Last Minute Decisions: Injury Report: Week 1

Week 1 of the NFL season has finally arrived, and the Rotoworld crew has everything you need to get ready for the big weekend of football. Top-ten FantasyPros ranker Patrick Daugherty answers your lineup questions with his Week 1 Rankings, Nick Mensio tells you who to start and who to fade in Start’ Em or Sit ‘Em, and Evan Silva breaks down every matchup in his award-winning Matchups Column.

As for me, I am here to shed some light on the most important injury situations facing fantasy owners heading into the weekend. The sister resource to this column is the Rotoworld News Page, which will have all every single inactive and all the late-breaking news up to kickoff and beyond. I also occasionally tweet about football @RMSummerlin.  

Editor’s Note: Daily fantasy NFL is back on FanDuel! The cash prizes are bigger, the stakes are higher….and the competition is stiffer than ever. Start learning the basics of how to build better lineups with “escot4” – the 2014 $2 Million FanDuel Fantasy Football Champion – in his free “Newcomer’s Guide to DFS NFL.“

1 PM Games

Packers @ Bears

* The story all week has been the health of Alshon Jeffery (calf). Jeffery is officially listed as questionable, but he got in limited work all week and coach John Fox said he looked “pretty good” on Friday. The Chicago Tribune reported “all indications” are he will “try to give it a go.” Jeffery should play, and he will be tough to sit even at less than 100 percent. Eddie Royal (hip) and Marquess Wilson (hamstring) also look poised to play after getting in limited work all week.

* Randall Cobb (shoulder) practiced on a limited basis all three days this week and is listed as probable. He will certainly play, but Cobb has admitted he does not have his full range of motion back yet and he will be trying to protect the injury during the game. If this ends up being a blowout, Cobb could see limited snaps. He is a risky DFS option. The Packers will likely be without safety Morgan Burnett (calf), who is listed as questionable after sitting out every practice. It is a slight upgrade for Matt Forte.

Chiefs @ Texans

* Arian Foster is out for this game, but he said this week he is “ahead of schedule” in his return from groin surgery. A late September return looks within the realm of possibilities at this point. Jadeveon Clowney practiced in full all week and is listed as probable. Last year’s No. 1 overall pick could play close to a full complement of snaps.

* The biggest injury situation for the Chiefs is along the offensive line. Starting right tackle Eric Fisher (ankle) and presumptive backup at right tackle Jeff Allen (knee) are listed as questionable. Both got in full practices all week, however, and Fisher is expected to play. Dontari Poe is listed as probable and could complete a miraculous recovery from July back surgery by playing Week 1.

Browns @ Jets

* Devin Smith was expected to miss the first couple weeks of the season after suffering fractured ribs and a partially punctured lung in the first practice of Jets’ camp, but he got in a full practice on Friday and is listed as probable. Smith brings big-play upside to the Jets’ offense, but he does not have a big enough role to be useful in fantasy.

* Duke Johnson (concussion) is listed as probable after getting in two full practices on Thursday and Friday. Coach Mike Pettine said on Wednesday that if Johnson put in a solid couple days of practice, he would play a “significant role in the game.” What that role is remains to be seen, so he is best left on fantasy benches in a tough matchup against the Jets. Dwayne Bowe (hamstring) is listed as questionable after getting in limited work all week. He should not be starting anywhere.

Colts @ Bills

* LeSean McCoy (hamstring) got in three full practices this week and is listed as probable. He will certainly play, though McCoy admits he will not be 100 percent. Even so, he should be the workhorse in a good matchup. He is a borderline RB1. Sammy Watkins (hamstring), Robert Woods (hip), Percy Harvin (hip) and Charles Clay (knee) are all listed as probable.

* All the major offensive players are ready to go for Indianapolis, but backup running back Vick Ballard is out with a hamstring injury. Rookie Josh Robinson should serve as the No. 2 this week and perhaps for the rest of the season. Robert Mathis (Achilles) got in limited practices this week and is listed as questionable. The veteran pass rusher has a real shot to play. Greg Toler (neck) is out, which means Vontae Davis will shadow Sammy Watkins. That is bad news for Watkins.

Dolphins @ Redskins

* DeSean Jackson (shoulder) is practicing limit free and should be full go for Week 1. Robert Griffin III was finally medically cleared from his concussion, but he will likely begin the season third on the depth chart.

* Rookie wide out DaVante Parker (foot) is listed as probable after getting in full practices all week. He should make his regular season debut Week 1, though his snaps could be limited coming off a very limited preseason. He is not a fantasy option yet. Left tackle Branden Albert (knee) got in full work all week and looks poised to play. That is great news for Ryan Tannehill.

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Panthers @ Jaguars

* Marqise Lee (hamstring) did not practice this week and is listed as doubtful. We will have to wait another week to see The Albino Tiger. Starting safety Johnathan Cyprien (hand) got in a full week of work and is listed as probable. Julius Thomas (hand), Sen’Derrick Marks (knee) and Andre Branch (knee) did not practice at all this week. All three could be multiple weeks away.

* Carolina will be without star defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, who missed almost all of training camp with a stress reaction in his surgically-repaired right foot. Coach Ron Rivera said Lotulelei could be back next week. It is an upgrade for T.J. Yeldon. Corner Josh Norman (concussion) has been cleared and is expected to play. That could be trouble for Allen Robinson.

Seahawks @ Rams

* Todd Gurley (knee) is not going to play, and Tre Mason (thigh) is extremely doubtful after not practicing all week. Benny Cunningham should draw the start against Seattle, but he is a desperation play at best.

* Earl Thomas (shoulder) is not listed on the injury report, but ESPN’s Ed Werder said on Tuesday he is not 100 percent. With Kam Chancellor holding out, Thomas will have an even bigger role to play in the secondary.

4 PM Games

Saints @ Cardinals

* Michael Floyd (hand, questionable) will be a game-time decision, but coach Bruce Arians is optimistic he will play. Even if Floyd suits up, he will play third fiddle to Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown. Left guard Mike Iupati will be out several more weeks with a torn meniscus.

* C.J. Spiller (knee), Keenan Lewis (hip), Dannell Ellerbe (toe) and Jairus Byrd (knee) are all out for the saints. With Spiller out, Mark Ingram projects as the every-down back for the Saints and is a great play in DFS. Spiller could return next week. Lewis and Byrd are important parts of an already underwhelming secondary. Carson Palmer should feast in this one.

Lions @ Chargers

* Ladarius Green surprisingly was at practice Friday after suffering a concussion early in the week, but he still has not been cleared for contact. He is shaping up as a game-time decision.

* With right guard Larry Warford (ankle) out, Manny Ramirez should start a right guard against the Chargers. That means rookie Laken Tomlinson should make his regular season debut at left guard. Right tackle LaAdrian Waddle is listed as questionable, but he should play after getting in full practices on Thursday and Friday. DeAndre Levy (hip, doubtful) has all but been ruled out.  

Titans @ Bucs

* Mike Evans said he felt “really, really good” after getting in a limited practice on Friday. “I ran some routes full speed and I feel pretty good,” Evans said. “I hope I’m playing. But we’ll leave it up to Coach [Lovie Smith].’’ Evans is listed as questionable. Even if Evans plays, he will be far less than 100 percent, making Vincent Jackson a great play in both redraft and DFS formats this week.

* Antonio Andrews (hamstring) will be a game-time decision after getting in limited work on Thursday and Friday. Corner Jason McCourty (groin) is doubtful after not practicing all week. V-Jax’s prospects just keep getting better.

Bengals @ Raiders

* Andre Holmes (hand), Clive Walford (knee) and Justin Tuck (calf) are all probable after practicing in full this week.

* Andrew Whitworth (back) missed practice on Wednesday, but he got in full sessions on Thursday and Friday. He is probable.

Ravens @ Broncos

* The other Brandon Marshall (foot) is probable after getting in a full week of practice.

* Breshad Perriman (knee) and Lorenzo Taliaferro (knee) are out. Taliaferro could return next week, but Perriman could be sidelined into October. Timmy Jernigan (knee) got in limited sessions on Thursday and Friday but it listed as doubtful. C.J. Anderson would get a boost if Jernigan cannot go.

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Sunday Night

Giants @ Cowboys

* The entire Cowboys’ team in probable.

* Victor Cruz (calf) and Jon Beason (knee) are out for the Giants. Cruz could miss the first three weeks of the season with the lingering calf issue. Coming off a devastating knee injury, Cruz will be difficult to trust even when he gets back. Rueben Randle will start and is an interesting DFS tournament play. Beason said he was fine after missing practice on Thursday, but he almost certainly suffered a setback. He could be out a couple weeks too. The Giants’ defense is a disaster.

Monday Night

Eagles @ Falcons

* Roddy White (elbow) is fully expected to play after getting in full practices on Thursday and Friday. Devonta Freeman (hamstring) got in a full session on Friday, but he has admitted he is not 100 percent. Tevin Coleman will get the start and has a chance to run away with the starting job. Devin Hester (toe) is unlikely to play after missing practice on Thursday and Friday.

* Zach Ertz (groin) got in limited sessions on Thursday and Friday, though coach Chip Kelly said he was “real limited” on Wednesday. As a game-time decision on a Monday night, Ertz should not be in fantasy lineups this week. Available in 47 percent of Yahoo leagues, Jordan Reed is a good plug-and-play option for people who own Ertz.

Vikings @ 49ers

* Tramaine Brock (hamstring) was limited on Thursday and Friday, but he is fully expected to play.

* Every Viking was a full participant in Friday’s practice.

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