We have to keep up with injury news. Have to, have to, have to. If you're sitting there thinking, "I'll get to it Sunday morning," you're not behaving like a champion. If you're standing there thinking, "Injuries-schminjuries, my team is invincible," you're not behaving like a champion. You're half-sitting, half-standing and thinking, "Why am I so indecisive about my posture?", you're not behaving like a champion, and you're putting too much strain on your back.
If it were not for injuries, fantasy would be a breeze. We'd know by Week 3 whether our team has any chance of winning a title. Speaking for myself, as I've alluded to several times, I drafted poorly in my 14-team Premier Fantasy Football League division. But thanks to injuries, I'm climbing back. When Jerry Jeudy got hurt, I picked up and started Tim Patrick, who produced a couple WR3 performances. I drafted Alexander Mattison, who helped me when Dalvin Cook missed a game. A few hours before David Montgomery got hurt, I picked up Damien Wiliams because I had an extra bench spot that needed to be filled. I traded for Kenny Golladay, who helped me last week when Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton were forced to sit.
Injuries are everywhere. Some are worse than others. Some yield clear direction (like Mattison as an obvious handcuff). Some are murkier (like Miami's scattershot backfield). Every time a player is sidelined, another player gains value. The question is when, and how much.
This week I'm monitoring a few players, and the impact they might have on others. Ben Roethlisberger is battling injuries already, and he hasn't looked like an NFL starter regardless (maybe because of the injuries?). If Dwayne Haskins or someone else is forced to start at some point, expect modest-to-significant production drops for Diontae Johnson and the rest of the receiving corps. If you have Johnson, it might be an optimal time to trade him. We've seen what happens to Pittsburgh receivers when Ben can't play. I'm not convinced Haskins or anyone else can effectively feed the wideouts.
There's some buzz about Elijah Mitchell potentially returning. It could mean trouble for Trey Sermon--but not necessarily great things for Mitchell. This remains a crowded, hot-hand backfield. If you're still holding onto a Niner RB, you're hoping one is the last man standing. Mitchell's return deflates that strategy.
Christian McCaffrey had a limited practiced today, which is great news for patient fantasy managers and bad news for those hoping Chuba Hubbard would get at least one more start. CMC is not a sell-high or buy-low player. He is who he is: one of the best RBs, period. And also a higher-than-normal injury risk. You roll the dice either way.
This afternoon I traded for Tony Pollard. He was not the main objective of the swap (my opponent offered him, and I countered with a bigger trade filled with fringe-to-decent starters). About 20 minutes after the trade went through, news broke that Zeke Elliott has "knee discomfort." Too soon to know whether there's anything more worth talking about. But obviously any Zeke absence would be a fantasy earthquake.
Finally, not injury news, but just as well since Andy Dalton's injury sped up this process: Justin Field has been named the Bears' starter. As I've written since the summer, it was lunacy to delay Fields' development by starting a placeholder in a season where Chicago was not a serious contender. The sooner Fields gets acclimated, the sooner he and the rest of the team can reach that next level.
If it were not for injuries, fantasy would be a breeze. We'd know by Week 3 whether our team has any chance of winning a title. Speaking for myself, as I've alluded to several times, I drafted poorly in my 14-team Premier Fantasy Football League division. But thanks to injuries, I'm climbing back. When Jerry Jeudy got hurt, I picked up and started Tim Patrick, who produced a couple WR3 performances. I drafted Alexander Mattison, who helped me when Dalvin Cook missed a game. A few hours before David Montgomery got hurt, I picked up Damien Wiliams because I had an extra bench spot that needed to be filled. I traded for Kenny Golladay, who helped me last week when Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton were forced to sit.
Injuries are everywhere. Some are worse than others. Some yield clear direction (like Mattison as an obvious handcuff). Some are murkier (like Miami's scattershot backfield). Every time a player is sidelined, another player gains value. The question is when, and how much.
This week I'm monitoring a few players, and the impact they might have on others. Ben Roethlisberger is battling injuries already, and he hasn't looked like an NFL starter regardless (maybe because of the injuries?). If Dwayne Haskins or someone else is forced to start at some point, expect modest-to-significant production drops for Diontae Johnson and the rest of the receiving corps. If you have Johnson, it might be an optimal time to trade him. We've seen what happens to Pittsburgh receivers when Ben can't play. I'm not convinced Haskins or anyone else can effectively feed the wideouts.
There's some buzz about Elijah Mitchell potentially returning. It could mean trouble for Trey Sermon--but not necessarily great things for Mitchell. This remains a crowded, hot-hand backfield. If you're still holding onto a Niner RB, you're hoping one is the last man standing. Mitchell's return deflates that strategy.
Christian McCaffrey had a limited practiced today, which is great news for patient fantasy managers and bad news for those hoping Chuba Hubbard would get at least one more start. CMC is not a sell-high or buy-low player. He is who he is: one of the best RBs, period. And also a higher-than-normal injury risk. You roll the dice either way.
This afternoon I traded for Tony Pollard. He was not the main objective of the swap (my opponent offered him, and I countered with a bigger trade filled with fringe-to-decent starters). About 20 minutes after the trade went through, news broke that Zeke Elliott has "knee discomfort." Too soon to know whether there's anything more worth talking about. But obviously any Zeke absence would be a fantasy earthquake.
Finally, not injury news, but just as well since Andy Dalton's injury sped up this process: Justin Field has been named the Bears' starter. As I've written since the summer, it was lunacy to delay Fields' development by starting a placeholder in a season where Chicago was not a serious contender. The sooner Fields gets acclimated, the sooner he and the rest of the team can reach that next level.