Some tasty divisional rival games are on tap for this week, but could an injury to several star RBs put a damper on week 4?
Week 4 Fantasy Football News: Ray Rice, Steven Jackson And Pierre Thomas Headline Week 4 Injuries
Arizona will be without two WRs this week as Steve Breaston and Early Doucet are both officially out. Beanie Wells did get through full practices on Thursday and Friday, so it seems like he's ready to go after being hobbled for the first three weeks of the season.
The Chargers already suspect pass rush won't get much help this week as LB Larry English is officially out and LB Shawne Merriman is listed a doutbful with a calf. Merriman is not expected to play.
The big injury here is to Ravens RB Ray Rice, who was limited in practice for the past two days with a deep bone bruise on his knee. He looks like one of those dreaded "game time decisions" that all fantasy owners love.
“If I’m able to do the things I can do and be the Ray Rice I can be, there’s no question on whether I’ll play or not,” Rice said. “At the end of the day, Sunday’s the ultimate test.”
It may not be the worst idea to sit a hobbled Rice against the 3rd best run defense in football.
RB Pierre Thomas is listed as questionable for this week and the chances of him playing this weekend don't look great. Thomas took no reps in practice this week and will be a game time decision.
If Thomas can't go, Ladell Betts will start in his place.
For the Bengals, there could be some questions at WR. Rookie Jordan Shipley is questionable with a shoulder injury. WR Terrell Owens missed practice Friday with a sore back, but he skipped practice last Friday as well and played.
For the Browns, Jake Delhomme was back at practice this week but was never a full go. He's listed as questionable and not likely to play.
RB Knowshon Moreno is out for the second straight week with a hamstring injury, so Correll Buckhalter will start in his place. Of course, Buckhalter started last week as well and ran for 12 yards... So you may want to steer clear of the Broncos RBs for the moment.
With a number of the Lions' best offensive skill players in doubt for this one... it could get ugly. Of course QB Matt Stafford is still out, WR Nate Burleson is doubtful and is not expected to play, and finally rookie RB Jahvid Best is questionable with a toe injury.
Best missed practice all week, but returned on Friday in a limited fashion. The Lions do expect him to be healthy enough to start on Sunday.
WR Andre Johnson is still battling the same ankle injury he struggled with last week. He did end up making the start, but only had 4 catches for 64 yards. TE Owen Daniels is also questionable and has done very little this season.
For the Raiders, WRs Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy are both listed as questionable. The feeling from Oakland seems to be that both WRs will play.
The Colts weapons are beat up in this one. Take a look at this injury report... RB Joseph Addai (knee), RB Donald Brown (hamstring), WR Austin Collie (heel), WR Pierre Garcon (hamstring). Plus WR Anthony Gonzalez is still out.
Of that group, Joseph Addai and Austin Collie seem the most likely to be ready to go. Neither Pierre Garcon nor Donald Brown have practiced this week.
Darrelle Revis will miss another week for the Jets as he nurses a hamstring injury. His absence could be notable against a Bills passing attack that gained 247 yards through the air with two TDs last week against the Patriots.
The Bills should get back LB Paul Posluszny back this week, which will help them against the Jets rushing attack.
For the Falcons, leading tackler Sean Weatherspoon is questionable after being unable to practice all week with an ankle injury.
The big one here is Steven Jackson and his injured groin. Jackson missed practice all week, but did get some work in on Friday. He will be a gametime decision. If Jackson can't go, RB Kenneth Darby will get his first career start. Darby did get into the end zone last week.
The Redskins have emerged as the team whose injury report you can least trust. They do certainly seem to overuse the "questionable" tag. This week they've got 10 players listed as questionable including RB Clinton Portis, who is expected to play.
The teams playing Sunday look to be in pretty good shape.
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