not a strong DFS option, his absence freed up the backfield for Theo Riddick to receive more playing time. Riddick has only nine carries on the season, but is entrenched as the team's passing-down back, with 33 receptions for 278 yards and 2 TDs in six games. With Zach Zenner going on injured reserve this week, and Joique Bell inactive against Chicago due to an ankle injury, Detroit's once-crowded backfield is thinning out, increasing Riddick's value in PPR-scoring games.

Wide Receivers

Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs (vs. Steelers) - Out

Maclin left Kansas City's loss to the Vikings with a concussion. With a line of 36-483-1 in six games, the ex-Eagle has established himself as a viable option in PPR-scoring formats, despite the lack of TDs. With Maclin sitting out, expect TE Travis Kelce to feature heavily in the passing game.

Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. Raiders) - Questionable

Allen was forced to leave San Diego's loss to Green Bay with a hip injury, but not before accumulating 14 catches for 157 yards, the third game this season where he's had at least 12 receptions. His injury is only considered to be a sprain, so he should he able to play against Oakland. Philip Rivers leads the NFL in passing yards and attempts per game, and Allen and veteran TE Antonio Gates are his favorite targets.

DeSean Jackson, Redskins (vs. Buccaneers) - Out

Jackson won't yet be able to return from the hamstring injury he suffered back in Week 1. With Washington's bye week immediately following this game, the team is playing it safe and holding Jackson out.

Dez Bryant, Cowboys (at Giants) - Out

Noted doctor/team owner Jerry Jones was confident that the Cowboys' star receiver would be able to return from the broken foot that's sidelined him since Week 1, but the official injury report says otherwise. Even if Bryant had been healthy enough to play, he was still along the highest-priced WRs in daily fantasy and would have had Matt Cassel throwing him the ball.

Odell Beckham Jr., Giants (vs. Cowboys) - Questionable

Beckham was again limited all week in practice with his hamstring injury, but it isn`t expected to keep him out of the lineup Sunday. He may not get a chance to fully recover until New York`s Week 11 bye, though.

Stevie Johnson, Chargers (vs. Raiders) - Questionable

Johnson practised in full on Friday after missing the last two weeks with a hamstring injury. As noted above in Keenan Allen's section, QB Philip Rivers is throwing the ball a ton, but Johnson is a risky selection with Allen, Gates, Danny Woodhead, Ladarius Green and Malcom Floyd also involved in the passing game.

John Brown, Cardinals (vs. Ravens) - Questionable

Brown missed practice on Friday due to a hamstring injury, but does have some extra time to recover, with the Ravens and Cardinals not meeting until Monday night. Brown has said that he expects to be able to play, but may be somewhat limited in what appears to be a winnable matchup against Baltimore`s secondary. Brown is coming off of a 10 reception, 196 yard performance against Pittsburgh, and has a line of 33-497-2 for the season.

Tight Ends

Antonio Gates, Chargers (vs. Raiders) - Questionable

Given that Gates missed practice Friday with a knee injury, there's legitimate concern that he'll be ready for Sunday. Assuming he plays, he's likely to be limited.

Considering how badly the Raiders have been burned by tight ends not named Owen Daniels this year (Tyler Eifert, Crockett Gillmore, Gary Barnidge and Martellus Bennett have combined for 31 catches, 380 yards and six TDs against Oakland), a healthy Gates was looking like the obvious TE play this week. Backup Ladarius Green, who has stayed involved in the passing game with eight catches in the two games since Gates' return from suspension, represents a potential sleeper option.

Jordan Reed, Redskins (vs. Buccaneers) - Questionable

Reed missed his second straight game because of a concussion, with replacement Derek Carrier catching all four of his targets for 39 yards. Reed had at least five receptions in each of the first four weeks, and had established himself as a reliable mid-priced tight end option prior to his concussion.

Reed said this week that he expects to face Tampa Bay, and has been cleared by the NFL's concussion protocol.

Eric Ebron, Lions (at Vikings) - Probable

While QB Matthew Stafford had a huge game against Chicago with 405 yards passing and four TDs, only 17 such yards (and one TD) went to the tight end position, with Tim Wright filling in for the injured Ebron and putting up the aforementioned statline. Ebron has provided solid production when healthy, and his price has dropped to the point where he's among the cheapest starters at the position.

Gary Barnidge, Browns (at Rams) - Probable

Perhaps injuries are the only thing that can slow down Barnidge, who was limited in practice Wednesday with an ankle ailment before returning in full later in the week. The ex-Panther has scored in four consecutive games, including twice last week, and is behind only Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce in tight end receiving yardage.