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Injuries are the bane of a fantasy football owner’s 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 week’s 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 5 Practice Reports:
IN
Brandon Marshall, WR, Bears – Ankle
Fozzy Whittaker, RB, Panthers – Thigh
Arian Foster, RB, Texans – Hamstring
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles – Hamstring
Ben Tate, RB, Browns – Knee
Jordan Cameron, TE, Browns – Shoulder
Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs – Ankle
Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers – Foot
Jake Locker, QB, Titans - Wrist
OUT
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers – Knee
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers – Ankle
Joique Bell, RB, Lions – Concussion
Joseph Fauria, TE, Lions – Ankle
Cecil Shorts, WR, Jaguars – Hamstring
Marqise Lee, WR, Jaguars – Hamstring
Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers – Groin
Mark Ingram, RB, Saints – Hand
Harry Douglas, WR, Falcons – Foot
Carson Palmer, QB, Cardinals – Shoulder
Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers – Knee
Donnie Avery, WR, Chiefs – Groin
Marvin Jones, WR, Bengals - Ankle
UP IN THE AIR
Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions – Ankle
Another week and another questionable tag for the games biggest WR. Last week Megatron played just 37 snaps out of 66 total for the Lions offense. He was basically used as a decoy which is the absolute worst for fantasy owners. Johnson didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday but did get in a limited session on Friday. I have a much better feeling about him this week then I did last week at this time. Assuming he gets over 65% of the snaps on Sunday you absolutely have to start Calvin Johnson against the Bills this week.
Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers – Back
There is virtually no way that Vernon Davis plays this week. Anyone who saw him stagger off of the field last week could tell he was in serious pain. I am guessing that this is a multiple week injury for Davis and that we don’t see him back on the field for quite awhile.
Andre Johnson, WR, Texans – Ankle
Andre Johnson said early this week that his ankle injury was “nothing to worry about” before getting in a limited practice on Thursday. The drama got real though when Johnson missed Friday’s practice altogether which puts him in a highly questionable state entering the weekend.
Eric Decker, WR, Jets – Hamstring
Decker needs to shut it down for a week or two in order to get his balky hamstring corrected. At this time last week I knew that Decker was going to give it a go but this week was different. He got in a limited practice session on Wednesday but was shut down on both Thursday and Friday. Either way you absolutely cannot play Eric Decker in fantasy this week.
, WR, Giants – Hamstring
Odell Beckham has not made it through an entire NFL practice at full strength yet. The Giants are very frustrated with his healing process but all would be forgiven if he could add another dimension to this Giants offense. Beckham was limited in practice all week but is getting real close to becoming a weapon for the suddenly resurgent Giants. I would roster him this week and see how many snaps he winds up getting against the Falcons on Sunday.
Tavon Austin, WR, Rams – Knee
Remember Tavon Austin? He was once going to be a guy that nobody in the NFL could catch in the open field. But instead he turned out to be just a tiny oft-injured special teams player. The Rams could really use his speed to complement Zac Stacy and Brian Quick for newly anointed QB Austin Davis. After three consecutive days of limited practice sessions I think it would be safe to think that Austin will return to the field this weekend.
, TE, Buccaneers – Ankle
It is very odd that Austin Seferian-Jenkins played all 71 offensive snaps for the Bucs in week four but then missed almost all week of practice this week. He did get in a limited session on Friday but there has to be some sort of setback that isn’t being reported. I really liked ASJ going into this week but at this point there is no way to count on him in week five.