Fantasy Football: Replacing Colts' Dallas Clark, Austin Collie, and Joe Addai

It goes without saying that losing tight end Dallas Clark indefinitely to a wrist injury is a major blow to the Indianapolis Colts offense—but it’s about to get a lot worse as reports are now flooding in that  running back Joseph Addai and wide receiver Austin Collie will miss at least a few weeks with their own injuries.

Fortunately, the bye week couldn’t come at a better time for the Colts.

“We’ve been bitten badly by the injury bug,” said Colts President Bill Polian. “Those things happen from time to time. We haven’t had a rash, such as we’re facing now, in quite a while. Hopefully, we’ve got good enough depth to fight our way through it."

While they’ll be without their studs for a few weeks, at least Peyton Manning and his offensive teammates will have a chance to get acquainted with one another without being rushed into a game. Peyton Manning has a habit of turning nobodies into somebodies and that could very well continue.

The Colts return to action in Week 8 when they face the Houston Texans—a team that beat them in Week 1, but have been very susceptible to opposing passing games all season. This first chance for us to see the revamped Indianapolis offense could tell us a lot about what will happen down the road for this team as they try to make a return to the Super Bowl.

Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis Colts (expected to be out 4-5 Weeks)

Win McNamee/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 17: Running back Joseph Addai #29 of the Indianapolis Colts is helped off the field after being injured against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on October 17, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. The Colts won the game 27-24. (Photo

Running back Joseph Addai is expected to miss several weeks with a shoulder injury he suffered after a hit by London Fletcher on Sunday night.

The injury seems to be a re-aggravation of one he suffered in Week 5 at the hands of Kansas City’s Glenn Dorsey.  When Addai took the hit from Fletcher that resulted in a fumble, he lied on the turf in pain for a few minutes before being helped to the locker room by team trainers.

He was described as looking “dazed” by NBC’s Andrea Kramer, the sideline reporter during Sunday Night Football.

Addai talked to the Indianapolis Star about the injury.

“Nothing torn or anything,” he said. “It’s just the nerve. That’s the biggest thing, that and getting the strength back. It could come back any time between now and four or five weeks. It’s just dead and needs to wake up.”

With Addai out for at least 4-5 weeks, the Colts will likely turn to 2009 first round pick Donald Brown who hasn’t played since week three, nursing injuries of his own.

Mike Hart remains the primary backup for Brown in the meantime and could see increased playing time if Brown isn’t fully healthy by Week 8.

Possible Fantasy Replacements:

1. Donald Brown, RB, Indianapolis Colts (available in 41.5% of leagues)
2. Chris Ivory, RB, New Orleans Saints (available in 75.1% of leagues)
3. Danny Woodhead, RB, New England Patriots (available in 83.0% of leagues)
4. Earnest Graham, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (available in 91.4% of leagues)
5. Derrick Ward, RB, Houston Texans (available in 97.1% of leagues)

Dallas Clark, TE, Indianapolis Colts (Out Indefinitely)

Win McNamee/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 17: Dallas Clark #44 of the Indianapolis Colts picks up yards after a reception against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on October 17, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. The Colts won the game 27-24. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Imag

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Dallas Clark may miss the rest of the season with a hand/wrist injury.

Though a season ending injury is a possibility, the Colts are hoping that Clark will be back in a few weeks.

Clark saw “world-renowned” hand specialist Dr. Thomas Graham in Cleveland on Thursday, but reports are not out yet on how the checkup went.

A Pro Bowler in 2009, Dallas Clark was the top fantasy tight end in many leagues, catching a league-best 100 passes for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was well on his way to another pro bowl season in 2010, having caught 37 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns already this season.

Backup tight ends Jacob Tamme and rookie Brody Eldridge are expected to replace Clark, but don’t count on the Colts to use as many tight end sets while Clark is out. Instead, they will likely attempt to spread the field using many wide receivers. Coach Jim Caldwell said that Tamme has the ability to play both in the slot and as a standard tight end much like Dallas Clark has done throughout his NFL career. But don’t expect the same type of production as he likely will still be splitting time with Brody Eldridge.

Though it looks like Clark may miss many weeks and potentially the rest of the season, it is important to remember that he suffered a bad knee injury in 2006 that was supposedly going to keep him out for the remainder of the year. He returned for the playoffs and played all the way through the Super Bowl.

Clark is a tough guy who will play through the pain if it doesn’t affect his abilities.

Possible Fantasy Replacements:

1. Benjamin Watson, TE, Cleveland Browns (available in 76.9% of leagues)
2. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Cincinnati Bengals (available in 90.1% of leagues)
3. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Detroit Lions (available in 91.9% of leagues)
4. Andrew Quarless, TE, Green Bay Packers (available in 99.4% of leagues)
5. Jacob Tamme, TE, Indianapolis Colts (available in 99.9% of leagues)

Update:
Dallas Clark has been placed on injured reserve, ending his 2010 season.

Austin Collie, WR, Indianapolis Colts (Out For “A Few Weeks”)

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

DENVER - SEPTEMBER 26: Wide receiver Austin Collie #17 of the Indianapolis Colts makes a reception and picks up a first down as as Ryan Diem #71 of the Colts blocks Nate Jones #33 of the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on September 26, 2010

Though there hasn’t been an official timetable given for the return of wide receiver Austin Collie, we do know that he will miss at least a few weeks after undergoing thumb surgery earlier this week.

Currently the top-scoring fantasy wide receiver in the league, Collie has been a surprisingly productive and consistent fantasy player even though he was widely considered the fourth option in the Colts’ passing attack going into the season.

With Collie out, the Colts will likely use receivers Anthony Gonzalez or Blair White to take his place in the slot. Though neither has made much of a fantasy impact so far this season, it’s always a matter of opportunity in the Indianapolis offense. Practically every receiver seems to produce as long as Peyton Manning behind center.

Possible Fantasy Replacements:

1. Danny Amendola, WR, St. Louis Rams (available in 76.9% of leagues)
2. Davone Bess, WR, Miami Dolphins (available 91.3% of leagues)
3. Mike Thomas, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (available of 89.6% of leagues)
4. Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indianapolis Colts (available in 97.9% of leagues)
5. Blair White, WR, Indianapolis Colts (available in 99.8% of leagues)