It was a thrilling beginning to the 2014 NFL season with some great games, breakout performances, epic flops, and the typical litany of injuries.  All of that preparation you did for your draft could be nullified in a split second depending on an injury to a key player.  So without further adieu, here is the next edition of the walking wounded as you prepare for Week 2 of the fantasy football season.

Eddie Lacy (RB-GB)

It was a tough opening week for some of the league’s best running backs.  That includes Eddie Lacy who sustained a concussion and is nearing the end of the league’s protocol for treatment and monitoring.  This is the second concussion Lacy has sustained in the past year, so there could be some growing concern about him going forward.  He will likely play this Sunday against the Jets which is not a great matchup for him.  But you drafted him to be your top running back so get him in your lineup.

Roddy White (WR-ATL)

I expected Roddy White to have a big season coming back from an injury-marred 2013 season which cost him several games for the first time in his career.  But he suffered a knee injury in Week 1 which he did play through.  He has been limited in practice this week and should be good to go for Atlanta’s tough Week 2 matchup against the Bengals.  It appears that he will continue to play as long as he can handle the pain.  To help protect him, the Cardinals will limit Ellington in practice during the week.  He has a favorable matchup this week against the Giants, so keep him in your lineup.

Alshon Jeffery (WR-CHI)

Alshon Jeffery had a breakout season in 2013 and is expected to reach new levels in 2014.  He sustained a hamstring injury which cost him the fourth quarter and overtime in the Bears’ loss to Buffalo last Sunday.  He has not practiced this week and his status for Week 2 is uncertain.  Keep tracking his progress the rest of the week and hope that a decision is made about him before Sunday morning.  The Bears have a tough matchup against the 49ers this week, but put Jeffery in your lineup if he is active.

Andre Ellington (RB-ARZ)

It was quite a rollercoaster ride last weekend regarding Andre Ellington’s status for Monday night’s game against the Chargers.  First he was going to be out up to six weeks, and then the next thing we knew he was a game-time decision and ended up playing. 

Doug Martin (RB-TB)

After missing most of the 2013 season with an injury, fantasy GM’s were hoping for a return to glory for Doug Martin.  In Week 1, all fantasy GM’s got was nine carriers for nine yards, no touchdowns, and a knee injury which prompted his removal from the game against the Panthers.  He did not practice on Wednesday, but his injury is being reported as minor.  We will know more about his situation later in the week, but if he cannot go then Bobby Rainey is expected to get the start.  Wait until Saturday before committing to a decision.

Maurice Jones-Drew (RB-OAK)

Well that didn’t take very long.  Former rushing champion Maurice Jones-Drew was looking for a fresh start in Oakland now that he was healthy.  But after a poor performance in the Raiders’ loss to the Jets this past Sunday, Jones-Drew underwent a procedure on his hand after suffering an undisclosed injury.  He is not expected to miss much time, but he is still not a good option to start in Week 2 against Houston.

Ben Tate (RB-CLE)

For years, Ben Tate was Arian Foster’s handcuff in Houston and got more than his fair share of opportunities to play thanks to Foster’s injuries.  But Tate himself also had issues staying healthy.  Now he signed with Cleveland to be their featured running back and sure enough he sustained a knee injury which will sideline him for 2-4 weeks.  Rookie Terrence West should see a bulk of the action out of the backfield, so add him as a free agent if you need a short-term replacement.

Jordan Cameron (TE-CLE)

There was a lot of fantasy buzz about Jordan Cameron this summer, and for good reason.  But he suffered an AC joint injury in the preseason and then aggravated it in the Browns’ loss to Pittsburgh in Week 1.  His status is up in the air for this coming Sunday against New Orleans.  He is a must-start if active against a Saints defense which got lit up like a Christmas tree last Sunday.

Toby Gerhart (RB-JAX)

Toby Gerhart sustained an ankle injury in the Jaguars’ loss to the Eagles last Sunday, but he did come back in the game later on.  He was held out of practice on Wednesday and will likely take it easy the rest of the week.  I would expect him to play on Sunday against Washington which makes him a good option to start as one of your running backs or a Flex.

Jadeveon Clowney (LB-HOU)

The first overall pick in this year’s NFL draft will have to wait 4-6 weeks before he can suit up again after sustaining a knee injury last Sunday.  Jadeveon Clowney underwent surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his knee and likely won’t be back until late October.  He is worth stashing on your bench if you have deep rosters and available slots.  If not, then let him go.

Vontaze Burfict (LB-CIN)

Vontaze Burfict is coming off of a monster 2013 season where he amassed 113 solo tackles to go along with three sacks.  He is a star in the making but sustained a concussion during the Bengals’ victory over Baltimore in Week 1.  He will be out for Week 2 and should be back for Week 3 assuming he passes all of the protocols.

Jordan Reed (TE-WAS)

The good news is that Jordan Reed does not have a concussion.  The bad news is that he is likely going to miss another game.  After missing several games in 2013 with a head injury, Reed was looking to remain healthy and be an active part of the Redskins’ new offense.  But he sustained a hamstring injury which will likely cost him this week’s game against Jacksonville.  That is bad timing for fantasy GM’s who could have streamed Reed with such a favorable matchup.  He should be ready to go for Week 3 assuming he gets sufficient rest and has no setbacks.

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),