BustedKnuckles
Footballguy
Last-Minute Decisions
Important Week 5 Game-Time Decisions
Larry Fitzgerald (probable, ankle) – practiced Friday; should be safe to start
Brian Westbrook (questionable, knee) – looks very much like he won't play after missing three days of practice in a row
Donté Stallworth (doubtful, hamstring) – almost certainly will not suit up after aggravating his injury last week
Ahman Green (questionable, hamstring) – expected to play after taking part in team drills Friday; coach Mike McCarthy wants to get him 20-22 carries when he's healthy
Donald Driver (questionable, ribs and hip) – his situation is murky after practicing Thursday but missing Friday to undergo additional diagnostic tests
Robert Ferguson (doubtful, foot) – nearly assured of not playing; not worth owning
Brett Favre (probable, neck) – fully practiced Thursday and Friday; should be fine
Laveranues Coles (questionable, calf) – reportedly will play, but is wearing a brace on his right wrist
Daunte Culpepper (probable, shoulder) – practiced Friday, but coach Nick Saban is mulling a move to rest him for Joey Harrington
Drew Bennett (questionable, quadriceps) – hit the practice field for three straight days; bigger concern is rookie QB Vince Young
Todd Heap (questionable, thigh) / Daniel Wilcox (questionable, thigh) – Heap was a late addition to the injury report after missing at least a portion of Friday's practice; if he can't play Monday night, his backup Wilcox makes for an excellent emergency replacement
Kellen Winslow (questionable, knee) – missed practice time this week, but played in Week 4 despite a similar situation
Reuben Droughns (questionable, shoulder) – fully practiced the last three days and should be ready vs. Panthers
Joe Jurevicius (questionable, ribs) – same as Droughns, but could again take a back seat to WR Braylon Edwards
Desmond Clark (questionable, foot) – returned to practice Friday; should at least be targeted with limited reps
Jermaine Wiggins (probable, hamstring) – was upgraded Friday from listing as questionable; had his best statistical game of the season last week
Eric Parker (questionable, knee) – added to the injury report Friday, but should not be on fantasy rosters
Shawne Merriman (questionable, Achilles') – another surprise addition to Friday's injury report; he says he'll play, but there's no way to be certain before his Sunday night game
Takeo Spikes (questionable, hamstring) – fully practiced Friday but is a very unsteady start
Dwight Freeney (questionable, shoulder) – practiced Friday; owners may want to roll the dice on him with a great chance for a glory stat against Tennessee
Terrell Suggs (questionable, hamstring) – missed practice time Thursday and Friday, but vows he'll play; similar situation last week
Orlando Pace (questionable, concussion) – fully practiced Thursday and Friday and should help stall Packers DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
Ryan Diem (questionable, groin) / Jeff Saturday (questionable, back) / Ryan Lilja (questionable, knee) – none of these starters on Indianapolis' offensive line missed practice time after Wednesday
Rex Tucker (questionable, knee) / Ross Verba (questionable, hamstring) – both Lions O-linemen missed time in practice the past three days; look doubtful to play Sunday
Leigh Bodden (questionable, ankle) / Gary Baxter (questionable, pectoral) – both of Cleveland's starting CBs missed portions of practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Lito Sheppard (questionable, ankle) / Roderick Hood (doubtful, heel) – Sheppard, one of the Eagles' starting corners, plans to play, which would ease the Eagles' burden of defending Terrell Owens
Already Ruled Out for Week 5
Matt Jones (hamstring, groin) – his absence helps WRs Reggie Williams and Ernest Wilford
Cedric Houston (knee) – finally downgraded from doubtful
Aaron Brooks (pectoral) – the Andrew Walter Experience rolls on
Kyle Turley (back) – back problems forced Turley to retire two years ago
Trent Green (concussion) – may not return for a few more weeks and not particularly worth keeping
Michael Bennett (hamstring) – considered "out indefinitely;" Dee Brown is now (and always was?) Larry Johnson's handcuff
Chris Simms (splenectomy) – won't be back for at least six weeks; shouldn't be on a fantasy roster
Vernon Davis (leg) – will be gone a few weeks longer with broken leg bone
David Givens (thumb) – second-year WR Brandon Jones starting in his place
Erron Kinney (knee) – super sub Bo Scaife continues his 3-for-53 ways
Sinorice Moss (groin) – no reason to hold him outside of keeper leagues
Dan Morgan (concussion) – Chris Draft remains a decent option for at least one more week
Bob Sanders – officially listed as questionable, but won't return until after Colts' Week 6 bye
Shawn Springs (abdominal tear) – sounds like he may not be healed any time soon
Carlos Emmons (pectoral) – solid tackler out for another game or two
Potential Ramifications
With receiver Robert Ferguson not expected to play, walking DUI citation Koren Robinson would start opposite rookie Greg Jennings if teammate Driver also does not make the game-day active list. Robinson could end up being a dynamite spot starter against the shaky secondary of St. Louis, but Jennings would figure to benefit the most from Driver's absence. The swift rookie out of Western Michigan already has six receptions of 20 or more yards, and his speed should be on display as the game between the Packers and Rams could become a track meet.
Having missed three straight days of practice, it looks like Westbrook won't be playing, and it could again be a hefty committee that replaces him. Eagles backup running back Correll Buckhalter's yard-per-carry average from Week 4 was certainly respectable, but the comeback-player-of-the-year candidate lost a fumble and contributed to another that was ultimately given to QB Donovan McNabb. Buckhalter would make for an excellent fill-in if he were guaranteed 20 carries, but Ryan Moats, Reno Mahe and even fullback Thomas Tapeh will factor into a working rotation. None of the reserves outside of Buckhalter deserve a roster spot right now, but Moats could become one that does if he shines on Sunday.
Jets receiver Jerricho Cotchery has been a member of the all-names team for a couple of seasons, but his newfound production has been one of the bigger surprises to come out of 2006. If Coles ends up being a game-day inactive, just about all fantasy owners should have Cotchery in their lineups. Cornerback Rashean Mathis and his Jacksonville brethren present a tough match-up, but Redskins WR Santana Moss had no difficulty burning the Jaguars in Week 4. Cotchery is no Moss, but he would become QB Chad Pennington's go-to option for the week.
Missing Bodden and Baxter, Cleveland's starting cornerbacks, would be a sizeable blow to the Browns' pass defense as it tries to contain the Carolina Panthers. Quarterback Jake Delhomme, who just so happened to find the end zone when WR Steve Smith returned, gets a boost in value if the corners do not play. Receiver Keyshawn Johnson (22-306-1) would likewise have increased odds of success and become a solid WR3 for the week.
Back to those Eagles, and no, not because Terrell Owens is in town. Philadelphia is expected to be without Stallworth, meaning that McNabb will likely lean on fellow receiver Reggie Brown and tight end L.J. Smith. Brown caught five passes for 106 yards when Stallworth did not play in Week 3, and Smith caught his only touchdown pass of the season in the same game. Each should be started if the hamstrings of Donté keep him muddled in fantasy Inferno, and undrafted rookie Hank Baskett or fourth-year man Greg Lewis could be used in a (very large and desperate) pinch if that is the case. My prayers are with you on ascending to fantasy Paradiso if Baskett or Lewis ends up as one of your starters.
Supercilious Jaguars receiver Reggie Williams may have studied at ex-Bear David Terrell's School of Shimmying After a Six-Yard Completion, but is also a must-start with teammate Matt Jones ruled out. Williams caught only two passes for eight yards when Jones was limited in Week 3, but QB Byron Leftwich was held to 107 passing yards in said game. With Jones again limited for much of Week 4, Williams caught four passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Unless it means benching a proven performer, get him in your lineup.
Do Not Underestimate…
Daniel Wilcox
This has less to do with some god-given ability of Baltimore's backup tight end than it does quarterback Steve McNair's proclivity for hitting the "sixth offensive lineman." If starter Todd Heap is inactive for the Ravens' Monday night showdown with the Broncos but Wilcox is not, Heap's owners should not hesitate to yoink him out of the free-agent pool. Wilcox has two touchdowns on the seasons.
Desmond Clark
Yes, another tight end. Chicago's starter was questionable last week with the same injury, but was able to play in limited duty against the Seahawks. The Bears featured Clark on plays in which he was involved, and he short-armed a sure touchdown that would have made his numbers awfully nice. His ability to produce in Week 5 against the Bills would figure to be limited if Bills SLB Spikes is active, but nevertheless, Clark remains a decent low-end TE1 option.
USATODAY
Important Week 5 Game-Time Decisions
Larry Fitzgerald (probable, ankle) – practiced Friday; should be safe to start
Brian Westbrook (questionable, knee) – looks very much like he won't play after missing three days of practice in a row
Donté Stallworth (doubtful, hamstring) – almost certainly will not suit up after aggravating his injury last week
Ahman Green (questionable, hamstring) – expected to play after taking part in team drills Friday; coach Mike McCarthy wants to get him 20-22 carries when he's healthy
Donald Driver (questionable, ribs and hip) – his situation is murky after practicing Thursday but missing Friday to undergo additional diagnostic tests
Robert Ferguson (doubtful, foot) – nearly assured of not playing; not worth owning
Brett Favre (probable, neck) – fully practiced Thursday and Friday; should be fine
Laveranues Coles (questionable, calf) – reportedly will play, but is wearing a brace on his right wrist
Daunte Culpepper (probable, shoulder) – practiced Friday, but coach Nick Saban is mulling a move to rest him for Joey Harrington
Drew Bennett (questionable, quadriceps) – hit the practice field for three straight days; bigger concern is rookie QB Vince Young
Todd Heap (questionable, thigh) / Daniel Wilcox (questionable, thigh) – Heap was a late addition to the injury report after missing at least a portion of Friday's practice; if he can't play Monday night, his backup Wilcox makes for an excellent emergency replacement
Kellen Winslow (questionable, knee) – missed practice time this week, but played in Week 4 despite a similar situation
Reuben Droughns (questionable, shoulder) – fully practiced the last three days and should be ready vs. Panthers
Joe Jurevicius (questionable, ribs) – same as Droughns, but could again take a back seat to WR Braylon Edwards
Desmond Clark (questionable, foot) – returned to practice Friday; should at least be targeted with limited reps
Jermaine Wiggins (probable, hamstring) – was upgraded Friday from listing as questionable; had his best statistical game of the season last week
Eric Parker (questionable, knee) – added to the injury report Friday, but should not be on fantasy rosters
Shawne Merriman (questionable, Achilles') – another surprise addition to Friday's injury report; he says he'll play, but there's no way to be certain before his Sunday night game
Takeo Spikes (questionable, hamstring) – fully practiced Friday but is a very unsteady start
Dwight Freeney (questionable, shoulder) – practiced Friday; owners may want to roll the dice on him with a great chance for a glory stat against Tennessee
Terrell Suggs (questionable, hamstring) – missed practice time Thursday and Friday, but vows he'll play; similar situation last week
Orlando Pace (questionable, concussion) – fully practiced Thursday and Friday and should help stall Packers DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
Ryan Diem (questionable, groin) / Jeff Saturday (questionable, back) / Ryan Lilja (questionable, knee) – none of these starters on Indianapolis' offensive line missed practice time after Wednesday
Rex Tucker (questionable, knee) / Ross Verba (questionable, hamstring) – both Lions O-linemen missed time in practice the past three days; look doubtful to play Sunday
Leigh Bodden (questionable, ankle) / Gary Baxter (questionable, pectoral) – both of Cleveland's starting CBs missed portions of practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Lito Sheppard (questionable, ankle) / Roderick Hood (doubtful, heel) – Sheppard, one of the Eagles' starting corners, plans to play, which would ease the Eagles' burden of defending Terrell Owens
Already Ruled Out for Week 5
Matt Jones (hamstring, groin) – his absence helps WRs Reggie Williams and Ernest Wilford
Cedric Houston (knee) – finally downgraded from doubtful
Aaron Brooks (pectoral) – the Andrew Walter Experience rolls on
Kyle Turley (back) – back problems forced Turley to retire two years ago
Trent Green (concussion) – may not return for a few more weeks and not particularly worth keeping
Michael Bennett (hamstring) – considered "out indefinitely;" Dee Brown is now (and always was?) Larry Johnson's handcuff
Chris Simms (splenectomy) – won't be back for at least six weeks; shouldn't be on a fantasy roster
Vernon Davis (leg) – will be gone a few weeks longer with broken leg bone
David Givens (thumb) – second-year WR Brandon Jones starting in his place
Erron Kinney (knee) – super sub Bo Scaife continues his 3-for-53 ways
Sinorice Moss (groin) – no reason to hold him outside of keeper leagues
Dan Morgan (concussion) – Chris Draft remains a decent option for at least one more week
Bob Sanders – officially listed as questionable, but won't return until after Colts' Week 6 bye
Shawn Springs (abdominal tear) – sounds like he may not be healed any time soon
Carlos Emmons (pectoral) – solid tackler out for another game or two
Potential Ramifications
With receiver Robert Ferguson not expected to play, walking DUI citation Koren Robinson would start opposite rookie Greg Jennings if teammate Driver also does not make the game-day active list. Robinson could end up being a dynamite spot starter against the shaky secondary of St. Louis, but Jennings would figure to benefit the most from Driver's absence. The swift rookie out of Western Michigan already has six receptions of 20 or more yards, and his speed should be on display as the game between the Packers and Rams could become a track meet.
Having missed three straight days of practice, it looks like Westbrook won't be playing, and it could again be a hefty committee that replaces him. Eagles backup running back Correll Buckhalter's yard-per-carry average from Week 4 was certainly respectable, but the comeback-player-of-the-year candidate lost a fumble and contributed to another that was ultimately given to QB Donovan McNabb. Buckhalter would make for an excellent fill-in if he were guaranteed 20 carries, but Ryan Moats, Reno Mahe and even fullback Thomas Tapeh will factor into a working rotation. None of the reserves outside of Buckhalter deserve a roster spot right now, but Moats could become one that does if he shines on Sunday.
Jets receiver Jerricho Cotchery has been a member of the all-names team for a couple of seasons, but his newfound production has been one of the bigger surprises to come out of 2006. If Coles ends up being a game-day inactive, just about all fantasy owners should have Cotchery in their lineups. Cornerback Rashean Mathis and his Jacksonville brethren present a tough match-up, but Redskins WR Santana Moss had no difficulty burning the Jaguars in Week 4. Cotchery is no Moss, but he would become QB Chad Pennington's go-to option for the week.
Missing Bodden and Baxter, Cleveland's starting cornerbacks, would be a sizeable blow to the Browns' pass defense as it tries to contain the Carolina Panthers. Quarterback Jake Delhomme, who just so happened to find the end zone when WR Steve Smith returned, gets a boost in value if the corners do not play. Receiver Keyshawn Johnson (22-306-1) would likewise have increased odds of success and become a solid WR3 for the week.
Back to those Eagles, and no, not because Terrell Owens is in town. Philadelphia is expected to be without Stallworth, meaning that McNabb will likely lean on fellow receiver Reggie Brown and tight end L.J. Smith. Brown caught five passes for 106 yards when Stallworth did not play in Week 3, and Smith caught his only touchdown pass of the season in the same game. Each should be started if the hamstrings of Donté keep him muddled in fantasy Inferno, and undrafted rookie Hank Baskett or fourth-year man Greg Lewis could be used in a (very large and desperate) pinch if that is the case. My prayers are with you on ascending to fantasy Paradiso if Baskett or Lewis ends up as one of your starters.
Supercilious Jaguars receiver Reggie Williams may have studied at ex-Bear David Terrell's School of Shimmying After a Six-Yard Completion, but is also a must-start with teammate Matt Jones ruled out. Williams caught only two passes for eight yards when Jones was limited in Week 3, but QB Byron Leftwich was held to 107 passing yards in said game. With Jones again limited for much of Week 4, Williams caught four passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Unless it means benching a proven performer, get him in your lineup.
Do Not Underestimate…
Daniel Wilcox
This has less to do with some god-given ability of Baltimore's backup tight end than it does quarterback Steve McNair's proclivity for hitting the "sixth offensive lineman." If starter Todd Heap is inactive for the Ravens' Monday night showdown with the Broncos but Wilcox is not, Heap's owners should not hesitate to yoink him out of the free-agent pool. Wilcox has two touchdowns on the seasons.
Desmond Clark
Yes, another tight end. Chicago's starter was questionable last week with the same injury, but was able to play in limited duty against the Seahawks. The Bears featured Clark on plays in which he was involved, and he short-armed a sure touchdown that would have made his numbers awfully nice. His ability to produce in Week 5 against the Bills would figure to be limited if Bills SLB Spikes is active, but nevertheless, Clark remains a decent low-end TE1 option.
USATODAY
