After a mild Week 5, the injury bug was back with a vengeance in Week 6. The NFL had multiple season-ending injuries and there are major fantasy implications. The injury list is getting a bit long, so we’re just going to start off with the new injuries on top and we’ll have the older injuries with updated analysis at the bottom:
Fantasy football waiver wire, Week 7: Injuries and potential replacements
Fantasy owners probably have a lot of injuries to deal with these days. Here are some pickups to help.
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Running back
Who: Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots
What: Knee injury forced him from the game; could miss rest of season
Impact: Shane Vereen has been a bust to date, but he'll get another chance. Brandon Bolden is worth a pickup in most leagues while James White is also an option in deeper leagues.
Who: Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eagles
What: MCL injury; could play in Week 8
Impact: The Eagles lucked out with their bye week coming at the right time. If Sproles is out, LeSean McCoy could get some more touches while Trey Burton may help as well. He's not a pickup in most leagues.
Who: DeAngelo Williams and Fozzy Whittaker, Carolina Panthers
What: Team announced Monday that Williams will miss a couple more weeks; Whittaker aggravated his quad injury in Week 6
Impact: Basically, who cares about the Carolina running game? Cam Newton blew up and is going to get most of the goal-line carries anyway.
Who: Theo Riddick and Reggie Bush, Detroit Lions
What: Riddick aggravated his hamstring injury, status in doubt for Week 7; Bush expected to return from an ankle injury for Week 7
Impact: Joique Bell and Bush should have similar value heading into Week 7. Both guys are solid RB2s.
Who: Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals
What: Returned from a shoulder injury
Impact: An 89-yard TD made his day for his first 100-yard rushing game of his career. He's fine.
Wide receiver
Victor Cruz, New York Giants
What: Out for season with knee injury
Impact: This was painful to watch and we hope to see some Salsa dancing next season. With Cruz out, Rueben Randle and Odell Beckham Jr. become must-own players. Larry Donnell will also get more looks in the slot. If Randle and ODB are both available, Randle is the guy you want.
Who: A.J. Green and Marvin Jones, Cincinnati Bengals
What: Green expected to miss Week 7 with toe issue; Jones not close to returning
Impact: Mohamed Sanu lit it up with a 10-catch, 120-yard game and hit pay dirt. It's on again at Indy for Week 7.
Who: Eddie Royal, San Diego Chargers
What: Rib injury is not considered serious, but did not return to Week 6 action
Impact: If he misses time, there will likely be more balls available for everyone. Hopefully, Keenan Allen figures out how to score touchdowns. There are no fantasy pickups here.
Who: Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings
What: Minor hip injury shouldn't cost him time
Impact: He did not look great and really struggled to get open. The Vikings can't move the ball and the Cord bandwagon has become awfully empty.
Old injuries
Quarterback
Who: Matt Cassel and Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
What: Cassel is out indefinitely with a broken foot; Bridgewater played in Week 6
Impact: Teddy Time ran short against the Lions, but he appears to be healthy.
Who: Robert Griffin III, Washington
What: Targeting Week 11 return
Impact: Kirk Cousins has more picks than the Philadelphia 76ers. Yep, cross-sport reference time, but I digress. RG3 is worth a look because Cousins has been so awful.
Who: Josh McCown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What: Could miss several weeks with sprained thumb
Impact: Mike Glennon probably has the job locked up.
Who: Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans
What: Injured right thumb
Impact: He just can't stay healthy.
Running back
Who: Rashad Jennings, New York Giants
What: Suffered a knee sprain and has been out since Week 5
Impact: Andre Williams had just 58 rushing yards on 16 carries, but the Giants were just flat. He should remain owned and should be better against the Cowboys in Week 7.
Who: Montee Ball, Denver Broncos
What: Expected to miss multiple weeks with a groin issue
Impact: C.J. Anderson only saw one snap, so it was all about Ronnie Hillman. He should be owned in all leagues.
Who: Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints
What: Could return from hand injury in Week 7
Impact: He should be owned in all leagues, while Khiry Robinson is a cut candidate.
Who: Donald Brown, Danny Woodhead and Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers
What: Brown suffered a concussion in Week 5 and missed Week 6; Woodhead is out for the season with a broken fibula; Mathews is targeting a Week 8 return with a knee injury
Impact: Branden Oliver for the win!
Who: Toby Gerhart, Jacksonville Jaguars
What: Foot injury knocked him out of Week 5, and he missed Week 6
Impact: Storm Johnson scored, but the Jaguars cannot run the ball. Johnson is a risky RB4 to own.
Who: Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert, Carolina Panthers
What: Stewart's status in doubt with knee sprain; Tolbert out indefinitely with hairline fracture of leg
Impact: As mentioned above, fantasy owners shouldn't care.
Wide receiver
Who: Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
What: Could be shut down with an ankle sprain
Impact: He could miss more time after missing Week 6. Golden Tate is the man, while tight end Eric Ebron is getting more snaps as well.
Who: Rod Streater, Oakland Raiders
What: Out indefinitely with fractured foot
Impact: Andre Holmes is one of the better pickups you can make. He is for real. James Jones is locked into a big role as well.
Who: Jarrett Boykin, Green Bay Packers
What: Did not play in Week 6 due to a groin injury
Impact: He's fallen behind rookie Davante Adams and has probably lost his job when he comes back.
Who: Harry Douglas, Atlanta Falcons
What: Out with a foot issue
Impact: He won't have much value while the rest of the Falcon receivers are healthy.
Who: Tavon Austin, St. Louis Rams
What: Missed Week 3 with a knee injury but played Week 5
Impact: Brian Quick is the better young receiver on their roster, obviously. He's a must-own player.
Tight end
Who: Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings
What: Out three or more weeks with groin injury
Impact: He can stay on the wire because the Vikings look horrible.
Who: Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals
What: Not expected to return until Week 10 with elbow injury
Impact: Jermaine Gresham had a nice game in Week 6 and maybe he gets it going with A.J. Green out.
