Every year running backs are ravaged by injuries, and this year is no different. In Week 7, the Buffalo Bills had both backs in their two-headed attack go down and their offense is going to look a lot different because of it.
Fantasy football waiver wire, Week 8: Injuries and potential replacements
In Week 7, the Bills won their game but lost their running back depth. Who should fantasy owners look for on the waiver wire to replace those injuries and others?
Tom Szczerbowski
No other position had any new injuries in Week 7, but we’ll keep track of the old injuries below the running back issues with some analysis based on the happenings of the past week:
Running back
Who: C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills
What: Spiller broke his collarbone and is expected to be out for the season; Jackson has a groin strain and is expected to miss around one month
Impact: It’s going to be Bryce Brown in the saddle for the Bills and he’s a hot pickup this week. Anthony Dixon will also get some touches and is an option in deep leagues. Fantasy owners should probably keep Jackson stashed.
Who: Trent Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
What: Pulled his hamstring, but it's not considered serious
Impact: Dan Herron would have been a fun pickup, but it's not going to happen with Richardson not likely to miss time. Ahmad Bradshaw would be an RB1 sans T-Rich.
Who: Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints
What: Suffered a shoulder injury on Sunday and played through it
Impact: Thomas is still likely to play, but Travaris Cadet would be in line for more run with PT out.
Who: James Starks, Green Bay Packers
What: Suffered an ankle injury on Sunday and did not return
Impact: Starks has been great and has even taken some carries away from Eddie Lacy. If he's out, Lacy should be even better.
Quarterback
Who: Robert Griffin III, Washington
What: Targeting Week 11 return
Impact: Kirk Cousins has been benched and Colt McCoy is expected to start in Week 8. It's probably about time to add RG3 in all leagues and there is an outside chance he's ready this week.
Who: Matt Cassel, Minnesota Vikings
What: Out indefinitely with a broken foot
Impact: Teddy Time was a little better in Week 7 against the Buffalo Bills, but he's still a major project. Bridgewater is more of a stash as a QB2.
Who: Josh McCown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What: Could miss several weeks with sprained thumb
Impact: Mike Glennon and the Bucs are coming off a bye. Glennon is a low-upside QB3.
Who: Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans
What: Injured right thumb
Impact: He missed the last two weeks and the Titans skill guys have seen their fantasy values drop with Charlie Whitehurst under center. Locker is expected to start in Week 8 and would be a QB2 with tremendous risk.
Running back
Who: Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots
What: Out for season with knee injury
Impact: Shane Vereen exploded against the Jets and is a bit of a sell-high player. To be clear, he's still a top-15 RB in PPR. Brandon Bolden is worth a pickup in some cases, but only for owners with major issues at back.
Who: Toby Gerhart, Jacksonville Jaguars
What: Foot injury knocked him out of Week 5, and he missed Weeks 6 and 7
Impact: Denard Robinson is one of the hot adds this week. Gerhart can be cut almost everywhere.
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. However, Burton is not a pickup in most leagues.
Who: DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers
What: Not expected to play in Week 8 with leg injury
Impact: Basically, who cares about the Carolina running game? Cam Newton is going to get most of the goal-line carries anyway. The Panthers secondary is going to force them to play from behind a lot.
Who: Rashad Jennings, New York Giants
What: Suffered a knee sprain and has been out since Week 5
Impact: Andre Williams likely has one more week, but the Giants are a pass-first offense.
Who: Montee Ball, Denver Broncos
What: Expected to miss multiple weeks with a groin issue and has lost his job
Impact: If Ronnie Hillman is on the waiver wire, you really do need to find another hobby. He's basically an RB1 right now.
Who: Donald Brown, Danny Woodhead and Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers
What: Brown suffered a concussion in Week 5 and is still not practicing; Woodhead is out for the season with a broken fibula; Mathews is still not practicing and is not ready to return
Impact: Branden Oliver is a must-start back again against the Denver Broncos on Thursday.
Wide receiver
Who: Victor Cruz, New York Giants
What: Out for season with knee injury
Impact: As expected, Larry Donnell, Odell Beckham and Rueben Randle saw upticks in value. They’re all must-own, with Randle as the most valuable. For what it’s worth, Beckham is a sell-high and it’s highly unlikely he scores twice in a game again this season.
Who: A.J. Green and Marvin Jones, Cincinnati Bengals
What: Green expected to return in Week 8 with toe issue; Jones not close to returning
Impact: Mohamed Sanu really cooled off in Week 7 and the Bengals O needs Green back badly. Sanu is a cut candidate with any positive news on Green.
Who: Rod Streater, Oakland Raiders
What: Out indefinitely with fractured foot
Impact: Andre Holmes did cool off and picked up some garbage-time catches. He should do better as the year goes along. James Jones has been a mild disappointment as well.
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.
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 catches a lot of balls, but he can't do anything. He drops a lot of balls, too.
