Football Daily Dose: Dose: Ingram Sent To IR
Heading into Week 14, hopefully you secured a spot in your league(s) fantasy playoffs and are making a legitimate push for a title ring (or rings). This is an exciting time not only because of fantasy playoff implications, but this week features a handful of games that project to be relatively high-scoring and we always have the injury-related fantasy angle to cover which features some fairly big names this week.
Let’s recap Wednesday’s news.
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The Headlines
Big news dropped Wednesday late afternoon that the Saints placed Mark Ingram (shoulder) on season-ending injured reserve. Ingram played through this injury over the past two weeks, but it became severe enough to end his season. Remember, this Saints’ squad is also without Khiry Robinson (broken leg). So, now down Ingram and Robinson, the Saints will be left with veteran re-tread, 29-year-old Tim Hightower who was out of football from 2012-2014 and the largely disappointing free agent add, C.J. Spiller. This running back situation will likely evolve into a full-blown committee with Hightower receiving work on 1st and 2nd down and Spiller “attempting” to make up for Ingram’s lost production in the passing game and as a change of pace runner. Both backs can be added in fantasy leagues, but are entirely unreliable in Week 14 against a Bucs’ defense that ranks 2nd in Football Outsiders’ Rush Defense DVOA and 28th in yards per carry allowed (3.55).
In more positive news, Tyler Eifert (neck) returned to a limited practice on Wednesday and is seemingly “on track” to play against the Steelers. Assuming he keeps his current positive trajectory into the weekend, Eifert is a no-brainer start in the fantasy playoffs in a good spot at home against the Steelers. Through 12 games, Pittsburgh is surrendering the 6th most receptions (5.75) and 10th most receiving yards (60.92) per game to opposing tight ends.
Continuing the theme of touchdown-machine tight ends, the Patriots will – in all likelihood – be without Rob Gronkowski (knee) in Week 14 against the Texans. Gronk has said he won’t play until he feels 100% and the Patriots desperately need him locked-and-loaded for their upcoming playoff push. Scott Chandler played 68.5% of the Pats’ snaps in Week 13 against the Eagles and converted his seven targets on his 51 routes run into a 4-61-1 line. He’ll be on the “TE1” (top-12) radar for as long as Gronk is out.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Wednesday that Kansas City will “probably” continue to rotate snaps and touches between running backs Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West. In Week 13, our worst fears were realized when West and Ware split touches (11:9) and snaps (64.8%:35.2%). Ware also received three red zone carries to Charcandrick West’s one. This would be an amazing week to use either West or Ware if one of them were the starter. San Diego cedes the fourth-most rushing yards per game to opposing backs (112) and the most PPR fantasy points per touch (1.01) to the position. Ware and West will both be back-end “RB2’s” (top-24) instead, with West seeing a slight bump in PPR-scoring due to his passing game ability.
C.J. Anderson (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday; he participated in stretching, but did not participate in drill work. Broncos HC Gary Kubiak said Anderson’s ankle was “very sore” after he left after the first half against the Chargers in Week 13. I should note here that Ronnie Hillman (foot) also missed practice on Wednesday, but his injury doesn’t seem serious. Hillman would be forced into a heavy role if Anderson cannot suit up in Week 14 against the Raiders.
Anderson has turned his 34 carries into 214 yards (6.3 yards per carry), two touchdowns and 3.9 yards after contact per attempt versus Hillman’s 54-217-1 (4.0 YPC), and 2.3 yards after contact per attempt during Brock Osweiler’s first three starts. During that three-game span with Osweiler (Week 11-13), 47.1% of Anderson’s attempts went for 5 or more yards while just 31.5% of Hillman’s attempts have done as much.
Bengals right cornerback Adam Jones (foot) did not practice on Wednesday and has a “slim” chance of playing in Week 14 against the Steelers while slot-corner Leon Hall and free safety George Iloka were also absent from practice on Wednesday. If Cincinnati is without Jones, Hall and Iloka against a red-hot Pittsburgh team that is averaging “just” 35 points per game in their last three, this could be a monster spot for an equally on-fire Ben Roethlisberger. Excluding his early exit (knee) in Week 3 and his first game back from said injury (Week 8), Big Ben’s passing yardage totals this year are as follows: 351, 369, 334, 379, 456 and 364.
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Quick Hits
Andre Ellington (toe) was ruled out for Week 14 and has yet to be cleared to play. … Michael Crabtree received a 4-year, $35 million contract ($19 million guaranteed) extension. … Darrelle Revis (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday. … Karlos Williams (shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday; he is not expected to play against the Eagles. … Travis Benjamin (shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday. … Ryan Mathews (concussion) put in a limited practice on Wednesday. … Stevie Johnson (groin) and Dontrelle Inman (neck) both did not practice on Wednesday. … Finally, Allen Hurns (concussion) is practicing in full for Week 14 against the Colts.
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