The Week That Was Football: The Injuries From Week 3

Big name injuries highlight this week’s Football Week That Was.

For 2014, The Week that Was: NFL will focus on injuries and their effects. 

Danny Woodhead:  According to reports, Danny Woodhead could miss the remainder of the season with a severe high ankle sprain and fractured fibula. This is a tough blow to the Chargers as they already are without Ryan Mathews.  Look for Donald Brown to take a substantial role going forward.  Sunday, Brown carried the load with mixed results.  The 62 yards rushing is ok but 2 yards per carry leaves a lot to be desired.  The 5 receptions are nice but Brown failed to reach the end zone despite a total of 36 touches.  Bottom line is that for the next few weeks, Brown makes a nice volume play even if the advanced metrics will get no one excited.

DeSean Jackson:  Confirming what many thought all week, DJax kept his promise to suit up and compete against the team that unceremoniously cut him in the off-season.  Not only did he suit up, he performed big time.  DJax was targeted 11 times and caught 5 for 117 and a TD.  That new QB Kirk Cousins looked his way so many times bodes well for DJax and his fantasy owners going forward.  Add in the fact that the Redskins defense is going to force the O to pass early and often and you have a better prescription for DJax fantasy success than I had thought before the season started.   

Rod Streater:   According to reports, Rod Streater suffered a fractured foot on Sunday.   Streater’s bad fortune will create opportunity for Denarius Moore to get back into the Raiders’ and fantasy owners’ good graces.  Sunday Moore was targeted 7 times.  That number should go up in the upcoming weeks. Given that Moore has scored 19 TD in the last three years and now has a better QB (albeit a rookie) than in the past, he could make a sneaky starter while folks like A.J. Green, all the Broncos, etc. are on bye.  [Note:  perhaps the Wolfman’s man crush on Moore will now pay some dividends.  Time will tell].

Kyle Rudolph:  The disappointing start to the 2014 season continues for Kyle Rudolph.  He is expected to have an MRI today to determine the extent of a groin injury.  At this point, his status for next week is very much up in the air.  Add in the fact that Rudolph has just 10 receptions for less than 100 yards and you have a very good reason to scour the waiver wire for some TE insurance.  Rhett Ellison is next up but his two targets in 3 games confirm what many say – he is more of a blocking TE. 

Jamaal CharlesDespite a lot of rumors to the contrary, Jamaal Charles did not play Sunday.  The Chiefs would love to have their star back but in the interim, Knile Davis proved more than up to the task.  Davis carried the rock 32 times for 132 yards and a TD.  The Chiefs are a running team.  Whoever starts for the Chiefs should start for you in your fantasy lineup.  My guess – Davis carries the load against NE next week but continue to check back here at fantasyalarm.com for all the developing news all week.

Matt Cassel:    Matt Cassel broke his foot in the Vikings week 3 loss.  While any injury is a bad thing, for fantasy purposes, this is not much news.  Unless you were in a 2 QB league, Cassel should not have been drafted in your league.  The real issue is how Teddy Bridgewater will perform as the starter under center.  In relief Sunday, he went 12-20 for 150 yards and also ran the ball 6 times for 27 yards.  Unless you are desperate or are in a 2 QB league, you should take a wait and see attitude toward the Vikings rookie.  As to the effects on Vikes WR, this may not be what you want to hear, but predicting the effects is nothing more than guesswork at this point.

Dennis Pitta:   According to reports, Dennis Pitta suffered a right hip dislocation.  This settles the question of whether Owen Daniels will really take on a prolonged major role in the Ravens offense.  He will. 

Final Thought:  Injury news changes quickly so make sure to check back right here at fantasyalarm.com for all the news you need to know.