Fantasy Football Week 1 Injury Report 

Injuries are typically the great equalizer when it comes to fantasy football.

…well, I guess having no idea what you’re doing could also be considered a pretty big equalizer. However, we at NFL Soup are here to make sure that second thing doesn’t apply to you.

So, let’s check in on the Saturday injury report from around-the-league and fill you in on how to approach your injured players heading into Sunday and Monday night.

Indianapolis Colts at Chicago Bears

Colts

-WR Austin Collie: Questionable (Head): Collie had his practice participation downgraded late in the week after suffering a setback from his concussion. He’s likely to be a game-time decision Sunday, but, if he plays, could be a decent sleeper against a fairly weak Chicago secondary. If he plays, Collie may serve as a decent WR3.

-WR T.Y. Hilton: Questionable (Shoulder): The speedy rookie proved to be a very reliable target for Andrew Luck during the preseason. However, he’s nothing more than a potential sleeper until we see him produce during the regular season, so he should certainly be kept out of your lineups if he’s not even at 100 percent physically.

Bears

-WR Earl Bennett: Probable (Hand): Bennett has a good rapport with Jay Cutler, but we’re still not quite sure what his role in this year’s revamped Chicago offense will be. Like with T.Y. Hilton, keep him on your bench until further notice.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings

Jaguars

-WR Justin Blackmon: Probable (Ankle): Blackmon tweaked his ankle in the middle of the week but practiced fully Thursday and Friday, and will be good-to-go against Minnesota Sunday. As he’s Blaine Gabbert’s only real weapon in the passing game, Blackmon has solid potential to be productive against a poor Vikings secondary.

Vikings

-RB Adrian Peterson: Questionable (Knee): As you know, Peterson is coming off a near-complete reconstruction of his knee. He’s likely a game-time decision, but we’ve heard all week long that he’s likely to play. Unfortunately, we’re just not sure how many snaps he’ll see. With Toby Gerhart seemingly ready to take the starter’s load this week (against a fairly stout Jax run D, no less), I’d steer clear of AP this week, unless you’re literally out of other options.

 

Buffalo Bills at New York Jets

Bills

-WR Stevie Johnson: Questionable (Groin): Any player on a nagging groin going up against Darrelle Revis doesn’t exactly sound promising, but Stevie Johnson has actually enjoyed solid success against the Jets’ vaunted corner in the past. He’s likely to play, despite the “questionable” status, and I’d start him with confidence as a WR2.

Jets

-WR Santonio Holmes: Probable (Ribs): Holmes will play, but there’s always that great unknown when it comes to starting receivers playing with Mark Sanchez. Holmes did score twice in two games against Buffalo last season, so that’s encouraging. If you plan to start him, just know that the ribs shouldn’t be an issue.

-WR Stephen Hill: Probable (Calf): Hill enjoyed a very strong preseason, and is another potential sleeper later in the year. As is the case with most rookies, monitor his progress before throwing him into the fire.

-TE Dustin Keller: Questionable (Hamstring): Keller is likely to play after participating fully in practice on Friday. However, that doesn’t mean he’s a lock to rack up the points. There are other, more reliable tight end options out there.

 

Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans

Dolphins

-WR Brian Hartline: Probable (Calf): Hartline will be ready to go, but are you really confident starting a low-tier receiver with a rookie quarterback going up against one of the league’s top defenses? I didn’t think so, either.

Texans

-RB Arian Foster: Questionable (Knee): Foster has said himself that he plans to play Sunday, but Gary Kubiak wasn’t making any promises. However, if he plays Sunday, he must be in your lineup.

-WR Andre Johnson: Probable (Chest): He’s playing. And he’s playing for you, too.

-RB Ben Tate: Probable (Head): Tate practiced fully all week long, despite a head injury. Foster’s status obviously greatly affects Tate’s value. Assuming Foster plays, Tate is still likely to see somewhere between 10-15 carries, making him a flex option.

-TE Owen Daniels: Probable (Illness): Daniels is also likely to play, but he hasn’t been the same, productive guy in recent years due to a slew of injuries. Until we see the old Owen Daniels again, you should probably find yourself another starting TE.

 

New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans

Patriots

-RB Shane Vereen: Out (Foot): Not that I’d recommend playing Vereen in the first place, but I suppose it’s pertinent to note that he is indeed out against the Titans.

Titans

-None

 

St. Louis Rams at Detroit Lions

-None

 

Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints

Redskins

-None

Saints

-WR Marques Colston: Questionable (Foot): Colston has been limited in practice, but, while officially listed as questionable, he’s likely to be in the lineup against the Redskins. Washington has a decent secondary, but do you really expect them to keep up with the Saints’ passing attack? Start Colston confidently.

 

Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns

Eagles

-WR Riley Cooper: Out (Collarbone)

Browns

-RB Trent Richardson: Questionable (Knee): He’s been limited in practice, but all indications are that the prized Browns rookie back will be ready to roll against Philly on Sunday. With no other viable alternatives in Cleveland, feel good about keeping him in your lineup.

-TE Benjamin Watson: Questionable (Thigh): Watson may have a bit of sleeper potential in deep leagues, but he’s not worth a look in your standard 10- or 12-team league.

 

Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs

-None

 

San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers

49ers

-RB Brandon Jacobs: Questionable (Knee): Jacobs was brought in to help the 49ers on the goal-line and in short-yardage situations, so his value was fairly limited to begin with. With his status for Sunday very much in doubt, steer clear. Obviously, this helps the projections for Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter, though.

-WR Ted Ginn: Questionable (Ankle): Ginn’s only impact comes in the return game, so it’s unlikely you were starting him in the first place. He’s also likely to be out.

Packers

-RB James Starks: Out (Toe)

-RB Alex Green: Probable (Knee): Green will be listed as Green Bay’s No. 2 back with Starks out, but Cedric Benson is expected to get the lion’s share of the touches for the Packers, regardless. Green won’t see much action on the field.

 

Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

Seahawks

-RB Marshawn Lynch: Questionable (Back): Lynch again missed practice Friday as he continues to deal with back spasms, leaving his status for Sunday in doubt. Even if Lynch is able to go, rookie backup Robert Turbin may be the safer play. If you can afford to avoid this situation completely, that may be the best course of action.

-WR Golden Tate: Out (Knee)

Cardinals

-RB Beanie Wells: Questionable (Hamstring): Wells insists that he will be in the lineup Sunday, despite being listed as questionable. Seattle has a solid run defense in the first place, so you may want to sit Wells even if he’s playing. If he’s out, Ryan Williams is in for an increased workload.

 

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Panthers

-RB Jonathan Stewart: Questionable (Ankle): Stewart’s status has been up-in-the-air all week, and it appears as though he’ll be a game-time decision against the Bucs. If he’s out, DeAngelo Williams’ value skyrockets, as the Panthers’ backfield is insanely jumbled. Mike Tolbert will also see a boost if Stewart is sidelined.

-WR Steve Smith: Probable (Foot): Smith has been dealing with a foot infection, but expect him to be ready to go. Start him.

Buccaneers

-None

 

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

Steelers

-RB Rashard Mendenhall: Doubtful (Knee): Mendenhall has been practicing, but the Steelers are proceeding with caution with him coming off of a torn ACL. Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer and Chris Rainey will likely be Pittsburgh’s backs.

-RB Isaac Redman: Probable (Ankle): He will play, and likely start, yet most seem to think he’ll fall out of favor rather rapidly with Jonathan Dwyer having out-performed him throughout training camp and preseason.

Broncos

-None

 

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens

Bengals

-QB Andy Dalton: Probable (Arm): Dalton has been practicing and will be fine to start Monday night. However, that doesn’t mean you should seriously consider starting him against the tough Ravens defense.

-RB Bernard Scott: Doubtful (Hand): Scott will likely be sidelined with a hand injury, leaving all the carries to BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

-TE Jermaine Gresham: Probable (Knee): Gresham was a solid performer in two games against the Ravens last season, so there’s some upside here if you’re really hurting at tight end. Otherwise, keep him sidelined.

Ravens

-None

 

San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders

Chargers

-RB Ryan Mathews: Out (Collarbone): Mathews has been officially declared out of Monday night’s divisional showdown in Oakland. Veteran Ronnie Brown will likely get most of the carries for the Chargers, but, considering his career is in serious decline, you may be best-suited to find your rushers elsewhere.

Raiders

WR Jacoby Ford, Denarius Moore: The respective statuses for Ford and Moore are up in the air heading into Monday night, so the best advice would probably be to sit either one of them against the Chargers. Darrius Heyward-Bey is your primary fantasy receiving threat for the Raiders this week.

 

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