Fantasy Football Sleepers: Injury Creator

Kevin RobertsNov 6, 2009

Injuries happen every week, changing the fortunes both for the players that sustain the injury, as well as the players around them. An offensive player's absence can either affect other players negatively, or it can give a lesser known player a chance at the spotlight.

Take a look at some guys who could be seeing extended playing time in the next one or two weeks due to injury:

Steve Breaston/Jerheme Urban, WR, Arizona Cardinals

It seems we're talking about these guys every week. Breaston is already a solid WR3 in most leagues, despite being the third option in AZ's passing attack. However, with a strong possibility of having Anquan Boldin sitting out in Week Nine, Urban's value could sky-rocket.

That's what everyone thought when the Cardinals faced the New York Giants, but Boldin ended up playing, killing Urban's value. If Boldin does in fact sit this one out, upgrade Breaston to a solid WR2, and Urban to a WR3.

Kevin Walter, WR, Houston Texans

With Owen Daniels out, Walter is the next best thing in Matt Schaub's mind and should begin to see plenty of additional looks, starting with this week's match-up with the Indianapolis Colts.

Walter has great hands and excellent play-making ability, and just like the injured Daniels, he isn't afraid of crossing over the middle or taking a big hit.

He's a dependable option for any quarterback, and until James Casey assumes Daniels' old role at a solid level, Walter should make for an elite WR3.

James Casey, TE, Houston Texans

He's dealing with his own knee injury currently, but Casey should be reaping the benefits of his fallen teammate, Owen Daniels , soon enough.

Casey is a very athletic pass-catcher with good play-making ability. With Daniels out for the season with a torn ACL, Casey, the only effective pass-catching tight end in Houston, will have to step up.

The former Rice product should be out for the next one to two weeks after knee surgery but figures to be a nice pick-up in deep leagues if you're in need of a tight end.

Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders

The injury bug is working the other way around for McFadden, who is reportedly due back for Week 10 when the Raiders resume play.

McFadden wasn't electric earlier in the season, but he sure wasn't any worse than the current production from Justin Fargas and Michael Bush. McFadden isn't guaranteed to step back in as the starter immediately, but it shouldn't take long.

While his return doesn't necessarily mean great things for him, his presence does crush any value Fargas and Bush mustered up.

Fred Davis, TE, Washington Redskins

Another tight end, Chris Cooley, went down, and another one rises, for about a month, anyway. Davis has already displayed his excellent potential, as he caught eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in Week Seven.

Davis is still playing in a paltry Washington offense, and his lack of elite blocking ability holds him back, but the skills and potential production are definitely there. He will be Cooley's replacement and the starter for the Redskins at tight end until Cooley returns.