Daniel Thomas Injury: Updates on Dolphins RB's Week 6 Status and Fantasy Value

Miami Dolphins rookie running back Daniel Thomas has the first bye week of his NFL career.

The timing is fortunate for the former Kansas State star as he is working his way back from a hamstring injury.

UPDATE: Sunday, Oct. 16 at 10:23 a.m. EDT - Brandon Galvin

Daniel Thomas is expected to play Monday night against the New York Jets, according to Miami Herald's Manny Navarro.

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"'I’ve missed the first few games, but at the same time [the hamstring has] gotten a whole lot better, and I feel like I’ll be ready to go. I can’t wait. It’s time to get back on the field,'" Thomas said according to Navarro.

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UPDATE: Saturday, Oct. 15 at 3:48 p.m. EDT - Brandon Galvin

Daniel Thomas is not the safest bet to play Week 6 against the New York Jets, according to Rotoworld's Staff per Armando Salguero. 

""Daniel Thomas (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Week 6 after turning in another limited practice Saturday."

"Thomas will likely be active on Monday, but could end up being a game-time decision. The Miami Herald's Armando Salguero reports the Dolphins gave backup Lex Hilliard a 'lot of practice reps' this week, while previous reports had Thomas appearing 'tentative.'""

Considering the Dolphins play Monday night, he is best left on your fantasy bench unless you absolutely have no other option due to the bye week and other injuries.

Like all hamstring injuries, that takes time and rest, and with the bye week officially upon him he should get just that.

The 0-4 Dolphins are in trouble, and he has been one of the lone bright spots to this point in the season.

In the two games he was on the field for, he ran for 202 yards, recorded four catches and scored one touchdown.

He was averaging close to five yards per carry and was becoming a viable low-end No. 2 running back option for fantasy leagues.

Thursday, Oct. 13 at 1:35 p.m. EDT -- Mike Chiari

Thomas still hasn't officially been ruled in or out for Monday night's game against the New York Jets, but according to RotoWorld.com, all signs point to him playing, so you should put him in your fantasy lineup with confidence.

"Daniel Thomas (hamstring) is practicing again on Thursday."

"One reporter noted that Thomas was tentative in Tuesday's practice, but we've seen no concern that he's in danger of missing this week's game. Rotoworld ranks Thomas the No. 17 fantasy back against a struggling Jets run defense this week."

Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 4:35 p.m. EDT -- Tim Daniels

Daniel Thomas returned to practice this week and told a local radio station that he plans to play against the New York Jets on Sunday, according to CBS Sports. As long as Thomas has faith that he'll play, fantasy owners should as well.

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Thomas back on practice field: Dolphins RB Daniel Thomas (hamstring) was able to practice on Tuesday. He continues to rehab a hamstring injury that held him out of Week 4. Thomas told ESPN 760 radio in Miami last week that he expects to be ready for Week 6, following his team's Week 5 bye.

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The rookie running back was finally starting to show off his potential in the two weeks before aggravating his hamstring injury. Get him back in your lineups for Monday Night Football.

Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 1:40 p.m. EDT -- Tim Daniels

The fantasy team at ESPN.com has their weekly player predictions up and they are looking for a big game out of Daniel Thomas in his return to the lineup. Thomas has been trying to shake a nagging hamstring ailment.

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Thomas has had plenty of time for that hamstring to heal, and should be ready to resume his lead-back duties Monday night. Projection = 9 points

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The Reggie Bush experiment didn't work out as the Dolphins hoped, so Thomas becomes fantasy worthy right away upon his return.

Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 2:40 p.m. EDT by Donald Wood

The Miami Dolphins were worried about how their rookie running back Daniel Thomas would recover from a hamstring injury, and at Tuesdays practice, Thomas was not 100 percent.

Miami Herald beat writer for the Dolphins Armando Salguero is reporting on twitter about Thomas’ participation in practice Tuesday:

For fantasy purposes, I would have Thomas and any of the Dolphins running backs on the bench until they prove they can be affective. With little to no pass game, defenses will be loading the box to stop the run and get after the quarterback.

Update: Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7:09 p.m. EST by Brandon Galvin

Now that Chad Henne is out for the season, expect Thomas to enjoy a breakout rookie campaign the rest of the season. The Dolphins were already a run-first team, but with Sage Rosenfels or Matt Moore behind center, Tony Sparano will lean on Thomas to carry the rock as the workhorse he was projected to be out of Kansas State. Right now, the only thing holding DT back would be aggravating his hamstring.

Update: Wednesday, Oct 5 at 9:50 a.m. EST 

The Miami Herald reports that Daniel Thomas is likely to play against the Jets in two weeks. 

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Daniel Thomas said he will be ready for the Jets game, but Vontae Davis was noncommittal. Both have missed time with hamstring injuries. But Davis practiced Tuesday and Thomas did not

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Ignore the part about Davis because he won't affect your fantasy team, unless you start with the Dolphins defense, in which case you might want to find a new one. After all, they're 0-4 and haven't had a good week in fantasy yet. 

As for Thomas, the fact that he missed practice shouldn't be too alarming because the Dolphins have so much time before their next game. He thinks he''l play, and resting his hamstring this bye week is the best way for him to be ready in Week 6. 

Update: Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 1:55 p.m. EDT

According to the Sun Sentinel, Thomas was not on the practice field today as the Dolphins took to the field for a presumably light workout as they head into a bye week. Thomas missed the season opener and the game last week with a hamstring injury that has been bothering him.

The bye should be good for Thomas as it will give him a lot of time to heal. 

He didn't fly out to San Diego for the Dolphins' Week 4 bout with the Chargers, but with two weeks to rest he should be back on the field for Week 6.

Things don't get easy for the Dolphins upon their return to the gridiron though.

In Week 6 they'll travel to New York to take on their division-rival Jets. The matchup will be physical, likely very ugly and is a matchup the Dolphins could actually win if the Jets continue to play football the way they have been.

Gang Green could very easily be on a three-game slide when they welcome Thomas and the Dolphins into Met Life Stadium.

Week 7 they return home to play the lowly Broncos (although the Broncos being "lowly" doesn't mean anything considering the Dolphins are atrocious at home) before traveling back to Met Life Stadium to play the New York Giants.

Thomas, if healthy, might be best kept on the bench for the Jets game but will be a good starting option against the Broncos.

Wait and see how all that goes before considering him for any late matchups.

If you are looking to trade the rookie back any time soon the Dolphins' schedule through December offers middle-of-the-road difficulty. 

Be sure to check back for all the latest updates on Thomas throughout the next two weeks.