Fantasy Football Week 2: Dez Bryant and 5 Injuries You Should Be Wary of

With the first Sunday of the 2011 NFL season wrapped up we begin to look ahead to Week 2.

What comes with every week is the potential injuries. We saw a fair share of injuries take place that could impact the rest of the regular and fantasy football season.

If you have one of the players that went down on Sunday you have probably been anxiously refreshing the fantasy football news hoping for negative results on the X-rays or that they will simply be listed as probable for Week 2.

Just simply hoping that a key part of your team hasn't gone down for an extended period of time.

Here are six players that were injured on Sunday who you should be worried about heading in to Week 2.

Sam Bradford

The St. Louis Rams franchise quarterback Sam Bradford left Sunday's game against the Eagles with a finger injury.

Now reports are saying that he could be suffering from potential nerve damage on his right index finger. Bradford has been optimistic about the injury, but injured players always say that they feel they will be ready to play.

Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo and the team have suggested that the injury may be more serious than Bradford thinks.

There is no timetable yet for how long the injury will keep Bradford out if at all.

However, many fantasy owners drafted Bradford as a potential break out quarterback. Losing Bradford for an extended period of time could be a crushing blow to some teams.

Steven Jackson

Another important Rams player went down on Sunday.

Star running back Steven Jackson suffered a quad injury that limited him to only two carries even though one was 47-yard touchdown run.

Jackson had an MRI performed on his quad and the results are expected back today. If the injury is serious than Cadillac Williams will take over as the starting back.

Jackson would be a significant loss to any fantasy team. He was drafted as a number two running back on most teams.

Steven Jackson has had a history of battling injuries over his career. He has had to carry a massive load for the Rams offense due to the lack of talent around him.

Whether or not this quad injury puts him out for an extended period of time, it could be a scary trend for his fantasy owners.

Derrick Ward

Derrick Ward's value shot through the roof when he was named the starter in Arian Foster's absence for Week 1.

Foster's owners and others that needed a running back slot filled turned towards Ward in hopes that he could give them a huge boost in Week 1.

However, Ward's performance was shortened by an ankle injury.

While reports are saying that Ward will be healthy for Week 2, the damage may already be done. It won't be the ankle injury itself that will limit Ward, but the opportunity the injury gave to second year back Ben Tate.

Tate exploded in Week 1 for 116 yards and touchdown on 24 carries.

If Foster isn't ready to go for Week 2 than I would expect to see Tate as the starter with Ward taking the back seat. Thus killing his fantasy value.

Mike Tolbert

Mike Tolbert was one of the big performers in Week 1.

Tolbert scored three touchdowns and was the primary weapon in the Chargers red zone offense. Tolbert was drafted as a potential touchdown hawk.

He suffered a knee injury that knocked him out of Sunday's game against the Vikings.

Tolbert had an MRI performed on the knee in which they are hoping to find either a bruise or a sprain. If this is the case, he will most likely be ready for Week 2.

However, there will still be concerns.

Tolbert is a big bruising back that is more likely to lower his shoulder and make contact rather than ducking out of bounds.

If the injury lingers than there is always potential for him to irritate it.

It appears as if Tolbert could be a great weapon for fantasy teams this year, so any lingering injuries should be a concern for his owners.

Dez Bryant

Dez Bryant came out on fire early in the Sunday night game against the New York Jets.

However, we saw less and less of him as the game went on. Bryant was suffering from a quad injury that limited his touches late in the game.

The injury occurred when Bryant took a helmet to the leg on a punt return.

This certainly gave Cowboys fans flash backs to last season when Bryant's season was ended on a kick return where he broke his ankle.

Bryant is an incredible talent, but the Cowboys are going to need to figure out the best way to maximize his potential while keeping him healthy.

It is likely that this injury could take him out of kick and punt returns slightly damaging his value.

However, if the trend of injuries continue those who spent the high pick on Bryant could find themselves disappointed.

Marques Colston

Marques Colston was the major injury coming out of Thursday's Packers vs. Saints game.

Reports are saying that Colston suffered a broken collarbone that could sideline him for more than four weeks.

Colston is the No. 1 target on one of the best passing offenses in the league. He could have been drafted as a number one receiver on most teams which makes this a huge blow to fantasy teams.

Not only to Colston owners, but Drew Brees owners as well.

While it is likely that Brees won't struggle to heavily to find other targets, losing your number one target will impact any offense.

Fantasy owners will have to turn to other options with Colston gone.

With no targeted week for return, owners should be preparing for the worst.