NFL Injury Report: Key Injuries That Could Cripple Your Fantasy Team

It's crunch time for every league, and there's no worse time to see a player on your roster go down to injury.

Even a minor player can kill you now, depending on your waiver rules. Over at Footballguys, I've seen all sorts of situations from closed waivers to continued first-come, first-serve waivers for playoff teams to rebooting auctions.

Whatever your rules, this is why we preach depth on your roster above all else. No matter what your rules are, studs are very few and very far between on any waiver wire by now. This is something we'll go over and over again all year long—draft for depth, work the wire for depth during the season.

You never know when someone will be injured.

This week we have two big guys down—maybe for the count—along with a smattering of smaller names as well.

Buckle up—it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Andrew Garda is a staff writer for Footballguys.com where he writes a weekly article breaking down the Thursday night games called Thursday Night Lights and helps you prepare and overcome injuries in his Fantasy Triage column.

Greg Jennings

We'll hear more about this on Monday post-MRI, but Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings left Sunday's drubbing of the Oakland Raiders with a knee injury of some sort.

The injury looked pretty bad, or at the very least wildly painful for Jennings as he sat on the bench. Mike Florio of ProFootballtalk.com says it's a torn MCL, though he also said it was unconfirmed.

Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy says it's a knee sprain.

Of course, as CheeseheadTV.com writer and Packer lover Aaron Nagler said, that just means "he could be fine or he could have had his leg amputated in the locker room."

So we'll find out the truth tomorrow, but I have to say listening to the quotes from the locker room, they expect him to be out for the next few weeks.

Even one week without Jennings could be a real issue for your fantasy team.

Another domino to fall because of Jennings' injury is fellow wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who will see the primary coverage rolled his direction. James Jones will have to step up, but he has been playing small this season.

Don't sleep on old man Donald Driver who has always been reliable for quarterback Aaron Rodgers as well as rookie Randall Cobb who has some very good run-after-the-catch moves.

Matt Moore

Now, I doubt too many of you were depending on Moore for a stretch run in the playoffs.

Then again, given the loss of Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, the implosion of interceptions of Oakland Raider quarterbacks and the up-and-down play of San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, you actually might.

Moore left the Dolphins-Eagles game on Sunday with what appeared to be a head injury. Reports Sunday night said it was a low-grade concussion and some accompanying neck spasms.

We'll have a concussion test this week and plenty of time before the next game to prepare for not having him, but make your plans now even if just to grab another backup for your primary starter.

Matt Hasselbeck

Like Moore, Hasselbeck was probably no more than a sub for you, but again even a hit to your bench can be bad at this point in the season.

Hasselbeck left the game with a strained calf muscle which will be MRI'd on Monday. It looks positive as he was able to get back on the field for one play in the fourth quarter and claims he could have finished out the game if he had needed to.

Where this gets interesting is if the Titans want to see what rookie Jake Locker can do. On the one hand, the team is still very much in the playoff hunt. Chris Johnson was finally playing well until this game where he once again looked a bit off. He's definitely been more productive of late.

Nate Washington and Damian Williams both have stepped up their game.

The Titans have a shot, and it's much better to have a stable veteran in there. However, they may want to see what Locker can do down the stretch, and if Hasselbeck is banged up, they might use it as an excuse to see the rookie's stuff.

If you are depending on Hasselbeck as a backup or even an emergency starter, make sure you have something else to hang your hat on.

Peyton Hillis

If you were hoping Hillis could help you in the final run through the fantasy playoffs—it might be time to think again.

Hillis went from a great game against Baltimore in Week 13 to a flat-out bad performance against Pittsburgh in Week 14.

If he looked a bit off to you, that's because he was, as reports are his hip was acting up again during the game. Montario Hardesty stepped in as primary back, and you can't expect anything remotely like consistency from Hillis from here on out.

Here's another thought for the dynasty owners—Hillis will not be back in Cleveland next year. I think this year has been an aberration for him so this is a perfect buy-low period. When all is said and done, take a chance and trade for him.

He may be useless this season, but there are some great possible situations for him next year.

DeMarco Murray

Murray has been playing very well for the Cowboys and stole the starting running back gig from Felix Jones. Owners who grabbed him early have found gold as Murray put up starter points every outing.

He was coming off a fourth-straight game where he put up 100 plus total yards and poised for another significant game when he went down after a weird-looking tackle. While he walked off the field and seemed able to put some weight on his foot, the relief his owners felt was short-lived.

Reports came in the third quarter that Murray had fractured his ankle as well as suffered a high-ankle sprain.

One would be enough for most people, but Murray is nothing if not thorough.

Felix Jones played pretty well in the loss to the Giants, so you're covered if you have him. It won't be the same, though, as Jones didn't seem to be producing that well before he was hurt initially.

Even if Murray is only down for a few weeks, it's too long for your fantasy season.

Andrew Garda is a staff writer for Footballguys.com where he writes a weekly article breaking down the Thursday night games called Thursday Night Lights and helps you prepare and overcome injuries in his Fantasy Triage column.