Fantasy Football Week 3: Injuries That Matter

Lee JohnsonSep 26, 2010

We are heading into Week 3 of the Fantasy Football season and the injury list is getting longer and longer. While we like to have our “Fantasy Football Injuries That Matter” out a little earlier than Sunday morning, but an invasion of the in-laws has put a pause on that.

Here is a listing of some of the players you may be wondering if you should pull the trigger on their start status this week.

Quarterback:

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Matthew Stafford, Lions

Stafford is still out and is looking like he will be for a while. If you were holding him as an early bye week replacement, it may be time to look in another direction as bye’s are starting next week.

Brett Favre, Vikings

You can bet that Favre isn’t going to end his career start streak on a probable listing.

Running Back:

Michael Turner, Falcons

Michael Turner and his groin should be fine for the first important NFC South game of the season. As long as he can move there is little doubt that Turner will be on the field, despite Jason Snelling’s big game in Week 2. That performance spoke more for who is going to be in the backup role to Turner.

Ryan Mathews, Chargers

Mathews and his ankle are doubtful this week and look like they will be on the bench. Hopefully Mathews owners listened (Waiver Wire Watching) and went out and got Mike Tolbert as he appears to benefit more than Darren Sproles. Mathews should only miss a week or two.

Steven Jackson, Rams

Jackson has a swollen knee, but has said that it is nothing to be concerned with and he is resting it with intentions of playing.

Ray Rice, Ravens

Ray Rice has been nursing the ankle that briefly took him out of last week’s game. Rice says it is not an issue.

Coach John Harbaugh says that they expect at least 25 touches out of Rice this week against the Browns.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars

MJD and his ankle are probable. It is going to take more than an injury report to keep this guy off the field. Plug him in and don’t worry about it.

Joseph Addai, Colts

Addai and his knee are listed as questionable. Word is he will be okay. If you have a close option you may want to use it, as it would bite to find out after the early games have started that he can’t go.

Michale Bush, Raiders

Why does this matter? Because for the first time we can see what kind of impact he will have on Darren McFadden’s fantasy stock.

Bush and his thumb have their best chance to play thus far, but he will take the backseat to McFadden.

Clinton Portis, Redskins

We really didn’t think anything of this since Portis was practicing with the sore wrist. Then the Skins went and picked up Ryan Torain off the practice squad. Interesting. Portis is questionable and the situation should be monitored leading up to game time.

Wide Receiver:

Andre Johnson, Texans

Johnson is listed as questionable this week with an injured ankle. Everyone still wants to point out that he returned to the game and made an amazing TD catch after the injury last week. That is different than a whole game. Regardless, if you have him you have to start him if there is even a hint of him playing.

Steve Smith, Panthers

Smith is listed as probable with the thigh injury. Smith is expected to play and despite a rookie QB making his first start, you have to play him if you got him.

Terrell Owens, Bengals

T.O. is listed as probable with a back issue, but you can look for him to start against a weak pass rush in Carolina.

Hines Ward, Steelers

Ward is probable and shouldn’t be an issue. With Charlie Batch starting, Ward should be the top target of the week for the Steelers.

Tight End:

Jason Witten, Cowboys

Witten came out of Week 2 with a concussion. He is listed as probable and is expected to play against the Texans.

Owen Daniels, Texans

Daniels is listed as probable with last year’s knee injury. Hopefully you are not in a position where you really needed to know that for this week because he should not be in a starting fantasy lineup yet.