It has been another busy week as fantasy GMs do the weekly dance of trying to manage injuries on their rosters.  We are getting towards crunch time as the fantasy playoffs are only a few weeks away.  So without further ado, here is the next edition of the fantasy football walking wounded.

Mike Evans (WR-TB)

Evans went nuts on Thursday night against Atlanta catching 11 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns, further cementing himself as one of the top five receivers in the league.  However, he left the game with a head injury and was being checked for a concussion.  Tampa Bay will have over a week before their next game so Evans should be fine to play in Week 10.  He is an elite wide receiver and a must-start under any circumstances so long as he is on the field.  He is the sole source of offense for Tampa Bay so he will continue being Jameis Winston’s favorite target.

LeSean McCoy (RB-BUF)

McCoy reported feeling much better as he has been practicing while trying to recover from a hamstring injury.  His status for Monday night’s game against Seattle is still unclear, so you will need to check for further updates over the next couple days.  Buffalo would obviously like to have him back on the field, but hopefully Rex Ryan learned his lesson and won’t rush him back again too soon.  Hopefully a decision will be made before lineups lock on Sunday, but remember the Bills play on Monday night so there is always the chance we won’t know for sure.  If you have a solid alternative then you may want to consider going with the more sure thing to be safe.

Amari Cooper (WR-OAK)

Cooper has been limited at practice this week with a back injury despite coming off a monster game last week against Tampa Bay.  Right now it does not appear that his status for Sunday’s showdown against Denver is in jeopardy, so you should comfortably be able to plug him in your lineup.  Denver’s defense presents a significant challenge for the Raiders, but Cooper is still worthy of WR1 status in all league formats.

Russell Wilson (QB-SEA)

Despite being banged up with a multitude of injuries, Russell Wilson has been practicing in full this week and is on track to play against Buffalo on Monday night.  He is currently dealing with injuries to his knee and pectoral muscle.  Wilson has not been able to run effectively and his passing statistics have been abysmal as he only has thrown five touchdowns thus far.  It is safe to say that Wilson is no longer a lock as a QB1 in standard leagues, but he could be in for a big game in primetime against a Bills defense that has been all or nothing this season.

Carlos Hyde (RB-SF)

Fantasy GMs are in limbo right now with Carlos Hyde because there is no clear indication either way whether he will play on Sunday.  Hyde missed a game before the 49ers bye week and initial thoughts were that would give him sufficient rest and recovery to come back.  He has been practicing this week without contact, so the signs are pointing towards him missing Sunday’s game against the Saints.  This is extremely unfortunate because Hyde would have a very favorable matchup against a terrible New Orleans defense.

T.Y. Hilton (WR-IND)

Hilton was a non-factor last week against the Chiefs and has been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury.  He practiced in full on Thursday so that bodes well for his status this Sunday against Green Bay.  Hilton is a great fantasy option this week assuming he is fully healthy because it should be a high-scoring affair with two of the best quarterbacks in the league matchup up against suspect secondaries.

Corey Coleman (WR-CLE)

Coleman returned to practice in a full capacity on Thursday and will be back on the field this Sunday against Dallas.  He has missed six weeks with a broken hand and now looks to pick up where he left off after a huge game in Week 2.  Coleman should get one-on-one coverage with Terrelle Pryor lining up on the other side, so he could be in for a big game, especially if the Browns find themselves trailing early and having to air it out for most of the game.

Randall Cobb (WR-GB)

Cobb missed last week’s thriller against Atlanta with a hamstring injury, and he continues to be limited in practice this week.  It appears that he is on track to play this Sunday against Indianapolis but we cannot be sure after the mixed messages received before Week 8.  Cobb will be a solid WR2 option if he does play because the Colts defense will not be able to contain a Packers offense that seems to have clicked over the past couple weeks.

Devontae Booker (RB-DEN)

Booker will make his second career start this week against Oakland despite being limited in practice this week with a shoulder injury.  Denver should be able to run the ball effectively against the Raiders so look for Booker to see most of the carries all day.  He was not spectacular last week against the Chargers but he is still good enough to be a RB1 for Week 9.

Theo Riddick (RB-DET)

Riddick was limited in practice this week after making his return to the field against Houston last Sunday.  He came back from an ankle injury and had a very solid game against the Texans, and now he will face a Vikings defense which got torn to shreds by the Bears last Monday night.  Riddick is certainly worth starting this week as he looks to find the same formula that Jordan Howard employed against Minnesota.

Jeremy Maclin (WR-KC)

Maclin was added to Kansas City’s injury report on Thursday with a groin issue which forced him to miss practice.  This is not a good sign in terms of injuries being reported so late in the week, so Maclin’s status for Sunday against Jacksonville is murky.  You will need to check back for further updates over the weekend because Maclin could be a WR3 or Flex option going up against a less than stellar Jaguars defense.  Overall, Maclin has not been impressive this season with just 30 receptions and two touchdowns through the Chiefs’ first seven games.

Jerick McKinnon (RB-MIN)

McKinnon missed last week’s game with an ankle injury but has resumed practicing in a limited capacity and has boldly proclaimed that he will play this week against Detroit.  With Norv Turner resigning, the Vikings offense is in disarray so McKinnon should get plenty of opportunities to carry the load out of the backfield.  Matt Asiata has been unproductive since Adrian Peterson got hurt, so look for McKinnon to be the focal point of Minnesota’s running game.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and is also the co-host of the Fantasy Alarm podcast. You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment),