Week 3: Game Time Decisions - Injury Update
In this article we will profile some of the more fantasy relevant injuries that have cropped up and suggest which players are likely to benefit from increased playing time (some of the replacement players might be sitting on your waiver wire). Week 2 saw yet another top flight RB going down as Matt Forte suffered an ankle injury, which will vault Michael Bush to borderline must start territory as long as Forte remains sidelined. On a positive note, Ryan Mathews (collarbone) and Mikel Leshoure (suspension, ACL) are due to make their season debuts in week 3. Mathews should be in starting lineups, while Leshoure makes for a solid buy low / waiver wire pickup as the former first round pick could very well be the best RB on the Lion roster and should dominate red zone carries at the very least. The WR position has also seen its fair share of injuries as Jeremy Maclin played sparingly in the week 2 win over Baltimore, but seems less likely to suit up for the 4pm kickoff in Arizona. TE Aaron Hernandez was one of the bigger week 2 casualties as a severe ankle sprain will keep him sidelined for 4-6 weeks.
WR Hakeem Nicks and RB Ahmad Bradshaw (grab Andre Brown if available on your waiver wires) have already been ruled out for tonight's contest in Carolina while Steve Smith seems all but a lock to start despite missing practice earlier in the week.
RB Jamaal Charles, ---
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JC Superstar wins the award as the disappointment of the week at the RB position as he faced a Bills defense that ranked among the league worst in 2011, yet finished the week 2 loss with just six carries for 3 yards and sustained a knee bruise that knocked him out for the 2nd half. Many fantasy owners feared the worst as Charles is coming off ACL surgery, but he has returned to practice and appears likely to get the start in week 3. Peyton Hillis will remain a factor, limiting Charles' upside to RB2 status. The week 3 matchup in New Orleans appears to be very favorable as the Saints are allowing the 3rd most fantasy PPG to opposing RBs and have yielded 4 touchdowns on the ground over the first two games.
RB Steven Jackson, NE
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In week 2, Steven Jackson appeared well on his way to a 100 yard performance against Washington until a groin injury and anunsportsmanlike penalty that resulted in a benching from coach Fisher ended his day before half time. Jackson missed Wednesday's practice, but is expected to be on the field when the Rams travel to the Windy City to face a Bears defense that has allowed just one rushing TD through 2 games. Daryl Richardson (rookie from Abilene Christian) stepped in during week 2 and was very impressive rushing for 83 yards on 15 carries while adding two catches for 19 yards. He's a must own handcuff at this point and has jumped ahead of rookie Isaiah Pead on the Rams depth chart.
RB Ryan Mathews, ---
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Mathews is slowly earning a China Doll reputation, but remains one of the more elite RBs in the fantasy universe when he's on the field. After breaking his collarbone in the first preseason game, the Fresno State alum missed the first two games of the regular season, but has practiced in full this week and is expected to make his season debut when the Chargers host Atlanta in week 3. Ronnie Brown can be safely dropped if you need roster depth. In 14 games last season, Mathews averaged 78 YPG on the ground and gets a boost in PPR leagues as he hauled in 50 receptions for 455 yards in 2011.
RB Jonathan Stewart, ---
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In week 2, J-Stew performed admirably in his return from an ankle injury as he finished with 11 carries for 51 yards and a TD in the win over New Orleans. The short week (Thursday game against the Giants) is apparently not doing him any favors as Stewart is listed as a game time decision (battling toe and ankle injury). Deangelo Williams shouldered the workload in week 1, but failed to impress in the loss to Tampa and remains nothing more than a lower end RB2 (even if Stewart is ruled out tonight).
WR Pierre Garcon, ---
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Frenchy missed the week 2 loss to St Louis with a foot injury and appears likely to be a game time decision for week 3 after turning in a limited Wednesday practice. The Redskins host a Bengals defense that has floundered over the first two games, allowing the 9th most fantasy PPG to opposing WRs. A potential matchup with CB Leon Hall could limit Garcon's upside even if he suits up. Leonard Hankerson and Santana Moss would gain some fantasy relevance if Garcon is forced to miss another week.
WR Greg Jennings, ---
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Jennings appears to have suffered a setback with the groin injury that forced him to miss the week 2 Thursday night win over Chicago. He missed Thursday's practice and is trending as a no-go for the week 3 matchup with Seattle on Monday night. James Jones and Randall Cobb would see an uptick in targets if Jennings sits out against a Seattle defense that held Tony Romo and crew in check last week (251 yards, one TD, and one INT).
WR Jeremy Maclin, ---
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Maclin has reached the end zone in each of his first two games this season, but a hip pointer injury limited his snaps in week 2 and he's yet to return to practice this week, leaving his week 3 status in extreme jeopardy. A few reports have surfaced that Maclin will be held out for the week 3 matchup in Arizona, but he's yet to be officially ruled out. Desean Jackson would see an uptick in targets and TE Brent Celek could maintain TE1 value if Maclin sits out. Arizona's defense has surprised early on as they limited Tom Brady to one TD with one INT in the week 2 upset win in Foxboro.
WR Mike Wallace, ---
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Despite missing the entire preseason in a holdout dispute, Wallace has scored in each of the first two weeks and has the looks of a draft day bargain. Wallace missed Wednesday's practice with a groin injury (believed to be minor) and is a must start if he's in uniform for a week 3 game against an Oakland defense allowing 29 PPG. If Wallace takes a turn for the worse, Emmanuel Sanders would be worth considering and TE Heath Miller might also become an option for those looking to replace Aaron Hernandez.
TE Antonio Gates, ---
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One of the bigger surprises from the week 2 injury report was Antonio Gates (ribs) sitting out the week 2 game with the Titans. The 32 year old TE put in a limited Wednesday practice and appears to have better than a 50/50 chance to suit up for the week 3 matchup with Atlanta. Through two games, Atlanta's defense has allowed 102 yards and 1 TD to opposing TEs. The Chargers game kicks off at 4pm, so make sure you have another late game alternative as Gates could be a game time decision. Dante Rosario was one of the bigger surprises from week 2 as he hauled in three TDs with Gates in street clothes. Rosario should remain on waiver wires unless Gates injury worsens.