Injuries are the bane of a fantasy football owners existence. The NFL does such an amazingly poor job at reporting and acknowledging injuries and thus it makes it incredibly difficult to find useful information.

But on Friday’s the NFL has an obligation to report the true status of each player on every roster. It’s the closest we’ll get to knowing who is in or out for this week in the NFL. So the thing to do is to use this information along with the daily practice reports to sort out who is likely to play and sit this week. Only after the status reports come out on Friday does the rest of the weeks activity really make sense.

So, every Friday I will be sending you reports of all at risk players across the NFL. I’ll include the players who are definitely OUT for the week as well as those who are definitely playing. So the focus will be on the questionable players for the week. These reports will tell you whether or not you can relax or wait for the NFL inactive reports on Sunday morning.

Let’s take a look at the Week 2 Practice Reports:

IN

Charles Clay, TE, Dolphins – Knee

Mike Wallace, WR, Dolphins – Hamstring

Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills – Ribs

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers – Ribs

Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots – Knee

Toby Gerhart, RB, Jaguars – Ankle

Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers – Hamstring

Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers - Concussion

 

OUT

Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings - Personal

Jake Matthews, OT, Falcons - Ankle

Marvin Jones, WR, Bengals - Foot

Ben Tate, RB, Browns - Knee

Odell Beckham, WR, Giants – Hamstring

Cecil Shorts, WR, Jaguars – Hamstring

Jordan Reed, TE, Redskins – Hamstring

Christine Michael, RB, Seahawks – Hamstring

Chris Long, DE, Rams – Ankle Surgery

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Buccaneers – Ankle

D’Anthony Thomas, RB, Chiefs – Hamstring

C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Texans – Foot

Josh Morgan, WR, Bears – Groin

 

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers – Thigh

Williams woke up with a sore thigh on Thursday morning and didn’t participate in practice on either Thursday or Friday. He tested it out on Friday afternoon but shut it down rather quick after feeling a “twinge.” DeAngelo is likely out for week two which paves the way for an increased workload for Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert.

 

Jordan Cameron, TE, Browns – Shoulder

Cameron left last Sunday’s game with what was diagnosed as a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. He didn’t practice all week despite head coach Mike Pettine saying he would on Friday. This leaves Cameron’s status very much in doubt for Sunday’s game against the Saints. Gary Barnidge would get the start in Cameron’s place and though skilled, has not immediate fantasy upside.

 

Carson Palmer, QB, Cardinals – Right Shoulder

Carson Palmer had limited practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He has a nerve issue in his throwing shoulder that is causing him pain when he lets it fly. Palmer is going to play on Sunday against the Giants and I believe that he is still a low level QB1 in this matchup.

 

Andre Ellington, RB, Cardinals – Foot

We know the drill with Ellington. His foot is torn apart but he is gutting it out or at least trying to. Ellington didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday but did get in a limited session on Friday. He will play in week two but until I see him have that same burst and lateral quickness that I saw last year, I’d consider him nothing more than a Flex option.

 

Shaun Hill, QB, Rams – Thigh

There still isn’t much information concerning the exact nature of Hill’s thigh injury. He sat out practice on Wednesday and Thursday but returned in a limited fashion on Friday. Jeff Fisher claims Hill doesn’t need to practice to play but I would consider him doubtful at best for this Sunday. Austin Davis will be under center for the Rams who will lean heavily on Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham this week.

 

Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers – Knee

I am surprised that Martin got the questionable tag after returning to practice on Thursday and Friday. He’s going to play against the Rams on Sunday and should get every opportunity to erase a miserable performance in week one from our memory.

 

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Raiders – Hand

I am sick and tired of MJD’s secrecy concerning every injury he has which basically consumes his career at this point. He had a surgical procedure on his hand this week after suffering an injury during the Raiders week one loss against the Jets. He is not going to play and will likely miss multiple weeks. Darren McFadden will get the start this week and could give way to Latavius Murray if he can’t get it going.

 

Brandon Marshall, WR, Bears – Ankle

Marshall has a very significant ankle injury as we saw against the Bills in week one. But he is a warrior and will likely suit up against the 49ers on Sunday night. Marshall didn’t practice all week but that is alright because he shares incredible chemistry with QB Jay Cutler.

 

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears – Hamstring

Jeffery returned to practice in a limited fashion on Friday but was extremely ginger. The local press in Chicago thinks it is a longshot that he plays on Sunday against the ‘Niners. I would have to have another option to pivot to if I was a Jeffery owner. Somebody like Santionio Holmes, Stevie Johnson, Jordan Matthews or Hakeem Nicks would fill that role nicely.