The Week That Was Football: The Injuries From Week 9

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. 

Tony Romo:   Tony Romo missed Sunday’s showdown with the Cardinals with the back injury (fractured transverse process).  Early indications are that Romo will play next Sunday but it is hard to be sure.  To be colloquial, boy I hope so.  From my seat at AT&T Stadium, it was clear that Brandon Weeden was lost out there on the field.  He could not get the reads right, could not get on the same page as his receivers and, most disturbingly, looked only at the receiver to which he was going to throw (and for an extended time) thus tipping off the defenders who took full advantage.  If Romo sits again next week, I would downgrade Dez Bryant and Terrence Williams dramatically.  I need to go back and watch the tape, but I think neither Dez nor Twill caught a ball before garbage time.  That is simply not OK.  Just not OK.

Nick Foles:   Nick Foles left Sunday’s game with what is being reported as a broken collarbone.  This is just the latest chapter in what can only be described as a severe regression season for Foles.  Foles has thrown more TD than INT only once since week 3.  I hope he recovers quickly but I never understood all the fantasy love he received in the pre-season.  Temper your expectations upon his return.  In the interim do not forget that Mark Sanchez is, well, Mark Sanchez.  Just because he is better than Brandon Weeden does not mean you want to own him in fantasy.  Move along!

Giovanni Bernard:   Giovanni Bernard sat out Sunday’s game but the Bengals did not miss him.  Rookie Jeremy Hill rose to the occasion – big time.  Hill carried 24 times for 154 yards and a TD and even showed the toughness to return from what appeared to be a possible serious leg injury.  Watch the news carefully as Hill is a must start if Gio misses another game.  Even if Gio goes, Hill is a very viable flex for shallow leagues and a likely start even in deeper leagues. 

Lamar MillerLamar Miller left Sunday’s 37-0 thrashing of the chargers after suffering what some are calling a shoulder “stinger”.  Miller will get a precautionary MRI but at this point, it seems that he will be good to go next week.  Before getting hurt, Miller rushed 11 times for 49 yards and a TD.  With Tannehill and the passing game humming, Miller should find plenty of lanes in which to run should he avoid any bad news at the radiologist.

Owen Daniels: Less than two weeks removed from knee surgery, Owen Daniels returned to his key role in the Ravens offense, catching 6 balls for 53 yards on 9 targets.  Assuming no adverse effects are reported during the week, Daniels should be in prime position to post solid TE numbers the rest of the way.  Gary Kubiak offenses stress the TE and Daniels will garner the spoils.  For those who love the numbers, Daniels has averaged 7 targets per game over the last 5 in which he has played.  Thus, the numbers support the soft data about Kubiak’s tendencies.

A.J. Green:  Returning from the toe injury, A.J. Green caught 3 balls for 44 yards and a TD.  The TD is good news but the fact that he was targeted just 6 times is not great news.  With a short week before Thursday’s battle of Ohio against Cleveland, Green is a risky play.  I would avoid him in daily fantasy and carefully assess my options in year-long leagues (of course, those in deep leagues will likely have no choices but to start him).  Final note – if you can get close to full trade value by talking up Green’s Sunday TD, I would strongly consider the move.

Robert Griffin IIIRGIII returned from his ankle injury to mixed results.  On the plus side, he made it through the game healthy and has a week 10 bye in which to rest.  However, he looked a bit rusty out on the field.  That said, he did rush 7 times for 24 yards so that speaks to his health and the fact that the skins will run him when they need to.  The biggest effect of RGIII’s return is the upgrade to Alfred Morris.  The Butler had a big game rushing for 92 yards and two TD.  Upgrade Morris but resist buying into the RGIII hype.    

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.