Fantasy Football Week 2: Analyzing the Fallout from the Latest Injury Updates

It didn't take long for the specter of injuries to start making its impact felt across both the National Football League and fantasy football, as we've already watched a pair of prominent running backs go down in Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears and Fred Jackson of the Buffalo Bills.

Jackson and Forte are far from the only players nursing bumps and bruises right now, and as we head into Week 2, here's a look at updates on some of the bigger names that make appearances on this week's injury report.

Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers

After watching San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews make his return to practice this week after fracturing his clavicle in the preseason, the third-year pro's fantasy owners were no doubt hopeful that they might start getting a return on their investment Sunday when San Diego hosts the Tennessee Titans.

However, beat reporter Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego reports that he expects Mathews to sit this week, and according to Dan McLellan of CBS Sports, head coach Norv Turner said very little to clarify the situation:

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You don't have to make a decision until Sunday, so we are not going to make a decision until Sunday. Whether we are looking for something different [from Mathews] or not different, it's not an issue.

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That lack of clarity and a 4:25 p.m. EDT start time makes Mathews an incredibly risky fantasy start at best and one best left reserved until Week 3.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon did a lot of damage in a little bit of time in last week's surprising win over the New Orleans Saints, reeling in four passes for 109 yards and a touchdown before leaving in the first half with an injured foot.

That same injury has limited the fifth-year pro in practice this week, and Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan told Mike Jones of The Washington Post that Garcon's availability this week is basically a matter of pain tolerance:

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It’s pretty easy when it’s pain tolerance. If you can go, live with the pain, full speed, then you let him go. If it’s a situation of making it worse, then the chances of playing aren’t very good. Right now it’s pain tolerance, so we’ll see right before the game. Obviously, [Garcon] can take something to help himself a little bit. But he’ll work out before the game, and we’ll know before then.

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Garcon will be a game-time decision in a 4:05 p.m. EDT start, and unless fantasy owners have another late-game option waiting in the wings and are prepared to make the last-minute switch, it's probably best to err on the side of caution and give Garcon the week off.

Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers

As much as fantasy owners of Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (especially those nursing injuries at the position) would like to see him return to the field, it's likely that the team would like to see him return even more, especially after the putrid effort put forth by the Panthers run game last week in his absence.

It appears that both may get their wish.

The fifth-year pro was a full participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, and head coach Ron Rivera told Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer that he's optimistic that, barring a late setback, Carolina will have its full compliment of tailbacks when it faces the New Orleans Saints Sunday:

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Our running back trio is a different combination of guys, so you have to keep that combination because it adds a little bit of doubt to who you play.

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Coming off the ankle injury, Stewart may well be eased in somewhat, making him an iffy fantasy RB2 play.

But with injuries already mounting in fantasy backfields, many teams may not have much choice.

Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

The last thing the Philadelphia Eagles needed heading into a matchup with the Baltimore Ravens was to be banged up offensively, but not only is that the case, but both starting wideouts for the Eagles are question marks heading into Sunday's showdown, too.

Both Jeremy Maclin (hip) and DeSean Jackson (hamstring) were limited participants in practice Friday, and although he's listed as questionable on the injury report, Maclin insisted to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News that he fully intends to play this week:

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"I didn't really feel any pain," Maclin said [after practice]. "That's a good thing. Right now, everything's a go." Asked if he thought he would play Sunday, Maclin said: "I'll be all right."

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Check the inactives on Sunday, but it appears that as things stand right now, Jackson and Maclin will be on the field in Philly and can be safely inserted into fantasy lineups.

Darelle Revis, CB, New York Jets

We'll close these injury updates with some news not on an offensive star but on a defensive stalwart whose absence bodes very well for the fantasy prospects of a couple of wide receivers this weekend.

Cornerback Darelle Revis of the New York Jets has been ruled out of Sunday's game with the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a concussion, which means that neither wideout Antonio Brown nor speedster Mike Wallace will have to worry about spending the afternoon marooned on "Revis Island."

That makes both receivers rock-solid WR2 plays this week, especially Brown, who will likely be covered by reserve Kyle Wilson.