EA Fantasy Football

The Doctor Is In: Week 1 Injuries

By Dr. Pesti, EA Expert

Matchups are won or lost by the decisions surrounding injured players. The weekly NFL injury report gives you the details and information (supposedly) you need to know, but the true art is in the interpretation and fantasy implications of the report. That's where I come in…

Quarterbacks

Tom Brady, Patriots - Reports coming out of the Boston indicate Brady has a broken foot of some kind. Oh, they also reported the sky is falling.

Pesti Prognosis: Start as you normally would.
Nothing to see here…move along. How quickly people forget Tommy B. is a consummate gamer and will need a lot more than this to keep him on the sideline. Yes…another foot injury is a concern going forward, but for now trust in your first round pick.

Derek Anderson, Browns - Lingering effects from a concussion in the preseason and a hush-hush attitude coming out of Cleveland lead some to believe Anderson might be a late scratch this weekend.

Pesti Prognosis: Let him ride the pine for a week if you have a mid-tier replacement.
Add in the Dallas defense looking for blood and you have a risky starter at the QB position this week. Even if he starts he could be gone by half-time. Classic boom or bust - but I'm thinking the bust is much more likely.

Tarvaris Jackson, Vikings - Is anyone even considering him as an option even if he were completely healthy? He should return from the knee sprain this week, but it still remains to be seen what he can do, even with better weapons around him.

Pesti Prognosis: Don't even think about starting him.
Give him a few more weeks before even considering him as a backup. Scrambling is a big part of his fantasy production (what little there is at this point) and I doubt you'll see him take off until the leg is fully healthy.

Runningbacks

Ryan Grant, Packers - A lingering hamstring injury has limited him to zero carries in the preseason and he missed two days of practice this week as a precaution. Green Bay also faces the stout Viking defense on Monday night.

Pesti Prognosis: Sit him this week if you have a backup player with anything close to a pulse.
I know you spent a 2nd or 3rdround pick on him. I know you are counting on him for production. I know he ripped the Viking late last season but even with all of this you have to be ready for a DNP if you leave him in your starting lineup.

Willis McGahee, Ravens - McGahee has made a remarkable recovery from his minor knee surgery and is expected to carry a heavy load for Baltimore this week. All this from a player who earlier this year lacked motivation and came into camp out of shape.

Pesti Prognosis: Don't believe the hype with McGahee; find a better alternative with fewer questions this week.
This is simply posturing by the coaching staff intended to keep the pressure off rookie Joe Flacco. I wouldn't be surprised to see McGahee start the game, but Ray Rice will be the man carrying most of the load.

Jamal Lewis, Browns - Lewis has been suffering from a hamstring pull suffered in the preseason game against the Giants. He has been participating fully in practice and is expected to be completely healthy at game time.

Pesti Prognosis: It won't be his best effort, but he can still be considered a flex play this week.
Again, the Dallas matchup is intimidating, but Jamal could still be an asset as the Browns try to keep pace with the Cowboy offense. His yardage will be limited as the Browns abandon the run after falling behind, but I can see a few goalline attempts in Lewis's future.

Ronnie Brown, Dolphins - Brown is still finding his legs after off-season knee surgery and suffered an additional injury to his thumb in the preseason. While not officially an injury risk, his contributions could be limited.

Pesti Prognosis: If you like 10 carries for 40 yards with a couple receptions thrown into the mix, Brown is your man.
Sticky Ricky will be the featured back this week against the Jets, but I expect to see plenty of Brown - especially on third down. Forget the touchdowns however since Williams will likely get all of the short yardage work.

Ahman Green, Texans - Ahman is once again banged up after missing all of the preseason following his very first carry. Although expected to start, he is likely to share carries with rookie Steve Slaton and holdover Chris Taylor.

Pesti Prognosis: If you are considering starting Ahman Green under any circumstance there is little I, or anyone else, can do for you.
Stay far away from the Houston backfield situation. I doubt Ahman lasts all the way through the first half. He is, without a doubt, the most injury prone player in the NFL.

Kenny Watson, Bengals - Watson appeared on the injury report this week with a slight injury to his hamstring. The Bengals have been known to do this in the past prior to their players suiting up on game day.

Pesti Prognosis: Don't start Watson this week unless you are left with no other alternatives.
He should be fine for a start if you need him, but the signs are pointing toward Chris Perry carrying most of the load.

Receivers

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals - T.J. has not seen much action in the preseason, but he should be good to go for his start against Baltimore this week.

Pesti Prognosis: Start him - he'll be a top-10 option this week.
Baltimore is banged up and Housh is healthy.

Chad Ocho Cinco, Bengals - Ocho Cinco has a tear in his labrum that will not be repaired until the off-season. Other players have played with this injury in the past and Chad will attempt to do the same thing.

Pesti Prognosis: Start the former Chad Johnson as you normally would.
He'll be a weekly entry on the injury report, but he should be fine to start until he finally hangs 'em up for the season.

Wes Welker, Patriots - Welker suffered bruised ribs during the preseason but returned to practice August 31st. He is expected to start the game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Pesti Prognosis: Welker is more of flex play this week because of the questions surrounding his health and availability.
He'll start, but the Pats will take him out to protect him if/when the game starts to get out of hand.

Joey Galloway, Buccaneers - Galloway didn't take the field in the preseason and is still suffering from some lingering hamstring issues. Coach Jon Gruden expects him to play with no restrictions.

Pesti Prognosis: This is likely to be one of Galloway's best games of the year.
Have no fear -The "White Tiger" will be ready to dominate the Saints like he always has in the past.

Jerry Porter, Jaguars - Porter had a setback in his recover from hamstring surgery and is not expected to play in week 1.

Pesti Prognosis: Expect to see him week 4 at the earliest.
Uh oh. Trade him for 50 cents on the dollar as soon as you possibly can. This does not sound like good news at all.

Reggie Brown, Eagles - Brown re-aggravated his hamstring injury this week at practice and appears to be doubtful in week 1.

Pesti Prognosis: Brown will not suit up this week against St. Louis.
The Eagles need him back on the field and healthy, so they will give him one more week to rest up.

Tight Ends

Antonio Gates, Chargers - Gates is not expected to get the starting assignment this week as he continues to recover from his offseason surgeries. He is expected to play however.

Pesti Prognosis: Start him if you feel lucky, but don't expect much.
Talk about a dice roll. You never know what you're gonna get here, but I'm betting on Gates serving as a 3rd down option this week.

Ben Watson, Patriots - Watson has missed the entire week of practice with an unknown (I'm sure you know about the Patriots by now) knee injury. He is not currently listed as out.

Pesti Prognosis: Starting Watson this week is just asking for a "0". Look for other alternatives.
The second most injury prone player in the NFL is hurt once again. What a surprise.

Author's Bio - Jason Ostresh

Jason Ostresh has been with EA Tiburon since 1999 and is currently a Designer on EA Fantasy Football. Also known as "Dr. Pesti," Jason has been a fantasy football owner since 1992.

Comments or Questions? Email us at fantasy@ea.com

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