Jake Locker could return by Week 9, fantasy owners have Ryan Fitzpatrick in the mean time

Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker could return in four to six weeks, according to Ed Werder of ESPN. Locker's hip and knee injuries suffered in Week 4 against the New York Jets were initially thought to be more serious, but now the word is that the team could possibly get away with losing him for only three games.

That would mean Locker would miss three games, in the best-case scenario. The Titans will take on two (presently) undefeated teams in that time, as they take on the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks, and one very tough team in the San Francisco 49ers.

It's only three games due to the fact that the Titans have a merciful Week 8 bye, meaning Locker could be back under center when the Titans travel to take on the St. Louis Rams in Week 9. Of course, the six week mark could be more realistic, meaning he misses more games, but this is the optimistic timeline we're dealing with.

Fantasy Impact: Locker wasn't the most productive fantasy quarterback before getting injured, but he was accurate, and he didn't turn the ball over. He had six touchdowns and no interceptions and probably would have only improved as the season went along. The chance of him taking over a team with three losses in a row is very real with Ryan Fitzpatrick taking over the quarterback duties. This hurts fantasy owners and there's no real consolation given Fitzpatrick's non-existent fantasy value.