Week 3 of the NFL season is in the books and we are getting ready to turn the calendar to October.  Football season always seems to go by very fast and this year is no different.  With each passing week we are continually met with adversity and chaos in terms of injuries, so fantasy GMs must once again be on their toes and prepare to deal with some unknowns for their star players.  So, without further ado, let’s delve into the next edition of the fantasy football emergency room.

Julio Jones (WR-ATL) – The elite wide receiver suffered a back injury during Atlanta’s win over the Lions this weekend and is expected to be limited in practice this week.  The injury is not considered serious at this point so it should not affect his status for Week 4.  You should continue monitoring his status during the week but do not be alarmed if he is held out of practice a day or two as a precautionary measure.  He has 16 catches for 265 yards and no touchdowns thus far, but he is without question one of the top three fantasy wide receivers and should find the end zone soon enough.

Melvin Gordon (RB-LAC) – Gordon sustained a bone bruise on his knee which limited his availability in the Chargers’ loss to Kansas City this past week.  The injury has raised concerns about his status for next Sunday against the Eagles.  It would be a huge loss if he is unable to play as fantasy GMs have already been treated to two rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown as well.  Carefully monitor this situation during the week because you will need to find a viable replacement for the 1st round pick if he is unable to go.

Michael Crabtree (WR-OAK) – The Raiders had a night to forget against the Redskins on Sunday night, including Michael Crabtree who had one catch before leaving the game after taking a big hit to his chest.  X-rays were negative which is good news so he should be fine to play this week against Denver.  Crabtree has 13 catches for 170 yards and three touchdowns.  He has outperformed Amari Cooper making him a must-start in any league.

Doug Baldwin (WR-SEA) – Baldwin was having a monster game on Sunday against Tennessee with ten catches for 105 yards and one touchdown before he suffered a strained groin.  He will undergo some tests to determine the severity of the injury but as of now he is expected to be on the field next Sunday night against Indianapolis.  Baldwin is a solid WR2 with 20 receptions for 212 yards and one touchdown thus far, but he will need Seattle’s offense to gain some consistency in order to maintain such production.

Kelvin Benjamin (WR-CAR) – The Panthers offense has been atrocious thus far due in large part to Cam Newton’s health and inconsistency.  Kelvin Benjamin has also been victimized by this as he has been limited to nine catches for 110 yards and no touchdowns through the first three weeks.  He suffered a knee injury early on against the Saints and was forced out of the game.  An MRI did not reveal any structural damage which is good news, but his status for next week against New England could be in jeopardy.  Given how bad the Panthers offense has been, he is a risky play for Week 4 even if he takes the field.

Ty Montgomery (RB-GB) – Montgomery has been very productive this season rushing for twi touchdowns and also being a big part of the Packers’ aerial attack.  He has rushed for 124 yards which is not overly impressive, but he does have 18 catches for 129 yards making him extremely valuable in PPR leagues as well.  Montgomery was listed in a limited capacity at practice on Monday even though Green Bay did not actually practice.  There does not appear to be any indication that his status for Thursday’s game against Chicago is in jeopardy so put him in your lineup and expect more of the same from him.

Randall Cobb (WR-GB) – Cobb missed this past week’s game against the Bengals with a chest injury and was listed as a limited participant in practice on Monday.  It is possible he could suit up on Thursday night but Green Bay should win this game easily so there would be no reason to rush him back and risk further injury.  Wait and see whether he does practice at all before Thursday when making any decisions about Cobb on the short week,

Sammy Watkins (WR-LAR) – Watkins had a huge game against the 49ers last Thursday night before suffering a concussion on a big hit he took on his second touchdown.  He is in the concussion protocol but hopefully the extra time the Rams have before playing the Cowboys in Week 4 will be sufficient to clear him.  Watkins has been a frustrating fantasy player over his career but he showed signs of displaying the raw talent he has with his performance last week when he caught six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.  He is a solid WR3 option this week if he gets cleared to play.

Darren Sproles (RB-PHI) – The cagey veteran will miss the rest of the season after suffering both a broken arm and a torn ACL during the Eagles dramatic win over the Giants.  Sproles has had a great career and this injury could be his curtain call as he was allegedly pondering retiring at the end of the season.  He can be dropped in all league formats and look for LeGarrette Blount, Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement to be a three-headed monster out of the Eagles backfield.  None of them will contribute the way Sproles did in PPR leagues.

Sam Bradford (QB-MIN) – The fact that Case Keenum looked like Peyton Manning on Sunday against Tampa Bay will probably let the Vikings be cautious and conservative with Bradford this coming week.  Bradford has missed the past two weeks with a knee injury after a huge Week 1 performance and will likely get an extra week to recover and take his job back.  Keenum’s surprising game gives hope that Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs remain valuable wide receiver options this coming week against Detroit.

Matt Forte (RB-NYJ) – Forte has seen his role diminish in the Jets offense as they are relying more on Bilal Powell, but he still has something left in the tank.  He suffered a toe injury and fortunately x-rays came back negative so Forte should be considered day-to-day at this point.  The Jets showed a lot of heart beating the Dolphins but their offense is still mostly a train wreck.  Despite his pass-catching ability, Forte should not be in anyone’s starting lineup even if he was fully healthy.

Orleans Darkwa (RB-NYG) – Speaking of train wrecks, the Giants running game has been non-existent for well over a year.  This is due partially to their awful offensive line, and also due to the lack of progress Paul Perkins has made.  He has been the Giants best running back thus far, but that is not saying much.  Darkwa is dealing with a back injury which is reported not to be anything significant, but it is worth noting thanks to his injury history.  He is likely a better option than Perkins at this point, but if you are forced to start a Giants running back right now then you are probably dealing with bigger problems on your fantasy roster.

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