A lot of receivers went down this week while some running backs made their returns. The following is a list of all the noteworthy injuries with the new injuries listed in bold and italics:
Fantasy football waiver wire, Week 5: Injuries and potential replacements
There are injuries all over the place in the fantasy world. We break down which ones have direct implications, possible waiver wire adds and discuss how long players could be out.
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Quarterbacks
Matt Cassel (out indefinitely with a broken foot) and Teddy Bridgewater (status uncertain for Week 5 due to an ankle sprain), Minnesota Vikings - Teddy Time is 1-0 in the starting lineup and he's run the ball 11 times in his three halves in the lineup. He's worth owning as a high-upside QB2 right now and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him emerge as a top-10 QB in about one month.
Robert Griffin III, Washington (targeting Week 11 return) - Kirk Cousins caught fire in Week 3, but that turned into a dumpster fire in Week 4. He couldn't read any of the defenses the Giants threw at him in Week 4, and things are looking bleak against the Seahawks in Week 5. He's not quite worth owning after his latest performance.
Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (questionable for Week 5 with a shoulder injury) - He should be able to give it a go after a bye. The Cardinals will need him against the high-powered Denver offense. If you lost faith in Tom Brady or Kirk Cousins, Palmer is worth a look.
Josh McCown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (could miss several weeks with sprained thumb) - Mike Glennon was the hero on Sunday thanks to a stunning upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's still not accurate enough to be counted on in most cases.
Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans (questionable for Week 5 with a sprained right wrist) - Charlie Whitehurst is not good and the Titans need Locker back. He'll go through practice on Wednesday and the team will reassess the situation from there. He's a desperation play in two-QB leagues against the Browns. Plus, his return would help the values of Kendall Wright, Delanie Walker and Justin Hunter.
Shaun Hill, St. Louis Rams (questionable for Week 5 with thigh injury) - He is probably back to full strength, but may have lost his starting job. However, Austin Davis looked awful against the Cowboys in Week 3.
Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders (out with an MCL sprain and ankle injury) - The Raiders get a bye week at the right time, but Carr might not be ready for Week 6 against the Chargers. It'll likely be Matt Schaub in the starting lineup. Fantasy owners would probably be better off stashing Johnny Manziel than going with a Raiders QB.
EJ Manuel, Buffalo Bills (demoted to a backup role) - This isn't an injury issue, but Manuel has been awful in the starting lineup. Kyle Orton has been decent in spots this season and the Bills do have some nice weapons, so he is on the radar in two-QB leagues. The Bills get a tough road game in Detroit this week, so Orton is not in play.
Running back
Jonathan Stewart (status in doubt with knee sprain), DeAngelo Williams (expected to miss multiple weeks due to a foot injury) and Mike Tolbert (out indefinitely with hairline fracture of leg), Carolina Panthers - The Panthers are running out of bodies in the backfield and it'll be Darrin Reaves in the starting lineup. They have been awful the past two weeks, but they could get their offensive problems figured out in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears. Reaves should be owned in all leagues. Fozzy Whittaker is also on the radar in deep leagues.
Arian Foster, Houston Texans (returned from injury in Week 4 and is day-to-day) - The Texans are leaning on Foster in a big way and he was leading the NFL in touches before sitting out in Week 3. Foster said he's not 100 percent, so he'll be a game-time decision basically every week. Alfred Blue should be owned in all leagues.
Fantasy Advice
Joique Bell, Detroit Lions (suffered a concussion in Week 4, questionable for Week 5) - It'll be the Reggie Bush show and he's a must-start option. Theo Riddick is a decent stash in deeper leagues because Bush is injury prone. The Lions should be able to put up points at home against the Bills in Week 5. Riddick also has a hamstring injury.
Knowshon Moreno, Miami Dolphins (hoping to return in Week 6 from a dislocated elbow) - The Dolphins are on a bye this week and Knowshon could return the following week. He shouldn't be on any waiver wires right now because the Dolphins have looked great on the ground this season. Lamar Miller should also be owned in all leagues.
Danny Woodhead (out for season with broken fibula) and Ryan Mathews (targeting Week 6 return with a knee injury), San Diego Chargers - Donald Brown was awful against the Jaguars, which is not an easy thing to do these days. Meanwhile, Branden Oliver wasn't special either, but he'll likely get more reps against the Jets in Week 5. Neither of them makes for a great option against a very tough run defense.
Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (returned from one-week absence due to an ankle sprain) - He demolished the Patriots with three touchdowns and over 100 total yards. Knile Davis should remain owned in all leagues.
Ben Tate, Cleveland Browns (targeting a possible return in Week 5) - Terrance West may have lost his starting job to Isaiah Crowell. Both guys should be owned in 12-team leagues until Tate is back on the field, though Crowell has more value. Tate will also have his touches reduced upon his return, but should be owned in all leagues, as well.
Bernard Pierce, Baltimore Ravens (missed Week 3 with a thigh injury and was held out of Week 4 due to a "precautionary measure") - The Ravens' ground attack hasn't skipped a beat since Pierce went down. Justin Forsett has been great while Lorenzo Taliaferro has exceeded most expectations. Both are worth owning in 12-team leagues while Pierce is more of a stash with little upside.
Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (returned in Week 4 from a knee injury) - He had just 40 rushing yards on 14 carries and has lost a step. Martin and Bobby Rainey are likely going to split the carries. On the bright side, they get the awful New Orleans Saints defense in Week 5. If he can't put up a big line, it'll be panic time.
Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints (expected to miss two more weeks with broken hand) - Khiry Robinson has been a disappointment in both weeks as the primary ball carrier while Travaris Cadet had 60 yards on seven touches in Week 4. Besides Pierre Thomas, fantasy owners should just stash Ingram over Cadet or Robinson. They get a great matchup against the Buccaneers in Week 5, but only Thomas is worth using at this point.
Wide receiver
Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears (playing through an ankle injury) - Marshall has been quiet the past two weeks and the Bears are going to evaluate him leading up to Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. While Marshall hasn't been himself, it's led to huge production out of Martellus Bennett while Alshon Jeffery has been solid. Josh Morgan and Matt Forte also picked up 10 targets combined in Week 4.
Rod Streater, Oakland Raiders (out indefinitely with fractured foot) - James Jones is locked into the WR1 spot for Oakland and caught six balls for 83 yards in Week 4. He’s a decent WR3 in fantasy leagues. Andre Holmes also had a terrific game in Week 4, catching five balls for 74 yards and one score. He’s a decent WR4 with upside.
Vincent Jackson (played through a wrist injury) and Mike Evans (out 2-3 weeks with a hamstring injury), Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jackson caught the game-winning touchdown against the Steelers, finishing with just 32 receiving yards on three catches. He's a risky WR2 this week against the Saints, who can't stop a nosebleed right now. As for Evans, it looks like Louis Murphy will step up. For what it's worth, Austin Seferian-Jenkins played every offensive possession in Week 4 and is a sneaky high-end TE2.
Marqise Lee (missed Weeks 3-4 and could miss Week 5) and Cecil Shorts (aggravated his hamstring injury again), Jacksonville Jaguars - Allen Robinson is a very solid pickup right now. He's a high-upside WR3 against the Steelers.
Jarrett Boykin, Green Bay Packers (did not play in Week 4 due to a groin injury) - He's fallen behind rookie Davante Adams, so it's not going to be easy to own Boykin. Adams probably won't be worth starting unless Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb needs to miss time.
Andre Johnson, Houston Texans (suffered a minor ankle injury in Week 4) - He’s fine.
Tavon Austin, St. Louis Rams (missed Week 3 with a knee injury and is expected to miss Week 5) - The Rams are not looking like a formidable passing attack, but Brian Quick is a nice WR3 against the Eagles.
Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants (week-to-week with hamstring injury) - He’s been working out with Eli Manning, but he could be a healthy scratch considering how Rueben Randle and Larry Donnell are coming on.
Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers (returned from an in-game foot injury) - He had two surgeries on his left foot and suffered an injury in the first half. Crabtree did return and looks to be fine, but his owners will want to keep an eye on him. Brandon Lloyd and Stevie Johnson would benefit sans Crabtree.
Tight end
Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings (out five weeks with groin injury) - The Vikings used a lot more three-wide sets with Jarius Wright, who is a WR5 right now.
Jordan Reed (unlikely to play in Week 5 due to a hamstring strain) and Niles Paul (status uncertain for Week 5 with a concussion), Washington - Paul was on his way to a monster game on Thursday, but was knocked out of action. If he’s able to suit up for Week 5, he would be a very solid play as a TE1.
Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers (out indefinitely with a back injury) - They'll be looking at a lot of three-wide sets sans VD. If you have him and either Travis Kelce or Larry Donnell is on the wire, you might want to make a switch.
Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals (not expected to return until Week 10 with elbow injury) - Hopefully the bye week will help Jermaine Gresham. He'll be a risky TE2 with a great matchup against the Patriots on Sunday Night Football.
